It’s been half a century since the New York Knicks last won an NBA title, but if you ask Spike Lee, hope springs eternal — even if it makes Michael Jordan chuckle. During the Hall of Fame weekend, the Oscar-winning director and die-hard Knicks fan seized the opportunity to put the championship drought in the spotlight, and of course, dragged MJ into the conversation.
Sitting alongside NBA legend Michael Jordan, Lee didn’t miss a beat as he aimed his Knicks-related plea at basketball analyst Ahmad Rashad. It wasn’t just a question—it was a desperate, comedy-packed plea for Knicks fans everywhere. And let’s be honest, when Spike starts talking Knicks, there’s bound to be some laughs—and some groans.
With the Knicks’ ever-elusive championship ring firmly in mind, Spike began, “You learned a lot from my brother here, Michael Jordan, right?” he said, pointing to the GOAT himself, who could barely keep a straight face, head down, clapping at the comedic hopelessness that has become the Knicks’ fate.
Spike then ramped it up a notch: “In my hand, I’ve got Red Holzman’s 1972 NBA championship ring from when the Knicks last won it all. Yeah, you heard me, 50 long years ago! We got KAT [Karl-Anthony Towns], one of the best point guards in the league [Jalen Brunson], and a squad that plays defense like they mean it! So, uh…what’s going on this year? We got a chance?”
Ahmad Rashad, ever the professional, tried to keep it together, but even he couldn’t resist the Knicks-themed banter. “I think this is the year,” he said, with a straight face that even Spike didn’t fully believe. “Must be the shoes,” Rashad added, nodding to an old Jordan commercial. It’s like Knicks fans will take hope from literally anything at this point.
Now, for those keeping track, the Knicks have somehow found themselves stuck in a seemingly unbreakable time loop of mediocrity. Their last championship was in 1973. They got close in 1994 and 1999 but, of course, came up short against Hakeem Olajuwon’s Houston Rockets and the San Antonio Spurs. And Knicks fans are still clutching that pain like it happened yesterday.
But hey, stranger things have happened. The Bucks won a championship in 2021, breaking a 50-year drought of their own, and the Raptors and Cavaliers finally broke through too. So, could this be the Knicks’ time? According to Spike, it’s at least worth a few laughs.
The Knicks’ 2024 Offseason: “Win-Now” Mode (For Real This Time?)
Despite a summer of questionable moves, the Knicks somehow appear to be gearing up for a serious run. And by “serious,” we mean “Knicks serious,” which usually includes one step forward and two steps back. After a busy offseason, they grabbed Mikal Bridges from the Nets, extended Jalen Brunson’s contract, and kept OG Anunoby and Precious Achiuwa in the fold. Oh, and Karl-Anthony Towns? Yep, they pulled the trigger on that blockbuster trade, officially sending the “win-now” vibes into overdrive.
Of course, that meant losing key players like Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, and Isaiah Hartenstein, but who’s counting, right? Knicks fans will gladly trade their entire roster if it means avoiding yet another playoff heartbreak.
But here’s the catch—Boston is still Boston. So, while Spike Lee may be talking up the Knicks’ chances to anyone who’ll listen (or laugh), dethroning the Celtics is no small task. Still, one thing’s for sure: the Knicks have their squad, they have their hope, and they’ve got a superfan in Spike Lee, who will never let them forget just how long it’s been since that last ring.
Whether they’ll win or not, at least Spike is keeping things entertaining. Because if you’re a Knicks fan, laughing is better than crying… and it’s been over 50 years of the latter.
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