Down four points with their season on the line, the New York Knicks had to invoke the holy spirit of Knicks LJ—the one who can get four points in a single go.
It was 1999, when the Knicks were the courageous eighth seed with a big appetite for upsets. Larry Johnson hit a 3 and a free throw against the Indiana Pacers to win a momentum-shifting Game 3. The Knicks went on to win the series in six games.
But in 2023, the story was different.
The Miami Heat were the eighth seed and the fifth-seeded Knicks had the upper hand—up until they actually played a minute of playoff basketball against each other.
Miami was clearly the better team with more weapons, and by Game 6, when the clock was winding down with the Heat up four, only an LJ-type of miraculous moment could save the Knicks’ season. It didn’t happen.
The Knicks played catch-up the entire fourth quarter, and when they found themselves somehow only down a bucket with 20 seconds left, Jalen Brunson committed an uncharacteristic blunder that gave the ball back to the Heat.
Brunson had been nothing short of spectacular for the Knicks ever since he donned New York colors. He brought with him the poise, leadership, and consistency that the Knicks desperately needed at the point guard spot.
He’s got LJ’s coolness under pressure, mixed with Allan Houston’s hot hand and Patrick Ewing’s leadership quality. Brunson also became the first Knick to ever score at least 30 points in three consecutive playoff games since Ewing.
The only difference is that Ewing was able to bring the Knicks to the conference finals a couple of times; Brunson hasn’t.
“It stings a little bit, definitely a learning experience. But if you don’t win, you lose,” Brunson said after the Game 6 loss to the Heat. That crucial, game-deciding—and season-ending—turnover from Brunson might haunt the Knicks for the coming weeks, but there were more horrible monsters to worry about.
The team’s two other stars, Julius Randle and RJ Barrett, were of absolutely no help to Brunson in Game 6, combining for 4-of-24 shooting from the field.
Both Randle, who was the lone Knick All-Star this year, and Barrett were finally in sync during the regular season. But in the playoffs—particularly against the Heat—their performances dipped. Randle’s shot selection was questionable and he was viciously outplayed by Bam Adebayo. Barrett didn’t even get to close out games.
The wound is still very much fresh, but when it begins to heal and the stench of another disappointing New York exit starts to wear off, what should emerge is promise—and hope for a better Knick future.
There hasn’t been a lot of that in nearly a decade. It isn’t crazy to be optimistic these days. This is Brunson’s first year in New York. Already, there was an improvement from the previous season’s 37-45 record to this season’s 47-35.
Next season, and a couple of years after that, the Knicks will have valuable first-round picks, which they can use to either build around Brunson or use as trade chips to, er, build around Brunson. They also will have room to spend with Evan Fournier’s fat contract expiring.
The Knicks ended this year’s run in disappointing fashion. Nothing new there. Yet, despite the sour ending, there’s a lot to be happy about in New York. In what felt like forever, finally, the Knicks are in a solid position to sharpen during the offseason, bounce back, and be a legit Eastern Conference threat. Miracles optional.
