Flashback to 1993-94
Anyone who’s been around since the Ewing days knows exactly what that season meant. Pat Riley on the sidelines, Oakley throwing elbows, Starks hitting threes (and sometimes missing them in Game 7, we remember
). That team had toughness and identity — everything that screams New York basketball. They came one win away from a championship against Hakeem and the Rockets. MSG was alive in a way that’s hard to describe unless you lived it.The Lost Years: 2000–2020
Then came the two decades Knicks fans want to forget. From the Isiah Thomas mess, to overpaying washed vets, to the Phil Jackson experiment, it was just a cycle of false hope and bad management. The Carmelo years gave us a brief flash — that 2012-13 squad was legit — but it never lasted. Between bad contracts, poor draft picks, and front office dysfunction, the Knicks were more meme than menace.
The Turning Point: Leon Rose Takes Over
Things started to shift when Leon Rose took over as President of Basketball Ops in 2020. For once, the Knicks had a front office with a plan. Rose didn’t chase the next big star or try to “win the press conference.” He brought in Tom Thibodeau to re-establish accountability and defense. The focus went back to development and culture — drafting well (Quickley, Grimes), finding value free agents, and eventually pulling off the move that changed everything: signing Jalen Brunson.
The Brunson Era & the Rise Back to Relevance
Let’s be honest, Brunson’s been everything Knicks fans have been begging for — a real floor general, a leader, and a clutch performer. The chemistry between Brunson, Randle, and the Villanova crew (Hart, DiVincenzo) gave this team an identity that actually works. Add in some depth, youth, and defense, and suddenly the Knicks weren’t just fighting for respect — they were a legitimate Eastern Conference threat. The playoff runs in 2024 and 2025 proved it. MSG was rocking again, the city was locked in, and you could feel the old-school Knicks energy creeping back.
Why 2025-26 Feels Different
Now here we are — entering 2025-26 — and for the first time in forever, it doesn’t feel like false hope. Brunson is in his prime, Thibs has this group fully bought in, and the front office is actually aligned top to bottom. The roster has balance, depth, and a defensive backbone that screams playoff-ready. The vibes aren’t just about making noise anymore — this team believes it can win.
No gimmicks, no “next star” pipe dreams, no quick fixes. Just a team that built the right way — brick by brick, season by season.
For Knicks fans who’ve lived through the chaos, this season feels like the payoff. The Garden’s going to be electric, the expectations are sky-high, and for once, it feels like that’s exactly how it should be.
Knicks fans — is this finally our era?
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