If you are reading about the Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals on your iPhone, you are making history. This is because the Knicks have made the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2002. The first iPhone came out in 2007. Needless to say, Knicks fans deserve this. Some of the most die-hard fans in sports have gone year after year, ending in anger and utter frustration. Season after season, they were left hopeless. It makes sense that Knicks fans are finally ecstatic, and Scarsdale is no exception.
The 2024-25 Knicks, led by superstar point guard (PG) and captain Jalen Brunson, achieved the team’s most regular-season wins in over a decade. This long and tumultuous journey has not come easily. Let’s see how they got here:
All 5 members of the Knicks’ starting lineup have only been acquired relatively recently. PG Jalen Brunson was signed in 2022. Brunson has grown into the captain role and has embraced the bright lights of New York. Shooting guard Josh Hart was acquired via a trade in 2023, and small forward Mikal Bridges was acquired in a blockbuster deal this summer with the crosstown rival Nets. This trio is dynamic, being dubbed the “Nova Boys” due to their time together playing at Villanova during their college days. Forward OG Anunoby was acquired by the Knicks for fan favorite RJ Barrett in late 2023, and Karl-Anthony Towns became a Knick in early October.
It is not accurate to only credit this group for the team’s success; Head Coach Tom Thibodeau and President of Basketball Operations Leon Rose have built the entire roster from the ground up. Rose’s negotiating skills have been key in new contracts and trades, while Thibodeau has established the defensive structure and hard-nosed, gritty play of this Knicks team.
Plenty of Scarsdalians are die-hard Knicks fans, and this rejuvenation is the talk of the town. Like many, Ben Strasser ’28 is a passionate Knicks fan. “I can’t believe the success this team has had. Every game I watch, I feel like I’m a part of the team,” Strasser exclaimed.
It’s not just students who spend their nights invested in this historic run. Even inside of school, the community aspect that the Knicks run brings is impactful. SHS Math teacher Serge Azor commented, “I love watching the games … When I come in the next day, students are always ready to talk Knicks with me. I’ve even had students email me during games. I have really built stronger bonds with students through watching these playoff games.”
While many Scarsdalians are watching intently from their living rooms, a lucky few have gotten the chance to watch from the World’s Most Famous Arena, Madison Square Garden. Watching the game with 19,000 other Knicks fans is simply special. “The atmosphere is just electric. It’s insanely loud and an awesome experience,” Nathan Goldfarb ’28 mentioned.
While fans are excited, nerves are high for the current series. The Knicks face the Indiana Pacers, who beat an injury-riddled Knicks team in a heart-wrenching 7 game series the previous year in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Still, many believe a healthy Knicks team can get the job done despite this loss. “The Knicks have added even more talent to their roster. Knicks in 7!” Finn Pearson ’28 expressed.
It’s not just the basketball that makes this playoff run so important – it’s also the sense of community and excitement that it brings in everyday life. Walking around Scarsdale, seeing a little kid in a Brunson jersey, and chanting “Let’s Go Knicks!” makes you feel like you’re part of a community or a family bigger than just yourself. It’s the same as high-fiving the fans next to you after a huge three, or the scenes of dancing and screaming outside of the Mecca, another name for the beloved NY Knicks stadium Madison Square Garden, after a big win. It’s an indescribable feeling that ignites a flame in your heart; it’s what makes sports so special and is why so many tune in at 8pm.
