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The New York Knicks were superb in the 2026 Playoffs, as they lost only three games during their run to the title. During this run, they kept impressing people because they went from losing two games to the Atlanta Hawks in the first round to completely dominating the whole way.
It was a magical run for any team, but since it was the Knicks, it garnered even more attention. The fans in the city were passionate, and it also led to former players showing love for their old team. This includes 2011 MVP Derrick Rose, who is mostly seen as a Chicago Bulls player, but he had a good part of his career with the Knicks.
Derrick Rose admits he was supporting the Knicks in the 2026 Playoffs
Rose had two separate stints with the Knicks, as he played there in the 2016-17 season right after his Bulls stint. However, he did return to play for the Knicks from 2021 to 2023, cementing him as a cult legend for some Knicks fans.
Of course, he did not achieve much during his tenure with the Knicks, but he established a strong relationship with the team. He even played alongside some of the players in the current squad, so it was normal for him to root for them in the 2026 Playoffs.
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He is also quite close with Rick Brunson, an assistant coach for the Knicks and Jalen Brunson's father. That was another reason why Rose was such a big fan of the Knicks because he wanted them to succeed. While Rose does not have a championship in his career, he wants the people close to him to succeed.
"I kinda had the Knicks winning the entire time. My son is a Jalen fan, so he was cheering for them the whole Playoffs. I called Rick right before they got to the Finals. Told him that they were playing against Wemby, told them they were going to win. I'm just happy for Jalen, his family," Rose said to Sports Illustrated about being proud of the Knicks' success.
The Knicks delivered on the hype they were generating in the first three rounds of the Playoffs. By beating the San Antonio Spurs in the Finals, the Knicks secured a title for the first time in 52 years. People like Rose were part of the process, so they were glad that the results were fruitful.
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- Jalen Brunson does not care that the Knicks have a massive target on their backs now
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