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The New York Knicks didn’t always appear destined to win their first championship since 1973.
Whether losing back-to-back games to the Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the playoffs, facing a 22-point deficit in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals vs. the Cleveland Cavaliers, or possessing a double-digit deficit in each of the NBA Finals contests vs. the San Antonio Spurs, New York’s 2025-26 title quest.
However, in each of those situations, the Knicks remained connected and poised before storming back to regain control of the game/series, culminating in an NBA Finals victory in mid-June. On Friday, the Los Angeles Lakers sent a clear message to the Knicks on their hard-fought championship that they shouldn’t ignore.
They care for one another,” Reaves said during an appearance on the Dan Patrick Show. “They play for one another.
“I got to know some of those guys when I played with the USA team—with Mikal (Bridges), Josh (Hart), and JB (Jalen Brunson). Great dudes. You couldn’t ask for better humans.”
“I think that shows on the basketball court. They care for one another. They play for one another. And that’s, like you said, something you want to build.”
Reaves isn’t lying, which perfectly explains why the Knicks are the NBA’s newest NBA champions. When times get tough for the bunch, they refrain from turning on each other and pointing fingers and instead work through their issues as a unit.
It’s near impossible for a team to complete over five double-digit playoff comebacks if they’re on different pages/isolate themselves. If franchises want to replicate the Knicks’ 2026 playoff success in the foreseeable future, they should consider taking a page or two out of the steroid Eastern Conference organization’s book.
As for New York, they should view Reaves' compliment as a clear sign they're finally back on the right track after a lengthy title drought.
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