Robert Prevost, first American-born Pope named Leo XIV, deemed Knicks superstition as a proud Villanova alum

Robert Prevost, the first American-born Pope who will be called Leo XIV, inspired a half-joking article from NJ.com’s Adam Zagoria that was sprinkled with irrational Knicks fan hope that New York is an NBA Finals team because the ex-Cardinal attended Villanova.

Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, and Josh Hart were members of the 2016 NCAA Tournament title team. The trio has powered the Knicks to a 2-0 series lead over the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Both games were won in Boston.

That has Zagoria believing in superstitions like: a Cardinal whose alma mater is Villanova garnering enough votes to emerge from the papal conclave as the new Pope, and that somehow leading to New York breaking a 52-year title drought.

“The new Pope went to Villanova, so could it be the Knicks‘ year?” Zagoria asked, presumably tongue-in-cheek.

“Teams with a 2-0 series lead own a 93% winning percentage.

“Maybe the new Pope will put them over the top.”

Only Knicks fans.

To be fair, New York looks closer to a title than ever. Much of that has to do with how poorly the Celtics have played this series.

As the Knicks’ biggest Finals roadblock coming into the series, Boston is straying from what previously worked – Jayson Tatum being the primary ball-handler during the lion’s share of possessions – and giving the series away.

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla is a noted Catholic himself. Perhaps he can now focus on gameplanning his way out of giving up home-court advantage now that the papacy has made its decision.