Breaking news: Carmelo Anthony and Knicks legends attract attention during an event at Rucker Park.
As good as any NBA club, the New York Knicks are. Tom Thibodeau, the defensive mastermind, and tough guys like Julius Randle and Mitchell Robinson have brought the Knicks postseason stability after Carmelo Anthony’s departure. In addition, the Knicks acquired OG Anunoby in a trade and signed Jalen Brunson to provide them with a primary scorer and a competent outside shooter. Anthony got together for an occasion at the storied Rucker Park with a few Knicks icons, maybe in celebration.
The New York Basketball account on X, formerly Twitter, uploaded a star-studded snapshot of Melo, Allan Houston, Jamal Crawford, John Starks, Deuce McBride, Jacob Toppin, and Tyler Kolek while they were at the Rucker.
The Knicks’ postseason hardships
Though they play in the “Mecca of Basketball,” the New York Knicks haven’t won an NBA title since 1973, or nearly fifty years ago. Fans may find their recent comeback intriguingly similar to the squad that played a rugged, gritty defense-first style of basketball in the 1990s, led by ex-Lakers champion Pat Riley and strong big man and Knicks hero Patrick Ewing. They were competitive competitors for the title back then, winning it every year.
But it was only their good fortune to play in the same conference as the Chicago Bulls, led by Michael Jordan. The Knicks had their best opportunity of winning the championship after Jordan’s initial retirement in 1994, when they defeated the Bulls and the Indiana Pacers en route to the Finals. However, Hakeem Olajuwon and the Houston Rockets, who won the championship in seven games, proved too strong for even John Starks’ heroic efforts.
Patrick Ewing was hindered by injuries, but the Knicks used Allan Houston as a last-ditch effort to get it to the 1999 Finals. Despite this, the Knicks sensed Ewing’s absence as the San Antonio Spurs easily defeated them in five games.