These Knicks Know How To Win A Championship, Here’s Why
Just when we all though the New York Knicks were out of gas and this exciting run was nearing the end, they put on their most dominant performance of the playoffs. It’s easy to call this team young and inexperienced, but there is significant Knicks championship experience on this squad.
The Boston Celtics, who were dominant in the east throughout the regular season, are awaiting in the Eastern Conference Finals. They rolled through much weaker opponents in a Jimmy Butler-less Miami Heat, and a Donovan Mitchell-less Cleveland Cavs team. The Celtics are considered the title favorite, but let’s not lose sight of something. This Knicks roster has more of a “win the championship” history than the Celtics. Here is what I mean.
The Knicks Championship Experience
Let’s be clear: we are not talking about how many banners each team has hanging in the rafters of their home arena. That nod clearly goes to the C’s. We’re focusing on the experience each current roster has in winning the whole thing.
Let’s start with the “Villanova Knicks,” “Villanova North,” or whatever you want to call the Wildcat alumni trio of superstars Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Donte DiVincenzo. Both Brunson and DiVincenzo were at Villanova from 2015 to 2018, and won two national titles during their college playing days there. Josh Hart was at Villanova from 2013 to 2017 and won one ring with the Brunson and DiVincenzo in 2016.
Jumping into the NBA, DiVincenzo already has one up on his Villanova teammates. He was part of the Milwaukee Bucks team that won the 2021 NBA Finals. #0 already knows what it takes to be atop the NBA mountain.
So does center Isaiah Hartenstein. When Hartenstein was in the Houston Rockets organization, he won the G League championship in 2019 with their affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. Hartenstein was named the finals MVP.
OG Anunoby is hurt right now, and there is no definitive answer on when he will return. However, perhaps his championship knowledge can inspire the team in the locker room. He, too, has a ring which he got as part of the Toronto Raptors team that won the title for the first time in 2019.
Lastly, we get to the Knicks’ fearless leader, Tom Thibodeau. Coach Thibs has been on an NBA coaching staff since 1989. During that time, he also won a championship. In fact, it was with the Boston Celtics in 2008. As their assistant head coach, he had the uneasy task of creating a game plan to slow down Kobe Bryant in the finals.
Now, coach Thibs has to game plan for one more win against the Indiana Pacers for a chance to face his old team. The experience he and his Knicks team has in winning the big games should certainly help.
