It was a Times Square Celebration with everything but the cold weather of New Year’s Eve.

In my head I could hear Sinatra’s ‘New York-New York-Just start spreading the news’

The Knickerbockers, an original NBA team dating to the 1930s, won the NBA crown with the amazing Saturday night win in San Antonio.

‘Captain Clutch’ Jalen Brunson finished off a career best season with an unforgettable 45-point night.  The Spurs knew he was coming, would have the ball, boxed him, trapped him, banged him and he still got to hoop and scored.

And the best picture of all, aside him from holding the trophy, him hugging his dad, longtime NBA assistant Rick Brunson, so supportive of his career.

For Mike Brown, what a career reward, for a guy who won in Cleveland, LA and Sacramento, got to the finals, even got the Kings 45-wins, but got fired at each locale.  His assistant tour under Greg Popovich in San Antonio and then with Steve Kerr at Golden State, polished his approach to what he would become in New York.

There was James Dolan, the owner of the Knicks and the Garden, forever disliked in the Big Apple for being a meddler, touching the trophy.

Unknown in all the success is the President of Ops, Leon Rose, who built this unique roster.  Not one of the Knicks starters was a draft pick.  All were acquired by Rose in trades or in free agency.  That’s right, he sighted-signed Brunson-OG Anunoby-Karl Anthony Towns-Mikhail Bridges-Josh Hart.  They all came from somewhere else.  Just like Landry Shemet and Mitchell Robinson.

There was the fun line, the ‘Nova Knicks’ the 3-guys who played with Brunson at Villanova.  The ‘Right Hand of God’ putback by Anunoby in the record comeback win.

And then Knicks fans booing President Trump during the Anthem.

And then there was the NBA record book, rewritten in Knicks blue-and-orange ink.  The record comeback from the 29-point deficit win.  The final game, coming back from 15-and-16 point deficits.  Winning 3-times on San Antonio’s floor.

And there courtside, the entourage, from Spike Lee to Jerry Seinfeld, Prince Harry to Derek Jeter, JZ to Timothy Chalamet.  Hollywood took over the Garden and New Yorkers bought up lots of tickets to San Antonio too.

And of course Knicks royalty, led by Patrick Ewing, Bill Bradley and Walt Frazier plus the more modern players like Charles Oakley, Anthony Mason and Alan Houston.

The only ones missing were Phil Jackson and the late-great Willis Reed.

It was a wild week of basketball, explosive comebacks, flagrant fouls, Brillo Pad defense, Temper Tantrums, cheap shots, never ending drives to the basket and 3-point shots from Long Island City.

So odd, the NBA headquarters is 3-blocks from Madison Square Garden. It took 53-years for the Larry O’Brien Trophy to get back to the Garden.  Jalen Brunson delivered it on his way to the basket.

Knicks-Champion-New York-New York

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