On Facebook
On Flipboard
On Twitter
John Starks believes his New York Knicks successors can finish what he started.
In a brief essay penned on the Knicks' site, the metropolitan shooter remarked that this season "feels different" thanks to the current team, which he praises as a group that truly defines the brand of basketball Manhattan has frequently sought and become known for.
"I’ve been around this team for years, and I can tell you – this season feels different. There’s something special in the air," Starks said. "Over the last couple of seasons, the Knicks have been building toward something big. The front office has done an incredible job assembling this squad, and now it’s time to take the next step."
"When I look at this team, it reminds me of our run in the ‘90s. That’s where this team is right now – on the verge of something great."
Starks' 13-year NBA career was spent primarily with the Knicks. While he no doubt experienced his share of glory days (such as the run to the final game of the 1994 NBA Finals), a championship proved elusive;
Starks has been a courtside staple at Madison Square Garden in recent seasons, watching the team return the ranks of relevancy. Last season currently stands as the peak with this group, as OG Anunoby, Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and more guided the Knicks to 50 wins and the second seed on the Eastern Conference playoff bracket.
Though the Knicks were mostly patient in the prior couple of offseasons, focusing more on asset attaining rather than veteran help, they made big splashes that intrigued Starks and many more: they traded for Brunson and Hart's fellow former Villanova Wildcat Mikal Bridges in June and wrapped up the offseason by obtaining Karl-Anthony Towns in a deal completed earlier this month. All that and more has Starks and friends labeling this season the most legitimately hopeful one the Knicks have had in quite some time.
"With Jalen and the rest of the squad, they’re ready to compete every single night," Starks said. "We’ve seen some new faces come in, but thanks to the leadership in the locker room and Coach Thibs the culture here is set. Now it’s time to go all-in."
"The Knicks know what they’re capable of, and it’s all about leaving it out on the floor and trusting each other to get the job done. You can sense that belief and when they believe in each other, when they lock in, the sky’s the limit."
Starks was one of thousands to take in the first prominent display of the Knicks' newfound power, as they downed the Indiana Pacers by a 123-98 final in their home opener on Friday night. Another Garden date awaits on Monday when New York (1-1) hosts the undefeated Cleveland Cavaliers (7:30 p.m. ET, MSG).
More must-reads:
- Steve Kerr 'very concerned' about worrisome trend plaguing NBA
- Youth movement: Five new players who should be part of Team USA basketball's future
- The 'NFL QB rushing TD leaders' quiz
Breaking News
Trending News
TODAY'S BEST
Youth movement: Five new players who should be part of Team USA basketball's future
A veteran-heavy USA Basketball squad took home a gold medal last summer in Paris. But their two biggest stars won't be returning. LeBron James and Steph Curry made it clear on the newest episode of "Mind The Game," James' podcast, that they wouldn't be part of Team USA in 2028. That leaves two big pairs of shoes to fill. In addition, the oft-injured Joel Embiid and Anthony Davis are unlikely to be back, Kevin Durant will be 39 in the summer of 2028, Jrue Holiday will be 38 and the national team will get younger. Here are five new players who should be part of Team USA going forward. 1. Amen Thompson, Houston Rockets There's always a spot on Team USA for a hard-nosed perimeter defender, and Amen Thompson is one of the toughest defenders in the NBA. He finished fifth in Defensive Player of the Year voting last season and has upped his assists to 5.2 per game, making him the ideal player to slide into Holiday's stopper/ball handler role. Plus, Thompson is still only 22, which means he has plenty of international basketball ahead of him. And if Team USA needs another elite defender, he's got a connection with one on the Detroit Pistons — his brother Ausar Thompson. The only danger is if the Thompson twins decide to play for Jamaica instead. 2. Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons Cade Cunningham, 24, has experience with USA Basketball, winning a gold medal in 2019 at the FIBA U19 championships and leading the USA Select team to scrimmage upsets against the 2023 FIBA Cup team. He only turned down joining the main team because he was recovering from shin surgery. Now he's firmly established as an NBA star, averaging 27.5 points and 9.9 assists for the first-place Detroit Pistons. Not only is he scoring an distributing the ball at an elite level, Cunningham has excellent size at 6-foot-6 and 220 pounds for the more physical international game. 3. Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City Thunder Team USA needs a rim protector, and they'd love to have one who can stretch the floor like Chet Holmgren. The 23-year-old is shooting 40.4 percent from three-point range this season and 59.1 percent overall while anchoring the NBA's No. 1 defense. Holmgren may not be best suited to banging with some of the huge big men he'd face in the Olympics, like Nikola Jokic and Alperen Sengun, but the threat of his shooting can draw these big men out of the paint and create driving lanes. Plus, he has three years to bulk up before the Los Angeles Olympics. 4. Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers The reigning Defensive Player of the Year has turned into a legitimate three-point threat this season, sinking 1.7 threes per game, while remaining one of the NBA's best defenders. While Holmgren is more of a shot-blocker and rim protector, Evan Mobley, 24, has the speed and mobility to guard smaller players out on the perimeter, and the height and wingspan to bother big men. In addition, Mobley attended college at USC and high school in famed fight capital Temecula, so he'll be an excellent local choice. 5. Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder Jalen Williams, 24, is a bulldog defender who showed he can also be an elite big-game scorer during the Thunder's run to the title. Team USA plays best when they can pressure opposing teams defensively, and Williams has been great with that approach for OKC. Honorable mentions Cooper Flagg (18), Dallas Mavericks Stephon Castle (21) and Dylan Harper (19), San Antonio Spurs Kon Knueppel (20), Charlotte Hornets Darryn Peterson (18), Kansas Jayhawks
Ole Miss HC Lane Kiffin breaks silence on reported ultimatum
The Ole Miss Rebels reportedly gave head coach Lane Kiffin a deadline of Nov. 28 to decide whether he wants to stay with the school. That was news to him. On Tuesday, Kiffin joined "The Pat McAfee Show" to discuss his future. The coach is widely considered a top candidate for the head-coaching jobs with the LSU Tigers and Florida Gators. He denied that Ole Miss gave him an ultimatum, which Stewart Mandel of The Athletic first reported. Lane Kiffin calls report false "That's absolutely not true," Kiffin said. "There hasn't been anything like that at all. And so, I don't know where that came from, like a lot of stuff that comes out there." After denying the report, Kiffin reiterated how much he loves Oxford and said he's ecstatic the team is in the thick of the College Football Playoff Hunt. As of Tuesday, ESPN's Football Power Index gives the 10-1 Rebels an 89.1% chance to make the CFP, the third-best odds in the SEC behind the Georgia Bulldogs (9-1) and Texas A M Aggies (10-0). "Like I said, man, we're having a blast," he said. "It just couldn't be better. Like I said, you pray for things. Our fans prayed for this type of thing, and now we're in the middle of it. So, enjoy it." Is Lane Kiffin telling the truth? While the school may not have issued an ultimatum, ESPN's Mark Schlabach reported that Ole Miss is "pressing" Kiffin and his agent, Jimmy Sexton, to inform the school of his decision soon. Schlabach added that Rebels athletic director Keith Carter wants to know his plans by this upcoming weekend. Kiffin may be able to provide an answer soon. He has reportedly met with Florida and LSU. Kiffin may ultimately stay with Ole Miss, where he has compiled a 54-19 record in six seasons. He's already making $9M this season, and the Rebels are reportedly willing to match contract offers from LSU and Florida. Still, Kiffin should make it clear what he wants to do soon. The Rebels host the Mississippi State Bulldogs (5-6) in the Egg Bowl on Nov. 28. He doesn't want rumors about his future to distract his team, especially when it can get even closer to securing the school's first CFP berth in the upcoming rivalry game.
Heartbreak for Arsenal as extent of Gabriel’s injury is revealed
Arsenal appear braced for a significant setback as star centre-back Gabriel Magalhães faces a potentially lengthy spell out through injury. The 27-year-old has been one of Mikel Arteta’s most indispensable players in recent seasons, forming the backbone of a defensive unit that has transformed the Gunners into consistent Premier League title challengers. His combination of aerial dominance, physicality and leadership, alongside his growing threat from attacking set pieces, has made him a crucial figure at both ends of the pitch. But Arsenal’s defensive stability is now under threat following Gabriel’s premature withdrawal during Brazil’s 2–0 victory over Senegal at the Emirates Stadium last weekend. Arsenal suffer Gabriel setback at crucial stage The centre-back was forced off just after the hour mark, clutching his right thigh, and was immediately released from the national team squad. His departure raised concerns within the Brazil camp and even more so among Arsenal supporters already anxious about their team’s growing injury list. According to The Athletic, further medical examinations are scheduled, but early indications suggest Gabriel may be facing up to two months on the sidelines. If confirmed, the defender would be ruled out until mid-January, missing a crucial run of fixtures during the congested winter period. A best-case scenario indicates a recovery time closer to four weeks, which could enable him to return just before Christmas, though Arsenal are said to be preparing for the longer prognosis. The timing could hardly be worse. Gabriel now joins a lengthy injury list at Arsenal, one that already included Martin Ødegaard, Viktor Gyökeres, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli, Noni Madueke and Gabriel Jesus prior to the international break. Mikel Arteta has worthy replacements in his squad Arteta, who has worked tirelessly to build depth and balance across the squad, is now facing the prospect of navigating multiple competitions without several of his most influential players. With the festive schedule approaching, Arsenal’s reliance on defensive pairing William Saliba and Cristhian Mosquera will grow. The club also have the option of Piero Hincapie, who is a versatile defender and can play as a centre-back along with playing as a left-back. The club will hope that Gabriel’s injury is not as severe as feared, but with key matches in the Premier League and Champions League looming, Arteta may be forced to rethink his short-term tactical plans. Arsenal told what they need to do if they want to sign Antoine Semenyo in January
Behind the scenes at Real Madrid: Giant club uneased by recent Chelsea activity
Real Madrid have reportedly been left uneased by something that Chelsea have done recently and that they failed to do. It’s not often that you will hear that the giants of world football Real Madrid are eased by something that little old Chelsea are doing, but that is the case behind the scenes apparently. I’ve just been writing about Estevao Willian once again in a few articles this morning, because he scored once again for the Brazilian national side last night. He’s now only second to legend of the game Pele in reaching a goalscoring milestone for his country after that goal. Former Premier League player Troy Deeney says that Estevao is Chelsea’s only real top quality winger and to be honest, I think he has a point with this statement. These are only just a couple of Estevao articles I’ve written in the last couple of weeks. The kid is on fire and people are lapping him up. The hype is madness but you can see why it’s happening. Real Madrid regret not moving for him Like every other club in the world right now, Real Madrid are regretting not trying to sign Estevao Willian before he moved to Chelsea! According to ESPN in Brazil, behind the scenes at Real Madrid, there is growing unease that the club did not enter the race for Estêvão when he was still at Palmeiras. The Brazilian gem was analysed, and the decision to not move forward is now viewed with some regret given his immediate impact at Chelsea and on the national team. Their loss, our gain A real shame for them (sense my sarcasm) as their loss is very much our gain. Chelsea have a real one here and I have no doubt that he will keep developing and get even better over time as well.
Customize Your Newsletter
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
PRIVACY POLICY EDITORIAL POLICY CONTACT US
ABOUT YARDBARKER TERMS OF SERVICE
Use of this website (including any and all parts and
components) constitutes your acceptance of these
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
This site is for entertainment purposes only.
There is no gambling offered on this site.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
