New York Knicks Legend Predicts NBA Finals Run

New York Knicks legend John Starks predicted that the Knicks would make an NBA Finals run this year, just like his squad did in 1994. Read on for Starks’ recent statement in an exclusive interview with Covers so that you can make an informed decision.

New York Knicks Legend Predicts NBA Finals Run

New York Knicks Alumni Relations and Fan Development Advisor John Starks played for the Knicks from 1990 to 1998. Starks, 60, went undrafted in 1988. He began his NBA career with the Golden State Warriors from 1988-89 and retired with the Utah Jazz in 2002.

Starks spent eight years with the Knicks, with whom he became an NBA All-Star in 1994 and NBA Sixth Man of the Year in 1997. He became the first player in NBA history to make at least 200 three-pointers in a single season in 1993-94. He led New York to the 1994 NBA Finals, alongside fellow legend Patrick Ewing. Ewing, 63, currently serves as a Basketball Ambassador for the team.

Starks’ eight-year tenure with the Knicks was his longest and most memorable. He executed a play — where he faked Ewing’s screen to the left but then drove to the baseline and dunked it over Michael Jordan and Horace Grant — that was later dubbed as “the Dunk.”

Despite trailing the No. 1-seeded Detroit Pistons, Starks said that New York is the team to beat in the Eastern Conference. He recently told Covers that New York’s blowout of the San Antonio Spurs 114-89 at Madison Square Garden on March 1 contributed to his current belief.

“I feel like we’re the best team in the East,” said Starks. “I really do. I know Detroit has the record over us, and I know Boston is ahead of us right now. But when I saw that San Antonio game, it’s almost like when you dangle some meat in front of some guys, and they go get it. That’s what it looked like to me. That told me that they can beat anybody in this league.”

In short, New York blew out a Victor Wembanyama-led Spurs squad. New York’s blowout of San Antonio showed strength, success, and resilience. It’s also important to note that Detroit has been without its star player, Cade Cunningham. Cunningham, 24, is out indefinitely with a collapsed lung.

New York Knicks’ Outlook

The New York Knicks’ outlook appears to be bright, per Starks. Starks expressed confidence in New York’s potential NBA Finals run this year, which would be the team’s first Finals appearance since 1999.

However, Starks said that New York must be more consistent against the top teams in the NBA, including the Detroit Pistons. He stressed the importance of the team to stay grounded and beat good teams, like the Pistons, Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Los Angeles Lakers.

Starks had high praise for New York’s pair of Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns. He praised Brunson’s aggression on the offensive end before praising Towns’ effort on the defensive end. He added that the Knicks increased their defensive intensity in recent weeks.

Knicks’ Next Steps

The Knicks are a red-hot team right now. New York entered Tuesday’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans with a six-game win streak and left with a 121-116 win, a 48-25 record, and a seven-game winning streak.

The Knicks open a four-game road trip starting at the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. Eastern. New York can potentially beat Charlotte for a potential eight-game win streak by displaying offensive and defensive dominance, while outpacing in points per game and rebounds per game.