Knicks in '26: They Played For Those Who Came Before Them
Basketball season will start again soon, which means I'll have to stop celebrating the Knicks magical run to the championship in 2026 before long, but not yet! I'd like to wrap up our coverage of my favorite ever Knicks team by taking a look way back, and with a little help from a Villanova legend.
When Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges were busy winning national titles at Villanova, Jay Wright was constantly in their ears about the history of Wildcat basketball. In Wright's mind, a major reason for his team's success was the effort that prior teams put into building a successful program. His national title teams simply provided the final tap of the rock that Villanova squads had been hammering on for years. "We play for those who came before us" is a mantra that every Villanova Basketball fan is now familiar with.
With that attitude instilled in them as teenagers, you can bet that Brunson, Hart, and Bridges have a healthy knowledge of the Knicks' glory years in the late 60's and early 70's. Sure enough, the more I watched the Knicks' playoff run in 2026, the more I saw parallels to the days When the Garden Was Eden. They both mastered position-less basketball, played greater than the sum of their parts, and were chock full of unique and distinct characters. So I thought it would be fun to draw straight lines from the players on this championship team to those from 50+ years ago. Here goes...
Jalen Brunson ---> Willis Reed
As a young Knicks fan in the 90's, Willis Reed always seemed more myth than man to me. All I knew was grainy footage of him brawling with entire teams, dominating in the post, and of course, limping onto the Garden floor to inspire his teammates to victory. Reading about him years later I fully understood that he was the heart, soul, and muscle of that team, an MVP that earned every bit of his legendary status. In Game Five of the 2026 NBA Finals Jalen Brunson literally slayed a giant and entered himself into the mythical territory of Willis Reed.
OG Anunoby ---> Walt Frazier
Reed wouldn't have won two championships in New York without Walt Frazier supporting him and the same could be said for Brunson and OG. Frazier was often the Knick with the knack when it was needed, especially when putting together one of the greatest Game Seven's of all time in 1970. OG gave us the greatest Knick knack ever to close out Game Four in 2026. They're both defensive maestros capable of taking over games on the other end of the floor as well. Walt "Clyde" Frazier was the epitome of cool in 1970's New York City. OG is re-defining cool as we speak.
Josh Hart ---> Dave DeBusschere & Bill Bradley
As an undersized power forward, Dave DeBusschere was routinely matched up with men that towered over him yet he usually found the upper hand. Bill Bradley was a college superstar who was too small to be a forward, but not fast enough to be a guard in the NBA, yet he thrived in both positions. Put those two descriptions together and you basically have Josh Hart. He was a legitimate star and go-to scorer at Villanova, but has become the ultimate glue guy for the Knicks. Something tells me that DeBusschere and Dollar Bill would have loved to run the court with him.
Karl-Anthony Towns ---> Earl Monroe
In their quest for a second championship, the Knicks made a blockbuster trade to acquire Earl "The Pearl" Monroe. At the time, many were skeptical that adding another ball-handling guard next to Walt Frazier wouldn't work, and there was certainly some growing pains at first. A season later, the Knicks finished the season with a champagne shower. Two years ago the Knicks landed Karl-Anthony Towns in a blockbuster trade just before the season began. As a ball-dominant center, there were legitmate concerns about how Towns would mesh Brunson and the gang. After a few false starts, Towns found the right attitude and style of play to fit in seamlessly with the Knicks just in time for the 2026 playoffs. His reward was a parade in lower Manhattan.
Mikal Bridges ---> Dick Barnett
Dick Barnett came to the Knicks as a thin, wiry guard who played tough defense and had a funky-looking but deadly mid-range jumper. If that doesn't describe Mikal Bridges, then I don't know what does. The similarities don't stop there. Both Barnett and Bridges had a blue-collar upbringing, won multiple championships in college, and were always good for some unexpected humor in the locker room.
Mitchell Robinson ---> Phil Jackson
Phil Jackson struggled with injuries through his entire Knick career but when got on the court he found a valuable role and thrived in it. At 6-foot-8 with a wingspan that seemed twice that, he provided instant defense by attacking the opposing team with a swarm of arms and legs that could disrupt even Buddy Rich's rhythm. Mitch's ailments are well-documented at this point and it was a struggle for him to stay on the active roster in recent years. But when he was able to go, the Knicks were simply a different team on the defensive end of the floor. A 7-foot beast, he could anchor the post while darting out to cover for breakdowns at any spot within the 3-point line. I'll miss you, Mitch <3.
Miles McBride & Landry Shamet ---> Cazzie Russell & Dave Stallworth
Cazzie Russell and Dave "The Rave" Stallworth were talented first round picks whose roles diminished as their careers with the Knicks wore on. Still, they played key roles in brief moments when needed down the stretch en route to the Knicks' first championship in 1970. Deuce and Landry reminded us in 2026 that having a surplus of talent is never a bad thing. Both have spent their Knick careers weaving in and out of the rotation but no matter what their role was they were always ready. They each caught fire at various points during the playoff run and singlehandedly kept the Knicks in some games.
Jose Alvarado ---> Dean Meminger
Dean "The Dream" was a severely undersized guard who could somehow be a lock down defender. Sound familiar? In the final game of the 1973 Eastern Conference finals Meminger got surprise minutes in the second half and neutralized Celtics Hall of Famer Jo Jo White on the way to the Knicks' second championship. I was utterly shocked to see Jose Alvarado playing during crunch time of Game Four in the 2026 Finals, but his tenacious defense and clutch shooting justified his presence, just like The Dream 53 years prior.
Jordan Clarkson ---> Jerry Lucas
I tried desperately to make a connection between Jerry Lucas and Jordan Clarkson but all I got is that they both won championships with the Knicks, which is good enough for me. Cheers!
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