The Knicks are the most valuable team in the NBA, but they don t have the fate of a giant

On June 11, the New York Knicks are undoubtedly one of the most valuable teams in the NBA. As one of the oldest teams in the league, the Knicks' home court, Madison Square Garden, is known as the "basketball holy place" and has witnessed countless classic moments here. However, in sharp contrast to the team's huge commercial value, the Knicks have been unable to win the championship trophy for 52 years, and the last championship was dated back to the distant 1973. The history of the Knicks can be traced back to 1946 and is one of the 11 first teams in the NBA. The team made three finals in the 1950s, but all returned in a miserable way. It was not until 1970 and 1973 that the Knicks finally topped twice, led by legendary centers Willis Reed and Walter Frazer. Especially in the seventh game of the 1970 Finals, Reed's classic scene of returning with an injury is still talked about by fans.

However, the 1973 championship was the last glory of the Knicks. In the next half century, although the team's market value continued to rise, competitive performance has always been difficult to make breakthroughs. In the 1990s, the Knicks led by Patrick Ewing brought hope to fans. They made it to the Finals twice in 1994 and 1999, but lost to the Rockets and Spurs led by Olajuwon respectively. The Knicks of the Ewing era are known for their iron-blooded defense, but they always missed the championship. After entering the 21st century, the Knicks' management chaos became the main factor hindering the team's development. Team owner Dolan was criticized for interfering in team affairs, management changed frequently, and draft and trade mistakes were made. In the early 2010s, Carmelo Anthony's joining briefly ignited the enthusiasm of fans, but the team has never been able to form a competitive roster. In recent years, with the growth of players such as Julius Randle, the Knicks have begun to show signs of recovery, and 2023 is a return to the second round of the playoffs after a decade. The mismatch between the market value of the Knicks and its competitive performance reflects the unique phenomenon of modern professional sports. Madison Square Garden’s location in the heart of Manhattan, New York’s vast media market, and the team’s long historical traditions make it a favorite among sponsors and broadcasters. Even with poor record, the Knicks still ranks among the best at home, and the team's valuation has long been among the top in the league.

Analyzing the reasons why the Knicks won the championship for many years, the management's decision-making mistakes are the first to be affected. Compared with traditional giants such as the Lakers and Celtics, the Knicks lack a stable team-building idea and often sway between reconstruction and championship competition. In addition, the huge media pressure and fans' expectations in New York also put the team in the form of additional challenges in signing and cultivating new players.

Looking to the future, the Knicks are gradually getting on the right track. In recent years, the team has accumulated young talents such as Barrett and Quickley through drafts, and has obtained All-Star defender Brunson through trades. Head coach Thibodeau injected defensive resilience into the team. Although there is still a gap from the championship, the Knicks seem to have finally found the right direction for reconstruction.

52 years of waiting are a long and torment for any fan group. But the Knicks example also proves that in professional sports, market value and competitive performance are not always positively correlated. For this team with a brilliant history but long-standing struggle, the journey to glory is still challenging, but the loyalty and enthusiasm of New York fans have never faded. Perhaps in the near future, the basketball holy land will eventually witness the birth of the championship again.