New York Knicks: Reshaping the future by learning from the past
By Eric Snyder
Learning from the past is a hallmark of highly successful people and organizations. The New York Knicks’ plan to rebuild must include a trip back to the 1990s.
New York Knicks fans and NBA fans in general remember the 1990s with fondness. The brand of basketball was very different, as was the product on the Madison Square Garden floor. Patrick Ewing and John Starks owned New York and led the Knicks with the kind of competence not seen since.
While an NBA championship may have eluded them, the Knicks were consistently in the mix for a postseason run. The Knicks of the 90’s were one of most respected teams and organizations in that decade.
Snapping back to the modern reality of Phil Jackson and Carmelo Anthony reveals just how far the Knicks have fallen. Once respected for defensive toughness, the Knicks now are more of a punchline in NBA circles.
The style of play in the NBA has changed drastically in the last two decades. Yet, much can still be learned from the greatness of the 1990s New York Knicks. Basketball is still basketball and the principles of building a winning team have not changed.
There are three identifiable ways the New York Knicks built their dynasty in the 1990s. One of those ways is at the top of the list for Phil Jackson in the next few weeks: the NBA Draft.