3. Kristaps Porzingis in New York: Nov. 14
Last offseason didn’t go as planned for the New York Knicks. Ping-pong balls slid them down to third overall in the 2019 draft, taking them out of the running to draft Zion Williamson. Their two primary free-agent targets, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, elected to sign in the city … only with the Brooklyn Nets.
Knicks fans are used to being disappointed, but these recent events have elevated that feeling of despair to an entirely different level. All that pent up anger has to be released somewhere and what better time then at the arrival of the unicorn once thought to be capable of dragging the franchise out of the abyss.
Kristaps Porzingis rose to All-Star status in New York and despite a rocky beginning, Knicks fans came to embrace him rather quickly. They needed a savior and KP looked the part, but then he decided he no longer wanted to don the orange and blue and watched those same adoring fans turn on him just as fast.
Had the offseason played out better, maybe New York would’ve been able to easier stomach the breakup that was forced upon the organization. The franchise has some intriguing pieces, but nothing like Porzingis, and their measly 1-6 record certainly isn’t helping.
Madison Square Garden is one of the loudest arenas no matter how poorly the Knicks are playing. On this night, MSG will reach new levels of volatile, because in true New York fashion, the hero waited long enough to become the villain and he’ll have to embrace it if only for one night.