It’s been a long time coming, but the New York Knicks are finally back where their fans have always hoped they’d be — the Eastern Conference Finals. After grinding past the Celtics in six tough games, they’re now just one step away from the NBA Finals, chasing a title that’s been out of reach since 1973. And the last obstacle in their way? The Indiana Pacers. Talk about déjà vu. Will history repeat itself, or can the Knicks flip the script and bring a title home?
To really feel the weight of this moment, let’s rewind to that 2000 Knicks roster. At the center of it was the 7-foot defensive anchor, Patrick Ewing. He was joined by All-Star sharpshooter Allan Houston and the electrifying trio of Latrell Sprewell, Larry Johnson, and Charlie Ward, along with the veteran trio of Marcus Camby, Kurt Thomas, and Chris Childs. And notably, on that roster was Rick Brunson—now back with the team as an assistant coach and father to today’s star point guard, Jalen Brunson. That generational connection between past and present runs deeper than most fans might realize.
Because for Patrick Ewing, this moment isn’t just about Knicks history—it’s also deeply personal. His relationship with the Brunsons spans decades. “I’ve been knowing him since he’s been like 2,” Ewing said of the 28-year-old while talking on The Rematch Show. “He was two years old when his dad was bringing him around us. I took the Knicks to Jamaica on a vacation. I remember seeing videos of little Jalen with my little kids just walking around the islands, and my daughter Randi carrying him around on her back.” Years later, Ewing would cross paths with Jalen again—this time on opposing sidelines, no longer player and child, but coach and rising star.
“When I was coaching at Georgetown [2017-23],” Ewing recalled with a laugh, “I told him after he was kicking my b—, you know, I’m like, ‘If I knew I was going to coach one day, and if I knew that you was going to be this good, I would’ve been recruiting you from back then.’” The admiration runs deep—and so does the playful regret. Well, the regret is not wrong. Jalen has emerged as the team’s undeniable leader, averaging 28.8 points and a playoff career-high 7.7 assists per game. Even more impressively, he’s leading all players with 114 fourth-quarter points, averaging 9.5 points in the last frame over 12 games. In the most high-pressure moments, Brunson Burner has shown no hesitation, confidently taking the reins and delivering with poise.
But more than anything, Ewing sees Jalen as someone he’s watched grow into greatness. “He’s always working to be his best,” he said. “And I’m there to support him, I’m there to give encouragement, give words of wisdom—or criticism when he needs.” That’s not just a Hall of Famer talking. That’s someone who sees him like family.
And now, with the Knicks back in the ECF, Ewing is right there, cheering them on. “Seeing the Knicks back in the Eastern Conference Finals after all these years is great,” he said. “The team, everybody has done an absolutely amazing job to get us to this point. And I’m praying that Jalen and the guys and everybody else do their thing to be able to come away and bring the city a title.”
As much as the Knicks would try to put up a strong fight against the Pacers, we cannot deny the history they carry… and that’s a little scary for the New York fans.
Knicks vs. Pacers: Will history repeat itself?
This is round nine of this postseason rivalry since 1993, as reported by Yahoo Sports, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. Last time they met, the Pacers broke Knicks fans’ hearts in a Game 7. This time? The Knicks have a home-court advantage, a new core, and a very different feel. The Knicks went 51-31 this season and just knocked off the No. 1-seed Celtics, with four of their starters scoring 20+ in the closeout. Right now, New York’s looking like a different beast, with Brunson and Mikal Bridges. And Karl-Anthony Towns? He torched Indiana for 30.3 per game this season. The biggest worry? Consistency. New York was just 28-21 after January 1 and had to scratch past Detroit in round one.
Indiana, meanwhile, comes in red-hot. The Pacers went 50-32 and have been playing .724 basketball since New Year’s — that’s a 59-win pace. They’re also 4-1 on the road this postseason. Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam have been All-NBA level, and their six-man, 50%-shooting crew in round two tied an NBA record. The only red flag? Injuries to opposing stars helped them through the first two rounds.
So, what’s going to give? The Knicks took the season series 2-1, including a 40-point night from KAT — but Indiana’s lone win came with 35 from Haliburton and 38 from Mathurin. The matchup chess is real: Turner on Towns didn’t work, and Nesmith vs. Brunson could swing everything. Brunson lit up Nembhard last playoffs (67 points, 66.7%), but shot just 45% on Nesmith. Thibs will ride his iron five, while the Pacers go 11-deep. If New York stays locked in defensively, they could flip the script — but if Indy controls the tempo, they might crash the party again.
Whatever the result, Knicks fans — and the franchise’s legends — are just glad to see the drought finally broken. Like Patrick Ewing said, they’re all hoping for the same thing now: “Ultimate goal is to hopefully win.”
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