Before the doors had even opened to the public hours ahead of game time, it already felt different at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night.
NBA history was acknowledged by T-shirts commemorating the 75th anniversary of the league and franchise draped over every seat. The announcement of the second 25 group of players named to the 75th Anniversary Team came early in the day and included Patrick Ewing and Walt Frazier, joining Willis Reed, who had been part of the first group revealed Tuesday, bringing more history into focus.
After decades of dysfunction and more losses than they’d like to count, the Knicks arrived for the season opener still floating with the success of last season, high expectations and a sense that maybe the glory days weren’t that far off from returning.
Earl Monroe and Bernard King went to center court shortly before game time for a ceremonial opening tip and then Julius Randle stepped up to the microphone and said, “Knicks fans, we here. Welcome to opening night. We promise this season to go out and compete as hard as we can, give our best effort. We know that’s what you guys deserve.’ He then finished with, “New York, stand up,” which wasn’t needed on this night.
While coach Tom Thibodeau spearheaded the turnaround for the franchise last season, Randle was key on the court, earning second-team All-NBA honors and the league’s Most Improved Player Award. Now, with the addition of hometown hero Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier to take some of the offensive burden off of Randle, the Knicks entered the season in a different state of mind.
It wasn’t just the hopes for the team though, but for the entire city as the Garden was filled to capacity after spending much of last season with no fans in the cavernous arena.
“Hopefully, we can get back to normal,” Thibodeau said before the game. “It’s always great – optimism when the season starts, the freshness of the season. You always look forward to that., the excitement of having our fans back. We feel we have the best fans in the world, the best arena in the world. And we know what the Knicks mean to the city.”
When they are winning it certainly means more. Among the celebrities dotting the front rows were Jon Stewart, Michael J. Fox, Q-Tip, Tracy Morgan, Dustin Hoffman and former Knicks King, Monroe, Latrell Sprewell and David Lee. With a full house, the famous faces back and a loud welcome to Walker it was a return to normal, or what used to be normal for the Knicks long ago.
“What happened last season, that [stuff] is over with,” Randle said Tuesday. “It’s on to a new one. That’s it. Focus on that. Day at a time.”
And on the first play of the season, Randle drained a three-point field goal and after a steal by Walker and a missed layup, Mitchell Robinson soared in to slam the follow home, igniting a huge roar from the crowd.
The Knicks mostly echoed their coach in the one game, one day, at a time approach. But they believe that they are ready to live up to the expectations that will accompany them into this season.
“Chaos. Definitely expecting chaos,” Randle said Tuesday of his expectations for opening night. “The city is excited to get basketball back. We’re excited. It’ll be fun.
“I think we’ve done a great job of preparing ourselves. Before training camp, training camp, preseason – we’ve done a great job of making sure we do what we need to do. So I think we’re ready.”
