With the 2010s closing for the New York Knicks, a look back at the “Linsanity” that took over basketball.
As a New York Knicks fan, this title was difficult to develop, because in all ways this is just not true, one good thing truly happened in this entire decade.
Looking back on these 10 years, as 2020 makes its way closer to reality, the Knicks accomplished few successful things that were an accomplishment.
When the Knicks traded for Carmelo Anthony in 2011 to join Amar’e Stoudemire, it seemed like the upcoming decade would be one filled with playoffs, championships and celebrations.
However, the Anthony and Stoudemire duo provided only three trips to the playoffs, and only made the conference finals as their furthest accomplishment.
After Stoudemire left, there were no more trips to the playoffs. Many may consider the 2012-13 trip to the conference finals as one of the highlights of the decade, and while that might be true, it came with a lot of disappointment.
Looking back, this duo, or just Anthony alone was supposed to bring the Knicks back to greatness, but instead there were years of dysfunction and disappointment.
Instead, what I consider to be the greatest Knicks moment of the decade, was one that was not confounded by disappointment, but one filled with excitement, passion, and folklore. Let’s get into it:
It was Feb. 4, 2012, an innocent day in the middle of a dreadful stretch of the season for the Knicks where they had lost 11 of their last 13. Mike D’Antoni went to the bench and called upon undrafted point guard Jeremy Lin, an interesting choice, but one that would pay dividends. He scored 25 points, had 6 assists and totaled 5 rebounds, but this was just the beginning, what would happen for the next month would go down in history as “Linsanity.”
Madison Square Garden, New York City, the United States and basically the whole world, began to hear about Jeremy Lin and what he was doing with the Knicks. An undrafted player from Harvard University, sparking one of the most storied franchise, in one of the most historic arenas, in front of the Knicks faithful.
It was literally a fairytale for both Jeremy Lin and Knicks fans. A Hollywood storyline come to life, in front of everyone’s eyes.
He stole the focus of the city that never sleeps, and that is hard to do. Jeremy Lin became a folk hero, he did not shy away from the spotlight, and when he got his chance, he took full advantage of it.
There was no part to “Linsanity” that was a disappointment, there were no expectations, everything that Lin did was gravy. A benchwarmer turned hero, what was there not to enjoy.
“Linsanity” without a doubt was the best Knicks moment over this decade. The New York Knicks fans felt a lot of disappointment and anger throughout these past 10 years, but the moment Jeremy Lin took center stage, there was no more anger. Just fans sitting in aw, jaws dropping to the floor, watching a 6-foot-3 point guard from Harvard do unbelievable things in the world’s greatest arena.