Welcome, NY Knicks fans, to the (insert number here) annual First Half Award Show!
*Trumpets flair, does a little dance*
I’m your host, James Ryder! Now, when the Knicks first asked me to host this show and present these awards tonight, I asked them, “Why do you want me to do it? I have no hosting or award show experience.”
And they responded, “C’mon man, you know the deal, this is the Knicks. We are not super accustomed to a great hiring process around here. Also, we just hired a whole front office with no front office experience, and they are doing a great job!”
(Editor’s note: I don’t agree with the above sentiment, not even one bit.)
It was a fair point. I had to agree.
I agree so much in fact that I would argue it is thanks to the new front office that the team has played such a great first half. They have more than exceeded expectations, which is saying a lot when you’re just a game over .500 at the all-star break.
Not only that, but the Knicks have several personnel members who have a shot to win actual NBA awards at the end of this season.
We may see the newly minted all-star Julius Randle make an All-NBA Team or even win Most Improved Player. Maybe both.
We may see Tom Thibodeau win his second Coach of the Year Award. And Immanuel Quickley looks primed for an appearance on an NBA All-Rookie Team.
But that’s a conversation for another day.
Awarding the most deserving NY Knicks from the first half.
Because today (as the title of the article and the musical number should have told you) we will be awarding Knicks players who have specifically had great first halves of the season.
This means 3 traditional NBA award titles will be crowned to the guys who have impressed so far through the team’s first 37 games only.
These are not predictions for the winners of the official awards at the end of the season, nor does this mean that any other players on the roster can’t be jealous that I didn’t pick them and inevitably have stellar second halves.
Let’s start the show!