The New York Knicks have finally done it. The team’s landed Zion Williamson. Just kidding, but while that could happen one day, Stan Van Gundy highly doubts it will.
Who is he to rob Knicks fans of their joy? Even if it isn’t realistic. He out of all people should understand New York’s past, given that his brother Jeff coached the Knicks for over a decade. Maybe Stan is just jealous that his little brother could keep a coaching job for that long.
Either way, Stan has an understanding and a relationship with Williamson since he coached the Pelicans during the 2020-21 season before he was fired after one year. During that time period, Williamson played in 61 games and averaged 27 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists.
And guess what? He could’ve been putting those numbers up with New York, but the Knicks landed the No. 3 overall pick in the 2019 draft instead of the coveted No. 1 spot. However, that pick turned out to be RJ Barrett, so it’s not like New York got shorted.
There’s been talk about the Knicks bringing Williamson to Madison Square Garden to play alongside his former Duke teammate, but Stan doesn’t see that happening.
Stan Van Gundy talks on Zion Williamson ending up with #Knicks - or not #NBA https://t.co/PoOCVJc9Hw
— Marc Berman (@NYPost_Berman) April 24, 2022
Stan Van Gundy doesn’t believe New York Knicks can land Zion Williamson.
Although fans’ first instinct should be to defend New York, what Van Gundy said on the topic of Williamson is undeniable.
"“It’s always a plan that all these free agents want to come there,” Van Gundy told The Post. “And their fans think everybody wants to come to New York to play. But what is the example of that to use — the high-profile free agents who have come there? A lot of New Yorkers think everyone has New York at the top of their list and the Knicks are picking and choosing. That’s not the way it’s been working the last 20-plus years.”"
Ouch. It hurts but it’s true. The tide seems to be shifting with the Knicks, but there’s not a strong indication to believe that Williamson will end up in New York. That isn’t to say that it won’t happen, though.
Fans use what Williamson said about playing in MSG as a reason why he’s going to join the Knicks and Van Gundy addressed that too. He said:
"“I don’t know a player who didn’t like going to the Garden,” Van Gundy said. “I never understood the allure of it myself. But the players think it’s a big deal to play [there], from everybody I coached. That doesn’t mean they want to play for the Knicks or live there.”"
Once again, he’s not wrong, but he didn’t have to take a shot at MSG in the process. It’s called the Mecca of Basketball for a reason, which is why players love playing there.
*throws Molotov cocktail onto the timeline* pic.twitter.com/8pIeG2x4G5
— Kazeem Famuyide 🇳🇬 🍎 (@Kazeem) April 18, 2021
Wouldn’t it be nice to see Williamson join New York? As long as he could stay healthy, his arrival would benefit the Knicks for multiple reasons.
Williamson didn’t play in a single game in the 2021-22 season and without him, New Orleans advanced past the play-in tournament to the first round of the playoffs. If the Pelicans decide to trade him, he’d come at a steep price. He’s set to make $13.5 million in 2022-23 and has a qualifying offer of $17.6 million for 2023-24.
Although his current run in New Orleans hasn’t gone as planned, New York’s front office would have to be willing to lay it all out on the table to acquire Williamson. And in order for that to happen, he’d have to at least show interest in joining the Knicks. Van Gundy could be right, but wouldn’t it be nice to see him be wrong?
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