The Knicks' Belief

The New York Knicks are the NBA Champions, and after years of disappointment and struggle, fans are celebrating an unbelievable run that has rejuvenated the city.

Many layers make this championship so remarkable and special, as this team demonstrated grit, resilience, teamwork, and poise on its way to historic comebacks (three of the top six among the biggest comebacks in NBA Finals history).

They also dominated throughout the playoffs, posting a 16-3 record, finishing with the all-time largest playoff point differential, and winning 8 straight road games.

With countless words to describe this Knicks team, what they accomplished, and what this championship means to New York, the one word that was the foundation and common thread is “belief.”

Unlike other Knicks teams, this team didn't chase big-name superstars. As writer Ramona Shelburne put it in her article on ESPN.com, “These Knicks were built on belief, not big swings.” 

Meriam Webster defines belief as “a state or habit of mind in which trust or confidence is placed in some person or thing.”

From the top down, the New York Knicks displayed their trust and confidence in each other, and that belief drove their actions and empowered them at every step.

The new era of Knicks basketball began with owner James Dolan's belief in NBA agent Leon Rose, whom he hired in 2020 as the Knicks' president.

Rose, who stepped into a first-time role, is credited with orchestrating this championship roster, and as we reflect on each decision, we see the role belief played.

Rose was a successful agent who had been around the NBA for a long time, once representing elite players like LeBron James, but his first client was Rick Brunson in 1995. 

He stuck with Rick and kept believing in him, even when it took him three years to get him a job as an NBA player. Rick played nine seasons as a journeyman player and was on the 1999 Knicks team that lost in the NBA Finals. 

Along the way, Rick and his wife, Sandra, had their son, Jalen, who would go on to follow in his dad’s footsteps by playing basketball. He won a high school state championship, two national championships at Villanova, and he just led the Knicks to the NBA Championship. 

Despite Jalen Brunson’s track record as a consistent winner, he was a second-round pick in the NBA Draft, as not everyone believed he could be a Finals MVP and one of the most clutch players the sport has seen. 

Brunson, however, believed in himself and his work ethic. 

His mom, Sandra Brunson, commented in Ramona Shelburne’s article, "All I can say is it's about belief. I remember asking Jalen during his junior year of college if there was one word that he would use to encompass everything he's about. He said, 'Belief.'" 

Leon Rose also believed in Jalen and signed him to the Knicks in free agency in 2022, after adding his dad, Rick, as an assistant coach a month earlier. Relationships matter!

That belief in Jalen was significant, given that he averaged only 16.3 points per game the year before in Dallas, and most people didn't think he was worth the big contract the Knicks gave him.

Rose believed he could build the Knicks around Brunson and was willing to take big risks to do so. He traded for his former Villanova teammates, Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges, as well as the polarizing Karl-Anthony Towns.

He believed that OG Anunoby, who won a championship with the Raptors, would be the right fit, so he traded for him. Aunoby became the hero of Game 4 with the epic game-winning tip-in.

Belief not only triggered these important moves and Brunson's career but also empowered them at key moments.

Even when the Knicks faced huge deficits in the Finals, they always believed they could come back and win. Jalen Brunson came up with huge shot after huge shot and had the belief that he could score when he needed to.

Over the last six years, fans and the media questioned and doubted the Knicks' bold moves, specifically Brunson's abilities or size. Still, there was so much belief within the organization and the locker room.

Belief encompasses everything Jalen Brunson is about, and belief is what has built the Knicks. Ultimately, they have a Larry O'Brien Trophy to show for it.

It's one thing for belief to lead to trophies and accolades, but when our lives are about belief and built on belief in Jesus, everything changes both now and eternally.

Romans 10:9-10 (AMP) says, “... because if you acknowledge and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord [recognizing His power, authority, and majesty as God], and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart a person believes [in Christ as Savior], resulting in his justification [that is, being made righteous—being freed of the guilt of sin and made acceptable to God]; and with the mouth he acknowledges and confesses [his faith openly], resulting in and confirming [his] salvation.”

When our belief (our trust and confidence) is in Him as our Savior, we are empowered at every step to keep going, live victoriously, and do eternally significant things while on earth.

Jesus tells us in John 14:12 (AMP), “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, anyone who believes in Me [as Savior] will also do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these [in extent and outreach], because I am going to the Father.”

We don’t just believe in ourselves, but our belief is attached to the One who is victorious over sin and death, and the One who gives us good gifts and abilities for His purposes and glory. We believe in what He has done, is doing, and will do.

We must, though, contemplate what we actually believe about God and consider how our beliefs drive our actions.

Do we believe He is good? Then we don’t worry.

Do we believe His Word is true? Then we obey.

Do we believe His way is best? Then we seek Him.

Do we believe we are in Christ and no longer condemned? Then we live free.

Do we believe He is all-powerful and can do anything? Then we hope.

Do we believe Jesus is coming back? Then we prepare.

Do we believe we are a child of God? Then we live boldly.

Our lives reveal the answers to those questions. Let’s ask Jesus to help us with our unbelief and place our trust and confidence in Him above all else.

Today, just as the Knicks made trades and signings based on their beliefs and overcame huge deficits because they believed Brunson would carry them, let's make choices that reflect that our lives are built on our belief in Jesus.

Let’s believe we will overcome life's deficits because we know Jesus will carry us!

I’m Bryce Johnson, and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I believe You sent Jesus to be my Lord and Savior, and I’m so grateful I’m victorious because of His death and resurrection. Please help my unbelief, and I pray that my life would be marked by beliefs built on You and Your truth, so that my actions bring You glory and I live the life You designed for me. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.