Latest news with #JohnStarks
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
"You gonna be calling me Mr. Jordan before the night is up" - John Starks recalls how he tried to intimidate Michael Jordan in his Knicks debut
Michael Jordan was a man like no other in the NBA, especially at the peak of his powers. With his remarkable mix of athleticism and extreme competitiveness, the 6'6" wingman from Wilmington, North Carolina, was in a league all on his own. Naturally, MJ had plenty of rivals. And one of the fiercest ones was the New York Knicks' feisty guard John Starks. Advertisement Although the Chicago Bulls won six championships in the 1990s, none of those title runs were cakewalks. A team that gave the Bulls stiff opposition was the Knicks. A hard-nosed squad that utilized the Detroit Pistons' blueprint in trying to rattle MJ, the Knicks weren't averse to getting physical with Jordan and his Bulls teammates. New York's poster boy for this no-nonsense, physical approach was Starks. Known for his relentless defense and fiery demeanor on the court, he was a thorn in Mike's side whenever they faced off. Long retired from the NBA and now 59, Starks still remembers the night he first faced off against Jordan and how he tried to introduce himself to him the moment he stepped foot on the floor. Excited to go up against "Air Jordan" Starks guard traveled a long and arduous path to the NBA. After wrapping up his high school career in Tulsa, Oklahoma, he attended three different colleges before going undrafted in 1998. He signed with the Golden State Warriors but didn't get many opportunities there, so he played in several different leagues before trying out for the Knicks in 1990. Advertisement John explained that guard Trent Tucker's injury created an opening in the rotation, giving him the opportunity to step onto the court. "My first game was against you guys and Michael, and so I was so excited, you know what I mean? Because I always watched Mike during college and always taped his games and studied them and what have you. So I was so excited to go out and play against them," Starks shared, remembering the details like the game happened yesterday. As excited as John was to share the floor with a player he looked up to, he was unafraid. In fact, what he did next would solidify his place as a gutsy player willing to take on any challenge. "And my first play when I got in the game, off the bench, he tried to post me up," Starks said. "And I hit him in the back of the forearm." Advertisement Recognizing the hit, "His Airness" was barely fazed, but he warned Starks that there would be repercussions for those types of actions. "He looked back at me and was like, 'All right, you gonna be calling me Mr. Jordan before the night is up,'" the former Knick revealed. Related: Scottie Pippen admits he is astounded by how Nikola Jokic plays the game of basketball: "That guy is the best player in basketball" The start of a healthy rivalry To MJ, that kind of physicality was nothing new. Having young and brash players come up to challenge him wasn't either. To prove his point, he dropped 37 points, seven rebounds, nine assists and eight steals on the Knicks in that December 1990 game. Advertisement Still, Starks didn't keep his mouth shut and even chased Mike after the final buzzer to give him some parting words. "So I ended up having a pretty good game, and as he was going off the court, I ran up to him. I said, 'You didn't get 'Mr. Jordan' out of me.' And so that's when the battle started, you know, between me and him and playing," the retired guard noted. "But it was a great experience, because obviously, you know, as a young player and you seeing guys who you look up to — while you was in college — and getting the opportunity to play against him was amazing." Starks faced Jordan in the postseason four times, losing each matchup. However, his most iconic career moment came during Game 2 of the 1993 Eastern Conference Finals, when he delivered a memorable dunk over the Bulls guard late in the game. Related: "I never saw one free agent come to the Bulls and say that they wanna play with Michael" - Scottie Pippen reinforces the notion that no other big-name players had interest in playing with MJ
Newsweek
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
Pacers vs. Knicks Series Betting Preview: ECF Odds, Picks, Best Bets
The Knicks (3) and Pacers (4) meet in this year's NBA Eastern Conference Finals in a must-see renewal of one of the best rivalries in hoops. The Knicks (3) and Pacers (4) meet in this year's NBA Eastern Conference Finals in a must-see renewal of one of the best rivalries in hoops. Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Following second-round upsets by the Knicks (3) -- who took down Eastern Conference favorite Boston in six games -- and the Pacers (4), who blew by the top-seeded Cavaliers in five games, the Eastern Conference Finals renews one of the top rivalries of the '90s. While two decades have passed since those memorable Pacers-Knicks series featuring Reggie Miller, John Starks and Co., the current Indiana and NY rosters are plenty familiar with each other from last year's conference semifinals. The Pacers won that series 4-3 amid a slew of injuries to the Knicks, but this year, they're slight underdogs going into a seeingly evenly matched Eastern Conference Finals. Including the playoffs, Indiana is 23-6 since March 11, with a 15-4 regular-season finish followed by an 8-2 postseason record. The Knicks, on the other hand, went just 11-11 over their final 22 regular-season games as Jalen Brunson missed 15 games. But they showed they can not only compete with, but beat the best teams in the league in their conference semifinal battle with the reigning champion Celtics. At full strength, will the Knicks be able to avenge last year's loss? Or will Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers be able to stay hot and send New York packing for the second time in as many years? ECF Series Betting Odds: Pacers vs. Knicks Note: The Eastern Conference Finals odds below are up to date as of Wednesday, May 21. DK FD bet365 Pacers +125 +122 +135 Knicks -145 -144 -160 Pacers-Knicks Series Spread, Total Games Odds In addition to the series winner market, other ways to bet on how this series will play out include the Series Spread and Total Games markets. Pacers vs. Knicks Eastern Conference Finals Series Spread Odds You can bet on either the Pacers or Knicks to win the series by 1.5 or 2.5 games. The winner would have to get it done in six games (4-2) to cover at -1.5, and it would need to win 4-1 (or 4-0) to cover at -2.5. The odds below come from DraftKings: NYK -1.5 (+150); IND +1.5 (-180) NYK -2.5 (+265); IND +2.5 (-330) IND -1.5 (+185); NYK +1.5 (-225) IND -2.5 (+425); NYK +2.5 (-575) Pacers vs. Knicks Total Games Odds The line on how many games Pacers-Knicks will go is set at 5.5 at most sportsbooks, including DK, FD and bet365: DraftKings: Over 5.5 (-170); Under 5.5 (+140) FanDuel: Over 5.5 (-188); Under 5.5 (+152) bet365: Over 5.5 (-190); Under 5.5 (+140) Additional series markets include Game/Series Double, Exact Games and Exact Outcome. On the player props front, you can wager on the player you expect to lead a series in points, made threes, rebounds, assists and more. Pacers vs. Knicks ECF Betting Analysis Unlike in the Western Conference Finals, neither team in Pacers vs. Knicks appears to have a decided advantage. The Knicks have the top scorer in the series in Brunson, and they might also boast the second-best offensive weapon on either team in Karl-Anthony Towns. But the Pacers are as balanced and deep as any team besides the Thunder, while the Knicks have mostly stuck to a seven-man rotation. Pacers-Knicks Regular-Season Results Oct. 25: NYK 123, IND 98 Nov. 10: IND 132, NYK 121 Feb. 11: NYK 128, IND 115 Given how long ago those three meetings all took place, there's probably not a ton to take away from those results, besides the fact that this looks like it could be a massive series for KAT. The big man averaged over 30 points and 12 rebounds per game in those matchups. Obviously, if Indiana bigs Myles Turner and Pascal Siakam don't find a way to keep Towns in check, it's hard to imagine the Pacers winning this series. Ultimately, both these teams are playing too well right now for me to predict anything other than this going seven games. Against most teams, if the game is decided in the final minutes, Brunson gives the Knicks the advantage with his late-game shotmaking. Haliburton, however, has been an excellent fourth-quarter playmaker in his own right this postseason. IND-NYK Eastern Conference Finals Best Bets The Pacers are too deep not to take at least a couple games from the Knicks, but assuming New York stays healthy, I'm going with the team with homecourt advantage to survive and advance to the Finals for the first time since 1999. On the series leader front, two intriguing value plays are OG Anunoby to make the most 3-pointers and Karl-Anthony Towns to score the most points. Series Correct Score: Knicks 4-3 (+370 at FD) -- 0.25 units OG Anunoby Most Made Threes (+550 at DK, FD, bet365) -- 0.25 units Karl-Anthony Towns Most Total Points (+550 at bet365) -- 0.25 units Newsweek may earn an affiliate commission if you sign up through the links in this article. See the sportsbook operator's terms and conditions for important details. Sports betting operators have no influence over newsroom coverage.
Fox News
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
Knicks, Pacers to rekindle epic rivalry that featured some of NBA's most iconic moments
The Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks will play Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals on Wednesday night in Madison Square Garden, where they will add another chapter to their storied playoff history. The Knicks and Pacers clashed in the playoffs six times from 1993-2000, with those series littered with heated moments between players and fans alike. Below are some of the most iconic moments from the clashes between the bitter rivals over the years. The Knicks were up to 2-0 over the Pacers in the first round of the NBA playoffs in 1993 when tempers flared in the third quarter. Knicks star guard John Starks, after scoring, was trash-talking towards Reggie Miller. The trash-talk culminated with Starks headbutting Miller. Starks was promptly ejected from the game. The Pacers won that Game 3, but the Knicks won the ensuing Game 4 and the series. However, the groundwork for the bitterness between the teams was laid with the headbutt. In 1994, the two teams met again, this time in the Eastern Conference finals. The Knicks were looking to take a commanding 3-2 lead in Game 5 and were up 70-58 in the third quarter. However, Miller dominated the fourth quarter, wheres he scored 25 of his 39 points. Throughout the fourth quarter, Miller was going back and forth with Knicks superfan Spike Lee. Miller taunted Lee by making a now-infamous choke gesture. The Pacers won that Game 5 behind Millers' strong performance but lost the next two games, and the Knicks won the series in seven games and went to the NBA Finals. For the third straight year, the Pacers and Knicks faced off in the playoffs in 1995, this time in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Miller, who had been at the heart of the rivalry, authored one of the most incredulous comebacks in NBA playoff history. The Knicks were up 105-99 with16 seconds left in the fourth quarter of Game 1 when Miller turned the game on its head by scoring eight points in nine seconds. The Pacers star drilled a 3-pointer with about 16 seconds left, then hit another 3-pointer after he stole the Knicks' inbound pass. After the Knicks missed a pair of free throws and a put-back attempt, Miller grabbed the rebound and was subsequently fouled. Miller went to the free throw line, buried two free throws, and gave the Pacers a 107-105 lead. The 1995 series, like the 1994 matchup, went the full seven games, but the Pacers prevailed this time and moved on to the Eastern Conference finals. The two teams met in the 1998 Eastern Conference semifinals, but the Pacers were heavy favorites due to Knicks' star Patrick Ewing's wrist injury. The Pacers dispatched the Knicks in five games. However, in the 1999 Eastern Conference finals, the two teams met again, and the Knicks were not as overmatched as they were the prior season. The Knicks won the series in six games, with Johnson delivering one of the most iconic shots in franchise history in Game 3. The Pacers held a 91-88 lead with six seconds left in the game when Johnson nailed a 3-pointer and was also fouled by Antonio Davis. Johnson hit the free throw to give the Knicks a 92-91 lead, and that score would hold as the Knicks snatched victory out of the jaws of defeat. The Pacers and Knicks played again in the Eastern Conference finals in 2000, and the Pacers outlasted the Knicks in six games, getting revenge for 1999. The next time the two teams met in the playoffs was 2013 in the Eastern Conference semifinals, with new stars involved to reignite the rivalry. The Paul George-led Pacers took down the Carmelo Anthony-led Knicks in six games. The two teams wouldn't see each other in the playoffs again until last season in the Eastern Conference semifinals. The Pacers dispatched a Knicks team that was decimated by injury in Game 7 with a historic shooting performance. The Pacers shot an astounding 67.1% from the field in that Game 7, good for an NBA playoff record, in their 130-109 victory. The Pacers hold a 5-3 series record over the Knicks in the playoffs and hold a 26-22 playoff record against the Knicks. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Associated Press
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Pacers-Knicks renew a rivalry with memorable moments involving Reggie Miller, Spike Lee and others
NEW YORK (AP) — The Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks have faced each other eight times in the postseason. Those matchups have produced some memorable NBA moments involving Reggie Miller, Spike Lee and others. With the teams set to meet again in the Eastern Conference finals beginning Wednesday, a look at some of those notable highlights. Headbutt The first playoff meeting between the teams came in the first round of the 1993 postseason. The Knicks led 2-0 and were trying to complete a sweep of the best-of-five series when guard John Starks believed Reggie Miller was getting away with fouling him and became frustrated. As they ran downcourt face-to-face exchanging words, Starks leaned in and headbutted Miller. Starks was ejected and the Pacers went on to win the game. Choke! The Knicks were up 70-58 after three quarters in Game 5 of the 1994 Eastern Conference finals, seemingly on their way to a 3-2 lead in the series. Miller then scored 25 points in the fourth quarter to rally the Pacers to a 93-86 victory, taunting Knicks superfan Spike Lee on the sideline by making a choke signal. The Knicks would win the next two games to reach the NBA Finals. 8 points, 9 seconds Miller's flurry to steal Game 1 of the 1995 Eastern Conference semifinals remains one of the most memorable and improbable comebacks in NBA history. The Knicks led 105-99 before Miller quickly hit a 3-pointer with about 16 seconds left after Indiana inbounded from the sideline. He then stole Anthony Mason's inbounds pass, dribbled backward and fired in another 3 to tie the game. Starks then missed two free throws, Patrick Ewing missed a follow shot and Miller grabbed the rebound and was fouled, hitting both free throws to make it 107-105 with 7.5 seconds remaining. 'Mason choked and threw it to me, I hit a 3, and we almost cost us the game when Sam (Mitchell) made that foul, but John Starks choked and we came up big,' Miller said in his postgame interview with NBC on the court. LJ's 4-point play The highlight play of New York's run to the 1999 NBA Finals as a No. 8 seed came in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Pacers. With the Knicks trailing 91-88, Larry Johnson made a 3-pointer as he was fouled by Indiana's Antonio Davis with 5.7 seconds remaining. Johnson hit the free throw to complete the four-point play and the Knicks held on to win 92-91. A record romp The Pacers had one of the best offenses in NBA history in 2023-24 and used it to carve up the Knicks in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. The Pacers shot 67.1% from the field, an NBA playoff record, in their 130-109 victory in Madison Square Garden. Tyrese Haliburton led the way with 26 points, then wore a sweatshirt with a picture of Miller making the choke sign to Lee at MSG to his postgame news conference. ___ AP NBA:
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Knicks fans console themselves in wild MSG scene that includes new chant, shots of honey
A little rain and a lot of disappointment didn't stop the party. A smaller — but still raucous — crowd of Knicks fans still gathered outside of Madison Square Garden after they witnessed their team getting bludgeoned by the Celtics, 127-102, at a watch party on Wednesday. Advertisement The fans could not celebrate but instead changed their chant to 'Knicks in six' with the series now headed back to MSG for Game 6 on Friday night. Knicks fans gather outside MSG after New York lost to the Celtics on May 14, 2025. NY Post Inside, Knicks fans and former team greats — including John Starks, Jamal Crawford, Bernard King, J.R. Smith and Larry Johnson — watched as Boston pulled away in the second half after the game was tied 59-59 at the half. Follow The Post's coverage of the Knicks in the 2025 NBA Playoffs Sports+ subscribers: Sign up for Inside the Knicks to get daily newsletter coverage and join Expert Take for insider texts about the series. One fan even slammed a 'shot' of honey in honor of Jalen Brunson, who fouled out in the fourth quarter. Advertisement Others took out their frustration by ripping Celtics big man Kristaps Porzingis, LeBron James and old enemy Trae Young. A Knicks fan slams honey outside of MSG. NY Post The fans will now need to bring that energy Friday night with pressure back on the Knicks to finish off the series before a potential do-or-die Game 7 in Boston. Fan Liam Walker, a Hoboken, N.J. resident, said he believes the Knicks can close out the series at home. 'Yeah, I just think they were up 3-1 … 'Oh, Tatum's hurt, too, we got this in the bag.' And they just didn't prepare properly,' Walker said. 'You kinda could see it, like OG played terrible and then Brunson was a little too crazy. I think we'll win it at home on Friday.' Advertisement The area outside Madison Square Garden has become a festive place for Knicks fans to enjoy games throughout this postseason run, with the team hosting watch parties, though the Game 5 edition happened inside The World's Famous Arena on Wednesday night due to the inclement weather. Knicks fans were still in decent spirits after the game. NY Post Knicks fans took over the area after their 121-113 win in Game 4, with several chants reverberating throughout the area, including 'Knicks in five.'
