Watching the Knicks stay kinda competitive with the Heat on this Christmas morning made me think about the good ‘ole days when I lived in New York, the 90s. New York made the playoffs every year in that decade. One of my favorite Knicks was Anthony Mason. A New York dude (he was originally from Queens), Mason started with the Knicks in 1991. With Xavier McDaniel, Charles Oakley and Patrick Ewing, the Knicks back then were a physical team. Mase was a big part of it. He had a rough-tough game and a cockiness that I admired.

He was also the originator of the message in the hair (you’re welcome Artest), which he would change regularly. In 1995, Mase topped the best season of his Knicks career by winning the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award.

In 1996, Mason was traded for Larry Johnson. And with any mention of LJ, I have to mention this:

I was there at the Garden. I remember just being in a frenzy when LJ hit the three. Everyone was on their feet. We didn’t even realize there was a foul at first, we just knew he hit the three. And then word spread throughout the stands and I just remember screaming and jumping. A true moment of joy. (Thanks for taking me to the game, George.) That 1999 team included Patrick Ewing, Larry Johnson, Latrell Sprewell, Allan Houston, Charlie Ward, Marcus Camby, Kurt Thomas, John Wallace, and Chris Childs. I loved that team.