Jason Burgos
New York Governor Kathy Hochul had a chance to deliver a solid jab at President Donald Trump over a claim that he’s been a lifelong New York Knicks fan. Unfortunately, she shot. And missed badly.
Over the last month, the Knicks have brought a shocking amount of joy to sports fans in the Big Apple, and it is understandable why. The team has won 11 straight with an incredible amount of unselfish play, great shot-making, and stellar defense. They have performed at a historic level en route to their first trip to the NBA Finals since 1999.
Their run of success has become a topic of conversation all over the city, and even during press conferences with city and state officials. Avid Knicks fan and Mayor of New York, Zohran Mamdani, has been questioned about the team in nearly all of his interviews and pressers in recent weeks. And on Wednesday, Governor Kathy Hochul was asked about the team.
However, this question wasn’t about her thoughts on their play or the Knicks’ chances in the Finals. Instead, it was a softball question that gave her a chance to take a jab at President Trump. A man who is not well-liked throughout the Democrat leaning state.
A member of the media asked Hochul for her thoughts about a New York Times article claiming Trump was a lifelong Knicks fan. He could be found courtside on occasion in the 1990s and 2000s at Knicks games and is reportedly set to be at one of this year’s NBA Finals matchups after getting an invite from the team’s owner, Jim Dolan.
NY Governor references the 1993 NY Knicks championship team?
In response to the question, Hochul aimed to question how serious a Knicks fan the president was when she said, “I’d ask him to name the starting lineup of the 1993 Championship team and see how he does.”
While she clearly thought it was a zinger, the comment unfortunately fell flat with Knicks fans because it doesn’t make much sense. Much to their chagrin, supporters of the team are well aware that they haven’t won a championship since 1973. They reached the NBA Finals twice during the 1990s. But that was in 1994 and 1999. Not 1993.
It’s possible she could have meant a team that won the Eastern Conference Championship, but that also wasn’t in 1993. It was in 1994. In one fell swoop, Hochul showed why Mayor Mamdani remains the best Knicks fan who is also an elected official.
