The Knicks are on the verge of their deepest playoff run in 24 years. But at least one NBA personality still isn't convinced New York is a legitimate contender.
Warriors forward Draymond Green blasted the Knicks on his podcast after they went up 2-0 in their East Semifinals series against the Pacers, labeling New York's run "a fluke" that won't be repeated.
"In the Eastern Conference, you can get to the conference finals ... playing very mid teams. That's kind of what y'all are doing right now," Green said.
Green seemed to concede that he expects the Knicks to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals, but he compared New York to the 2020-21 Hawks and 2018-19 Trail Blazers. The Hawks haven't won a playoff series since their run to the conference finals, while Portland was promptly swept by Green and the Warriors in their appearance.
While the Knicks are well-positioned to go to the conference finals, the Celtics are still overwhelmingly favored to win the East. Tom Thibodeau's gritty team finished 14 games behind Boston in the regular season, and injuries have put a bit of a damper on any hopes that the Knicks can upset the Celtics if that is indeed the matchup.
MORE: Updated Knicks injury report for Jalen Brunson, O.G. Anunoby
Green just doesn't believe the Knicks wouldn't stand much of a chance against the Celtics. He also doesn't expect New York to make it back to the conference finals any time soon.
"It was a fluke," Green said of the runs by Atlanta and Portland. "That's what the Knicks are setting you up for right now. And it'll be probably another 15 years of misery that we all sit around and laugh at Knicks fans with their delusion."
Draymond Green compares the Knicks’ ‘fluke’ run to the Hawks and Blazers
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) May 10, 2024
“It'll be probably another 15 years of misery and we'll all sit around and laugh at Knicks fans with their delusion.”
(🎥 @TheVolumeSports / h/t @NBA_NewYork )
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Entrepreneur and Knicks fan Jason Calacanis, Green's guest on the show, pushed back on the idea that the franchise will fade back to irrelevance after this season, arguing that stars will want to come play for the Knicks.
MORE: History of the Knicks' NBA Finals appearances
That narrative has been heard before, including ahead of the 2019 offseason, when many fruitlessly hoped Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving would join the Knicks. But New York does have plenty of assets to trade and a record of sustained success that it didn't five years ago.
The Knicks haven't won more than six playoff games in a season since 2000, but they have a chance to snap that drought in Friday's Game 3. Evidently, it will take more than that to impress Green.
