New York Knicks 1981 Season Opening Press Conference
Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for being here today. It’s a new season, a new opportunity, and there’s a refreshing buzz in the air about Knicks basketball. After a mediocre season, an exciting offseason is exactly what we needed.
We came out last year with untapped confidence and was consistently humbled on the way to finishing ten games under .500. Our road record? Laughable. Every time we left the garden our game was worse than the subway smell in July. But today isn’t about last season. Today is about the future, and the future is in New York.
First, let’s talk about the draft. This changed everything.. We shocked the world and won the lottery—nobody, including us, saw that coming. But we did. We shocked the world again by selecting Buck Williams over Isiah Thomas. We were dreaming of Buck falling to us before the lottery, so it was always Big Buck for the Big Apple. Buck is a guy we believe can be a cornerstone for this franchise. He fills a huge need for us at power forward immediately. His toughness, rebounding, and all-around game are going to be a problem for all, but hopefully Dawkins and the Nets more than any. Buck is over flowing with potential and can grow into one of the best at his position.
But we weren’t done there. We knew we needed a real floor general, someone to set the table for our scorers. So we shipped in Rickey Green from Detroit. He’s got the speed, the vision, and the leadership we were missing. Thrilled to have him running the show at the Garden. We also worked in a little future prep by moving on from Billy Knight for a couple picks. The fans here expect active, non complacent off season moves and thats what we gave them.
Now, let’s talk about the man who is the show—the legend himself, Julius Erving. There was plenty of talk about his future here, and yes, we explored options, because he deserves the best. But now, with Buck in the fold and our roster shaping up the way it has, I can say with confidence that the best place for Dr. J is right here in New York. He’s not just a superstar—he’s an icon of the game, and now we’re in a position to give him a team that can truly compete. He belongs here, leading this team, bringing excitement to this city, and making a run at what we all want—a championship.
So, to sum it up—yes, last season we learned, this off season, we got lucky, and now this year, we’re built differently. We’re hungry and I think it’s time for some hardware to make its way back to Madison Square Garden.
Alright, that’s enough from me. Let’s open it up. Who’s got questions? Preferably good ones.
