It’s the season of giving, and the Knicks embraced it in full.
Whereas the Knicks’ Christmas Day matchup in opposition to the San Antonio Spurs might have captured the eye of basketball followers nationwide, the workforce’s focus prolonged nicely past the court docket, making a tangible impression within the communities they serve.
Knicks captain Jalen Brunson took members of the Backyard of Goals Basis and Covenant Home on a Goal purchasing spree, bringing vacation cheer and important help to these in want. OG Anunoby partnered with the Boys & Women Membership, treating youngsters to a purchasing spree at JD Sports activities and End Line.
Karl-Anthony Cities took a extra private strategy, adopting a household for the vacations. He introduced them to the Knicks’ Dec. 23 matchup in opposition to the Toronto Raptors, fulfilled their vacation wishlists, and made a monetary contribution to ease their burdens in the course of the season.
In the meantime, Knicks heart Mitchell Robinson hosted a toy giveaway by way of his MR23 Basis in Mount Vernon. His basis’s mission is to “empower and uplift young individuals from underprivileged backgrounds through sports, education, and community engagement.”
Mikal Bridges additionally went above and past, adopting three households by way of the Backyard of Goals Basis. Bridges didn’t simply examine off their vacation wishlists — he exceeded expectations, buying 55 presents in whole together with $1,000 NIKE present playing cards for every household. He additionally hosted the households in a non-public suite in the course of the Dec. 23 recreation in opposition to the Raptors, guaranteeing they skilled the enjoyment of the season alongside him.
For Bridges, this effort was deeply private. Every household was led by a single mom, which resonated with him as somebody raised by one himself.
“It’s awesome just to be able to be in this position to do that,” Bridges mentioned. “I grew up with a single mother, so I know how much those mothers go through. And I don’t even know to the full extent because there’s stuff my mom did that I probably don’t know to this day.
“They work so much, and it’s not easy. A lot of them have multiple kids — my mom just had me — so I know it’s even tougher. So it’s good to be in this position to give back and show them that maybe not everyone sees it, but I see it. I appreciate you.”
For the Knicks, the season of giving wasn’t nearly scoring factors on the court docket — it was about making them rely the place they matter most.
CHRISTMAS RATINGS
The NBA introduced the Knicks-Spurs Christmas Day recreation averaged 4.91 million viewers, making it the most-watched Christmas Day opener since 2011. Viewership for that recreation was up 98% over final yr’s Christmas opener, a Knicks dwelling win over the Milwaukee Bucks.
“It’s not easy. It’s a holiday. It’s a family day. These guys, they make a lot of sacrifices. They have young kids and so we also know it’s an honor and a privilege to be playing on this day,” head coach Tom Thibodeau mentioned after the Knicks’ victory over the Spurs. “So we embrace that. We also know what it means to our city and our fans. And so we wanted to give them something to be proud of. So hopefully we can spend the rest of the day with our families and then on to the next one.”
MIKE BROWN FIRED
The Sacramento Kings fired head coach Mike Brown amid a five-game shedding streak simply months after signing him to a three-year extension.
“You hate to see it,” Thibodeau informed reporters in Orlando on Friday. “It’s part of what we go through. Mike is a terrific person and great coach.”
