Hour 1: End of the Drought

Summary

Sunday Mornings with Matt and Myron: "End of the Drought" (June 14, 2026)

Hosts: Myron Medcalf (with guest host David Dennis Jr. filling in for Matt Jones)
Podcast: ESPN Radio – Hour 1
Main Theme:
Celebrating and analyzing the New York Knicks’ historic NBA Championship—ending a 53-year drought—and exploring the profound emotional impact on fans, the city, and the NBA landscape.

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Episode Overview

This jubilant episode centers on the New York Knicks capturing their first NBA title since 1973—a momentous event that united the diverse boroughs of New York City and captured the hearts of sports fans everywhere. Hosts Myron Metcalf and David Dennis Jr. discuss their reactions, the emotional outpouring across New York, Jalen Brunson’s legacy-defining performance, and the collective catharsis of a long-suffering fan base. Listeners and special guest Chris Carlin (ESPN New York) call in to share personal stories and reflect on “what it means” to be a part of Knicks history.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Unexpected Joy for the Knicks’ Championship

Timestamps: 00:31–02:14

• Myron opens with shock at rooting for the Knicks, acknowledging they’re usually cast as the “villains” or “big city favorites” rather than underdogs.

  “It feels unnatural to feel this level of passion and love for the Knicks… And part of it is just how doggone likable, quite literally every single player in that Knicks team is.”
  —Myron Metcalf [01:15]

• Both hosts rave about the likability and backstories of current Knicks players, especially their playoff heroics.

2. A City United: New York’s Moment

Timestamps: 02:47–09:31

• David confesses to “jealousy,” not of the title but of the lived experience New Yorkers savored.

  “Jealousy, I have to admit, David, was my biggest emotion last night.”
  —David Dennis Jr. [05:13]

• They describe the city’s unique cultural tapestry; how, despite countless sports rivalries, New York unites for the Knicks.

  “It’s a Knicks town. Like, that’s the one team that that entire city is passionate about. And that, to me, is what I wanted to be a part of.”
  —David Dennis Jr. [07:17]

• Myron compares celebration energy to a small college town:

  “New York City feels like a small college town… rallying behind this little town right there’s Cinderella. It feels like a Cinderella team in a small college town with 8 million people in it…”
  —Myron Metcalf [06:15]

3. The Unique Power of Sports to Unify

Timestamps: 08:22–10:54

• Myron, from street courts in Manhattan to celebrity-laden Garden seats, marvels at basketball’s ability to bridge divides.

  “One universal sentence right now in New York is ‘Knicks in five.’ I don’t care what language you speak, you’re saying ‘Knicks in five.’”
  —Myron Metcalf [09:21]

4. Jalen Brunson’s Place in NBA and Knicks History

Timestamps: 13:38–16:11

• David makes a bold comparison:

  “Jalen Brunson, for me, entered the Michael Jordan category last night…for clutch performances.”
  —David Dennis Jr. [13:38]

• Myron details Brunson’s efficiency and poise under immense defensive scrutiny from elite opponents:

  “Jalen Brunson was half of the offense…When you think about performances like that against teams with this level of defense…this is one of the great playoff runs of all time from a team and a player leading a team.”
  —Myron Metcalf [15:23]

5. The Fan Experience: Euphoria and Catharsis

Timestamps: 16:43–21:12

• Callers from Florida, North Carolina, Atlanta, and the Bronx express generational relief, emotion, and community.

  “He’s the greatest Knick of all time, man. 16-3 in the playoffs, baby. You can’t explain this stuff. You can’t make it up, baby.”
  —Paul, Caller [16:51] “This is for my mom, for all of us… We are reveling in this moment, documenting, as you mentioned… this win has been amazing.”
  —Chris, Bronx [20:14]

• Myron and David highlight the multigenerational aspect:

  “That is the emotion that this has brought out. This makes it so beautiful.”
  —Myron Metcalf [21:02]

6. Is Jalen Brunson the Greatest Knick Ever?

Timestamps: 23:35–25:22

• Guest Interview: Chris Carlin, ESPN New York
  • Carlin says Clyde Frazier is still #1 for his two titles, but Brunson is “1A” now—acknowledging the magnitude of this run and Brunson’s transformative impact.

  “He's not quite number one, but that's the only reason why is that Clyde's got two and he's only got one.”
  —Chris Carlin [24:27]

7. James Dolan’s Redemption and Mike Brown’s Role

Timestamps: 26:54–29:05

• Carlin discusses the complicated legacy of owner James Dolan:

  “He has been an exceptionally polarizing figure…But you can't argue with a decision that was made last year that was highly controversial…For them to make that move was awful gutsy. And then to hire Mike Brown was a Joe Torre hired by the Yankees type move.”
  —Chris Carlin [27:31]

• Highlights the critical coaching change and risky front-office moves that paid off.

8. Modern NYC Sports Hierarchy

Timestamps: 31:09–32:36

• Discussion on NYC’s “Order of Teams.” Carlin asserts Knicks now sit atop:

  “It's Knicks number one today just because of what it talked about with uniting the town with the Yankees A1A and with the Giants A2…it's just never been looked at that way because they've never had a championship to celebrate.”
  —Chris Carlin [31:47]

9. Generational and Personal Reflections from Fans

Timestamps: 33:12–35:36

• Callers describe deeply personal moments—calling elderly parents, watching with kids, and recalling decades of heartbreak.

  “For me it was generational because my son bought me a Father's day present last night. And then I got the chance to call up my 91 year old dad...So this is amazing. Father to son to father to son.”
  —Nick, San Antonio [34:33]

10. The Enduring Scars of Knicks Fans

Timestamps: 41:10–44:54

• Some callers (Keith, Chicago) exhibit “trauma responses”: referencing past curses and struggles to fully enjoy the win.

  “Is yes, you won, but the scars are still there. I think for the Knicks fans. I didn't realize that some of the scars are still there.”
  —David Dennis Jr. [42:39]

• Myron notes Knicks fans will need time—and perhaps therapy!—to process victory after decades of frustration.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Knicks’ likability:
  “There are nothing but likable players on that team. I find myself cheering for the Knicks and I cannot believe it.”
  —Myron Metcalf [01:25]
• On Brunson’s heroics:
  “This is one of the great playoff runs of all time from a team and a player leading a team.”
  —Myron Metcalf [15:23]
• On the city’s unity:
  “There's a unity right now. Around the Knicks. And really, sports is the only thing that can do that.”
  —Myron Metcalf [09:01]
• On Dolan’s reputation:
  “You couldn't get enough. I think that tells you what it probably meant for James Dolan.”
  —Chris Carlin [27:45]
• On generational joy:
  “This is for my mom, for all of us… We are excited… we've been waiting this my whole life. I'm 46, so I could not believe it.”
  —Chris (Caller), Bronx [20:14]

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Important Timestamps/Segments

• 00:31–02:14: Foundational reactions—Knicks as unlikely darlings.
• 05:25–09:31: Citywide unity and jealousy of being at the celebration.
• 13:38–16:11: Brunson’s place among all-time clutch performers.
• 16:43–21:12: Emotional listener calls; family, history, euphoria.
• 24:12–25:22: Chris Carlin on Brunson vs. Knicks legends.
• 27:24–29:05: Dolan/Mike Brown management gamble and its payoff.
• 31:09–32:36: The Knicks take the crown as NYC’s top team—for now.
• 33:12–35:36: Callers recount family and generational celebrations.
• 41:10–44:54: Knicks fan scars and the strange process of healing.

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Episode Tone and Vibe

Joyful, incredulous, and heartfelt—with a heavy dose of New York energy, self-aware humor, and sports fan pathos. The hosts balance objective sports analysis with open-hearted celebration, consistently looping in listeners’ emotional perspectives and stories.

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Conclusion

This hour is a living time capsule of Knicks fandom in its moment of triumph: hosts, callers, and a city exhale together after 53 years of waiting. On-court heroics intersect with real-world emotion, making for an episode that captures the true meaning of sports—memory, community, and the healing power of a long-awaited win.

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For More Stories:
Listen to the next hour, where the hosts and listeners continue documenting and sharing their Knicks championship celebration experiences.

Transcript

[Myron Metcalf]

So good, so good, so good.

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[Matt Jones]

This is Matt and Myron the podcast

[David Dennis Jr.]

Byron Metcalf joined by the Great David Dennis Jr. Here on Matt and Myron on ESPN radio, we are presented by Progressive Insurance. Progressive Insurance makes building home and auto easy. Learn [e-mail] and my man David Dennis Jr. Is filling in here for Mr. Matt Jones. David, always good to have you on the show. I want to get to obviously, everything we're going to talk about with what happened last night, the history of last night, New York City doing what we expected New York City to do outside of Madison Square Garden and beyond. What was your immediate reaction to the Knicks winning their first championship in 53 years?

[Myron Metcalf]

I can't believe I'm happy for the Knicks. That's my first thought. The Knicks are not, are not supposed to be this team. We're not supposed to love the Knicks. You know, like, they're the Celtics. They're like the Patriots. They are in New York. New York is never an underdog, man. Like, they are supposed to be the underdogs. Beat the Knicks. That's what you're supposed to do. And like, it felt, it feels unnatural to feel this level of passion and love for the Knicks. And part of it is the drought. Part of it is how long it's taken, you know, all the terrible stuff that's happened in the last or this century and another part of it is just how doggone likable, quite literally every single player in that Knicks team is. There is nothing but likable players on that team. And I find myself cheering for the Knicks and I cannot believe it.

[David Dennis Jr.]

Yeah, I mean, who can be mad at Landry Shammat, Right? Right, right, right. Look at Landry Shammon and not appreciate a guy who played at Wichita State, the Villanova guys, I mean, all of the stories, the backstory, Jose Alvarado, it's incredible.

[Myron Metcalf]

Jose Alvarado. This dude is a hero in game four. Yeah, this dude is a hero in game four. He's the guy who sneaks up behind players and steals the ball. That's what everybody knows about, which is the slimiest, sneakiest thing you could do in basketball. And yet New York raised, dude, New York Knicks fan his whole life and a hero in the city.

[David Dennis Jr.]

You gotta appreciate it. It's a ready made Disney movie. And I've got a lot of thoughts about this that I'm gonna tell you once we get off the top, what

[Matt Jones]

are we thinking about?

[David Dennis Jr.]

I'm trying to think, but nothing happens. Nothing happens.

[Matt Jones]

Time to find out. This is off the top, Flash. Off the top rope with Matt and Myra.

[David Dennis Jr.]

So David Dennis, Jr. Joining us, filling in for Matt Jones. My feeling was jealousy. It wasn't jealousy of the championship. I'm from Milwaukee. The Bucs won a championship. I'll tell you, growing up, there were three cities that I was always jealous of. When people could say they were from those cities, I was jealous of anybody from la.

[Myron Metcalf]

Okay?

[David Dennis Jr.]

I thought, what do you mean? You live near the beach and everybody's cool. Every song that anybody made out of la, they sounded different. They sounded so relaxed and laid back. I wanted to be able to say that I was from L. A, I was jealous of people in L. A.

[Myron Metcalf]

They don't have the same kind of rap scene in Minneapolis.

[David Dennis Jr.]

Actually, believe it or not. No, it has. It has not. It does not rival what we saw on. On the West Coast.

[Myron Metcalf]

There's no Tupac of Minneapolis.

[David Dennis Jr.]

There's no.

[Myron Metcalf]

I'm derailing the whole thing, but there's some six packs.

[David Dennis Jr.]

There's not a Tupac.

[Myron Metcalf]

Okay, gotcha, Gotcha. Okay.

[David Dennis Jr.]

The other place I was jealous of growing up was Atlanta. Like, when outkast came out, I was like, I wish I could just be a part of that, Just a part of the movement, you know, the Olympics in 92. Everything about Atlanta was like, that is such a cool place.

[Myron Metcalf]

There's no outcast of Minneapolis.

[David Dennis Jr.]

There's some outcast that's not outcast.

[Myron Metcalf]

Okay, gotcha. Okay.

[David Dennis Jr.]

You know what I mean? It's a little different, but I wanted to be able to say, I'm from Atlanta. Like, I'm jealous of people who can do that, who can say, this is where I was born and raised.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah.

[David Dennis Jr.]

Yeah. And then the other city was New York. Got a chance to live in New York when I was in my early 20s. And just the culture of that place. There is no other place in the world like New York City. And for that city to get a championship, David.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah.

[David Dennis Jr.]

For that city to be at the crowning achievement in the NBA in the social media area era, the celebrities all over the place. I was just jealous of the idea of being a New Yorker and experiencing last night. I wish I could have been able to experience it. As that, I have friends who were texting me, saying they were crying. People who were just celebrating in the streets. Jealousy, I have to admit, David, was my biggest emotion last night.

[Myron Metcalf]

I felt a little bit of jealousy, too. As somebody who, again, not a Knicks fan, never lived in New York, have no ties to the city. I wanted to be out there in the streets last night. I was there at game three. I was there game four. And after game four, I was telling people, I'm really happy that I've been a Knicks fan my whole life. Just really. Just really excited to have been here from the beginning. I've been here since, celebrating the whole time. Never doubted the team since I was a little pup. It's been great. And my wife lived in New York for, like, 10 years, and she was like, I am. I gotta go to the parade. I'm on there. I gotta go. I gotta be a part of this. I'm in Bristol. I wanted to drive two hours last night and just be like, hey, I'm here with the people. New York City feels like a small college town. Myron, You've been in those situations where it's like everybody. Everywhere you go, everywhere, is rallying behind this. This little town right there's Cinderella. It feels like a Cinderella team in a small college town with 8 million

[David Dennis Jr.]

people in it and just all in love with this one team. He's David Dennis Jr. Amar Metcalf. He's filling in for Matt Jones. David, there's nothing like it. Because New York is a split city by all accounts, right? If you've ever been there, I mean, you can be on one street in Brooklyn and it looks something completely different from two streets over.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah.

[David Dennis Jr.]

You have people from all different backgrounds. I remember the first time I went there, you're on the subway, and I think people are speaking five different languages. There's nothing like New York City, except there's a split. There are Giants fans and there are jets fans. Right. There are obviously Yankees fans and Mets fans, Islanders and Rangers fans. The Nets don't really matter. No offense to the Brooklyn Nets. It's a Knicks town. Like, that's the one team that that entire city is passionate about. And that, to me, is what I wanted to be a part of. You can spend $800,000 to get into Madison Square Garden or whatever you did the other night if you have that David Dennis Jr. Money. I don't have that.

[Myron Metcalf]

Okay. All right. Okay.

[David Dennis Jr.]

You know what I mean? That's not. I haven't been given that.

[Myron Metcalf]

Okay.

[David Dennis Jr.]

I wanted to be in Some little spot in Harlem.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah.

[David Dennis Jr.]

Someplace in Brooklyn. Someplace in Queens. I wanted to be in one of those places and to see those videos, David, of those pure, authentic celebrations of the people.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah.

[David Dennis Jr.]

As a sports fan, you have to appreciate what New York City was just given the opportunity to enjoy and experience for the first time in over a half decade.

[Myron Metcalf]

Look, I went out there to 4th Street Court while I was in New York, out there with people doing, you know, playing, you know, street ball. Got a man was out there getting his hair cut, watching the game.

[David Dennis Jr.]

Perfect.

[Myron Metcalf]

You know, it was New York. Right. And the way that they feel is like, sports is. Can be such a unifying thing. Right. Not to go full Adam Silver here, but sports can be such a unifying thing. And you have people who are, when you think of game three and game four, the 1 percenters of the world. It was arena in large part, full of 1%. It was, right?

[David Dennis Jr.]

Yep.

[Myron Metcalf]

And you have people in this. On this court. Right. You got people. Harlem, you got Queens, all these people. And there. There's a unity right now.

[David Dennis Jr.]

Yep.

[Myron Metcalf]

Around the Knicks. And really, sports is the only thing that can do that. Right. That you can have people saying, Nick's yelling out Knicks and Five at each other who are on the opposite ends of every single walk of life. And that is what makes sports unique. That's what makes New York City what it is. Like you said, people speak in different languages, but one universal sentence right now in New York is Nixon 5. I don't care what language you speak, and you're saying Nixon 5.

[David Dennis Jr.]

It's just been incredible to watch and to experience. And, you know, the 1%ers thing is. Right. There were a lot of people in that building who weren't necessarily the authentic Knicks fans that people have seen all season. I will say I've been to a Lakers game. The one thing I can appreciate about the 1 percenters in sort of the New York Knicks fan base, they seem a little more real, I must admit. Davis, like. Like there were, like, Ben Stiller and some of those guys. Then there was a couple dudes with, like, eight gold chains whose money might be off the books. I appreciated the diversity within sort of that first couple of rows and Madison Square Garden. But I want Knicks fans to document this. Like I said, I'm jealous. I can admit that openly. I'm jealous of Knicks fans who are from the city who are enjoying this moment. I want you to document for me what it was like last night to experience this championship run for the first time in 53 years. 888- say ESPN 888-729-3776 Knicks fans, this is your moment. We want to hear from you. Tell us what this feels like. For those of us who are not able to experience what you experienced last night, we want you to tell us 888 say ESPN 888-872-9-3776. Give us all the details. That's next.

[Matt Jones]

Matt and Myron the Podcast.

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[David Dennis Jr.]

I'm Myron Metcalf. He's David Dennis Jr. Here on Matt Myron on ESPN Radio. The ESPN apps here. Sex of Channel 80. David Dennis Jr. Filling in for Matt Jones. Ask your smart speaker to play ESPN Radio. Matt Myron is presented by Progressive Insurance. If you miss anything on today's show, listen to the Matt Myron podcast available where you get your podcast. We are asking Knicks fans to document last night. The moment, the glory, the euphoria, the experience from winning a championship for the first time in 53 years, unlike anything we've seen in sports in modern times. And you got to be, I think, 60 years old to have really appreciated the Knicks Championships in 1970 and 1973. So we want to hear from Knicks fans who can tell us all about what they experienced. 888, say ESPN and 888-729-3776. Give us a call and let us know what this moment is like for you. We're going to get to the callers in a second. David, I want to say something and I respect you as an NBA minor. I mean that you're one of the guys at ESPN where you're on that short list of when people say, what should I think about what just happened in the NBA? I think of you. You are one of the guys that we. That we think about. Right. Jalen Brunson, for me, entered the Michael Jordan category last night.

[Myron Metcalf]

Okay.

[David Dennis Jr.]

All right. Now that maybe sounds a little crazy, but let me. Let me get to where I'm going. He is now on the short list for me of clutch performances. Greatest clutch performances that I've seen in my lifetime. Obviously, that was what Michael Jordan did over the course of his championship runs. I think about the first Dwayne Wade championship in Miami. One of the greatest finals performances, one of the greatest playoff performances I've ever seen. We've seen Steph Curry do it. We've seen a lot of guys who were Jordan, like, in the moment. And for me, that is how I'll see Jalen Brunson. I don't know where you see him among the greatest of all time. The greatest Knicks of all time. Greatest clutch performers of all time. I think that's the category he joined last night.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, I'm totally with you on sort of growing the great clutch performers. What. What struck me about last night is the fact that Jalen Brunson figured out a defense that nobody else in the league had been able to figure out.

[David Dennis Jr.]

Yeah.

[Myron Metcalf]

And that Jalen, that puts him like sga did not figure out that defense, like SGA was able to have a good. A really good Game seven. And people say, well, sga, second and third best player were hurt and all that stuff. Well, Carl Ethney Towns at two points last night.

[David Dennis Jr.]

Yeah, yeah.

[Myron Metcalf]

There were no bench. There was no bench points for. Pretty much until halfway through the third quarter last night, nobody played well. Jalen Brunson was half of the offense. He scored, I think, what, 43 points. Right. And they had 94. Right. Like, he was pretty much half their offense for the entirety of that game. When you think about performances like that against teams with this level of defense that are hyper focused on you, with when you have Stefan Castle guarding you and Victor Wembanyama behind them and you are the size that you are. Yes. This is one of the great clutch performances of all time. This is one of the great playoff. I think, to me, this is the greatest playoff run of all time from a team and a player leading a team. And then when I think about the great clutch finals performances of the last decade, let's say, I think Stephen, game four against Boston, I think Giannis in game six against Phoenix, scoring 50 points. And I think whatever the hell LeBron and Kyrie did for them last three games against Golden State, other than that, Jalen Brunson, I mean, Jalen Brunson is right there with all of them because every single game four, he carried that team. Him and OG Carried that team. Game five, he carried that team.

[David Dennis Jr.]

And I think what's unique is Jalen did it without another player next to him who was playing like a star, because Kat wasn't great. So it felt like he just carried the whole weight of the world on his shoulders. Eight at eight, say ESPN 8, 8 8-729-3776. We want to hear from you Knicks fans. What was it like? How are you feeling? Tell us, for those of us who couldn't be Knicks fans, how much fun are you having right now, Paul, in Florida? Tell us what it's like for you as a lifelong Knicks fan.

[Paul (Caller)]

Oh, man, it's just. It's.

[Keith (Caller)]

It.

[Paul (Caller)]

Dennis, you were right, man. You were right. The euphoria. I waited my whole life, man, growing up in Florida. The feeling, the moment with Brunson and his dad. He's the greatest Knick of all time, man. He's the greatest Knick of all time. 16, 3 in the playoffs, baby. You can't explain this stuff. You can't make it up, baby.

[David Dennis Jr.]

I love it. Paul.

[Myron Metcalf]

I don't think Paul went to sleep last night.

[David Dennis Jr.]

No, I don't. I don't think a lot of mixed fans. Paul still out at the spot and I love that because I think that's the whole city. Before we get to some other calls, he said something that I think is going to be a real debate. David going for now. Willis Reed, Walt. Clyde Frazier won two championships. 1970, 1973. Do you think, especially for this modern generation, has Jalen Brunson surpassed all the Knicks? After what we saw last night, is he at the top of the all time list now?

[Myron Metcalf]

Modern, Yes. I still. I mean the Wal. I mean Wal Frazier, man, you got to remember, first of all, he won two. Second of all, you got to remember that like it's not Walt's fault that the Knicks didn't win 50 to 50 years before Jalen Brunson, that it means so much more, you know, like, that's why it means so much more to him. But it's not really his fault. Right? Yeah. So I think they're 1 and 1A. I think Brunson is going to be the most beloved Nick of all time.

[David Dennis Jr.]

That's a great word. It feels like he's the king of New York City. It feels like, especially for a modern generation that never had a chance to see Walt Frazier, that never had a chance to see Willis Reed, this is going to be their goat for the rest of their lives. Frank in North Carolina, what was it like to be a Knicks fan and watch this unfold?

[Frank (Caller)]

Well, it was great. First of all, congratulations to the New York Knicks. I just got to say, the sports bar I was in last night, I mean, the entire. It had well over 200. I don't know, it was. It was packed to capacity. Even outside on the lawn, everybody, the entire place cheering for the Knicks. And we were. They were all in tears and we was in. So I'm from Charlotte, I live in Charlotte now. I'm from New York, but I was in Atlanta last night and everybody in the place was in tears. But I do want to say one thing. I love the fact that the ref was allowing defense to be a part of the game again. The problem I have is they weren't calling the obvious. And I think that's the main thing that really bothers me and everybody else that was watching the whole series, they just weren't calling the obvious defensive calls. It just was insane to me.

[Jack (Caller)]

Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

[David Dennis Jr.]

You can't.

[Myron Metcalf]

Wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute. You can't be complaining about the refs right now.

[David Dennis Jr.]

Yes. I don't think that's their move.

[Myron Metcalf]

You can't complain about the ref. You won a championship, man.

[David Dennis Jr.]

Yeah, that's petty on another level.

[Myron Metcalf]

Leave it for later, man. Leave it for later. Go celebrate. Go out there and party, man. Don't anybody worried about the refs right now.

[David Dennis Jr.]

But that's also kind of Knicks fans, right? Like Knicks fans are going to enjoy this, but they're also going to tell you that there was a conspiracy against them to win. Like that's going to be a part of the. The Knicks folklore in this conversation about a championship. 8, 8, 8, say ESPN. 8, 887-293-776. Tell us what it was like as a Knicks fan. Chris, in the Bronx, what was your experience last night? You got about 30 seconds.

[Chris (Caller)]

My experience last night in the Bronx was amazing. My mom was a diehard Knicks fan. She died two years ago. This is for my mom, for all of us. We are excited. Mars Clark. We had an amazing time. The energy, like we've been waiting this my whole life. I'm 46, so I could not believe it. We are reveling in this moment, documenting, as you mentioned on the radio earlier, we are in it, we are loving it, we are celebrating each other and this win has been amazing.

[David Dennis Jr.]

Chris, I appreciate that like that. That to me is. Yeah, that's perfect, right? That's just perfection in terms of understanding the feelings that Knicks fans were enjoying in that moment. David.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, I mean, cause you, you that well, you know, first of all, you know, you know, love to Chris and the family and your mom and all that stuff. But that's so many people who's who are doing this for folks who did not get to see this. Right?

[David Dennis Jr.]

Amazing.

[Myron Metcalf]

Who did not get to see this and not get to experience this. And now you're experiencing it through them. That is the emotion that this has brought out. This makes it so beautiful.

[David Dennis Jr.]

Yeah. And it's incredible. It's so many of those family relationships they got to celebrate together. More your calls and more on the Knicks winning the title. That's next on ESPN Radio.

[Matt Jones]

Matt and Myron the Podcast.

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[Keith (Caller)]

foreign.

[David Dennis Jr.]

Dennis Jr. Here on Matt Myron on ESPN radio. The ESPN apps here sex Im channel 80. Matt Myron is presented by Progressive Insurance. We want to hear from Knicks fans, 888, say ESPN 888-729-3776. But first we are joined by the great Chris Carlin, host of Barton Carlin, on 880 ESPN New York. Chris, I'll just get right to it because there's a lot of conversations happening after what the Knicks did last night. And you're the person that I believe can answer this most definitively. Is Jalen Brunson now the greatest Knick of all time? Why or why not?

[Chris Carlin]

Not yet. Clyde is Clyde Frazier for sure. You know, two championships. You think about what he did it again, similar to what Jalen did last night. Clyde had, you know, everybody talks about the Willis Reed game, they talk about what he did, But Clyde had 36 and 19 assists in that game. I would say that Clyde Frazier still is, but Jalen Brunson is, is certainly right there. He's, he's 1A now at this point. And it's really remarkable to say that when it's only been four years that he's been here, too. But when you do something as historic as what he did and you put up that kind of performance in a closeout game, a game that frankly, the rest of the night it did not look like the Knicks were going to close it out. But one guy understood what it took, the rest of that team understood what it took, and one team did not and is still learning what it, what it takes to close out a series. And you saw it last night. And I think Jalen Brunson is, is right there. He's not quite number one, but that's the only reason why is that Clyde's got two and he's only got one.

[Myron Metcalf]

Chris, you know, Myron just starts off he asked you the tough questions, just doesn't even ease you into it early in the morning. What time did you go to bed last night? What are the vibes? Did you sleep at all? Are you still out in the streets? What's going on? What's happening?

[Chris Carlin]

I was not out in the streets, but I was watching everything. And I probably went to bed at about 1:30 or so I just marvel at what the run has meant to the city. And I know you guys have probably heard other people say this, but the Knicks unite New York, unlike any other sports team there is here, because of the simple fact that everybody roots for the Knicks. No, no offense to the Nets, but the Nets were never, you know, the Nets didn't sell out a Finals game. It cost $11,000 to get in the other night for Game 4. And the Nets, when they had the Finals 20 years ago, couldn't sell out a finals game in New Jersey. So, I mean, that, that tells you where they are. I would just say that those kind of scenes that you see in the streets last night don't happen in New York. They don't happen for championship teams in New York. They didn't happen with the Giants, they didn't happen with the Yankees all those years in the 90s, and in 2009. They didn't happen with anybody else. This is the team that that happens with because it does unite the city more than any other sports team there is.

[David Dennis Jr.]

Chris, I don't know. And we're joined by the great Chris Carlin, host of Barton Carlin, on 880 ESPN New York. I, I feel like James Dolan is. Is up there before this among the. The owners that most polarizing criticized. I mean, we talked about James Dolan in the NBA, like, we talked a lot about Jerry Jones, and now he has a championship. What did this run do for James Dillon? I mean, he hired Mike Brown. Uh, he's obviously the guy who allowed his front office to make the trades that led to this. How do we feel about James Dolan today?

[Chris Carlin]

So it's funny, last night, if you've seen any of the clips at Radio City Music hall, they had a watch party, which is owned by the Garden. And the first thing, as they cut to James Dolan about to get interviewed by Ernie Johnson, they're booing. And then within seconds he says, I'm sorry this took so long. And they're all cheering so they couldn't get enough. I think that tells you what it probably meant for James Dolan. You know, look, he's. He has been an exceptionally polarizing figure in New York even this week, with everything that was going on around the watch parties and his battle with the mayor. But you can't argue with a decision that was made last year that was highly controversial. Now, a lot of people believed it should have been made, but when you fired Tom Thibodeau, you felt like you needed to come out of there with option one or option two. And if we're being truthful, Mike Brown was like option four or five because they couldn't get anybody else out of their deals, because they couldn't get Jason Kidd, because they couldn't get Quinn Snyder. So for them to make that move was awful gutsy. And then to hire Mike Brown was kind of a Joe Tory hired by the Yankees type move, somebody who had never really done it before, but is of the right temperament and the right mentality that it just vibed with the team perfectly. So I think Jim Dolan deserves a lot of credit because that was, that was a gutsy move to make and not everybody loved it. And make no mistake, I think Mike Brown, probably down 2:1 in the Hawks series, was very much on the hot seat. But right now it looks like a brilliant move.

[Myron Metcalf]

So I know Meyer asked about sort of Jalen Brunson historically, amongst other Knicks I'm interested in Jalen Brunson as a New York fan. Figure right now, right? You're going into a restaurant, one table is left, right? Jeter wants a seat at the table. Brunson wants a seat.

[David Dennis Jr.]

I don't know.

[Myron Metcalf]

Aaron Judge, Jay Z, anybody you can name is Jalen Brunson Getting that table, getting that seat at the table ahead of every other celebrity in New York

[Chris Carlin]

City right now, the reservations in his name, let's put it that way. When, when Jalen Brunson's people call up, it's not a question just to give you an idea. I mean, you kind of said, Aaron Judge there. Aaron Judge at Game four among the celebrity list, was sitting way the hell upstairs for the game. So he's not in that discussion yet. Jeter is in that discussion. Eli Manning, because of a couple of championships with the Giants, is in that discussion. But I don't think he's on the level of Brunson right now, to tell you the truth, because it was a lot. This was so much more meaningful on so many fronts because he was the guy that they, it was so polarizing to make that move when they did. And the Knicks, there's no way the Knicks even thought that he was going to become this. But when, when they were investing so much in Jalen Brunson as opposed to other big names, they were getting knocked for it at the time as well. I think Jalen Brunson certainly is never going to pay for another meal in this town. And at that table, there's Jalen, there's Jeter. Mark Messier is probably at that table. But when you compare what they've done, Messi is the only other one that comes close, but he doesn't come close because it's a sport that people in New York don't care nearly as much about as they care about with the Knicks.

[David Dennis Jr.]

And I don't think Landry Shamon isn't going to play paper. I think consider what we saw last.

[Chris Carlin]

Ariel Hoty might be at that table.

[David Dennis Jr.]

He's Chris Carlin, host of Bart Carlin on 880 ESPN New York. Here on Matt Myron, David Dennis Jr. Filling in for Matt Jones. I'm obviously my Metcalf. We'll get you out of here with this. I got a lot of friends in New York, Chris. I lived in New York for a short period. I always understood the order to be in in some form, Yankees at the top, Giants, Knicks and then some order of the the jets, the Islanders and the Brooklyn Nets. What's the order today in terms of New York City is a what town is it? It's still a Yankees town. Is it now more of a Knicks town? How do you see that order today?

[Chris Carlin]

Well, it's always been at its heart a basketball town, but they haven't had the basketball to really celebrate. In the 90s it was crazy like it has been in the last couple of weeks. They just couldn't get over the hump. I would say it's, it's primarily it's Knicks number one today just because of what it talked about with uniting the town with the Yankees A1A and with the Giants A2 and that's probably where it's always been. It's just never been looked at that way because they've never had a championship to celebrate. And so when you have the, the, the fan base which is, you know, I would say more than half of it has never, never saw the 90s playoffs doesn't understand what that was about. All they've known is pain. This has been everything to them.

[David Dennis Jr.]

Well, this is going to be fun to watch, sort of the aftermath of this and I can't wait to see the parade. He's Chris Carlin, host of Barton Carlin on 8 80, ESPN New York. Thanks as always, Chris for joining us guys.

[Chris Carlin]

Thanks for having me. Appreciate it.

[David Dennis Jr.]

We've been asking Knicks fans to tell us what it is. Like you all have not disappointed. 888- say ESPN 888-729-3776. We thank you all for staying on hold. Keep calling in. We want you to document this moment for us. Jack in Chicago, what was this like as a Knicks fan and what you experienced last night?

[Jack (Caller)]

Well, I can honestly say I have, I feel very, very emotional and happy for the Knicks because there was not one team that I despised more during the 90s than the Knicks. And also because of Mr. Brunson, who was a local guy here. I watched him score double nickels in the state championship game. But I, as your previous guest, I had never thought that I was seeing what I believed I was going to see. What has happened the way he has played the last three, four years, it's incredible. I never saw that coming.

[David Dennis Jr.]

It's definitely been incredible. Watch. We appreciate the call. I mean I think that the Jalen Brunson, just the underdog. It's hard not to root for a guy like that. We had Nick in San Antonio who was in the building last night. Nick, what was that moment like for you?

[Nick (Caller)]

It was, it was crazy. It was crazy.

[Jack (Caller)]

Thanks guys.

[Nick (Caller)]

You're doing a great job. But we, I mean I was just surrounded by Knick fans. I could not believe it. But for me personally going through those 90s, I couldn't get myself to where Jordan's ever, to losing all those games. And for me it was generational because my son bought me a Father's day present last night. And then I got the chance to call up my 91 year old dad and say, hey, the Knicks did it that 12 o' clock at night. I called New York, he got up,

[Jack (Caller)]

we talked about it.

[Nick (Caller)]

So this is amazing. Father to son to father to son. I'm just so happy. This is just amazing. And Bronson's magic, I got to see it with my own eyes and it was just amazing.

[David Dennis Jr.]

I appreciate, appreciate that call David. I mean, you know, we're, we're fathers, you know, we have obviously our own fathers. That has to mean so much to the Knicks fans who've been able to celebrate this generationally. Yeah, I can't imagine how great that has been.

[Myron Metcalf]

And not just Nick, fans who celebrate generationally, the Brunsons themselves.

[Jack (Caller)]

Right.

[Myron Metcalf]

Got to see those dudes hug each other in the game and have that emotional reaction. I, I've, I talked to Rick pretty much before, after each game and he just was, I mean the guy, he just was so excited, you know what I'm saying? He was nervous. He had, it was the nerves of a fan, a former player and a dad all balled into one. And a guy who's got to do his job too. Like that dude was just shouldering a lot and his excitement was just, just through the roof.

[David Dennis Jr.]

I don't know who's going to play Jalen Brunson in the Disney movie about this, but it has to be somebody. I'm sure Michael B. Jordan is already making calls. More of your calls 8 at 8, say ESPN 888-729-3776 and more on the Knicks winning the NBA title. That's next.

[Matt Jones]

Matt and Myron the Podcast.

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[David Dennis Jr.]

He is David Dennis Jr. I'm Iron Metcalf here on Matt and Myron on ESPN radio, the ESPN app SiriusXM channel 80 David Dennis Jr filling in for Matt Jones Asher Smart speaker to play ESPN Radio. Matt Myron is presented by Progressive Insurance. We are tapping into the Knicks Fan base right now. 888 say ESPN 888-729-3776 we want you to document this moment for us that we're not able to be there, that we're not a part of the Knicks fan base. Stay on the line. We're going to get to you. David I was jealous last night and I know I keep saying it but I lived in New York for a stretch in 2004, and I'm just imagining myself in the streets of New York. It's 2am I buy two hot dogs from the dude on the corner who's selling hot dogs at the time. I'm in the streets dancing with people I don't know. Somebody's blasting music from a car that's riding down the street. You know, just the vibe.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah.

[David Dennis Jr.]

Of New York City on a normal day. That's just a Tuesday in New York, by the way.

[Myron Metcalf]

Just Tuesday. You're getting your street meat on the Tuesday.

[David Dennis Jr.]

That's just normal New York City. If you are out in the streets, hanging out, enjoying your life, to add this layer of it.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah.

[David Dennis Jr.]

I was jealous to. To see New York City fans, New York Knicks fans, climbing on top of things, high fiving everybody, hugging everyone in the streets. I wanted to be a Knicks fan last night, David, because that's how much fun it looked like they were having.

[Myron Metcalf]

Look, I was amongst the people for three days last week.

[David Dennis Jr.]

So you felt it.

[Myron Metcalf]

It was insanity. It was insanity. It was. People could not contain themselves. Right. Like, to go from game three, everybody was just like, this might be a sweet. We're feeling good. This is great. It felt like a party. Things got weird early in the game, as you know. There was a lot of frustration with that. You lose, you go to game four, you say, all right, we lose game four. This is. This series is. This is a whole different series right now. Um, and then we. We already know that the spurs have been up in these other two games. We lose game four, we're tied two. Two. This is a lot of nerves. From the moment they started that run up until when I left New York City at noon the next day, it felt like the celebration had not stopped. It felt like everybody was tired but exhilarated. And it felt. And it's carried on to now to where everybody. I don't know when they're going to stop celebrating New York.

[David Dennis Jr.]

Well, it's one of those things when you look at it, that, David, like, what else do you see? People from all those different walks of life and backgrounds hanging out. I saw Wall street guys in suits hanging out with dudes in Timberlands. And just like all across the board, just so many different folks in New York City enjoying the moment. And I just felt jealous that they could just experience something like what they experienced last night. And a happy New York City is the greatest place in the world. When that city is excited about something, I think the whole world feels it Keith in Chicago, lifelong Knicks fan. How did you feel after what you witnessed last night?

[Keith (Caller)]

Right now we're driving to the race to see the Sox, and I wanted to wear my Oakley Knicks jersey, but I didn't want my son to deal with the comments. It's been, it's. I've been a Knicks fan for 38 years, since I was 10, in northwest Indiana, dealing with all my Bulls fans around me in grade school with Jordan, and it was sitting there last night, my daughter, I had to show her what Reggie Miller did to us, you know, scoring eight points in nine seconds, was sitting there with six seconds left. I still felt like it was possibility of losing the game. But they did it, and it was unbelievable. I mean, when I was at my 20th anniversary as a fan, I developed this whole thing called the curse of Ewing because they traded Ewing at the end of his career after, you know, after the San Antonio thing. And I had a whole sign that had Nick's orange bleeding.

[David Dennis Jr.]

But that misery's over, though, right, Keith? I mean, there's a. The misery's over, right? Today is just.

[Myron Metcalf]

It's a good day.

[David Dennis Jr.]

It's just celebration, right? It's cake and partying and music and fun today, right?

[Keith (Caller)]

Yeah. The curse is over. Although you're right with the negativity, because when I looked and saw Stephan Marbury and Anthony celebrating, and I consider both of them team cancers.

[David Dennis Jr.]

Okay. Well, I appreciate it.

[Myron Metcalf]

Come on, man.

[David Dennis Jr.]

David, hold on, man. David, we. We had a guy who called, complain about the refs were against us. We have a guy who we said, tell us what it was like, and he just basically listed all of the players he thought it cursed the Knicks. David, are we going to have an issue with Knicks being able to fully celebrate this? Because the thing about being a part of a tortured fan base.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah.

[David Dennis Jr.]

Is yes, you won, but the scars are still there. I think for the Knicks fans. I didn't realize that some of the scars are still there.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, I'm. I'm no, I'm no therapist. So I encourage you, go look up trauma response, because I think these are some trauma responses that you guys are having to even joy right now. You got some trauma response that you guys gotta. Gotta work out and figure out. You can't be. You can't be doing this. You know, like, what's interesting, as you mentioned, all this stuff about being in New York. The closest I was in New Orleans, and they won the Super Bowl. Yeah. And that elation. But the difference is, is that a. The super bowl didn't happen in New Orleans. Like, that's, that's a different thing. And then also as a Saints fan, there was no expectation of championships. The Knicks have had expectations of. Like the Saints didn't have heartbreak and then they won the Super Bowl. Saints just won the Super Bowl. Right. They lost a couple years earlier, but they won a Super Bowl. And there was never an expectation as a Saints fan of, oh, this belongs to us. We're due. We have heartbreak. We should get it. The Knicks have been waiting for this. I can never say I was waiting for a Super bowl win for the Saints. So thinking about that level of celebration times, whatever's happening in New York, I can't even wrap my head around it.

[David Dennis Jr.]

It's just incredible, I think, to imagine like what those fans, our experience. And right now we just want to hear from all of them. Eight at eight, say ESPN 888-729-3776. We're gonna get to a bunch of the calls, but just the euphoria. Like that city, you know, and I was younger David. Not anymore. But we go out in New York, you know, we go to the clubs and I was, I was leaning back when Fat Joe dropped.

[Myron Metcalf]

Okay, all right.

[David Dennis Jr.]

You know, that was my era.

[Myron Metcalf]

We're a business casual to the club.

[Keith (Caller)]

Yeah.

[David Dennis Jr.]

Like New York City was just a vibe before any of the winning. You add that layer, some somebody, a bunch of somebody had the greatest nights of their entire lives that they'll be talking about 50 years from now. And you have to admire and appreciate that. Coming up, more of your calls and more on the Knicks winning the NBA title. That's next on the Premium.

[Matt Jones]

Thanks for listening to Matt and Myron the podcast. You can listen to the show live every Sunday morning at 10:00am Eastern on ESPN Radio, the ESPN app, and on SiriusXM Channel 80. Matt and Myron, the podcast.

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