The Zach Lowe Show
Episode Title: Crazy Knicks Moment Draft and Knicks Hate Index With Sam Morril Live From New York!
Date: March 17, 2026
Host: Zach Lowe (The Ringer)
Guests: Howard Beck, David Jacoby, Sam Morril (stand-up comedian, lifelong Knicks fan)
Episode Overview
Live from New York City, Zach Lowe hosts a special Knicks-focused extravaganza featuring a "Craziest Knicks Moments Since 1990" draft with David Jacoby and Howard Beck, and a "Knicks Hate Index" segment with comedian Sam Morril. With deep dives into the psyche of Knicks fandom, unforgettable franchise drama, legendary heartbreaks, and riotous audience interaction, the night is a celebration of both the agony and the ecstasy of rooting for New York’s most storied basketball team—with plenty of side-roasts for the rival Nets and old NBA beefs.
Key Segments and Timestamps
- Zach’s NYC Origin Story/Knicks Fandom Reflection (00:30–06:18)
- Knicks State of the Union: Are They Finals Material? (06:24–18:37)
- Brooklyn Nets Rapidfire & Draft Picks Recap (19:37–22:00)
- Craziest Knicks Moments Draft (23:05–63:56)
- Knicks Hate Index with Sam Morril (66:16–89:26)
1. Zach’s NYC Origin Story/Knicks Fandom Reflection
00:30–06:18
- Personal Intro: Zach opens up about why a live NYC show is personal to him—grew up hating (and fearing) the Knicks, but now calls New York home.
- On Knicks Fans:
“The Knicks fan base really might be the single best fan base in the NBA. There is no fan base... that more deserves an NBA championship.” (02:40) - Note on Fandom as a Journalist: Explains how covering the NBA softens/dilutes former fan allegiances.
2. Knicks State of the Union: Are They Finals Material?
06:24–18:37
- Knicks Season Recap:
- 44–25 record, 90% chance at second or third in East, thriving both offensively (3rd) and defensively (6th).
- Paranoia & Angst: Despite the stats, “There is much angst... Stephen A. Smith today blamed Jalen Brunson for everything that’s going wrong...” (08:00)
- Panel Analysis: Zach and Howard break down why Knicks fans don’t believe, despite numbers.
- Recent rough losses (Detroit, both LA teams, Cavs, Thunder), resilience in big games, but offense often feels “on a knife’s edge.”
- Health concerns around Mitchell Robinson, chemistry questions with Cat/Alvarado, Josh Hart’s offensive fit.
- Why Not the Knicks?
- League parity means any of the (top four) East teams (Knicks, Pistons, Celtics, Cavs) could make the Finals.
- “There’s enough of a case to be made for any of them.” (15:04, Howard Beck)
- Celtics seen as only “sure thing” (system, identity, championship equity), but injuries still a question.
- Pressure is On:
- “It might actually be the Knicks [who need Finals berth most]... Owner just said on radio: finals or bust.” (18:10, Howard Beck)
- Quote:
“If you told me, throw all four of those in a hat... You could make a case for any of them... but my confidence level in the Knicks is about where it was before the season.” (16:40, Zach Lowe)
3. Brooklyn Nets Rapidfire & Draft Picks Recap
19:37–22:00
- Audience Roasts the Nets: “Why are you guys here? They’re playing the Blazers down the street.” (19:48, Zach)
- One-Word Draft for 2025 Nets Rookies:
- Jagor Gemin: “Intriguing” (Howard), “Accurate” (Zach)
- Nolan Traore: “French” (Howard), “Fast” (Zach)
- Drake Powell: “Bold” (Jacoby), “Beast” (Zach)
- Danny Wolf: “Promising” (Howard), “Daring” (Zach)
- Ben Sarof: “Crafty” (Howard), “Left handed” (Zach)
4. Craziest Knicks Moments Draft (since 1990)
23:05–63:56
- Format: Snake draft, 3 hosts, 5 picks each. Criteria are wide—can be exhilarating, tragic, bizarre.
- Round 1 Highlights
- #1 Overall: Linsanity (Jeremy Lin drops 38 on Lakers, Feb. 2012) – Jacoby
- “I think it’s one of the three craziest sports stories of our entire lifetime... I’ll never see anything like it.” (26:41, Zach)
- #2: Linsanity Begins (Jeremy Lin torches Nets) – Beck
- “It was the most unfucking canny thing you ever saw before in your life...” (30:08, Howard Beck)
- #3: Tyrese Haliburton's Shot – Pacers/Knicks (2024 Playoffs) – Lowe
- Describes "craziest NBA game ever seen," “If that gets called a goaltend… Knicks are up 6, I bet they win the game.” (33:57)
- #4: 1998 Heat-Knicks Brawl (Jeff Van Gundy grabbing Alonzo Mourning’s leg) – Lowe
- Other Notable Picks:
- Stoudemire Punched Fire Extinguisher in Playoffs (2012) – Beck
- “Only time I’ve ever seen somebody basically injure themselves non-game-related, that possibly hurt them within the playoff series...” (38:00)
- The Gold Club Scandal (Knicks in Atlanta strip club mafia trial) – Jacoby
- Patrick Ewing testifying about "oral things" in open court, “He had to say that on the stand!” (41:18)
- John Starks' Poster Dunk Over Bulls (1993 ECF) – Jacoby
- “It’s one of the best moments in MSG history... The Knicks take a 2–0 series lead. And... they win the championship. That’s exactly how I remember it...” (44:37, Jacoby)
- Nate Robinson Blocks Yao Ming (2006) – Beck
- “I still don’t believe this happened even though I saw it live.” (47:26)
- O.J. Simpson Bronco Chase Interrupts Game 5 of 1994 NBA Finals – Lowe
- "Indisputably the wildest thing that ever happened in an NBA Finals..." (47:27)
- “OJ was listening to the game... He wanted to get to the end of the game.” (49:55, Zach)
- Reggie Miller’s 8 Points in 9 Seconds (1995 Playoffs) – Lowe
- The Entire Isiah Thomas Era (Lawsuits, Steve Francis, Marbury turmoil) – Beck
Humorous/Sad Knicks Footnotes
- Draft Blunders:
- Knicks take Landry Fields at 39, skip Lance Stephenson (57:15, Jacoby)
- “Broke my heart. Why would you not pick the hometown kid...” (57:36)
- Tracy Morgan Throws Up Courtside (St. Patrick’s Day 2025) – Jacoby
- Charles Oakley Ejected by MSG Security (2017) – Beck
- “He was a great Nick, and we hope he gets some help soon. Ooh, classy statement by the Garden.” (61:07)
- Charles Smith Blocked by Bulls 4 Times (1993 ECF) – Lowe
5. Knicks Hate Index with Sam Morril
66:16–89:26
- Live Segment: Zach presents a list of teams Knicks fans “hate the most.” Sam Morril offers Nick fan perspective, color, hilarity.
Zach’s Guess List (Lowest to Highest Hate):
- Indiana Pacers
- Miami Heat
- Chicago Bulls
- Boston Celtics
- Other (wildcard)
Sam Morril’s Analysis (with Ranking):
-
Brooklyn Nets:
- “Are you kidding me? ... For them, it’s a terrible franchise. So I’m happy they blew it.”
- “They had KD and Kyrie and you still didn’t go to the games.” (69:10)
-
Chicago Bulls:
- “In the 90s, they owned us, but I didn’t consider it a rivalry... It was like, the guy fucking Sydney Sweeney is my rival.” (72:38)
-
Philadelphia 76ers:
- “Philly’s close, they’re a tough sports town. They’re psychos… I have a lot of hatred in my heart for Embiid.” (73:19)
- “He like kicked Hartenstein in the nuts in that series. He’s trash to me.”
-
Miami Heat:
- “My childhood, I hate—fuck PJ Brown, fuck that piece of shit forever for flipping Charlie Ward.” (74:57)
- Allen Houston’s floater, Riley betrayal (“like looking at an ex move to Florida and find the right guy…”)
-
Boston Celtics:
- “There’s just something about New York, Boston… but I fucking hate the Celtics. I hate them, dude.” (77:46)
- “Jaylen Brown… it bummed me out he was cool, because I wanted to hate him.” (78:57)
- Side note: Hilarious digression about “fashion show bombing” in front of Jaylen Brown.
-
Indiana Pacers (#1):
- “I hate the Pacers as much as anybody here. T.J. McConnell, if he were a Knick, you’d love him, but he’s so annoying... Halliburton is like a video game button masher.” (84:26)
- “I hate Reggie Miller. He’s probably my number one most hated ever, I think.” (84:54)
- “The reason we hate him so much is he elevated in the playoffs. He was that dude… if he got the last shot, you knew it was going in.”
- “Mark Jackson’s dumb shimmy, and he was a New Yorker… Hubert Davis… that team, like, you felt that team should have won one. So that hurt.” (85:55)
Notable Sam Morril Quotes:
- On Celtics:
“I love Boston… but I fucking hate the Celtics.” (77:46) - On Heat:
“Riley… goes to Miami. It felt like looking at an ex move to Florida and find like the right guy.” (75:52) - On Pacers Hate:
“Reggie, if he were here, would be like, respect, I love you.” (84:54) - On contemporary rivalries:
- “Maybe in a year Detroit is on this… they’re not there yet.” (88:11)
- Summing Up Knicks Fan Pain:
- “This is sad that this is my championship. But you were talking earlier, like the John Starks dunk… that was what we had.” (80:43)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Zach Lowe on Knicks Fans:
“There is nothing—maybe Oracle, peak Warriors, that’s it—there is nothing like MSG during a crazy Knicks playoff game.” (03:23)
- Howard Beck on the Isiah Era:
“Basically, the GM and the coach and the franchise point guard all hated each other... and any two of the three at any given time wanted to kill each other.” (55:17)
- David Jacoby on Linsanity:
“This is not the end of Linsanity—this is the peak of Linsanity.” (26:00)
- Sam Morril, Knicks Hate:
"I have so much hate in my heart." (67:29)
"If T.J. McConnell were a Knick you wouldn't love that guy. He's so annoying..." (84:26)
Episode Tone, Style & Energy
- Language & Tone: Comedic, self-deprecating, deeply emotional about the Knicks, lots of New York gallows humor, intimate crowd interaction, nostalgic but realistic.
- Memorable Audience Moments: Roasting the Nets (“Nets fans, why are you here?” “They’re playing the Blazers.”), enthusiastic reactions to heartbreak/lore (the Van Gundy leg grab, Charles Smith blocks, Oakley ejection, “St. Patrick’s Day Tracy Morgan Puke Game”).
- Knicks Fandom in Microcosm:
- Celebrates rare highs (Linsanity, Starks’ dunk, playoff wins over the Heat)
- Laughs (and groans) at bottomless lows (Reggie’s reign, brutal brawls, draft whiffs, public humiliations)
Takeaways
- Knicks fandom is a badge of honor—full of scars, pride, and inside jokes.
- The team is a real contender this season and the East is open—even if fans are bracing for pain.
- The franchise’s modern history is an endless highlight reel of both inspiration (Linsanity, playoff grit) and chaos/humiliation (brawls, scandals, ejections).
- Fan psychology is shaped as much by old rivals (Pacers, Heat, Bulls) as current events (“Hate Index”—Pacers the clear #1).
For the Knicks-Obsessed and the NBA Curious
This episode is a must-listen (or read!) for anyone who’s ever lived and died with the Knicks, as well as those fascinated by sports heartbreak, basketball lore, or just love a wild nostalgic journey through NBA chaos—with some of New York’s sharpest sports voices and comics as your guides.
