By signing all-star Amar'e Stoudemire the New York Knicks have broken free of more than a decade full of acrimony, mediocrity, and indecisiveness. In the 90s the Knicks were a perennial playoff team with legitimate hopes for a championship. The bombastic nature of John Starks and courageousness of Patrick Ewing are a thing of the past now and superstars are sorely missing from the bright lights of 4 Penn Plaza in New York City. The last few years have been stark in disappointment and disarray for New York fans. The numbers are startling.
In the last decade the Knickerbockers have only made the playoffs twice, with the last time being seven years ago. Each time the Knicks were knocked out in the first round. Moreover, the Knicks have managed to mull through six reputable coaches all the while losing great players to injury or over disputes. Let's not forget repeated falters at picking up legitimate draft picks. Though the Knicks were once regarded as one of the more incompetent teams in basketball they are now charting a new course for the coming decade.
With a clear leader and superstar in Amar'e Stoudemire good players can more or less dance to "the well of promise." Let's not bemoan over the Lebron James snub. The stigma of playing in New York has been lifted. These are not mere bloviations but rather telling consequences of recent decisions concerning the Knicks. This week after two years of not producing well, the Knicks allowed point guard Chris Duhon to head to Florida and back up Jameer Nelson. Now the Knicks can pursue better players in the point guard position such as all-stars Tony Parker or Chris Paul. The snow ball effect has certainly begun in earnest. In the words of future Knicks starter Amar'e Stoudemire perhaps, "the Knicks are back."