A long line of New York Knicks fans snaked down 125th street in Harlem Wednesday morning as Earl “The Pearl” Monroe and Walt “Clyde” Frazier — two legends from the 1973 NBA Championship team — gave out free merchandise at a Fanatics pop-up.
The Knicks, who currently have a 2-1 series lead over the San Antonio Spurs in this year’s NBA Finals, haven’t won the title since that 1973 team. While the Knicks lost Game 3 to the Spurs, that hasn’t blunted the fervent energy across the city. They’re just two wins away from capturing the NBA title and have a chance Wednesday night to take a commanding 3-1 series lead tonight at home at Madison Square Garden.
For Frazier and Monroe, the present Knicks can win a championship as long as they boost their defense and work well together as a team.
“They’ve got to play defense, keep these guys out of the paint which they did not do last game, that’s why they got in trouble,” said Frazier.
“They play well together,” added Monroe about this team. “At some point you’ve got to lose one and after winning so many games in a row, maybe this is what they needed to do to get back on course.”
Monroe and Frazier were the last to bring this city a ring. That title was more than 50 years ago, but they still are beloved in the city, as evidenced by the many Knicks fans who were ecstatic to see them today.
“This is a great pleasure man,” said longtime Knicks supporter Darrell Thomas. “I’ve been a fan since the ‘70s, it’ll be really good to meet them.”
“It’s amazing,” added Knicks superfan and content creator Shaun Geddes, who goes by @IHateShaun on social media. “We haven’t won since those guys so for those guys to still be here, still be around with us, be present in the community meeting people…it’s going to be very special.”
The pop-up appearance was part of Fanatics’ Fan Wagon series, where a Knicks-branded truck, stocked with gear, makes its way around the city. This morning’s event was made even more special by the fact that two Knicks legends, who have their numbers hanging from the rafters of Madison Square Garden, were the ones working the truck.
“I cannot believe it, I am super excited,” said Jazette Little about meeting Frazier and Monroe. “I am walking down the street, going to work, and I see them and I’m like ‘what the?!’ so I’m super excited, this is really cool.”
“They love Harlem, and they love this city,” said Assembly Member Jordan J.G. Wright, who represents the 70th District in Harlem. “The run that they’re on is magical, the run that the team right now is on is magical, so it’s really an honor to be here and have them in the community.”
Game 4 tips off Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. before the series swings back to Texas for Game 5 on Saturday night in San Antonio.
