In the history of the Knicks, certain actions are celebrated as much as titles or victories. In the 1990s, the last great period in franchise history, a generation hit New York like never before.
When Larry Johnson, in 1999, scored his 3-point basket with the fault against Indiana, the Madison Square audience exploded. A few weeks later, Latrell Sprewell made a huge dunk on the counterattack against the Spurs in the Finals. In 1994, Patrick Ewing slams an offensive rebound to validate the qualification for the Finals, still against the Pacers.
But none of these moments seem to have the dimension of the dunk of John Starks, this May 25, 1993.
“John’s dunk is one of the most legendary plays in the Garden”, says Patrick Ewing. “I remember the audience was crazy. John played with such passion and that’s why Knicks fans loved him so much. People still talk about the ‘Dunk’ when they’re together years later. »
A beloved player, a sworn enemy with the Bulls and Michael Jordan, a favorable context with a second victory in the conference final, the ultimate action with a dunk… Everything is conducive to marking the history of the Knicks.
Putting Michael Jordan on the wrong side of the poster
The action therefore: 50 seconds from the end of the match, John Starks overflows the defense by feigning a screen from Ewing and goes up to dunk with his left hand on Horace Grant and Michael Jordan! For once, the latter is on the wrong side of the poster…
“The noise was deafening”recalls John Starks. “People were crazy, completely crazy and my teammates were in ecstasy. Patrick and Charles Oakley punched me in the chest. If it had taken place in Chicago, it would have been a simple action. The fact that it happens at the Garden makes it unique. »
And for the hope it aroused. “At that moment, we thought we had them”explains the rear. “We thought we were going to beat Jordan. » But the Bulls reverse the series by winning the next four matches. Regardless, 30 years later, “The Dunk”, as he is nicknamed, is still being told, even fantasized.
“I didn’t realize its impact until I retired”concludes John Starks. “During my career, I was focused on my game. When I started working for the Knicks in 2004, the first thing people talked to me about was that dunk. Every day, someone asked me to talk about this action. I can’t go a day without someone talking to me about it. »
Isn’t that the simplest definition of a callout action?
| John Starks | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 1988-89 | GOS | 36 | 9 | 40.8 | 38.5 | 65.4 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 4.1 |
| 1990-91 | NYK | 61 | 19 | 43.9 | 29.0 | 75.2 | 0.5 | 1.7 | 2.2 | 3.3 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 7.6 |
| 1991-92 | NYK | 82 | 26 | 44.9 | 34.8 | 77.8 | 0.6 | 1.8 | 2.3 | 3.4 | 2.8 | 1.3 | 1.8 | 0.2 | 13.9 |
| 1992-93 | NYK | 80 | 31 | 42.8 | 32.1 | 79.5 | 0.7 | 1.9 | 2.6 | 5.1 | 2.9 | 1.1 | 2.2 | 0.2 | 17.5 |
| 1993-94 | NYK | 59 | 35 | 42.0 | 33.5 | 75.4 | 0.6 | 2.5 | 3.1 | 5.9 | 3.2 | 1.6 | 3.1 | 0.1 | 19.0 |
| 1994-95 | NYK | 80 | 34 | 39.5 | 35.5 | 73.7 | 0.4 | 2.3 | 2.7 | 5.1 | 3.2 | 1.2 | 2.0 | 0.1 | 15.3 |
| 1995-96 | NYK | 81 | 31 | 44.3 | 36.1 | 75.3 | 0.4 | 2.5 | 2.9 | 3.9 | 2.8 | 1.3 | 1.9 | 0.1 | 12.6 |
| 1996-97 | NYK | 77 | 27 | 43.1 | 36.9 | 76.9 | 0.5 | 2.2 | 2.7 | 2.8 | 2.6 | 1.2 | 2.1 | 0.1 | 13.8 |
| 1997-98 | NYK | 82 | 27 | 39.3 | 32.7 | 78.7 | 0.6 | 2.2 | 2.8 | 2.7 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 1.7 | 0.1 | 12.9 |
| 1998-99 | GOS | 50 | 34 | 37.0 | 29.0 | 74.0 | 0.7 | 2.6 | 3.3 | 4.7 | 2.7 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 0.1 | 13.8 |
| 1999-00* | All Teams | 37 | 32 | 37.5 | 34.5 | 84.7 | 0.3 | 2.5 | 2.7 | 4.9 | 2.8 | 1.1 | 1.8 | 0.1 | 13.9 |
| 1999-00* | GOS | 33 | 34 | 37.8 | 34.8 | 83.3 | 0.3 | 2.5 | 2.8 | 5.2 | 2.8 | 1.1 | 1.9 | 0.1 | 14.7 |
| 1999-00* | CHI | 4 | 21 | 32.4 | 30.0 | 100.0 | 0.0 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.8 | 2.3 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 7.5 |
| 2000-01 | UTH | 75 | 28 | 39.8 | 35.2 | 80.2 | 0.4 | 1.7 | 2.1 | 2.4 | 2.9 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 9.3 |
| 2001-02 | UTH | 66 | 14 | 36.8 | 30.5 | 80.5 | 0.2 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 1.9 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 4.4 |
| Total | 866 | 27 | 41.2 | 34.0 | 76.9 | 0.5 | 2.0 | 2.5 | 3.6 | 2.7 | 1.1 | 1.8 | 0.1 | 12.5 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
