The New York Knicks have decided against adding an NBA Cup championship banner to the rafters at Madison Square Garden,accordingto multiplereports.
The Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs124-113 in the NBA Cup final on Tuesday nightin Las Vegas. The win was the franchise's first championship victory since winning its second NBA title in 1973.
But despite the achievement, it will not be recognized above the playing surface at MSG. No banner will hang as the team is "focused on the bigger picture,"a source told the New York Post's Stefon Bondy.
The "bigger picture" is a third NBA title after losing in the Finals in 1994 to the Houston Rockets and 1999 to the Spurs.
There are plans to celebrate the NBA Cup title, however, as the Knicks will hold a ceremony prior to their game on Friday against the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Milwaukee Bucks andLos Angeles Lakers, the first two NBA Cup winners, celebrated their victories with banners inside their home arenas.
MSG already features numerous banners celebrating the accomplishments of previous Knicks and New York Rangers teams, along with retired numbers of former players. There are also banners for musical acts Billy Joel, Harry Styles and Phish.
When asked earlier this week,Knicks players had mixed opinionson whether a banner should be raised.
"Yeah, why not? Obviously it's a Cup, it's a title, it's something that you want to win," said forward Josh Hart. "So yeah, hang a banner. Obviously, there's different standards to those, Cups and Finals. But whenever you want to go out there and compete and win a title, that's what you want to do and celebrate that."
"Nah, I'm OK. I think you're searching for something even more than that," said guard Mikal Bridges.
"Hang something, appreciate us for something," said center Mitchell Robinson.
