These Knicks Know How To Win A Championship, Here’s Why

Just when we all though the New York Knicks were out of gas and this exciting run was nearing the end, they put on their most dominant performance of the playoffs. It's easy to call this team young and inexperienced, but there is significant Knicks championship experience on this squad.

The Boston Celtics, who were dominant in the east throughout the regular season, are awaiting in the Eastern Conference Finals. They rolled through much weaker opponents in a Jimmy Butler-less Miami Heat, and a Donovan Mitchell-less Cleveland Cavs team. The Celtics are considered the title favorite, but let's not lose sight of something. This Knicks roster has more of a "win the championship" history than the Celtics. Here is what I mean.

Let's be clear: we are not talking about how many banners each team has hanging in the rafters of their home arena. That nod clearly goes to the C's. We're focusing on the experience each current roster has in winning the whole thing.

Let's start with the "Villanova Knicks," "Villanova North," or whatever you want to call the Wildcat alumni trio of superstars Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Donte DiVincenzo. Both Brunson and DiVincenzo were at Villanova from 2015 to 2018, and won two national titles during their college playing days there. Josh Hart was at Villanova from 2013 to 2017 and won one ring with the Brunson and DiVincenzo in 2016.

Jumping into the NBA, DiVincenzo already has one up on his Villanova teammates. He was part of the Milwaukee Bucks team that won the 2021 NBA Finals. #0 already knows what it takes to be atop the NBA mountain.

So does center Isaiah Hartenstein. When Hartenstein was in the Houston Rockets organization, he won the G League championship in 2019 with their affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. Hartenstein was named the finals MVP.

OG Anunoby is hurt right now, and there is no definitive answer on when he will return. However, perhaps his championship knowledge can inspire the team in the locker room. He, too, has a ring which he got as part of the Toronto Raptors team that won the title for the first time in 2019.

Lastly, we get to the Knicks' fearless leader, Tom Thibodeau. Coach Thibs has been on an NBA coaching staff since 1989. During that time, he also won a championship. In fact, it was with the Boston Celtics in 2008. As their assistant head coach, he had the uneasy task of creating a game plan to slow down Kobe Bryant in the finals.

Now, coach Thibs has to game plan for one more win against the Indiana Pacers for a chance to face his old team. The experience he and his Knicks team has in winning the big games should certainly help.

The NBA playoffs are in full swing, and it's been one of the most exciting playoffs in recent years. Many of the top NBA superstars today are in the playoffs, while others are watching, following some upset losses. Either way, there's no denying that the NBA has a ton of talent right now. So many of the games have come down to the wire, which makes for some pretty incredible, and stressful, endings. So, who are the top NBA superstars of the minute?

Before we get into the top NBA superstars today, let's do some NBA history and look at the top players of all time. There's a reason they call LeBron James the GOAT. He's the best ever, according to the raw statistics and numbers via NBA.com. James knows how to really handle the pressure and fame.

In a recent interview with the New York Times, James went into detail about his fame and how it has impacted his life, both personal and professional. "I don't want to say it ever becomes too much, but there are times when I wish I could do normal things," he said. "I wish I could go to Target sometimes and walk into Starbucks and have my name on the cup just like regular people." He obviously can't do that without everyone rushing to meet the greatest basketball player of all time. NBA experts know that when you have a superstar as big as James, he never plays an away game. No matter what city he's in, people will go to that game just to see him. I have yet to see the GOAT in action, so I hope he returns next year, so I can catch him live.

No. 2 on the list of the greatest NBA players of all time, according to the NBA's stats, is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He played until he was 42 in an era where that was even more rare than it is today. So, how did he avoid burning out? Speaking with the Harvard Business Review, Abdul-Jabbar said, "I just thought that I had the greatest job in the world, and I wanted to keep it as long as I could. I knew it wouldn't last forever." He also noted that in one of his books, he quoted Jackie Robinson saying, "Athletes die twice," because when you're no longer playing professional sports, it's a kind of a death. That's deep.

Now, let's get into the top NBA superstars today.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's stats currently have him at No. 4 in the NBA, according to NBA.com's Player Impact Estimate. He's a great driver and fantastic defender. That's a dangerous combination. He's one of the hottest players of the season.

Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks is sitting at a Player Impact Estimate of No. 3 in the league via NBA.com. Sadly, before the playoffs began, Antetokounmpo suffered a calf injury, so he was unable to participate. Now, the Bucks are out.

Some might say that putting LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers this far up on the list is a bit surprising. Overall, as I mentioned above, he's the all-time greatest player in the NBA. However, he's currently No. 5 in the NBA right now, according to NBA.com's Player Impact Estimate. He's the GOAT, so I have to put him at No. 3.

Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks is an absolute beast on the court. That doesn't always mean his always team wins, but he's always out there, giving it his all. Doncic is ranked the No. 2 NBA player right now, via the NBA.com's Player Impact Estimate.

Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets, "the Joker," is one of the greatest centers of all time. He's ranked No. 1 in the NBA, according to NBA.com's Player Impact Estimate. He has gotten some raised eyebrows lately, due to some weak Nuggets games in the playoffs. But, there's no denying this MVP is the best right now.