00:00That was emotional, too. I think we all are. I think that what was so special about this was and
00:06I didn't realize this until after the win was how much healing that win would do for all of New
00:11York City, from the fans to the alumni to even for us as the players in our personal lives.
00:17It was a healing experience. To see someone like Pat just finally exhale after all these years, to see Larry
00:25O'Brien in his hand, it was emotional to see Pat taking his portraits with the trophy because when he
00:32was here, I know he only wished and imagined that he would be the one to do it.
01:11I think it's also not just the culture of our team, but the culture of New York City.
01:14You know, if you live here in New York City, you have to understand you can never quit.
01:19A lot of things can happen in the New York minute and the times can change quickly.
01:23So for us, just to continue to stay focused, stay disciplined and continue to appreciate the opportunity we had.
01:30I never needed people's education to feel good about myself. I know what I did in the gym. I know
01:36the hours I put in. I know what I could do.
01:39I learn real quick. If you start needing to gain your confidence from others, you'll have no confidence.
01:45So my confidence is built in the work. My confidence is built in the gym, the long hours that no
01:49one gets to see.
01:52And I'm just happy that I got this championship for the city.
01:56The city's been yearning for one and just something to cheer for.
02:00And I've been very honored that ever since I got here, they've had a lot to cheer for.
02:04It's my third conference finals in a row now with the finals and the wick.
02:08It's so difficult just to make it to the conference finals, but it's a whole nother level of difficulty to
02:14win the conference final.
02:15And then obviously when you're in the finals, it's even another level.
02:19And, you know, I just learned a lot about our team. I learned a lot about ourselves.
02:24You know, there's always the questions like y'all have said about all of us, whether our character, our personality,
02:30or do we have the mental strength to actually make it happen?
02:34And I think we answered a lot of questions, not only to y'all as fans or as media, but
02:38to ourselves.
02:39The, you know, you asked for the challenge.
02:41We got the challenge of being in the NBA finals with the jersey on, and couldn't we withstand that pressure
02:47and understand what we got to do to get the job done at the highest stage?
02:51And we did that sort of do.
02:53I trust one through 15.
02:55Every single person on that team, I know that they can get the job done.
02:58Obviously, I want to be out there to do it, to get the job done and put my talent on
03:03the line.
03:03But I just remember in that moment, just staying locked in.
03:09It wasn't my moment anymore.
03:11It was our moment.
03:12It was always our moment.
03:13It was never going to be my moment.
03:14That's not how you win a championship.
03:16That's not how we got to that point, being up 3-1.
03:19It was us as a team enjoying this moment together.
03:21And I was just happy to be able to use my IQ and just see things in the game or
03:29help the coaches
03:29or help the players in any way possible as a leader.
03:33And we got the job done.
03:35I don't even think we've gotten that far ahead.
03:36We still are just trying to celebrate with our families and each other.
03:43I don't know.
03:44It's going to be really crazy to get a key to the city.
03:49But I will say that ever since I got traded here, I always felt like I had a key to
03:53the city
03:53because the fans have welcomed me in so much.
03:56And for me to be a new player coming here at the Knicks and being welcomed by the fans
04:01and all the love they've shown me and welcoming me and my family to the Knicks organization,
04:08in a weird way, it was a new door in a chapter of my life.
04:12And the fans opened up the door for me.
04:14And like I always say, I feel like I already got a key to the city because the fans gave
04:18me one thing
04:19that I always talk about.
04:20New York is the greatest currency, which is respect.
04:22I mean, it's crazy.
04:23It's crazy to see so many fans at the Garden and just to see the energy that all the fans
04:29bring.
04:31Like you said, there's a lot of celebrities that show up to our game.
04:34But in my mind, the real celebrities are the ones in the 200s, the nosebleeds who are spending their hard
04:39-earned money
04:40to show up and cheer for their Knicks.
04:42So those are the real celebrities in my mind.
04:45The guys, people who are showing up from their nine to five, spending their life savings,
04:49their children's college tuition, and all that come between to show up to one MSG game.
04:57That's really special.
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