John McEnroe was 14 when New York last won an NBA championship.
Now 67, the former top-ranked tennis player and notorious basketball fan is anxious to get back home from his TV commentating duties at the French Open in time to attend the Knicks’ first home game of the NBA Finals.
“You can’t ask for anything better. I’ve been waiting only 53 years,” McEnroe said.
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“So, time has come. It’s going to be awesome because (Victor) Wembanyama is out of this world. Can’t ask for a better match-up. It is like a dream match-up, it’s like getting your best guys to do their thing.”
The French Open ends on Sunday (Monday AEST). Game 3 of the NBA Finals is in New York the next day.
“Hopefully I’ll be there,” McEnroe said in Paris on Monday.
The last time the Knicks made it to the Finals was 1999, when they went down to San Antonio — the same opponent they face in the coming weeks.
A French reporter asked McEnroe if he’s afraid of Wembanyama — the Frenchman who leads the Spurs.
“No, he doesn’t know who the hell I am,” McEnroe snapped back.
Still, how can the Knicks stop Wembanyama?
“I don’t know if you stop him. It’s probably impossible to stop him,” McEnroe said.
“You just try to slow him down a little bit, I’m guessing, just make other guys beat you. But they got some great other players.”
The Knicks won their only titles in 1970 and 1973.
“I loved Clyde. He was my favourite,” McEnroe said of Walt ‘Clyde’ Frazier.
“Willis (Reed). What a great team.
“I thought that was going to happen regularly, so it took a little longer than anticipated.”
Josh Hart is McEnroe’s favourite player on the current team.
“He’s so hungry and just makes everyone better and the offence-defence thing,” McEnroe said.
“But you got to love (Jalen) Brunson, too.”
McEnroe’s prediction? “Knicks in six.”
