How the Knicks (finally) went from laughing stocks to NBA finals contenders 

Frequently derided, the Knicks have become a tough, gritty team that might not play a particularly pretty brand of basketball, but certainly isn’t an opponent anyone would be thrilled to spar with over a seven-game series.

Jalen Brunson of New York Knicks is guarded by Andrew Wiggins of the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center.

IT'S springtime in New York City: the snow has thawed, the hot dog vendors are in short sleeves. Hopefulness has begun to permeate the city, as it does every year around this time, when the tulip bulbs in Central Park start to sprout, yet again, anew. The sun is shining, the NBA playoffs are right around the corner, and New York Knicks fans are ready to get hurt again.

“Aggressively optimistic” would be a fair characterisation of these particular fans, who have seen, historically, considerably more bad than good basketball from their team. No matter how dark things have gotten for Knicks fans over the years, no matter how bleak the outlook under widely despised team owner James Dolan, they’ve stayed true to their franchise. But this year feels different, recent injury luck notwithstanding, and the infectious hope for what’s to come for the team is, finally, far from delusional.