The New York Knicks are two wins away from ending a 53-year championship drought, and one of the city's most recent title winners has a clear message for them: stay hungry.
Breanna Stewart, a three-time WNBA champion with the Seattle Storm and now the face of the New York Liberty, knows exactly what it takes to close out a championship series. After the Knicks stole two games on the road in San Antonio, Stewart offered some advice that cuts straight to the heart of the matter.
“Don’t let up,” Stewart told CBS Sports before facing Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever. “Obviously, you stole two on the road and now you go home and you have the opportunity to sweep. Game 3 is super important, super vital to the series, so go get that one and then bring it home.”
Stewart’s words carry extra weight in a city that has watched her lead the Liberty to the WNBA Finals. She knows that the hardest win in any playoff run is the one that seals the deal, and Knicks fans are already on edge about any potential jinx.
Meanwhile, Knicks forward Mikal Bridges echoed a similar mindset after New York's nail-biting 105-104 win in Game 2. Speaking to Shaquille O'Neal on “Inside the NBA,” Bridges made it clear that the team isn't getting ahead of itself.
“0-0 man, f—ing keep playing desperate. That’s it, man. That’s the only thing we’ve got to worry about,” Bridges said. “Take this rest. We got two days, take a break, do whatever you gotta do to get ready for this next game, but keep going out there and don’t stop. We got nothing but the offseason, man. Keep pushing. Leave everything on that court.”
The Knicks' approach has been spot-on so far, and the team is in an enviable position. But as Stewart and Bridges both emphasized, complacency is the enemy. The series shifts back to Madison Square Garden for Game 3, where the energy will be electric and the stakes even higher.
It's not just about the X's and O's — the emotional weight of this run is palpable. Karl-Anthony Towns delivered a heartfelt tribute to his late mother after Game 2, reminding everyone that this quest means more than just basketball.
With the Spurs' Victor Wembanyama looking to bounce back and the Knicks' Mitchell Robinson eager for a big performance, Game 3 promises to be a thriller. Stewart's advice is simple: treat it like a Game 7. Because in New York, the only thing better than winning a championship is doing it at home.
