LAS VEGAS – The Knicks are saying no to the NBA Cup banner, The Post has learned.
After capturing Adam Silver’s beloved tournament with Tuesday’s 124-113 win over the Spurs, the Knicks decided against a title banner because they’re “focused on the bigger picture,” a league source said.
Still, they planned to celebrate the title before Friday’s home game against the Sixers “in a proper way.”
The decision was a surprise after coach Mike Brown pumped up his players in Tuesday’s pregame speech by describing a banner in the MSG rafters as a reward.
But the Knicks also entered this campaign with the “singularly-focused” goal of winning an NBA championship, not an NBA Cup title, and that became the overriding emotion as the team left Vegas.
They’ll be the first NBA Cup winner to not hang a banner, with the Bucks and Lakers doing it previously.
This can’t be a popular decision in the league office, where Silver has prioritized his tournament as he attempts to beef up interest in the regular season.
But the NBA doesn’t have control over banners inside arenas.
Before Tuesday’s victory, Knicks players were mixed on whether they should hang one.
Mikal Bridges was against it.
“Nah, I’m OK,” Bridges said, adding, “I think you’re searching for something even more than that.”
Mitchell Robinson was gung-ho about it.
“Hang something,” Robinson said, “appreciate us for something.”
OG Anunoby and Josh Hart wanted a banner but were more lukewarm on the idea.
“They can put a banner up,” said Anunoby, who owns a 2019 NBA championship ring with the Raptors. “But no parade or something [like that].”
Added Hart: “I don’t know. Yeah, why not? Obviously, it’s a Cup, it’s a title. It’s something you want to win. So — yeah, hang a banner. Obviously, there are different standards for those with Cups and Finals. But whenever you want to go out there, you want to win and compete for a title, that’s what you want to do. And you want to celebrate that.”
Turns out, they’ll celebrate the NBA Cup championship – but without the banner.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
