You've heard about basketball, of course—one of the most popular sports in the world, with millions of viewers at home and abroad. You know that New York City is one of the best places to see the game in its professional, collegiate and pickup forms. But if you're a novice, you might still have a few questions. What is a Knick? Where is streetball played, and how can you watch? Are graphing calculators allowed? Worry not—this is the year you become a fan. We've created the ultimate beginner's guide to NYC hoops.
NYC NBA Cheat Sheet
Team
New York Knicks
Brooklyn Nets
Year founded
1946
1967 (moved to Brooklyn in 2012)
Home arena
Championships
1970, 1973
1974,
Notable celebrity connection
Spike Lee is a constant courtside presence.
Jay-Z used to be a part owner of the team, and designed the logo.
Sample moment of agony
The Pacers' Reggie Miller somehow scores
Financial troubles (stemming in part from territorial fees due the Knicks) force team to sell Julius Erving's contract upon entry to the NBA in 1976.
Sample moment of triumph
Willis Reed limps onto the court to play hero in Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals.
Erving
Named for inanimate object?
College Basketball in NYC
You may not think of New York City as the center of the college basketball universe—we're a long way from Lawrence, Kansas, or North Carolina's Tobacco Road, for that matter—but there may be no place where you can see a wider variety of NCAA action. Starting with early season events like the NIT Season Tip-Off in November and through the Atlantic 10 and Big East tournaments in March, Madison Square Garden and Barclays Center frequently host top-ranked programs.
Basketball All Year Round
Even in summertime, when the NBA is out of season and local college teams are off, you can see plenty of competitive basketball.