For the first time in 53 years, the New York Knicks are the defending NBA champions.
Mike Brown’s team came back from another double-digit deficit to steal Game 5 on the road, taking down the San Antonio Spurs in one of the greatest playoff runs of all time.
It’s been five decades since the Big Apple last celebrated an NBA championship, and plenty has transpired since.
With that in mind, let’s take a walk down memory lane and put into context how much the world has changed since the Knicks’ last title.
A lot has changed since the Knicks’ last championship
The last time the Knicks were champions, Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On” was one of Billboard’s top songs of the year.
“American Graffiti,” “The Exorcist,” “Soylent Green,” “Enter the Dragon,” “Paper Moon,” “The Way We Were” and “The Sting” debuted in theaters.
In politics, President Richard Nixon faced the infamous Watergate scandal, which ultimately led to his resignation the following year.
While the federal minimum wage was $1.60/hour, the average monthly rent was $175. Also, the World Trade Center opened on April 4.
In sports, George Steinbrenner bought the New York Yankees for $10 million, while the legendary Miami Dolphins completed the only undefeated season in NFL history.
It was also the year of Pablo Picasso’s and Lyndon B. Johnson’s deaths and the first time women were allowed to serve on juries in all U.S. states.
Well, the world has clearly changed a lot since Willis Reed led the Knicks to their second title in franchise history. After such a long wait, they now have to make sure another five decades go by before they win their fourth.
