While Martin Luther King Day is a special day for all of us, it is especially important in the NBA, where the vast majority of players are African-American. The Knicks, in particular, have a long and proud association with African-American history – the Knicks were the first NBA team to sign an African-American player and, as I detailed in an old Unsung Knick History installment, were the first team to have an all-black team (and thus also played in the first game in NBA history where all the players who played in the game were black).
Today, the Knicks celebrate MLK Day in their usual fashion, with an afternoon game. They host the hapless Philadelphia 76ers. The Knicks could really use an easy win, and the Sixers should be just what the doctor ordered (although the Sixers did just recently surprise the Trailblazers with a shocking twenty-five point victory!).
Let’s go Knicks!
Happy Martin Luther King Day, everyone!