The New York Knicks came into the 2022-23 NBA season with high expectations. They were fresh off giving Jalen Brunson a big deal this summer, and the hope was that they could be a top-tier squad in the Eastern Conference.
Unfortunately, 27 games into the season, it is safe to say that New York has underperformed.
They are 14-13 on the year and sit sixth in the Eastern Conference, but that is mostly on the strength of a four-game winning streak built by defeating bottom-dwellers like the Charlotte Hornets and Sacramento Kings.
On-the-court happenings isn’t why the Knicks went viral this week, though.
On Wednesday, imagery from the team’s holiday party was posted on social media:
Knicks holiday party last night pic.twitter.com/bODWUXNIdH
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) December 13, 2022
The reactions from NBA Twitter came in hot and heavy.
For the most part, they were exactly what you would expect them to be:
Svi Mykhailiuk, a Ukrainian man, being the only one with a black woman has me weeping right now . UNREAL. https://t.co/L19t3NTYvg
— Ras Don (@DHPBJ) December 14, 2022
Snow storm struck New York last night. https://t.co/5EEYzkws58
— Jason Whitlock (@WhitlockJason) December 14, 2022
S/O to the white man on the end in the yellow… https://t.co/DkuQvHSBJJ
— Petty LaBelle (@PickleMamaa) December 14, 2022
Twitter for “why should you wear sneakers when your person is wearing heels” must be somewhere boxing walls https://t.co/yBUz7okkIR
— (@Mr_Mugii) December 14, 2022
Black athletes could have the finest black women ever and they still drinking milk send them back to plantations https://t.co/lw6IKPXt9y
— Mr Move That Hand (@AeragaX) December 14, 2022
Mad Jalens and Jaydens about to come from this photo alone https://t.co/02V6HLcnBc
— Terrible Women FC (@OROMORUNTZ) December 14, 2022
there needs to be a study on black athletes infatuation with white women who wouldn’t look their way if they were broke https://t.co/ESgK7tAdw6
— b rose (@3randyn) December 14, 2022
This has been a wild week in the NBA. Between Ben Simmons’ love triangle drama, Luka Doncic’s ugly legal war against his own mom and Damian Lillard lusting over a female boxer – it has been one thing after another.
As far as this specific controversy goes, it’s also not particularly unique to the world of basketball. Bronny James has dealt with something very similar.
Ivana Knoll just gave Croatia all the motivation they need to beat Argentina and win the #WorldCup https://t.co/xt6iseFDpb
— Game 7 (@game7__) December 13, 2022
In a lot of ways, this most recent brouhaha is just par for the course.
Will any Knicks players opt to address the situation, or will they simply let the chatter simmer down on its own?
Time will tell.
Related: 49ers QB Brock Purdy’s Girlfriend And Sister’s Wild Photos Go Viral
A graduate from the University of Texas, Anthony Amador has been credentialed to cover the Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks and high school games all over the Lone Star State. Currently, his primary beats are the NBA, MLB, NFL and UFC.
