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The New York Knicks Made New York Great Again

We’re back like we never left

Ezinne Ukoha
5 min readMay 25, 2024

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I moved back to NYC in the spring of 2022 after an almost seven-year absence. Coming back was like reuniting with an old lover out of desperation — knowing the outcome would be less than ideal.

Before leaving, I had spent almost 20 years as a proud and devoted New Yorker, who arrived in the concrete jungle as a bright-eyed 24-year-old, ready to take the literary world by storm.

I was here when the horrors of 9/11 forced New Yorkers to demonstrate remarkable resilience and determination in the face of absolute evil.

And there’s no question that the aftermath of a global pandemic has bestowed a heightened and feverish climate fueled by the paranoia of a fractured city.

While riding the train and trying to ignore the rowdy couple smoking cigarettes, I begged God to show me a sign that would endorse my decision to move back to a city that was scarily unrecognizable.

Weeks later, I got my answer. It was centered around the thrilling performances capturing the heart and soul of weary New Yorkers, who were suddenly finding reasons to believe again.

The New York Knicks, led by rising star Jalen Brunson and anchored by a roster of super role players, notably Josh Hart, Donte…

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