By Andrew Rosario
There are athletes in every sport that have never won a championship. Ernie (let’s play two) Banks with the Chicago Cubs. Dan Marino with the Miami Dolphins. Charles Barkley and Patrick Ewing of the NBA. The list is as long as organized sports has been played. Yet, despite not ever raising a trophy to end their season, there is a signature moment in a players life that will always define them. No other player or play comes to mind than that of New York Knicks guard John Starks.
Coming out of Oklahoma in 1988 after playing for three colleges, Starks was not drafted but signed as a free agent by the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors used their 5th round pick and chose Mitch Richmond who went on to win the Rookie of the Year. Injuries stalled Starks attempt to get to the NBA and in 1990 the New York Knicks gave him a look and he took full advantage becoming an integral part of a team that went to the NBA Finals against the Houston Rockets in 1994. The Knicks took a 3-2 series lead only to lose the last two games on the road denying their chance at a third NBA Championship.
It was the year before that Starks would put his stamp on one of the greatest plays in sports history. Game two of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Chicago Bulls at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks were up 1-0 and looked to put the Bulls down 2-0 and gain momentum as the series would go back Chicago. With the Garden rocking, Starks brought the crowd to a maddening frenzy. Dribbling on the right baseline, Starks goes airborne and switches the ball to his left hand. Horace Grant attempts to block the slam to no avail getting no help from Michael Jordan. Said Starks of the dunk, “it was a great play during that moment during that time of the game.”
John Starks has been a ambassador with the organization since his playing days ended. The team issues on and off the court have been well documented and there will more dark days in the coming future. Still, Sarks play that night will always be a highlight in the team’s history.
This past week, John Starks did more to endear himself to the city of New York by donating scrubs to hospitals to the front line health care workers battling the Covid19 virus. Said Mayor Bill Di Blasio, “thank you John Starks. This time with no basketball, but with 3,000 scrubs for our health care workers.”
The “Dunk” will always be associated with John Starks a player who many thought would be an afterthought after finishing he college career. His work with the organization and supporting the health care workers will be just as important.
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