Knicks Legends Celebrate New Basketball School in the Bronx
Fans of the New York Knicks, especially those who remember the 1972-73 championship squad, have a unique bond with that era. This connection was evident Thursday morning in the South Bronx when two icons from that team met again.
In a packed gym at the Earl Monroe New Renaissance Basketball School, former U.S. Senator and two-time NBA champion Bill Bradley shared heartfelt words about his friend and former rival, Earl “The Pearl” Monroe, who eventually became his teammate on the Knicks.
“The reason I’m here has a bit to do with Earl Monroe’s name on the [school] building, but you all are the ones who fill my heart,” Bradley expressed, with Monroe seated nearby, bringing a warm reaction from students. “Being teammates and reaching the top together creates a bond that lasts forever, and we achieved that twice.”
Bradley, at 83, described his presence as “a small way to show my friend that I love him.”
The two Knicks legends were side by side again to mark the opening of the new 69,000-square-foot Earl Monroe New Renaissance Basketball School, a specialized charter institution in The Bronx focused on basketball and career opportunities after sports.
Established in 2021, the school serves 440 students in grades 9-12, with an educational approach that includes subjects like media, law, and marketing.
“Not everyone can play basketball, even though many aspire to, but there are countless ways to engage with the sport beyond being a player,” Monroe, now 81, mentioned after the ceremony. “This initiative allows individuals to connect with the game and still feel the same satisfaction as making a basket.”
The opening ceremony attracted numerous notable guests, including former Knicks players John Starks and Stephon Marbury, alongside Knicks superfan Tracy Morgan, ESPN host Mike Greenberg, and NBA commissioner Adam Silver.
Silver highlighted the event’s significance, noting it followed the Knicks’ first championship in 53 years, a title won last summer—making them the first Knicks team to triumph since Monroe’s squad in 1973.
“It was fantastic to witness,” Monroe reflected on the Knicks’ recent success. “Great players have come through this franchise, and finally seeing them break that barrier is huge—not just for me, but for the city. We’re a champion city, and we deserve this.”
However, with the Knicks now holding the championship title, they’ll certainly have their work cut out for them this season in maintaining that status.
Interestingly, Monroe was part of the Baltimore Bullets team that interrupted the Knicks’ chance to repeat in 1971 by defeating them in the Eastern Conference Finals. Yet, he seemed unconcerned about the team’s confidence going forward.
“Winning obviously instills a belief that you can do it again,” Monroe stated. “I’m confident they’re entering this season with the mindset that they’re the top team, and I’d tell others to prove otherwise.”
Although their journeys have intertwined on the court since their days in the Baker League in Philadelphia, Bradley’s fondest memories of Monroe aren’t solely anchored in basketball.
“This is the Earl Monroe I’ve always known,” Bradley said before the event began. “From our first encounter during a summertime shootout at Bry Pope Baptist Church in Philadelphia, Earl’s commitment to the community has always been clear, and today is a great representation of that dedication.”
