Knicks Legend Remains Unfazed Amid Championship Run

Richie Guerin, the oldest living New York Knick, is taking the team’s current championship push in stride.

At 94, the Hall of Famer expressed that he isn’t shocked to witness his former team nearing its first championship title since 1973. “That’s not true,” he remarked, reflecting on his extensive experience with the team from 1956 to 1963. “I’ve seen teams win through sheer effort and lose due to the other team’s determination.”

Known as the first guard to score 2,000 points in an NBA season, Guerin had a hunch that the Knicks would secure a win in Game 4. “I think there’s a very good chance they win tonight and head to San Antonio with a 3-1 lead,” he said, just before the Knicks made a remarkable comeback against the Spurs after trailing by 29 points.

After spending seven seasons with the Knicks, Guerin moved to the St. Louis/Atlanta Hawks, where he played and coached for an additional seven years. Over his career, he averaged 20 points per game, including 11 games over 40 points and several that reached 50, with a record-high of 57 points that lasted more than 50 years until it was broken by Bernard King.

The Bronx native, who played college basketball at Iona and served in the Marines, attended Game 3 at Madison Square Garden with his daughter, where he was honored on the Jumbotron. “It was great to have a fun night. Everything was great, and I’m just glad we won,” said the six-time NBA All-Star.

Touching on the game’s unpredictable nature, Guerin mentioned, “Just like on Monday, when the Knicks played San Antonio, sometimes the other team pulls off a stronger performance late. Sports can be funny that way.” He noted that the league was quite different during his playing days, as players often needed second jobs in the offseason to support their families.

“We had to go out and find jobs. I worked in plumbing and at a racetrack in Yonkers,” he elaborated.

With the evolution of the game, he noted that current athletes are stronger and more conditioned. “Today’s players, in any sport, are superior physically compared to those from my era. They have more games and training year-round,” he stated.

Guerin remarked on Victor Wembanyama, the Spurs’ towering talent and now a rival for the Knicks, calling him “very strong and talented,” but pointed out that such players wouldn’t have made it in the NBA during his time.

Despite his grandchildren not playing basketball, Guerin has shared parts of his legacy with them. “I give things to my grandkids and friends, and they appreciate it,” he said. “I’m not someone who sells my memorabilia.”