Love and Basketball with the Knicks

It’s all about love and basketball, but specifically, it’s about the Knicks.

This story revolves around high school sweethearts who share a fierce rivalry over their favorite sports teams. Yet, their support for the new NBA champions adds a unique twist to their romance.

For Queens couple Daniel Kuczynskas and Alex Flory, the Knicks play a significant role in their relationship, which came full circle during a memorable Game 5 in San Antonio.

Kuczynskas, 35, expressed his excitement, saying, “It’s an incredible feeling. We’re over the moon. This is something we’ve been waiting for a long time, and we can’t believe they’re the champions!”

Their mutual passion for basketball and the Knicks sparked their connection back in 2007.

Hailing from Middle Village, both have been Knicks fans since childhood, playing for their high school teams. Flory represented Regis in Manhattan, while Kuczynskas played at Christ the King, the same school as Knicks player Jose Alvarado.

Interestingly, their AIM screen names reflected their love for the game—Kuczynskas was DKlovesbball and Flory was littlebballdude20, inspired by retired Knicks star Allan Houston’s jersey number.

Even during college, when they attended rival schools, their love for the Knicks kept them together, despite their allegiances to different basketball teams. Flory roots for Georgetown, whereas Kuczynskas supports Villanova. They managed to set aside their differences to enjoy college games together and found themselves cheering for future Knicks stars like Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges before they hit the big time.

This isn’t their only sports rivalry; when it comes to baseball, Kuczynskas is a Mets fan whereas Flory follows the Yankees, a passion passed down from his grandfather.

When asked about any heated fan disputes, Flory, a 36-year-old lawyer, admitted, “There has been a little bit!” He recalled a time when they were apprehensive about the League Championship Series and whether they could attend games together, jokingly mentioning they “agreed to see them separately!”

However, the Knicks have only drawn them closer.

In 2023, the couple snagged partial season tickets, and by April, they were eager to travel across the country to witness history unfold, ultimately celebrating the championship.

Kuczynskas and Flory cheered as their team triumphed over the Hawks in Atlanta and the 76ers in Philadelphia.

They missed one victory against the Cavaliers in Cleveland, but made it to each Finals game in San Antonio, notably where Kuczynskas waved an “MSG Texas” sign, honoring the wave of Knicks fans who invaded the Spurs’ arena.

Most importantly, they were present when time ran out, marking the Knicks’ historic victory.

“It was so emotional. I cried when they won! Alex and I had a really nice hug. It’s just unbelievable. We’re still processing it,” Kuczynskas shared with excitement.

Flory added, “It’s special to come together and cheer for the Knicks. It’s so much fun.”