Leon Rose’s Emotional Journey with the Knicks

While many have contributed to the Knicks’ resurgence, few have done as much as Leon Rose. The team’s president has often stayed out of the spotlight, but on Monday in Cleveland, he couldn’t hide his emotions as he watched the Knicks sweep the Cavaliers and secure a spot in the NBA Finals at Rocket Arena.

At 65 years old, Rose was seen crying in the stands, sharing hugs with his son, Sam Rose, amid a sea of jubilant fans. Then, he celebrated on the court with actor and superfan Timothée Chalamet, capturing the moment’s joy.

Rose took over as president of the Knicks on March 2, 2020, replacing Stephen Mills, who faced criticism due to a lack of wins during his tenure. Notably, Mills missed out on securing stars like Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in 2019.

From the moment Rose stepped in, he breathed new life into the team under head coach Tom Thibodeau, leading the Knicks to the playoffs in 2021 for the first time since 2013.

Before this, Rose was a successful basketball agent at the Creative Artists Agency. He further strengthened the team by signing Jalen Brunson in 2022, among other strategic moves. He also worked on trades for players like OG Anunoby and considered trading star Julius Randle for Karl-Anthony Towns, even sending numerous first-round picks to the Nets for Mikal Bridges.

In the challenging offseason of 2025, Rose made the tough call to fire Thibodeau, who had been pivotal in the team’s rebuild process, opting instead for Mike Brown as the new coach. He also revamped the roster, bringing in vital players like Jordan Clarkson and Landry Shamet, and added former Pelican guard Jose Alvarado just before the season began.

This plan to transform the Knicks began right when Rose was hired. He even wrote a letter to the fans, discussing the team’s potential. “Everyone from the owners to the fans wants a winning team,” Rose expressed, emphasizing that they had everything needed to foster a winning culture and make Knicks supporters proud.

Now, after years of effort and change, Rose has seen his vision come to fruition, leading the Knicks back to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999.

The team stands just four wins away from clinching their first championship since 1973. They await the outcome of the 2-2 Western Conference Finals between the Thunder and the Spurs, with the next game scheduled for Tuesday night in Oklahoma City.