He’s swapping out his wardrobe with a hopeful heart.
Long-time Knicks fans, who have profited from years of what seemed like endless sports disappointment in New York, are now more upbeat. The team stands just one win away from claiming their first championship in over five decades, prompting a wave of more optimistic merchandise.
“I’ve been sharing a lot of my genuine emotions about how thrilled I am and how far I’ve come from years ago,” said Justin Silverlast, the creator of “Forever Next Year NY,” discussing the Knicks’ remarkable playoff run.
“I remember feeling pretty hopeless back then, but now it’s a different story,” added the 28-year-old from Dix Hills, expressing his amazement at the team’s dramatic comeback in Game 4, when they overcame a 29-point deficit to defeat the Spurs 107-106.
Once a symbol of relatable pessimism about New York sports, Silverlast has now become a vibrant figure of Knicks enthusiasm, celebrated widely online.
Encouraged by Mike Brown’s team, he had to pivot from “Forever Next Year” to producing blue and orange basketball T-shirts with new slogans like “Next Year Is Now.”
“After 27 years, we’ve finally made it to the finals. People really resonate with the slogan ‘Forever Is Now,’” he mentioned.
“We always said, there’s always next year,” Silverlast remarked, recalling the age-old phrase linked to the Brooklyn Dodgers that has permeated local sports culture.
The Knicks’ victory over San Antonio heightened hopes for their first NBA title since 1973.
He willingly embraces the challenging mix of fandom, being a loyal supporter of the Jets and Mets, teams that, despite their lengthy histories, have never scored championships.
“It feels like it’s never going to change. I think we constantly find ourselves saying this,” he said.
Silverlast took matters into his own hands back in 2025, having his brother Jared create a website that features countdown timers for his favorite teams’ championship droughts (1986 for the Mets and 1969 for the Jets).
Shortly after, he channeled that insecurity into a successful sideline clothing brand on social media, tackling themes around toxic relationships.
“We’ll always support these teams every year, driven by blind loyalty and a bit of paranoia,” noted Silverlast, who began focusing on this venture when the Mets faced a tough end last September.
“Being a fan of the Mets, Jets, and Knicks is just part of who I am… I blended this frustration with an enduring sense of hope.”
Many fans connected with the theme of bleak sports loyalty and wore his designs in team colors, proudly displaying the phrase “Forever Next New York,” which resonated across generations.
“My 83-year-old grandma emailed me expressing her love for this product,” he shared.
The growth in his following has been impressive, rising from around 1,200 to about 15,000 across various platforms.
He didn’t aim to state the obvious; instead, he aimed to “reverse the curse.”
Now with the Knicks leading the series 3-1, Silverlast might just be experiencing what he describes as an “out-of-body experience,” finally witnessing one of his teams thrive.
“I’ve waited a long time for this moment, and now it’s here,” he said. “We’re ready to embrace it and just enjoy it.”
