By: COOPER ALBERS / CHIEF SPORTS EDITOR
The New York Knicks are used to playing in front of a star-studded crowd in Midtown Manhattan. On Wednesday night, a Knicks legend formed a celebrity row of his own in Downtown Brooklyn.
The LIU Sharks desperately needed a bounce-back game, looking to get back in the win column after dropping four straight on the road. Luckily, they returned home to some extra motivation in the form of NBA Hall of Famer Walt “Clyde” Frazier cheering them on from courtside.
“It’s extraordinary,” Frazier said, describing the opportunity to be at LIU watching the Sharks led by NBA great Rod Strickland. “Hot Rod was one of my favorite players when he played. I have a lot of respect for him and what he’s trying to do today with the young kids. I’m definitely supporting him.”
The legendary point guard and commentator – who led the Knicks to their first NBA title in 1970 – came to the Brooklyn campus for Homecoming Weekend, a celebration hosted by the Knicks which honored the star’s legacy as he approaches his 80th birthday.
Knicks season-ticket holders and LIU students filled the cozy Kumble Theater, where the ever-stylish Frazier took the stage in a zebra print suit and seated himself for a panel with fellow Knicks royalty. He joined host Ahmad Rashad alongside Coach Strickland, 2x NBA champ JR Smith and his iconic “Rolls Royce Backcourt” partner, Earl “The Pearl” Monroe.
After the panel, the crowd – decked out in blue and orange gear – ventured from the theater to Steinberg Wellness Center to watch the Sharks take on York College.
Among the excited attendees of Homecoming Weekend were sisters Jennifer and Jasmine Gordon, co-founders of OmniFan Inc. and Knicks superfans.
For the “Knicks Sisters,” LIU was a fixture of their childhood and a staple of the community. Growing up on Ashland Place between Willoughby Street and Myrtle Avenue, they passed by campus every day and loved coming to cheer on the LIU basketball team when they were known as the Blackbirds.
Before tip-off, the sisters described the deeply fulfilling experience of returning to the LIU campus and celebrating not only one of the greatest Knicks of all time but New York basketball as a whole, stressing that the sport is more than just a game.
“We love that it’s being held here because it holds a special place in our hearts and there’s something to be said about paying homage to those that came before,” Said Jennifer. “Without these greats setting the path for us, the Knicks wouldn’t be what they are, and we wouldn’t be who we are. It was a full circle moment, we loved it.”
Added Jasmine: “It’s an honor to experience this in person. Truly blessed.”
While Smith and Monroe called it a night after the panel and Strickland returned to his head coaching duties, Frazier assumed his seat beside the broadcasting table accompanied by yet another former Knicks star, Allan Houston, among others.
From the opening tip-off, LIU was dishing and swishing in front of the rhyming NBA legend. The Sharks swarmed the Cardinals and had already amassed a 23-point lead by halftime.
During the break, Houston joined Strickland at center court as the coach presented Frazier with a framed #10 LIU jersey as a token of appreciation.
“I stand here with a living legend,” Strickland said. “Someone who inspired me, inspired many. It’s a pleasure for me to stand here to show our gratitude.”
The Sharks kept their foot on the gas pedal in the second half, steadily stretching their lead to 50 points by the final buzzer. LIU finished with their most points in a game this season, defeating York 103-53.
Speaking on the Sharks’ performance, Frazier explained that he was thoroughly impressed with the team’s roster and thinks they have a solid foundation with high potential.
“I thought [Strickland] had three or four players that are very good. I think there’s a core there that he has to build primarily with defense, teamwork and changing the culture. That’s the whole thing you got to do, and I think he has the foundation to do it.”
The Sharks were fully in sync on both sides of the ball. They shot a solid 56% from the floor with an especially impressive 40% clip from downtown. On the defensive end, the team set new season-highs for rebounds (51) and blocks (7) while holding the Cardinals under 30% shooting.
Senior floor general Terrell Strickland got everyone involved with a season-high 12 assists, allowing five Sharks to reach double figures. One of which was sophomore forward Jason Steele, who tallied 13 points while pulling in 11 boards, notching his first career double-double.
Every Shark that entered the game scored, including freshman guard Gavin Pendergast, who recorded the first points of his college career and ended the night with four.
The team’s leading scorer, Jalen “Roc” Lee, erupted for a season-high 23 points – on 75% shooting – with three deep balls and multiple highlight-reel jams. After the game, the freshman guard reflected on the team’s performance and the opportunity to play in front of the NBA Hall of Famer.
“I think as a unit we played well,” he said. “We got better, not only as a team, but as a family. And playing in front of a legend like Walt Frazier felt so surreal. He’s an icon and one of the best to ever play the game of basketball.”
The Sharks might not have Knicks royalty sitting courtside for their next contest, but they will look to carry the momentum from this win – as well as some New York grit – on the road as they head to UMass Lowell to take on the River Hawks next Wednesday.
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