From Ben Stiller to Jordyn Woods, New York Knicks' fans turn to superstitions in NBA Finals
Fans are still buzzing about the New York Knicks’ historic comeback win over the San Antonio Spurs in Game 4 of the NBA Finals, a victory that leaves the franchise just one win away from its first championship since 1973.
As the team prepares for Game 5 Saturday night in San Antonio, many fans aren’t just counting on Jalen Brunson and company to deliver. They’re also holding tight to the superstitions they believe have helped fuel the Knicks’ playoff run.
From lucky outfits to pre-game rituals, social media has become filled with fans sharing the routines they refuse to break as New York chases a title.
One of the most talked-about good luck charms is a purse belonging to model and entrepreneur Jordyn Woods, the fiancée of Knicks star Karl-Anthony Towns.
Woods' bright orange purse first appeared during the Knicks’ playoff opener on April 18, when New York defeated the Atlanta Hawks. As the team’s winning streak grew, the bag became a fixture in Woods’ game-day outfits, accompanying her through 13 consecutive Knicks victories.
Remember the famous line from the 1988 Nike commercial directed by Knicks superfan Spike Lee, “It’s gotta be the shoes"?
For many Knicks fans, the playoff version became, "It’s gotta be the bag."
The theory faced its biggest test ahead of Game 3 on June 8.
A strict no-bag policy at Madison Square Garden due to President Donald Trump’s attendance meant Woods could not bring the clutch inside. The Knicks lost 115-111, ending their streak and immediately sparking speculation online that the lucky bag had something to do with it.
Fans flooded Woods’ social media pages with comments urging her to bring the bag back for Game 4 on June 10. She did, and the Knicks responded with one of the biggest comebacks in NBA Finals history, defeating the San Antonio Spurs 107-106.
But Woods isn’t the only fan embracing a little playoff magic.
Videos showing New Yorkers burning incense and sage outside Madison Square Garden have racked up thousands of views online, with supporters hoping to cleanse any bad energy before tipoff.
Some fans joke in the comments that every possible measure should be taken to help end the franchise’s 53-year championship drought, while others credit the rituals for helping shift the Knicks’ luck during the Finals run.
Meanwhile, actor and longtime Knicks fan Ben Stiller revealed that he and his wife, Christine Taylor, parted ways with a few items from Game 3 after the loss.
During an appearance on ESPN ahead of Game 4, Stiller said, to laughter, that he burned the shirt and jeans he wore to the previous game, while bracelets Taylor wore that night were also discarded in an effort to leave any bad luck behind.
"I'm not ever wearing that stupid Finals shirt that I was wearing. That was awful, and the jeans," Stiller said, later adding, "It's just, you wipe it clean."
For a fan base that has waited more than five decades for a title, a little superstition may feel like a small price to pay.
Game 5 between the Knicks and Spurs will be held at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio. The game tips off at 8:30 p.m. ET Saturday on ABC and ESPN, streaming on the ESPN App.
The Walt Disney Co. is the parent company of ABC and ESPN.
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