After all the winters of their discontent, the Knicks are poised to be the Boys of Summer.
LeBron James never intended to take his talents to New York, but here we are, nine years later, and the Knicks will be asking the basketball gods for help.
The lottery awarded Zion Williamson to New Orleans, but the David Fizdale-Scott Perry-Steve Mills triumvirate has cleared the decks for the once-in-a-lifetime chance at a Kevin Durant-Kyrie Irving-Anthony Davis triumvirate that would rock the NBA and make the Knicks relevant, make them a powerhouse, again.
Kristaps Porzingis is gone and Phil Jackson is gone. This is the summer that can mark a watershed in the history of a franchise that has fallen and finally has a chance to get up.
There isn’t a Knicks fan who hasn’t circled June 30, the official start of free agency (it used to be July 1, but teams and players can now negotiate on June 30 at 6 p.m.), because the time for tanking talk is over.
It has been 46 years since the Knicks won a championship. Capiche?
It’s an important time as well for the Nets, who are looking to accelerate their innocent climb by plunging into the Durant sweepstakes and aiming to keep restricted free agent D’Angelo Russell from testing the free-agent waters.
On Memorial Day weekend, a look at the rest of a compelling New York sports summer:
1. Belmont Stakes (June 8)
There will be no Triple Crown, and Yoenis Cespedes won’t be on any saddle anytime soon, but if a 65-1 long shot like Country House can “win” the Kentucky Derby, wouldn’t it be a fun day if another 65-1 long shot came in for you?
2. Subway Series (June 10-11, July 2-3)
Pete Alonso, with the weather heating up, gets a chance to become the first man to hit a home run out of Yankee Stadium (or perhaps a 500-foot moonshot for starters) when The Bronx is burning over the first two games.
Other Subway debuts — DJ LeMahieu, Gio Urshela, Luke Voit, James Paxton, Adam Ottavino and Edwin Diaz. … Plus Robinson Cano facing the Yankees as a Met, and maybe Rajai Davis vs. Aroldis Chapman in a rematch of their memorable 2016 World Series Indians-Cubs moment.
3. NBA draft (June 20)
Following Zion Williamson, Ja Morant is the favorite to land in Memphis as the second pick, leaving RJ Barrett as the consolation prize for the Knicks at No. 3. The Nets own the 17th and 28th picks, and Barclays Center doesn’t forget that Jarrett Allen was the 22nd pick in 2017.
4. NHL draft (June 21)
The Devils own the first-overall pick, and the John Davidson Rangers own the second pick. Their respective fan bases are salivating over the prospect of landing a blue-chip prospect like Jack Hughes or Kaapo Kakko.
5. The search for a strategic thinker (ongoing)
Jets head coach Adam Gase continues assisting team CEO Christopher Johnson in the search to find a compatible successor to GM Mike Maccagnan. Someone like Eagles exec Joe Douglas.
6. 50th anniversary night for the 1969 Miracle Mets (June 28-30)
Flushing’s first Boys of Summer. Tom Seaver, who is suffering from dementia, will be in everyone’s thoughts.
7. Star Warriors (ongoing)
Didi Gregorius and Dellin Betances are expected to return (sometime next month) with Luis Severino likely back for Aaron Boone’s club in July. But still waiting for Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton.
8. Old-Timers’ Day (June 23)
It’s their 73rd, and no one does it like the Yankees.
9. NYCFC vs. Red Bulls (July 14, Aug. 24)
Fanatics on both sides of the Hudson River Derby get along worse than Gase and Maccagnan did.
10. David Cone’s 20th anniversary (July 18)
His perfect game against the Expos came on Yogi Berra Day, with Don Larsen — who fired the 1956 World Series perfect game with Yogi as his batterymate — in attendance.
11. Mariano Rivera Hall of Fame induction (July 21)
The greatest closer ever was the first to receive 100 percent of the vote. Enter Sandman in Cooperstown.
12. Giants open training camp (late July)
GM Dave Gettleman will be rooting for first-round pick Daniel Jones more than anyone. First preseason game is against the Jets (Aug. 8).
13. Jets open training camp (late July)
Le’Veon Bell tries to win over Gase, and defensive coordinator Gregg Williams is a raging inferno as advertised. First preseason game is against the Giants.
14. The Bronx Is Burning (Aug. 2-4)
This is when the defending World Series champion Red Sox make their last trip to the Stadium in a series that could remind the Yankees and Rays that it ain’t over till it’s over in the AL East. Will Judge be back in time? And will he bring his boombox?
15. U.S. Open tennis (Aug. 26-Sept. 8)
A Novak Djokovic-Rafael Nadal showdown? Another meltdown by Serena Williams against Naomi Osaka? $15 for chicken fingers and fries?