Alan Hahn: Joined here by the mayor, Eric Adams. Good to see you, sir.
Mayor Eric Adams: [You] as well.
Hahn: We seem to be doing this every year because the Knicks are good business right now for New York City. We always say this is a franchise that kind of unifies the city more than any other team that you have here.
You've talked often about the economic impact successful Knicks teams can have, a run like last year all the way to the Conference Finals. Put a number to it. What does it mean for the city when the Knicks are this good?
Mayor Adams: No, no. So true. And I can't thank Jim Dolan and MSG and the whole team [enough]. People don't realize, yes, we like cheering for our fans, but we also cheer for the employees. Just the playoffs, $377 million. That's a lot of families you’re feeding. A lot of economic activity becomes the center of this universe of our tourism. It's so important to have the Knicks doing well [because] the city does well as well.
Hahn: I wonder why they're parading in the streets after games. There's a lot of anticipation for this coming season. More than I think we've seen in 30 years. What are you anticipating here with this next team?
Mayor Adams: Well, you know, not only what they do in the Garden, many people don't realize what they do outside the court. How they are encouraging young people to stay in school, how they're dealing with various programs that are taking place. Young people come here with their dad, their moms, their brothers and sisters for the first time.
It's an amazing experience. I'm looking forward not only to when the championship rings, but [to] bring up future champions. Because if you could be good on the basketball court, you could be good in the black robe on the Supreme Court. Same energy.
Hahn: So I know you're a basketball fan, you follow the game. So if there's a favorite Knicks player, and I know you're a politician, you gotta be careful here. But if there's a favorite Knicks player, who is it?
Mayor Adams: Well, first, I want to say who I want to endorse for mayor, Jalen Brunson.
Hahn: I thought he was already!
Mayor Adams: No, no, you know, Josh Hart and both Jalen. I know Josh is out now, but it's a long season. But what they have done, you know, just how much they give back to our city. Just a great team. And it's a dynasty that's being built.
Hahn: Yeah, you certainly hope so. There's no question. You've talked to me about Knicks history in the past and how much the franchise, just in the history of it, means to New York City as well. Beyond the economics, though, do you feel like– you were out and about during the playoff run last year. Is there something, like I said [where] it unifies? Do you notice that?
Mayor Adams: No, you do. You do. You know what's happening. You know, I think of the Karate Kid moment when he was learning how to wash a car, but he was learning karate. But the Knicks, what they're doing, they're bringing our city together. When you're in the stadium and you're wearing that orange and blue, people forget about where they come from, what language they speak.
They start to have this synergy and realize why there's something special about New York. And I say it over and over again, there's only two types of Americans, those who live in New York and those who wish they could.
Hahn: There's also two types of people that work in this building and those who get their streets named after them, like all the players. And Bill Pidto, who wants to get a street named after him as well.
Bill Pidto: I'd love it. Alan and Mr. Mayor, thank you so much.
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