The Knicks and Spurs Did It Their Way
Last season's two Finals teams built their front offices in opposite ways. Both worked.
The NBA season is underway, so what can everyone learn from the defending champs? The Knicks, like Frank said in New York, New York, did it their way.
Or maybe that was a different song. Whatever, they did do it their way. So did the team they beat, the Spurs. Their way was just different.
The Knicks: Basketball People Only. They hire from all over the league. Who they don’t hire is anyone from outside sports, the lowest share in the NBA as a matter of fact. And once you’re in, you stay in: Knicks alums show up in only 13 other front offices. That kind of commitment took a shite 17-65 team to a ticker-tape parade.
Spurs: Gene Pool Diversity. More than half the Spurs front office came from outside sports. Then the staff forget the Alamo and get out of town, to 23 other front offices, tied for second-most in the league. Five titles since ‘99 so something’s working, and of course other teams want to figure it out.
In football, hiring your rivals’ people went with losing (see: Giants). The Knicks did it anyway and won their first ring since ‘73, when Walt and Willis won it with a backup forward named Phil Jackson taking notes for what would become Showtime (IYKYK).