For the first time in 53 years, the New York Knicks are NBA champions, claiming the Larry O’Brien trophy after beating the San Antonio Spurs in five games. The last time the Knicks called themselves champions, they had a distinct HBCU flavor on their roster, with three of the most prominent players in our lore contributing to the team’s success. The most prominent being Grambling State alum Willis Reed, who reigned as one of the NBA’s top players in the late ’60s and early 70s.