New York just absolutely cleaned up at the ESPYs after their championship run, with Jalen Brunson taking home Best Male Athlete, Best Championship Performance, and Best NBA Player. Not only did Brunson sweep his categories, but OG Anunoby snagged Best Play, and the entire New York Knicks squad grabbed Best Team. It’s wild to think about, especially with the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles now just two years away.
From PR Problems to ESPY Glory
For years, it felt like getting an active Knick into the Olympics was a pipe dream. Seriously, if you don’t count Evan Fournier in 2021 since he hadn’t even played for them yet, the last Knick to suit up for his country was Carmelo Anthony at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, where he snagged a gold for Team USA. Before Melo, the list is short: Patrick Ewing in ’92, Allan Houston in 2000, Stephon Marbury in ’04, Pablo Prigioni for Argentina in ’12, Tyson Chandler for Team USA in ’12, and José Calderón for Spain in ’16. The truth is, the team just wasn’t very good for a long time after NBA players got the green light for the Olympics. They just didn’t have the pull to get guys on those elite international rosters. But hey, when you win a championship, like the Knicks just did, all those “PR problems” kinda vanish, don’t they? That ESPY sweep proves it.
The World is Their Court
Now, the Knicks are a totally different squad. They’re way more multicultural than before, a big shift from when the average NBA team was nearly 90 percent American. That diversity means they’ve got a handful of guys who could easily go overseas and make teams that are, let’s be honest, often easier to qualify for. Looking ahead to the 2028 Games, with FIBA Qualifiers already heating up, there are nine players currently on the roster who have a real shot at making an Olympic squad. Karl-Anthony Towns could suit up for the Dominican Republic, Jordan Clarkson for the Philippines, and Jose Alvarado for Puerto Rico. On the European front, Mo Diawara is eligible for France, and Jack Kayil for Germany. OG Anunoby has options with Great Britain or Nigeria. And for Team USA, Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges are all in the mix, with Brunson also eligible for Jamaica. Right now, Team USA is the only squad that has clinched their spot as the host nation. Everyone else has got to battle it out and win their way in, either through the ongoing qualifiers or at the FIBA World Cup next summer.
The stakes are real as these guys chase their Olympic dreams. We’re talking about global bragging rights here! Keep an eye on the FIBA World Cup next summer, because that’s where many of these hopefuls will be fighting to punch their ticket to LA in 2028.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Posting and Toasting.
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