Jets lose their closest friend on 'New York misery index' with Knicks championship win

The New York Knicks won their first NBA championship in 53 years on Saturday night, leaving the New York Jets with their 57-year championship drought.

According to ESPN's Rich Cimini's "New York misery index," basically, the list of New York sports franchises' championship droughts, the Jets now stand alone with their drought.

The only two closest are the Brooklyn Nets, with 50 years since their ABA championship in 1976, and the New York Islanders, who last won a Stanley Cup in 1983.

In New York, winning a championship is a special accomplishment, and the adoration the Knicks are receiving should be what every team strives for on a yearly basis.

Of course, when you're the Jets, it's easier said than done. But if the Knicks can break their curse, it should give hope that one day the Green & White will be able to accomplish the same thing.

Can the Jets break their own Knicks-like championship drought?

The Jets and the Knicks have some pretty interesting parallels, especially when you step back and take a wider look at both teams' histories, especially in the late 60s and early 70s.

Both New York squads had iconic, flashy figures lead their teams to their first championships.

Joe Namath and Walt "Clyde" Frazier had the snazziest outfits, and each played "point guard" for teams that would go on to bring glory to their respective New York teams.

Of course, Frazier was the hero of Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals, scoring 36 points, recording 19 assists, and five steals en route to Finals MVP.

Namath, on the other hand, wasn't as prolific in his championship game, throwing for 206 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions, allowing his running backs to lead the way with 142 team rushing yards.

Joe Willie was, of course, still named Super Bowl MVP, more likely because of his guarantee rather than his play on the field, but it was still well deserved nonetheless.

In the modern day, both the Jets and Knicks have been plagued by poor ownership. A lot of meddling has hurt both franchises over the last 25 years.

But if there's anything this Knicks run has proven, it's that as long as the right decision makers are in place, maybe a bad owner doesn't matter.

Is Darren Mougey the Jets' Leon Rose? Maybe. That remains to be seen. What Mougey has to do is go out and find his Jalen Brunson, and let one player's worth ethic and leadership lift the rest of the organization all the way to the Canyon of Heroes.

Easier said than done, but who expected the Knicks to pull this one off?

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow