Former New York Knicks stars and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver joined students and community members Thursday to dedicate a new building for the Earl Monroe New Renaissance Basketball School in the South Bronx. 

The charter school has a curriculum built around basketball and aims to prepare students for careers across the sports industry. 

Silver said he was inspired growing up by teams such as the 1973 Knicks, even though he knew an NBA playing career wasn’t in his future. 

“Knowing we couldn’t be there, the opportunity was, could we work in sports in some way other than being on the court,” Silver said. “And then we saw there were opportunities as broadcasters, as lawyers, even as commissioners.” 

The school was founded by filmmaker and public relations executive Dan Klores and named for Earl Monroe, a star of the Knicks’ 1973 championship team. 

Silver said he hoped the school would help students find a similar inspiration. 

“That was the dream that Dan Klores had, that we could use all the fun, the energy, the excitement that comes from the game,” Silver said. “But then translate that into careers all around the business of basketball.” 

Monroe attended Thursday’s dedication and said the school was about giving young people opportunities to succeed. 

“This is not about just me, you know, per se, it just about the kids and what we can afford them to do. It’s an opportunity,” Monroe said. “And we like to say, opportunity at every door does knock. But it’s never been known to pick a lock. So, we’re here, and we’re giving them that opportunity to succeed in life.” 

Former Knicks teammate Bill Bradley, who later served as a U.S. senator, said the school had been a long time coming. It had operated in temporary space since 2021, with operations fully moving to the new building in September. 

Bradley credited Klores with helping make the project a reality. 

“It took him to step forward and say, ‘I’ll put my name on that’ ‘What? Put your name on a hole in the Bronx?’ ‘Yeah, I’ll put my name on it. We’ll make it happen.’ and he has, and I’m proud of him because I love him, but I’m proud of him because of this achievement,” Bradley said 

Comedian and Knicks superfan Tracy Morgan, who grew up in the Bronx, said he wished a school like this had been available when he was young. 

“I wish they would have had this in the Bronx when I was growing up here. But I’m glad for the youth today that they have it. And I think this is wonderful, to combine education with basketball, great,” Morgan said. 

The dedication also brought excitement about the Knicks’ upcoming season, as the team prepares to defend its championship. 

“Well, if you win one, you know you can win another one,” Monroe said. 

Bradley was even more direct, saying, “I don’t want them to lose a game.”