![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/IMG_3893.jpg\")
<\/a>JUAN HAS PLAYED basketball since he was 13 and is part of the Osama League in The Bronx. He is seen here watching a local game in the Williamsbridge Oval park in Norwood on Friday, June 5, 2026, ahead of Game 2 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs.\u00a0Photo by S\u00edle Moloney<\/p>\n
We asked Juan if he found it easy to play. \u201cNo, you have to practice a lot to be good,\u201d he said. Asked if you had to be tall or fast \/ fit to be good, he said, \u201cNo, you just have to have a good mindset and, equally, always be positive and what you want to accomplish is doable.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
We asked why he preferred basketball over other sports. Juan said he got really into basketball because he admired players like the late Kobe Bryant, Jalen Brunson and LeBron James. \u201cBecause of this, I got into it and I learned basketball and now I\u2019m learning,\u201d he said, adding that he plays in a basketball league called Liga Osama. We asked for his views about the Knicks but he seemed reticent to share his opinion, referring us instead to his friends for comment.<\/p>\n
Another fan who declined to have his picture taken and declined to share his name, said, \u201cSo, Anthony-Karl Towns (Karl-Anthony Towns aka KAT) is gonna get 15 points, 14 rebounds, and about 8 assists tonight and we\u2019re gonna win Game 2.\u201d Asked for his prediction of the final score, he said, \u201cLet\u2019s see. It could be like 125 to 118. It could be a close game because they\u2019re both playing good games.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n We asked if he planned to watch it somewhere and he said, \u201cYeah, it\u2019s at 8.30. I\u2019m about to go home already.\u201d Asked what he thought was the Knicks\u2019 secret sauce, the young man said, \u201cAh, their defense! They\u2019re playing crazy defense. If they keep it up, they\u2019re gonna make it all the way.\u201d<\/p>\n We also spoke to two other basketball fans who declined to be identified and who said, \u201cNew York! Aqu\u00ed NUEVAYol! [Here, New York!].\u201d We asked for their prediction of the final score for Game 2 and one said, \u201cWe New York! It\u2019s gonna be at least 120 points, something like that, more or less. We\u2019re gonna cook \u2019em! They\u2019re gonna get beat!\u201d Asked if they thought Game 2 would be close, one of the two said, \u201cOh, it\u2019s [the win] gonna be a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Speaking in Spanish, another fan, Batita, who joked he was there to support his young friends with a joint and to play basketball, said, \u201cWe are the power, here in New York, you know? The league? We\u2019re gonna kill it! You know, everyone knows.. Fire in New York\u2026. active, active! We\u2019re gonna win by a lot!\u201d The man said he hadn\u2019t seen Game 1 (June 3) but was happy with the Knicks\u2019 Game 1 win of 105 to 95. Asked if there was anything else the group wanted to add, they said, \u201cGo Knicks! Let\u2019s Go Knicks!\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Later on Friday night, for an unrelated story, Norwood News also spoke to, and witnessed, some young men hanging out outside Woodlawn & Jerome Deli next to the Jerome Avenue Men\u2019s Shelter in Norwood. As we were talking, one person dressed as Superman casually walked by.<\/p>\n Of the night\u2019s main event, Mario Balla said, \u201cTonight is history! It\u2019s Game 2, the New York Knicks! We\u2019re about to win. We\u2019re gonna win! I can predict the future.\u201d Balla said his favorite players were also Brunson and KAT. \u201cMy baby boys, they gonna bring it home,\u201d he said. \u201cI hope they\u2019re going to accomplish that because accomplishments mean everything. Like, you did something with your life. You\u2019re an MBA, so you accomplished something, your family, everything.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Asked if he played basketball, Balla said he used to. \u201cI play other type of ball right now. Ball \u2019till I fall, that\u2019s what they call it.\u201d He added, \u201cOnce you know\u2026..what\u2019s understood ain\u2019t got to be explained. It\u2019s Mario Balla you\u2019re talking to.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Balla, who appeared a little under the influence, continued, \u201cGod Bless Everybody! God is good. Always be yourself and never try to hide the [scowl\/sky? inaudible] with your hand \u2019cause it\u2019s not possible. God is great. Pray every day and you\u2019ll get forward. As long as you wake up in the morning, you completed something. Life is precious. Don\u2019t take it for granted.\u201d<\/p>\n On Saturday, June 6, Norwood News spoke to Alex, 11, and his mom, Lucy in the Concourse section of the borough. The two later stopped to take a photo with fellow Knicks fan, Richard Harris. Asked if he played basketball, Alex said, \u201cYeah, sort of.\u201d Asked who his favorite Knicks player is, he said, \u201cI have two favorite players; it\u2019s Brunson and KAT, Karl Anthony Towns. Asked if he had watched Games 1 and 2, he said, \u201cYeah, I watched the two games. I liked the second game. It was intense; just one point difference.\u201d The Knicks beat the Spurs 105 to 104 in Game 2.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n We asked Alex what was the best thing about playing basketball. \u201cJust having fun, for me, just having fun and just like hanging out with my friends playing basketball and not really, like, to compete but just to enjoy that we\u2019re playing it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Asked if he preferred it to soccer or other sports, Alex said, \u201cI also play soccer but I also like basketball as my second choice and like, I\u2019m more of a, like, athletic person so that\u2019s why I like almost all the sports.\u201d Asked if he was going to be following the World Cup as well, Alex said he was and is supporting Portugal. We asked if he believed Portugal was going to win the tournament, Alex said, \u201cI hope!\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Harris, like Alex, was seen dressed in Knicks gear and later said of his new sports attire, \u201cI grabbed the jersey yesterday! I was in Manhattan.\u201d Asked how much he paid for it, he said $100. Norwood News commented that the purchase must mean he\u2019s all in and committed to the Knicks. Laughing, he said, \u201cYeah.\u201d Asked if he thinks the team will go the distance, Harris said, \u201cYes, it\u2019s going to be a sweep! It won\u2019t be a Game 7; Knicks in 4!\u201d<\/p>\n Norwood News asked who his favorite player was and Harris said Brunson. Asked if he felt the buzz around the City was bringing people together in what has been quite a divided time in the country in general in recent years, Harris said, \u201cYeah, you know, the Knicks being in the finals after 27 years.. It\u2019s good to see, you know, the City unite and it\u2019s bringing different races together so New York is [inaudible]. Meanwhile, check out Max Nace\u2019s bemusement here<\/a> of New Yorkers being nice to each other\u2026<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n During the Bronx Economic Development Summit held at Andrew Freedman House in the Concourse section of The Bronx on Saturday, hosted by Our Bronx, keynote speaker and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani concluded his prepared remarks with a chant of \u201cLet\u2019s Go Knicks!\u201d much to the delight of all in attendance.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Elsewhere, a video<\/a> posted to social media by Paul Gelb of some New York City kids starting up a \u201cKnicks in Four\u201d chant at school is receiving a lot of traction.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, after a female police officer was reportedly assaulted by a Knicks fan after Game 2 on Friday night outside Madison Square Garden, the Police Benevolent Association condemned the assault and issued the attached statement. \u201cA victory celebration shouldn\u2019t end with blood pouring down a police officer\u2019s face,\u201d Patrick Hendry, PBA president wrote in part. The full statement can be read above.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The mayor later issued the following statement in response to the incident on Saturday, \u201cThe assault on an NYPD officer outside Madison Square Garden last night was unacceptable. New Yorkers are rightfully excited about the Knicks\u2019 historic Finals run, and we want fans to celebrate this moment together.\u201d<\/p>\n The statement continued, \u201cThere is, however, no place for violence, and no tolerance for attacks on police officers. Thank you to the officers who worked to keep fans safe throughout the night, and we wish the injured officer a speedy recovery. The overwhelming majority of New Yorkers celebrated responsibly, and I urge everyone to continue doing so as the Finals return to New York.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n A video<\/a> circulated on social media after the game shows at least one incident of police seemingly arresting one Knicks fan and in the process banging his head against a pole while the fan\u2019s arms are pinned behind his back.<\/p>\n Back in the Oval, on Friday, Norwood News also spoke to Mikey about the Knicks fever taking over the City and he said, \u201cIt\u2019s been a long time since the Knicks came this far. I\u2019m happy we made it this far.\u201d Asked what he attributed that to, he said, \u201cIt\u2019s actually mind-blowing that they came this far with the young team that they have. Everybody got like either traded or from a free agency or you know?\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Asked what he thought was the Knicks\u2019 secret sauce right now, Mikey added, \u201cOh yeah, their defense is incredible and good defense creates offense. That\u2019s why they score so much.\u201d Asked who his favorite player is, he said, \u201cJalen Brunson. JB. That\u2019s Captain Clutch. Yeah, we winnin\u2019 tonight too. I got him over 15.\u201d Smiling, Mikey said he\u2019d put $30 on a Knicks win. \u201cI\u2019m takin\u2019 the Knicks money!\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<\/a>VILMA, MEYONKA, AND Crystal (9) from The Bronx say, \u201cLet\u2019s Go Knicks!!\u201d on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, ahead of Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs.\u00a0\u00a0
Photo by S\u00edle Moloney<\/p>\n<\/a>KNICKS FAN, ALEJANDRO (\u201cAlex\u201d) 11, who also plays basketball and soccer poses for a photo together with his mom, Lucy, on the Grand Concourse around East 167th Street in the Concourse section of The Bronx on Saturday afternoon, June 6, 2026.\u00a0
Photo by S\u00edle Moloney<\/p>\n<\/a>A GROUP OF men are seen outside Woodlawn & Jerome deli near Jerome Avenue Men\u2019s Shelter on Jerome Avenue, Norwood, The Bronx are seen on Friday, June 5, 2026.
Photo by S\u00edle Moloney<\/p>\n<\/a>KNICKS FANS, RICHARD Harris and Alex, 11, did not appear to know each other but ended up posing for a photo together on the Grand Concourse around East 167th Street in the Concourse section of The Bronx on Saturday afternoon, June 6, 2026.\u00a0
Photo by S\u00edle Moloney<\/p>\n<\/a>STATEMENT FROM THE Police Benevolent Association (PBA) following an assault on a female police officer on Friday, June 5, 2026, after Game 2 of the NBA Finals outside Madison Square Garden in Midtown Manhattan.\u00a0
Image courtesy of the Police Benevolent Association<\/p>\n<\/a>KNICKS FANS AND local basketball players are seen at Williamsbridge Oval basketball court in the Williamsbridge Oval in Norwood the Bronx on Night 2 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs Friday, June 5, 2026.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0
Photo by S\u00edle Moloney<\/p>\n<\/a>KNICKS NBA FINALS T-Shirts are sold outside the Kingsbridge Armory in Kingsbridge Heights, The Bronx, Sunday, June 7, 2026.\u00a0
Photo by S\u00edle Moloney<\/p>\n<\/a>KNICKS NBA FINALS T-Shirts are sold outside the Kingsbridge Armory in Kingsbridge Heights, The Bronx, Sunday, June 7, 2026.\u00a0
Photo by S\u00edle Moloney<\/p>\n