‘Struggling and overwhelming,’ says NBA icon Shareef Abdur-Rahim on Knicks’ season before exit from playoffs with loss to Pacers

NBA icon Shareef Abdur-Rahim watched the New York Knicks channel the toughness of franchise legends during the 2023-24 NBA season.

The Knicks were eliminated from the NBA playoffs following Sunday’s 130-109 loss to the Indiana Pacers in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

two

It was the first winner-take-all postseason matchup at Madison Square Garden since the Knicks faced Reggie Miller’s Pacers in the legendary 1995 postseason second-round series.

“This is great. This is exciting,” Abdur-Rahim, 47, told The US Sun before the game.

“This is good for the game. It’s good for the league. It’s awesome.”

The Pacers, the No. 2 offense of the regular season, recorded a historic night to dispatch the Knicks on Sunday.

They shot 67.1% from the field, recording the highest shooting percentage in a playoff game in NBA history.

That’s yet another reason why the Garden felt nothing but pride despite the disappointing end to the postseason.

New York struggled mightily in 2023-24, exceeding expectations and losing player after player.

The Knicks entered the postseason without three-time All-Star Julius Randle, who had been out with a shoulder injury since January.

Once the playoffs began, they lost Mitchell Robinson and Bojan Bogdanovic, with both stars needing season-ending surgeries.

Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and OG Anunoby were also injured during the Pacers series.

But none of them tried to use injuries as an excuse after a loss.

And so, when asked what he saw from the Knicks during the season, “the struggle” was Abdur-Rahim’s immediate thought.

“I think this is like the traditional, historic Knicks [team],” added the former NBA All-Star and former No. 3 overall pick.

“Fighting and fighting. Regardless of who is out there, continuing to fight.”

Brunson, who left Game 7 shortly after fracturing his left hand, took the Knicks faithful down memory lane in Game 2.

That night, the 6-foot-2 guard returned to the court to lead New York to victory after suffering a foot injury that kept him out of the game for more than a quarter.

Many compared the moment to Willis Reed’s triumphant return in Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals, before the Knicks legend played through a hamstring injury to inspire his team to a victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.

Brunson, 27, a former second-round pick, had a fantastic year, earning his first All-Star nod while leading New York to a 50-32 regular season finish.

In the postseason, he led all players in scoring with 33.7 points per game, along with 3.6 rebounds and 7.3 assists before the ill-fated Game 7.

Abdur-Rahim said the former Villanova’s prominence is real proof that hard work pays off.

“It just shows that the determination, the work, the commitment that guys put in — that’s the determining factor in what kind of career they’re going to have,” the retired NBA forward said.

Brunson put his determination and winning mentality – qualities reminiscent of the Knicks of old – on full display in his final press conference of the season.

“Did we win the championship? Did we come close?” he asked rhetorically to insist that despite his personal achievements and New York’s collective improvement, 2023-24 was not a successful season.

“That’s my mindset. That’s the way it is.”

Brunson added: “[Knicks fans] We deserve much more than we were able to do.”