THE KNICKS' VILLANOVA TRIO HAS MATCHED A 74-YEAR NBA RECORD
The Knicks' ongoing postseason success can be largely attributed to the on-court chemistry between Jalen Brunson, Donte DiVincenzo and Josh Hart, all of whom played an equally critical role in helping Villanova win the 2016 NCAA title.
While the trio's transition from college to the pros isn't unprecedented, they've matched a feat not accomplished by three or more teammates in 74 years, per statistician Greg Harvey.
By winning their first-round playoff series against the Sixers, the trio matched the record set by the five-man lineup of Cliff Barker, Ralph Beard, Alex Groza, Joe Holland and Wah Wah Jones, who won the 1948 NCAA title for Kentucky and won a playoff series for the Indianapolis Olympians in 1950. In fact, four of those players won two NCAA titles together before achieving success in the NBA.
After the Knicks eliminated the Sixers at Wells Fargo Arena, where Villanova plays some of its home games, Brunson admitted that the victory meant more due to the history involved.
The ongoing playoffs mark the first instance of Brunson, DiVincenzo and Hart playing as teammates in an NBA postseason. While DiVincenzo signed with the Knicks as a free agent last summer, Hart was acquired via trade from the Blazers during the Feb. 8 trade deadline in 2023.
Want more articles like this? Follow Yardbarker on MSN to see more of our exclusive NBA content.
More must-reads:
- Draymond Green doubles down on Knicks' inability to win a championship
- Watch: Pacers bench dominates in first half of Game 1 vs. Knicks
- The 'Leading scorers from the 2023-24 NBA season' quiz
Trending slideshow: The greatest NBA sixth men of all time (Provided by Yardbarker)