John Starks Returns to Madison Square Garden (1999)

December 7 1999 Highlights and introduction begin at 7:20 if you'd like to skip all the nostalgic recap done by MSG including a lengthy interview. Extensive coverage of John Starks's return to MSG for the first time as an opposing player. Lengthy pregame coverage including a montage of memorable moments in a Knicks jersey, followed by an interview with John himself. In the interview it's mentioned how Starks was courtside during many playoff games of the 1999 Knicks improbable final run, in which Starks states being excited for the team, for the organization, and the fans, due to his main goal as a Knick: to bring a championship to the Garden. He states (in 1999) that the city deserves a championship. "Unfortunately we weren't able to do it while I was here, but to see them get back, and to see Patrick almost attain the championship, you know I was excited about it". Next Starks speaks on the man he was traded for, calling him a "very emotional, high intense player to say the least..." and says he's a player Starks can relate to. Next he spoke on his new coach-and the person Sprewell had his incident with-P.J. Carlesimo. He acknowledges they've had their differences of opinion but what Starks likes about him is that he doesn't hold grudges. Starks then speaks on "The Dunk" over Horace Grant and Michael Jordan, before explaining why he struggled in Game 7 of the 1994 NBA Finals: "It was tough for me I think because I put so much pressure on myself coming into that game, I really didn't sleep, you know, at all, probably got about an hour of sleep that night before the game because you know I wanted it too bad and I tried to go out there and put everything on my shoulders to make it happen and I didn't go out there and play a relaxed ballgame and that's one regret that I have". As Clyde explains in a continuance of the pregame coverage, John was powering through an injured knee to make his long anticipated return to the Garden, instead of waiting another entire season, as the teams didn't play the year prior due to the lockout. It took John until after halftime to score his first field goal, as he struggled through injury and the pestering Knicks defense. He would finish with 7 points on 3 of 12 shooting, as his nagging knee injury persisted and eventually is what caused the descent of his NBA career. Starks spoke postgame fondly of the reception he received and how he reminisced of all the great memories he had at the Garden. Footage via Jake JP.