Collective Effervescence
If you were not under a rock, off the planet or without access to media, people or any form communication, you are aware of the recent frenzy engulfing the Knicks win for the 2026 NBA Championship.
Whether you follow sports, jumped on the bandwagon, or if you are a Knicks fan, collectively the city, and state of New York was the platform to showcase the energy experienced around this event. Think weddings, concerts, or some extreme moment witnessed by many; strangers were friends and friendly, many were off their screens and connecting, in person with one another.
Some described it as electric. The last memorable collective events include COVID, 9/11, and in New York City, Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger crashing into the Hudson and saving everyone’s lives on the plane.
The inclusivity, the joy, the spontaneity are among the words people used to describe this feeling, and because it is so rare it stands out. Many noted the Zen-like mantras from the Knicks, “you miss a shot, you move on” and you simply “begin again.” Who knew such sage advise came packaged so neatly and energetically from a New York team in the NBA organization?
Watching the games were also a collective experience, and many were sad when it was over. It is a reminder that even big cities and groups of people can come together. It is something special when an event prompts you to feel like you are a part of something bigger than you the individual, and it does not have to be as sensational as a Championship.
It’s an interesting time to be a player on the Knicks, to be somewhat responsible and to simultaneously experience the exuberance. It is also why millions of people attended the parade and crystallized that memory in a time when New York was truly alive. Go Knicks!