Long before the New York Knicks re-emerged as a contender in the NBA Eastern Conference, the franchise was chasing relevance through imagination, celebrity, and spectacle.
A series of previously unseen recruiting videos, recently revealed by Pablo Torre, offers a vivid look at how aggressively and creatively the Knicks pursued superstar free agents during the lean years of the late 2010s.
On the latest episode of Pablo Torre Finds Out, Torre unveiled additional Knicks-produced videos from the summer of 2019, when the organization was desperately trying to change its trajectory.
At the center of the episode are elaborate pitches aimed at Kawhi Leonard and Kyrie Irving, two of the most coveted players on the market at the time.
The video designed for Leonard dominates the episode. It features former Saturday Night Live cast member Jay Pharoah portraying the two-time NBA Finals MVP, with appearances from well-known Knicks fans and comedians including Ben Stiller, Kenan Thompson, and Michael Che.
The tone blends humor with reverence, attempting to sell Leonard on the idea of becoming a New York legend rather than just another superstar.
The Knicks’ interest in Leonard was no secret at the time. Following the 2018-19 season, reporting suggested they were “expected to push hard” to bring him to Madison Square Garden.
That push, however, never truly materialized. While a meeting was planned, team executives ultimately canceled it, citing “logistics,” as it would have taken place after Leonard had already met with the Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers. He eventually signed with the Clippers, leaving New York empty-handed.
A mixtape vision for Kyrie and a pattern emerges
The recruiting video for Kyrie Irving takes a different approach. Framed as a mixtape beginning at the 26:40 mark of the episode, it opens with legendary New York basketball figures explaining why Irving was a perfect fit for the city. The video then jumps forward to a fictional 2027, imagining a New York where fans are naming their children after him.
At one point, Irving had shown genuine interest in the Knicks. In October 2018, while still with the Boston Celtics, he cited a “strong interest” in New York, though he simultaneously reaffirmed his commitment to Boston.
That relationship deteriorated during the 2018-19 season, briefly reopening the door for the Knicks. Ultimately, Irving joined Kevin Durant with the Brooklyn Nets, dealing the franchise another blow.
According to Torre, these videos fit a broader pattern. The Knicks also produced a lavish pitch for Durant that involved hiring the Wu-Tang Clan to create an original song and music video, as well as an earlier recruitment video aimed at LeBron James in 2010. In total, four such videos have now surfaced.
Ironically, the franchise may no longer need such theatrics. The Knicks are coming off back-to-back 50-win seasons, reached the Eastern Conference Finals last year, and sit second in the East at 19-7 after winning their first NBA Cup.
What once required celebrity cameos and fantasy futures may now sell itself on winning basketball.
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