Many can be credited for the rise of the Knicks, but few more than Leon Rose.
The team’s president, usually behind the scenes, got visibly emotional in the stands in Cleveland while watching the team he helped build reach the NBA Finals by completing a sweep of the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals at Rocket Arena on Monday.
Rose, 65, was seen crying and hugging his son, Sam Rose, in the stands, surrounded by other fans. He later shared a moment on the court celebrating with superfan and actor Timothée Chalamet.
Rose became president of the Knicks on March 2, 2020, taking over after Steven Mills was let go, as the team did not have a winning record during his tenure. Mills struck out on star free agents Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in 2019
When Rose stepped in, he immediately revitalized the team under head coach Tom Thibodeau, and the Knicks reached the playoffs in 2021 for the first time since 2013.
Rose, the former head basketball agent at Creative Arts Agency, continued to build a team by signing Jalen Brunson in 2022. On top of smart signings, Rose negotiated trades for other stars, such as OG Anunoby, and was willing to give up star player Julius Randle to acquire Karl-Anthony Towns. Rose also sent a haul of first-round draft picks to the Nets for Mikal Bridges.
Rose also made the hard decision in the 2025 offseason to fire the coach he brought in at the beginning of the rebuild. He let Thibodeau go and hired Mike Brown. In the same offseason, he revamped the bench by signing important pieces Jordan Clarkson and Landry Shamet. The final addition came at the deadline by adding former Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado.
This plan began at the beginning of his tenure; when hired, Rose sent a letter to the fans that talked about the future of the team.
“Everyone — from ownership to athletes, to staff and especially our fans — wants this team to be a winner,” Rose wrote. “We will have all the resources necessary to create a great organization — one that supports our efforts to build a winning culture and gives Knicks fans, and the city of New York, the team you deserve.”
Now Rose has delivered on these promises with the team back in the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999.
The Knicks are four wins away from hoisting the championship for the first time since 1973. The team will await the winner of the Western Conference finals between the Thunder and Spurs, which is tied 2-2 heading into Game 5 in Oklahoma City on Tuesday night.
