Leon Rose had a piece of Jerusalem in his pocket when his Knicks pulled off the impossible. Actually, it wasn’t just any rock. Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman gave Rose a fragment of slate from the City of David before Game 4 of the NBA Finals. Roseman carried that same piece of stone during the Eagles’ Super Bowl run a few years back. And that night? The Knicks erased a 29-point deficit against the San Antonio Spurs to win and eventually close out the series in five games.
Ending a 53-year championship drought is wild enough. Doing it after a comeback that size adds a layer of lore. The team hasn’t officially credited the slate. But Roseman’s gift was mentioned by NFL reporter Ari Meirov, and the timing is the kind of coincidence sports fans love to latch onto. If you believe in lucky charms, well, this one has a pretty solid track record.
The Context Behind That Rock
Roseman isn’t the type to hand out random trinkets. The Eagles GM is known for being superstitious about his Super Bowl memorabilia. That slate came from a historic site in Israel, and he kept it close during Philadelphia’s 2017 championship season. Passing it to Rose before such a pivotal game? It feels intentional. Maybe it was just a gesture between two sports executives who know each other. Or maybe it was a literal piece of good luck changing hands.
Either way, the Knicks needed something. They were down big in the second half. Spurs fans were already celebrating. Then Jalen Brunson started hitting shots. Mikal Bridges, who had struggled through a midseason slump, turned into a two-way monster. Mike Brown, the coach Rose hired after firing Tom Thibodeau, made adjustments that flipped the game. That comeback didn’t happen by accident.
Rose’s Risky Roster Moves Paid Off
Look, Rose took heat for a lot of his decisions. Trading for Karl-Anthony Towns cost real assets. Signing OG Anunoby was a bet on health. The Mikal Bridges trade gave up multiple draft picks that fans wanted to hoard. And firing Thibodeau, a coach who had the locker room’s respect, felt like a power move that could backfire.
But winning covers everything. Brown outcoached Gregg Popovich in stretches of that series. Bridges found his rhythm when it mattered most. Brunson, who signed an extension midway through his initial contract, looked like the best point guard in the Finals. Rose came from the agent world. He wasn’t supposed to be the guy who built a champion. Now he is.
The slate from Jerusalem is sitting somewhere in Rose’s office. Or maybe he gave it back to Roseman. Or maybe it’s locked in a safe. Doesn’t matter. The Knicks have the trophy. And if there’s a lesson here, it’s that championships sometimes start with strange gifts from football guys in other cities.
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