New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced on Wednesday that several streets in New York City will be co-named in honor of New York Knicks players for the duration of the Knicks' playoff run. This initiative aims to recognize all 15 players on the Knicks' current roster, with notable adjustments including the renaming of 7th Avenue and West 11th Street to Jalen Brunson Boulevard, highlighting the contributions of superstar guard Jalen Brunson.

The timing of this announcement coincided with Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, where the Knicks are set to host the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night. Mayor Adams articulated the significance of this gesture, expressing, "The Knicks embody the spirit of New York—resilient, passionate, and unstoppable. On the path to a championship, we recognize the hard work and determination that has gotten this team to the Eastern Conference Finals, and we celebrate this team by temporarily co-naming our city streets so that all New Yorkers can share in their Knicks pride." He added that nearly 8.5 million New Yorkers, alongside millions of others, support the Knicks in their ongoing playoff journey.

The Knicks have reached the playoffs for the third consecutive year, carrying the weight of expectations after being eliminated in the second round in the previous two seasons. This year's playoff campaign began with a challenging matchup against the Detroit Pistons, which the Knicks successfully navigated before achieving a stunning upset against the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics in the second round, defeating them in six games. Now, the Knicks prepare to face the Pacers, a team that eliminated them in a classic seven-game series last season. This will mark the Knicks' first appearance in the Eastern Conference Finals since 2000, a series in which they were defeated by the Pacers. In the previous year, the Knicks triumphed over the Pacers in six games in the same round, eventually progressing to the NBA Finals. If the Knicks succeed in overcoming the Pacers once again, they will advance to their first NBA Finals since 1999, where they could face either the Oklahoma City Thunder or the Minnesota Timberwolves.