Kenny Smith/Photo by ESPN.com
Analyst Kenny Smith and play-by-play man Marv Albert are from New York City – Smith from Queens, Albert from Brooklyn. The two were part of a TNT conference call Thursday morning promoting the Feb. 15 All-Star game, which will be played at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Clippers Blake Griffin and Chris Paul will be representing the Western Conference.
One subject broached centered on the notion that since the New York Knicks (10-39) and the Brooklyn Nets (20-28) are struggling, that could lessen the interest in the game in the greater New York area? Neither Smith nor Albert buy that.
“Being a New Yorker, regardless of what the Knicks or the Nets are doing, the city is the mecca of basketball,” said Smith, who played 10 years in the NBA. “There are basketball courts every four blocks throughout the city. Everyone plays the game and everyone thinks they have knowledge of the game. It’s a city game. We own that, and we relish the fact that we are that.”
Albert spoke in similar tones.
“It’s still the mecca of basketball and players get excited about playing there,” said Albert, who will be working his 20th All-Star game. “The place, the site, has such a rich history and the fans are so knowledgeable; although this is not that type of game; it’s more schoolyard with guys throwing stuff off backboards until it gets interesting.”