The heart of basketball does not beat on the court. It roars in the stands, in living rooms, in every soul that lives for the game. Passionate fans turn each shot into magic. They make the journey worth it. But sometimes, love turns loud. And that passion? It spirals. It bruises. Because when loyalty blinds, the game suffers too. In some cases, it’s not the game but the ones associated with it that feel the blow. For example, ESPN’s veteran insider Brian Windhorst. 

Windy, who many Knickerbockers consider a hater of their team, didn’t have a great experience in New York City. After the home team eliminated the defending champions, the Boston Celtics, 4-2 in the second round of the playoff series and reached the Conference Finals, the city erupted. They waited for this moment for 25 years or more. Therefore, it felt special to them. However, some fans went a bit off track and overboard.

Speaking on the Pardon My Take podcast, Brian Windhorst shared his take on the horrible night of May 16 in NYC. The hosts pointed out that loving the game means loving the journey. Celebrate every win, not just the title. But when passion turns ugly, real fans draw the line. Always. But the pretentious ones? “Those were not Knicks fans. Those were hooligans,” Brian Windhorst claimed without a moment’s hesitation. “Knicks fans were not a block away from the Garden at 12:30 in the morning. Knicks fans were off celebrating with themselves.”

On the night of Game 6, when the New York Knicks hit the final nail on the Celtics’ championship dream, NYC turned into an amusement park. There were people on the streets, singing, dancing, and celebrating as if their team just won the title. They had just reached the ECF, to be clear here. But maybe this is the passion that we often talk about in the world of sports. However, going rogue against a ‘supposed’ NYK hater seems a bit of a stretch. And well, it was Brian Windhorst’s turn to face the wrath. 

“Well, the truth is that other footage apparently is not going to become unearthed. There were some hands put on—not by me—hands were put on me. Nothing serious happened,” the 47-year-old veteran cleared. “People put their hands on me, and I had to shove their hands off. I basically jaywalked across 35th Street to get away. I was never in serious danger, but it was not a pleasant experience at 12:35 in the morning.”

Windhorst further drew a clear line between true fans and troublemakers. He praised the genuine Knicks supporters celebrating a special night, but refused to associate them with the few who acted out later. For him, those were two completely different groups. And had there been no ESPN Security, who knows what Windy’s fate would be that night? “I want to say ESPN Security has taken beautiful care of me and all of our people. I am in the hands of ESPN Security, and I am all good. Thank you for your concern,” he informed the hosts of the podcast. Now, let’s see what went down in NYC after Game 6.

What happened with Brian Windhorst in New York City?

In classic you-cannot-script-this fashion, Brian Windhorst wrapped up his post-game night with a calm “I’ll be fine.” Moments later, New York had other plans. As he walked from Madison Square Garden, a fired-up Knicks fan unleashed pure chaos. “Knicks in six,” he screamed, laced with expletives. The passion? Off the charts. The moment? Unfiltered madness. But Windy? He stood tall, smiled through it, and proved once again that even critics can handle the heat with grace.

Manhattan turned electric on May 16. Thousands poured into the streets after Game 6, their joy louder than car horns. Yet critics rushed in, wagging fingers, calling for calm. But here is the thing. How do you expect fans to act like they have been here before when they simply have not? For most, this is a first taste of glory. A first glimpse of hope. After decades of waiting, New York was dancing again. But now, as ECF rolls on, the script is flipping as the Indiana Pacers have taken a 3-1 lead, throwing the Knicks in a frenzy.

Passion never asks for permission. It spills, it sings, it sometimes stings. Brian Windhorst felt the sharp edge of it that night in New York. But the real fans? They celebrated with love, not rage. As the Knicks battle on, the city still believes. Because for them, the ride matters just as much as the destination.