On the streets of New York City, John Starks is the man. The former New York Knick was a pivotal figure in the hard-nosed Knicks teams of the 1990s, and no stranger to high-stakes basketball having so-nearly won the NBA Championships.
The former All-Star, known for his explosive athleticism and prolific three-point shooting, recently travelled to the UAE as the current Knicks squad prepare to face the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2025.
The NBA’s annual pre-season stop in Abu Dhabi sees today’s Knicks talisman, All-Star Jalen Brunson, leading his against a tenacious Philadelphia 76ers team with its own All-Star Joel Embiid in two games (October 2 and 4). Now in its third year, the event has become a vital component in the NBA’s mission to nurture the global growth of basketball, a sport that Starks notes has “transcended out of North American to become a big sport in Europe and a growing sport around the world”.
The opportunity to come to a “sporting city like Abu Dhabi” and engage with international fans excites Starks. While he hasn’t had much time to explore the city, he did get a chance to see it from a skyscraper, commenting that it’s “much like” New York.
In this exclusive interview, Starks discusses his thoughts on the modern NBA’s three-point revolution, and his optimistic outlook for the 2025 New York Knicks and that dunk on Michael Jordan.
ESQUIRE: Welcome to Abu Dhabi. Have you had a chance to explore the city? What’s your impression of the culture and the pace of life compared to New York?
John Starks: I haven’t had the chance to see too much of it, as I just got in. But earlier I was in the city in a skyscraper overlooking the city – which is a bit like New York, although I was told that all this was built within the last 50 years. That’s kind of mind-blowing.
How do you see the importance of these pre-season games in terms of nurturing the growth of the game?
Basketball is a global game, and it has transcended out of North American to become a big sport in Europe and a growing sport around the world. I’m excited to see my team come to a sporting city like Abu Dhabi and truly try to engage the international fans. Back when I was playing we did a pre-season tour in Barcelona and I remember everyone wanting to show an international crowd just what we could do. We went out to play.
This pre-season game is against the Sixers—a classic rival. How did the intensity of a Knicks-Sixers game in the ’90s differ from the rivalries in the modern, more player-friendly NBA?
Well, it’s a pre-season game, so I don’t think we’ll get the same level of intensitiy as if it was a match-up in the Play-Offs. But, that said, these are two talented teams and will no doubt put on a show here in Abu Dhabi.
Much of the league’s way of playing is built around the three-pointer now. As a player who was ahead of his time in setting 3-point records for the Knicks, what do you think of today’s high-volume, deep-range shooting, and would your game translate perfectly to this era?
Back when I was playing, I loved to shoot the outside shot and so my game would fit in perfect in today’s NBA. I wouldn’t have the coaches giving me crazy looks when I shot a three when you had 1-5 down the court. Today these guys have more freedom to do that. Steff Curry and Clay Thompson really elevated the importance of Three-point shooting in the modern game.
When you’re throwing something in the trash, do you still treat it like a jump shot?
Oh absolutely.
Who is the most entertaining player in the NBA right now—not necessarily the best, but the one whose play truly embodies the passion and excitement that defined your era?
There are so many. Obviously for the Knicks, you have Jalen Brunson; then there’s last season’s MVP Shai-Gilgeous Alexander, or even someone like Victor Wembanyama who is a freak of nature. There are so many.
“The Dunk” on Michael Jordan and Horace Grant in the 1993 Eastern Conference Finals remains an iconic moment. Can you walk us through the second before the take-off—was it instinct, anger, or pure, unadulterated adrenaline?
It was pure adrenaline when I went for that dunk. I think they even measured it as 42in – which is probably my highest jump ever. I remember the game was on the line, and that play needed to happen. It became an iconic moment in Knicks Basketball, and I even have a big painting of it in my house.
You and Patrick Ewing starred in the original NBA Jam video game – what impact did that have on your career?
It had a big impact because it I gave me the opportunity to get my name out there and become more recognised by people outside of the basketball world.
If you could take one teammate from your championship-contending Knicks teams and transport them, in their prime, onto the current New York roster, who would it be and why?
I can’t answer that question! Today the talent level is much more elevated than back in my day – the game has evolved. You have someone like Wemby who is 7-foot tall and can handle the basketball in front of a Guard, back when I was playing, you’d never see a big guy doing that. The game is different now and the talent today is really something else.
Can the Knicks be a Championship contender this year?
I’m super excited about the Knicks chances this year. I think Mike Brown is going to bring a new offensive dynamic to the team, which we need in order to take a bit of the pressure off of Jalen. These guys should feel like they are favourite to win, there are some other great teams in the League and in the Eastern Conference, but I feel that we have the team to win it all.
How do these pre-season games help in preparing for the next season?
Mike Brown will bring a championship-winning mentality. He’s been a part of multiple championship-winning sides so he brings a lot of that Golden State experience, and Greg Popovic-style ball movement from an offensive standpoint, which I am excited to see.
When you were younger, was there a player that first lit that fire in you about basketball?
I’m originally from Oklahoma, and when I was younger the Philadelphia 76ers came to town, and I got to watch Dr. J (Julius Erving) play and that really did it for me. Later when I became an NBA player, I got to meet him, and you know how they say ‘never meet your heroes’? Well, Dr. J. is the exception to that rule. He is a classy individual, and is a better person than he is a basketball player. We’re still friends to this day.
How important is it for former players like yourself to give back to the game?
It’s hugely important. Like what happened with me and Dr. J, simply by meeting a professional player can change your total outlook. Like going into schools and meeting kids and talking to them, makes them feel like playing in the NBA could be a reality. I used to go back to Oklahoma and speak to kids at school about my experiences and there was this boy in 8th Grade called Etan Thomas, who went on to become an NBA player. He later on told me that he remembered every word I said that and it inspired him to become an NBA player.
Tickets for NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2025, Knicks vs 76ers, available from NBA Experiences and Etihad Arena