The Knicks are battling, but they’re down 1-3 to the Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals, and Indiana’s got the upper hand in this heated rivalry. With New York’s title drought dating back to 1973, the pressure is high. This isn’t just any matchup—it’s a rivalry built on decades of playoff drama. Remember the ’90s wars? Patrick Ewing vs. Reggie Miller, and Miller’s legendary 8 points in 9 seconds? Every clash brings that fire. Adding to the drama, a die-hard Knicks fan is backing his team with full passion. But it’s his son who spices things up, reminding everyone of another intense rivalry—the one that has always ‘heated’ up the court.
Gary Vee, an American businessman and author and a lifelong Knicks fan, truly gets how hungry the city is for a win. “Knicks fans are just so hungry; it’s been such a long drought, and we want it bad,” he shared on the podcast The OGs with Udonis Haslem. But Game 4 was brutal—the Pacers dominated 130-121, with Tyrese Haliburton putting up 32 points, 15 assists, and 12 rebounds. The Knicks’ new lineup couldn’t find stops, and 17 turnovers—including five by Josh Hart—handed the Pacers easy points. No miracle comeback this time. What made Haslem burst out laughing, though, was what Vee’s son had to say next.
While chatting about the intense Pacers-Knicks rivalry, Haslem—a Heat legend—made it clear he wasn’t exactly rooting for the Knicks. The Knicks-Heat rivalry is one of the NBA’s most famous, and Vee’s 12-year-old son, Xander, definitely knows the score.
Gary Vee shared, “When I told my son yesterday that I was coming to do this podcast with you, he’s 12, he’s like, ‘Tell him he’s a b—-.’” That got Haslem throwing his head back and laughing. Vee explained, “’Cause my son’s real educated like that. He knows you’re an all-time Miami Heat, and we have to hate you, this is how I built it.” Haslem didn’t deny it—he wears that $4.2 billion (team’s 2024 valuation) Heat pride like a badge of honor.
Jan 19, 2024; Miami, Florida, USA; Udonis Haslem speaks after his jersey was lifted to the rafters during the retirement ceremony during halftime of the game between the Miami Heat and the Atlanta Hawks Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Udonis Haslem is the ultimate Heat legend. And Vee joked on the podcast, “He’s going to punch you in his mouth when he sees you now, Xander,” and honestly, that’s pretty accurate.
When people talk about “Heat culture,” they’re talking about UD—the no-nonsense, hard-working Miami guy who’s been the team’s heart and soul for two decades. He went from starting alongside Dwyane Wade to becoming the wise leader of the squad that just made the Finals. Coach Spoelstra put it perfectly: “Years on from here, when we’ll say, ‘What’s the Miami Heat culture?’ We can describe it and say, ‘Hardest working team, most professional, best conditioned, and so forth.’ Or we can just pull up a picture of Udonis Haslem.”
And when that “hardest working team” went head-to-head with the New York Knicks, especially back in the ’90s, the intensity was on a whole different level.
The historical Heat-Knicks rivalry
The Heat-Knicks rivalry? That’s one for the ages. It really hit its peak more than 20 years ago, with brutal playoff battles, wild brawls, clutch shots, and moments that still make fans’ hearts race. But these days? Well, the players don’t seem to carry that same fire.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra put it straight: “I don’t think it matters to either of the locker rooms, and that’s OK. Those battles were so long ago. It probably means something to the organizations. But for the players in the locker room, this is just about right now. It’s not about the history of it.” That said, for anyone who lived through those gritty ’90s clashes, the emotions still run deep.
Just ask Tim Hardaway, who was Miami’s point guard during all those intense matchups in the late ’90s. He knows exactly what’s at stake when the Knicks come to town. He told the Miami Herald, “Let’s beat the Knicks,” and explained that the ups and downs of those series haven’t faded. Even years later, those memories hit hard.
And then there’s that iconic moment from 1998, when Jeff Van Gundy literally grabbed Alonzo Mourning’s leg to break up a fight—a picture so famous that Mourning himself shared, calling it “one of the most intense rivalries in NBA history.” Hardaway said it best: “When you see those two jerseys go at each other for seven games or six games, there’s an emotional tie to it.”
The heart of this whole rivalry? Pat Riley. The man who left the Knicks to join the Heat in ’95, sparking the feud that still echoes today. The Knicks accused Miami of tampering, and it led to some serious tension—and some serious playoff battles. Hardaway remembers it well: “When Pat Riley left, that’s when it became a rivalry… Until you’re actually playing the game against the Knicks or playing at the Garden or playing at Miami Arena, that’s when you really felt what the effects of what happened with Pat Riley and the Knicks organization.”
Sure, the Knicks are 16-19 against the Heat all-time in the playoffs—but if history’s taught us anything, it’s that whenever these two square off, sparks are never too far behind. And now? That next chapter’s already being written—by diehards like Gary Vee and his son, keeping the Heat-Knicks fire burning one sharp jab at a time.
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