Knicks hat summer

The season's hottest accessory

For the past two weeks, New York has been electric with Knicks Fever. The vibe is so reminiscent of November 2016, when the Cubs won the World Series and everyone—everywhere—was wearing the W. You literally cannot walk down any street in New York right now without seeing orange and blue. After last night’s win, something tells me that trend is gonna keep on trending.

And yet, if I’m being honest, I struggled with rooting for the Knicks. I’m a Bulls fan. A Chicago girl. And for this entire series, bandwagoning the Knicks has felt dishonest. Unfaithful. Wrong.

But after those final seconds of Game 4—where it felt like the whole world was watching this team, this city, this victory—I couldn’t deny it anymore. I *was* rooting for the Knicks to win it all.

Which has left me with an existential dilemma: If I wear a Knicks hat, am I abandoning my hometown fandom?

You might think I’m being dramatic. Maybe I am. But somehow, for as much as I respect my fellow Chicagoan Jalen Brunson, sporting NYK gear feels like one dribble too many.

But if there’s one thing I’ve learned living in New York, it’s that there’s *always* a loophole. And my loophole has come in the form of a blue and orange baseball cap from Zabar’s, the iconic New York appetizing store. It’s a nod to the Knicks that lets me partake in the citywide joy without feeling like a complete traitor.

And when they make the documentary about these 2026 Knicks, maybe I’ll be watching it with my kids one day and I’ll say, “I was there.” Just like my parents said to me when we sat down every Sunday during the early days of COVID to watch The Last Dance and hear Michael Jordan talk about the 90s Bulls. Maybe I’ll pull out my Zabar’s hat as proof of it all, a memento from this historic moment.

For now, it’s official: summer’s hottest accessory is a Knicks hat. And so, in that spirit, I was inspired by a recent Substack by Dale Arden Chong called, “I’m not getting married, but if I was . . . this might be what I’d wear” to write up something similar: I’m not a Knicks fan, but if I was . . . this might be what I’d wear.

Your summer uniform awaits . . .

If you love bagels: Zabar’s limited edition hat

If you want to be your dad’s favorite daughter and get him this for Father’s Day: Nike t-shirt

If you’re not like other girls: yellow Knicks hat

If you’re exactly like other girls: Stevie Knicks hat

If you like books more than you like sports: Books Are Magic t-shirt

If you actually want a keepsake: blue Knicks champions hat

If you pronounce orange “aw-rinj”: orange Knicks champions hat

If you’re an art girlie: Keith Haring shirt

If you’re too cool for logos: corduory hat

If you want to bring Knicks pride to a wedding: YSL blue gown with orange bow

If you like a little sparkle: bedazzled Knicks hat

If you looove Friends: Rachel in a Knicks sweatshirt on a t-shirt

If you want to be Rachel Green: the actual sweatshirt from the t-shirt above

If your vibe is more “GO TEAM” but you want to be part of the culture: Ralph Lauren orange baseball hat

If you want to cover up your sweat stains and cosplay a Nader sister: Terez bomber jacket

If you just want to look cute: baby blue Knicks hat