Most of the NBA chatter in New York this year centers on the newly-minted Brooklyn Nets and that's no surprise -- the marketing machine behind the team is enormous (Jay-Z doesn't hurt either).

Yet, the New York Knicks never shy away from the limelight and today's uniform unveiling was a nod to the franchise's rich history and a statement that winning ways are making a comeback.

The Knicks will have their hands full this year. After letting potential breakout star Jeremy Lin go, the team has resigned Raymond Felton and hopes that offensive aces Amar'e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony can keep the offensive attack formidable. On the defensive end of the floor, it seems like Tyson Chandler is stuck being the top stopper... not that he's not up for the challenge.

The NBA landscape itself is changing dramatically. During the highly successful (but Jordan-thwarted) teams of the 90s, the 'Big Three' might have consisted of Patrick Ewing, Charles Oakley, and John Starks. Maybe you could throw Allan Houston in the mix. Now, 'Big Threes' are quite a bit bigger. From the defending NBA Champion Miami Heat, to the newly formed super-triad of Nash-Howard-Bryant in Los Angeles, the Knicks need Stoudemire and Anthony to raise their games to another level if they hope to be playing in June.

Uniforms by themselves are not huge news -- but the statement behind the change is. The New York Knicks are New York's heritage team and Spike Lee in tow, they're still a force to reckon with in the NBA.

 

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