What the New York Knicks Can Teach Us
About Money, Leadership, and What Really Matters
The Veteran Who Hasn’t Played a Minute
PJ Tucker is 40 years old. In NBA years, that’s ancient.
He hasn’t logged a single minute in the playoffs this year. And yet, he’s everywhere. On the bench. In the huddles. Behind the scenes.
Barking out defensive coverages. Holding teammates accountable. Keeping younger guys grounded when emotions run high.
He doesn’t show up in the box score. But if you know basketball, you know his fingerprints are all over the Knicks’ playoff run.
That’s leadership.
That’s experience.
That’s someone who understands his role isn’t about statistics, it’s about impact.
The Knicks’ Culture Shift
Let’s be honest, the Knicks weren’t supposed to be here.
Not this deep in the playoffs. Not with a roster plagued by injuries. And definitely not up 2-0 against the Boston Celtics. A team many crowned as the favorites to win it all.
But here they are. Leading the series. Turning heads. And doing it in the most New York way possible: grit, resilience, and heart.
They’ve already erased two 20-point deficits this postseason. Most teams fold under that kind of pressure.
The Knicks? They rally. They claw. They believe.
Because culture isn’t just a buzzword, it’s the operating system behind the scenes. And in New York, that system has been rewritten.
It started with Jalen Brunson. A player who doesn’t need the spotlight to shine. He shows up early, stays late, and leads without ego. His work ethic has become the team’s work ethic. His calm has become their composure.
This isn’t a team playing with luck.
It’s a team playing with purpose.
And when you build that kind of culture, one built on accountability, effort, and belief, you become a team that doesn’t care what the odds say.
Because you don’t just hope to win anymore.
You expect to.
Now Let’s Talk About Money
We grow up thinking financial success is about stuff.
A bigger house. A luxury car. The “dream kitchen” we saw on Instagram. We measure ourselves by what we can show off.
But that’s not wealth.
That’s noise.
Real financial success is using money to buy back your time.
Because time is the one thing you can’t earn more of.
Time to coach Little League.
Time to sit at dinner with your family without checking your phone.
Time to travel, to breathe, to say yes to the things that light you up.
That’s the culture shift we need—not just in sports, but in how we think about money.
Leadership Doesn’t Always Show Up on a Statement
Just like PJ Tucker, good financial leadership isn’t always loud.
It’s not about chasing returns or “timing the market.” It’s about consistency. Clarity. Composure.
It’s the advisor who tells you to stay invested when headlines scream otherwise. The planner who reminds you of your long-term goals when fear kicks in. The professional who’s been through crashes, recessions, inflation, and hype cycles—and isn’t rattled.
That’s what I aim to be for my clients.
Because when the pressure is high, and the market’s throwing elbows, you want someone on your bench who’s been there before.
Someone who won’t panic.
Someone who knows the plan.
Someone who helps you keep your composure, financially and emotionally.
Final Whistle
The Knicks are showing us what happens when you invest in the right leadership and shift your culture.
So, here’s the question:
What would happen if you did the same?
What if you stopped using money to impress people…
…and started using it to build a life you actually want?
That shift? That’s the beginning of winning your own kind of championship.
And just like the Knicks, you don’t have to do it alone.
Did you miss our last blog?
When Winning Isn’t Winning, In Youth Sports or In Life
About Amit: I am a first generation American, the son of a working-class Indian family, and I lived through my parents’ struggle to find their place in this country, to put down roots that would sustain them as well as their children in a new land. As they encouraged me to excel in school and fostered my hobbies and interests, I was keenly aware of the dynamic between them. I understood that there was a difference between where they came from individually and where we were now. They worked hard in their individual capacities, but they weren’t always on the same page about financial issues – and that can make or break a family’s future. I didn’t know it at the time, but this laid the groundwork for my passion towards financial services and helping families succeed.