Why Brits should follow The Knicks

The New York Knicks visit London’s O2 arena on 17 January to take on the Detroit Pistons. Hopefully this is already of interest to you, but if not, we’ve enlisted lifelong Knicks fan (and rather successful film director) Spike Lee to outline why you should choose the NBA over the Premier League. Take it away, Spike…

GOOD TIMEKEEPING

“Something I like about basketball over soccer – we have a clock. I can’t understand how the judge in soccer knows how much time is left. Also, we have three referees on the court, whereas you only have one on the pitch in soccer. I’m going to call Fifa and tell them about it.”

NO DIVING

“They imposed a rule recently: ‘No flopping’. You can’t look like you just got shot when someone breathes on you. Soccer’s notorious for that. Some of those guys should win Academy Awards.”

REFEREES ’FESS UP

“When the referee makes a terrible call, you can tell them. For the most part, they’re sympathetic and if they miss a foul, they tell the player who got fouled, ‘Sorry about that – I’ll get the next one.’”

TRASH TALK IS ENCOURAGED

“The great thing about sitting in the front row is you can interact with the players. It’s not mean-spirited, we kid each other. I know a lot of the players [on rival teams], so when they score against the Knicks, I’m the first face they look for. I look away – I don’t give them the satisfaction. I once had altercations with Reggie Miller, of the Indiana Pacers. We yelled at each other. But I’ve never been thrown out of a game.”

Detroit Pistons vs New York Knicks at The O2, 17 January. Watch it live on Sky Sports 1

Image: Rex