Knicks attempt to woo South Carolina coach Dawn Staley as fan: ‘Can’t beat em join them’

While Dawn Staley is currently embedded in Columbia as arguably the best college basketball coach in the country with South Carolina, her roots run deep in the City of Brotherly Love: Philadelphia.

With the Knicks having defeated the 76ers in the first round of the NBA Playoffs and up 2-0 on the Pacers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, they’re now looking to add insult to injury by recruiting Staley to their side for the remainder of the postseason.

To that end, the Knicks sent Staley a loot crate of sorts, featuring a jersey of Villanova grad Jalen Brunson and a myriad of other Knicks merch.

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Staley posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, about the haul, saying: “Can’t beat em join them … Thank you to my @nyknicks peeps for sending the NY love package! Thank you Rick! Thank you Jalen! Family for life! Win that ish!!” Along it Staley posted photos of the merch and a picture of herself alongside Brunson.

Did this fully convert Staley? Probably not. But she does have a clear connection to Brunson that undoubtedly makes him impossible for her to really root against.

Dawn Staley at Temple

The photo of Staley alongside Brunson was taken Nov. 13, 2004, when Brunson was just 8 years old. Staley and Brunson both have some roots at Temple University. Staley coached Temple from 2000-08, shortly after Rick Brunson graduated in 1995. Staley and Jalen Brunson hugged before the Knicks played the 76ers in Game 4 of the first round.

76ers fans probably don’t need to worry. Staley embodied that famous Philadelphia hospitality by waving goodbye to the Knicks’ Isaiah Hartenstein when he picked up his fifth foul in Game 4. But that doesn’t mean she doesn’t have love for Brunson given their roots.

In the college and professional sports world, family trees get complicated. What can you do?