1993 Hit Song, Lasting Less Than 2 Minutes, Remains a Beloved Sports Anthem 33 Years Later
History was made this week: greatest comeback in NBA Finals history.
As the New York Knicks continue to battle it out against the San Antonio Spurs in the 2026 NBA Finals-their first appearance since 1999-one song effectively encapsulates the feelings of fans of the northeastern team everywhere, even more than three decades after its release: "Go NY Go" by Jesse Itzler.
The track, recorded in 1993, became the first-ever song specifically about the Knicks. By pledging undying loyalty and chanting a single sentiment repeatedly throughout its one-minute and 12-second runtime (designed to play during basketball timeouts), it has become a beloved sports anthem. One that has, naturally, become the soundtrack of the city over the past several weeks (preceded by none other than Frank Sinatra's 1980 timeless classic, "Theme from New York, New York," of course) as peak excitement floods the streets.
Providing full insight into the song's inception, Itzler took to Instagram to share the backstory of how taking a leap of faith at 22 years old on a demo, recorded in a closet, turned into a timeless piece of New York Knicks and Madison Square Garden history.
"The Knicks theme song started as a song I did on spec in my apartment in 1993… I recorded the vocals in my closet!! A lot of people think it's just the chorus, but it's a full song and we updated the verses every year as the players changed," the producer captioned a Reels video. "I sold it for $4,000 to the @nyknicks (a year of rent)," but what he gained was so much greater.
"Go NY Go" became a gameday sensation and a Madison Square Garden staple-the rest is history.
Itzler's track isn't the only one enjoying a major resurgence amid the basketball phenomenon, however. "Since the start of the Finals, Spotify streams among Knicks fans are up across several NY anthems: ‘Go NY Go,' the classic Knicks anthem created by Jesse Itzler, is up 2,700%; Ja Rule, Fat Joe, and Jadakiss' ‘New York' is up 825%; Frank Sinatra's classic is up 280%, and Jay-Z and Alicia Keys' ‘Empire State of Mind' is up 110%," according to Boardroom.
Meanwhile, the Knicks are experiencing a full-on heyday-and in true New Yorker fashion, their ever-strong fanbase is loud and proud about it. The team, helmed by Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, and Josh Hart, has carried the organization into a new era.
The last championship the Knicks brought home was 53 years ago (1973). Now, it seems the positive energy has been restored.
In case you're not following along, most recently, the team stunned crowds around the world with a ferocious comeback and an unbelievable, must-see final play during Game 4 of the series at MSG on Wednesday, June 10. Miraculously securing the lead within the crucial final minutes of the game, after being down 29 points in the third quarter, they came out victorious with a final score of 107 to 106.
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This story was originally published June 13, 2026 at 5:07 PM.