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Knicks fans think fact that Pope Leo is a Villanova alum could mean end to NBA Championship drought

knicks-fans-think-fact-that-pope-leo-is-a-villanova-alum-could-mean-end-to-nba-championship-drought
Knicks fans think fact that Pope Leo is a Villanova alum could mean end to NBA Championship drought

Call it divine intervention.

Some Knicks fans think the fact that Pope Leo is a Villanova alum — like the team’s stars Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges — is sure to lead them to their first NBA championship in more than 50 years.

Spike Lee echoed the sentiment on Instagram Thursday, the day the papal news broke, proclaiming: “For My NEW YAWK KNICKS FANS His Alma Mater Is VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY (BRUNSON,HART And BRIDGES Won NCAA Rings At VILLANOVA)What A HOLY BLESSING. 🙏🏾THE KNICKERBOCKERS ARE G🏀-NNA WIN THE 2024-2025 NBA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP. IT IS DIVINITY.GOD BLESS.🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾And Dat’s Da H🏀LY TRUTH.”

Brunson, Hart and Bridges won the NCAA championship at the Pennsylvania basketball powerhouse in 2016. Brunson and Bridges won a second title in 2018.

Rev. Robert Hagan, the Villanova men’s basketball team chaplain — who served the Wildcats when Brunson, Hart and Bridges played — told The Post he disagrees with the notion.

Newly elected Pope Leo XIV

Knicks fans are praying that Pope Leo will bring a NBA Championship to the Knicks. REUTERS

Spike Lee sitting courtside in white framed glasses, white sweatpants, blue and white sneakers and holding open a blue jacket to show an orange shirt reading orange and blue skies

Spike Lee took to Instagram to proclaim the Nova Knicks papal connection. NBAE via Getty Images

“It doesn’t work that way,” he said, laughing.

Despite his busy schedule, Pope Leo, whose name is Robert Francis Prevost, does try his best to keep up with Villanova hoops.

“I think he’s proud to be a Wildcat,” Hagan said.

“When I would see him, he would comment about the team and how they were doing, so I could tell on occasion, he was following it.”

Knicks stars and Villanova alums Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, and former Knick Donte DiVincenzo in an AI-generated image with Pope Leo.

An AI-generated image shows faces that are supposed to be Knicks stars and Villanova alums Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, and former Knick Donte DiVincenzo with Pope Leo XIV. Obtained by the New York Post

AI meme of Pope Leo XIV, Robert Prevost and Nova Knicks- depicting Pope leo as a knick

Pope Leo, pictured here in an AI-generated image, may bring some blessings to the Nova Knicks. Obtained by the New York Post

Villanova University President Rev. Peter M. Donohue however, said the papal Nova Knicks connection may bring the team even more motivation during the playoffs.

“Who can tell? They’re playing well. Maybe this will inspire them even more,” he said.

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