MSG Networks’ Knicks game analyst Steve Novak is the primary backup for Walt “Clyde” Frazier. Novak’s next game on MSG is Jan. 7 at home vs Clippers before calling a four-game West Coast trip — with stops at Portland, Sacramento and Golden State. Before hitting the road, he takes a timeout for some Q&A with Post columnist Steve Serby.
Q: What do you like best about this Knicks team?
A: I think the way that they play can win a championship. And by that I mean the toughness, the grittiness. … It seems like there’s a buy-in and a desperation that you have to have if you’re going to be there at the end. And right now I feel like every guy on that roster seems to represent that in a way that shows that they’re not watching their record, they’re not watching that their No. 2 in the East. It seems like, to me, it’s embodied by Josh Hart, the way he plays, and the scrappiness and the willingness to break your finger off and bloody your nose and do whatever it takes. I think that’s the North Star for me right now. When people say, “Do you think they can really win it?” Yeah, if you play that hard and the system is working and there’s a buy-in like you can clearly see right now, to me the answer is yes.
Q: What are your thoughts on Mike Brown?
A: A coach that you bring in who you know is going to implement a system so thoughtfully. I think he’s … call it a basketball scientist. When I think about Mike, I think he’s someone who can use all the experience of all the teams and all the great players that he’s had — like Timmy Duncan, and LeBron [James] and Steph [Curry] and all those guys, and obviously those experiences to me include being on teams that win big and him understanding in a repeated way how to be great with great players.
Q: What is the difference between the Jalen Brunson you saw in Dallas versus the Jalen Brunson you see now?
A: Whether it was Dallas or it was Villanova, you see the confidence and the calm in his eye in the biggest moments. Where we are now, you almost see the same guy. He’s the epitome of a leader. When Mitch [Robinson] gets a rebound and he throws the ball to Jalen, I feel my blood pressure go down, and I think that’s the sign of a leader. He’ll score if he needs to, he’ll get to the paint if he needs to, he’ll call a play if he needs to — by needs to I mean what’s right for the team. You’ve seen a guy give up money and ooze leadership while his team is winning, which means (laugh) he’s doing a lot right.
Q: Karl Anthony Towns?
A: I know it’s not been the smoothest year for him, but what I see from Karl right now is his buy-in and belief and desperation to win. He’s shown that he’s an incredibly professional guy who’s in it to win it right now.
Q: At times he has Steve Novak range.
A: Yeah, and you better believe there’s no one that loves it more than me (laugh). I think we can’t forget for a second that that’s one of the greatest values he has whether he makes the shot or not, is if the 5 man on the other team is guarding him and has to come out and worry about him, then that’s creating so much offense for this group. His value whether he’s scoring 2 or he’s scoring 40 is immense when he’s out there.
Q: Do you like KAT and Mitch playing together?
A: I do. Mitch is down there owning the glass and banging guys and using his fouls and being an interior presence, and although KAT can do a lot of that, he can be on the perimeter and he can be a weakside defender and he can roam a little bit. That size in the NBA with that skill level, when they complement each other, I think is deadly.
Q: What makes Mitch such a fearsome offensive rebounder?
A: I think it’s most of what probably the typical fan doesn’t even watch for, which is the early work that he does to get himself in position. And also I think it’s his mentality to know that he believes he’s out there for one purpose, he’s out there to rebound the ball 45 times a game.
Q: OG Anunoby?
A: The thing that I love most about him is his unassuming demeanor. And at the same time as he’s got that calm, he is one of the best defensive players in the league, clearly a Defensive Player of the Year candidate. Also the way that he affects both ends of the floor, especially this year, the 3-point shot and the defensive presence, it’s overwhelming.
Q: Josh Hart?
A: He reminds me in some ways of Dwyane Wade. I played with Dwyane in college [at Marquette], and one of the first times I realized like he was a different player was a game … at Tulane, and we were down by 10 or 15, and Dwyane completely took the game over with plays basically in every aspect of the game. … To me, Josh is a guy that impacts the game in so many ways. Josh impacts winning so obviously that you have to have him out there.
Q: Mikal Bridges?
A: The thing I love about Bridges is the ease of shotmaking that he brings this team even though they’re some of the most difficult shots I’ve seen, very Kevin Durant-esque — with the fadeaway with the mid-range in the moments where you really need it where they’re really hunkering down on certain guys trying to take Jalen out, trying to load up on KAT, trying to do certain things, and Mikal is a calming presence that’s capable of having huge games every game. I view him as the guy who’s likely going to be hitting some of the biggest shots come playoff time because of who he is on this team.
Q: Miles “Deuce” McBride?
A: Just a huge X-factor. I view him as a huge off-the-bench spark.
Q: Jordan Clarkson?
A: I would say similar to Deuce in a lot of ways. The thing that stands out to me about Jordan is his ability to be an additional ball handler. I think the pace that he pushes the ball often when he has it, to me creates this little bit of chaos that’s good for any team. I think the defense is very uncertain (laugh) if he’s handling, if he’s attacking, if he’s going to push to pull it back out, if he’s going to push to shoot a transition 3. … I think about LaMelo Ball and the chaos he kind of creates with his wildness, in a good way. He creates really good chaos at times and at many points, it ends up being some big offensive runs.
Q: Tyler Kolek?
A: I was able to watch him three years at Marquette, and so had a ton of respect for his ability to run a team and to play a full season at a Big East-MVP level. Seeing what he’s doing now just shows that this is a guy that we’re just seeing the tip of the iceberg, because I think he epitomizes to me when I think about the guys that I played with in my career, that when you’re on the court with him you’re excited to play basketball, because he’s going to push the pace, he’s going to have his eyes up looking for shooters, he’s going to get you it the second you’re open, not a second too late. And those for me were guys like Jeremy Lin, guys like J.J. Barea, guys like Jason Kidd, guys like Pablo Prigioni. He’s a guy that I view as alright, he’s in, this is about to get fun.
Q: Kevin McCullar Jr.?
A: I think you’re seeing him prove to himself in those moments when it’s one of your first call it big games on a good team when the minutes matter and you’re being trusted. I give a ton of credit to Coach Brown the way he uses his guys, no one’s getting buried, guys are getting opportunities, and when they do, they sure do seem to be ready for them, so there’s clearly communication and preparation going into it. .
Q: Mohamed Diawara?
A: As long as he plays with that size and athleticism, and he’s communicating and he’s in the right spot defensively, Coach Brown has proven, “I’ll leave you out there.”
Q: Would you ever consider wearing one of Clyde’s outfits?
A: (Laugh) You know what? If Clyde asked, I would. Under no other circumstances, because it would have to be out of respect because Lord knows it wouldn’t be for my own good, or reputation or street cred.
Q: What are your thoughts on Mike Breen?
A: He’s the best, he really is. Someone who I just truly enjoy listening to before I ever worked with him. I think he’s someone that brings joy to the game that makes you enjoy basketball even more because he’s the one calling it. He said to me, “If I ever view things one way and you view things another way, if you disagree with something I say, I want you to say it. Let’s have a conversation, let’s be honest. You be you, I’ll be me, and if we disagree, I think it makes for even better conversation.” And I just thought, “Mike is as great as I thought he was.” Because how great is that, that you’re trying to give the viewer genuine opinions and also be authentic to yourself?
Q: You saw Philip Rivers come back with the Colts, right? What if Mike Brown said, “Look, we’re in a bind right now, we need some 3-point shooting. Steve Novak, I need you to come back “
A: Well, it would probably be one of the greatest decisions he would ever make as a leader. And you can believe your boy would be very consistently not playing. … If you thought I didn’t play much defense back in the day, you’re going to see even less, but I promise you this, if you check the New York Knicks Alumni Game clips, you can just know that I’d be ready in that corner.
Q: Will you be watching Aaron Rodgers on Sunday night against the Ravens?
A: I always keep tabs on my guy Rodgers. Our interactions existed because I was doing the Discount Double Check belt, and it was born of Aaron Rodgers doing it and me being a big Packer fan, and so that was actually an interaction at the Kentucky Derby one year where it was when I was with the Knicks and I was with the wife and we were kind of walking around at the Derby, and he was there, and we kind of spoke for a moment about it. … He just briefly kind of said, “I love it, keep it up. It’s fun watching you guys, you got something special going.” I said the same, I said, “You keep it going too. My Packers are my beloved football team.”
Q: Three dinner guests?
A: My grandpa Ivan; Elon [Musk]; I’d like to know what he knows about space, and aliens and the government; Brett Favre.
Q: Favorite movie?
A: There was a documentary that my dad put in the VHS player when I was growing up, “The Life And Times of Pistol Pete” [Maravich], and I had to watch it 100 times. My dad was a basketball coach, I obviously wanted to be a great player.
Q: Favorite actor?
A: Ben Stiller.
Q: Favorite actress?
A: Claire Danes.
Q: Favorite singer/entertainer?
A: Coldplay.
Q: Favorite meal?
A: I like me a spicy vodka sauce pasta with a glass of Cabernet.
Q: How would you sum up your NBA career? And how would you sum up your Knicks career? And why were you traded so often?
A: Yeah. I guess I’ll start there. There’s a journeyman saying, I guess, that goes, when you get traded as many times as I have — I think I was traded five times, nine times in 11 years — either nobody wants you or everybody does, and I lean heavily towards everybody does — let’s make sure we get the record set straight on that. Playing in the NBA was a dream. I think playing 11 years, I was so grateful to be healthy and blessed for that long, but also to play in nine different cities and make two G-League stops, and to have this many teammates and coaches as I did is something I never would have expected if I was told you were going to play in the NBA. I would have never known I was going to have hundreds and hundreds of teammates and a phone book full of great friends that are in every city now. My time with the Knicks I would say was the most rewarding and fun time I ever had playing basketball, because it was at the Mecca, because it was in front of these fans, and because it was at a time where there was truly out-of-body basketball being played — and I’m referencing Linsanity. That time to me was something really special, because I got to prove myself at a time when it seemed like there was lightning in a bottle with Linsanity and New York being back to winning games
Q: What is the most electric you’ve heard Madison Square Garden?
A: There was an electricity before the games during Linsanity once Linsanity was under way. When we were warming up for pregame, 45 minutes before the game, and Spike [Lee] is already on the court and you’re kind of shooting your corner 3s, and you’re saying, “Hey Spike, I got to have you back up, I’m trying to get these shots.” The whole Celebrity Row is all right there and there’s still 45 minutes until the game. It was when I realized, “This place is different. The basketball here is different.” What this team means and what the wins mean and what the excitement when it’s happening in this building means, is different.
Q: Paint the picture for me of what this city would be like if the Knicks won a championship.
A: (Laugh) I’ll tell you right now, I’ll be somewhere, whether I’m invited or not, whether I’m supposed to be there, I’ll be one of those guys on the light pole, just so you know. One thing I learned very quickly in New York was — arriving in New York right after the lockout and there being I would say lower expectations, not that there really is lower expectations in New York, but we weren’t supposed to do anything that great that year, and we exceeded expectations — I found out very quickly that all is well in New York and fair, because if you play well and if you do better than expected, you’ll be talked to, treated and built up way higher than you ever should have been. I think when the Knicks win the championship this year, I think New York is going to be a place that you’ve never seen so many people come together and be so happy (laugh) for a common cause anywhere in the world, because I don’t think that there’s a franchise as celebrated as the Knicks anywhere in the world.
Q: You said “when” the Knicks the championship.
A: There’s always a group of call it 4-8 teams that you can truly say if they get lucky, if they stay healthy and if they’re playing their best at the end of the year, if those three things happen, then they can win a championship, and to me the Knicks are at the top of the list. Of course I’m not betting my kids on it, but I’ll tell you right now, they’re at the top of that list of those 4-8 teams this year.
