Rutgers Hall of Famers Who Played for the Knicks Celebrate NBA Finals
James Bailey and Hollis Copeland reflect on the Knicks historic season and their Rutgers team's storied run.
Some people grow up New York Knicks fans. Then there are others who eventually jump on the band wagon.
Then there are James Bailey LC ’79 and Hollis Copeland RC ’78, standout members of the historic 1975-76 Rutgers men’s basketball team who went on to play for the Knicks in the NBA. They were on rosters some 40 years ago, but they still cheer for the Orange and Blue (and silver, white and black).
The Knicks haven’t won an NBA championship since 1973. So will the former Scarlet Knights teammates be watching in the coming days as the Knicks play for the NBA title?
“Of course I will!” Copeland said with a laugh during a phone interview. “You kidding me?”
Bailey doesn’t follow the NBA consistently, generally flipping channels while catching parts of games. But make no mistake, he’ll be watching the championship series just like his former Rutgers teammate. This weekend, Rutgers fans were given another reason to tune in to the NBA finals, which start on Wednesday. Dylan Harper, who played last year for the Scarlet Knights before he was selected No. 2 overall in the NBA Draft, is headed to the finals in his rookie year with the San Antonio Spurs.
“It’s funny,” said the 6-foot-6 Copeland. "There are some people who say the Knicks are playing over their heads. I don’t think they’re playing over their heads. I think they’ve come to realize their roles. (Mikal) Bridges has mid-range shots, and can hit a three once in a while. (Josh) Hart, they leave him open for threes and he’s gonna take it. Otherwise he’s going to be a distributer and grab rebounds offensively. Their offense should always start with KAT (Karl Anthony Towns), because if you bring the big man out and he shoots a three, it opens up for cuts, and he’s a good passer. If that doesn’t go right away you go to the hole yourself. There are a number of shooters who can really stick it.”
Bailey, at 6-foot-9, made a living in the paint, so it’s not surprising he is impressed with New York’s defense.
“The surprising piece for me is I’m more impressed with today’s style of play. It’s still the defense that does something for me,” he said. “What I’m impressed with is the defensive part of it. It seems (the Knicks) are playing overall much better defense.”
Just like that 1975-76 Rutgers team that went to the Final Four with a 31-0 record, when Bailey, a freshman, was a beast inside on offense but especially on defense.
“That’s the way it was with us, when Eddie (Jordan) and (Mike) Dabney gambled because they knew I was back there. That’s what I see with these Knicks.”
Copeland said, “They’re in rarified air right now. They’re beating teams by 25-30 points. They go nine deep, where you never had that before. You can go deeper, and you have guys who are biting the bit for more playing time. That’s where you wanna be.”
And the fans love it. There were thousands who traveled to games in Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Cleveland. In games at Madison Square Garden, hundreds of fans also congregated outside. For what would be the last game in Cleveland, Radio City Music Hall opened its doors for a watch party for fans.
As for playing in front of sellout crowds in the Garden, Copeland and Bailey have not forgotten the atmosphere.
“There’s nothing like it,” Copeland said. “You can feel the buzz, feel the vibe.”
Bailey added, “It’s a New York standard. You come in here to play and you’re putting on this unique uniform that has all kinds of history. So you better show up. I’m not saying you had to have 30 every night and 50 rebounds. You just have to, like, do your part.”
Despite having teammates like Naismith Hall of Fame players Bernard King and Patrick Ewing, Bailey never reached the playoffs, having played in New York from 1984 to 1986. Drafted in the first round by Seattle, he would play nine seasons in the NBA.
Copeland played two seasons in the NBA, 1979-80 and 1981-82.
“I loved everywhere I played, and I was fortunate to have played all those years, but there’s something special about New York, and not to mention Madison Square Garden,” Bailey said. “Those fans just know the game, and as a player there, they’re gonna support the heck out of you. But they’re also gonna call you out. But they can motivate you. Oh yeah. Big-time.’’
The fans, he said with a laugh, are “gonna be honest and truthful. It’s not the fly by night or whatever, and again, this isn’t to disrespect any other city. But New York, they know basketball. It’s probably one of the best places to play in the world.’’
Playing poorly can also carry out to 31st Street and 8th Avenue.
“New York is one of the toughest places to play. I love the Garden," Copeland said, “but after you play, you have fans that are fanatical. You lose and you walk the streets… you have to come up with a good answer for those that will come up to you. Those fans are dedicated and sophisticated."
For “Cope” and “JB” those days are long gone. Both are basically retired. Copeland, who grew up in Ewing, now lives in the Ironbound section of Newark. After graduating from Rutgers, he has been a stockbroker, a sales rep, and as a hospital care investigator. He can also be seen wearing a Knicks cap.
Bailey, who has lived on farmland outside Dallas the past 20 years, is a grandfather. After graduating from Rutgers, he ran a couple of businesses, retired as an executive for Foot Locker, and now does some consulting.
In the next week they’ll be watching the games as proud alumni.
“These are the best playoffs I’ve seen in years,” Copeland said. “The Knicks are going to have their challenges. But I’ll tell you this: If New York was to win, man, New York will never be the same.”
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