The Knicks' first NBA Finals appearance in 23 years

The New York Knicks are set to face the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals,their first appearance since 1999 and a chance at their first championship in 53 years.

For Brooklyn mother Shanae Sanders, the team's resurgence evokes both joy and profound sorrow, as her 15-year-old son, Tristan, a diehard fan, was murdered in an unsolved 2024 shooting.

"At the watch party at Radio City Music Hall, I was like, 'Oh man if he could see this with me, if we could enjoy this together.. We would be hugging each other or shouting,'" she reflected.

"We've been waiting for this for so long so I am celebrating for him, too. His spirit is helping them to win."

Tristan's love for basketball: a shared bond between mother and son

Tristan's love for basketball was cultivated from a young age, with Shanae recalling how she grew up watching the Knicks and passed that passion onto her only child.

She even organized a Knicks-themed fifth birthday party for him, which he adored.

The team represented more than just a sport; it was a shared bond between mother and son.

A complex emotional landscape: grief and celebration

Now, as the Knicks prepare to face the San Antonio Spurs, Shanae finds herself navigating a complex emotional landscape.

Tristan Sanders was shot and killed on the evening of October 26, 2024, while with friends outside the Albany Houses public housing complex in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.

The incident occurred on Auburn Place, near Boys and Girls High School, just before 7:30 p.m.

His death was part of a disturbing week-long surge in youth violence across New York City .

Despite an extensive NYPD manhunt, the gunman who killed the 15-year-old remains at large, leaving the case unresolved and the family without closure.

Channeling grief into action: a tribute to Tristan's memory

Shanae Sanders is now channeling her grief into a bittersweet celebration of the Knicks' historic run, which coincidentally takes place in June-National Gun Violence Awareness Month.

"I'm a part of this organization,NAC," she said, referring to her involvement with community groups, "and I don't want this to keep happening because it's disheartening.

He was one of multiple young men who lost their lives at the time ."

While she acknowledges the difficulty of celebrating amid her mourning, the Knicks' success provides a sliver of joy and a way to honor her son's meory.