While New York clings to a narrow 2nd quarter lead against Orlando this afternoon at MSG, we inevitably recall (again) one of the more spectacular Martin Luther King Day finales at the World’s Most Dysfunctional Arena, ie. Trent Tucker’s 1990 buzzer-beater versus Chicago with 0.1 seconds remaining. As a subsequent result of such hometown time-keeping, from ’91 onwards, any shot taking place with less than 0.3 seconds remaining is automatically disallowed. Last week, NY Magazine’s Joe DeLessio caught up with Tucker, who offers, “to have your name mentioned in today’s game, it’s nice to hear because it keeps you involved in the game.”

When you let the ball go, did you think it would count? Did you think 0.1 seconds was enough time to catch and shoot?
I did, just because it was the first year they’d gone to tenths of seconds on the game clock, so I felt if there was any time left on the game clock, you should be able to get a shot off. But I can remember the play just like it was yesterday. The play was designed to throw a lob pass to Patrick Ewing, but Michael Jordan read the play, and he took away that first option. And at that time, we didn’t have a second option. So I just kind of improvised and knew that Mark Jackson was up against the five-second count on the sideline. And I ran in front of him, and he gave me a little flip pass, and I turned and shot the ball as quickly as I could. And lucky for us on that day the ball went in.

It must be neat to have your name on a rule.
Yeah. It’s like, if basketball stays around for a long time, somehow, some way, my name will always be mentioned in that situation.