Gratitude is the buzzword of this part of the holiday season and that applies in New York sports fandom, too. Even if some of our major area teams are as disappointing as that bland green bean casserole your aunt always brings to Thanksgiving dinner.
But we do have a so-called “big four” team with genuine championship hopes in the Knicks, an already-crowned champ in Gotham FC, a raucous baseball offseason in bloom, two of the best offensive players in baseball history, young pitchers with seemingly-limitless potential, and more.
Our cup of Thanksgiving cheer runneth over, no? So let’s celebrate our annual tradition – here are nine things for New York sports fans to be thankful for. Read it and eat.
Title town?
The Knicks are really good. Don’t be afraid to embrace it, even if they haven’t soared to the top of the East just yet. Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns are a fabulous guard-big duo, Josh Hart is a living, breathing blue-and-orange energy drink and the team can really “score the basketball,” one of our favorite guilty-pleasure nonsense sports phrases. The Knicks are poised for another deep playoff run. Sure would be fun if it went further than last season’s Eastern Conference Finals loss.
Getting it right (field)
Both the Mets and Yankees have all-timers manning right field these days in Juan Soto and Aaron Judge. Yes, they’ve both been on this list before. But you don’t stop serving stuffing at Thanksgiving, do you? We need consistency here, just like you need it at a holiday feast. Soto and Judge are our New York sports anchors – whatever crazy stuff happens on the playing fields, courts and ice in this town, we can rely on them for Cooperstown-worthy numbers and callbacks to Ted Williams and Babe Ruth. Last season, Soto led MLB in walks and topped the NL in steals (!) and on-base percentage and also swatted 43 homers. Judge, who won his third MVP in the last four years, led MLB in average, on-base, slugging, and OPS, and also bashed 53 homers. Keep it up, fellas.
Sep 2, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Nolan McLean (26) delivers in the first inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. / David Reginek – Imagn Images
Young ace city
The Mets have Nolan McLean. The Yankees have Cam Schlittler. Both were so impressive last season in their first taste of the majors that it’s prompted all kinds of long-term dreaming for this pair of talented pitchers. Starting the MLB All-Star Game against each other someday? How about Game 7 of a real Subway Series? OK, maybe we’re getting ahead of ourselves. But did you see what McLean, a spin-rate savant, did in fashioning a 2.06 ERA in eight starts? Or how Schlittler destroyed the Red Sox in the deciding game of a playoff series?
Made of Stearns stuff
Did Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns have a good 2025 season? No, not really. Soto worked out nicely, though. The rest of his moves? Eh. Stearns’ Mets were a huge disappointment. But he’s on this list because it’s clear after the Brandon Nimmo trade that Stearns is going to give us a compelling offseason as he remakes the Mets with his run-prevention vision. The Mets’ hot stove will be, well, hot. We love that sort of thing. The Mets need help in all categories, from offense to defense to starting pitching and the bullpen. They’ve got hard choices looming on big-name incumbents such as Pete Alonso and Edwin Díaz, too. Will Stearns’ moves work this time? We don’t know. But we can’t wait to see what happens.
The kid is alright (and then some)
Matthew Schaefer turned only 18 in September and he’s already one of the most talked-about players in the NHL because of the impact he’s had on the Islanders. The top overall draft pick in 2025 is a smooth, brilliant skater with offensive flair. They are chanting his name at UBS Arena, his ice time is soaring, and folks can’t decide whether the better defenseman comp is Denis Potvin or Bobby Orr. Lofty company! Earlier this year, Schaefer became the youngest defenseman in NHL history to notch a multi-goal game. Who’s mark did he beat? Orr’s. We are watching the beginning of something really special.
New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo (44) reacts after a play against the Denver Broncos during the second half at Empower Field at Mile High / Ron Chenoy – Imagn Images
Energy twins
Cam Skattebo is out for the year and Jaxson Dart has missed time with a concussion, but the two rookies have injected hope and fun into the Giants, despite the team’s horrendous won-loss record. We’re still talking about Skattebo, even though he’s not on the field, thanks to his recent pro wrestling cameo. (BTW, you don’t have to be outraged about everything, grumps). And we can’t wait until he’s back on the gridiron. Dart, meanwhile, has been so good that the Giants just might have found their long-term answer at quarterback. In the NFL, that’s something big, even if everything else needs a lotta work.
Jet fuel?
There’s not much to go ga-ga over in terms of what’s happening on the field for the Jets, which you know full well if you’ve been watching the games. But we are dreamers, aren’t we? That’s why Gang Green’s fans should be grateful for the team’s upcoming cornucopia of draft capital. The Jets have two first-round picks in the next draft, including, presumably, a very high one once they play out this loss-filled string. And they have three more first-rounders coming in the following draft. If they nail a bunch of those picks, including a quarterback, who knows what might be next? Hoping might not make it so, but draft picks could.
Champions league
We love winners in New York, right? Only had a few recently, though, but we’re lucky that Gotham FC is the local entrant in the National Women’s Soccer League. They just became the lowest seed ever – they were eighth – to win the NWSL title with a 1-0 victory over the Washington Spirit. Rose Lavelle scored the game’s lone goal and it was enough to send the club down Broadway in a championship procession that also saw the players get keys to the city. It was Gotham’s second title in the last three seasons. All hail Gotham FC.
Cole brewing
Gerrit Cole won’t be ready for the start of the baseball season as he finishes injury recovery. But he should be back in the Yankees rotation at some point — and it’s a welcome return for those who appreciate masters of their craft. Cole, a thinking fan’s ace, will be pitching at 35 after missing an entire season. It’ll be fascinating to watch how he navigates that while potentially giving the rotation a mighty 1-2 punch with Max Fried.
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