Fans react to Knicks' interest in Dawn Staley with praise, memes, and movie throwbacks

The New York Knicks reported outreach to South Carolina's Dawn Staley for their vacant head coaching position has sent shockwaves through the basketball world, both college and pro, and the fans are here for it.

Public reaction across social media has been overwhelmingly supportive. Reddit users quicky rallied behind the idea as well, praising her unmatched resume and leadership pedigree. On X, the buzz was intense. One user posted, "If Dawn Staley becomes the Knicks' coach, I might finally watch every Knicks game." Another posted, "We've tried everything else. Maybe we should try winning."

Even NFL legend Dez Bryant posted on X about it saying, "This would go crazy!!!" in support of the idea of the hire. The excitement echoes the sentiment that the Knicks could spark a cultural revolution with such a bold move.

Adding to the buzz, X users began drawing hilarious comparisons to the movie Eddie, the 1996 comedy where Whoopi Goldberg plays a Knicks fan-turned-coach. The nod to the nostalgic film only added fuel to the excitement.

Not all basketball fans are on board with the idea, however. And many Gamecock fans have dismissed the rumor entirely, some even laughing it off as unrealistic or absurd to think that their beloved coach would ever even consider leaving Columbia.

It is unlikely that Staley would leave her beloved Gamecocks or the city of Columbia for a chance in the NBA spotlight. She has built an unshakable legacy in South Carolina, and her story is far from finished. While the reported interest is certainly flattering, it will be interesting to see if Staley addresses it publicly in the near future.