I love New York City and I love the New York Knicks. Both have been constant sources of inspiration for me, and I’ve always thrived on the raw, intoxicating energy they exude, through all their highs and lows. My art strives to capture a piece of that pulse—the grit, the optimism—that vibrate through my city and my team. Mayor Zohran Mamdani recently invited me to loan my Knicks Cutout paintings to City Hall in recognition of the New York Knicks playoff run—a gesture intended to celebrate both the team and the culture surrounding it. However, much of the media coverage—from early tabloid reports to more recent pieces in outlets like the New York Times —has framed the story through the lens of a supposed “Curse of the Bambino”-style narrative, suggesting that fans view the mayor’s involvement as a jinx, blaming their loss on Mamdani putting up my artworks.…