End of an era as Knicks longtime equipment manager Mike Martinez not returning next season – The Denver Post

For the first time in over 30 years, the Knicks will start a season without Mike Martinez.

The longtime equipment manager, a staple of the Knicks locker room since Pat Riley coached, won’t return for the 2023-24 campaign, the Daily News has learned.

It’s unclear why Martinez is out.

Martinez, a Long Island native and son of a Bronx detective, first joined the organization as a ballboy as a senior in high school during the 1989-90 season. He was elevated to equipment manager a couple years later and held the position for 31 consecutive seasons.

“Each and every day, 24-7, 365 days a year, gave it my all,” Martinez said in a 2018 interview produced by the Knicks. “I feel like my blood isn’t red, it’s definitely orange and blue.”

In 2014, Martinez was honored with the Dick McGuire Legacy Award for longtime service to the franchise. Other honorees include Walt Frazier, Herb Williams, John Andariese and longtime trainer Mike Saunders.

“It’s about these guys [the players] being happy,” Martinez said in the 2018 interview. “Getting their heads right so that when that balls goes up, all they’re worrying about is we have to win this game tonight. No matter what the circumstances are. No matter what the weather situation is. No matter what the conditions are on the other end. Just somehow get past it because we have places to be, we have things that need to be done. We’re all a family at the end of the day. There’s no question about it.

“I’ve given it all and everything I have to the team and to the organization and to our guys.”

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