John Starks Showed Flash of Greatness Handling the Ball for New York Knicks vs Washington Bullets in 1991 Capital Centre Clash

In the early years of John Starks’ career with the New York Knicks, the seeds of a future Garden legend were beginning to sprout. Though the 1991 NBA season was still a period of growth and inconsistency for both Starks and his team, a specific matchup against the Washington Bullets at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland, offered a glimpse of the grit, determination, and energy that would come to define his career. That night, Starks wasn’t yet the fan favorite who’d ignite Madison Square Garden with his fearless drives and high-flying dunks—but he was on his way.

The game, played during the Knicks’ 1990–91 campaign, came at a time when the franchise was trying to re-establish its identity. Under head coach Stu Jackson, the Knicks were wrestling with inconsistency, a roster in transition, and the looming expectations of a city always demanding more from its sports teams. Meanwhile, the Washington Bullets—led by the likes of Harvey Grant and Ledell Eackles—were also struggling for a postseason berth, often finding themselves trapped in the Eastern Conference’s middle ground.

The Capital Centre crowd, known for its enthusiasm despite the Bullets’ recent lack of success, welcomed the Knicks with a mix of anticipation and rivalry. On that particular night, the matchup wasn’t necessarily circled as a must-watch event on the league calendar, but it became a proving ground for a young John Starks, who had been battling to earn regular minutes in a backcourt shared with Mark Jackson and Gerald Wilkins.

Wearing No. 3 and still trying to fully secure his role in New York’s rotation, Starks entered the game with the same tenacity that would later come to define his style. He played with a chip on his shoulder, a trademark born of an unconventional path to the NBA that included stops in junior college, the Continental Basketball Association, and even bagging groceries before making the Knicks roster.

In the first half, the Knicks struggled to find a rhythm. Patrick Ewing, the team’s perennial All-Star, was drawing double teams in the post, and the Knicks’ offense often stagnated. The Bullets capitalized with solid interior play and the occasional transition score. But it was Starks, often handling the ball on the perimeter, who injected life into the game.

At 6-foot-3, Starks didn’t have the height of a prototypical swingman, nor the speed of a pure point guard, but what he lacked in physical tools, he made up for with attitude. In the second quarter, he began probing the Bullets’ defense with dribble penetration, using crossovers and hesitation moves to create space. Though his jump shot was still a work in progress at this stage in his career, he confidently pulled up from mid-range and knocked down two key jumpers that shifted momentum.

Defensively, he played the passing lanes with awareness and brought the type of ball pressure that frustrated Washington’s guards. His ability to switch between defending shooting guards and small forwards made him invaluable for a Knicks team that often lacked consistent perimeter defense. One particularly memorable play in the third quarter saw Starks rip the ball away from Eackles at midcourt and take it coast-to-coast for a contested layup, drawing a foul and igniting the Knicks bench.

Though the game itself was not one for the history books in terms of its stakes or final score—the Knicks would go on to win in a low-scoring affair—it was the type of performance that foreshadowed what Starks could become. He finished with 13 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals in 28 minutes, but it was his energy, emotion, and willingness to take on responsibility that stood out most.

Back then, John Starks wasn’t yet the All-Star who would later throw down “The Dunk” over Horace Grant and Michael Jordan in the 1993 Eastern Conference Finals. He wasn’t yet the firestarter who would ignite the Knicks’ rugged playoff battles throughout the mid-1990s. But the signs were there. This 1991 performance in Landover wasn’t just another midseason matchup—it was a building block in the legend of John Starks, a man who came from the margins and forced his way into the spotlight.

Knicks fans watching from New York may not have recognized the significance in real time, but they surely appreciated the hustle. In a season where Ewing often had to carry too much of the load and leadership was desperately needed beyond the frontcourt, performances like this gave the team a backbone. Starks wasn’t afraid of the moment, even then. He drove into the teeth of the Bullets’ defense, chased down loose balls, and drew charges. He never stopped moving, and he never played scared.

What made the night all the more notable was the chemistry he was beginning to develop with Ewing and Charles Oakley. On several occasions, Starks fed Ewing in the post with precision, and his ability to spot up when Oakley was facilitating from the elbow allowed the Knicks’ offense to stretch the floor. It was the kind of connective tissue New York sorely needed.

Washington tried multiple defenders on Starks, including A.J. English and Darrell Walker, but neither found much success. His confidence, even if not yet accompanied by the polish he would later develop, was evident. After one particularly tough and-one layup in the fourth quarter, Starks let out a roar and pounded his chest—classic Knicks toughness long before it became a hallmark of his identity.

Off the court, Starks remained humble after the game. In postgame interviews, he credited his teammates and focused on the team’s need to improve as the season wore on. But behind the scenes, the coaching staff took note. Games like this one in Landover earned him the trust that would eventually lead to increased minutes, then a starting role, and finally, a revered place in Knicks history.

In retrospect, the 1990–91 season served as a crucial proving ground for Starks. It was his first full campaign with New York after playing just 36 games the year before. While he still split time with Wilkins and Kiki Vandeweghe, performances like the one against the Bullets began to make his case for a more prominent role. By the time Pat Riley took over the next season, Starks was well on his way to becoming one of Riley’s favorite soldiers—a tough, no-nonsense guard willing to do the dirty work.

The Capital Centre, which would eventually be demolished in 2002, hosted countless NBA legends and moments, but for Starks, it was one of many humble stages on which he proved he belonged. Not every player gets the Hollywood entrance or the lottery pick spotlight. Some, like John Starks, have to claw their way up, game by game, minute by minute, moment by moment.

That night in 1991 wasn’t about stardom. It was about hunger. About effort. About laying bricks on the path that would lead to playoff duels with Reggie Miller, to All-Star recognition, to the hearts of Knicks fans everywhere. It was a game that didn’t make headlines but made a statement: John Starks was here—and he wasn’t going anywhere.

By the end of the decade, he had become synonymous with the Knicks’ identity: passionate, blue-collar, and never afraid of the big moment. Fans would chant his name from the rafters of Madison Square Garden, recalling moments of glory and heartbreak alike. And while the highlight reels would later be filled with his electric performances in playoff games and marquee matchups, the journey truly took form in games like this one against the Bullets.

It’s easy to overlook the ordinary nights of a long NBA season. But every legend starts somewhere. For John Starks, one chapter of his legendary story unfolded in the heart of Maryland, far from the bright lights of New York, but just as meaningful. The stat line may fade from memory, the arena may no longer stand, but the heart he showed that night lives on in Knicks lore.