Since the Knicks’ postseason surge began, Avery Wilson has sung the “Star-Spangled Banner” at every home game at Madison Square Garden—six performances in the playoffs, with one absence coinciding with the Knicks’ only home loss of the postseason so far. Fans
When Game 3 of the Eastern Conference opening round between the New York Knicks and the Atlanta Hawks tipped off at Madison Square Garden. two things were suddenly obvious to fans. Over a month later, the Knicks still haven’t lost a single game. And at each home game. the same voice has been there before tip-off—Avery Wilson singing the “The Star-Spangled Banner” every time.
At this point, the anthem has become its own kind of scoreboard. Wilson has performed six times during the playoffs. The only time he couldn’t make it is the one time the Knicks have lost at home since the postseason began.
Wilson talked about what he thinks is happening on the inside of that moment—less about mystique, more about adrenaline. “I’m now realizing the amount of adrenaline and energy that comes from the audience and what their role is. actually. in the arena when you’re at the game. ” Wilson said. “When I sing, there is an energy and there’s all these endorphins let out from the people screaming.”.
The surge has given fans plenty to talk about in real time. Wilson’s name keeps coming up on game days not because he’s chasing attention, but because his appearance lines up with a run that refuses to end.
The “before tip-off” singer is also a performer with a long, public résumé. Wilson is a former contestant from the third and eighth seasons of The Voice. On Broadway, he starred as The Scarecrow in The Wiz, a role that earned him a Grammy nomination. He’s also had charting music: his single “If I Have To” peaked at No. 18 on the Billboard Hot R&B Songs in 2015, and “Kiss The Sky” peaked at No. 16 on the Adult R&B Songs in 2024.
The sequence is hard to ignore: the Knicks’ unbeaten postseason stretch continues. Wilson has been at the Garden for every home performance he’s able to make. and the one home loss that breaks the pattern aligns with the only time he wasn’t there. Whether anyone wants to call it luck or momentum. the timing has turned a familiar national anthem into a weekly ritual fans watch for as closely as the tip.
Avery Wilson Knicks Madison Square Garden national anthem The Star-Spangled Banner The Voice The Wiz Grammy nomination
So the anthem singer is the reason they’re winning? That’s wild lol.
I swear the Knicks are just hot at home. Like Avery Wilson could be anyone and it would still happen, but ok sure. The whole “not there = loss” thing sounds kinda made up.
Wait I thought he missed game 3 and that’s when they lost? But the article says it lines up with the only home loss… so is game 3 the one they won or lost? Either way, man, congrats to him for being on The Voice and doing Broadway too. Feels like the Knicks just needed the Scarecrow vibes.
This is literally like sports superstition marketing. Like next thing you know they’ll have to sign him up for every home game forever or the team will crumble. Endorphins from the crowd? Sure. Also Madison Square Garden already does like 300 rituals every game anyway.