On a morning such as this, Knicks fans naturally want to stay in the present, to bask in it, to just keep it right here, thanks.

But it helps, in understanding the elation emanating from under that spoked ceiling on Seventh Avenue, the giddiness in every living room where they once cheered Clyde, Mase or Lin, to rewind a bit.

It was late June 2022. The Knicks went into draft night with the No. 11 overall pick — their reward for wheezing to a 37-45 finish the season prior — and came away with … nothing.

No Jaden Ivey. No Shaedon Sharpe. No A.J. Griffin. They traded back in the first round then attached the pick to Kemba Walker to get off his contract.