The customs inspector took a quick glance inside the train car, and what he saw intrigued him to no end. This was the evening of Oct. 30, 1946, seasonably chilly and crisp at the Niagara Falls border between the U.S. and Canada. Looking around the car, he noticed all the occupants were much taller than normal.

Was this a traveling circus?

“What are you?” the officer asked.

“We’re the New York Knicks!” Neil Cohalan said.