N.Y. Knicks' John Starks says he has turned his life over to God

Jet, Oct 27, 1997

When the NBA season starts, fans will see a new player in the New York Knicks' star guard John Starks.

While he will continue to be the Knicks' emotional leader, there will be no more cursing or incidents of flipping off fens like he did in Miami during the Heat versus Knicks playoffs last season, which ended in a bitter loss for the team.

"After that playoff game," he told the New York Post, "I just turned my life over to God. After what happened to us last year as a team, you try to find that inner peace in your life.

"...You have all the money, you have a beautiful home, beautiful cars, beautiful family, but if you're not happy inside, you have to find out what is not making you happy. God has always been with me, ever since I was born, I just had to get back to it; let him guide my day to day."

The Knicks ended the season on a sour note when several key players were suspended for the final two games of the series against the Heat for coming off the bench during a fight.

Starks, the NBA's sixth man of the year last season, said while he has made significant positive changes in his life, his faith has not changed his game.

"It's not going to change me as a player," he said about his faith. "That emotional side of me is always going to be there because God gave me that, too. He gives you all the abilities in the world. It's what you do with those abilities that is going to determine your life. People sometimes feel that people who believe in Christ, that that's a weakness, which it's not. Not at all. It's an inner strength that he gives you."

And how does Starks feel the Knicks will fare this season after their disappointing departure from the playoffs in May? "I see great things for this team this year," he said. "This team believes in one another, and that's the most important thing."