George Kalinsky, an acclaimed photographer celebrated for documenting landmark events at Madison Square Garden for over five decades, passed away on Thursday at the age of 88. The New York Knicks honored his legacy with a moment of silence before Friday night’s game, where MSG PA announcer Mike Walczewski remarked, “He was a giant in the world of photography and an integral part of the history of Madison Square Garden.”
Kalinsky was renowned for capturing significant moments, including the legendary image of injured star Willis Reed walking onto the court for Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals, leading the Knicks to victory. After becoming the official MSG photographer in 1966, he documented a wide array of historic events, from Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier’s “Fight of the Century” in 1971 and the New York Rangers’ Stanley Cup win in 1994 to John Lennon’s final live performance, Pope John Paul II’s visit in 1979, and numerous national political conventions. He also served as the photographer for the New York Mets.
In tribute, the Knicks aired a special segment honoring Kalinsky on Friday:
From The Lens Of George Kalinsky https://t.co/dXmhX9Ytqu pic.twitter.com/HKx6FGZdum
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) January 17, 2025
Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau fondly remembered Kalinsky prior to the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, stating, “I just heard and my condolences go out to his family. Just a wonderful man. So great at what he did. He captured so many big moments at the Garden. On top of that, just who he was as a person, he always made everybody feel good, and you can’t say anything more about a person. He was just a great, great guy and a fantastic photographer. The way he captured everything that happened here was really special.”
A Hempstead, New York native, Kalinsky received numerous accolades, including the title of International Photographer of the Year in 2001. His passing has led to heartfelt tributes from sports media colleagues and fans alike on social media:
We are deeply saddened by the passing of the legendary photographer George Kalinsky. For more than 50 years, George was synonymous with Madison Square Garden – there wasn’t a single important moment at The World’s Most Famous Arena that George didn’t capture. Our thoughts are… pic.twitter.com/l4tYPHZ5dj
— MSG Networks (@MSGNetworks) January 18, 2025
“If I draw this to be the perfect picture, this is what I would draw…This is the best picture I’ve taken”
–– RIP George Kalinsky pic.twitter.com/18S7EjigNQ
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) January 17, 2025
The St. John’s Basketball community is saddened by the passing of photographer George Kalinsky. For more than 50 years, George Kalinsky told the stories of @TheGarden and the entertainment world from behind his lens. These iconic photos of our very own Lou Carnesecca were frozen… pic.twitter.com/JlfBA5AORZ
— St. John’s Men’s Basketball (@StJohnsBBall) January 18, 2025
George Kalinsky captured so many important moments at Madison Square Garden it could break my brain thinking about it. My favorite was his favorite, and he printed the most spectacular piece for me of it. I will always be grateful for him sharing his stories with me.… pic.twitter.com/Qidi1SL6nF
— Chase Jordan (@goatcollect) January 17, 2025
