"Father Knickerbocker", via SportsLogos.net
I should mention as a disclaimer that I've no reason to believe the Knicks plan on changing their mascot, nor would I be in favor of such a change. I've always enjoyed locally or historically relevant mascots over miscellaneous predatory fauna, and being named after a pair of pants actually seems pretty cool to me. Just in case you didn't know:
The term "Knickerbockers" traces its origin back to the Dutch settlers who came to the New World -- and especially to what is now New York -- in the 1600s. Specifically, it refers to the style of pants the settlers wore ... pants that rolled up just below the knee, which became known as "Knickerbockers," or "knickers".
Through history, the Dutch settler "Knickerbocker" character became synonymous with New York City. The city's most popular symbol of the late 19th and early 20th centuries was "Father Knickerbocker," complete with cotton wig, three-cornered hat, buckled shoes, and, of course, knickered pants.
The name doesn't exactly strike fear into opponents, but it is classy, authentic, and badass in its own right. We're in the dog days of August, though, and I'd like to pose a question out of boredom: If, for some reason, the New York basketball club had to adopt a new mascot, what would you pick? I'm sure we'll get some "New York Max Contracts" and "New York Truck Parties" responses, which are cute, but I'm asking seriously. What name would you choose, and what would the logo look like? As someone without much historical background, my initial ideas were the New York Pigeons, the New York Pizzas, the New York Bagels, or the New York Pizza Bagels, but that's really just me listing a few of my favorite things. I know you can do better. Serve 'em up in the comments.
Also, names must end in 's'. Mascots that aren't decidedly plural are the devil's handiwork.