Former NBA center Timofey Mozgov recently pulled back the curtain on his brief stint with the New York Knicks, and he didn’t mince words when it came to his feelings about the city itself. Appearing on the Jao Mile podcast, the 7-foot Russian big man shared a candid and critical take on life in New York, describing it as “chaotic,” “cluttered,” and “always dirty.”
Mozgov, who began his NBA career with the Knicks during the 2010–11 season, said he enjoyed playing for the team and appreciated the organization’s support. But when it came to living in the Big Apple, he found the experience far from glamorous.
“When we talk about the city, everybody kept telling me… they said it’s changed a little bit now. They say Trump cleaned it a bit, changed some things,” Mozgov said. “But still, you walk through the middle of the city where an apartment costs like ten million dollars, and right outside, there’s a pile of trash, like 10–15 bags just sitting there. It’s crazy.”
Mozgov’s comments reflect a broader critique of New York’s urban infrastructure and sanitation challenges. He pointed to the city’s historical layout as a root cause:
“I know how they built the city back in the day; they didn’t really think about where the trash goes or how to move it. It’s just wild.”
Despite the allure of Manhattan living for many NBA players, Mozgov opted for a quieter lifestyle.
“When I was in New York, I didn’t really live in the city,” he explained. “You basically live up north a little bit, so you only go in sometimes. I mean, there are some guys who choose to live right in New York, but me with my wife, we just lived like regular Americans, out in the suburbs.”
