The New York Knicks are NBA champions for the first time in more than five decades.
Behind a 45-point performance from Jalen Brunson, the Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 on Saturday night, clinching the 2026 NBA Finals in five games and securing the franchise’s first championship since 1973. Brunson was named NBA Finals MVP after leading New York through a postseason run marked by resilience and late-game execution.
The victory capped a remarkable turnaround for one of the league’s most scrutinized franchises. New York won the series 4-1 and completed another comeback in the decisive game after trailing by double digits.
The Knicks rallied from double-digit deficits in each of their four Finals victories, underscoring a postseason identity built on persistence and composure under pressure.
Brunson delivered his signature performance when the Knicks needed it most. He scored 45 points and carried New York through the closing stages of the game, helping erase a late deficit and seize control in the fourth quarter.
San Antonio, appearing in the Finals behind a young core led by Victor Wembanyama, pushed New York throughout the series. Wembanyama finished Game 5 with 19 points, 14 rebounds, and five blocks, but the Spurs were unable to hold off another Knicks rally. Rookie Dylan Harper added 25 points off the bench for San Antonio.
The championship ends one of the longest title droughts in NBA history. The Knicks’ previous championship came in 1973, and generations of fans had waited for another banner to be raised at Madison Square Garden.
The title also marks a milestone for team president Leon Rose and head coach Mike Brown, who guided New York through a postseason run that culminated with the franchise’s third NBA championship.
Celebrations erupted across New York shortly after the final buzzer. Fans gathered in streets, bars, and public spaces throughout the city as the Knicks claimed the Larry O’Brien Trophy and completed a journey that transformed years of frustration into a championship season.
For a franchise defined for decades by near-misses, rebuilding efforts, and unmet expectations, Saturday night delivered a long-awaited ending. The Knicks are once again on top of the NBA.
