The new ball and Jimmy Anderson was all it took to remove Chris Benjamin for 103, a third catch for Harry Singh that we watched all the way from bat to palm as we waited for our coffees up the far bank. Kent 328-9, lead by 424, and there’s the last wicket, Hasan Mahmud caught by Joe Moores. Kent 332 all out, Lancs need 424 to win.
The weather gods are smiling at Stanley park, Just spotted Adam Hollioake, smart in a navy tracksuit, who seem to be in charge of the Kent boom box.
New Yorkers have waited 53 years to see their team win the NBA championship [Getty Images]
"We care way more about the Knicks than the World Cup right now."
New York is witnessing a moment of sports history - and it has nothing to do with football.
On Saturday night the New York Knicks clinched their first NBA championship in 53 years with a 4-1 series win over the San Antonio Spurs, and the long-awaited victory sent fans into a frenzy.
Fewer than 10 miles away, Brazil faced Morocco in the sixth game of the football World Cup, but it was at Madison Square Garden where scenes were electric.
Thousands of fans gathered - around the home of the Knicks that is often referred to as 'the mecca of basketball' - for an outdoor watch party, despite the game being played in Texas.
Nearby bars were overflowing with anxious New Yorkers who hung on every shot and call during the incredibly close game five in the best-of-seven series.
It is an interesting position for a city in the middle of co-hosting the World Cup.
"People live and shed tears here for basketball," Knicks fan Raymond Yu told the BBC.
"We care way more about the Knicks than the World Cup right now."
While Americans were never considered the biggest football fans in the world, New York in particular - with its diverse communities - always had a stronger tie to the game. But the Knicks' win has overshadowed the World Cup for now.
At the Molly Wee Pub, when a win seemed likely a young college student remarked to his friends: "Oh my god, I'm going to see the Knicks win the Finals. I can't believe it."
Once it was official, he and everyone else in the bar rushed into the streets screaming at the top of their lungs and embracing complete strangers.
The celebrations swelled and lasted well into the early hours of the morning, with people climbing light poles and setting off fireworks, while police on foot and even horseback tried to make sure the chaos was controlled.
Among them was Matthew Sorbonne, who told BBC Sport what the win meant to him.
"I watched them since I was a kid. This means everything to me. For 25 straight years they've been garbage. Finally we have a win," he said.
This victory, for a fanbase used to disappointment and heartbreak, is a dream come true.
New York's mayor Zohran Mamdani very quickly announced that a ticker tape parade down the canyon of heroes would be held on Thursday for the Knicks. City Hall and municipal buildings across the city will also be illuminated in blue and orange on that day to celebrate the victory.
Mamdani said: "New Yorkers have cheered for our team from packed living rooms in the Bronx to watch parties in Brooklyn, from bars in Queens to Staten Island to Manhattan, and Madison Square Garden itself. Now it's time for our city to celebrate together. Bing bong."
That, along with the Knicks players' return from San Antonio, will preoccupy this city with basketball for a few more days.
Even those wearing football jerseys on the streets of Manhattan admitted the World Cup could never match this excitement in the US.
Wearing a Lionel Messi jersey, Jeff, who did not give his surname, said that, while he liked the Argentina legend, the Knicks were more important at the moment than the World Cup. "Messi has a championship. I want the Knicks to get one," he said.
New Yorkers have also been waiting longer for a Knicks win than the opportunity to host another World Cup, which was last hosted by the US in 1994.
But with the city riding on good vibes from the Knicks, that could easily spill into upcoming World Cup matches.
In fact, the end of the series means avoiding a nightmare scenario where game six of the NBA Finals would have clashed with the France-Senegal game in the city on Tuesday.
One fan said he would try to watch some World Cup matches, given he has enjoyed seeing fans from other countries in New York showing their pride and seeing their love of the sport.
Those international fans probably did not realise they would also get to experience New York's true passion.
The NBA has overshadowed the start of the World Cup in New York [Getty Images]
There were chaotic scenes on the streets of New York on Saturday night as huge crowds gathered to celebrate their team’s victory in the NBA finals.
The New York Post reported that “out of control” fans smashed a police car outside Madison Square Garden. Footage also showed officers shoving crowds back as fans jumped on cars.
NYPD officers in riot gear moved in to disperse large crowds of Knicks fans who flooded the streets near Madison Square Garden following the game. pic.twitter.com/x2MCzK3y4v
Hundreds of police in riot gear raced to the area and officers were present on horseback as flares were lit and fireworks set off in the middle of Sixth Avenue. Frank Sinatra’s New York and Jay-Z’s Empire State of Mind rang out from speakers.
Credit: Social Media
Other footage showed projectiles thrown at police and people could also be seen smashing a school bus with makeshift clubs.
NOW: Crowds SMASHING UP the School Bus in Times Square, as Knicks Fans celebrate NBA Title Win
— Oliya Scootercaster 🛴 (@ScooterCasterNY) June 14, 2026
“I’ve been doing this job for 20 years and I’ve never had to wear riot gear,” a police officer told the New York Post. The report described “a frenzied mass” that took over Times Square soon after James Dolan, the Knicks owner, pleaded for calm.
“We want everybody tonight, in New York, be safe,” Dolan said. “OK, celebrate, but be safe.”
The match that confirmed the Knicks’ victory took place in San Antonio, Texas, against the San Antonio Spurs. Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, made a surprise appearance in the crowd. He sat beside Adam Silver, the NBA commissioner, a few rows back from the court. The Duke was already in Texas for the Warrior Games – an event for wounded, injured or ill military personnel organised by the US government.
Other recognisable faces at the match included Sydney Sweeney, who attended with her boyfriend Scooter Braun, and actors Timothée Chalamet and Ben Stiller.
Neither the Duchess of Sussex nor the couple’s children were in attendance at the game, which ended with the New York Knicks claiming their first NBA title since 1973 on the back of a 94-90 win.
The royal couple have made regular appearances at sporting events since their 2020 move to the United States, recently attending an NBA All-Star Game in February.
Prince Harry was watching basketball while his family were at the Trooping of the Colour - Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
Harry’s appearance came hours after the King celebrated his official birthday with a ceremony showcasing the British Army’s ceremonial prowess.
Charles took part in the Trooping of the Colour event on Saturday, where military pomp and pageantry were on display in the heart of London.
Future king Prince George of Wales, 12, Princess Charlotte of Wales, 11, and Prince Louis of Wales, 8, watched their grandfather from the first-floor window of the Duke of Wellington’s former office overlooking the parade ground in central London.
Crowds gathered in The Mall to watch the Royal family’s carriage procession from Buckingham Palace, with the King and Queen Camilla in the middle of a Sovereign’s Escort provided by the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment.
The New York Knicks were NBA champions in 1970 and 1973 [Getty Images]
The New York Knicks ended a 53-year wait for their third NBA Championship with a 94-90 win over the San Antonio Spurs.
The Knicks clinched the best-of-seven series 4-1, recovering from a double-figure deficit in all four victories to lift the trophy for the first time since 1973.
The Knicks, who overturned a 29-point deficit in game four to record the biggest comeback win in Finals history, trailed by 16 points in the second quarter and 10 points early in the fourth at Frost Bank Center.
Jalen Brunson, who was unanimously named Most Valuable Player in the Finals, orchestrated their recovery with 45 points, including 15 in the final quarter.
"I have no words. It's everything I dreamed of," he told ESPN.
"I'm in awe. It's why I came to New York.
"Whenever someone counted us out, we found a way to come back and do something about it.
"Whatever you put in front of us, we're going to find a way... every time we step on this court. Every time."
Brunson's haul was a finals franchise record, beating Willis Read's 38 in 1970, and he is only the fourth player in history to score at least 45 points in the title-winning game.
Jalen Brunson joined the Knicks as a free agent in 2022 [Reuters]
The Knicks trailed by 10 points with less than eight minutes left before Brunson scored 10 unanswered points to tie the game at 83-83.
He scored with just over a minute remaining to put the Knicks 90-88 up, and Josh Hart and OG Anunoby free throws extended the lead to four points.
Although Victor Wembanyana missed a three-pointer for the Spurs, Stephon Castle's dunk brought them back to 92-90 with 16 seconds remaining.
A free throw from Mikal Bridges and Anunoby either side of Dylan Harper's two missed attempts for the Spurs sealed a memorable victory for the Knicks.
Bridges and Hart - Brunson's team-mates from Villanova University - scored a combined 27 points, with Bridges contributing 14 and Hart 13 points and 11 rebounds.
Harper finished with 25 points off the bench for the Spurs, while Wembanyama registered 19 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks.
The Spurs became the first team to lead five finals games by at least 10 points in the first quarter.
"We weren't ready. I wasn't ready to win a ring - that's clear," Wembanyana said.
"We're not lacking in talent or ability, but we make too many mistakes. I make too many mistakes."
Wembanyana, the NBA's defensive player of the year, conceded a turnover and a foul on Brunson in the final 10 seconds of game two as the Knicks snatched a 105-104 victory, although his 32 points helped the Spurs win game three 115-111.
"This is the biggest lesson of my life - the biggest learning moment," he said.
"It's painful but I'm not running away from that. I'm using it to fuel me. I'm not satisfied with not winning.
"As a team, there's no better experience than what we just lived."
Jalen Brunson lifts the NBA finals MVP trophy after the Knicks defeated the Spurs on Saturday to clinch their first title in 53 years.Photograph: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
The New York Knicks spent decades searching for the player who could carry them back to the top of the NBA. On Saturday night, Jalen Brunson removed any remaining doubt that they had found him.
With Karl-Anthony Towns limited to two points and New York struggling offensively for much of the evening, the Knicks’ 6ft 2in floor general erupted for 45 points in a 94-90 victory over the Spurs that delivered the team’s first championship in 53 years and earned him Most Valuable Player honors.
The performance lifted Brunson into rare company. He became only the third player 6ft 3in or shorter to lead a championship team in scoring and win NBA finals MVP, joining Isiah Thomas and Stephen Curry. For years, conventional wisdom held that smaller guards needed a larger superstar beside them for a team to win basketball’s biggest prize. Brunson spent this postseason dismantling that notion one game at a time, never more than in Saturday’s pièce de résistance.
“That was unreal, just literally unreal,” Knicks center Mitchell Robinson said afterward. “I’m speechless. I’ve seen it a couple times here and there, but to do it in a closeout game against a good team like that, it’s different.”
Brunson averaged 32.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists in five games against San Antonio, but his teammates seemed almost as impressed by the manner in which he delivered the championship as the numbers themselves.
“We owe him,” guard Landry Shamet said. “We weren’t great offensively tonight, but he is generationally great offensively.
“There’s really not a whole lot to say. We all saw it. He carried us in a lot of different ways. What he does, it’s not really a surprise to us anymore, being his teammate. But nights like tonight, you’ve got to look at it and really appreciate it.”
Knicks coach Mike Brown used the occasion to make a larger point about Brunson’s place among the league’s elite.
“I’ve said it, and I hope you guys will listen to me, but he’s a top-three MVP candidate,” Brown said. “Everybody kind of mentions his name in passing. They don’t do it seriously enough.
“People say he’s too small. People say he’s a 1B or a 2B or whatever. He is a freaking 1A. He is an MVP candidate.”
Brown then offered the simplest possible assessment.
Brunson has never seemed particularly interested in debates about where he ranks among the league’s stars. Asked after the game about the pressure that came with becoming the face of the Knicks franchise, he offered a different definition.
“No pressure whatsoever,” Brunson said. “My dad being on eight or nine unguaranteed contracts throughout his career and not knowing when you’re going to get cut, while your family is on the east coast and you are wherever you are in the country, that’s pressure.”
Brunson said watching his father fight for roster spots throughout his NBA career shaped his perspective.
“I’m just never afraid to fail,” he said.
For Brunson’s oldest brothers-in-arms, the performance felt like the culmination of years of work.
Mikal Bridges first met Brunson as a teenager at Villanova, the small Catholic school on Philadelphia’s Main Line that’s always punched above its weight. A decade after winning national titles together under Jay Wright in 2016 and 2018, the pair are champions again on an even bigger stage.
“I’ve known him for so long,” Bridges said. “I know how much he works, how good of a person he is, how good of a basketball player he is. I’m just grateful to be on his side again.”
Bridges said Brunson’s influence extends far beyond the box score.
“We follow him,” Bridges said. “It makes it easy for us. Very grateful to have Jalen be that guy, and we just follow his lead.”
For Josh Hart, one of Brunson’s closest friends and a member of the 2016 title team at Villanova before graduating to the NBA, none of it came as a surprise.
“Nah,” Hart said when asked if he was still shocked by Brunson’s brilliance. “We’ve been built for this moment. We’ve been forged in fire. We’ve had a lot of long moments and times and days at ‘Nova and we just continued to build and build and build. I feel like definitely Coach Wright helped us be cut from a different cloth. No matter what the moment is, it’s never too big for us.”
Hart described Brunson and Bridges as “brothers for life” and said winning an NBA title together surpassed even their college exploits. The achievement completed a journey that began at Villanova and made the trio the first teammates in basketball history to win both an NCAA title and an NBA championship together.
“This one takes the cake,” Hart said.
Robinson, the longest-tenured Knicks player, credited Brunson with changing the culture of the organization after arriving as a free agent in 2022.
“His mindset, his work ethic, his energy that he just brings,” Robinson said. “When stuff gets rough, we have a little sit-down talk and he gets us back on track, like a leader, like a captain.”
Brown argued that impact was visible long before Brunson ever stepped onto the court.
“I’ve got to give his mom credit, and I hate to say this but I’m going to give his dad credit, too. He understands what winning is about,” Brown said. “He set the bar before he even stepped on the floor.”
For Brunson, the emotions finally bubbled over after the final buzzer as he spent most of the post-game celebrations fighting back tears with occasional success.
“I walked right to half-court, shook [Spurs coach] Mitch Johnson’s hand, and then turned around and my dad was there,” Brunson said. “Then I just remember Josh talking into my ear and him just saying, ‘We did it. We did it.’”
Asked what it took to score 45 points and carry the Knicks to a long-sought championship, Brunson gave a one-word answer.
“Everything.”
On the biggest night in franchise history, that’s all it took.
Chalamet is only 30 years old – he was just 4 years old the last time the Knicks even played in the Finals – but that didn’t take away his excitement as the long drought came to an end.
“Way rather this than the Oscars,” Chalamet said. “Knicks are champions, baby.”
Chalamet has been courtside, rooting on the Knicks throughout the Finals –both in San Antonio and at Madison Square Garden in New York. And just like the first four games of the series, he saw the Spurs shoot out to a double-digit lead, only to see the Knicks claw back in four of the five games in the Finals and pull out one comeback after another.
Game 5 was no different, as the Knicks faced another double-digit deficit after the first quarter, only to mount a late rally to cement themselves as comeback kings.
One of Leon Rose’s most riskiest decisions over the past few years was parting ways with head coach Tom Thibodeau following the 2025 postseason.
Thibodeau was coming off a Eastern Conference Finals appearance and led the Knicks to the playoffs in four of his five years at the helm, but the front office elected to make a change.
After a long search that saw the team conduct formal interviews with more than 10 candidates, Rose ultimately landed on Mike Brown as the new man for the job.
Brown was able to rally his team through up-and-down stretches throughout the course of the regular season to pull out a whopping 53 wins.
They then cruised their way through an incredible postseason run, before completing the goal with an NBA Finals clinching-victory on Saturday night.
It was Brown’s first title as a head coach in his 25-year coaching career.
“It’s just a heck of a win,” he said afterwards. “To have these fans that we have in New York City, and to bring home a championship to them after all of these years, it's just an absolutely amazing.
“It’s surreal -- I don’t know how long it’s been since that final buzzer, but I still don’t believe it. I’m pinching myself, I’m telling myself to try to be present, and all of the stuff I tell my guys every day because I still just can’t believe it.”
Brown went on to shoutout his staff by name, and gave credit to each of the players and the Knicks' front office for all coming together to achieve the ultimate goal.
“My staff, they carried me all year,” he said. “Our players are fantastic -- they’ve been ready from Day 1, and it's not just our top-five, but 1 through 18 they have been ready from Day 1 of the season.
“You saw it we called on different guys at different times and every time they stepped up -- I love my players, I love the organization, but most importantly Let’s Go New York, we can’t wait to get home and celebrate.”
There are plenty of knowledgeable people who believe they know what that means. Usually, it's a sizeable non-guard like Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant, or a hulking big man like Shaquille O'Neal or Tim Duncan. But Knicks star guard Jalen Brunson is changing the definition after his NBA Finals MVP performance, leading New York to its first championship in 53 years.
For years, pundits, players and coaches -- both current and former -- debated whether a team can win a championship without this "1A" player. That conversation shifted toward Brunson, especially after he signed with the Knicks in free agency. The most notorious response to Brunson's "1A" credentials came from Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon.
Hammon infamously said that the Knicks didn't have that "1A" player on their team back in 2023. Even when Brunson's name was brought up, she said he was too small and that Steph Curry was the only outlier to that rule.
Brunson, almost two hours after bringing New York a title, was asked to respond to those who criticized him for not being that type of player. Brunson po
"I didn’t respond to them then, I’m damn sure not going to respond to them now," Brunson said pointedly.
And why should he?
Brunson scored a franchise record 45 points, only the second player in NBA history to score at least 45 in a road clinching game (Jordan), in Game 5 and led the comeback while his teammates struggled to score.
That's why he was voted MVP of the finals by a unanimous vote after averaging 32.6 points, 4.6 assists and 4.2 rebounds.
“I hope you guys will listen to me, he is a top-three MVP candidate," Knicks head coach Mike Brown said after the game. "Everybody kind of mentions his name in passing, they don’t do it seriously enough — people say he’s too small, people say he’s a 1B or a 2B or whatever, he is a freaking 1A.
“I hope tonight you guys, and I’m talking to the media more than the fans, but I hope you guys recognize what this man is all about because he is A1 MVP — he is him.”
Jalen Brunson was asked how he would respond to critics who say he isn't a "1A" guy:
"I didn't respond to them then and I'm damn sure not going to respond to them now." pic.twitter.com/3stEa5S7bC
BROOKLYN, NY - APRIL 01: From left to right McDonalds High School All Americans Darryn Peterson (22) and Cameron Boozer (12) were awarded co most valuable players on April 1, 2025, for the McDonalds Boys High School All American Game at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. (Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The most obvious answer to this question is “whoever the Wizards don’t pick between AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson.” Right now on FanDuel, AJ Dybantsa is at the highest it’s been all draft season at -500. Those aren’t the astronomical odds that were set for Cooper Flagg and Victor Wembanyama, but it’s interesting they keep climbing.
With those odds, it’s a good bet that Utah will be choosing between Darryn Peterson and Cam Boozer, and it will come down to who the Utah Jazz prefer between those two. Recently, we’ve heard more buzz around Cam Boozer, with new mock drafts claiming the Jazz will seriously consider all options, including Boozer.
With the NBA Finals now over and the New York Knicks now champions, is there a lesson to be learned from them? One thing we saw from the Knicks was Jalen Brunson’s insane shot-making. It’s a reminder that the most important thing our offense needs is an elite, shot-making playmaker who can score when you need them to most. Cam Boozer is going to be a great player. He’s going to shoot it with great efficiency. He’ll also punish mismatches in the post and make great passes when the defense folds. That said, it’s hard to see Boozer being an elite isolation scorer like Brunson when the defense is at its toughest. One thing I can see is Darryn Peterson evolving into one of the best isolation scorers in the league. The toughest thing in the NBA is when things get tight at the end of playoff games, and you need players that can defend but also score at a high level in isolation. That is 100% a description of Darryn Peterson, a player that should be All-NBA at some point in his career. It’s easy to see Peterson being an absolute demon scorer for the Jazz, especially when defenses focus on the plethora of shooters on the floor.
There’s also the simple fact that Peterson is just the better player. Cam Boozer is the analytics darling, but the spacing in the NBA is going to take Peterson’s game to another level. He’s going to score at such an efficient level, and that’s why he’s the player the Jazz should select at #2.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 22: Darryn Peterson #22 of the Kansas Jayhawks looks on during the second half against the St. John's Red Storm in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Viejas Arena at San Diego State University on March 22, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - JUNE 13: Devin Vassell #24 and Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs react during the fourth quarter against the New York Knicks in Game Five of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center on June 13, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
For the majority of the NBA Finals, it looked like the San Antonio Spurs had found an answer to slowing down the New York Knicks, the Spurs had built double-digit leads only to collapse in the game’s final minutes to see New York grab the win. That formula was the same on Saturday night.
Facing elimination and trying to get over the sting of a historic loss in Game 4, the Spurs led by as many as 16 points and appeared like they were getting ready to send the series back to New York. Instead, the Knicks delivered one final blow to the Spurs’ hopes.
Jalen Brunson scored 45 points as he powered New York to rally from another double digit deficit to defeat the Spurs 94-90 to capture the franchise’s first NBA championship since 1973 and end the season on the Spurs’ own home floor at the Frost Bank Center.
“We weren’t ready to win an NBA championship, better team won, we did a lot of good things, and we didn’t finish the job,” Spurs Head Coach Mitch Johnson said.
For three quarters, the Spurs controlled the pace of the game. Their defense frustrated New York, Victor Wembanyama protected the rim with five blocks, and the crowd — made up of Spurs fans as well as thousands of Knicks fans — felt like the impossible could be possible. That was until Brunson took over.
The Knicks’ star chipped away at San Antonio’s lead, getting bucket after bucket. As the time came off the clock, the Spurs’ advantage was gone and the Larry O’Brien trophy was nearly in his reach. Just as it had done all series, San Antonio’s offense stalled when it mattered most.
The Spurs were outscored 29-18 in the fourth quarter and struggled to generate consistent offense down the stretch. De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle combined for 13 points on 4-for-25 shooting and left San Antonio searching for more answers in the game’s final moments.
“It’s tough, it hurts a lot, it stings a lot,” Spurs forward Devin Vassell said. “Right now, seeing them storming the court on our home court, it’s tough. We know we’ll do everything we can, scratch fight to get back into this position.”
Wembanyama finished with 19 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks, impacting the game on both ends for most of the evening. Dylan Harper continued his breakout postseason with 25 points off the bench, providing a glimmer of hope for the Spurs’ future in a gloomy night in the Alamo City.
When the final buzzer sounded, Knicks players celebrated at center court while Spurs players headed to the locker room to process how close they had come. New York won the series 4-1, with Brunson earning Finals MVP honors after another standout performance in the championship-clinching victory.
“One of many things I learned is the margin of error is very, very thin,” Wembanyama said when asked what he learned from this year’s postseason run. “We absolutely, absolutely dominated for most of the series, but our mistakes are punished so hard.”
The loss will sting for a long time for the Spurs, who lost all three home games in the series and watched two leads disappear in Games 4 and 5. However, amid the heartbreak, the Spurs also gained something invaluable: proof that their future has arrived sooner than expected.
This was the franchise’s first trip back to the NBA Finals since 2014, led by a young core of Wembanyama, Castle, Harper, and Fox. They ended the season just two wins shy of a championship and spent much of the postseason looking like a team built to contend for years to come.
The ending belonged to New York.
The future, however, still looks bright in San Antonio.
Game Notes
The Frost Bank Center was not a home court advantage for the Spurs in this series as Spurs fans were severely outnumbered by the large group of Knicks fans that made the trip.
Dylan Harper is going to terrorize NBA defenses for years to come.
Stephon Castle needs to get into the gym and work on his midrange game this summer. He’s already got the defense locked up.
I fully expect the Spurs to extend Julian Champagnie this summer and he’s more than earned it.
