Category: Basketball

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani shared his reaction to the viral rhyme that starts “My mayor’s Muslim, my bagel’s Jewish” and celebrates the New York Knicks ending their 53-year NBA championship drought.

Mamdani, 34, was asked about the viral rhyme Sunday morning during an interview with MS Now’s Jacob Soboroff, hours after the Knicks overcame a 16-point deficit in game five of the NBA Finals, sealing their victory over the San Antonio Spurs.

Soboroff played the viral clip of MD Ahnaf Hossain, the originator of the rhyme, exclaiming: “My mayor’s still Muslim, my bagel’s still Jewish, even the Pope’s on our side, Knicks in five!”

“He is a New Yorker whose words have really stayed with all of us,” Mamdani, who was wearing a Knicks jersey over his dress shirt and tie, said with a chuckle. “And thanks to him, there are a lot of people who have just been running up to me over the last few weeks just shouting, ‘My mayor’s Muslim!’ I said, ‘It’s true. I am.’”

The viral fan chant, which originated as “My mayor’s Muslim, my bagel’s Jewish, my Christian Dior, Knicks in four,” took on new life — and became something of a mantra in the Big Apple — as New Yorkers shouted out their hometown pride and stood united ahead of Game 5 Saturday night.

Mamdani noted that the viral chant “speaks to what the city is and even this team.”

“It’s not just a cookie cut out of the same thing again and again, it’s every single player having a role, bringing together all of the five boroughs in this moment. It’s truly a joy,” he added.

The mayor noted the high, electric energy that has been radiating in New York City as of late due to the Knicks’ historic run in the NBA finals and the World Cup. Thousands of New Yorkers gathered Saturday to take in the historic win, with many taking to the streets after to celebrate the team’s first victory since 1973.

“People have been waiting for this for 53 years. And there have been so many heartbreaks, so many near misses, so many years every year where we have told ourselves it's the year,” Mamdani said. “And for it to actually happen now, I mean, there's nothing more we can ask for as New Yorkers.”

“ It's honestly a beautiful thing,” he added.

“I was reading a piece this morning that really wrote about it quite beautifully, where it said that oftentimes this kind of unity comes in moments of tragedy. And to see it coming now, in a moment of joy, it's something that I have never seen before across our city, where the nation's largest city has become what feels like the world's smallest town, where everyone is thinking and hoping and praying for the same thing,” he added.

Several notable quotes from the viral fan chant have been replicated on hats and T-shirts. It has also been declared “pure New York City poetry” by The New York Times. Meanwhile, the man who went viral for the championship mantra, 23-year-old Hossain, told the Washington Post it was about unifying the city at a crucial time.

“I grew up with Jews, Muslims, Haitians, Pakistanis, Bengalis,” Hossain said. “I just had to bring everyone together.”

Meanwhile, other Knicks fans rattled off their own spin on the viral fan chant online.

“My mayor Muslim, my bagel Jewish, my Saturday Night Live, Knicks in five,” one fan riffed on the original.

Another person mused: “My mayor Muslim, my bagel Jewish, my cream cheese chive, Knicks in five.”

Even the official New York Knicks account shared their take on the viral chant, writing, “NEW YORK FOREVER, WE DID THIS TOGETHER, THE CITY'S ALIVE, KNICKS IN FIVE.”

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As soon as the confetti hit the ground in San Antonio last night, it was time to look ahead to a new set of NBA Championship odds. 

And while the Spurs fell short in these NBA Finals, the NBA odds board has high hopes for Victor Wembanyama and the rest of this talented young core moving forward, listing San Antonio as a +250 favorite to win in 2027.

It remains a tight field, though, with three more teams listed with odds shorter than 7/1. We break it all down below.

🏆 Opening 2026-27 NBA Championship odds

Team
Spurs	+250
Thunder	+260
Celtics	+550
Knicks	+650
Pacers	+2800
Nuggets	+2800
Cavaliers	+3000
Pistons	+3000
Lakers	+3000
Timberwolves	+3000
Heat	+4000
Warriors	+4500

Odds updated as of 6-14, courtesy of bet365, one of our best betting sites. Sign up with our bet365 promo code, or get one of our other sportsbook promos.

📈 2026-27 NBA Championship favorites

San Antonio Spurs (+250)

Despite falling flat in this year's NBA Finals, it's easy to see that the San Antonio Spurs' best days are ahead of them.

The young core of Victor Wembanyama, Dylan Harper, and Stephon Castle will surely improve, and the team has now gotten a glimpse of what is needed to win at the highest level. As +250 solo favorites, they won't be sneaking up on anyone this year.

Oklahoma City Thunder (+260)

Injuries to key contributors made the Oklahoma City Thunder's title defense much harder than it would have appeared during the season, and yet OKC managed to go up 2-1 and 3-2 over the Spurs before flaming out in the Western Conference Finals.

The core of back-to-back MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren remains, and if J-Dub can get back to playing regularly, this team will flirt with 70 wins for a third straight regular season and be a threat to hoist the Larry O'Brien for a second time.

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Boston Celtics (+550)

Jayson Tatum's late return from injury in time for a title run last season proved to be fool's gold, as the Boston Celtics blew a 3-1 lead to the 76ers in Round 1.

But with Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumours starting to swirl, not much has to happen for Boston to regain title contender status.

New York Knicks (+650)

Some may see the New York Knicks listed fourth and see that as disrespectful to the champs, but for as beloved as this team became over the last two months, the comeback magic can't be sustainable.

They were down double-digits in four of five Finals games, and a more experienced opponent would have been able to withstand New York's comeback runs, but if we've learned anything, it's that anything is possible when Jalen Brunson is on your side.

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It’s over. Officially, it’s over. The season ended 48 days ago for the Phoenix Suns, but now the league itself has reached the finish line as the NBA Finals have concluded.

So what does that mean? It means the transaction season can truly begin. It means conversations can turn into negotiations, negotiations can turn into agreements, and front offices around the league can begin executing their plans for the 2026-27 season.

The first important date is June 29, the deadline for all team and player option decisions. The Suns have two players with team options, although Ryan Dunn’s option was exercised last October. That leaves Jamaree Bouyea, who is set to earn $2.6 million next season if Phoenix picks up his option. Should the Suns exercise it, they would still maintain flexibility. Bouyea’s contract remains non-guaranteed until January 10, 2027, when it becomes fully guaranteed. But the decision on whether to pick up the option must be made by June 29.

The next key date is June 30. At 3:00 p.m. Arizona time, teams can begin negotiating with outside free agents. That said, the Suns can already begin having conversations with their own free agents now that the season has officially concluded.

There are four internal free agents worth monitoring.

Jordan Goodwin and Collin Gillespie are both eligible for new deals, with Phoenix holding Early Bird Rights on each player. Amir Coffey enters free agency as an unrestricted free agent with Non-Bird Rights attached. Then there’s Mark Williams, a restricted free agent whose qualifying offer sits at $9.6 million. Phoenix possesses his Bird Rights, giving the organization flexibility in how it approaches negotiations.

Now that the Finals are over and we’re nine days away from the NBA Draft, those internal discussions can begin in earnest. The front office can start moving the ball forward as it prepares for next season.

The assumption is that retaining Collin Gillespie and Jordan Goodwin will be among Phoenix’s top priorities this offseason. Both players became integral parts of the culture and identity the Suns worked to establish last season, and bringing them back would provide another layer of continuity moving forward.

We’ll know soon enough whether common ground can be found and what those contracts ultimately look like. The offseason is officially here. The draft is around the corner. Free agency isn’t far behind. And the Suns can finally begin laying the foundation for what comes next.

Stay tuned to Bright Side of the Sun all offseason long. We’ll be here breaking it all down, offering our opinions, overanalyzing every rumor, and doing what we always do this time of year, trying to figure out how to fix the Phoenix Suns.

Much has been made of where Jalen Brunson ranks in the pantheon of current NBA stars. References to his status as a “1A” player have been debated constantly over the past several years. 

As the champagne dries and the cigar smoke clears in the road locker room in San Antonio on Sunday, Brunson has proven the doubters wrong. A 45-point masterpiece in the championship clincher was the end of a marvelous 16-3 playoff run for Brunson. The former second-round pick won NBA Finals MVP after leading the New York Knicks to a 4-1 NBA Finals win against the San Antonio Spurs. This is the franchise’s first championship in 53 years.

Since his arrival in the 2022 offseason, Brunson has reinvigorated the Knicks. His original four-year, $104 million contract was thought to be an overpay. It’s been everything but that.

From 2001 to 2022, New York won exactly one playoff series. It only took Brunson two years to eclipse that mark. New York’s 2023 run was where the possibilities of a championship team began. The Knicks defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round but fell to the eventual Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat in six games.

Hidden behind that painful loss was Brunson’s elite performance. The guard averaged 31.0 points on 50.4 percent from the field and 6.3 assists against a frenetic Heat defense that threw zones, blitzes, and traps Brunson’s way. However, it wasn’t enough. Brunson had 41 points in the last game, but Julius Randle and RJ Barrett, New York’s second and third scoring options respectively, struggled in the series closer, shooting a combined 4-for-24 from the field.

The right group

It was that point where the Knicks front office, led by Leon Rose, knew it had a special player. But the club had to figure out how to find the right mix of defense, perimeter shooting and secondary offensive creation around Brunson. 

Soon came big bets from New York. Early in the following season, the Knicks dealt homegrown first-round picks Barrett and Immanuel Quickley to the Toronto Raptors for OG Anunoby. Then came the 2024 offseason acquisitions of Mikal Bridges from the Brooklyn Nets and Karl-Anthony Towns from the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Knicks went all-in with these moves, famously handing over five first round picks for Bridges and dealing key cogs Randle and Donte DiVincenzo, and a first-round pick, to land Towns.

Adding Anunoby and Bridges gave New York two very good corner three-point shooters, who, along with Josh Hart, created a three-headed monster of wings capable of guarding multiple positions. Towns was the second offensive option, a center who could create his own offense, but could also space the floor and create space for Brunson to operate.

After a loss to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals in 2025, the final tweak came at head coach with the firing of Tom Thibodeau and the subsequent hiring of Mike Brown. 

All of these moves have come with the intention of maximizing the Brunson window. New York also hit on smaller deals like adding Jose Alvarado and Landry Shamet over the last couple of years. They all paid off throughout this playoff run. 

Offensive engine

Brunson is an offense unto himself, which leads to teams bending their defense to stop him. During this postseason, he averaged 1.09 points per possession in isolation according to NBA Stats, the second-highest number for any player that averaged at least 3.0 isolation possessions.

In these NBA Finals, the San Antonio Spurs tried everything to slow down the All-Star point guard. Much like that Miami team from a few years ago, there were full-court presses, traps and double teams. There was also 7-foot-4 Victor Wembanyama lurking by the basket on nearly every possession.

But this time, the teammates New York added around Brunson over the past couple of years were able to take advantage of the extended Spurs defense. Those same double teams created hockey assist opportunities. Shooters like Anunoby, Bridges and Landry Shamet all thrived from that. Anunoby’s game-winning tip-in in Game Four came off Brunson shooting as a double-team approached from the Spurs’ Wembayama and De’Aaron Fox.

Brunson and the Knicks’ relationship has been built on trust. The Knicks have done everything to build a contender that fits around the point guard. And Brunson has sacrificed, signing a four-year, $156.5 million extension in 2024 instead of waiting for a projected five-year, $269 million deal in 2025, a $113 million difference.

With Brunson on the roster, the Knicks will always have a fighting chance. And the belief in the guard will make the team do whatever it takes to compete for more titles going forward.

The Lakers are once again dealing with LeBron James summer drama, which has become an annual tradition at this point. However, with James being an unrestricted free agent, this isn’t an offseason where we can all just laugh at the passive aggressiveness.

Come the start of free agency, LeBron will no longer be a Laker and action from both sides will be required for him to return. Los Angeles has made it clear they want James back, but they aren’t the only ones interested in having LeBron on their team next year.

On a recent episode of the “Pat McAfee Show,” LeBron’s agent, Rich Paul, spoke about the interest teams across the league have shown ahead of free agency.

Now, always take what an agent says with a grain of salt. Even McAfee acknowledged that it’s in Paul’s best interest to go with a high number for interested teams as it makes things sound better for his client. Still, whether it’s 10, 12 or a few teams interested in LeBron, he is a wanted player.

This offseason, the unrestricted free agent market is very weak. Given that LeBron is coming off a season where he averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists, the list of players who can do that consistently in the NBA is small, making him clearly one of the best available options this offseason.

We don’t know which teams are officially asking about LeBron, but the Warriors have once again been linked to James.

So, it seems we will likely hear of other teams during the coming weeks, but again, it’s all part of the negotiating tactics that happen during the NBA offseason.

Perhaps this time, LeBron will leave, but he and the Lakers have always figured out how to stay together and have been united for longer than any other franchise has been with James in a single stint.

Teams will be interested and with James no longer LA’s top priority, things can get tricky. But hearing a bunch of teams calling from an agent is no reason for fans to press the panic button.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

In an interview with Italian journalist lacopo De Santis of Pianeta Basket, Luigi Suigo broke down why he decided to withdraw from the NBA Draft, as well as his choice in playing for Villanova in 2026-27.

On his NBA Draft process:

“We started this season at Mega Basket in Serbia thinking we could be very well prepared for this draft. Unfortunately, two or three days before the Combine, I pulled a sprained ankle in practice. I lost some form. I wasn’t able to do the Combine drills, which I think would have helped me improve my picks or my rating. I tried to get back in shape. I came back from Boston this morning. I was in Los Angeles, where my agency’s facility is. I did some workouts. I trained with the Wizards, Spurs and Celtics. They went well. My choice was to stay in the Draft if I had a guarantee of being selected in the first 20 picks. First of all, because knowing I’d have a year of development, and done well, I could be much higher in the 2027 Draft. And also, above all, it’s a question of experience. The money part too, of course, but that’s the least important thing right now. I’m very confident in myself. I know what my qualities are. The important thing is to work hard. Villanova will be a place where I can do that very well.”

This answers why he was not competing in the drills. It seemed odd to sit out when the goal is to improve your stock, but now everything makes sense. There was some concern once Suigo started following Atlanta Hawks’ center Onyeka Okongwu on Instagram, but now we know that they made their acquaintance in Los Angeles. Suigo shares Excel Sports as an agency with Okongwu, who is also from the Los Angeles area.

On where he would have gone in the Draft had he stayed in:

“I could have stayed in the first round, even with Boston (pick 27). The idea of not rushing things, having an extra year of development to be even more ready to make an impact is important, even because of the pick position. The higher you are, the more a team is committed to player development.

It seemed like a long shot that Suigo would get that top-20 guarantee, and this confirms that. Yahoo’s Kevin O’Connor had the 7’3” Italian going at pick 17 to the Oklahoma City Thunder in his latest mock draft, but once the withdrawal became official, O’Connor stated that he had Suigo top-20 on his personal board, but that he “didn’t expect him to stay in though.” Going to college will allow him to improve his stock and contribute more as a rookie once he’s there.

In the same article, Suigo noted that he’s a San Antonio Spurs fan and that it’s been “strange to see” all of the Knicks-related posts on Instagram. That said, Suigo also noted that “it’s nice to know I’m going to a college where I can develop and position myself well in the next draft.”

With Suigo in the fold, Villanova’s roster now stands as such:

Guards – Elijah Crawford, Buddy Simmons II, Carter Fisk, Tyler Perkins, Jake Fiegen and Adam Oumiddoch

Forwards – Kwame Evans Jr., Devin Royal, Matt Hodge, Abdou Samb

Centers – Luigi Suigo, Nico Onyekwere

With 12 players in the fold, Kevin Willard will look to add a bit more frontcourt depth and likely call it an offseason.

One of the four Alabama State men’s basketball players ruled permanently ineligible by the NCAA earlier this month is disputing his alleged role in a point-shaving scheme.

In an interview with the Memphis Commercial Appeal, a part of the USA TODAY network, TJ Madlock said he did not accept payments from gamblers to fix the outcome of his team’s 81-64 loss to Southern Miss on Dec. 5, 2024, adding that "nothing that (the NCAA) put out is true."

Unlike his three teammates who were implicated – Amarr Knox, Shawn Fulcher and Corey Hines – Madlock did not play in the game in question. Madlock had left the Hornets’ previous game, a 101-72 loss at SMU two days earlier, early in the second half and did not play in their following game, either, a 103-93 overtime win against UT Martin.

REQUIRED READING: TJ Madlock denies involvement in college basketball betting scandal, NCAA claim

"I was added into a group chat, but I never responded to anyone’s texts," Madlock said to the Commercial Appeal. "Why would I respond, knowing I wouldn’t be playing? Also, why would somebody pay me for sitting on the bench? That doesn’t even make any sense."

Mike Brown now has been part of 5 NBA championship runs. The Knicks got this one right originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Mike Brown didn’t seem to be the New York Knicks’ first choice to take over as coach last spring, when the team fired Tom Thibodeau and was linked to at least a half-dozen other candidates who held various jobs around the NBA.

In the end, he clearly was the right choice.

Brown is now a five-time NBA champion coach — four of those rings won as an assistant, the fifth coming as head coach of the Knicks. He joins only Red Holzman on the list of those who won titles as coach of the Knicks, and fittingly, he did it on June 13.

There’s a banner in Madison Square Garden that says “Holzman 613” to commemorate his win total with the franchise. Brown won this title on 6/13.

“I’m pretty good at trying to control what I can control,” Brown said. “I had zero control over who else was interviewing, who was denied permission. I had zero control over that. I just did the best I could in the interview process. I went about my business and waited until it was either going to progress or end. … I was pretty nonchalant about it as time went on. I just let it unfold the way it unfolded.”

Brown speaks fondly of his days with Gregg Popovich in San Antonio, a place his family still calls home — and the place where the Knicks captured this title after topping the Spurs in five games. He raves about his years coaching with Steve Kerr in Golden State as well.

Brown was an assistant on the 2003 Spurs title team, then was with the Warriors for three more title runs. He was the NBA’s coach of the year while with Cleveland in 2009; the Cavaliers wound up firing him. He was the NBA’s coach of the year again while with Sacramento in 2023; the Kings wound up firing him, too.

But in New York, he’s a legend for life now.

“Mike was invaluable to this run,” Knicks forward Josh Hart said. “He understands what it is to be a champion. He understands how to build a team, how to build habits that will put you in this position. We’re so grateful, so thankful to have him at the top. He kept us even so many times. He’s brought the best out of us, as people first. I’m so happy for him. He’s the reason why we’re here. He’s the reason why we’re here, and we’ve got love for him.”

Brown kept the mood light throughout the postseason push, didn’t blink when the Knicks were down 2-1 in Round 1 to Atlanta after a pair of one-point losses, and always seemed to be the calm in the eye of the storm. Social media was blowing up with how Brown wasn’t the right coach for the job when the Knicks trailed the Hawks.

New York went 15-1 from there. And a 53-year wait between titles is now over.

“I am so tired. I mean, I’m gassed,” Brown said. “You know, this stuff is harder than what you think.”

Maybe so, but he makes it look easy.

The Knicks may be celebrating in more ways than one.

Prior to their championship run this postseason, James Dolan jokingly asked the players to avoid sex during the playoffs, according to SNY’s Ian Begley.

In the unexpected speech from Dolan, who took over control of the Knicks in 1999, he reportedly told players about the importance of sacrificing and how much he believed in this Knicks roster to end the team’s now-previous, 53-year title drought.

“They were a little surprised, but the words hit,” a source told SNY.

More than two months later, Dolan and the Knicks earned the championship they so desperately craved as they defeated the Spurs in Game 5 on Saturday night.

Dolan was front and center during the Knicks’ title celebrations, as he was presented the Larry O’Brien by commissioner Adam Silver and apologized to fans for the team’s struggles.

“Hey, New York, I’m sorry it took so long, but here we are, and hopefully it won’t take that long again,” Dolan said.

He also interrupted Josh Hart’s postgame press conference to urge New Yorkers to be safe back home during their celebrations.

That advice wasn’t entirely heeded, as 63 people were arrested, four were stabbed and one was shot after the Knicks clinched their title win.

The Knicks will hope their parade on Thursday goes off without any hiccups.

Video shows the exact moment New York lost its collective mind as the Knicks secured an historic first NBA Championship since 1973.

The viral clip shared on X was taken at the end of Saturday’s victory in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, as jubilant fans could be heard screaming across the city.

“Hear the exact moment Manhattan lost its mind,” said the caption for the video, filmed from a high-rise balcony.

“I could hear this from Queens that’s how loud it was,” one X user wrote.

Many users, even those with no connection to New York or the Knicks, highlighted how astonishing the video was.

“There are some people (not many but they’re out there) who don’t like sport. It leaves them cold, they don’t ‘get’ it. Imagine that? Could never be me,” wrote one X user.

“I love when real sports cities win,” added a second.

Soccer fans in New York for the FIFA World Cup were also caught up in the cathartic celebrations following the Knicks’ triumph.

“We thought we were coming for the World Cup, and here we are caught up in an NBA tsunami,” wrote one soccer fan who had come over from France.

Thousands upon thousands of New Yorkers took to the streets moments after the Knicks completed another double-digit fourth-quarter comeback to clinch the series against the San Antonio Spurs, 4-1.

Fans quickly took to the streets to celebrate the team’s first NBA championship since 1973.

However, amid the widespread celebration, there were also sporadic incidents of violence, with 63 arrests and a shooting near Times Square.

Knicks owner James Dolan, speaking after the victory in San Antonio, urged fans to stay calm.

“We need to tell everybody in New York that we know that they’re celebrating, we want them to have a great time,” he said at a press conference.

“Please be safe. Don’t get hurt, don’t hurt nobody.”

An official parade for the victorious team will be held on Thursday, culminating in a ceremony at City Hall.

President Trump, a long-time Knicks fan who attended Game 3 of the finals at the Garden with Dolan, congratulated the team on his Truth Social platform.

“What a year it has been but, even more so, what incredible playoff wins we have all witnessed, especially the last four — maybe the greatest in the history of basketball,” the president said.

Of Jaylen Brunson, Trump said, “A star is born.”

Coming off one of the worst losses in franchise history, the Spurs faced elimination for the third time this postseason in Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the New York Knicks. At the Frost Bank Center, the crowd was split almost 50/50 between Spurs fans and Knicks fans. Nonetheless, like all five games of this series, the Spurs got off to a hot start in the first quarter. Leading by 10 after the first, New York cut the deficit to five at halftime. The Spurs’ defense was at its best, and the only engine that was working for the Knicks was none other than their captain, Jalen Brunson. The Spurs outscored the Knicks in the third and took an eight-point lead into the fourth quarter. In other words, heartbreak for the Spurs was unfortunately on the horizon yet again. The Spurs’ offense stagnated, and shots stopped falling, while Brunson fueled the Knicks. The result: New York outscored the Spurs 29-18 in the quarter and captured their first title in 53 years. The Spurs suffered their first Finals series loss since 2013.

Dylan Harper led the way with 25 points (10-19 FG, 2-4 3PT), five rebounds, four assists, and a block. In the rookie’s first postseason, he averaged 14 points per game, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.7 assists on 51% shooting. Dylan elevated and averaged 18 points per game in the Finals, which is the most for a rookie guard since Magic Johnson in 1980. Safe to say, that’s some good company. Dylan left everything on the floor and was easily the Spurs’ second-best player in this series. The 20-year-old showed he belongs on this stage and deserves consideration for a starting spot next season.

Dylan fought through contact multiple times, including flicking a floater over Karl-Anthony Towns for a tough two.

This was ridiculous. Dylan somehow got this reverse layup to go while under the basket!

Dylan dished out four dimes, including this laser to a wide-open Keldon Johnson in the corner for three.

Dylan shows off the speed and glides past OG Anunoby for the layup off the glass.

HARP3R shows off the range by draining one of his two threes in the game.

The true meaning of leaving it all on the court: Dylan gets his own rebounds and puts it back up and in for two.

Victor Wembanyama dropped a double-double: 19 points and 14 rebounds to go along with five blocks and two assists. Wemby had his best game on the glass and his best game with blocks. However, he struggled from the field, and it showed late. A key storyline of this series has been Wemby’s endurance, but the way his minutes were managed throughout this series (especially Game 4) was arguably questionable. Nonetheless, Wemby said after the game that he was not ready to win a championship and that he made too many mistakes. He averaged 26 points per game, 11.2 rebounds, and 3.2 blocks in the Finals and 23.8 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks per game in his first playoff run. He joins Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Hakeem Olajuwon as the only players to average those numbers and reach the Finals. The 22-year-old’s self-awareness will have to make him explore his game even more this offseason.

Defense to offense. Like Spurs fans have seen all season, Vic rejects KAT on one end, and he finishes on the other end with a reverse jam!

Wemby blocked three Knicks’ shots in the first quarter alone, with two on KAT and one on Anunoby.

Vic stayed active on the glass and finished this putback slam with one hand!

Vic’s lone three came early in the second quarter. In terms of efficiency, his three-pointer is something he needs to continue working on this offseason.

Spurs’ ball movement results in a Wemby and-one slam! Mitchell Robinson would receive a flagrant 1 on this play for shoving a defenseless player.

Vic’s last highlight of the season: a running one-handed slam from the corner!

Julian Champagnie dropped 14 points (4-8 3PT), seven rebounds, an assist, and a steal. Julian knocked down four threes, but also had some costly turnovers. Nonetheless, he averaged 11 points per game, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.8 assists on 40% three-point-shooting in the Finals, and near similar numbers throughout his first playoff run. Julian from the beginning of the season till the end was the team’s best three-point shooter, and set multiple franchise records, including threes in a game (11), threes in a season, and threes in one postseason. He has a team option coming up this offseason, but it is more likely that the Spurs decline it and give him a long-term deal.

Devin Vassell dropped 12 points (5-8 FG), seven rebounds, two assists, two steals, and a block. Dev gave it his all on both ends of the court and was a playoff riser all postseason long. He averaged 12.8 points per game, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.8 assists on 53.7% shooting and 46.7% three-point shooting in the Finals. In his first postseason, he averaged similar numbers on less efficient shooting. Dev has earned the respect of all Spurs fans, and he will continue being a glue guy for this team next season.

Dev’s patented midrange beats the first half buzzer!

HUSTLE. Dev shows the relentlessness by not giving up on the play and swatting Anunoby’s three out of bounds!

Dev was a sniper from long range in this series, including this deep one in the fourth!

Some tough pills to swallow from this series: The average margin of victory was 4.0 points per game, it is the second smallest combined margin of victory for a winning team in the Finals (20), and most importantly, the Spurs led for 72% of the series and still lost in 5. Although it was a gut-wrenching way to end the season, Spurs fans need to take a step back and appreciate this team.

At the beginning of the season, this team was projected to barely crack 40 wins and make the play-in tournament (ESPN). This team completely overachieved and had several highlights from October to June. A 62-win season (most since 2016-17), two all-stars (De’Aaron Fox and Wemby), a 6th Man of the Year (KJ), the first-ever Unanimous Defensive Player of the Year (Wemby), an All-Rookie First Teamer (Dylan), an All-NBA First Teamer (Wemby), and a run to the NBA Finals in its first postseason run since 2018-19. Not to mention, they defeated the defending champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, in the Western Conference Finals. If that does not convince you of how well-suited this team is for the future, here is a quick reminder for all NBA fans: Dylan Harper is 20, Carter Bryant is 20, Stephon Castle is 21, Victor Wembanyama is 22. This loss will only fuel this team for the next season and for the seasons to come.

Finally, here are the full game highlights.

To all PtR readers, thanks for following and reading along throughout this entire rollercoaster season! October can’t come soon enough!

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It only took 53 years!

That’s how long Knicks fans have been waiting for this moment. Over a half-century later, New Yorkers are going bonkers over our Knickerbockers.

Cheers of excitement were heard across the five boroughs last night as our beloved home team earned the NBA championship title in a nail-biting 94-90 win against the San Antonio Spurs.

Even Timothée Chalamet, one of the most notable Knicks celebrity superfans who has been nominated for four Oscars but has yet to win one, couldn’t contain his excitement for last night’s historic win as he loudly shouted to cameras, “Way rather this than the Oscars, c’mon, baby! Knicks are champions, baby!”

The actor celebrated by jumping up and down with the winning team, holding up a mockup of The Post alongside Mikal Bridges on the court at Frost Bank Center.

If you’re still trying to wrap your head around this incredible New York City moment, The Post has a ton of commemorative items up for grabs in our store, including the real star of the show, our entire June 14, 2026, edition.

Don’t miss your chance to score an original print of the day’s issue featuring front and back covers of the boys in orange and blue celebrating their victory.

2026 Knicks Championship Final Edition

Let’s ride this high for as long as we can. The Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy is back in New York for the first time since 1973, and The Post has been there covering the entire wild ride. Take home a copy of our paper for the ultimate collector’s item.

But why stop there? This type of thing doesn’t happen every day… or even every decade. We’re offering these iconic covers in a variety of options.

They’re home!

The world champion New York Knicks were greeted by jubilant fans as they arrived at Westchester County Airport Sunday morning, just hours after snatching their first NBA title in 53 years.

Dozens of fans draped in Knicks gear and holding up banners and signs lined up outside the suburban airfield for a parade of players’ cars and SUVs to welcome the hoop heroes home – with guard Jordan Clarkson seen high-fiving fans from one vehicle’s window.

Knicks star Karl-Anthony Townes and legend Patrick Ewing waved to fans from other SUVs, as the crowd chanted, “Let’s go Knicks!”

It’s just the beginning, with celebrations throughout the New York Metropolitan Area and a heroes’ parade planned for Manhattan on Thursday.

The hometown hoopsters stunned the San Antonio Spurs with a 94-90 victory on their home court, taking the NBA Finals 4-1.

It was a tough scene for Spurs fans after their Game 5 loss to the Knicks Saturday night.

Tempers flared with one fan sporting a Dennis Rodman Spurs jersey. Video went viral of him trying to fight every Knicks fan in his immediate vicinity inside Moynihan Train Hall at Penn Station, shoving and chasing down multiple people while throwing a few punches before a police officer came over to try to calm him down.

Cops then escorted the fan away while Knicks fans taunted him.

This wasn’t the only scene of chaos following the conclusion of the NBA Finals, which the Knicks won 4-1 to clinch their first championship since 1973. Some celebratory scenes in New York after the championship-clinching Game 5 grew out of control, such as one where a school bus was set on fire in Times Square.

Following some other games during the NBA Finals, fans of both teams were being attacked. During Game 4 on Wednesday, a 17-year-old boy was beaten into a coma during a livestreamed brawl in Midtown, started by a man chanting “Spurs in 7.”

The boy was rushed to Bellevue Hospital, where he came out of the coma and was listed in critical but stable condition.

Another Spurs fan was attacked in New York after Game 3. Twenty-one people were taken into custody and several NYPD officers were injured following the Game 3 watch party at Bryant Park.

Fans were even seen chasing down a bus they believed was carrying the Spurs team. Things got so chaotic that several people, including players, longtime Knicks fan Ben Stiller, and others called for an end to the chaos.

Former San Antonio mayor Ron Nirenberg called for Spurs fans to be kind to Knicks fans before Game 5, even after the violent events.

Knicks Finals MVP Jalen Brunson couldn’t help but make a subtle dig at New York’s high cost of living while celebrating his latest victory in Texas early Sunday.

In his post-game interview, Brunson, 29, was reminded that his two big college championship victories were both won in Texas, leading one reporter to ask him what he has against the Lone Star State.

“I have nothing against Texas. I love Texas. I miss the Texas taxes,” Brunson joked.

Texas famously does not have individual income tax nor corporate income tax, a far cry from New York, which has tax rates between 4% to 10.9%.

Brunson had played for the Villanova Wildcats during their big 2016 and 2018 NCAA championship victories, with the games played in Houston and San Antonio, respectively.

He then played for the Dallas Mavericks after the 2018 NBA draft, spending four years in Texas.

Brunson, who was born in New Jersey and grew up in Illinois, is on a 4-year, $156.5 million contract with the Knicks.