Category: NBA

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.

City officials revealed new details Sunday about what could be the biggest parade in Big Apple history — the ticker-tape extravaganza for the NBA champion Knicks.

The hometown hoopster heroes will get a much-deserved victory parade up the Canyon of Heroes on Thursday morning after winning the finals against the San Antonio Spurs in five games.

It was the team’s first title since 1973.

“It will be a tremendous turnout,” predicted a retired NYPD supervisor who worked the mind-blowing New York Rangers and Yankees parades after they won national titles in the 1990s.

“Don’t forget, the Knicks have no competition” when it comes to the team’s famed legion of diehard longtime basketball fans, the source said.

“The Yankees had the Mets. The Giants had the Jets. The Rangers had the Devils and the Islanders – everyone is a Knick fan.”

The parade will kick off at Battery Park at 10 a.m. and proceed north on Broadway — a k a the Canyon of Heroes — and wind up at City Hall for a celebration hosted by the mayor.

One wrinkle is that some state high-school Regents exams appear to be scheduled the same day, which means many teen Knicks fans could be forced to be indoors taking their exams rather than cheering on their beloved championship team in the once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Big Apple ticker-tape parades have historically been reserved for the biggest celebrations in the city, from the World War II victory parades to New York Yankees’ World Series wins.

Now it’s the Knicks turn.

“I think I’ll take the day off to go,” lifelong Knicks fan Andy Yu said of the upcoming parade. “I’ll just scream my lungs out during the parade when the bus [of players] goes past and seeing the trophy in person. It will be pretty special.”

Queens resident Victor Abreau said he’ll also play hooky.

“I’m calling out from work,” he said. “We are going to the parade, and we’re going to enjoy watching our city finally be part of the world championship. New York is finally back on top.”

Officials have not said how many are people expected to attend, but the largest estimated crowd for past parades was nearly 5 million for the 1991 welcome celebration for returning Gulf War troops.

Other Big Apple parades — including for the Apollo 11 astronauts in 1969, astronaut John Glenn in 1962, Gen. Douglas MacArthur after his dismissal by Harry Truman in 1951 and Charles Lindbergh in 1927 after his famed flight — drew around 4 million people a pop. 

A second veteran police source told The Post that there shouldn’t be the kind of unruly mobs at the parade like the ones that rocked the city after Saturday’s win.

“Parades are normally not subject to riots because they are early in the morning before people have a chance to drink,” the source said. “The problems come on the night the teams clinch, after several hours partying and the teams just won.

“However, in the world of social media, who knows what will happen Thursday.”

Mayor Zohran Mamdani told The Post on Sunday that the Knicks’ clinching the title Saturday “was incredible,”

“I mean, it’s hard to believe it was real, but it’s beautify to wake up to know, yes, it was, and we’re the champions,” he said.

Hizzoner said more details about the parade will be released in the next few days.

“What does the Knicks win mean for New York? It’s a time of celebration. I have joined the fever,’’ said Archbishop of New York Ronald Hicks.

“I watched all the games, especially [Saturday] night until the very end, and was celebrating with everyone,” Hicks said. “Way to go Knicks!”

Knicks radio voice Tyler Murray delivered as the clock ran out and the Knicks clinched their first NBA championship in 53 years.

As the clock ran out in Game 5 and the Knicks sealed the 94-90 win for their third championship in franchise history, Murray gave a rousing radio call.

“It’s happening, Knicks fans! It’s happening! It’s been 53 years, but for this moment, it was well worth the wait. A playoff run that will go down in history and a team that will live forever. Next stop, the Canyon of Heroes! The New York Knicks are NBA champions!”

Murray became the radio voice of the Knicks last season after spending two years with the Worcester Red Sox, the Triple-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. He became the 13th former full-time PawSox/WooSox broadcaster currently working in MLB, the NFL and the NBA.

Before his time in Worcester, Murray was the lead broadcaster for the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, the Double-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, for six years. He began his broadcasting career with the Daytona Cubs in 2012 after graduating from Boston University in 2011.

In just his second season in the Knicks booth, Murray called an incredible run to the championship that captivated the city. After being hired by MSG Networks, Murray shared his emotions surrounding his new role.

“I’ve dreamed of calling Knicks games for as long as I can remember, so my family and I couldn’t be more excited,” Murray said.

“It’s an honor to join MSG Networks, and to represent everyone who has lifted me up along the way.”

His fulfilled dream just got that much sweeter with a championship call. The Knicks will make their next stop at the Canyon of Heroes for their championship parade Thursday.

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."

Add it to the trophy cabinet.

After leading his Knicks to an NBA championship and being crowned Finals MVP, Jalen Brunson has received yet another accolade: being called the “greatest Knick of all-time” by Kendrick Perkins.

The ESPN analyst and former NBA big man, who won a championship with the Celtics in 2008, has been a longtime fan of the Knicks guard and even coined his “Big Body Brunson” nickname.

And after the Knicks’ Game 5 clincher, Perkins took a moment to praise the 29-year-old superstar.

“This man has become the greatest Knick of all time. Yes, I said it,” Perkins said on SportsCenter, placing Brunson ahead of the likes of Patrick Ewing and Willis Reed.

“He will never spend another dime on another meal, another drink, I don’t know if he’s even gonna have to pay his mortgage in the city of New York.

“This is Mr. New York. He is the new Derek Jeter of this generation.”

Brunson averaged 32.6 points per game in the series, and saved his best performance for last as he scored 45 in San Antonio to will the Knicks to another comeback win.

While Brunson joined an exclusive list of Finals MVPs on Saturday, Perkins has been a longtime admirer of the former Maverick, who first joined New York on a four-year, $104 million deal.

The former Celtic sparred with ex-WNBA star Becky Hammon in 2023, when she declared that the Knicks did not have a “1A” dude and that Brunson was too small.

“They do have that dude,” Perkins fired back. “Jalen Brunson.”

Perkins was emphatically proven right throughout this postseason, and especially on Saturday night, and don’t expect his victory lap to end any time soon.

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.

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

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!

New York Post may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you click or buy through our links. Featured pricing is subject to change.

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.