Category: Basketball

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Knicks Fans Deserve This

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 14: New York Knicks fans climb on buses as they celebrate after they win the NBA Finals in Times Square on June 14, 2026 in New York City. The New York Knicks lead the San Antonio Spurs 3-1 and could win the franchise's first NBA championship since 1973 if they win tonight.(Photo by Adam Gray/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Your New York Knicks are the 2026 NBA champions. Full stop.

And hey, it was very obvious from the moment the final buzzer sounded inside that sad-for-the-hosts arena in San Antonio, that the thing that mattered the most to everybody in New York City was going outside. Going mad outside.

There will be two banners. There will be a proper parade. There will surely be a whole lot of summer to review and replay and comment on Jalen Brunson’s historic 45-point Game 5 masterpiece.

Now, though? Now it’s the New Yorkers who stuck around for 53 years who are getting all the spotlight they too deserve.

You know why? Cause before Game 5 tipped off on Saturday evening, the Knicks were -500 to win the series on FanDuel. That’s cool! But you know what and why, too? The damn oddsmakers had the Knicks as the underdogs at +172 to close it out in San Antonio, as 5.5-point underdogs. To hell with that, fam.

New York beat the San Antonio Spurs 94-90, finishing the Finals in five games and ending a five-decade-plus championship drought. Brunson won Finals MVP after scoring 45 points in the clincher. The damn Knicks did it again and came back from a 16-point deficit on the road, in a closeout game. What’s not to love!?

The NBA showed Knicks fans celebrating in Central Park as the title became a reality.

SNY posted a video showing a damn pack of Knicks fans celebrating in unison the first title most of them have ever witnessed.

Nets fans might not be many. After seeing this, however, it’s unclear if the franchise will relocate again, and not just from New Jersey to Brooklyn…

Right after the game and during Josh Hart’s presser, James Dolan briefly interrupted the Knickerbocker to send a message to the New York masses. “Stay safe out there,” he said. Good luck with that! (But stay safe out there, fam)

ABC7NY captured fans celebrating after Game 5, with New York City finally getting to release everything that had been eating them since 1973.

Breaking911 posted the Times Square scene, which looked like every Knicks fan in the city had agreed to meet in the same spot to lose their minds collectively.

NBC Sports went bigger, posting every borough going crazy after the Knicks’ championship.

CBS wasn’t lucky avoiding F-bombs, with a fan out of her mind making it clear what she was feeling, and the reporter nearly collapsing live in reaction to the best statement ever.

Acyn shared aerial footage of New Yorkers celebrating on fire escapes, balconies, and pretty much every available surface.

Another Acyn clip showed CNN footage of traffic stopping, fans getting out of cars, climbing on roofs, and partying in the streets.

Speaking of CNN, God bless their on-location reporter after he was slowly but surely devoured by a ravenous Knicks crowd.

WFAN posted fireworks going off in the streets, because what’s a Knicks celebration without fans gambling on their physical integrity?

Want a classic? Your light-pole climbers didn’t lose any time going for it.

Want some hope as a hapless New York Jets or New York Mets fan, as I am? The Knicks’ victory might already be breeding a new generation of banana/football/baseball throwers!

And finally, as a Euro myself, I couldn’t drop a tear listening to the most-used title song on the continent blaring inside Radio City Music Hall.

I wouldn’t blame if you don’t read this or anything we post for the next two days or all the way until the parade takes place on Thursday.

Go outside. Join your fellow Knicks fans. Turn stupid. Y’all deserve anything and everything that is happening right now.

Your damn New York Knicks are the 2026 NBA champions.

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Knicks win NBA Finals, and Karl-Anthony Towns is a champion

Jun 13, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) celebrates with his teammates after the Knicks defeat the San Antonio Spurs during game five of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images | Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

The NBA Finals have officially wrapped up, and the New York Knicks are NBA champions once again.

After a 53-year drought, and a total of 19,312 days since the Knicks last hoisted the trophy, they can do it now. The city that never sleeps will certainly not rest after this historic playoff run. With only three losses and two series sweeps, the NBA has crowned them champions, and for the third time in four years, a former Kentucky Wildcat will add a ring to their finger and an NBA title to their personal biography

This year, following Jamal Murray in 2023, and Cason Wallace and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in 2025, Karl-Anthony Towns is officially an NBA champion. Towns averaged 13 PPG, 10.6 RPG, and played a huge role in slowing down what seemed to be an unstoppable force in Victor Wembanyama.

After the finish that nobody wants to speak of at Kentucky, KAT is finally able to get at least a little bit of the monkey off his back and is now a champion.

During the postgame celebration with Ernie Johnson, Towns had some words to share with the world about the Knicks’ big-time accomplishment.

“You know, you work your whole life for this moment. Throughout my career, I’ve seen myself fall down, people tell me to stay down, and I got back up. Even when I was in the mud, and I kept putting my left foot in front of my right foot. I kept trusting God, I kept trusting my faith, I kept trusting the work.” Towns shared with TNT’s Ernie Johnson.

KAT also shared on ESPN during postgame coverage, “It is written. This was written for New York, and we went and got it done today, and it’s because of all the brothers here, all the fans — Y’all heard my story, y’all know my story, and I just want to say, Thank you, Momma, I appreciate you getting me one.”

Check out the postgame clip below.

Karl-Anthony Towns has always been a fan favorite for Kentucky fans. He played for one of the most loved teams in program history, the 2014-2015 Kentucky Wildcats, which nearly had the greatest season any team has ever had at the college level. Towns has always had that infectious smile and endless joy that always seem to make people love him.

Towns tragically lost his mother in 2020 due to complications of COVID-19, which was very hard on their family and loved ones and still is. So, it was only right that on the big stage on this night, he would bring up his late mother and mention her at the peak of his playing career.

From being traded away from the team that drafted him No. 1 in 2015, to an NBA champion, it’s quite the roller coaster ride. Hats off to you, NBA champion, Karl-Anthony Towns!

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Cavs final report card: Thomas Bryant

CLEVELAND, OHIO - MARCH 27: Thomas Bryant #3 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts during the second quarter against the Miami Heat at Rocket Arena on March 27, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Thomas Bryant, fresh off a trip to the NBA Finals with Indiana, was meant to provide additional depth to the Cleveland Cavaliers frontcourt. He fell just short of that goal, but the underlying issue might have been outside of his control.

All grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.

Regular Season Stats

  • 6.2 points
  • 3.4 rebounds
  • 0.6 assists
  • 50.6% FG
  • 35.9% 3PT FG
  • 80.3% FT

Bryant’s fit in Cleveland seemed straightforward. He’s a 6’9” center who plays with strength and physicality. He can also space the floor, knocking down 34% of his career three-point attempts. Bryant should have fit nicely with either Evan Mobley or Jarrett Allen.

This didn’t translate to the real world. Bryant mostly clogged things up offensively and his lack of defensive mobility was jarring when placed on a Cavalier team that wasn’t equipped to defend around him. Cleveland was in the 36th percentile for defensive rating when Bryant was alone at center (no Mobley or Allen).

Bryant can be a passable defender when he’s on a team that’s loaded full of versatile and switchable wings. A defense that can contain the perimeter and limit dribble penetration is one that Bryant can slot into as a big who protects the paint. Cleveland was missing that all season. Their point-of-attack defense was shoddy, at best. Often leaving Bryant stuck in space, trying to cover gaps that are outside of his pay range.

Then on offense, a dynamic game plan that’s predicated on ball movement is the type of system that Bryant fits in. Indiana exemplified this. The Cavs did not. Especially in the back half of the season, when stationary spacing became their motto. That style doesn’t work with Bryant.

For this, I think we can conclude that Bryant’s fit in Cleveland was never as good as it might have looked on paper. The Cavs, in my opinion, need to find an athletic forward who can create plays off the dribble to pair with either Mobley or Allen. That’s to say, Bryant’s archetype is not the one this team was missing. I think that context is important when evaluating a role player who underwhelmed.

Bryant’s best moments came when his three-point shot was falling, or when he was stirring the crowd into a frenzy by celebrating like a maniac whenever anything remotely positive happened. His energy was infectious, and you can’t say the man didn’t care about winning. He played every game with an intensity that was unfortunately not always matched by his teammates, particularly in the first half of the season.

Grade: C+

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YouTube Gold: How Good Was Earl Monroe?

MILWAUKEE - 1970: Jon McGlocklin #14 of Milwaukee Bucks and Earl Monroe #33 of New York Knicks reach for the ball during a game circa 1970 at the MECCA Arena in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1970 NBAE (Photo by Vernon Biever/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

With the New York Knicks having won the 2026 NBA championship Saturday night, it’s a good time to look back at one of the great stars from the last Knicks teams to win a championship, Earl “the Pearl” Monroe.

Monroe played college basketball for Clarence “Bighouse” Gaines at Winston-Salem State in the early 1960s, in the waning days of segregation. Wake Forest assistant coach Billy Packer, despite being warned not to, went over to Whitaker Gymnasium, and Winston-Salem Memorial Coliseum (now Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum) when Monroe began drawing bigger crowds. He found Monroe mesmerizing.

Monroe was then drafted by the Baltimore Bullets in 1967, where he became a sensation. However, they traded him to the Knicks in 1971, and in 1973, the Knicks won their second NBA title, with the first having come in 1970.

Monroe dazzled the league with what for his day was an astonishing bag of tricks. He may look somewhat dated now, but he was a brilliant force for the Knicks.

He played for New York until he retired in 1980.

He was an extraordinary talent, and more so because he played for his entire career with significant arthritis in his knees. Monroe has had dozens of surgeries, and the last time we saw him make a public appearance, he was using forearm crutches.

This video asks how good was he? Well, as you’ll see, he was brilliant.

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Mock Draft Dive: Is Joshua Jefferson a ready-now power forward option?

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - MARCH 13: Forward Joshua Jefferson #5 of the Iowa State Cyclones lays the ball up against Ivan Kharchenkov #8 of the Arizona Wildcats in the first half during the semifinals of the Big 12 Tournament at T-Mobile Center on March 13, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Welcome back to the third edition of the Mock Draft Dive, where we’re looking at who draft pundits predict the Celtics to take in the upcoming draft. 

We are less than two weeks out from the draft, and with Giannis rumors swirling and the Finals close to their conclusion, everything feels up in the air. Do the Celtics even stand pat at No. 27? It’s a divisive question, and one we’ve pretty much experienced on an annual basis since Brad Stevens took over team-building decision-making.  

But what’s a mock draft dive without a pick to talk about? Let’s just all embrace the hypothetical for now. First we looked at the prospects of selecting Karim Lopez (which is seeming more unlikely with each passing week), then Arizona’s Koa Peat (that still feels possible). Now, we turn to the faux-front office decision of selecting Iowa State’s Joshua Jefferson based on a mock from Sam Vecenie of The Athletic. 

Here’s what Sam had to say about the selection: 

“Jefferson’s basketball IQ is exceptionally high, something that would play well in Boston under Joe Mazzulla’s scheme, where quick decision-making is critical. He defends well and makes fast decisions on that end, plus he passes exceedingly well. His range is seen as somewhere from the 20s into the early second round.”

-Sam Vecenie

As far as non-lottery prospects go, Jefferson was pretty high up there for one of my favorite scouting reports to build. And dogonnit (I’m not allowed to swear on the blog, but imagine I’m swearing), the fit makes a good deal of sense. 

A passing maestro with a well-rounded game, what Jefferson lacks in top-tier athletic traits he makes up for with a high IQ and an unselfish play style. At 22 years old and with 130 college games under his belt, Jefferson closed his second season at Iowa State averaging 16 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists on the way to All-American and All-Big 12 honors. 

The Iowa State star’s passing is the obvious focal point of his game, translating into his post-ups, off-the-dribble kickouts and transition outlets. His touch is impeccable, and his vision among the very best in this class, if not the best in the class. 

I wish I could properly explain just how instinctual his playmaking is. Arguably the most entertaining thing about watching Jefferson no-look a pass to a cutter is not actually the play itself, but what comes immediately after: the opponent’s sluggish reaction. 

Watch a highlight reel and count how many times you see a group of defenders crowding the paint physically melt into their shoes as they stare at an uncontested layup that snuck right past them. 

Imagine thinking you have all the bases covered. Everyone’s communicating, shifting to the ball, closing off passing lanes. Maybe you send help on the ball to ramp up pressure as the shot clock dwindles. Yeah, maybe they get a shot off, but it won’t be a good one, and then, in less than a second, the ball hits Jefferson’s hands and is instantly re-routed into unaccounted space. 

How defeating. 

As the central figure to head coach T.J. Otzelberger’s offense, Jefferson made the lives of his teammates so much easier. There are great post passers out there, there are forwards that can run a delay action and hit cutters from the top of the arc, and there are fast break kick-starters that can push the ball ahead. Jefferson did all of that, all the time, in every game I watched. 

For the Celtics specifically, I’m imagining that passing impact coming as a short-roll threat, something the Celtics lost a bit of after their free agency overhaul last summer. 

The Celtics aren’t just looking for a playmaking forward though. It’s Jefferson’s calling card, but what about the rest of his offense? 

As a shooter, he’s clearly been putting in the work to grow that part of his game, and his confidence doesn’t appear to be a significant issue, but there are big questions about how much of a threat he is as an outside shooter. 

Jefferson attempted 110 3-pointers this past season after just 147 attempts across his first three years in college, and he was just okay. He shot 34.5% from deep, largely coming out of pick-and-pops. Those are the threes you want to see Jefferson look comfortable shooting. 

If he can pick-and-pop, and a defense has to respect it, that only makes things easier when he’s looking to keep the ball moving. 

But the shot has to be respected. And at the moment, I can’t imagine a defense putting too much attention towards a hard closeout. 

Beyond his outside shooting, Jefferson loves to get into a post-up, but the way he sets up shop actually makes it a more reasonable transition into the NBA game, even if it’s not something you’d see a ton of as his usage and volume gets significantly cut down.

He’s not a “take it on the block and clear out” kind of player. He’s capable of working his way into the paint with a live dribble, and he’s generally quick to make a decision of attacking through the defender with intent to score or pushing the ball back out to a shooter. 

On defense, Jefferson is a good rebounder and a capable shot-blocker, but his lack of vertical pop certainly hurts his chances of being a high-level rim protector. 

A lot of his best interior defense came in help situations, finishing the play by swooping in for a swat attempt. Tasked with defending a back-down big, he’s probably not going to deter too many rim attempts. 

Iowa State often utilized him as a help defender, taking advantage of non-shooters left in the corner, but in pick-and-roll coverages, it was a lot of hedges and drops, both of which he was adept at without giving up advantages. While he doesn’t play too high above the ground, he does move his feet well when dropping back. 

He anticipates passes well when roaming, and is a disciplined straight-up shot-contestor, so he should be at the very least a serviceable power forward option, but it does pose an interesting question of how he fits in Boston on that end. 

In their current form, the Celtics preferred Neemias Queta to be the roamer protecting the rim, and in an ideal world, a switchable power forward would take the brunt of the interior ball-stopping to buy time for Queta to provide shot-blocking reinforcements. 

Jefferson is sort of like if the versatility of Kyle Anderson was placed in a more traditional power forward form. He has one elite skill in his playmaking, a few quality skills in his post scoring and help defense, and some question marks in his outside shooting and athletic makeup. 

One of the draft’s older prospects, he offers a high floor for early rotation opportunities, which works for the Celtics if they’re opting for an “improve on the fringes” offseason philosophy. 

Consider me on-board with the pick if that’s the route they ultimately go.  

Where do you stand on Jefferson as a possible Celtics selection?

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The US sporting triumph that is overshadowing the World Cup

Fans in New York celebrate on top of a school bus
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.

New York prepares for Knicks celebrations

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.

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Chaos on streets of New York after Knicks’ NBA title

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.

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.

“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 in San Antonio
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.

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Jalen Brunson earns NBA Finals MVP as Knicks win championship

SAN ANTONIO, TX - JUNE 13: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks is awarded the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award after the game against the San Antonio Spurs during Game Five of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 13, 2026 at Frost Bank Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant /NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The New York Knicks entered the NBA Finals looking to complete a postseason run that had already turned into one of the most dominant stretches in franchise history, with the ’Bockers winning 13 games in a row before just losing one of their final four.

The Knicks put all haters to bed on Saturday night by finishing the job smoothly, defeating the young-and-naive San Antonio Spurs 94-90 in Game 5 to secure the franchise’s first championship since 1973.

It was a damn struggle for most of the outing, but nobody should have been surprised at that point. The Knicks fell behind early, trailed by as many as 16 points in the first half, and as the boys always do, they rallied late to snatch the dub.

At the center of that comeback was (surprise, surprise…) Jalen Brunson, who delivered the defining performance of the series and, perhaps, of his whole career.

Brunson dropped 45 points on the Spurs’ foreheads in the clincher, shooting 14-of-27 from the field and 13-of-15 from the free-throw line while adding three rebounds, three assists, and an overall +10 plus/minus.

JB was also the man tasked with igniting the final push, scoring 15 points in the fourth quarter to help the Knicks erase a late deficit and clinch their first title in 53 long years.

“I got no words. Everything I ever dreamed of,” Brunson said right after the final buzzer. “I don’t know what I’m feeling.”

The performance capped a Finals in which Brunson averaged 32.6 points, 4.6 assists, and 4.2 rebounds, leading to his unanimous selection as NBA Finals MVP.

“It’s everything I dreamed of,” Brunson said. “This is why I picked New York.”

Brunson received all 11 media votes following the Game 5 victory, and he became just the second Knicks player in history to win Finals MVP, joining Willis Reed, who earned both awards from the ’70s chips.

Brunson’s Game 5 effort also placed him in rare historical air, as he became just the fourth player to score 45 or more points in a title-clinching game, matching Michael Jordan and being only surpassed by Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bob Pettit, who both dropped 50-burgers.

“Whenever someone counted us out, we found a way to come back and do something about it,” Brunson said. “We’re going to find a way, whatever you put in front of us.”

Brunson, who signed with New York in 2022, has now led the franchise from a perennial rebuilding into a bona fide championship contender, making two trips to the conference semis, one to the conference finals, and finally leading them to the promised land this summer.

The Knicks’ victory ended a 53-year title drought, and we can only thank Captain Cluth.

Shout-out, Jalen Brunson.

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What Victor Wembanyama and Spurs can learn from Knicks after NBA Finals disappointment

An image collage containing 1 images, Image 1 shows Victor Wembanyama reacts dejectly after a play during the Spurs' 94-90 NBA season-ending Game 5 loss to the Knicks on June 13, 2026 in San Antonio

Now’s not their time. 

But it’s just a matter of time.  

Victor Wembanyama sprinted onto the championship stage earlier than anyone anticipated, showing the basketball world that it’ll soon be in his 7-foot-4 shadow. 

But the Spurs came up short in the NBA Finals against the Knicks, a team of destiny who brought a long-suffering fanbase joy with their first championship in 53 years. The Knicks wanted it more. They deeply knew the rarity of this opportunity.

The Spurs are next. Not right now. 

Their youth showed at the end of games. Their inexperience was their kryptonite. In a series in which the five games were decided by an average of four points, the little moments had monumental importance.

The Knicks won them, punctuated by a 94-90 win in Game 5. The Spurs led by as many as 16 points, but the Knicks came roaring back. The same old broken record played in crunch time, with the Spurs unraveling and the Knicks showing a lethal combination of poise and impeccable execution. De’Aaron Fox committed a bad foul and Wembanyama and Dylan Harper missed free throws. Jalen Brunson soared with a 45-point performance.  

The Spurs could learn a lot from the Knicks. 

The Knicks never met a deficit that scared them. They had the pressure of a famished fanbase putting their hopes and dreams on their every possession. They never got too high or too low. They were steady. Unyielding. 

Wembanyama tried to be a student in real time.

In his playoff debut, he carried the Spurs within three wins of a championship. There were jaw-dropping moments. There were cringe-worthy mistakes. 

We saw Wembanyama explode for 41 points, 24 rebounds and three blocked shots in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals against the Thunder. We saw him cry tears of joy after sending the reigning champions home in Game 7. We heard him acknowledge that he let the emotions of that series linger a bit too long, carrying them into the championship round. 

We witnessed him emerge as the Knicks fans’ latest villain. We saw the pain on his face after he committed a turnover with 12.7 seconds left in the Spurs’ 105-104 loss in Game 2. We saw his shock after the Spurs gave up a 29-point lead to allow the Knicks to complete the greatest comeback in Finals history in their 107-106 win in Game 4. 

Victor Wembanyama reacts dejectly after a play during the Spurs’ 94-90 NBA season-ending Game 5 loss to the Knicks on June 13, 2026 in San Antonio. Scott Wachter-Imagn Images

We saw his devastation that the Spurs lost even though they led for 177 minutes, while the Knicks were only ahead for 56 minutes. 

Ultimately, the Spurs let games slip through their fingers like grains of sand, while the Knicks clenched their fists with all their might. 

“This is the biggest lesson of my life, biggest learning moment,” said Wembanyama, who had 19 points, 14 rebounds and five blocked shots. 

Wembanyama is smart. He’s thoughtful. He’s deep. He’s going to internalize this. At one point, he referred to the Spurs as “spoiled kids” for arriving on this stage so quickly. His raw talent and work ethic are undeniable. But there are often other important ingredients needed for a superstar to carry a team to a championship, such as heartache and failure. 

A dejected Victor Wembanyama talks to the media after the Spurs’ season-ending loss to the Knicks in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. AP
The Post’s front page on June 14, 2026: “CHAMPS!”

He should study Brunson. 

The King of New York felt the devastation of falling to the Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals last postseason. In that series, Brunson was too often on the wrong end of Tyrese Haliburton’s last-second heroics. Brunson made sure that this time around, he was the one inflicting the pain. 

Bruson was sharpened by disappointment. 

Wembanyama will be too. 

“What I’m pissed about is that there’s probably a hundred games before we can be back in the Finals,” Wembanyama said. “I don’t know how to say it in English, but I’m going to have to hold that inside of me and slow down and wait and execute for a hundred games.”

The 22-year-old wants to be the face of the league. He needs to win a championship to accomplish that. We saw why he’s the Defensive Player of the Year in Game 5. He held the Knicks to just six points in the paint in the first half before they finished with 30, a far cry from the 50 they had in Game 1. 

But all of his efforts seemingly were never enough against the Knicks. This series came down to the minutiae. It was won by centimeters. 

The Knicks anticipated that. The Spurs were slapped in the face by that. 

Wembanyama is going to be haunted by throwing the ball off Stephon Castle’s back in the final seconds of Game 2. Fox is going to forever regret going for a layup in Game 4 instead of running out the clock. 

“We absolutely dominated for most of the series,” Wembanyama said. “But our errors, our mistakes, are punished so hard that we can’t have ups and downs like this.”

Ultimately, the Knicks were too tough. They came through in the clutch. They committed fewer errors. 

Wembanyama got his so-called PhD in this series with New York acting as his professor. 

This wasn’t just the Finals. It was the Finals against the Knicks. Against a fanbase that lives and breathes blue and orange. Against an underdog team that was playing as though this was their only chance at this. 

The lights couldn’t have been brighter. President Donald Trump attended a game. Taylor Swift and Timothee Chalamet danced in the hallways at Madison Square Garden after Game 4. The whole world was watching. 

The Spurs weren’t ready for it all. 

They were so close. 

Yet so far. 

In the end, the Knicks were the ones popping champagne. They were the ones with tears of joy welling in their eyes. They were the ones on top of the world. 

Meanwhile, the Spurs were left with crushing disappointment. 

With nothing but painful lessons. 

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Knicks end 53-year wait for NBA Championship

New York Knicks players holding the NBA Championship trophy
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 shoots
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."