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!”
The Knicks radio announcers reacting to the final moments of Game 5, as Dylan Harper misses both free throws, OG Anunoby splits the clutch free throws, and the New York Knicks win a championship for the first time in 53 years pic.twitter.com/IiGdlUNXKG
OG Anunoby #8 of the New York Knicks smiles after winning the NBA Finals 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. NBAE via Getty Images
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.
Knicks radio play-by-play voice Tyler Murray (second from l.) and analyst Monica McNutt (second from r.) Instagram/ESPN New York
“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.
KLAIPEDA, LITHUANIA - NOVEMBER 30: Luigi Suigo of Italy looks on during the FIBA World Cup Group D Qualifier between Lithuania and Italy at Svyturio Arena on November 30, 2025 in Klaipeda, Lithuania. (Photo by Rokas Lukosevicius/FIBA via Getty Images) | FIBA via Getty Images
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
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.
"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."
The NCAA alleged that Madlock and his three teammates took part in a FaceTime call the morning of the game with one of the two known sports bettors involved. It said the players agreed to throw the game and received $2,000 for doing so. The NCAA said in its release announcing the punishment that Madlock had informed the bettor that he was injured and wasn’t going to play that night.
"I’m a little pissed off, honestly," Madlock said to the Commercial Appeal. "It’s like, how could I fix a game I’m not playing in?"
Madlock said he had never spoken to the NCAA over the course of its investigation. The NCAA said Madlock had declined to participate in an interview with enforcement staff. Madlock told the Commercial Appeal that the NCAA had initially sent him an email to an address he no longer uses before reaching out to his father, then-Alabama State head coach and current Memphis associate head coach Tony Madlock, who forwarded the email to Alabama State’s athletic director and compliance director.
Madlock, who had no eligibility remaining after the 2024-25 season, said if he had known the consequences of not agreeing to an interview, he "would’ve 100% talked to them and told them my side."
Madlock has hired sports attorney Don Jackson, who has been in communication with NCAA enforcement staff and will be formalizing a demand for a retraction. Jackson told the Commercial Appeal he will also make direct contact with the NCAA’s general counsel and the head of the Committee on Infractions.
"If it’s not corrected, (Madlock is) going to have no alternative other than to pursue legal action against the NCAA and selected individuals that were involved," Jackson said to the Commercial Appeal.
As a senior in 2024-25, Madlock averaged 13.1 points and 5.9 rebounds per game for an Alabama State team that won the first NCAA tournament game in program history, a 70-68 victory against Saint Francis in the First Four. He played professionally last season in Germany, where he averaged eight points per game.
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.
“This man has become the greatest Knick of all time.” @KendrickPerkins after Jalen Brunson dropped 45 points to lead the Knicks to an NBA Finals victory pic.twitter.com/eVtKE3KN8Y
Jalen Brunson was crowned NBA Finals MVP after his stunning performance in Game 5. Getty Images
“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.
Kendrick Perkins was full of praise for Brunson after his legendary Game 5. ESPN
“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 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.”
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.”
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.
James Dolan lifts the Larry O’Brien trophy as the Knicks celebrate winning the NBA championship on June 13, 2026. Jason Szenes for the New York PostJames Dolan (r.) is interviewed by ESPN’s Ernie Johnson (l.) during the Knicks’ trophy ceremony on June 13, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
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.
Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson were all smiles after winning their first rings. NBAE via Getty Images
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.
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.
The Empire State building was lit with blue and orange to honor the Knicks’ historic win. Getty Images
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.
Knicks fans react on 28th St. in Manhattan, Saturday, June 13, 2026 to Knicks winning the NBA Championship. Robert Mecea for New York Post
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.”
Fans watch game 5 of the NBA Finals between the NY Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs at the Heineken Riverdeck at Pier 17 Knicks Watch Party on Saturday, June 13, 2026 in New York City. Michael Nagle for NY Post
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.
Jun 13, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper (2) shoots past New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (8) in the second half during game five of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images | Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
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.
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!
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.
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!
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!
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.
BUY NOW $15.00
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.
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.
Knicks star Jordan Clarkson was greeted to raucous cheers at the team arrived back from their historic win. X/@notmoosenbaNew York Knicks coach Mike Brown greets fans as they return home from victory. X/@notmoosenbaThe Knicks clinched the title in Game 5 Saturday in San Antonio.
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!”
Josh Hart taking a selfie on the plane with Jalen Brunson and the Larry O’Brien trophy. Instagram/@jhartBrunson and Karl-Anthony Towns arriving In New York with the trophy. Instagram/@showcase718A beaming Mike Brown getting off the team’s plane in Westchester. Instagram/@showcase718Sochan taking a selfie with Jordan Clarkson in his car. Instagram/@jeremysochanA throng of Knicks fans greeting Jordan Clarkson and the rest of the team. X/@notmoosenbaMikal Bridges riding by the Knicks faithful. X/@notmoosenba
The hometown hoopsters stunned the San Antonio Spurs with a 94-90 victory on their home court, taking the NBA Finals 4-1.
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.
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) June 14, 2026
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.
A Spurs fan tries to fight Knicks fans inside Moynihan Train Hall at Penn Station after the Knicks’ NBA championship win on June 13, 2026. Instagram/diaper_man_officialCops escort the Spurs fan away on June 13, 2026. Instagram/diaper_man_official
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.
Jalen Brunson speaks with the media after the Knicks clinched an NBA championship. NBABrunson raises the trophy and celebrates with his teammates after defeating the Michigan Wolverines during the 2018 NCAA Men’s Final Four National Championship game at the Alamodome on April 2, 2018, in San Antonio, Texas. NCAA Photos via Getty ImagesBrunson poses for a portrait after winning Game Five of the 2026 NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs NBAE via Getty Images
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.
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - JUNE 13: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 celebrates with the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy after the victory against the San Antonio Spurs in Game Five of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center on June 13, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As Jamal Murray’s shot clanked off the rim and the final seconds on the clock expired, the ball fell to Karl-Anthony Towns, who looked down at his own hand in amazement at what he and his Minnesota Timberwolves team had just done.
For the first time in exactly 20 years, the Timberwolves were headed to the Western Conference Finals after defeating the defending champion Denver Nuggets in Game 7, coming back from 20 points down in the second half, with Towns leading the Timberwolves in scoring.
As KAT went from the visitors’ locker room at Ball Arena to the postgame press conference podium, he walked side-by-side with longtime Timberwolves reporter and Minnesotan Jon Krawczynski, who reminded Towns to take a beat and soak in everything that had just been accomplished.
Towns and Krawczynski, both pillars of the Timberwolves community, had seen it all: countless losing seasons, a carousel of coaches and general managers, a disastrous year with Jimmy Butler that saw Towns’s name sullied in the eyes of many, and, worst of all, a COVID pandemic and the loss of Towns’ beloved mother Jacqueline.
On the court, there were moments of immaturity as the growing process wasn’t always linear. Towns started as one of the “Timberpups,” and grew into the role of Timberwolves franchise player. He eventually became a multi-time All-NBA player who had just taken the Wolves to a place that only Kevin Garnett had before.
The feeling for KAT that night in Denver was one of validation. All the hard work he had put in, everything he had been through personally and on the court with the Timberwolves organization, had been worth it. Not only was the franchise that drafted Towns nine years earlier finding success, but they were doing it with him and because of him.
Everything in KAT’s Timberwolves tenure to that point led to that moment. Through all the turmoil during his nine seasons in Minnesota, Towns, like Andy Dufresne, had crawled through a river of sewage and come out clean on the other side.
“How much more we gotta lose?” Towns said in the most KAT way possible after the game about his team, “We’ve been losing for 20 years.”
That magical night in Denver may have been the first time Towns ended a team’s decades-long drought, but it would not be the last. On Saturday night in San Antonio, the New York Knicks, with Towns at center, became NBA champions for the first time in 53 years.
The Knicks and Towns stormed through the 2026 NBA Playoffs on their way to the title. New York finished with a 16-3 record in the playoffs, including nine straight road wins while clinching all four series away from Madison Square Garden. Among NBA champions, this Knicks team set the record for best Net Rating in a single postseason, outpacing the 2001 Los Angeles Lakers and the 2017 Golden State Warriors.
KAT himself finished with an NBA record plus/minus of +262 during the playoff run, finishing ahead of Steph Curry in 2017 (+246), Draymond Green in 2017 (+229), his teammate Jalen Brunson (+224), and Kobe Bryant in 2001 (+213).
The feeling again has to be validation for Towns, and this time, maybe even vindication.
Karl proved all of his doubters incorrect. People said he was soft, that he didn’t work hard enough, and that he didn’t have enough basketball IQ. They said KAT wouldn’t be able to control the “stray voltage” on the biggest stage, that he’d be unwilling to play as a team’s #2, or that he didn’t have the defensive ability to lead a quality defense at the center position.
All of it wrong.
“You work your whole life for this moment,” Towns said to ABC’s Ernie Johnson with the Larry O’Brien trophy in his hands. “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, I kept putting my left foot in front of my right foot.”
The trade that sent KAT from the Timberwolves to the Knicks was nuanced and will surely be debated in Minnesota for years to come. It was brought on in large part by the NBA’s then-new second apron, which punished teams for being a certain level above the luxury tax threshold, as the Wolves were in the summer of 2024.
While the success or failure of the trade for the Wolves is still up in the air, what is clear is that Towns still has an immense respect for the Timberwolves organization, his former teammates, including Anthony Edwards, and all the people of Minnesota.
KAT: "Shoutout to my brother Anthony Edwards talking to him all the time. Those guys made me better, they made me a better leader, they made me a better player, made me the man I am today. Forever grateful for them" pic.twitter.com/dux6qydTdG
The journey for Towns to get to this point was a long one. It started when the Wolves selected a 19-year-old kid out of the University of Kentucky, and it was filled with every manner of obstacles, difficulties, and loss. Through it all, Karl came out of it a better player and a better person.
“Y’all know my story, you’ve heard my story,” Towns said. “I just want to say, thank you, Momma, I appreciate you getting me one.”
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - JUNE 13: New York Knicks owner James Dolan is interviewed by Ernie Johnson Jr. after his team's victory against the San Antonio Spurs in Game Five of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center on June 13, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
— sports live tweeter yadira (@jonmoxIeys) June 14, 2026
Mike Brown
On Jalen Brunson being a true No. 1 star:
“I hope you guys will listen to me, he is a top-three MVP candidate. Everybody kind of mentions his name in passing, they don’t do it seriously enough — people say he’s too small, people say he’s a 1B or a 2B or whatever, he is a freaking 1A. I hope tonight you guys, and I’m talking to the media more than the fans, but I hope you guys recognize what this man is all about because he is A1 MVP — he is him.”
On Jalen Brunson being the face of New York basketball:
“He comes, and he probably takes a pay cut that I wouldn’t have taken, every time they would have thrown that number in front of me would have said no, and I feel like I’m a good guy.”
On the significance of the Knicks franchise:
“There are a couple of franchises that are pretty iconic just because of the history that they have, the location that they’re in, sometimes even the building that they’re in. New York is definitely one of the few that you could say that to in all three facets. Everybody goes through their ups and downs. I don’t really think much about the tough times [the Knicks] had because everybody has tough times, including individuals. You just want to try the best you can to be a part of whatever you can to bring joy to the city, to the organization. I feel blessed, fortunate, lucky, to be a part of what is going on now.”
On bringing a title to New York:
“It’s just a heck of a win. To have these fans that we have in New York City, and to bring home a championship to them after all of these years, it’s just an absolutely amazing. It’s surreal – I don’t know how long it’s been since that final buzzer, but I still don’t believe it. I’m pinching myself, I’m telling myself to try to be present, and all of the stuff I tell my guys every day because I still just can’t believe it.”
On his staff, players, and the Knicks organization:
“My staff, they carried me all year. Our players are fantastic – they’ve been ready from Day 1, and it’s not just our top-five, but 1 through 18 they have been ready from Day 1 of the season. You saw it we called on different guys at different times and every time they stepped up – I love my players, I love the organization, but most importantly Let’s Go New York, we can’t wait to get home and celebrate.”
“It’s everything I dreamed of. It’s why I came to New York.”
On the Knicks’ late-game identity:
“For some reason I feel like the game for us starts for us 30 minutes later than it’s supposed to. We don’t show up at 8:30. We show up at 9 p.m.”
On winning the title:
“It’s everything I dreamed of. This is why I picked New York.”
On his emotions after the championship:
“Holy s—. I’ve got no words. Everything I ever dreamed of. I don’t know what I’m feeling. I’m in awe, I don’t know. Whenever someone counted us out, we found a way to come back and do something about it.”
On where his confidence comes from:
“My confidence comes from my work ethic. Every time I had the ball, all I could think about was all the hours I put in the summer… into making this a reality. So whenever I got the ball, I just thought about me being alone in the gym.”
On finding a way to win:
“We’re going to find a way, whatever you put in front of us, we’re going to find a way. I don’t know what I’m feeling.”
On becoming a champion:
“I got no words. Everything I ever dreamed of. I don’t know what I’m feeling.”
On winning Finals MVP:
“It was definitely more emotional than I thought it would be. Once I got on stage and everything, it started to settle, but it’s everything I dreamed of, seriously. I woke up this morning not wanting to play another game. At some point, I knew I was going to win [an NBA Championship]. The opportunity presented itself, and I didn’t want it to slip away.”
On the journey to a championship:
“Words can’t describe it. I put a lot of time and effort into being the best player I can be, and I’m just really thankful to have a coaching staff and teammates who have my back every day. At the final buzzer, I walked right to half court, shook Mitch Johnson’s hand, and turned around. My dad was there, and I felt emotions from that point on. But it still hasn’t sunk in. I honestly don’t know right now. I’m just thankful for the opportunity, and we were able to get it done. Through hard work and effort, I knew this was achievable, but it was only a small portion of it. Tonight, we played like we wanted to finish the game as champions. It means the world to me to go on the court with those guys.”
On his reaction to the championship:
“I got no words. It’s everything I’ve dreamt of. I don’t know what I’m feeling. I’m just like… I’m in awe. I don’t know. Whenever someone counts us out, we find a way to come back and do something about it.”
On his preparation and work ethic:
“My confidence comes from my work ethic. Every time I got the ball, all I could think about is all the hours in the summer. For every summer I had, since I ever could remember, making this a reality. Whenever I had the ball, I’m just thinking about just me alone in the gym.”
On the Knicks’ resilience:
“We’re going to find a way. Whatever you put in front of us, we’re going to find a way. It doesn’t matter. It does not matter whatsoever. We’re going to find a way every single time we step on this court. Every f–king time. Every time.”
On the “1A” haters:
“I didn’t respond to them then and I’m damn sure not going to respond to them now.”
On winning all of his NBA and college titles in Texas:
“I have nothing against Texas. I love Texas. I miss the Texas taxes.”
On his mentality:
“I’m just never afraid to fail.”
On what it took to win the championship and score 45 points:
“Everything.”
On finishing the job in Game 5:
“Tonight, we played like we wanted to go home champions, to finish the game. Not to start the game, to finish the game.”
On winning a championship:
“Words can’t describe it. I put a lot of time and effort into trying to be the best player I can be to try and help a team win. Just really thankful to have the organization, the coaching staff, my teammates, to have my back every single day.”
On playing through injury after yet another dirty Victor Wembanyama play:
“I’m hurting right now, I’m not going to lie to you. I’m hurting right now, but like i said before, the opportunity presented itself. Whatever you gotta do.”
On when he knew Jalen Brunson would become a star:
“I knew through college, but I really knew when he signed (with the Knicks). I knew what he was going to do, especially in the league we play in. Him having the ball and being able to be ball dominant … his efficiency is out of the roof. I knew what he was going to be able to do with the ball in his hands here, more than what he was able to do in Dallas.”
On the five-pick trade and the haters:
“You talking about f–-k them picks. Very grateful. F–-k ’em. Through the times I’ve been struggling, fans said things about me, I want to always be better. Keep pushing me. I appreciate the tough love.”
On Knicks fans pushing him to improve:
“Given all of the times I’ve been struggling and our fans are on me, I want to always be better – so however they feel I always want to be better. I just hope that I’m still here and they just keep that edge and keep pushing me. If they strongly believe we have a chance every year and they strong believe they need me to be better I’m already thinking that – I appreciate the tough love, I know some fans might be crazier than others, but the ones that truly care, they just want me to be better so don’t stop now.”
"This is home. I had a lot of instability in my career. This city really embraced me."
“We don’t really talk about it, but the weight of that jersey. The expectations, the pressure of that jersey. Right now, it’s the lightest it’s ever felt.”
On Mike Brown’s impact on the Knicks:
“Mike was invaluable to this run. He knows what it is to be a champion. He knows how to build a team, how to build habits that will put you in this position. We’re so grateful to have him at the top. He kept us even at so many times. He brought the best out of us. He’s the reason why we’re here.”
On the Knicks’ togetherness:
“Oh, man, it’s been invaluable. I think you can look at the play (in Game 4), I missed the layup . . . I miss, and we come down and foul Wemby. I think I fouled him or KAT fouled him or whatever [Anunoby fouled him], and I ended up on the ground. I was frustrated and kind of down on myself. You see JB, KAT, Jose run up to me and pick me up. You see Landry [Shamet] on the bench yelling at me to get up and those kinds of things.
“When you have a team that has that kind of togetherness in the most adverse situations, that breeds championship habits and a championship team. I feel like we can go down the line of every guy in that locker room that has had moments like that during the season, and everyone has been there to pick each other up. When you have a team that can do that, no matter what happens in a game, you feel like you can get through it.”
On staying even through highs and lows:
“In an 82-game season, especially in New York, you know, there’s going to be mountains and valleys. If we win three or four in a row, you know, you’re the best team in the league. If you lose three or four in a row, everybody is on the trade block. We know that and that’s why during the course of a season, you try to stay even and you try to continue to build those habits, championship habits, that put you in that position at the end of the year.
“And that’s what you focus on. Sometimes it’s not about the result; it’s about the process. You know, every game, every second, every practice of the season, it led us to this point.”
On finally finding a home in New York:
“I had so much instability, traded, different coaches, and I found a home in New York and they embraced me. This city is built on toughness, grit, blue-collar people, and I feel like I’m the same person. They can look in the mirror and they can see [me].”
On the Nova Knicks:
“Those are my brothers for life. We have a bond that’ll never be broken. We won a championship together in college, but this one obviously takes the cake. We’ve been built for this moment. We’ve all been forged in the fire … Coach [Jay] Wright helped us be cut from a different cloth. No matter the moment, it’s never too big for us.”
"I just feel like whenever we're down, that's when the game started."
“Shout-out to everybody who told him he couldn’t do it because it gave him fuel for the fire. I think I speak for me and OG when I say it’s been an honor to be brought to this team to amplify him.”
On his father:
“He’s been everything to me. He taught me the game of basketball.”
On bringing the Larry O’Brien Trophy to the Dominican Republic:
“Hell yeah, I’m bringing the trophy over there!”
On Jalen Brunson leaving Gatorade at the podium:
“You know JB’s happy, he left the Gatorade up here!”
On the Knicks’ unity:
“I talk about our unity, our connectivity. We just continue to believe in each other and believe in our team, our game plan. Whatever needs to be adjusted in the game, us as players will always talk it out, and we’re willing to have those conversations that are difficult. We’re willing to keep each other accountable.
“Regardless of what happens, we know, like I said, we all we got and we all we need, and it’s more than enough to have a chance to win every single night. I know a lot of people talk about it. I know you’ve heard a ton of people come up on this mic and say the same thing, but I hope our team shows the world that we truly mean it. Even though last year we didn’t get the job done, that unity and that connectivity and that continuity has always shown itself.
“I think that last game is just another example of us talking about how connected we are together and how much we truly do have love for each other as teammates, as a team, as brothers, as a family. Only brothers would keep each other going, especially in the game where it was last game. Because of that family, family stays close. When things got really bad, we got closer. We didn’t start fading away from each other.”
On feeling the presence of his late mother and the support of Jordyn Woods:
“Her presence is always felt in my life. You always pray you’re going to pick the right woman for you and I know I did in my fiancé. I damn sure know now with that bag, that bag held it down. Shout-out to Woods by Jordyn.
It’s crazy, when she passed, there was so much turmoil in my life. Funny enough, my fiancé was the one, who was a friend at the time, was the only person I got to call before I had to go out there and say bye to her at the hospital. Me and her have a real bond that goes deeper than just physical features and everything like that. We’ve got a true friendship that was built from the ground up.
I remember just always asking her if this was going to be my last time seeing her in the physical, let me feel her spirit at all times. In moments of true pressure and a lot of things going on, I always feel this calming come to me and it’s always her. It’s just great to always feel her arms around me and always to feel her love in my life, in so many different ways.
It’s a testament. I haven’t felt love from a woman like that until I met my fiancé. It really means a lot that, in a way – without sounding weird – Jackie Jr. was able to be here celebrating this moment with me.
It’s amazing. It’s truly a humbling feeling when you know you have walked the path. I stayed faithful. In every decision that I was supposed to make, I made the right one. Feels good to be at this moment.
“Y’all heard my story, y’all know my story. I just want to say: Thank you Mama, I appreciate you getting me one.”
On finally winning a championship:
“You work your whole life for this moment. As they always said with this team, it is written for New York.”
"You know what's crazy? Yesterday at the hotel I caught a snake"
Mitchell Robinson says that he's caught a snake twice during the playoffs, and both times the Knicks have won the series🤔
On bringing the monster truck to the championship parade:
“I just got asked to put my truck in it so I’m gonna be really excited.”
On Jalen Brunson’s Game 5 performance:
“It was unreal.”
On snakes being the Knicks’ lucky charm:
“You know what’s crazy? Yesterday at the hotel I caught a snake. I think it’s something about snakes.”
On finally winning a title with the Knicks:
“I’ve seen the recipe being made. I’ve been here when we’ve won 17 games, when we’ve won 60 games, and to finally be able to get it done in 2026, it’s been amazing.”
On his offensive rebounding and his late effort:
“That’s just something I always do. I trust my guys that they are going to make them, but I’m just going crash anyway – luckily I did and came up with a big rebound.
“Grabbed it, kicked it out and they fouled us again, so we got a chance to shoot two more and I almost got it again, so I’m just going to continue to do that.”
“I thought when we acquired him if he averaged 20 points and six assists it would be good. I thought like other people, in a playoff scenario where you get guys 6-[foot]-6 and 6-7 on him, he would have trouble scoring. But he found a way, against all these guys.”
On Brunson’s place in Knicks history:
“He’s got to be considered one of the greatest Knicks ever. He’s been magnificent the whole playoffs and all season. … Clutch, he’s Mr. Clutch. He comes up with the big baskets. He was the only guy scoring at one time for the Knicks. That kept them in the game.”
On Brunson changing perceptions of small guards:
“Brunson has definitely changed the mindset of that thinking, a guy 6-foot-2 can’t lead a team to a championship.”
On watching the championship run:
“I was living through the eyes of Jalen, saying ‘Wow, I used to be doing that out there on the court.’ I’m sure those guys [from our last championship team] are watching tonight, and they’re very proud of the team like I am.”
On what the title means for the New York Knicks:
“It’s a magnificent night for the fan base and the franchise.”
“Fourth time is the charm. ’99, I did the same thing I did tonight, just sit and watch and cheer. I take my hat (off) to the team, take my hat off to Jalen. He did an outstanding job with putting us on his back and being able to bring a championship back to New York.”
On what the championship means for New York and the Knicks:
“It means everything to the city. It was a magical run, all the things they were able to accomplish.”
On Karl-Anthony Towns:
“This guy right here, this is my guy, right here.”
"At some point, I knew I was going to win [an NBA Championship]."
“I want to give him some credit. I want to give, you know, obviously what you said about Brunson, I said, it’s the greatest free agent signing in NBA history, but also he took so much criticism for guys when he took a hundred million dollars less so they could go out and get other players. He deserved like, hey, listen, a hundred million dollars is a lot of money, but he wanted them to go out and get him some help, and they went on and got him some help, and they are the World Champs.”
“It’s over! It’s over! Knick fans, this is not a dream! Your long, long wait is ended. Go ahead and cry: after 53 years, the Knicks are finally NBA Champions once again!”
“I don’t even know how to put it in words because I damn sure didn’t play. I didn’t practice like these guys did, they did it. But it’s been 53 long years, and there’s been so many moments of misery that we had to endure as New York Knick fans. And to be here tonight, I gotta confess until this series I never thought it’d happen.
“So many things have gone wrong: The layups that wasn’t with Charles Smith, the [Patrick] Ewings finger rolls, the Game 7s they didn’t come out on top. Time after time after time… And to be in attendance witnessing the end of a 53-year drought as born in The Bronx, raised in Hollis, Queens, New York City. I’ve been a New York fan all my life, I never thought I’d see it.
“I don’t even know what to say. I can’t put into words how this feels. It’s the best feeling I’ve ever had in my life covering sports. I’ve never had a feeling like this. It’s unbelievable.”
On why the Knicks ‘saved’ the NBA:
“Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks saved the NBA with this championship. Stay with me. If the Spurs win the championship, the entire NBA is evolving its scheme around how do you knock off the alien, the 7-foot-5 alien from France. How do you do it?
“Well, guess what? Now that a 6-1 guard, who’s not the most athletic above the rim dude — that ain’t his game, just savvy, brilliant as a basketball savant, footwork extraordinaire — that guy at 6-foot-1 led this team. And in a close-out Game 5 drops 45 on a Spurs defense that was pretty elite. That’s what they did.”
"As happy as I've ever felt. It's pretty amazing."
Ben Stiller is filled with joy after the Knicks become champs for the first time in 53 years ❤️ pic.twitter.com/FKPZgJRCe7
