New York Knicks win first NBA championship in 53 years
June 14, 2026
New York Knicks captain Jalen Brunson scored 45 points on Saturday night to lead his team back from a 16-point early game deficit and defeat the San Antonio Spurs by a score of 94-90 to win the coveted National Basketball Association (NBA) championship.
The game-five victory was the fourth comeback win in the Knicks 4-1 run in the best-of-seven series.
Hoisting the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy after the game, team owner James Dolan shouted, "I want to say something to New York. Hey New York! I'm sorry it took so long! But here we are… and hopefully it won't take that long again!"
"I don't know what I am feeling," a teary-eyed Brunson told reporters after the game. "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."
'Never-say-die' attitude characterized Knicks dogged determination to take championship
Voted the championship's most valuable player (MVP), Brunson, who averaged 32.6 points per game in the series, came up big in game 5, scoring 29 of his 45 points in the second half.
Team President Leon Rose praised the team's character and grit, "the never-say-die attitude" and calling their playoff run "incredible."
Saturday's road victory in San Antonio, Texas, was set up by the most dramatic comeback in NBA history the Wednesday prior at the Knick's home, Madison Square Garden — arguably one of the most storied venues in US professional sports — when the Knicks overcame a 29-point deficit to win 107-106 at the buzzer.
Knicks now among NBA elite with third championship
The championship is the first to be won by the Knicks (who incidentally won the first NBA game ever in 1946) since 1973 — 53 years ago — when they defeated the Los Angeles Lakers.
Saturday's victory puts the Knicks in elite company, making them one of just nine teams to have won at least three championships.
"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," said Knicks head coach Mike Brown. "New York is definitely one of the few that you could say that to in all three facets."
When the 1973 championship team landed at JFK Airport after their victory over LA, police braced for a "rabid" crowd of "hundreds" of people.
It is safe to say that this time, when the Knicks bring the first major professional sports championship (NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB) title back to the Big Apple in 14 years, crowds will be decidedly larger and definitely more rabid.
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Edited by: Roshni Majumdar