The New York Knicks are NBA champions. They defeated the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 in Game 5 on June 13, ending a 53-year title drought that stretched back to 1973. Jalen Brunson authored the defining performance, scoring 45 points to earn the Bill Russell Trophy as Finals MVP.
Brunson received the trophy to a roar from Knicks fans in attendance, tears streaming down his face. Standing next to his father, Rick, he kept his words pointed.
“It’s everything we dreamed of. It’s why I came to New York,” Brunson said.
“Whatever you put in front of us, we’re going to find a way. Every time. Every time.”
ESPN‘s Mike Breen captured the weight of the moment on air: “Knick fans, this is not a dream. Your long, long wait has ended! Go ahead and cry. After 53 years, your Knicks are finally NBA champions once again!” He later called Brunson’s night “an absolute masterpiece” and said he “will be the king of New York for the rest of his life.”
ESPN‘s Mike Breen also noted Brunson’s mental edge: “His mental toughness is his superpower.”
How the Game Unfolded
The Spurs controlled the early going. San Antonio led 23-13 after the first quarter, holding the Knicks to 2-for-19 shooting from the field (10.5%). Victor Wembanyama was dominant in the paint from the opening tip, racking up 5 blocks in the first half alone and completely shutting off interior scoring lanes for New York.
At halftime, the Spurs held a 42-37 advantage. Both teams shot poorly — San Antonio at 34.1%, the Knicks at just 29.5%. Brunson had 16 points, the only Knick in double figures. Dylan Harper led the Spurs with 11 points, and Wembanyama was at 9 points, 9 rebounds, 5 blocks. San Antonio outscored New York 18-6 in the paint in the opening half.
The third quarter belonged to the Spurs. Julian Champagnie came out sharp, going 4-for-6 from three to finish with 14 points, pushing the lead back to double digits. San Antonio was up 72-65 after three quarters, though the Knicks closed the period on a 12-3 run after the Spurs managed just one basket over the final 2:51.
Karl-Anthony Towns fouled out with the game still in the balance, limiting the Knicks‘ spacing options late. The Spurs held an 80-71 lead with 8:51 remaining before New York went to work.
Jalen Brunson Finals MVP. Source: apnews.com. Edited photo
The Comeback
What followed was a 15-2 Knicks run. San Antonio missed nine of their last ten shots with the championship on the line. Brunson reached 40 points — the first Knick to score 40+ in a Finals game — tying the contest at 83 before New York seized control for good.
Mitchell Robinson pulled a critical offensive rebound off a missed Josh Hart free throw with the clock winding down, extending possession and stretching the lead to two possessions. OG Anunoby converted one of two at the line to push it to 92-88 with 21.6 seconds left. Mikal Bridges added one more at the stripe, and the Spurs — out of timeouts — couldn’t convert a final possession to extend the series.
Final: 94-90, Knicks.
San Antonio’s Night
Dylan Harper finished with 25 points and 5 rebounds, the standout performer for San Antonio and the most composed presence in their rotation all series. Averaging 16.3 points in the Finals after 11.8 during the regular season, the rookie showed a maturity well beyond his experience.
“We’ve got to win, no matter what it takes,” Harper said after the third quarter.
Wembanyama finished with 19 points, 14 rebounds, and 5 blocks — a commanding statistical line that ultimately wasn’t enough. Stephon Castle shot 1-for-10 for 6 points. De’Aaron Fox went 3-for-15 for 7 points. When the two primary guards go that cold, even Wembanyama‘s presence can’t compensate.
The Knicks’ Blueprint
This New York team won four games in the Finals, each one requiring a double-digit comeback. The Knicks shot just 32.4% from the field in Game 5 and still won. Their collective resilience, grounded in chemistry and trust, carried them through situations that would have buried less connected rosters.
The starting lineup that closed it out: Jalen Brunson (PG), Josh Hart (SG), Mikal Bridges (SF), OG Anunoby (PF), Karl-Anthony Towns (C). Each player knew his assignment and executed it without ego. Hart, the consummate role player, summed up the team’s mindset heading into Game 5.
“It takes humility and just a willingness to sacrifice,” Hart said. “We’re in the NBA Finals. There are millions of people watching. It’s easy to get wrapped up in human nature of wanting to get recognition, wanting to score the ball, wanting to show people what you can do on the biggest stage. That’s not everyone’s calling and not everyone’s assignment. I know for me, that’s not really my assignment.”
The 1973 Knicks featured five future Hall of Famers — Walt Frazier, Earl Monroe, Bill Bradley, Dave DeBusschere, and Willis Reed — and won on the strength of their ball movement and connectivity. This group carries a similar identity: Brunson is the engine, Anunoby and Bridges absorb defensive pressure, Towns and Hart hold the structure together. They are more than the sum of their parts, and now they’re champions to prove it.
Stay on TipsGG for continued coverage of the 2026 NBA Finals and the offseason moves that follow.
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