For the first time in 53 years the New York Knicks are NBA Champions. After a 27-year NBA Finals appearance drought the Knicks end that as well.
For years the punchline used in the NBA was that the Knicks are going to win it this year, but in 2026 the line has come true. 94-90 win over a franchise that has appeared in the NBA Finals more than any other franchise since 2000.
In the biggest moments and on the biggest stage, Jalen Brunson rose to the occasion. Brunson scored 45 points in a Finals clinching night.
The story of the night and arguably the series was the pacing by the Knicks.
In both comeback victories by the Knicks, they went down by 15+ points. In game 4 we saw the Knicks go down by 29 before roaring back for the win.
In Game 5 the Knicks did the same but with less dramatic. Staying close enough to make a run later in the game. The Knicks looked like they were focused on preserving their energy and depth to the second half.
As we’ve all noticed early into the series was the difference in depth for both teams. The Knicks overall veteran team with a solid veteran bench was huge in this series.
By pacing the game, the Spurs would be tired while the Knicks were fresh. The Spurs would end up making mistakes that allowed the Knicks to creep back into the game.
Ultimately, the Spurs strategy to play up tempo backfired.
Coach Mack Brown called an excellent game plan that fit a veteran team. While the future of the NBA is on the roster in San Antonio, the veteran roster in New York was the difference.
Brown, the first head coach for LeBron James has gone through a lot to get to the top. When he first brought a team to the NBA Finals many years ago, he had brought with him the future face of the NBA. Brown would suffer a sweeping loss to the San Antonio Spurs. A team loaded with future NBA Hall of Famers and one he coached back in 2003 when he was an assistant on the championship Spurs.
Now, years later after bouncing around the league at four different stops, Brown is finally able to call himself a NBA Championship head coach.
