The New York Knicks are NBA champions for the first time in more than five decades.
Jalen Brunson poured in a game-high 45 points as the Knicks rallied past the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 on Saturday night to clinch the NBA Finals in five games, ending the franchise’s 53-year championship drought and sparking celebrations across New York City’s five boroughs.
The title, New York’s first since 1973, capped a remarkable postseason defined by resilience. The Knicks erased double-digit deficits in all four of their Finals victories, completing another comeback after trailing by as many as 16 points in the title-clinching Game 5.
“I’m in awe,” an emotional Brunson said during the on-court celebration.
“Whenever someone counted us out, we found a way to come back and do something about it.”
Brunson’s dominant performance earned him NBA Finals Most Valuable Player honors as chants of “MVP” echoed from a large contingent of traveling Knicks fans inside the arena.
British-Nigerian forward O.G. Anunoby said the championship was the reward for months of perseverance.
“It’s grueling, it’s a long season, a lot of challenges presented, lots required of you,” Anunoby said after the victory. “Having to carry that approach every night is obviously the difficulty in winning a championship… we found another way to get another really tough win.”
San Antonio seized control early, building a double-digit lead in the opening quarter before New York gradually fought its way back. Brunson ignited the comeback in the second period, helping trim a 16-point deficit to just five by halftime.
The Spurs threatened to pull away again after the break. Victor Wembanyama finished a fast-break dunk early in the third quarter as San Antonio restored a 12-point advantage, while rookie Dylan Harper continued his impressive night with a timely three-pointer on his way to 25 points off the bench.
But New York once again found another gear.
The Knicks tied the game with just under five minutes remaining before taking their first lead of the night with 3:40 left. They never surrendered the advantage, completing yet another comeback to finish a dominant playoff run in which they lost only three postseason games.
Wembanyama finished with 19 points, 14 rebounds and five blocked shots for a young Spurs team whose run to the Finals exceeded expectations.
“This is the biggest lesson of my life, the biggest learning moment,” the 22-year-old French-Congolese center said after the game.
“I can’t tell exactly what the lesson is, but we’re learning from that for sure.”
For generations of Knicks supporters, the final buzzer marked the end of decades of frustration. Watch parties erupted across New York as fans poured into the streets dressed in the team’s signature blue and orange to celebrate the long-awaited championship.
Anunoby said the title carried special significance both personally and for a fan base that had waited more than half a century to celebrate another championship.
“This second championship feels special,” he said. “It’s particularly significant for New York, as they hadn’t won in 53 years.”
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani joined the celebrations shortly after the victory.
“HISTORY,” Mamdani wrote on X, while announcing that the Knicks’ championship parade will take place on Thursday.
After more than five decades of heartbreak, the Knicks have finally returned to the summit of the NBA, delivering one of the most memorable championships in franchise history and giving their loyal supporters a title they had waited generations to witness.