SAN ANTONIO — The New York Knicks are champions of the NBA once more, capturing the 2026 title after outlasting the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 in Game 5 to complete a long-awaited championship run.
With the victory, New York secured its third NBA crown and its first since 1973, finally ending more than five decades of frustration for one of basketball’s most iconic franchises.
The Knicks closed out the series in tense fashion, surviving a late Spurs push and sealing the win in the final seconds. Down 93-90 with 8.5 seconds left, San Antonio rookie Dylan Harper missed a crucial free throw and intentionally missed the second in a bid to create a rebound opportunity. New York came away with the possession, and OG Anunoby converted at the line to ice the result.
As the final horn sounded at Frost Bank Center, Knicks players rushed the court in celebration while fans wearing blue and orange erupted across the arena, marking a historic moment years in the making.
Head coach Mike Brown was visibly overwhelmed as he moved through the postgame chaos, while Knicks legend Patrick Ewing shared an emotional embrace with filmmaker Spike Lee courtside, symbolizing the franchise’s past meeting its present.
Inside the locker room, there was a brief but meaningful moment between Ewing and current star Karl-Anthony Towns, reflecting the passing of the torch across generations of Knicks basketball.
The Spurs, led by rookie superstar Victor Wembanyama, entered the Finals after a breakthrough playoff run that included a Western Conference title and a victory over defending champions Oklahoma City. However, they were unable to finish off a Knicks team that repeatedly erased deficits throughout the series.
New York’s championship journey was defined by resilience and comeback wins. The Knicks finished the postseason with a 16-3 record and a 13-game winning streak that stands among the longest in NBA playoff history.
Throughout the Finals, the Knicks consistently battled back from double-digit holes, including a dramatic 29-point comeback in Game 4 — the largest in Finals history — which shifted momentum firmly in their favor.
The franchise’s revival comes after decades of inconsistency following its early 1970s success. Years of coaching changes and roster turnover gave way to a new direction under team president Leon Rose, who built the current roster through strategic trades, draft assets, and key acquisitions.
Jalen Brunson emerged as the centerpiece of the rebuild, supported by impactful additions such as Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges, forming a core that finally delivered a championship.
After years of waiting, disappointment, and rebuilding, the Knicks have returned to the top of the league — and this time, they finished the story.
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