NBA 2025/2026 Champion, New York Knicks End 53-Year Wait

JAKARTA - The New York Knicks ended a 53-year wait to win their third NBA title in history after defeating the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 in the fifth game of the 2025/2026 season final.

The Knicks secured the victory in the best-of-seven series with a final score of 4-1. On their way to winning the title this season, they even managed to bounce back from a two-digit point deficit in four of their wins to lift the trophy again since the last time they won it in 1973.

The Knicks, who previously recorded the biggest comeback in NBA finals history by turning around a 29-point deficit in the fourth game, were again in a difficult position when they were 16 points behind in the second quarter and 10 points at the start of the fourth quarter of the fifth game which took place at the Spurs headquarters, Frost Bank Center, on Sunday, June 14, 2026.

Jalen Brunson, who was eventually named the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP), was the driving force behind the Knicks' resurgence by scoring 45 points, including 15 points in the last quarter.

"I don't have words. This is everything I dreamed of. I'm so impressed. This is the reason I came to New York," Brunson told ESPN after the game.

Brunson's 45 points was a record for the most points a Knicks player scored in a finals game, surpassing Willis Reed's record of 38 points in 1970. He also became the fourth player in history to score at least 45 points in a game that secured the championship title.

The Knicks were still down 10 points with less than eight minutes left when Brunson scored 10 straight points to tie it at 83-83.

He then scored an important point more than a minute before the end of the game to give the Knicks a 90-88 lead. Josh Hart and OG Anunoby then added four points through free throws.

"Every time someone doubts us, we always find a way to get up and do something. Whatever is in front of us, we will find a way every time we play on this field," said Brunson.

On the other hand, even though Victor Wembanyama failed to make a three-point shot for the Spurs, Stephon Castle's dunk made the Spurs come closer with a score of 92-90 when the game time was left only 16 seconds.

However, a free throw from Mikal Bridges and Anunoby, among two missed free throws by Dylan Harper for the Spurs, finally secured the Knicks' historic victory.

Bridges and Hart - Brunson's teammates when he played at Villanova University - contributed a total of 27 points, with Bridges scoring 14 points and Hart recording 13 points and 11 rebounds.

Harper became the Spurs' top scorer off the bench with 25 points, while Wembanyama recorded 19 points, 14 rebounds, and five blocks.

Spurs became the first team in history to lead five finals games by at least 10 points in the first quarter.

"We're not ready. I'm not ready to win the championship ring. That's for sure. We don't lack talent or ability, but we make too many mistakes. I make too many mistakes," said Wembanyama.

Wembanyama, who is the NBA's Most Improved Player of the Year, committed a turnover and foul on Brunson in the final 10 seconds of the second game as the Knicks stole the win 105-104. However, he scored 32 points which helped the Spurs win the third game with a score of 115-111.

"This is the biggest lesson of my life, the biggest learning moment. It hurts, but I'm not going to run away from that reality. As a team, there's no better experience than what we've just experienced," said Wembanyama.