Brunson scores 45 points, earns Finals MVP in Knicks' championship win
Brunson's 45-point Game 5 performance secured the Knicks' first championship in 56 years.
Event / Sports
NBA Finals 2026
New York Knicks win 2026 NBA championship
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2026-08-16 to 2026-11-13 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 4 Jun, 09:31 UTC
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What happened
New York Knicks win NBA Finals against San Antonio Spurs 4-1
The New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals with a series score of 4-1. The final game ended 94-90 in favor of the Knicks.
Victor Wembanyama scores 19 points in NBA Finals Game 5
Victor Wembanyama, playing for the San Antonio Spurs in his first playoff season at age 22, scored 19 points in the final game of the NBA Finals, with only 3 points coming in the fourth quarter.
Jalen Brunson named NBA Finals MVP
Jalen Brunson, the point guard for the New York Knicks, was named the MVP of the NBA Finals.
New York Knicks win 2026 NBA championship, defeating San Antonio Spurs 4-1 in finals
The New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on June 13-14, 2026, winning the series 4-1. This is the Knicks' third NBA title and their first championship in 53 years since 1973. The Knicks won 13 consecutive playoff games before losing Game 3 of the Finals, demonstrating an exceptional playoff run that saw them lose only 3 of 15 games in the postseason starting from late April.
Victor Wembanyama finishes with 19 points in Finals Game 5 loss
Victor Wembanyama, the 22-year-old French star for the San Antonio Spurs, recorded 19 points, 14 rebounds, 2 assists, and 5 blocks in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. He scored only 3 points in the fourth quarter as the Spurs collapsed in the final minutes. In his first playoff appearance in his third NBA season, Wembanyama led the young Spurs to the Finals but fell short on the final stage against a more experienced Knicks team.
Pacôme Dadiet and Mohamed Diawara become eighth and ninth French NBA champions
Pacôme Dadiet and Mohamed Diawara, bench players for the New York Knicks who did not play in the Finals, became the eighth and ninth French players to win an NBA championship. They join Tony Parker (San Antonio 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014), Rodrigue Beaubois and Ian Mahinmi (Dallas 2011), Rony Turiaf (Miami 2012), Boris Diaw (San Antonio 2014), Axel Toupane (Milwaukee 2021), and Ousmane Dieng (Oklahoma 2025) in winning the Larry O'Brien trophy.
Victor Wembanyama states he was not ready to win championship
After the Finals loss, Victor Wembanyama stated in a post-game press conference that he was not prepared to win a championship. He acknowledged that while his team had intensity and effort, inexperience and making too many mistakes cost them the title. Wembanyama said "This is the greatest lesson of my life. I will learn more than ever." He expressed frustration that he would need to wait at least 100 more games before another possible Finals appearance.
Jalen Brunson scores 45 points, named NBA Finals MVP
Jalen Brunson, point guard for the New York Knicks, scored 45 points on 14-of-27 shooting in Game 5 of the NBA Finals and was named MVP of the Finals. Brunson, drafted 33rd overall in 2018, delivered a legendary performance to lead the Knicks to their championship. His father Rick Brunson played for the Knicks in their last Finals appearance in 1999.
Mike Brown returns to Finals as Knicks head coach, 27 years after Spurs assistant role
Mike Brown, hired as head coach of the New York Knicks in the offseason, won the NBA championship in his first season. Brown previously served as an assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs under Gregg Popovich during their Finals loss to the Knicks in 1999.
Jalen Brunson named 2026 NBA Finals MVP
Jalen Brunson was named the 2026 NBA Finals MVP after delivering an offensive masterclass throughout the series. Brunson, the Knicks' team captain, scored 45 points in the closeout Game 5, matching a rare statistical achievement in NBA Finals history since the 1976 merger.
Knicks set playoff records with highest point differential and most road wins
During the 2026 playoff run, the Knicks achieved the highest point differential in playoff history and set a new record for most road playoff wins. The team also recorded 13 consecutive playoff victories, the second-most in NBA history.
New York Knicks win 2026 NBA championship, defeating San Antonio Spurs 4-1
The New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs in five games to win the 2026 NBA championship, capturing their first title since 1973. The Knicks won Game 5 with a final score of 94-90 on Saturday night. This victory ended the longest championship drought in NBA history for the franchise.
Knicks overcome 29-point deficit in Game 4 for greatest NBA Finals comeback
In Game 4 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden, the Knicks rallied from a 29-point deficit to win 107-106 in what was recorded as the greatest comeback in NBA Finals history. The victory gave the Knicks a commanding 3-1 series lead.
Victor Wembanyama and San Antonio Spurs reach NBA Finals in first postseason of his career
Victor Wembanyama, the 7-foot-4 superstar, made his NBA Finals debut with the San Antonio Spurs in the 2026 Finals. The Spurs reached the Finals by defeating the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference. In Game 5, Wembanyama recorded 19 points, 14 rebounds, and 5 blocked shots.
Knicks complete dominant postseason with 16-3 record in playoffs
The Knicks finished the 2026 playoffs with a 16-3 record. They won 15 of their final 16 games during the postseason, including sweeping the Philadelphia 76ers and Cleveland Cavaliers. The Knicks had a point differential more than double that of the next-closest team.
Knicks' roster built around Jalen Brunson through unconventional acquisition strategy
The Knicks built their championship roster around point guard Jalen Brunson, who was acquired from the Dallas Mavericks where he had been a backup. During the 2024 offseason, the team traded five first-round draft picks for Mikal Bridges and dealt Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo for Karl-Anthony Towns. Only one regular rotation player, center Mitchell Robinson, was drafted by the Knicks.
Mike Brown wins first NBA championship as head coach with Knicks
Mike Brown won his first NBA championship as a head coach, leading the Knicks to the 2026 title. Brown took over as Knicks head coach after the team fired Tom Thibodeau and conducted a search for his successor.
Jalen Brunson scores 45 points in Game 5 NBA Finals clincher, sets Knicks Finals record
Jalen Brunson scored 45 points in the Knicks' championship-clinching victory, setting a Knicks record for points in a Finals game. The previous record was 38 points, set by Willis Reed in 1970. Brunson scored 13 consecutive points for New York in the fourth quarter.
Knicks overcome 16-point deficit in Game 5 of NBA Finals
The Knicks trailed by as many as 16 points in the first half of Game 5 but rallied to win the championship-clinching game. This was consistent with the Knicks' pattern throughout the Finals, where they faced first-quarter deficits of at least 10 points in every game and won all four games in the series despite being down by double digits.
New York Knicks win 2026 NBA championship, defeating San Antonio Spurs 94-90 in Game 5
The New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 in Game 5 of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 13, 2026, winning the series 4-1. This marked the Knicks' first NBA championship in 53 years, their third title in franchise history.
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2 alternative perspectives
O'Neal concedes to Barkley on Brunson's free agency outlook
O'Neal concedes to Barkley on Brunson contract evaluation after championship run.
Brunson scores 45, earns Finals MVP in Knicks' championship clinch
Brunson's 45-point Game 5 performance gave the Knicks their first championship in 56 years.
Chalamet, Knicks fans celebrate championship in San Antonio and New York
Chalamet attends Knicks celebrations; New York plans Canyon of Heroes parade.
Wembanyama records 19 points, 14 rebounds in Finals loss
Wembanyama scored 19 points and 14 rebounds in the Finals-clinching Game 5 loss, then did not shake hands with Knicks players.
Knicks capture first championship in 56 years, overcome historic deficit
Knicks defeat Spurs 4-1 to win first championship since 1970, with Brunson earning Finals MVP.
NYPD arrests protesters, responds to vandalism during Knicks championship celebrations
NYC police arrested protesters and responded to vandalism during Knicks championship celebrations.
Knicks win first championship in 53 years, defeat Spurs
Knicks win first championship in 56 years, with Brunson scoring 45 in clinching Game 5 victory.
Brunson scores 45 as Knicks capture first championship in 56 years
Brunson's 45-point performance powers Knicks to first championship since 1970.
Knicks capture first championship in 56 years, defeat Spurs 4-1
Knicks defeat Spurs 4-1 to win first championship since 1970, with Brunson named Finals MVP.
Wembanyama's Finals debut ignites Spurs' championship pursuit
Wembanyama delivered impactful Finals performances in his first postseason run with the Spurs.
Knicks clinch first championship in 56 years, defeat Spurs
Knicks defeat Spurs 94-90 in Game 5 to win first championship since 1970.