Good things come to those who wait—and wait a long time. The New York Knicks won their first NBA championship in 53 years on Saturday, pulling off another thrilling late comeback to beat the San Antonio Spurs.
Three days after taking a 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals with the biggest comeback in finals history at Madison Square Garden, the Knicks sealed the title on the road with another incredible display of resilience, stunning the Spurs at Frost Bank Center.
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The Spurs blew a 16-point lead and crumbled under pressure, missing a series of makeable shots, while their young superstar Victor Wembanyama struggled when it mattered most. Meanwhile, Knicks guard Jalen Brunson led his inconsistent team to glory with a dominant performance, scoring 45 points in a 94-90 victory.
“I don’t know what I’m feeling,” Brunson said after the game, fighting back tears. He was later named NBA Finals MVP. “I’m just in awe. I don’t know. Every time someone counted us out, we found a way to come back and do something about it.”
The Knicks had moved to the brink of the championship on Wednesday when they erased a 29-point Spurs lead with an astonishing second-half surge, capped by a soft game-winning tip-in from OG Anunoby with 1.2 seconds left. That 107-106 win tilted the series firmly in their favor, but San Antonio started strong in front of their home crowd on Saturday, only to let another big lead slip away.
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Knicks fans celebrate in Central Park after their team clinched the title. Photograph: Kena Betancur/AFP/Getty Images
“There aren’t really words to describe what these guys have done—the character, the fight, the grit, the never-say-die attitude,” team president Leon Rose said. “It’s incredible. Absolutely incredible, the run they’ve been on.”
This series earned its stellar ratings, including the biggest TV audience for a Game 4 since 1998. Stars shined on the court and in the stands—a host of famous names traveled to Texas for Saturday’s game, including Prince Harry. The series has been compelling and confusing, with close battles that at times looked anything but, as Mike Brown’s Knicks kept escaping from deep holes. Meanwhile, Mitch Johnson’s Spurs were at fault for failing to pull the escape rope out of reach.
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“Everybody knows we’re gonna do it,” Wembanyama told reporters on Friday. Expectant fans packed into bars and watch parties in New York disagreed, but the towering star backed up his words with action, at least early on. Yet as the night wore on, he seemed to tire—not for the first time in these finals. He had five blocks less than five minutes into the second quarter of a game that echoed earlier matchups: a fast Spurs start followed by a slowdown.
The Cleveland Cavaliers, who beat the Golden State Warriors in 2016, remain the only team to have come back from a 3-1 deficit in the finals. San Antonio’s problems seemed fixable: issues with game management due to inexperience and fatigue, rather than a lack of talent.
The Spurs held double-digit leads in all five games and jumped to an 18-8 advantage in the first quarter on Saturday, helped by repeated New York turnovers but mainly driven by a fierce intensity that left the visitors gasping for air and struggling to find a way past a tough defense. It was 23-13 at the end of the first quarter, with the Knicks shooting just 4 for 22 from the field.
The lead grew to 16 points midway through the second quarter before the momentum shifted. Although Karl-Anthony Towns was committing more fouls than scoring points—and would eventually foul out—a hot scoring streak from Brunson cut the lead to seven. Then came De’Aaron Fox, with his costly “dumbass play.”In Game 4, he was called for something clearly unwise: a flagrant foul for shoving Josh Hart, which led to a five-point possession for New York.
At halftime, the Spurs were only up by five points. That seemed like a slim lead, especially given how dominant they had been while New York struggled to score, and considering their history of fading late in games.
New York got little help from their bench, but the third quarter started off tight. Both teams traded baskets, and tensions rose. Brown and Brunson were furious that a landing-zone flagrant foul wasn’t called on Wembanyama after Brunson hit a three-pointer and landed awkwardly on his ankle from contact. This could have been a turning point in the series: Wembanyama already had three flagrant points against him before the game, so one more foul would have meant an automatic one-game suspension.
San Antonio built a 15-point lead deep into the third quarter, thanks to nine straight points from impressive 20-year-old rookie Dylan Harper, who finished with 25 points. But the Knicks quickly fought back and trailed by just seven points heading into the final period.
As Wembanyama struggled to control the game, Brunson nearly kept the Knicks in it by himself. The crowd grew tense, remembering the Spurs’ disastrous collapse in the previous game. And for good reason: Brunson’s brilliance tied the game with under five minutes left. He scored his 40th point on a layup, the visitors’ 10th straight point, and then gave his team the lead.
The Knicks held on as San Antonio grew desperate and sloppy, and they claimed their third title—their first since 1973. It proved that what matters most isn’t how you start, but how you finish.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about the Knicks NBA championship win written in a natural conversational tone with clear and concise answers
BeginnerLevel Questions
Q Did the Knicks really just win the NBA championship
A Yes The New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs to win their first NBA title since 1973
Q Who was the star player for the Knicks in the championship game
A Jalen Brunson was the star He played brilliantly and was a huge reason they won
Q How long had it been since the Knicks last won a championship
A It had been 51 years Their last title was in 1973
Q Is this the Knicks first championship ever
A No its their third championship overall They previously won in 1970 and 1973
IntermediateLevel Questions
Q How did Jalen Brunson perform in the final game
A He was outstanding putting up a highscoring game with key assists and clutch plays down the stretch He was the clear leader on the court
Q What was the final score of the championship game
A The exact score isnt mentioned but the Knicks won the series by defeating the Spurs in the decisive game
Q Who else played a big role for the Knicks besides Brunson
A While Brunson shined the supporting cast was crucial Players like Julius Randle and the teams defense stepped up to contain the Spurs offense
Q What does this win mean for the city of New York
A Its a massive celebration The city has been waiting over five decades for an NBA title so the energy and pride are incredible for Knicks fans
Advanced Analytical Questions
Q What was the Knicks biggest weakness that they overcame in the playoffs
A Their biggest weakness was inconsistent threepoint shooting and offensive droughts In the finals they solved this by getting to the freethrow line and relying on Brunsons midrange game
Q How did the Knicks defense stop the Spurs offense
