The Knicks Finally Do It: 53-Year Drought Ends with Epic Finals Win

The Knicks Finally Do It: 53-Year Drought Ends with Epic Finals Win Over Spurs It was 1973 the last time the New York Knicks hoisted the Larry O'Brien trophy. For context, the designated hitter was just introduced in baseball, Secretariat won the Triple Crown, and a gallon of gas cost about 39 cents. Now, fast forward 53 years to June 2026. The wait is officially over. The Knicks are NBA Champions once again. In what might go down as the most fiercely contested NBA Finals in modern history, the Knicks closed out the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 in Game 5 to secure a 4-1 series victory. But don't let the "gentleman's sweep" fool you — this series was an absolute war of attrition. A Finals Defined by Clutch Performance If you were betting the live lines during this series, your heart rate was probably through the roof. Every single game of this series was within five points in the final five minutes. It's the only Finals in the 30-year play-by-play era where that has happened. The Knicks proved why they were the most resilient team in basketball. They trailed by double digits in all five games against San Antonio, erasing massive deficits — including a 29-point hole in Game 4 and a 16-point deficit in the clinching Game 5. For bettors who backed the Knicks on the moneyline when they were down big, the payouts were massive. The resilience this team showed is unprecedented; they finished the playoffs 6-2 in games they trailed by double-digits. Jalen Brunson: A Legend is Born You can't talk about this championship without talking about Finals MVP Jalen Brunson. When the lights were brightest, Brunson delivered a masterpiece, dropping a Knicks Finals-record 45 points in Game 5. Brunson led the Finals with 22 clutch points (scored when the margin is within five points in the last five minutes). He took on the immense challenge of finishing over the 7-foot-4 wingspan of Victor Wembanyama and delivered time and time again. From his corner three to seal Game 1, to his game-winning free throw in Game 2, and finally his clutch floater in Game 5, Brunson cemented his legacy in the Mecca of basketball. The Spurs Core Has Arrived While the Knicks are celebrating, the San Antonio Spurs put the entire league on notice. After knocking off the defending champion Thunder in a grueling 7-game Western Conference Finals, this young Spurs core showed they are going to be a problem for years to come. Wembanyama and rookie Dylan Harper were phenomenal, combining to shoot 52% in clutch situations during the playoffs. But ultimately, the experience and defensive tenacity of the Knicks — led by head coach Mike Brown, who masterfully integrated Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, and Mikal Bridges — was just too much. The drought is over. New York is loud. The Knicks are back on top of the basketball world. --- Related reading: - Knicks One Win Away After Historic 29-Point Comeback - Greatest Comeback in NBA Finals History: Knicks Erase 29-Point Deficit - Knicks Comeback Turns Game 5 Into a Price Trap