The New York Knicks have ended one of the longest title droughts in American sport, defeating the San Antonio Spurs four games to one to win the 2026 NBA Finals and capture their first championship since 1973.
The series, played between June 3 and June 13, produced one of the most dramatic Finals in recent memory. New York rallied from double-digit deficits in all four of their victories, a feat that underlined the team's resilience under pressure across the closing stretch of the season.
A historically clutch series
Each of the Knicks' wins followed a similar pattern: an early San Antonio lead clawed back in the second half. The margins were razor thin, with three of the five games decided by four points or fewer, reflecting how evenly matched the two teams were over the course of the series.
- Game 1: Knicks 105, Spurs 95
- Game 2: Knicks 105, Spurs 104
- Game 3: Spurs 115, Knicks 111
- Game 4: Knicks 107, Spurs 106
- Game 5: Knicks 94, Spurs 90
Brunson crowned Finals MVP
Guard Jalen Brunson was awarded the Bill Russell Trophy as Finals MVP after a commanding performance throughout the series. He capped the run with 45 points in the deciding Game 5, steering New York home in a tense, low-scoring finale at the close of the campaign.
Brunson's scoring carried the Knicks through stretches when their offense stalled, and his late-game composure became a defining feature of the series. The performance cemented his standing as the focal point of a roster built to contend over the coming seasons.
The end of a long drought
For the Knicks and their supporters, the title carries significance beyond the trophy itself. The franchise had not lifted the championship in 53 years, a span that included multiple deep playoff runs that fell short of the final hurdle.
The 2026 triumph also reframes expectations around the team. Having reached the summit, attention now turns to whether New York can sustain its level and mount a defence of the title in the seasons ahead.
Spurs left to reflect
San Antonio, who pushed the Knicks throughout, will look back on a series in which they held leads in each of the four games they lost. Their run to the Finals marked a notable step for a developing roster, even as the championship slipped away in the closing stages.
The Spurs' young core gained valuable experience on the biggest stage, and the narrow nature of the defeats is likely to inform their planning heading into the next campaign as they aim to return to contention.
With the season now complete, the 2026 Finals will be remembered for its tight margins, repeated comebacks and the long-awaited return of a championship to New York.