How the New York Knicks Defied the Odds to Win Their First Championship Since 1973

At the start of the 2025/26 NBA season, the New York Knicks were certainly seen as contenders, but they were hardly ever mentioned when it came to discussing the championship. Almost all of the attention was on younger powers and franchises that had already enjoyed recent playoff success.

Of course, the Knicks were respected, but there was always a sense that they needed to prove they had enough about them to deal with the pressure of a deep postseason run.

Building a Team That Could Go the Distance

Championship teams aren’t created overnight. In fact, the Knicks had gone more than five decades. It’s certainly taken time to assemble a squad that had the right balance of star power and depth. It needed to be a team that was able to compete and show resilience. 

Jalen Brunson became the team’s leader both on and off the court. At the same time, Karl-Anthony Towns added scoring and rebounding in the frontcourt. Around them, there was also solid intensity in defence through the likes of OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges. These players were also able to do the less glamorous tasks, meaning that opponents couldn’t just focus on stopping one player. 

Brunson Delivered When It Mattered Most

Every championship team needs to have a player who’s able to take control when games become tense. It was clearly Jalen Brunson for the Knicks. He was able to bring a sense of calm to situations where lesser players would’ve panicked. 

During the Finals against San Antonio, Brunson was seen making big plays at the most important moments. Perhaps his best performance came in Game 5, with him securing 45 points to help take the championship. Whenever the Spurs came anywhere close to taking control, Brunson always had a response. Whether it was scoring, playmaking, or simply slowing the pace, he always made the right call. 

The Comebacks That Defined the Finals

The most dramatic comeback was in Game 4. This was when the Knicks managed to come back from being 29 points down. The majority of the night saw San Antonio looking to be in complete control, but New York kept chipping away at the lead. 

The comeback was completed by OG Anunoby. He scored a late tip-in which led to a 107-106 victory. There is little doubt that this is a game that will be remembered for years, for both the play and the attitude behind it. The reality is that the Knicks never seemed to be completely defeated, even when the scoreboard heavily suggested otherwise. It was a real display of confidence and resilience that carried them through, and ultimately secured the title. 

For followers of basketball odds, the Finals served as a reminder that momentum and mentality can be just as important as talent. Several games appeared to be heading firmly in San Antonio’s direction before New York found another gear and turned the contest around.

Why the Spurs Could Not Finish the Job

It’s clear to see that the Spurs were far from overwhelmed during the finals. In fact, there were plenty of stretches where it appeared that they were on their way to becoming champions. With Victor Wembanyama leading the charge, San Antonio were great at building early leads and ensuring that the Knicks were under pressure. 

The issue was trying to keep hold of this control. Every time, New York found a way to close the gap. At the same time, the Spurs struggled to deliver in what they were really capable of in the closing stages. It was small mistakes that became costly as the Knicks were so quick to take advantage whenever an opportunity appeared. 

You can see this more when looking at the fourth quarters of the series. San Antonio tended to dominate the first three, but New York were far more composed in the latter stages. It’s the ability to remain calm that makes a real difference to the outcomes. 

For people who regularly bet for sports, the series highlighted why playoff basketball can be difficult to predict. A team can control large portions of a game and still lose if it fails to execute in the final minutes. The Knicks repeatedly demonstrated that point throughout the Finals.

Ending a Drought That Lasted More Than Five Decades

Generations of Knicks fans had waited for this moment. It had been 53 years since the franchise had topped the NBA. There had been years of seasons never quite living up to expectations, but now fans have something to truly celebrate. 

The New York Knicks far from cruised to victory. This championship saw the team overcome numerous challenges, with there being plenty of opportunities for the Spurs to succeed.