The 2026 NBA Finals, an unforgettable series spanning from the Riverwalk in San Antonio to Madison Square Garden in New York, wraps up a historic season with a historic ending. A record 29-point comeback in Game 4, inexperience from a young Spurs team, and an unbelievable master class from superstar Jalen Brunson gave the New York Knicks and their fans the first championship in 53 years.
27 years ago, a familiar season ending occurred. The 1999 NBA Finals featured a young Spurs team facing an expiring champion-contending Knicks team. The Spurs battled in their first-ever Finals appearance, while the Knicks competed in their second appearance of the 90s. Highlighted by their notorious defense, the Spurs shut down the Knicks, holding them to less than 90 points in each game. This series catapulted the Spurs into their dynasty, where they won five championships in 15 seasons.
Although losing, the Knicks went down in the history books for being the first and only eighth seed to make the NBA Finals until the Miami Heat in the 2023 NBA Finals. The following 27 years would be filled with ups and downs, with a breakthrough finally coming after signing Jalen Brunson to a $104 million contract for four years after the 2022 season. Social media, especially Knicks fans, were immediately upset with the signing of Brunson, many believing he was an overpay. The Knicks, however, continued to take risk after risk, and over the span of a couple of years, gambled a combined seven first-round picks for Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns.
Fast forward, and the 2026 NBA Finals wrapped up in five games, favoring the Knicks 4-1. Leading by double digits in each contest, the Spurs' lack of experience and poor schematic execution ultimately led to their series loss. Jalen Brunson averaged 32.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 2 steals per game, leading the guard to become the NBA Finals MVP.
This championship required the entire Knicks team to come out victorious. Whether it was Karl Anthony-Towns averaging 15 points and 10.8 rebounds per game and bullying Victor Wembanyama in the paint or OG Anunoby shooting 55% from beyond the arc and making timely shots, the team effort captured the hearts of Knicks fans in the streets of New York. Every hero story has a messy background, however, and the Knicks' championship, which may have seemed like fate after Game 4, came after years of lessons, experimentation and rebuilding.
Ending with a memorable, fairy-tale ending, the 2025-26 NBA Season will go down in the history books as further evidence that anything is possible in the game of basketball. No lead is safe, even when down 20 points in the last 10 minutes of a basketball game.