It’s been 53 years in the making, but the New York Knicks are NBA champions again.
The Knicks clinched the title by beating the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 in Game 5 of the 2026 NBA Finals, taking the series 4-1. This championship marks the first for the franchise since 1973, and their third overall.
Jalen Brunson finally brought the championship home after a 53-year drought, delivering a legendary performance for the Knicks. Brunson scored 45 points — 29 of which came after halftime — and spearheaded yet another comeback from behind by double digits.
Brunson’s performance in Game 5 not only clinched the title but also broke the Knicks’ record for most points in an NBA Finals game, previously held by Willis Reed with 38. The New York captain was named Finals MVP unanimously after averaging 32.6 points, 4.6 assists and 4.2 rebounds throughout the series.
Brunson wore his Nike Kobe 6 Protro “Statue of Liberty” to celebrate the monumental win. The Hyper Turquoise and Metallic Copper colorway, released in December 2025, draws its inspiration from a famous New York landmark.
Brunson was instrumental in New York’s comeback, yet other Knicks players also rose to the occasion. Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby all played starring roles at different points throughout the series. In fact, it was Anunoby with the game-winning tip in Game 4 to put New York just one game away from bringing a championship back to the Big Apple.
They last won titles in 1970 and 1973. Now, over half a century later, a new banner will be raised in MSG.
Stay up to date with all upcoming sneaker releases from our Sneaker Release Dates page. Be sure to follow us on Twitter and Instagram.
