53 years!!!

[Fishjam]

Congrats to the Knicks fans across the tri-state. We've waited a long time.

Jalen Brunson was signed as a Free Agent from Dallas. Many people thought he wasn't good enough to lead a team but boy has he proved them wrong. He turned the franchise around. Brought a work ethic, a humbleness and quiet confidence that was infectious. He re-signed with the Knicks leaving tens of millions of dollars on the table so that the Knicks would have money to sign other players around him. Who does that in today's NBA?!?

He had a tremendous night tonight with 45 points and big play after big play to bring them back again. He's cemented his legacy in NY. He doesn't have multiple championships but he ranks with Jeter, Eli Manning and Mark Messier as kings of New York.

 

[TommyD82]

Incredible team that deserved to win. As I have posted I hate when it is all about the refs but now I know why my interest in the NBA has waned. The officiating was god awful and the NBA as a league is a joke in a lot of ways. 53 years is a long time. Congratulations NYK. Jalen Brunson is now in the same class as Mark Messier Joe Namath Derek Jeter Eli Manning & Phil Simms.

 

[NYShoreGuy]

US hosts a world cup a #11 in ny uniform ends a championship drought of more than 50 years

 

[Seton75]

To Prof Ed, HallDan, and all the Knick fans, its been a long time coming. Awesome. Very happy for all. I have never enjoyed a playoff run by a team I didnt root for as much as this one.

 

[Hall-O-Daze]

The Spurs are absolutely total choke artists. It's astounding to see how astute they are at blowing games. Nothing quite like it. As a fan of neither team, that was my big takeaway from the series. They could not finish if their loved one's lives depended upon it. Shameful.

That said, Congrats to The Knicks. Their ability to not go away while playing from behind is impressive. It's almost as if they are more comfortable playing from behind. Very resilient.

I said they were doomed when they ditched Thibs for Mike Brown, but it ended up paying off. I was 100% wrong.

 

[TommyD82]

You are not wrong about the Spurs. They are just very young and the coach is very young and needs some seasoning even with Pop behind the scenes.

 

[Hall-O-Daze]

You are not wrong about the Spurs. They are just very young and the coach is very young and needs some seasoning even with Pop behind the scenes.

I can't disagree with your assessment. The only thing I can say is this was a golden opportunity which they completely blew.

Knicks deserve a lot of credit - they earned this title - but the Spurs could have won each and every game....and then seemed to inexplicably fall apart when it mattered most. It's like they all almost simultaneously unplugged their game controllers.

They can't take for granted that they were in such a position. They can't take it for granted that they'll be back next year. The West is going to be gunning for them next season. The time was now.

It's a little difficult because a franchise that hasn't won since 1973 deserves its due. Yet what i came away with is man, those Spurs couldn't finish a frickin' game if their lives depended upon it.

 

[Halldan]

5-2 against the Spurs including the playoffs. They won the Commissioners Cup and the NBA title vs the Spurs. The Knicks were 5-6 point dogs in most every game except the 2 home playoff games where they were 1.5 and 2.5 favorites.

Few believed in them and I have little doubt if they played the finals again tomorrow they would be underdogs once more.

 

[Piratz]

Hard to believe it’s happened! What a run. Truly a team that was fun to watch and led by an absolute assassin in Brunson. Part of the reason the Spurs couldn’t close was the Knicks taking it to them.

Loved the ‘90s Knicks being there. That was the era they were so close to it, suffering such painful playoff losses.

What a moment.

 

[SPK145]

I was in 6th grade the last time the Knicks won the championship. Our teacher told us no homework for a week if either the Rangers or the Knicks won the championship, He kept his word,

 

[NYShoreGuy]

 

[Halldan]

 

[Halldan]

 

[Halldan]

 

[TommyD82]

Charles Barkley said the Spurs don't have a closer. He also said and is right that Jalen Brunson is the greatest free agent signing in NBA history. A 2nd round pick says he wants to win a championship after he signs takes $ 100 million less and has a performance for the ages that will live in immortality.

 

[Halldan]

Maybe Shaq and James were better choices. But they were major stars. Brunson at the time was not.

 

[hallstorm]

5-2 against the Spurs including the playoffs. They won the Commissioners Cup and the NBA title vs the Spurs. The Knicks were 5-6 point dogs in most every game except the 2 home playoff games where they were 1.5 and 2.5 favorites.

Few believed in them and I have little doubt if they played the finals again tomorrow they would be underdogs once more.

6-2 if you count the NBA cup game also.

 

[hallstorm]

Hard to believe it’s happened! What a run. Truly a team that was fun to watch and led by an absolute assassin in Brunson. Part of the reason the Spurs couldn’t close was the Knicks taking it to them.

Loved the ‘90s Knicks being there. That was the era they were so close to it, suffering such painful playoff losses.

What a moment.

1000%. As a long suffering Knicks fan, I couldn’t be happier.

It’s incredibly rare for me to see any of my teams on top—so much so I’d swear it was a dream (and I refused to post or say anything that could have jinxed the final outcome).

When many will point to the Spurs seemingly not having a “closer” or an inability to finish, they fail to see what the Knicks actually did.

To me, this was a master class on how to wear your opponent down and beat them into submission. Allow them to dictate the opening of the game, but take over and force your will in the second half when it counts most.

It’s always easy to hit 3’s in the first and second quarters (see Champagnie), but it’s much, much harder to find the strength, heart, tenacity and focus to convert at the end of games.

If you rewatch the second halves of this last series you’ll see all the missed free throws and fatigue - laden open shots. Even the Knicks missed a bunch (oh Josh Hart you were saved by OG).

But the Knicks were stronger, more experienced and calmer down the stretch.

It is what it is.

 

[Fishjam]

Brunson's stamina and strength are so underrated. To do what he does in the 4th quarters of these games, dominating the ball, beating bigger & quicker defenders when everyone knows he's going to take the shots is incredible.

The Spurs have some excellent on ball defenders and the world's most mobile 8-foot long shot-blocker and he still made play after play after play.

He is a Champion.

 

[Halldan]

6-2 if you count the NBA cup game also.

Good catch. I thought it was 6-2 but I Googled their record and it showed 5-2. Guess the Cup final didn't count in the season's record.

 

[Halldan]

1000%. As a long suffering Knicks fan, I couldn’t be happier.

It’s incredibly rare for me to see any of my teams on top—so much so I’d swear it was a dream (and I refused to post or say anything that could have jinxed the final outcome).

When many will point to the Spurs seemingly not having a “closer” or an inability to finish, they fail to see what the Knicks actually did.

To me, this was a master class on how to wear your opponent down and beat them into submission. Allow them to dictate the opening of the game, but take over and force your will in the second half when it counts most.

It’s always easy to hit 3’s in the first and second quarters (see Champagnie), but it’s much, much harder to find the strength, heart, tenacity and focus to convert at the end of games.

If you rewatch the second halves of this last series you’ll see all the missed free throws and fatigue - laden open shots. Even the Knicks missed a bunch (oh Josh Hart you were saved by OG).

But the Knicks were stronger, more experienced and calmer down the stretch.

It is what it is.

Rope-a-dope?

 

[Fishjam]

First major championship for a NYC team since the Giants in 2012.

 

[NYShoreGuy]

First major championship for a NYC team since the Giants in 2012.

Believe or not this area has professional women's sports that have actually won titles in their major league within the last few years.

Liberty and Gotham FC but I know many of the group think on this site is that women's sports don't count

 

[ivyhillpark63]

Spurs were soft when it mattered most..

 

[lloyde dobler]

Believe or not this area has professional women's sports that have actually won titles in their major league within the last few years.

Liberty and Gotham FC but I know many of the group think on this site is that women's sports don't count

NYCFC won also. But we know what he meant because none of them are major sports, whether you like it or not.

 

[NYShoreGuy]

NYCFC won also. But we know what he meant because none of them are major sports, whether you like it or not.

Well they are not the big 4 but they are top tier on the female side for the sport they sponsor

 

[mbraue]

Congrats to the Knicks fans across the tri-state. We've waited a long time.

Jalen Brunson was signed as a Free Agent from Dallas. Many people thought he wasn't good enough to lead a team but boy has he proved them wrong. He turned the franchise around. Brought a work ethic, a humbleness and quiet confidence that was infectious. He re-signed with the Knicks leaving tens of millions of dollars on the table so that the Knicks would have money to sign other players around him. Who does that in today's NBA?!?

He had a tremendous night tonight with 45 points and big play after big play to bring them back again. He's cemented his legacy in NY. He doesn't have multiple championships but he ranks with Jeter, Eli Manning and Mark Messier as kings of New York.

 

[dehere23]

Spurs were soft when it mattered most..

I think they were young and inexperienced when it mattered most. Don’t think that group is soft; they were actually pretty defiant and frisky for a young group that was probably a year early.

 

[NYShoreGuy]

Objection: Everything We Need to Know, We Can Learn From the Champion New York Knicks

A pay cut, a 29-point hole, a kid from Christ the King, a jersey signed by the Pope, and a chant that turned the whole city into one room. What the 2026 champion Knicks can teach all of us.

objectioneverything.substack.com

 

[Halldan]

This team reminded me of the previous Knick champions. Maybe not the most physically talented group but through teamwork, passion and playing the game the right way with no ego the best.

What they did to silence the critics that they would be lucky to get out of the east, but even if they did they would get steamrolled by the Western Conference champion was special. I had them winning the east all year long but thought they would lose to OKC in a tight series. But once the Spurs beat OKC I was very confident that the Knicks would win in 6. They did me one better.

Guess color matters. They won all three titles with coaches named Red and Brown.

Can't wait for Thursday. They deserve all the love that's coming to them.

 

[Merge]

Brunson's stamina and strength are so underrated. To do what he does in the 4th quarters of these games, dominating the ball, beating bigger & quicker defenders when everyone knows he's going to take the shots is incredible.

The Spurs have some excellent on ball defenders and the world's most mobile 8-foot long shot-blocker and he still made play after play after play.

He is a Champion.

Those last few minutes was just a masterclass from Brunson.
Castle was picking him up at half court and bothering him the entire game. On one play, Brunson saw it coming, hesitated and then just blew by him. Then putting Wemby on his back, hesitating and then diving ahead of Wemby's block attempt. Such a smart player. He knows the defense adapts to him, and lets them until he needs to take over and changes his game and the Spurs were unable to adapt with him.

 

[Fishjam]

Is Jalen Brunson the best Knick of all-time?

Ewing's overall stats over 15 years make him the obvious choice but Patrick's teams never won the big one. Clyde has 2 titles and was an excellent player but he played with Willis Reed. Reed was probably the greatest Knick with 2 Titles and 2 Finals MVPs but he only played 9 seasons.

Brunson only has 4 years with the Knicks but his impact has been massive. In 4 years, he's played 61 Postseason games as a Knick averaging 29.4 points & 6.6 assists. Reed averaged 17.4 & 10.3 in his 78 postseason games.

Brunson has more years to play to pad his resume and I think he'll be the top Knick ever by the time he retires.

 

[Fishjam]

Happy for Rick Brunson. Couldn't help to notice he looks a little like LaVar Ball but he's the exact opposite as a father. They both love their kids and have raised talented players but the Ball's have been all style and selfishness while the Brunson's are all about work ethic, teamwork, toughness and quiet confidence.

Would any of the Ball's forego $100 million in Free Agency to build up his team?

 

[Halldan]

Just an FYI, there's no way Reed should have won the finals MVP in the 69-70 season. The award absolutely should have gone to Walt Frazier, but the vote was for sentimental purposes.

Reed was injured in game 5 and replaced on the court. He did not play game 6 and barely contributed in game 7. While Frazier had one of the greatest closeout final games in the history of the league.

36 points, 19 assists, and 7 rebounds against Jerry West and the Lakers

 

[NYShoreGuy]

Just an FYI, there's no way Reed should have won the finals MVP in the 69-70 season. The award absolutely should have gone to Walt Frazier, but the vote was for sentimental purposes.

Reed was injured in game 5 and replaced on the court. He did not play game 6 and barely contributed in game 7. While Frazier had one of the greatest closeout final games in the history of the league.

36 points, 19 assists, and 7 rebounds against Jerry West and the Lakers

Yes walt had an all-time game 7 performance...reed had big scoring early in series

1970 NBA Finals - Lakers vs. Knicks | Basketball-Reference.com

Summary and statistics for the 1970 NBA Finals - Lakers vs. Knicks

www.basketball-reference.com

 

[Halldan]

Not his fault due to the injury, but Reed scored 11 points total in the last 3 games. 4 in the last 2 games. You cannot give an MVP to a player who for all intent and purposes only played 4 games in the series.

The man was a warrior and loved by all Knick fans as well he should have been. And his coming out of the locker room just before the opening tip is what legends are made of. But in the last game he was simply asked to man up on Chamberlain and do little else. The previous game he did not play. And the game before that played 8 minutes before going down.

 

[Seton75]

Yes walt had an all-time game 7 performance...reed had big scoring early in series

1970 NBA Finals - Lakers vs. Knicks | Basketball-Reference.com

Summary and statistics for the 1970 NBA Finals - Lakers vs. Knicks

www.basketball-reference.com

His steal of West was classic Clyde. He saw a tell in Jerrys game, knew he could steal when he did it next, so he waited for the right moment and stole the ball from the logo, my hero, Mr Clutch, the one Laker who stood up to the hated Celtics throughout the 60s. But on that night, as Shea expoded with applause when they flashed Clyde's stats, one 16 yr old probably fought back some tears.

Walt has had a longer time in the spotlight than any sports figure I can remember, this is his 7th decade as a famous NYer. And every minute in the spotight, he has shined.

 

[Halldan]

Willis Reed was an absolute Knick legend. But how many remember he was a 2nd round draft choice to Frazier's first round pick in the same draft?

 

[Seton75]

Willis Reed was an absolute Knick legend. But how many remember he was a 2nd round draft choice to Frazier's first round pick in the same draft?

Back when we old guys were kids, the only games on tv were the local team, and one game of the week. So I saw those Knicks a lot. Never figured the Van Arsdale twins would become so good. Some bad ball till they hired Red Holtzman

 

[NYShoreGuy]

Willis Reed was an absolute Knick legend. But how many remember he was a 2nd round draft choice to Frazier's first round pick in the same draft?

So Jalen in company with him 2nd round selections to be finals mvp can you name the others?