The New York Knicks have won the 2026 NBA championship, beating the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 in Game 5. The Knicks hadn't won a championship since 1973.

Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 45 points in the closeout game as he went 14-for-27 from the floor and 13-for-15 from the line. Brunson battled to keep the Spurs' lead close despite foul trouble from both Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby. Brunson immediately embraced his father, Rick Brunson, after the final buzzer.

Dylan Harper scored 25 points to lead the Spurs as Stephon Castle and De'Aaron Fox combined to to 4-for-25 from the field.

The Spurs rebounded from a heartbreaking Game 4 loss in which they blew a 29-point lead to give a valiant effort in Game 5, but their offense completely slowed down in the fourth quarter as they were outscored 29-18 by the Knicks.

"I have no words," said Brunson to Lisa Salters. "Everything I've ever dreamed of. I'm in awe."

The Knicks become the NBA's eighth different champion over the past eight seasons.

New York replaced Tom Thibodeau with Mike Brown as head coach last offseason despite reaching the Eastern Conference Finals. During the first round after going down 2-1 to the Atlanta Hawks, the Knicks began a 13-game win streak that was only broken in Game 3 of the Finals as they played the best basketball of this era of the team.