The New York Knicks captured their first NBA championship in 53 years on Tuesday night, completing a 4‑1 series sweep of the San Antonio Spurs in the 2026 NBA Finals.
President Donald Trump attended Game 3 at Madison Square Garden and took to social media to congratulate the team, praising their resilience and highlighting the dramatic comebacks that defined their postseason run.
Brunson’s record‑setting performance
Jalen Brunson was the catalyst, delivering 45 points in the decisive Game 5 and establishing a new franchise record for the most points in a Finals contest. He shot 14‑of‑27 from the field, including 4‑of‑7 from three‑point range, while adding three rebounds, three assists and two steals.
His effort placed him in an exclusive group of players who have reached that scoring milestone in a championship‑deciding game, a feat achieved by only a handful of legends in NBA history.
The series was unusual in its flow, with the Knicks leading for just 23.6% of the total minutes — the lowest share of game time at the front for a champion since the league began tracking the metric in 1971.
New York entered the Finals riding an 11‑game playoff winning streak, extending it to 13 by winning the first two contests on the road in San Antonio before dropping two at home before rallying back.
The Elias Sports Bureau, the league’s official statistics provider, confirmed the figures, underscoring the statistical significance of the Knicks’ achievement.