Mission Accomplished For Brunson And Knicks
Photo: Special to the NY Beacon
By Andrew Rosario
Big Bodega Came Up Big Vs Spurs
Photo: Special to the NY Beacon
The last time the New York Knicks won the National Basketball Association Championship was in 1973. New York fans had to wait 53 years before they would see their team raise the Larry O’Brien trophy again. They did it in a stunning, unbelievable fashion. They trailed the Atlanta Hawks 2 games to 1 in the first round before winning the next 3 games ending the series 4-2. Philadelphia 76ers we’re next followed by the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Knicks did not blink as they swept both teams 4-0. In game 1 against the Cavs, they were down by 22 only to snatch the game. Cleveland was never the same. New York was well rested having 9 days off between their last 3 series. Meanwhile, the San Antonio had to play a grueling 7 game series against the defending NBA Champion Oklahoma City Thunder and guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander who was named Most Valuable Player for the second year in a row. The Spurs would shock OKC winning game 7 on the road. It set up a Finals rematch between the New York and San Antonio when the Spurs took out the injury depleted Knicks in 5 games as the players and fans had to watch San Antonio celebrate on the Madison Square Garden floor. lt would be a different outcome when the Spurs had home court advantage to open the 2025-26 NBA Finals.
New York took a stranglehold on the series by taking the first two games of the series. The team downplayed the wins, saying the series was far from over knowing it would take two more wins to come away with the championship. They were confident however, knowing the next two games would be played at the World’s Most Famous Arena.
With President Donald Trump in attendance (boos rained down from the Garden crown when his picture was shown on the giant screen) sitting next to Knicks Owner James Dolan, San Antonio righted themselves coming away with the game 3 victory. The momentum clearly shifted to the Spurs in game 4. Then, New York did something no other NBA team had ever done in history of the playoffs or Finals.
The Knicks played a very lackluster first have and trailed by 27. Things got worse as the Spurs increased their lead by as many as 29 with 9:40 left in the third quarter. Fans in other sports, in other cities would normally begin to begin walking out (remember the Miami Heat fans walking out in the 2013 Finals against the Spurs) but not Knicks fans. Before they knew it, they would witness history.
The Knicks stepped up their defense allowing only 14 third quarter points, scoring 26 themselves. Still, the Spurs were in the driver’s seat thinking they would tie the series at 2 with game 5 back on their own court. The Knicks had other plans.
New York’s defense continued to suffocate San Antonio as they chipped away at the deficit. It began when the Knick cut the lead to 1 (104-103) with 2:21 left. Captain and guard Jalen Brunson gave the Knicks their first lead of the night (105-104) after a connecting on a short jump shot. Two Spurs free throw gave them the lead back. Then Knicks forward OG Anunoby then cemented his place in Knicks and New York sports history.
With 3.1 seconds left, OG inbounds the ball to Brunson who puts up a 3-point attempt over the outstretched arms of Spurs center Victor Wembanyama. The ball hits the front of the rim. Anunoby sprints from the baseline and tips in ball over 2 San Antonio defenders. The Spurs had one more chance to steal the victory as they got ball back with 2.1 second. The inbound pass was defended by Josh Hart and the comeback was complete as the Spurs never got a shot off.
The team and organization got their revenge when they closed out the series winning game 5 in San Antonio and celebrated on the Spurs floor. Brunson was named Finals Most Valuable Player.
The parade up the Canyon of Heroes drew an estimated 2-million people. Mayor Zohran Mamdani gave out keys to the city to all the players, coaches and owner Dolan.
lt took 53 years but every New York fan will tell you that it was well worth the wait.
Recent Comments