New York Knicks Win 2025-26 NBA Title, Defeat Spurs in Five Games
The Knicks finished the regular season at 53-29 and claimed their first championship since 1973. ESPN reported the outcome after New York beat San Antonio in the Finals.
ESPNThe New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs in five games to win the 2025-26 NBA championship, ESPN reported. The title marked the franchise's first since 1973. The Knicks posted a 53-29 regular-season record.
They finished the campaign $200,000 below the luxury tax threshold and acquired Jose Alvarado at the trade deadline. The Spurs entered the Finals after a 62-20 regular season. They eliminated the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference finals despite the Thunder missing Jalen Williams for most of the season and the series.
Oklahoma City finished 64-18 and reached the conference finals. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won his second straight NBA MVP award. Victor Wembanyama earned the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award. He is now eligible to negotiate a five-year, $251 million rookie contract extension.
Mitchell Robinson appeared in 60 games and earned $12 million. Miles McBride played 41 games after core surgery and posted a career-high three-point percentage. 7 million.
Their projected 2026-27 payroll will reach approximately $250 million after Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren sign extensions. The Knicks hold the No. 55 pick in the 2026 draft. The Spurs own the No. 44 selection via Miami, and the Thunder hold the No.
37 pick via Dallas. ESPN's 2026-27 preseason power rankings placed the Thunder first, the Spurs second and the Knicks third. The panel included Tim Bontemps, Jamal Collier, Michael C. Wright, Tim MacMahon, Dave McMenamin, Ohm Youngmisuk, Vincent Goodwill, Anthony Slater, Ben Golliver and Zach Kram.
Carter Bryant was a rookie for the Spurs in 2025-26.
