The New York Knicks clinched their first NBA championship since 1973, defeating the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 in Game 5 of the Finals. Jalen Brunson, named Finals MVP, scored a series-high 45 points in the decisive game. The series was marked by intense competition, with each game decided by five points or fewer in the final five minutes.
After the final buzzer, Spurs star Victor Wembanyama skipped the traditional postgame handshakes, opting to walk directly into the tunnel. The decision drew criticism from opponents and fans alike. Wembanyama had been involved in several physical altercations during the playoffs, including an ejection in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals for elbowing Minnesota's Naz Reid in the neck.
Knicks guard Jose Alvarado addressed Wembanyama's actions on 'The Breakfast Club,' expressing mixed emotions. 'I'm a competitor too, but I also stare my enemies down. I look forward to it. I shake their hands. It's a game; you don't like the moment, you probably lost the biggest game of your career, but you're going to have more moments,' Alvarado said. He added that while Wembanyama's in-game aggression was acceptable, postgame conduct should reflect sportsmanship.
Meanwhile, Knicks star Josh Hart discussed the Spurs' mindset during an episode of 'The Roommates Show.' He noted that the Spurs' emotional celebration after beating the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals suggested they believed their journey was complete. Hart contrasted this with the Knicks' focused approach, emphasizing that their victory over Cleveland was just a step toward the ultimate goal.
Hart also appeared to call out WNBA coach Becky Hammon, who had previously doubted Brunson's ability to lead a championship team. 'I'm not naming names, but I'm still waiting for somebody to say they was wrong about someone who led our team to a championship in 53 years,' Hart said. ESPN's Stephen A. Smith apologized for his past doubts during the same show.
The Knicks' resilience was evident throughout the Finals, with three of the five largest comebacks in NBA Finals history occurring in this series. The victory marked a significant milestone for Brunson, who was a second-round draft pick in 2018 and had previously played in the shadow of Luka Dončić in Dallas.