For more than half a century, the New York Knicks and their fans waited, and waited, and waited some more for another championship. At long last, a man by the name of Jalen Brunson made sure that the wait ended in San Antonio.

Brunson scored 45 points in New York’s 94–90 win over the Spurs in Game 5 of the 2026 NBA Finals, accounting for nearly half of the Knicks’ offense as they captured their first title since 1973. He was unanimously named the Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP after averaging 32.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 2.8 three-pointers, and two steals over the five-game series.

With the Knicks’ championship hopes hanging in the balance, Brunson took over in the fourth quarter. He scored 13 consecutive points to erase a 10-point deficit and put New York ahead 86-85 with 3:40 remaining—a lead they would not relinquish.

Beyond Brunson, the rest of the team shot just 17-of-60, but they received just enough contributions. Mikal Bridges scored 14 points and Josh Hart added 13. Hart also grabbed eight rebounds, Mitchell Robinson secured a crucial offensive rebound off a missed Hart free throw, and Landry Shamet contributed five important fourth-quarter points.

Brunson became the first Knick to score 40 points in an NBA Finals game and only the 11th player in league history to reach 45 on this stage. Only six have done it on the road and only four in a closeout game. The only players to combine both were Michael Jordan in Game 6 of the 1998 Finals and Brunson in Game 5 on Saturday.

There were other worthy Finals MVP candidates though based on their performances earlier in the series. Karl-Anthony Towns had back-to-back double-doubles in the first two games, while OG Anunoby’s Game 4 performance ultimately swung the series in their favor. Bridges, Hart, and the rest of New York’s rotation all had their moments too, but Brunson was ultimately the one constant force behind their conquest. Whenever the Knicks needed a basket or someone willing to take responsibility, he was there to step up.

New York won the series in five games even though San Antonio led by double digits in every contest. The Spurs threatened them repeatedly, but the Knicks were more relentless and their veteran experience proved crucial against a young opponent that had several players going through their first playoff run.

The championship also marked a significant first in league history. Last December, New York defeated San Antonio, 124–113, to win the 2025 Emirates NBA Cup. Six months later, the Knicks beat the same opponent for the NBA championship, becoming the first team to win both trophies in the same season.

For Brunson, the championship also vindicated the four-year, $156.5 million contract extension he signed in 2024, one that saw him leave more than $100 million on the table to preserve New York’s financial flexibility. That sacrifice helped the Knicks surround him with the talent needed to contend, paving the way for the arrivals of Anunoby, Bridges, and Towns.

Since joining New York in 2022, Brunson has gone from a reserve with the Dallas Mavericks into a true superstar, earning three straight All-Star selections while averaging at least 26 points in each of the past three seasons. Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Kevin Durant, and Giannis Antetokounmpo are the only others who have done the same over that span. 

Brunson now adds an NBA championship—one that carries extra weight given the burden of leading a team such as the Knicks—and a Finals MVP trophy to his fast-growing résumé. 

At 29 years old, he has already secured his place in New York basketball lore, yet it feels as though there are even better chapters still ahead. The Knicks finally got their fairy-tale ending, but Brunson and the rest of this team just might have what it takes to come up with a sequel.