SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - JUNE 13: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks lifts the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award trophy after defeating the San Antonio Spurs in Game Five of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center on June 13, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

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No matter the challenge, the New York Knicks found a way to win. No matter the circumstance, the San Antonio Spurs often found a way to lose.

Doesn’t it seem ironic? The New York Knicks secured the 2026 NBA championship, ending a 53-year title drought that lasted so long partly because the franchise became mired in organizational dysfunction. For over two decades, the Spurs collected five NBA titles as the model franchise with a savvy front office, an inspiring head coach (Gregg Popovich) and selfless star players (Tim Duncan, most notably). Yet, the Knicks finished with a 94-90 victory over the Spurs in a decisive Game 5 on Saturday because they switched identities.

The Knicks became a championship-contending team by mixing the right ingredients with selfless stars, effective role players, smart coaching and a resilient attitude. The Spurs proved they’re not ready to hoist a Larry O’Brien trophy yet because they lacked consistency with blending those qualities together.

Knicks star veteran guard Jalen Brunson often prevailed in crunch time, while Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox often missed key shots and made costly mistakes. Spurs center Victor Wembanyama mostly showcased his stardom, but Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson also limited his effectiveness.

Knicks veteran coach Mike Brown excelled with how he maximized his rotation and challenged calls, while Spurs first-year head coach Mitch Johnson never yanked Fox in crunchtime and enabled his team to settle for too many 3s.

Knicks forwards OG Anunoby and Josh Hart seemed ready to make a big play on either end of the floor, regardless of their secondary role. Spurs guards Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper only showed their potential in spurts because of Johnson’s questionable rotations, limited looks and key missed shots.

The Knicks played through the Spurs’ physicality, even if officials often missed Wembanyama’s cheapshots or seemingly anytime Brunson absorbed contact. The Spurs often seemed overwhelmed with the Knicks’ physicality, even when it just mirrored typical playoff basketball.

Few would have predicted such dynamics playing out this way.

The Spurs haven’t appeared in the NBA postseason since ending their 22-year streak in 2020. But it didn’t appear the Spurs would seem overwhelmed with their inexperience. Wembanyama has already shown he will become a generational star. Fox, Harper and Castle established a healthy dynamic with how they managed shots and ball-handling duties in staggered lineups. Johnson excelled with managing players and with Xs and Os. Hence, the Spurs uncrowned the defending champions (Oklahoma City Thunder) through seven games in the Western Conference Finals.

The Knicks struggled to establish their standing in a depleted Eastern Conference with underachieving rosters (Cleveland Cavaliers, Milwaukee Bucks) and key injuries (Indiana Pacers). Brunson and Towns co-existed just fine, but they didn’t always maximize their potential as a duo. New York struggled with finding a consistent third option. Brown has proven himself as a head coach with his experience, preparation and adjustments. It initially appeared, however, that Brown would not fulfill the Knicks’ championship-or-bust mandate after firing Tom Thibodeau shortly after advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 26 years.

The Knicks proved more than capable of living up to lofty expectations. They became one of the NBA’s best defensive teams since January. Offensively, Brunson and Towns maintained their individual greatness while still maximizing their two-man game. Brunson showed he can lead a team to an NBA championship despite remaining undersized. Towns displayed two-way dominance even through foul trouble. Anunoby became healthier, excelled as a two-way player and finished with a dramatic game-winning tipin to secure Game 4. Mikal Bridges finally hit shots more consistently, while still thriving as a perimeter defender. Josh Hart remained dependable in every area. Sure, the Knicks cemented a 13-game postseason winning streak partly because they faced teams riddled with injuries and chemistry issues. But they also exerted their dominance because of their unyielding consistency.

As for the Spurs? They suddenly showed they were not ready to meet this moment.

The Spurs seemed emotionally spent after exhausting all of their energy in unseating the defending champions. Wembanyama mired his fundamental greatness by either trying too hard to dominate or exerting his physicality in a petty way. After guiding the Spurs with steady leadership and clutch play through the season, Fox played as if he were a rookie. He struggled to make clutch shots throughout the series. He mistakenly drove for a layup instead of playing out the clock in a Game 4 loss. The Spurs lacked dependable role players.

The Spurs might take valuable lessons from this series and better themselves before eventually pulling off a dynastic run. The Knicks may have caught lightning in a bottle and struggle to replicate the same championship formula in future seasons. For the 2025-26 campaign, however, the Knicks finally delivered an NBA championship to a starved fanbase by emulating what the Spurs once perfected. Most associate selflessness, collaboration and resilience with small-market organizations. Yet, the Knicks mastered those qualities to ensure one of the NBA’s biggest markets could become great again.