Winning an NBA championship remains the ultimate individual and team achievement in basketball. The 2026 Finals added another compelling chapter to that history.
## The Most Recent Champion
New York defeated San Antonio in five games to win the 2026 NBA Finals, the franchise’s third championship and first since 1973. Jalen Brunson earned Finals MVP honors after leading the Knicks with 539 total points across the postseason, the tournament’s scoring leader.
## Why This Title Mattered
Ending a more than 50-year championship drought made the Knicks’ 2026 title one of the most celebrated in recent franchise history, and it directly shaped this season’s opening night, when New York raised its championship banner before hosting Philadelphia. Our full NBA 2026/27 season preview covers that opening night celebration in detail.
## The Finals MVP Award
Officially known as the Bill Russell Trophy, the Finals MVP has been awarded since 1969, typically going to a standout performer from the winning team. Brunson’s award adds his name to a list of Knicks legends who’ve delivered when it mattered most on the franchise’s biggest stage.
## Records Worth Knowing
The Boston Celtics hold the record for most NBA championships in league history, a mark that continues to anchor most historical conversations about the league’s greatest dynasties. Recent seasons, however, have shown far more parity, a trend our championship favorites breakdown connects directly to the current collective bargaining rules limiting sustained dominance.
## How This Season Connects
With Philadelphia and Miami both dramatically overhauling their rosters this offseason, this year’s Finals picture looks wide open. Our NBA playoffs explainer breaks down exactly how a team advances through the bracket to reach the championship series.
## The Bottom Line
Every NBA Finals adds a new layer to one of sports’ richest championship histories. As this season’s contenders jockey for position, they’ll be chasing the same trophy, and the same lasting recognition, that Brunson and the Knicks claimed just months ago.