NFL
By: Mark T. Wilson
The New York Knicks built a championship team consisting of second-tier players, while other organizations were either unwilling to pay or thought they had passed their peak. And yet, here they stand as the 2026 NBA Champs. They have every right to tell the NBA world to kiss their asses.
But how did the Knicks get here? How did they overcome what were seen as crazy odds and make an historic run to their first championship in 53 years? The team that shouldn’t have been became the team that many will look to emulate this offseason and next.
It all began when the Dallas Mavericks laughed in the face of Jalen Brunson in 2022. The team belonged to Luka Doncic and rightfully so. However, little did they know, Brunson may have been the missing piece to get them that coveted title. Kyrie Irving and Luka were a great backcourt, but they couldn’t get it done.
Brunson took the call from the Knicks, and the rest of the NBA paid the price. The same goes for Karl-Anthony Towns. He regards himself as the best shooting big man in the league, and with that self-imposed title, he caught slack. He was the face of the Minnesota Timberwolves until Anthony Edwards arrived, and then Towns became an afterthought and liability.
OG Anunoby was a name mentioned in tons of trades, but which team was willing to make that call? The Knicks did, but only for a rental. The time came when the speculation began that he would move on, and the Knicks may not be willing to pony up the bread to keep him. Many questioned if OG was worth it. Well, one play proved that the Knicks made the right call. Without him, there might not be a championship.
Miles Bridges was a costly move. His tough defense and streaky shooting were much needed, but what he also added to the team was something that money or draft picks could not measure. It was the chemistry he had with Brunson and Josh Hart that brought this team together.
As for Hart, he’s one of those needed pieces; it was just finding the right fit for him. He’s had a run in the league, but coming to NYC, it just felt right. Much like Bridges, he’s the glue for the New York Knicks. He’s a player not concerned with points; Hart just does the dirty work that makes this team go.
The bench is full of players who should be mentioned in G League circles, but that’s exactly what the New York Knicks needed. This team was not built on household names like other champions. These are players that organizations managed to not just overlook but count out and give up on.
Put Hart on the Spurs, and that series may have gone down differently. Place Towns on the Sixers, and they could have very well defeated the Knicks. Add Bridges or OG to the Detroit Pistons, and they might have been the ones playing the Spurs in the Finals. But add them to the Knicks, and NYC gets a parade.
Teams are chasing after the big names, while the Knicks built a team on throwaways. Brunson doesn’t care where you rank him. Towns wanted to prove the naysayers wrong. Bridges shrugged off the 5 pick deal, and OG showed how dangerous Draymond Green could have been if he had any offensive mojo.
2 years ago, the league was laughing at the New York Knicks. No big-name players wanted to come to New York, and they were left with recycling players who didn’t fit well with other organizations. Well, who has the last laugh now?
