The New York Knicks went to the Frost Bank Center, in San Antonio, Texas, beat the San Antonio Spurs 94-90, on Saturday night (13), and won the NBA title for the third time in history by closing the best-of-seven series 4-1, ending a streak without victories that had lasted since 1973.
With averages of 32.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists, in 39.2 minutes, with 38.9% success in three-pointers and 42.1% overall, point guard Jalen Brunson was named Finals MVP. Thus, the star, given in 2018 by the Dallas Mavericks in 33rd place, definitively confirms that he is one of the biggest names in the history of the Knicks
Throughout the 2025/26 season, he had already been voted NBA Cup MVP and Eastern Finals MVP, following the New York franchise’s titles. Defending the Knicks, the point guard also participated in the last three editions of the All-Star. Also from 2024 to 2026, Brunson was elected to the All-NBA Second Team.
NBA Finals MVP
It is the first time that Jalen Brunson has taken home the Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP Award — an award that honors former center Bill Russell, a Boston Celtics legend who won 11 titles in 13 seasons as a player; in the last two, he was also the Celtic coach in the campaign.
Interestingly, the award was introduced in the 1968/69 season, precisely Russell’s last as an athlete-coach. And the winner was another legend in NBA history. Even runner-up with the Los Angeles Lakers, Jerry West was elected Finals MVP after seven games.
To this day, in fact, The Logo, the nickname by which West was known, is the only loser in the decision to walk away with the award. In Game 7 of that series against the Celtics, for example, he had 42 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists.
The biggest Finals MVP winner is Michael Jordan. The former shooting guard was elected the most valuable player in the decision on six occasions (1991 to 1993 and 1996 to 1998, always for the Chicago Bulls) and has two awards ahead of the runner-up in the rankings, LeBron James.
The greatest scorer in basketball history lifted the trophy four times and is the only one to be Finals MVP for three different franchises: in 2012 and 2013, for the Miami Heat; in 2016, for the Cleveland Cavaliers; and in 2020, by the Lakers.
Former center Shaquille O’Neal is the only one to repeat Jordan and be the Finals MVP in three consecutive years. Shaq accomplished the feat in the Lakers’ three-peat from 2000 to 2002, when he had Kobe Bryant at his side.
Black Mamba, who died in January 2020 after a plane crash, was chosen in 2009 and 2010 and is part of the select list of just 12 players with at least two Finals MVPs. Willis Reed, elected in 1970 and 1973, was the first double when he led the New York Knicks to the franchise’s first two titles.
Check out the list of all NBA Finals MVP award winners
- 2025-26: Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks
- 2024-25: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
- 2023-24: Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics
- 2022-23: Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
- 2021-22: Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
- 2020-21: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
- 2019-20: LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
- 2018-19: Kawhi Leonard, Toronto Raptors
- 2017-18: Kevin Durant, Golden State Warriors
- 2016-17: Kevin Durant, Golden State Warriors
- 2015-16: LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
- 2014-15: Andre Iguodala, Golden State Warriors
- 2013-14: Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs
- 2012-13: LeBron James, Miami Heat
- 2011-12: LeBron James, Miami Heat
- 2010-11: Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks
- 2009-10: Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
- 2008-09: Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
- 2007-08: Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics
- 2006-07: Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs
- 2005-06: Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat
- 2004-05: Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
- 2003-04: Chauncey Billups, Detroit Pistons
- 2002-03: Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
- 2001-02: Shaquille O’Neal, Los Angeles Lakers
- 2000-01: Shaquille O’Neal, Los Angeles Lakers
- 1999-00: Shaquille O’Neal, Los Angeles Lakers
- 1998-99: Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
- 1997-98: Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls
- 1996-97: Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls
- 1995-96: Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls
- 1994-95: Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets
- 1993-94: Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets
- 1992-93: Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls
- 1991-92: Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls
- 1990-91: Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls
- 1989-90: Isiah Thomas, Detroit Pistons
- 1988-89: Joe Dumars, Detroit Pistons
- 1987-88: James Worthy, Los Angeles Lakers
- 1986-87: Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers
- 1985-86: Larry Bird, Boston Celtics
- 1984-85: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Los Angeles Lakers
- 1983-84: Larry Bird, Boston Celtics
- 1982-83: Moses Malone, Philadelphia 76ers
- 1981-82: Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers
- 1980-81: Cedric Maxwell, Boston Celtics
- 1979-80: Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers
- 1978-79: Dennis Johnson, Seattle SuperSonics
- 1977-78: Wes Unseld, Washington Bullets
- 1976-77: Bill Walton, Portland Trail Blazers
- 1975-76: Jo Jo White, Boston Celtics
- 1974-75: Rick Barry, Golden State Warriors
- 1973-74: John Havlicek, Boston Celtics
- 1972-73: Willis Reed, New York Knicks
- 1971-72: Wilt Chamberlain, Los Angeles Lakers
- 1970-71: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Milwaukee Bucks
- 1969-70: Willis Reed, New York Knicks
- 1968-69: Jerry West, Los Angeles Lakers
Players with multiple Finals MVP
- Michael Jordan: 6 (1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997 e 1998)
- LeBron James: 4 (2012, 2013, 2016 e 2020)
- Magic Johnson: 3 (1980, 1982 e 1987)
- Shaquille O’Neal: 3 (2000, 2001 e 2002)
- Tim Duncan: 3 (1999, 2003 e 2005)
- Willis Reed: 2 (1970 e 1973)
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: 2 (1971 e 1985)
- Larry Bird: 2 (1984 and 1986)
- Hakeem Olajuwon: 2 (1994 & 1995)
- Kobe Bryant: 2 (2009 e 2010)
- Kevin Durant: 2 (2017 and 2018)
- Kawhi Leonard: 2 (2014 to 2019)
NBA Finals for the 2025/26 season
- Jogo 1: Spurs 95 x 105 Knicks
- Jogo 2: Spurs 104 x 105 Knicks
- Jogo 3: Knicks 111 x 115 Spurs
- Jogo 4: Knicks 107 x 106 Spurs
- Jogo 5: Spurs 90 x 94 Knicks
