Star guard shuts down parade talk and explains why New York won't hang a banner at Madison Square Garden.
The New York Knicks won the 2025 NBA Cup on Tuesday night after coming back against the San Antonio Spurs 124-113 in Las Vegas, and while the team now holds its first piece of hardware in over 50 years, star guard Jalen Brunson is making sure nobody gets too excited just yet.
Brunson Shuts Down Parade Talk
When a reporter asked Brunson about whether the Knicks would be throwing a parade for their NBA Cup win, the two-time All-Star wasted no time shooting down any such idea.
"I don't think we're having a parade," Brunson said. "I think it's good that we won this. The way we won it is special as well."
That response from Brunson shows exactly where the team's mindset is right now, because while the NBA Cup is a nice achievement, the Knicks have much bigger goals in mind.
New York hasn't won an NBA Championship since 1973 and hasn't even reached the Finals since 1999, so a mid-season tournament trophy isn't going to be what this team hangs its hat on.
The Knicks have also decided against hanging a banner at Madison Square Garden for their NBA Cup championship, which makes them the first Cup winner to go that route since the Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks both put banners up in their arenas after winning the tournament in 2023 and 2024.
A Team Effort in Vegas
Tuesday's championship win was a true team effort for New York, which is currently sitting at 18-7 on the season and in second place in the Eastern Conference standings, just two and a half games behind the Detroit Pistons.
The Knicks trailed by double digits before storming back with a huge fourth-quarter run where they outscored San Antonio 35-19.
OG Anunoby led the way with a game-high 28 points on 10-of-17 shooting from the field, including a scorching 5-of-10 from three-point range.
Brunson added 25 points and eight assists despite shooting just 11-of-27 on the night, while Karl-Anthony Towns battled through an apparent calf injury to finish with 16 points and 11 rebounds for his 19th double-double of the season.
Brunson made sure to credit his teammates right after accepting the NBA Cup MVP award, shouting out Anunoby, Tyler Kolek, Jordan Clarkson, and Mitchell Robinson for their efforts.
"Without them, we don't win this game," Brunson said. "They played their ass off tonight."
What Comes Next
For a team that entered the season with championship hopes, Brunson's message after the NBA Cup win says everything about where New York's head is at.
This is a team that isn't going to get caught up in the moment, and the steady approach from their captain is exactly what the Knicks need as they push toward their ultimate goal.
"This is great, now we're going to enjoy this," Brunson added. "But once we leave tomorrow, we're moving on."
The Knicks will celebrate their NBA Cup win with a ceremony before their next home game against the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday, but after that, it's back to business for a team that clearly has its sights set on something much bigger than an in-season tournament trophy.