When will the Knicks get their rings?
The New York Knicks captured their first championship since 1973 in June when they defeated the San Antonio Spurs in five games in the NBA Finals.
Being the reigning NBA Champions means playing on opening night the following season with players receiving their championship rings and the team hanging the championship banner.
For the Knicks, they'll hang the banner on Tuesday, October 20, at Madison Square Garden as the NBA season officially gets underway.
The Knicks will host LeBron James and the Philadelphia 76ers on ring night. The Knicks swept the 76ers in the second round of the NBA playoffs, though the 76ers will look much different this season with the additions of LeBron and Jaylen Brown.
Ring Night
Fortunately for the Knicks, the majority of the team will be in the building to take part in the ring night. Starters Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, and OG Anunoby are all back.
Key reserves Jose Alvarado, Miles McBride, Jordan Clarkson, and Landry Shamet are also back.
The missing player will be Mitchell Robinson, who signed with the Boston Celtics in the offseason. The Celtics will play the Detroit Pistons on opening night, meaning Robinson won't be able to attend the ring ceremony.
The Knicks are no strangers to playing on ring night. In 2024-25, they sat as the Boston Celtics received their 2024 NBA Championship rings and hung the banner on opening night.
The Celtics would end up winning, 132-109.
This season, the Knicks and Celtics will clash on Friday, October 23, for Boston's home opener.
Christmas Day Rematch
The final marquee matchup announced for the Knicks before the full schedule release was Christmas Day, when they will host the San Antonio Spurs in a Finals rematch.
The game will be the first of five for the NBA on Christmas Day, tipping off at Noon ET on ESPN and ABC.
Much like the Knicks, the Spurs will be bringing back much of their same lineup that went to the NBA Finals, though they added veteran Tobias Harris, giving them more firepower than last season.
After the way the Spurs lost in the NBA Finals, expect a hungry Victor Wembanyama and Spurs squad coming into Madison Square Garden.
On Christmas Day 2024, the Knicks hosted the Spurs in what served as a coming out party for Wemby, who finished with 42 points and 18 rebounds. The Knicks got the last laugh as Bridges scored 41 points and the Knicks won, 117-114.
