New York Knicks win first NBA title in 53 years, US TV viewership record

The New York Knicks clinched the 2025‑26 NBA championship by defeating the San Antonio Spurs 94‑90 in Game 5 of the Finals, ending a 53‑year title drought since 1973. Jalen Brunson led the team with a 45‑point performance, securing the trophy for the franchise.

The series set a U.S. television audience record, averaging 20.6 million viewers—the highest for an NBA Finals since 1998. Game 5 peaked at 33 million viewers and the five‑game series generated roughly 15 billion social‑media video views, highlighting unprecedented fan engagement.