The Knicks won Tuesday’s NBA Cup final, defeating San Antonio, 124-113, to claim their first in-season tournament title.
Star point guard Jalen Brunson was named MVP of tournament, the NBA announced (via Twitter).
Brunson’s statistics in the championship game were fairly run-of-the-mill by his lofty standards; he finished with 25 points, eight assists and four rebounds in 41 minutes, but shot just 11-of-27 from the field and committed four turnovers. However, he was awarded MVP not only for his play in the final but for the group stage and knockout rounds as well.
According to the league (Twitter link), 20 members of the media selected the MVP and Brunson was nearly a unanimous winner, having received 19 votes. Knicks forward OG Anunoby, who had an outstanding final (29 points on 11-of-17 shooting, nine rebounds, three assists), received the other vote.
As Law Murray of The Athletic tweets, the Spurs were up 11 points with just over two minutes left in the third quarter, but the Knicks rallied behind major contributions from reserves Mitchell Robinson (15 rebounds — including 10 offensive — in 18 minutes), Tyler Kolek (14 points, five rebounds, five assists in 20 minutes), and Jordan Clarkson (15 points in 27 minutes).
Brunson made sure to credit Anunoby, Robinson, Kolek and Clarkson after he was awarded MVP. “Without them, we don’t win this,” Brunson said, per James L. Edwards III of The Athletic (Twitter link).
Rookie guard Dylan Harper scored a team-high 21 points for San Antonio in the loss, and also matched a team-high with seven rebounds.
Head coach Mike Brown told the Knicks before the game that a banner would be raised in Madison Square Garden if they won, notes Stefan Bondy of The New York Post (via Twitter).
Just looked it up . 2way players also get a check half. That’s 250K for three Knick players. Nice
It was a good game. Spurs had 7 players score in double figures. Knicks bench played well. Knicks took more shots and shot better. That was the difference. Always good to win.
I really wanted the Thunder. To see how we match up. I have to say it was good seeing the Spurs win. Spurs and Thunder are very similar. Both young and deep. Each with a young superstar. Spurs could be a threat this year. Fox and a good draft is looking good imo. If you make it to final eight in the NBA Cup. Then you are coming to win it. NYK
Al,
I’ll admit Kolek really showed up and looks like he can handle the back up point. I don’t like him in McBride in the back court together with Clarkson so one has to go to get a big Wing/ big two guard. Nba cup doesn’t mean anything but it’s a great Superbowl winner! Take all approach and something they can build off confidently. Now let’s see if Mike Brown and the team can make adjustments when it’s playoff time
Knicks practicing handling the Trophy 🙏
Jalen Brunson is the man. 2018 2nd rd pick #33.
32 teams passed on him. Knicks took Knox at #9
Once again thank you Mark Cuban ……
MVP. MVP. MVP. MVP
It was an entertaining game, but I don’t like the banner idea. Just like division banners have essentially become obsolete when it comes to NBA team accomplishments, the NBA Cup format is still lacking in legitimacy to warrant such recognition – leave it at conference title and NBA title banners. What I would do instead is – (1) install prominent lettering on one of the MSG sidelines with “2025 Emirates Cup Champions” (keep it there until the next Cup champion is crowned near the end of ‘26 OR remove it in the offseason if the Knicks win the NBA Finals), and – (2) stencil in the Cup logo on the upper jerseys of Knicks uniforms for the remainder of the regular season and up through the conference finals if the Knicks make it that far. Let depraved New Yorkers buy Cup hats and clothes if they so choose – and leave it at that. No silly banners; if the Lakers rightfully took flack for that then so should the Knicks.
Let’s all please move on to our regularly scheduled season.