New York Knicks end 53-year title drought, spark citywide celebrations, late-night TV tour, and baby-naming trend

Championship drought ends

The New York Knicks captured their first NBA title in 53 years on Saturday, June 13, defeating the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 in Game 5. Jalen Brunson poured in 45 points and was named Finals MVP. The series turned in Game 4, when the Knicks trailed 76-49 at halftime, a 27-point deficit, before mounting a historic comeback. With under two seconds left, OG Anunoby tipped in the game-winner for a 107-106 victory. The Wu-Tang Clan had performed a halftime show that night, with Method Man telling the crowd,

“Knicks in five.”

Late-night victory lap

The team took a televised victory lap beginning Monday, appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon with the entire starting five and coach Mike Brown. Fallon called it 

“a booking 53 years in the making,”

and the Wu-Tang Clan returned for a performance. The studio audience was made up of die-hard fans. On Tuesday, Karl-Anthony Towns will sit down with Seth Meyers, followed by Anunoby on Wednesday.

A champion's name in the nursery

Baby-naming experts predict a surge of Knicks-inspired names. Pamela Redmond, CEO of Nameberry, noted that players’ names like Jalen and Brunson are already in the top 1,000, but she expects the championship to drive more.

“People are just galvanized by the show of community, which feels like something that's increasingly important at a time when it's increasingly rare.”

Nine baby boys were named Brunson in 2025, and she expects more. One newborn, Vivian Rose, born Friday at Lenox Hill Hospital, received a Knicks hat from staff; her father, Jeremy Werden, noted the coincidence with team president Leon Rose.

Skechers' moment on the hardwood

Anunoby played the entire finals series in Skechers basketball shoes, drawing attention to the brand known for comfort. Skechers posted an Instagram video of Anunoby as the Statue of Liberty with the caption,

“They said it couldn’t be done in Skechers. @oanunoby made sure it was.”

The forward reportedly wears a size 15.5, and the brand custom-made pairs for him.

Citywide celebrations and celebrity fandom

The championship unleashed euphoria across New York, which occasionally boiled over: a viral video showed fans damaging a taxi, prompting rapper French Montana to offer help.

“Somebody find him for me so we can help him get back on his feet.”

The New York Taxi Workers Alliance offered to connect them. Fat Joe, a longtime fan, told Rolling Stone,

“My team, I've supported my whole life, is now in the championship, and they're including me. The other night, the coach said, 'Fat Joe's jewelry is blinding me.'”

Fans including Cardi B, Jennifer Lopez, Timothée Chalamet, who joined the locker room celebration, and Spike Lee cheered on the team.

Parade on the horizon

The team’s official championship parade is scheduled for Thursday, June 18, down the Canyon of Heroes in Manhattan, where thousands are expected to line the route.