The road to the 2026 NBA Finals has been nothing short of amazing for the New York Knicks. What began as a bruising, uncertain playoff campaign has transformed into one of the most dominant postseason runs New York fans have witnessed in decades. From surviving a dangerous opening-round battle against the Atlanta Hawks from which they trailed 2-1, to steamrolling both the Philadelphia 76ers and Cleveland Cavaliers by identical clean, surgical 4-0 slates, the Knicks have evolved from unsteady contenders into a team that now stands just four wins away from basketball immortality.
Their postseason journey did not begin smoothly. The Atlanta Hawks, seeded 6th (46-26) at the season’s end, pushed New York, seeded 3rd (53-29) to the edge in the opening round, forcing the Knicks into a grueling six-game series that tested their composure, resilience, and mental toughness. Atlanta’s speed, perimeter shooting, and pesky defense exposed weaknesses in the Knicks’ transition defense and ball movement. At one point, with New York trailing 2-1 in the series, doubters emerged everywhere, me included. Recalling the Knicks’ unexpected fall to the Indiana Pacers last year, there was a growing frustration surrounding the team’s fragile start once again. And I must admit I criticized Jalen Brunson’s handling of his point guard role at that time.
I felt that Jalen needed to download more of the scoring responsibility to the rest of his teammates. I have always believed that the point guard’s primary role is to get everyone involved in the offense. Hence, teams that had their point guards leading the scoring parade would not normally end up with a consistent offense, which is what’s needed for a deep playoff run.
And I remember the long list of point guards who, as their teams’ leading scorers, failed to win an NBA crown. Guys like Oscar Robertson (later won 1 with the Bucks with Kareem Abdul Jabbar as the top scorer), Nate Archibald (later won 1 with the Celtics with Larry Bird as top scorer), Allen Iverson, Steve Nash, Russell Westbrook, Damian Lillard and James Harden. And the list goes on and on. I felt that Brunson could become another name added to that list.
But then, of course, there’s that point guard anomaly: Steph Curry. Steph has been able to balance his point guard role as the primary ball distributor while maintaining his position as the team’s top scorer. Of course, he has been blessed with steady support from such luminaries as Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Andrew Wiggins and more.
What happened next is precisely why playoff basketball creates legends. Jalen appears to have taken a page off the Curry experience; and from there, responded like a true superstar. Chalking up 11 consecutive wins in this post-season. Instead of shrinking under pressure, he elevated his game to historic levels. Over the next several weeks, he completely took control of the postseason. His leadership steadied the Knicks during difficult stretches, his shot-making became unstoppable in crunch time, and his poise spread throughout the entire roster. By the end of the Eastern Conference Finals, Brunson had silenced every critic and earned Eastern Conference Finals MVP honors through sheer brilliance, determination, and heart. Me included.
What followed after the Hawks series was nothing less than domination. The heavily anticipated matchup against former MVP Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers was expected to be a war. Instead, it became a statement. The Knicks dismantled Philadelphia with suffocating defense, relentless rebounding, and extraordinary depth, despite the imposing presence of Joel. OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges turned the perimeter into a nightmare for opposing guards, while Karl-Anthony Towns stretched defenses beyond their limits. Despite the absence of a true power forward to back up their center, the tandem of OG, Mikal and Josh Hart took turns to keep their opponents at bay. The Knicks didn’t merely beat the 76ers, they schooled the Sixers like little kids, and overwhelmed them in every phase of the game.
Then came the Cleveland Cavaliers, proud conquerors of the top-seeded Detroit Pistons in the Conference Semis. The Cavaliers entered the Eastern Conference Finals with confidence and momentum, but the Knicks simply delivered perhaps its best basketball of the season. The Knicks controlled the tempo, won the physical battles, and repeatedly executed under pressure. Every game seemed to feature a different hero: Brunson orchestrating the offense, Towns dominating inside and out, Josh Hart sacrificing his body for rebounds and loose balls, and when all else failed, the bench dousing water onto the fire.
The result was stunning: a complete shutout of both Philadelphia and Cleveland after surviving the Hawks scare. Now, the Knicks await the winner of the Western Conference Finals between the defending champs, Oklahoma City Thunder and those young upstarts, the San Antonio Spurs. And perhaps for the first time this postseason, fate may finally be tilting in New York’s favor.
While the Thunder and Spurs continue to batter each other in a brutal, emotionally draining series, the Knicks sit at home recovering, studying film, and regaining strength. In a playoff run where attrition matters as much as talent, rest could become one of New York’s greatest weapons.
Against Oklahoma City, the Knicks would face a battle-tested defending champion led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Against San Antonio, they would confront the generational brilliance of Victor Wembanyama. Neither matchup will be easy, for sure.
But this Knicks team no longer fears anyone. They have survived adversity, silenced criticism, and discovered an identity rooted in toughness, sacrifice, and belief. The city of New York can feel it now – that rare, electric sense that something special may be unfolding. After decades of heartbreak, after last year’s almost, the dream suddenly feels real again.
And with a rested, confident, battle-hardened roster led by a superstar who has embraced the biggest moments, the Knicks are no longer simply content on being here. They are definitely coming for the championship.
Watch out, Thunder. Get ready, Spurs. The Knicks are no longer an easy out. They’ve paced themselves well, they’re peaking right on time, they’re well-rested. And they’re raring to give it a go.
See you in the NBA Finals.
Cover picture courtesy of NBA.com.
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