New York Knicks Raise First Championship Banner Since 1973
The New York Knicks will host the Philadelphia 76ers in a primetime NBA Tip-Off matchup on October 20, marking the first time the team will raise their first NBA championship banner since 1973. The Knicks, led by 2026 NBA Finals MVP Jalen Brunson, will look to build on their dominant run to the Larry O'Brien Trophy, going 16-3 throughout the four rounds of the playoffs, including consecutive sweeps over Philadelphia and Cleveland in the Eastern Conference Semifinals and Finals, respectively, before defeating the San Antonio Spurs in five games.
What Comes Next?
The Philadelphia 76ers, featuring four-time NBA MVP LeBron James, who signed with the team after eight seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, and 2024 NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown, who was traded from the Boston Celtics to the 76ers in arguably the most stunning move of the offseason, will look to take down the Knicks in a highly anticipated matchup. The 76ers boast a brand-new lineup featuring James, Brown, 2023 Kia NBA MVP Joel Embiid, 2026 Kia All-NBA Third Team selection Tyrese Maxey, and Kia All-NBA Rookie First Team selection VJ Edgecombe.
Why it Matters for New York Knicks
The Knicks' championship win marked the first title in 53 years for the franchise, and they will look to build on that momentum in the upcoming season. With a core of Brunson, 2026 NBA All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns, playoff hero OG Anunoby, and veteran leaders Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges, the Knicks will look to make a deep run in the playoffs once again.
What to Expect
The game will tip off at 7 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock, with live coverage beginning with NBA Showtime at 6:30 p.m. ET. The Knicks-76ers matchup will be bookended by two marquee matchups featuring some of the league's brightest stars, including a rematch of last season's thrilling seven-game Western Conference Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder, led by reigning Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year Victor Wembanyama and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, respectively.
And, in a thrilling opening matchup, the Boston Celtics, led by Jayson Tatum, will take on the Detroit Pistons, featuring Cade Cunningham, in a battle of last season's top two Eastern Conference seeds. The game will tip off at 3 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.
Last result: San Antonio Spurs 90-94 New York Knicks (2026-06-14). Recent form (last 5): 4W-0D-1L (WWWWL, most recent first); on a 4-game winning run.
