The New York Knicks didn’t just win the 2026 NBA Championship, they went on one of the most magical runs this league has ever seen. And get this: the whole thing kicked off with their toughest test, a first-round series against the Atlanta Hawks, where they truly found themselves.
That Hawks Series Was a Wake-Up Call
Man, that Hawks series was something else, right? Deuce McBride, an absolute key rotation player, totally gets how much momentum can swing a game, a series, even a whole season. The Knicks actually struggled early on in that first round. Atlanta had CJ McCollum playing out of his mind, making him feel like public enemy number one for Knicks fans. But then, bam! Game 4 hits, and the Knicks drop 114 points to the Hawks’ 98. That’s where it all changed. They grabbed that momentum, and they never let it go. They just kept rolling, blowing out Atlanta 126-97 in Game 5 and then crushing them 140-89 in Game 6 to close out the series.
One Loss, That’s It. One!
Think about that for a second. After that Game 4 win against Atlanta, the Knicks only lost ONE more game for the rest of the entire postseason. Seriously! That lone loss? It was in the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs. This team went from looking rattled after Game 3 against the Hawks, struggling through the regular season even, to an absolute juggernaut. Deuce McBride summed it up perfectly on the “This Crew Has It” podcast. He said, “Honestly, when we came back from Atlanta, I was like, ‘I don’t think there’s anybody that can stop us.’” He even referenced that massive 50-point win, saying, “This team looks crazy.” That turnaround, especially after “everybody thought the world was ending during the mid-season” as he put it, just screams Coach Mike Brown’s impact. That dude rallied them, big time.
This special postseason run ended a 52-year championship drought for the Knicks. Jalen Brunson already admitted they’ve got a massive target on their backs now. But who cares? That run, the way they turned it around from a shaky start to an undisputed champion, that’s gonna live forever. This wasn’t just a championship; it was a statement.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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