By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The New York Knicks are the NBA champions, securing the title at San Antonio’s Frost Bank Center after a campaign defined by sheer resilience in the NBA Finals 2026. Standing at the center of the celebration was British forward OG Anunoby, who captured his second career ring in a vastly different fashion than his first. In 2019, an emergency appendectomy forced him to miss the entirety of the Toronto Raptors‘ postseason run, leaving him on the bench as the first British player to officially earn an NBA championship. Looking back at these contrasting experiences following Saturday’s clinching Game 5, Anunoby shared his appreciation for both milestones. “The last one, I didn’t get the chance to play, but it was special as well. Both were very special,” he mentioned.
The road to his second Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy required the Knicks to navigate a grueling postseason that tested their mental and physical fortitude at every turn. Battling back from a severe hamstring strain, Anunoby personified this team-wide grit, elevating his game when it mattered most. In the Finals, he emerged as a frontline superstar on the biggest stage, averaging 21.2 points per game on highly efficient 52.5% shooting from the field and an outstanding 50% from three-point range. His historic playoff run was highlighted by a heroic Game 4 game-winning tip-in and a 33-point explosion against the San Antonio Spurs, a performance that briefly vaulted him into the Finals Most Valuable Player conversation.
For Anunoby, the victory was the culmination of a clear vision established by the roster before the first preseason game tip-off. “We did it. That was our goal from the start in September, in Abu Dhabi. We went through a lot this season, a lot of ups and downs. We just stayed with it, mentally tough, and we won,” he said, opening his postgame press conference. The date of the triumph added an extra layer of personal significance. “It’s a great day,” he referred to winning the championship with the Raptors on June 13th as well.
Victory also spotlighted a distinctly European group of rising talents, alongside the British star. France’s Pacome Dadiet and Mohamed Diawara, Poland’s Jeremy Sochan, and Germany’s Ariel Hukporti were crowned champions as well.
NBA Playoffs 2026
Eastern Conference
Quarterfinals (best-of-seven)
Detroit Pistons – Orlando Magic 4-3 (101-112, 98-83, 105-113, 88-94, 116-109, 93-79, 116-94)
Cleveland Cavaliers – Toronto Raptors 4-3 (126-113, 115-105, 104-126, 89-93, 125-120, 110-112, 114-102)
New York Knicks – Atlanta Hawks 4-2 (113-102, 106-107, 108-109, 114-98, 126-97, 140-89)
Boston Celtics – Philadelphia 76ers 3-4 (123-91, 97-111, 108-100, 128-96, 97-113, 93-106, 100-109)
Semifinals (best-of-seven)
Detroit Pistons – Cleveland Cavaliers 3-4 (111-101, 107-97, 109-116, 103-112, 113-117, 115-94, 94-125)
New York Knicks – Philadelphia 76ers 4-0 (137-98, 108-102, 108-94, 144-114)
Finals (best-of-seven)
New York Knicks – Cleveland Cavaliers 4-0 (115-104, 109-93, 121-108, 130-93)
Western Conference
Quarterfinals (best-of-seven)
Oklahoma City Thunder – Phoenix Suns 4-0 (119-84, 120-107, 121-109, 131-122)
Los Angeles Lakers – Houston Rockets 4-2 (107-98, 101-94, 112-108, 96-115, 93-99, 98-78)
Denver Nuggets – Minnesota Timberwolves 2-4 (126-115, 114-119, 96-113, 96-112, 125-113, 98-110)
San Antonio Spurs – Portland Trail Blazers 4-1 (111-98, 103-106, 120-108, 114-93, 114-95)
Semifinals (best-of-seven)
Oklahoma City Thunder – Los Angeles Lakers 4-0 (108-90, 125-107, 131-108, 115-110)
San Antonio Spurs – Minnesota Timberwolves 4-2 (102-104, 133-95, 115-108, 109-114, 126-97, 139-109)
Finals (best-of-seven)
Oklahoma City Thunder – San Antonio Spurs 3-4 (115-122, 122-113, 123-108, 82-103, 127-114, 91-118, 103-111)
NBA Finals 2026 (best-of-seven)
San Antonio Spurs – New York Knicks 1-4 (95-105, 104-105, 115-111, 106-107, 90-94)
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