The Knicks Win the NBA Cup - and Yes, It Actually Matters
It’s been a strange week for the Boston Celtics. After riding a five-game win streak, the team hit a speed bump - not just in the standings, but in rhythm. The break for the Emirates NBA Cup seemed to throw off their momentum, and now, suddenly, the shots aren’t falling and the offense looks out of sync.
Meanwhile, 200 miles south, the New York Knicks are celebrating something they haven’t had in decades: a trophy. On Tuesday night, they outlasted the San Antonio Spurs 124-113 to win the NBA Cup - the league’s new in-season tournament. It may not carry the weight of a Larry O’Brien, but make no mistake: this win meant something.
A Trophy Is a Trophy
This isn’t the McDonald’s Open of 1990. That was more of a global exhibition.
The NBA Cup, on the other hand, is the league’s attempt to inject real stakes into early-season basketball - and it’s working. Tuesday’s final had playoff intensity, and the Knicks responded with a performance that showed they’re not just here to make noise - they’re here to win.
The players cared. The fans cared.
And if you watched the game, you could feel it. The Knicks leaned on a balanced offensive attack, timely defense, and a level of composure that’s been missing from the franchise for much of the past two decades.
This wasn’t just about lifting a shiny new trophy; it was about proving they belong in the conversation.
The Knicks Are Starving - and That’s Not a Bad Thing
Let’s be honest: Knicks fans haven’t had much to cheer about in recent memory. That hunger?
It showed. From the courtside celebrations with actors like Timothée Chalamet and Ben Stiller FaceTiming Karl-Anthony Towns, to the genuine joy on the faces of the players - this was more than just a mid-December win.
It was a release.
Josh Hart, a national champion at Villanova, let loose during the trophy presentation in a way that only someone who’s been grinding for years could. It was goofy, sure.
But it was also real. That kind of unfiltered celebration is what makes sports fun - and what makes this tournament feel like it matters.
Controversy in the Desert
Of course, no big game comes without a little drama. Spurs interim head coach Mitch Johnson had two successful challenges in the fourth quarter, but the first - which overturned a charge call - didn’t restore a three-pointer that had gone in after the whistle. To make matters worse, Johnson was hit with a technical for arguing the sequence.
Then there was the missed out-of-bounds call on OG Anunoby, who secured a loose ball with a foot clearly on the line. That play extended a Knicks possession and added to the frustration for San Antonio.
It wasn’t a perfect night for the officials, and some will argue it tilted the game in New York’s favor. But even with the officiating wrinkles, the Knicks made enough plays to earn the win.
The NBA Cup: Gimmick or Gateway?
There’s still plenty of skepticism about the NBA Cup’s place in the league’s structure. The scheduling quirks - where losing early can actually benefit teams with extra rest - are still being ironed out.
But the knockout rounds? They’ve been electric.
The intensity has ramped up, the players are locked in, and fans are tuning in.
Social media lit up with reactions after the final, and the tone has shifted. Where there was once indifference, there’s now intrigue. The Cup isn’t just a gimmick - it’s becoming a proving ground.
And yes, the Knicks are the first team to truly embrace that.
No Banner? No Problem
One thing the Knicks reportedly won’t do is raise a banner for this. That’s a choice - and a smart one. While the Lakers hung a banner after winning the inaugural Cup two years ago, the Knicks seem content to enjoy the moment without overstating its significance.
Still, there’s no denying the impact. The last two Cup winners - the Lakers and Bucks - both flamed out in the first round of the playoffs.
The Knicks will be hoping to break that trend. And if this tournament has done anything, it’s give them a platform to build on - momentum, confidence, and maybe even belief.
Bottom Line
The Knicks needed this. Not just the win, but the validation. For a franchise that’s spent years trying to find its footing, lifting a trophy - any trophy - in front of a national audience is a step forward.
Is the NBA Cup the ultimate prize? No.
But it’s a start. And for a team and a fanbase that’s been stuck in the waiting room for what feels like forever, that matters.