The Knicks just made NBA Cup history - and they’re choosing to keep it low-key.
After taking down the San Antonio Spurs 124-113 in the midseason tournament final, New York became the third team to win the NBA’s in-season competition. But unlike the Lakers and Bucks before them, who both raised banners the moment they clinched the Cup in 2023 and 2024 respectively, the Knicks are opting for a different route.
No banner will go up in Madison Square Garden. At least, not for this.
The decision, according to reports, is rooted in focus. The Knicks aren’t brushing off the accomplishment - far from it.
They’ll still celebrate with fans on Friday night when they return home to face the Sixers. But the franchise has its eyes on a bigger prize: the Larry O’Brien Trophy in June.
It’s a move that speaks volumes about where this team sees itself. Winning the NBA Cup is a notable achievement - it took strong performances, chemistry, and some clutch moments to get there. But for a franchise that hasn’t raised a championship banner since 1973, the message is clear: this isn’t the final destination.
The last time the Garden rafters saw a new addition was after the Knicks secured the Atlantic Division title back in the 2012-13 season. Before that? Those two iconic championship banners from 1970 and 1973 - a constant reminder of the franchise’s storied past and the standard they’re still chasing.
So while the Knicks may not be immortalizing their NBA Cup win in fabric and thread, they’re not ignoring it either. They’re just putting it in perspective. It’s a step forward, a sign of progress - but the real banner they want to raise is still out there, waiting.