Why Knicks Reportedly Won't Hang NBA Cup Banner After Championship Win

The New York Knicks reportedly do not plan on hanging a banner at Madison Square Garden to commemorate their 2025 NBA Cup title.

ESPN's Shams Charania and SNY's Ian Begley reported the news, with Begley adding that the Knicks' decision to eschew a banner is due to the fact that they have "bigger goals in mind," in the form of an NBA championship.

However, Begley noted that the Knicks don't want to "diminish the accomplishment" and they are "very proud" of it, which is why they intend to celebrate with their fans prior to Friday's home game against the Philadelphia 76ers.

The Knicks secured their first-ever NBA Cup title on Tuesday night when they beat the San Antonio Spurs 124-113 in the final, which was held in Las Vegas.

Spurs-Knicks Full Highlights

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This year marked the third NBA Cup, and the Knicks are the third different team to win it, as the Los Angeles Lakers were triumphant in the first NBA Cup and the Milwaukee Bucks took it last season.

Charania noted that both the Lakers and Bucks chose to hang NBA Cup championship banners in their respective arenas, meaning the Knicks' decision to not do so is a departure from the norm.

Entering the fourth quarter of Tuesday's NBA Cup title game, the Knicks trailed by five points, but they overcame that deficit and ended up outscoring the Spurs by 16 points in the final frame.

OG Anunoby led the way for the Knicks with 28 points, but it was guard Jalen Brunson who was named NBA Cup MVP after racking up 25 points, eight assists and four rebounds in the final.

Rookie Dylan Harper led the Spurs with 21 points off the bench, and superstar center Victor Wembanyama also came off the bench to contribute 18 points and six rebounds in the loss.

Wembanyama just recently returned from a 12-game absence due to a calf injury, prompting the Spurs to manage his minutes.

The Knicks are coming off a 2024-25 season that saw them reach the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2000.

They largely returned the same roster this season in hopes of taking the next step and reaching the NBA Finals, and early returns suggest they have a great chance of doing so.

At 18-7, the Knicks are currently the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference behind only the 21-5 Detroit Pistons.

Winning the NBA Cup proved the Knicks' ability to face and beat the best the NBA has to offer, and it could bode well for their chances of winning their first NBA championship since 1973.