Can the New York Knicks Win The NBA Championship In 2026?
Can the Knicks Finally End Their Championship Curse in 2026?
The New York Knicks’ recent win of the NBA Cup, this December, has brought attention to a topic that has gone unspoken for far too long; could the Knicks finally bring home the championship?
In terms of statistics, the Knicks have not had a championship since 1973. With the drought now over 52 years, the Knicks have one of the longest active droughts in professional basketball. The only other teams with longer droughts are the Kings (65 years), Hawks (66 years), Suns (54 years), and Clippers (55 years); according to Sports Illustrated.
However, there appears to be something different about this season compared to previous seasons.
Building A Foundation That Will Work
Firstly, let’s focus on the facts. The Knicks finished the 2024-25 regular season with a 51-31 record. The record placed the Knicks third in the Eastern Conference standings. The Knicks made it to the Conference Finals after defeating the Toronto Raptors in 5 games and ultimately falling to the Indiana Pacers in 6 games; the Knicks’ first trip to the Conference Finals since 2000.
The fact that the Knicks have won playoff series in three straight seasons is not just a fluke. The playoff wins have given the Knicks the type of experience needed to handle the pressure of the NBA playoffs in June.
According to ESPN, the Knicks have more total playoff experience on their current roster than any other team that appeared in the NBA Cup Final in Las Vegas, including the defending champion Thunder.
These players have already shown that they can perform in high-pressure situations. Jalen Brunson was named to the All-NBA Second Team and received the Clutch Player of the Year Award last season, while Karl-Anthony Towns was named to the All-NBA Third Team. These are not players who are still learning how to win—they have already shown that they can win.
The NBA Cup Was Important
Although the NBA Cup may appear to be a meaningless mid-season tournament, the win in the NBA Cup told us something very important about the Knicks’ mental approach to the season. After beating the Spurs 124-113 in the final game of the tournament, the Knicks did not display the same enthusiasm that other teams had displayed when celebrating their own NBA Cup titles. While the Knicks allowed their championship banners from 1970 and 1973 to remain standing, the rest of the banners remained folded. The message was clear — the Knicks will settle for nothing short of an actual NBA Championship.
The NBA Cup final also demonstrated what this team can do under pressure. When the Knicks were down by double digits late in the third quarter, they responded with a 35-19 fourth-quarter run. Mitchell Robinson pulled in 11 offensive rebounds during that final quarter. During the same quarter, Jordan Clarkson hit several key shots. This depth is the exact thing that separates playoff teams from championship teams.
What Do the Odds Say
Currently, the odds that the Knicks will win the NBA Championship is 13-to-1 (or +1300) in the betting market. Therefore, a person would receive $1,300 for each $100 wagered should the Knicks win the championship. Additionally, the Knicks are listed at +270 to win the Eastern Conference title. Thus, the Knicks are considered the favorite to earn the right to represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals.
According to BetMGM’s December betting data, the Knicks were the second most heavily-bet-on team to win the championship, and the only team ahead of the Knicks in those bets was the Thunder.
Moreover, the Knicks’ path to the Eastern Conference title seems reasonable. The defending-champion Celtics are in trouble and both Cleveland and Detroit have strong records; however, neither team has the playoff experience or star-power that the Knicks possess. The Knicks have a 22-9 record so far this season, which puts them in-line with the top teams in the Eastern Conference.
The Historical Weight
The 52-year drought is not simply a statistical figure—it is a burden that every member of the Knicks’ organization bears. The last time the Knicks achieved a championship was in 1973 with a starting lineup featuring five Hall-of-Famers (Willis Reed, Walt Frazier, Dave DeBusschere, Bill Bradley, and Earl Monroe).
Since then, the Knicks have made it to the NBA Finals only once—losing to the San Antonio Spurs in 1999. Over 80 seasons as a franchise, the Knicks have achieved only two championships (in 1970 and 1973).
There is tremendous pressure and expectation in New York City. History cannot continue forever.
According to ESPN’s Kevin Pelton, the Indiana Pacers used their 2023 NBA Cup final appearance as momentum to make the NBA Finals 18 months later. If the Pacers—a team that had not won a playoff series since 2014—could achieve such success, why can’t the Knicks?
What Can Prevent the Knicks From Winning?
Of course, nothing is ever guaranteed in basketball. Injuries occur. Some teams get hot at the wrong times. Players who typically provide role support become ineffective in crunch-time moments.
The Thunder, for example, are the defending-champion with a 26-5 record and are listed at +115 odds to repeat—virtually even money. The Nuggets have Nikola Jokic, who is arguably the best player in the world today.
As a result, the Knicks also bear the weight of being the Knicks. This is a franchise where expectations have consistently outpaced results. The last time the Knicks came this close to achieving a championship (the 1994 Finals against the Houston Rockets)—John Starks shot 2-for-18 in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, according to Sports Illustrated’s in-depth coverage of the Knicks’ drought. The ghosts of those losses continue to haunt the Knicks.
Bottom Line
Can the Knicks win the 2026 NBA Championship? No one knows. However, for the first time in decades, asking the question does not appear ridiculous.
The Knicks have the stars (Brunson, Towns, Anunoby), the depth (Clarkson, Robinson, the bench), the experience (most playoff minutes of any Cup finalist), and the mentality (they refuse to celebrate anything except a real championship). The odds indicate that the Knicks have a 7.0 percent chance of winning the championship, the second-best chance among all Eastern Conference teams, behind only Cleveland.
Furthermore, the Knicks have moved away from discussing their 52-year drought and toward becoming a team that expects to win. The NBA Cup was not a celebration; it was a declaration of intention.
After 52 years of waiting for the drought to end, the Knicks are done waiting. Whether the new banners will include a third championship banner for Madison Square Garden, it is true that the Knicks no longer intend to show up merely to participate in the league. They have come to win. And, frankly, it is time for them to do so.