The New York Knicks are one win away from securing the third championship in their 80-year history and their first since 1973. On Wednesday night, they achieved the largest comeback in NBA finals history, erasing a 29-point deficit to defeat the San Antonio Spurs in Game 4 at Madison Square Garden.
The victory has left the Knicks on the brink of a title, with a 3-1 series lead. The team, long accustomed to disappointment, now appears to be a team of destiny. The comeback was so improbable that it drew reactions from celebrities courtside, including Taylor Swift and members of Haim, who were seen leaping for joy.
A Team Forged by Heartbreak
The Knicks have often been on the wrong end of devastating losses, most recently in last year's playoffs against the Indiana Pacers. However, this season has been different. The team has shown resilience, staging multiple double-digit comebacks during the 2026 playoffs. Head coach Mike Brown and players like Jose Alvarado and Karl-Anthony Towns were visibly emotional after the game.
“I’m not going to sugarcoat this,” Alvarado said. “I was about to cry. I’m at Madison Square Garden, end of the fourth quarter, playing with these guys, and we’re playing for something special.”
Despite the historic win, the team remains focused. Captain Jalen Brunson and game-winning playmaker OG Anunoby were more stoic, emphasizing that there is still one more game to win.
A Team of Castoffs
The Knicks roster is filled with players who have been overlooked or discarded by other teams. Jalen Brunson was let go by the Dallas Mavericks after being a two-time national champion at Villanova. Karl-Anthony Towns was traded by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Josh Hart bounced around the league, and Alvarado went undrafted. Even coach Mike Brown was dismissed by the Sacramento Kings.
“I think everybody, to a certain degree, at some point in life is overlooked,” Brown said. “Just to have the ability to stay with it, especially when you get knocked down, to me, that defines who you are.”
Destiny or Luck?
The concept of a team of destiny raises questions about fate and control. Brown acknowledged the role of luck in sports but also emphasized the importance of making your own luck. “Sometimes you get lucky. Sometimes you make your luck,” Towns said. “We made our luck today.”
For most of Wednesday night, it seemed as though the Knicks' luck had run out. Team owner James Dolan's media tour had created distractions, and the Spurs played with confidence, with Victor Wembanyama taunting the Knicks. However, the resilient group rallied, proving that a team of destiny finds a way to win, no matter the circumstances.
The Knicks now stand just one victory away from an NBA championship, a feat that has eluded them for over five decades.
