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Brunson scores 45 as Knicks capture first title since 1973

6/18/2026

42 9 Full Breakdown

Summary

Brunson Wins Title

Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart threw ceremonial first pitches at Yankee Stadium before the Yankees’ 7:05 p.m. ET game against the Chicago White Sox.
Brunson scored 45 points, earning Finals MVP as the Knicks captured their first NBA title since 1973.
A June 18 ticker-tape parade in Lower Manhattan will give the Knicks the city’s keys, a ceremony Mayor Zohran Mamdani said could become New York’s largest ever.

Summary

Knicks Accept Invite

The Knicks accepted a White House invitation from President Donald Trump, the first NBA Finals champions invited during his administration.
A White House spokesperson said the visit will be for a date to be determined, noting Trump praised Jalen Brunson as ‘maybe the greatest in basketball history’ on Truth Social.
Dolan noted his friendship with Trump and said he personally invited the president to a game, highlighting the political angle.

History

Historical Context

In 1973 the New York Knicks captured their second NBA title, beating the Los Angeles Lakers 4-1 and earning Willis Reed a second Finals MVP award. That victory marked the franchise’s last championship and Finals appearance until 1994. The 2024 parade honoring Jalen Brunson’s 45-point Finals MVP and the team’s White House invitation echo the 1973 civic celebrations, showing how Knicks triumphs become platforms for political visibility.

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Brunson Wins Title

Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart threw ceremonial first pitches at Yankee Stadium before the Yankees’ 7:05 p.m. ET game against the Chicago White Sox.
Brunson scored 45 points, earning Finals MVP as the Knicks captured their first NBA title since 1973.
A June 18 ticker-tape parade in Lower Manhattan will give the Knicks the city’s keys, a ceremony Mayor Zohran Mamdani said could become New York’s largest ever.

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