Knicks raise championship banner and receive rings before 76ers opener
New York marked its 2025–26 title at Madison Square Garden, where Jalen Brunson thanked fans and coach Mike Brown urged his players to enjoy the moment.
The New York Knicks raised their 2025–26 NBA championship banner and presented players with rings at Madison Square Garden on October 20, 2026, before opening the new season against the Philadelphia 76ers. The ceremony turned a title celebration that had been scheduled for opening night into a moment for the team and its home crowd, according to a report published by Yahoo Sports.
The banner went into the arena rafters after the players received their rings. The Knicks also hung a separate banner recognizing their 2025 NBA Cup win over the San Antonio Spurs, the report said. That second banner marked a different achievement from the NBA championship the team was celebrating before its 2026–27 opener.
What Jalen Brunson told Knicks fans
Knicks captain Jalen Brunson thanked the fans who had waited 53 years for another title. ‘As much as we won this, we wouldn't have done it without you guys. This is unbelievable. This is really a dream come true,’ he said during the ceremony, according to the Yahoo Sports report.
Brunson said the team was eager to begin the new season but wanted to acknowledge the city's response to the championship. ‘The joy that this city had this summer — we would love to replicate that again,’ he said. His remarks put the supporters alongside the players in the account of what the title meant to New York.
Mike Brown on the celebration and the season ahead
Head coach Mike Brown called the banners recognition of the team's journey through the previous season, including the NBA Cup and Finals wins. He said players should share the celebration with one another, their families, the organization and fans after what they had been through to reach it. ‘You don't want to take that moment away from them,’ he said.
Brown also cautioned against treating the opener as a verdict on the Knicks' next campaign. ‘Whatever happens tonight is not going to define us,’ he said, pointing to the rest of the 82-game season. The banner ceremony preceded a scheduled 7 p.m. Eastern Time game against Philadelphia; the Knicks began the night as defending champions, facing a new season after the celebration.
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Sources and context
- SEE IT: Knicks unveil 2025-26 championship banner, rings in pregame celebrationSNY (republished by Yahoo Sports; story carries a USA TODAY label)
- 76ers vs. Knicks NBA odds: LeBron James and Philly open as biggest title liability, look to ruin banner nightCBS Sports
- Where to Watch the New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia 76ers Game LiveRolling Stone
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.