The New York Knicks are NBA champions for the first time since 1973, overcoming another deficit to defeat the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 in Game 5 at the Frost Bank Center.
And it was Jalen Brunson who cemented his legacy with his 45-point performance on Saturday night, closing out the series 4-1 and ending the longest championship drought in franchise history.
While reveling in his newly minted Finals MVP status, Brunson also took a moment to address a completely different demographic: Taylor Swift fans.
Jalen Brunson Addresses Taylor Swift Fans After Leading the Knicks to NBA Glory
Game 5 was another tale of two halves, as the Knicks had another come-from-behind victory against a San Antonio side that just cannot hold on to leads. Brunson carried the offense whenever the Knicks struggled in Game 5, erupting for 15 points in the fourth quarter en route to a dominant closeout performance.
Brunson’s 45 points broke the franchise record for most points in a Finals game, surpassing the 38 scored by the late Willis Reed against the Los Angeles Lakers in 1970.
Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart, the other members of the “Nova Knicks” trio who won the 2016 NCAA title together at Villanova, chipped in with 14 and 13 points, respectively.
However, amid the championship celebrations, Brunson dug up an unexpected pop-culture storyline specifically aimed at “Swifties.”
Looking to cool the tensions around radio announcer Monica McNutt and the recent drama, Brunson said, “I just want to say something to the Swifties. She’s [McNutt] a really good one. Cut her some slack. It’s all good. I promise.”
jalen got a message to all the swifties pic.twitter.com/izMcwQ6UHt
— sports live tweeter yadira (@jonmoxIeys) June 14, 2026
The message was a direct response to a viral incident from Game 4 at Madison Square Garden.
During that broadcast, McNutt was caught on a hot mic noticing Swift in the celebrity row and remarking, “Is that Taylor Swift? She’s not a Knicks fan. Get out of here, girl.”
The moment drew “swift backlash,” as fans flooded social media to point out Swift’s documented history with the Knicks.
McNutt subsequently apologized, admitting that she was not aware that Swift was a long-time supporter of the Knicks.
Meanwhile, for the Spurs, it was a routine collapse that the fans had unfortunately grown used to. After surging ahead to a double-digit lead, San Antonio ran out of breath trying to maintain that momentum.
The one positive for Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs was that they now have the critical, albeit heartbreaking, postseason experience they need to complement their talent and build on next season.
