The New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs 4-1 in the 2026 NBA Finals, capturing their first championship in 53 years. New York simply had San Antonio’s number all year — between the Finals and the 2025 NBA Cup championship, the Knicks beat the Spurs five times out of six meetings this season.
This exit interview breaks down how the Knicks’ fantasy basketball pieces performed on the way to glory and what it means heading into next season.
The new King of New York
Jalen Brunson’s legend was written in the playoffs, where he not only led the Knicks to their first championship since 1973 but actually leveled up compared to his already-impressive regular season. After a strong campaign that included being named MVP of the 2025 NBA Cup in December — scoring 25 points in a comeback win over the Spurs — Brunson went off in the postseason.
He averaged 32.6 points, 4.6 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 2.0 steals in the Finals, capped by a 45-point masterpiece in Game 5 that secured a unanimous Finals MVP award. He became only the fourth second-round pick ever to win Finals MVP, joining Knicks legend Willis Reed, Dennis Johnson and Nikola Jokić. The leader of the most dominant playoff team in modern NBA history, Brunson is a top-three PG in the league.
As great as Brunson was, one surprise was seeing OG Anunoby (33rd) and Mikal Bridges (35th) finish higher than him in 9-cat leagues in 2025-26, even though Brunson was a top-25 player in points formats. Even so, Brunson remains a clear third-round pick and one of the best point guards in fantasy — his elite scoring, efficiency and playmaking keep him among the most valuable options at his position, especially after this title run.
The Big Bodega bags a chip
Karl-Anthony Towns didn’t replicate the numbers he posted under Tom Thibodeau, and that’s not a shock given the transition to a new coaching staff and offensive philosophy. With Thibs’ exit and Mike Brown’s arrival, workloads across the roster shifted, and Towns needed time to find his footing within the new system. Following the NBA Cup, KAT was slumping hard, shooting 42% from the field, averaging just 15.9 ppg. But as the season wore on, KAT settled in, and his production trended upward. KAT ended the season as the top-ranked Knicks player, finishing 25th in 9-cat and 37th in High Score.
He remains a second-to-third-round target and is about as well-rounded as it gets for a big man. He tallies traditional frontcourt stats while being one of the most efficient shooters in the league. With a title in hand and a full offseason to gel further in Brown’s system, Towns is a safe and consistent pick across formats.
“Wing Stop” delivered
The Knicks’ wing defense was one of their greatest strengths, as they wreaked havoc on opposing offenses all season. Both OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges averaged over two stocks per game, and both comfortably outperformed their ADPs in 9-cat leagues — finishing as top-35 players thanks to a combination of efficiency, defensive production and 3-point volume. Two habitually underrated guys in fantasy did their thing and were pivotal to the Knicks winning it all.
Anunoby was the better fantasy player of the two. In High Score formats, he averaged 33 fantasy points per game compared to Bridges’ 31, with Bridges landing just outside the top 100 at 104 overall. Both are better suited for 9-cat than points leagues, but they’re effective fantasy assets regardless — especially for managers who value durability. Bridges is the ironman of the group, the type of player you can count on for all 82 games, while Anunoby appeared in 67. Different injury profiles, similar fantasy value — both are safe, productive picks who do a little bit of everything without hurting you anywhere.
Forget them picks.
Hart of a champion
It doesn’t matter whether he’s starting or coming off the bench, Hart remains a key asset for the Knicks — and for fantasy managers, too. His game has never been about scoring; it’s the intangibles. He’s one of the best rebounders under 6-foot-5 and he chips in across assists, steals and 3-pointers in a way that makes him a reliable source for counting stats. A true fantasy basketball utility glue guy.
Hart’s production fell short of his seventh-round ADP, ranking 85th in 9-cat and 89th in High Score this season. With 66 games played and tri-positional eligibility, his fantasy value didn’t take as much of a hit as it seemed. He won’t be confused for a star, but Hart is an integral piece for the Knicks and a decent late-round asset if you need hustle and effort stats.
Final Thoughts
One of the most encouraging signs for the Knicks was Mike Brown’s willingness to trust his bench and get value from depth pieces — a real-life win that didn’t always translate to fantasy. Deuce McBride broke out, but remained off the fantasy radar.
Looking ahead, the core five (Brunson, OG, Towns, Mikal, and Hart) are the only true long-term locks, though Mitchell Robinson could return to bolster rim protection and rebounding. With depth possibly thinning, rookie Mohamed Diawara will be a name to watch in Summer League, as he could carve out a role if he impresses. If the rotation shifts, New York still holds a first-rounder (No. 24) and two second-round picks (Nos. 31, 55) to help reload.
Bottom line: this is the Knicks’ third championship in franchise history, and with the core intact and draft capital in hand, they’ll be right back in contention next season. Great for the franchise and for your fantasy rosters, too.
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