New York Knicks To Break Protocol Celebrating NBA Cup Victory
Madison Square Garden isn’t just an arena. It is a cathedral. It is where legends are made, dreams are crushed, and history hangs from the rafters. So, when the New York Knicks finally clinched the 2025 NBA Cup on Tuesday night, ending a decades-long drought of hardware, you’d expect the celebrations to include a new piece of fabric joining the 1970 and 1973 championship banners.
Think again.
The Knicks have reportedly decided it won’t be raising a banner for its mid-season tournament victory. While the Lakers and Bucks were happy to memorialize their Cup wins in previous years, New York is taking a different approach. They will take the trophy, sure. They will definitely take the cash (a cool half-million per player is nothing to sneeze at). But the rafters? Those are reserved for the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
Why the Knicks Are Skipping the Ceremony
It’s not that they aren’t proud. Beating the San Antonio Spurs 124-113 in Vegas was a statement game. Jalen Brunson played like a man possessed, and OG Anunoby was a force. But sources close to the team say the franchise doesn’t want to “diminish” the accomplishment by putting it on the same level as an NBA title.
This decision speaks volumes about the culture shift in New York. For a long time, just making the playoffs was grounds for a parade. Now? This team is hunting the big one. They know that hanging a banner for a December tournament might feel a little… cheap, when the ultimate goal is playing in June. It is a mentality shift that fans have been craving since the 90s.
Celebrating With the Faithful
Don’t worry, though—the team isn’t going to totally ghost the fans. They’re planning to celebrate the victory with the Garden faithful this Friday against the Sixers. Expect a trophy presentation, maybe some highlight reels, and definitely a raucous crowd.
But when the lights go down, and the smoke clears, the ceiling will look the same as it did before. And honestly? That’s the most “New York” thing they could do.
What This Means For the Rest Of the Season
This choice puts a target on their backs, but in the best way possible. By refusing to hang the banner, the Knicks are effectively burning the boats. They are telling the league, and themselves, that the NBA Cup was just a stepping stone.
With an 18-7 record and sitting near the top of the Eastern Conference, the Knicks have the talent to back up the swagger. The road to the NBA Finals is long, but for the first time in a long time, the destination feels reachable.
