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The New York Knicks, for the first time since 1973, are NBA champions. Their victory represents something unique in the modern NBA. They are the first team since Isiah Thomas and the 1990 Detroit Pistons to be led by an undersized, physical guard all the way to a championship. Sure, you can point to Steph Curry as the best player on the Golden State Warriors dynasty. But Curry doesn’t occupy the same space as Jalen Brunson. And once Kevin Durant arrived in Golden State, much of the burden was lifted from Curry’s shoulders for two of those four championships.
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – JUNE 13: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks celebrates with the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy after the victory against the San Antonio Spurs in Game Five of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center on June 13, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Brunson is different. He is the exception to the rule. Historically, smaller players struggle to withstand the physical toll of four consecutive playoff rounds. I think of how Chris Paul broke down in 2021 and am reminded that’s one of the reasons teams built around undersized guards rarely end up holding the Larry O’Brien Trophy at the end of the season. Yet that’s exactly what Brunson and the Knicks accomplished.
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The NBA has always been a copycat league. Whenever a team wins a championship, the natural reaction is to point to that team and declare it the blueprint. Front offices study it. Fans debate it. Media members write about it. Everyone searches for the secret formula.
What I find fascinating about the Knicks’ title run is that it serves as another reminder that there is no singular blueprint. In fact, this is now the third consecutive season in which the league’s perceived North Star has changed. Three years ago, the focus was on one model. Then another champion emerged and shifted the conversation. Now the Knicks…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/3-champions-3-blueprints-one-000000706.html
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Publish date : 2026-06-15 00:00:00
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