Shaquille O’Neal believes the New York Knicks’ championship run was fueled by extra than simply expertise, arguing that a number of pivotal moments broke of their favor throughout the 2025-26 NBA Playoffs.
Talking about New York’s title run on The Massive Podcast, O’Neal acknowledged the Knicks finally earned the championship however questioned how shut they got here to falling brief.
“In case you don’t get that tip it’s over… you don’t win that recreation… If dumb ass De’Aaron Fox don’t f***ing attempt to rating with 8 seconds left… In the event that they don’t let the 29 level lead go. I’m simply saying y’all received, however you had a number of luck,” the four-time NBA champion mentioned, through HoopsHype.
O’Neal’s feedback referenced a number of defining moments from the NBA Finals in opposition to the San Antonio Spurs. The Knicks defeated San Antonio in five games to seize the franchise’s first championship since 1973, however the collection featured razor-thin margins regardless of the 4-1 outcome.
Sport 2 was determined by a single level, with New York escaping San Antonio 105-104 to take a commanding 2-0 collection lead. Sport 4 proved much more dramatic. The Knicks completed a historic 29-point comeback before securing a 107-106 victory, placing themselves one win away from the championship.
That comeback turned the biggest in NBA Finals historical past and dramatically shifted the collection. As an alternative of returning to San Antonio tied 2-2, the Knicks carried a 3-1 benefit into Sport 5, the place they closed out the title with a 94-90 victory on the highway.
O’Neal additionally referenced a late-game determination by Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox, suggesting San Antonio’s execution contributed to New York’s success. His broader level was that championship runs typically hinge on a handful of decisive possessions, and he believes the Knicks benefited from a number of of them.
Whereas O’Neal emphasised the position of fortune, New York’s total playoff physique of labor was dominant. The Knicks completed the common season 53-29, good for the Jap Convention’s No. 3 seed, earlier than eliminating the Atlanta Hawks in six games, sweeping the Philadelphia 76ers in the conference semifinals and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Jalen Brunson was the driving drive all through the postseason. The All-Star level guard averaged 28.4 factors and 6.1 assists throughout 19 playoff video games whereas capturing 46.5% from the sphere, incomes NBA Finals MVP honors after main New York to the championship.
OG Anunoby elevated his play within the postseason as effectively, averaging 20.1 factors whereas capturing 56.1% total and an excellent 48.9% from three-point vary. Karl-Anthony Cities added 15.9 factors, 10.6 rebounds and 4.9 assists per recreation, whereas Mikal Bridges shot 55.9% from the sphere throughout the playoff run.
The Knicks additionally displayed outstanding steadiness all through the postseason. They swept Philadelphia and Cleveland by a mixed 8-0 file earlier than defeating the Spurs in 5 video games, ending the playoffs with a 16-3 file.
