The New York Knicks’ 2025-26 championship left a lasting impression on Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant. The two-time NBA champion revealed that he considers it the best championship he has watched as a viewer.

Speaking on the Boardroom podcast with Speedy Mormon on August 27, Durant explained why the Finals were so difficult to predict.

“That's probably why I was the best championship as a viewer that I've probably ever seen,” said Durant.

“Like game five? Yeah. That whole time you were like, oh, the Spurs still going to come back?" said Durant on the Boardroom Podcast's YouTube. "I was just like, didn't know. I was just like, the Spurs would be up 15 points every game, 29 points, and then they would just come back and steal a game." 

He said he did not fully believe in the Knicks until late in the Finals because the San Antonio Spurs kept taking big leads.

“As they started coming back, I didn't become a believer, to be honest, until the last game, because they were just playing,” said Durant.

Those comebacks made the championship even more exciting for Durant. He was not just watching a team dominate the series. He was watching the Knicks fight back whenever they looked to be in trouble.

For Durant, the appeal went beyond the Knicks ending their long title drought. Their ability to keep fighting back from difficult situations made the championship particularly memorable to watch.

Knicks’ comeback run made the championship memorable

According to Fadeaway World’s Nico Martinez, Durant also talked about how the Knicks showed they could handle pressure during their title run. New York finished the regular season with a 53-29 record and went 16-3 through four playoff rounds.

The Finals gave the Knicks their biggest challenge. San Antonio took big leads several times, but New York kept fighting back. The Knicks eventually won the series in five games.

Jalen Brunson was central to the Knicks’ success during that comeback-filled run. He averaged 32.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game in the Finals while winning the Finals MVP award.

The Knicks also had a strong core around Brunson, with Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, and OG Anunoby.

For Durant, that combination of talent and comeback wins made the Knicks’ championship unlike anything he had watched before.

Written by

Kapil Manghnani

Kapil Manghnani brings over 4.5 years of experience in sports journalism, covering a wide range of sports, including Soccer, NHL, Tennis, Gymnastics, NASCAR, Swimming, and more. He has written for leading sports platforms, producing everything from breaking news and features to in-depth analysis, opinion pieces, long-form stories, and short-form content. Beyond articles, he has also scripted long-form storytelling videos for YouTube channels. His work focuses on delivering well-researched, engaging, and reader-first sports content across multiple formats.

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Edited by

Rudra Dubey