Knicks to Raise Championship Banner in Emotional Celebration Before 76Ers Showdown
WHO:
CNN - Courtside guests included Mariska Hargitay, Spike Lee, Roger Goodell, and Jon Bon Jovi.
CNN - The Knicks’ banner ceremony began at 6:30 p.m.
CNN - LeBron James was 41 and was seeking a team to help him pursue another championship.
CNN - The 76ers acquired Bob Myers and Mike Gansey in the offseason; CNN described Myers as the architect of Golden State’s success.
CNN - CNN reported the 76ers acquired Jaylen Brown from the Celtics.
CNN - Walt Frazier handed out the Knicks’ championship rings.
CNN - Knicks players OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, and Karl-Anthony Towns received ovations during the ceremony.
CNN - Knicks fans chanted “We didn’t want you” at LeBron James, referencing his admission that he considered New York before the Knicks won the title.
CNN - 76ers head coach Nick Nurse said, “I’m really happy to come here and get a win.”
CNN - James said the team wanted its experience to translate to wins and “more of a culture – a championship culture.”
Daily Mail Sports - LeBron James was named in the article’s description of the 76ers showdown.
NY Post - Jalen Brunson delivered a line that Knicks fans had long been waiting for.
Daily Mail Sports - The New York Knicks celebrated their championship achievement.
NY Post - The Knicks are involved in Banner Night.
WHAT:
CNN - The Knicks’ banner ceremony followed their comeback from a 29-point deficit to beat the San Antonio Spurs in Game 4 of the NBA Finals.
CNN - Forbes reported that the Knicks opener had the highest get-in price for an NBA season opener in league history.
CNN - The Knicks’ championship rings were described as meat-hook sized.
CNN - The NBA scheduled the Knicks’ ceremony and James’s 76ers debut for the same night.
CNN - CNN described the Sixers’ offseason moves as an effort to build a team capable of sprinting toward success.
CNN - James said, “Obviously this is a marathon,” and added that the team wanted its experience to translate into wins and “more of a culture – a championship culture.”
CNN - Jalen Brunson thanked fans for sticking around for Game 4 and said he wanted to “replicate that again this year.”
CNN - The championship banner rose on two pulleys and stopped to the left of the “M” in Madison Square Garden.
CNN - The 76ers’ starting five made 29 of 71 field-goal attempts.
NY Post - The Knicks’ famous fans attended the ceremony to receive their championship rings and open the season.
NY Post - The 76ers celebrated by the end of the evening.
IJR - A fan told LeBron James, “We don’t want you,” and he replied, “I’m from Ohio, baby.”
IJR - Philadelphia defeated the Knicks 106–100.
IJR - Tyrese Maxey scored 28 points.
IJR - LeBron James recorded 14 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists in his 76ers debut.
NY Post - The Knicks lost their season opener to the 76ers after a comeback attempt fell short.
NY Post - LeBron James described the 76ers spoiling the Knicks’ ring night as “pretty special.”
NY Post - The Knicks received championship rings during the ceremony.
NY Post - The championship banner rose from behind the players as the 2025-26 Knicks gathered before becoming the 2026-27 Knicks.
NY Post - The ceremony marked the opening of the season.
NY Post - The article reported that celebrities attended the banner night, while one notable person was absent.
NY Post - The Knicks quietly raised their NBA Cup banner to the rafters at Madison Square Garden.
Fox News - The Knicks’ ring-ceremony T-shirt contained a typo, prompting fans to roast the team after a social media post backfired.
Daily Mail Sports - The Knicks raised a championship banner in an emotional celebration before a showdown with the 76ers.
Daily Mail Sports - The article described the celebration as the team’s crowning achievement from June.
NY Post - The Knicks began Banner Night with a “Bang.”
WHERE:
CNN - A bus displaying Abu Dhabi Tourism logos drove around the Garden block with the championship trophy inside.
CNN - Fans gathered along midtown streets outside Madison Square Garden.
Daily Mail Sports - The banner celebration took place at Madison Square Garden.
WHEN:
Daily Mail Sports - It was the Knicks’ first banner night at Madison Square Garden in 53 years.
WHY:
Daily Mail Sports - The Knicks celebrated their championship win.
HOW:
CNN - The championship banner rose from the floor to above the center-court scoreboard before stopping to the left of the “M” in Madison Square Garden.
CNN - Walt Frazier, identified as a key figure in the 1973 championship, presented the rings.
NY Post - Jalen Brunson’s voice delivered the anticipated line at 6:57 p.m.
NY Post - The Knicks’ Banner Night started with a “Bang.”
(UPDATED October 21, 2026 13:10 UTC)
The Knicks raised their championship banner after rallying from a 29-point deficit to beat the San Antonio Spurs in Game 4 of the NBA Finals, with the ceremony beginning at 6:30 p.m. A bus displaying Abu Dhabi Tourism logos circled Madison Square Garden with the trophy inside, as courtside guests included Mariska Hargitay, Spike Lee, Roger Goodell and Jon Bon Jovi; Forbes reported the opener had the highest get-in price for an NBA season opener in league history, and the team’s rings were described as meat-hook sized. The NBA scheduled the ceremony on the same night as LeBron James’s 76ers debut, as Philadelphia added Bob Myers and Mike Gansey and, according to CNN, acquired Jaylen Brown from the Celtics; James, 41, said, “Obviously this is a marathon,” and said the team wanted its experience to translate into wins and “more of a culture – a championship culture.”
--
Walt Frazier presented the Knicks’ championship rings at Madison Square Garden, where players including OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, and Karl-Anthony Towns received ovations. Fans chanted “We didn’t want you” at LeBron James, while Jalen Brunson thanked supporters for sticking around for Game 4 and said he hoped to replicate that again this year. The championship banner rose but stopped left of the “M,” and 76ers coach Nick Nurse said he was happy to come away with a win.