Shaquille O’Neal believes the New York Knicks’ championship run was fueled by more than just talent, arguing that several pivotal moments broke in their favor during the 2025-26 NBA Playoffs.
Speaking about New York’s title run on The Big Podcast, O’Neal acknowledged the Knicks ultimately earned the championship but questioned how close they came to falling short.
“If you don’t get that tip it’s over… you don’t win that game… If dumb ass De’Aaron Fox don’t f***ing try to score with 8 seconds left… If they don’t let the 29 point lead go. I’m just saying y’all won, but you had a lot of luck,” the four-time NBA champion said, via HoopsHype.
O’Neal’s comments referenced several defining moments from the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs. The Knicks defeated San Antonio in five games to capture the franchise’s first championship since 1973, but the series featured razor-thin margins despite the 4-1 result.
Game 2 was decided by a single point, with New York escaping San Antonio 105-104 to take a commanding 2-0 series lead. Game 4 proved even more dramatic. The Knicks completed a historic 29-point comeback before securing a 107-106 victory, putting themselves one win away from the championship.
That comeback became the largest in NBA Finals history and dramatically shifted the series. Instead of returning to San Antonio tied 2-2, the Knicks carried a 3-1 advantage into Game 5, where they closed out the title with a 94-90 victory on the road.
O’Neal also referenced a late-game decision by Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox, suggesting San Antonio’s execution contributed to New York’s success. His broader point was that championship runs often hinge on a handful of decisive possessions, and he believes the Knicks benefited from several of them.
While O’Neal emphasized the role of fortune, New York’s overall playoff body of work was dominant. The Knicks finished the regular season 53-29, good for the Eastern Conference’s No. 3 seed, before 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 force throughout the postseason. The All-Star point guard averaged 28.4 points and 6.1 assists across 19 playoff games while shooting 46.5% from the field, earning NBA Finals MVP honors after leading New York to the championship.
OG Anunoby elevated his play in the postseason as well, averaging 20.1 points while shooting 56.1% overall and an outstanding 48.9% from three-point range. Karl-Anthony Towns added 15.9 points, 10.6 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game, while Mikal Bridges shot 55.9% from the field during the playoff run.
The Knicks also displayed remarkable balance throughout the postseason. They swept Philadelphia and Cleveland by a combined 8-0 record before defeating the Spurs in five games, finishing the playoffs with a 16-3 record.
