Knicks NBA Cup banner unveiled at MSG pictured ahead of ceremony celebrating 2026 championship

The New York Knicks officially recognize their 2025 NBA Cup championship now that the franchise followed it up with an NBA title.

The Knicks raised their NBA Cup banner before Tuesday’s season opener against the Philadelphia 76ers, according to the New York PostIt’s Stéphane Bondy.

The Knicks won the season tournament against the San Antonio Spurs in December.

SNY’s Ian Begley reported shortly after that the Knicks would not raise the NBA Cup banner due to the franchise’s focus on winning a title.

The Knicks are now expected to celebrate their June championship victory over the Spurs with a ring ceremony and banner raising before Tuesday’s tipoff at Madison Square Garden, according to Bondy.

The NBA Cup banner marks the first time the Knicks have commemorated an achievement in the rafters of Madison Square Garden since winning the division title in 2013.

The Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks each hung celebratory banners after winning the first two tournaments of the NBA season, noted SNY’s Alex Smith. Hall of Famer Reggie Miller later speculated that the Lakers were encouraged to hang the inaugural NBA Cup banner by commissioner Adam Silver.

These two previous NBA Cup winners lost in the first round of their respective playoffs.

The Knicks mixed things up by celebrating their own season championship with a ceremony, but without raising a banner, before a game against the Sixers last December.

The Spurs and Knicks then played an NBA Cup rematch in the NBA Finals in June.

Brunson, who was named NBA Cup MVP in December, also won NBA Finals MVP after setting a franchise league record with 45 points in a Game 5 win.

The Knicks will now celebrate that run by hanging their first championship banner since 1973 in a ceremony beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET and broadcast on NBC and Peacock.

LeBron James will next make his debut for the Philadelphia 76ers as the visiting team looks to spoil the Knicks’ banner night starting at 7 p.m. ET.