SAN ANTONIO — The unborn will know their names.
With another two wins, the Knicks will end the NBA’s most painful drought and capture their first championship in 53 years.
With two more wins, the names of Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges will be passed down to future generations, just as Walt Frazier, Willis Reed, Dave DeBusschere, Bill Bradley and Earl Monroe became famous to every Knicks fan too young to experience when the Garden was Eden.
Every title team eventually gets whittled down to a small fraction of its contributors.
Even perhaps the greatest team of all time, the 1927 Yankees, has been filtered to little more than Ruth and Gehrig.
New York Knicks guard Landry Shamet reacts after scoring during the fourth quarter of Game 2 of the NBA Finals. Charles Wenzelberg / New York PostBut you know better.
You know the Knicks wouldn’t hold a 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals without the strength of their second unit — without names that will never reach the rafters (Mitchell Robinson, Landry Shamet, Jose Alvarado, Miles McBride).
“A lot of contributions from a lot of guys, and that’s why you like having a team because it could be anybody’s night on any given night,” Knicks coach Mike Brown said following the 105-104 Game 2 win. “Our guys don’t care. They sacrifice for one another and we found a way to get a win.”
The Knicks bench was instrumental in the Game 1 win in San Antonio, producing 28 points, along with four assists from McBride, and a combined 10 rebounds from Alvarado and Robinson.
In Game 2, Brown needed even more, as Brunson shot 7-for-25, Hart was held scoreless and Towns was limited to four second-half points.
For a stretch of more than five crucial minutes — from the 3:19 mark of the third quarter through the 10:15 mark of the fourth quarter — Brown sat Brunson and Towns, opting for a lineup of Shamet, Robinson, Alvarado, McBride and Bridges.
Mitchell Robinson dunks over Victor Wembanyama in Game 2. Charles Wenzelberg / New York PostDuring that span, the Knicks lead grew from four to 12, eventually settling at 87-78 when Brunson and Towns reentered.
Shamet, who is shooting 67.6 percent on 3-pointers in the postseason, finished with 13 points for the second straight game.
Robinson had seven points, three rebounds, one block and one steal in 14 minutes, in addition to helping prevent Victor Wembanyama from evening the series on the potential game-winner.
Alvarado and McBride — who have two of the Knicks’ top five on-court ratings in the NBA Finals — combined for seven points, four assists and four offensive rebounds.
In last year’s playoffs, Tom Thibodeau used each of his starters for more than 35 minutes per game, giving just two reserves (Robinson, McBride) double-digit minutes per game.
Knicks Merch Shop
This premium commemorative plaque features the iconic front cover of the New York Post from the Knicks’ historic 2026 NBA Finals victory.
The walls of any true fan require this plaque of our back cover from June 14, 2026 featuring Brunson and the boys celebrating their win.
The “Our Team, Our Title” wrap from our June 15, 2026 print edition set behind acrylic plexiglass and framed in black ayous wood.
Grab a copy of our paper from June 14, 2026 celebrating this huge moment for Knicks fans and New York City as a whole.
OMG, indeed! This adjustable hat says what we were all thinking during this intense championship run.
Own this piece of history with our cover celebrating the Knicks’ sweep over the Cavs.
Knicker Bonkers chronicles the historic championship run that united NYC. Featuring NY Post analysis and vivid photos, relive the magic of MSG.
This year, Brunson is the only starter averaging more than 34 minutes in the playoffs, as Brown uses a nine-man rotation during the season’s most critical moments, placing trust in names many will never know.
“It’s important,” Shamet said of the bench play. “We need everybody.”
