The New York Knicks have won their first NBA championship since 1973, defeating the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. The victory prompted New York Governor Kathy Hochul to issue a pointed three-word response to a pre-series taunt from Texas Governor Greg Abbott.
The exchange began before the championship series when Governor Abbott posted a viral AI-generated image showing him dunking on Governor Hochul. Rather than responding immediately, Hochul waited for the outcome on the court. Following the Knicks’ series-clinching win in San Antonio, she posted on the social media platform X, “Aged like milk,” a direct rebuke of Abbott’s post. Her patient response mirrored the long wait New York fans have endured for a title.
For the Knicks organization and its supporters, the win marks the end of a 53-year championship drought, erasing decades of frustration and near-misses. The team, widely considered the underdogs against the Spurs, secured the franchise’s first Larry O’Brien Trophy since their last title in 1973. The 94-90 victory on the road capped a season where the team consistently outperformed expectations.
Celebrations have already begun in New York City. Mayor Zohran Mamdani confirmed a championship parade will take place on Thursday. Governor Hochul, celebrating the win during the Puerto Rican Day Parade in Manhattan, told crowds, “This is our moment!” The win also settled an earlier off-court issue, where Hochul had publicly criticized the Spurs for restricting ticket sales to Knicks fans. She lamented at the time that supporters had “booked flights and made plans in good faith.” The ultimate victory provided a satisfying conclusion for the team, the city, and its political leader.
