Jalen Brunson Pokes Fun at Josh Hart Over NBA Finals Mistake

The New York Knicks secured the franchise’s first NBA title since 1973 with a Game 5 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday night.

The Knicks notched a 94-90 final score over Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs at San Antonio’s Frost Bank Center, closing out the championship series with a 4-1 finish.

New York found itself in position to closeout the series in Game 5 after a historic comeback victory at Madison Square Garden in Game 4. The Knicks erased a 29-point Spurs lead to secure a 107-106 final score, capped off by a game-winning tip-in from OG Anunoby.

Moments before this game-winning shot, Knicks veteran Josh Hart missed a wide-open transition layup that would have given New York the lead.

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During an appearance with the “TODAY” show on Monday morning, Finals MVP Jalen Brunson poked fun at his longtime friend/teammate over this brutal mistake.

"A lot of great things happen, you know when we're down one and you miss a wide open layup,” Brunson said with Hart sitting next to him.

"For me, I wanted to set up an epic last possession. We wouldn't have that OG tip in without that missed layup,” Hart replied.

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Brunson was named Finals MVP after averaging 32.6 points per game throughout the Knicks’ series against the Spurs. Hart made winning plays throughout the postseason, averaging 7.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.4 steals per game in the championship series.

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This story was originally published June 15, 2026 at 11:51 AM.