NEW YORK — The New York Knicks are one win away from their first NBA Cup title, with the San Antonio Spurs standing in their path. Tuesday night in Las Vegas guarantees a first-time champion, but the stakes feel heavier for New York. A victory would validate years of careful roster construction around Jalen Brunson and finally give the franchise tangible success in the modern era. For a team that wandered through much of the 2000s without direction, this moment feels symbolic. Still, the looming question persists. Can the Knicks win without triggering the dreaded Knicks NBA Cup curse that has haunted recent winners?
Can The Knicks End The NBA Cup Curse
How the NBA Cup Became a Cautionary Tale
On paper, winning the NBA Cup will signal momentum. In reality, recent history suggests otherwise. The last two champions learned that success in December does not guarantee spring glory. In 2023, the Lakers defeated Indiana in the final and treated the trophy as validation of a title chase. That confidence faded quickly. Denver dispatched Los Angeles in a first-round gentleman’s sweep, exposing a roster stretched too thin. A year later, Milwaukee followed a similar script. The Bucks beat Oklahoma City in the 2024 final, leaning on experience and urgency. Their season unraveled in the first round, and the Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard partnership soon collapsed. These outcomes fueled the growing belief in an NBA Cup curse, especially for veteran teams chasing immediate payoff.
Why the Knicks Are Built to Avoid the Trap
This Knicks team does not resemble those cautionary examples. New York is not top-heavy, nor is it clinging to an aging core. Instead, the roster blends star power with depth and sustainability. Brunson anchors the offense with control, while Karl-Anthony Towns stretches defenses and provides size. The supporting cast matters just as much. Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby both bring defensive stability, while Deuce McBride supplies energy and perimeter pressure off the bench. That balance separates New York from past winners and weakens the Knicks NBA Cup curse narrative. The Knicks rank second in offensive rating, generating efficient looks without forcing pace. Defensively, they remain near the top ten, good enough to hold up across a long season.
Coaching and Context Matter
Mike Brown’s influence cannot be overstated. His system emphasizes clarity, consistency and adaptability. Players understand their roles, which reduces volatility when pressure rises. Previous NBA Cup winners leaned into urgency, almost treating the trophy as an endpoint. New York approaches it differently. This team already views itself as a legitimate title contender. That mindset changes everything. The Knicks do not need the Cup to justify their season, and that emotional distance may be the antidote to the Knicks NBA Cup curse.
A Chance to Rewrite the Narrative
If the Knicks win, history does not have to repeat itself. They will frame the NBA Cup as a milestone rather than a destination. Their depth and structure suggest sustainability beyond December. The NBA Cup curse exists only if the Knicks allow it to define them. This roster looks equipped to end that narrative and turn a one-night celebration into a foundation for something bigger.
© Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The post Can The Knicks End The NBA Cup Curse appeared first on Last Word On Basketball.