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Jalen Brunson helped deliver the Knicks their first NBA championship in 53 years, but he still hasn’t quite gotten around to one part of the celebration.
Opening a bag containing his championship hat.
Four months after the Knicks defeated the Spurs in the NBA Finals, Brunson hasn’t opened the bag that holds the commemorative hat since the victory.
On an episode of “Roommates Show” — his podcast with teammate and longtime friend Josh Hart — Brunson asked the do-everything glue guy where he kept the hat.
Hart noted that he thinks it’s in his closet.
Brunson asked if he had washed it yet, to which Hart said no.
Brunson said he hasn’t either, then acknowledged, “Mine is still not washed, it’s in the bag and I’m afraid to open it,” he said.
He added, “It smells terrible: Champagne, sweat, cigars, food, beer, tequila.”
Jalen Brunson on his New York Knicks championship caps:
“Mine is still not washed, it’s in the bag and I’m afraid to open it. It smells crazy, champagne, sweat, cigars, food, beer, tequila👀” pic.twitter.com/aIi1aYdNMU
— THE PAINT NBA (@ThePaintNBA) October 16, 2026
New York defeated San Antonio in five games to win its first championship since 1973, with Brunson delivering one of the most memorable performances in franchise history in the clincher, scoring 45 points in a testy Game 5 to secure a 94-90 win on the road.
The celebrations that followed included a championship parade through Manhattan and the team making numerous appearances, including Brunson recently hosting a season-opening episode of “Saturday Night Live.”
Brunson underwent wrist surgery in the offseason, fixing an injury he played through during the Knicks’ championship run. He has since fully recovered.
The Knicks’ title defense will begin Tuesday as they start their 2026-27 season by hosting the 76ers at Madison Square Garden, where they will be honored with the championship rings and hang the long-awaited title banner in the rafters of the World’s Most Famous Arena.
