Barack Obama joined the New York Knicks celebration after their NBA Finals triumph, but his message stood out because of the two players he chose to mention by name.
The Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 in Game 5, closing the series 4-1 and winning the franchise’s first NBA championship since 1973.
The post added another national voice to a title night that had already turned into a historic New York sports moment.
Barack Obama praises Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby after New York Knicks’ title
In a post shared by Barack Obama on X, the former United States president congratulated the Knicks and named two of their biggest Finals figures.
“Congrats to Coach Brown, Finals MVP Jalen Brunson, OG, and the rest of these incredible NBA Champion New York Knicks! What a run!” Obama tweeted.
Jalen Brunson was the obvious headline name from the group. He won Finals MVP and closed the series with 45 points in Game 5, shooting 14-of-27 from the field and 13-of-15 at the free-throw line.
OG Anunoby’s mention also fit the run. His 33-point Game 4 performance helped New York complete a historic comeback, and that result pushed the Knicks to within one win of the championship.
Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby shaped New York Knicks title in different ways
Brunson gave the Knicks their championship closer in San Antonio, while Anunoby gave them the two-way swing that changed the Finals before Game 5 arrived.
The Knicks needed both versions of impact to end 53 years of waiting. Brunson controlled the title-clinching night with shot-making and free-throw pressure, while Anunoby’s defense, spacing and timely scoring helped turn the series before the final game.
Mike Brown also earned Obama’s mention after guiding New York to the title in his first season as Knicks head coach. The championship turned a high-pressure appointment into one of the fastest coaching payoffs in franchise history.
The wider achievement made the post resonate beyond one congratulatory message. New York’s third NBA championship ended a drought that stretched across multiple generations of Knicks fans.
Obama kept the post short, but the names he chose told the story. Brown led the bench, Brunson became the Finals MVP, and Anunoby supplied the kind of two-way work that helped turn a long-suffering team into champions.
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