Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns & Mike Brown Celebrate NBA Finals Victory, React to Superstitions

June 18, 2026

Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns & Mike Brown Celebrate NBA Finals Victory, React to Superstitions

Fresh off leading the New York Knicks to their first NBA championship in 53 years, Finals MVP Jalen Brunson, six-time NBA All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns, and head coach Mike Brown stopped by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to celebrate the historic victory and reflect on an unforgettable season.The trio received a hero’s welcome as they discussed bringing the Larry O’Brien Trophy back to New York, ending a decades-long title drought and cementing their place in Knicks history. Brunson admitted the accomplishment still feels surreal, sharing that the magnitude of the championship has yet to fully sink in.

Towns reflected on his record-breaking postseason performance and the electric atmosphere at Madison Square Garden, crediting the fans for helping fuel the team’s remarkable playoff run. Brown, meanwhile, revealed that he believed the Knicks had championship potential from the moment he began evaluating the roster during the interview process for the head coaching job.

The conversation also touched on some of the team’s more lighthearted playoff superstitions. One fan-favorite story involved Towns’ fiancée, Jordyn Woods, whose signature handbag became an unlikely good-luck charm after the Knicks remained undefeated whenever it appeared at games. Brunson also joked about initially being skeptical of wrestler Danhausen’s so-called “curse-breaking” powers before eventually embracing the superstition as the wins piled up.

Fallon revisited Brunson’s incredible 45-point performance in the title-clinching game, a feat achieved previously only by Michael Jordan in NBA Finals history. The Knicks captain also opened up about the emotional moment he shared with his father, assistant coach Rick Brunson, after securing the championship, describing it as the culmination of years of hard work, sacrifice, and childhood dreams.
Another surprising revelation came when Brunson confirmed that music from Justin Bieber remains an essential part of his pregame ritual. While his playlist changes throughout the day, he revealed that after Coach Brown’s final pregame speech, it’s always Bieber playing in his headphones before he takes the court.

The interview also offered a heartfelt moment as Towns reflected on honoring his late mother throughout the championship journey. He shared how meaningful it was to return to the show as an NBA champion, remembering the dreams they had discussed years earlier when he first entered the league.
As the conversation wrapped, the players reflected on the team’s biggest lesson: that success is possible regardless of where you come from.

Brunson emphasized that every player on the roster took a different path to the NBA, encouraging young fans to believe in themselves, embrace hard work, and stay focused on the small details that make big dreams possible. Part celebration, part reflection, and part comedy, the appearance showcased why this Knicks squad has become one of the most beloved teams in franchise history.