The NBA Cup has become more interesting year by year and people thought the New York Knicks, which won it a day ago, is dampening the momentum it is having because of one decision.
The Big Apple franchise announced that it will not hang a banner to commemorate their first ever trophy since 1973. The past two champions – Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Lakers – did put up banners for their win.
The New York Knicks will not raise an NBA Cup championship banner at Madison Square Garden, sources tell ESPN. The Lakers and Bucks raised banners for NBA Cup titles over the last two years. Knicks will celebrate with home fans Friday.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 17, 2025
BREAKING: The Knicks have decided against hanging an NBA Cup banner, the Post learned. There will be an “appropriate” celebration before the next home game Friday, but the team is said to be focused on the bigger picture. They’ll be the first Cup champion to not hang a banner. pic.twitter.com/ZJWeF9lDyS
— Stefan Bondy (@SbondyNBA) December 17, 2025
New York won the pocket tournament over the San Antonio Spurs led by Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby. They survived the hot run of Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs who survived the defending NBA champions Oklahoma City Thunder.
The org’s reasoning sound good. NBA Cup is just a pocket tournament and is not exactly the main thing. However, the decision does not reflect the energy the players have moments after their victory.
Mike Brown himself said it – he wants a banner at the Madison Square Garden.
“There’s a lot of positives about it,” Brown said during the celebrations.
“But the most positive is being able to hang a banner up in MSG, the most iconic arena in the league.”
New York Knicks gets trolled, criticized for the decision
It is Knicks’ first ever trophy in almost five decades and people have strong opinion about this decision. Among those who does not think it is a good idea is NBA great Dwight Howard who thought it will backfire.
I’m going to be second hand embarrassed if the Knicks don’t raise the NBA Cup Banner then don’t make it to the championship this year 🤷🏾♂️ Celebrate your wins while you can
— Dwight Howard (@DwightHoward) December 17, 2025
NBA champion Paul Pierce thinks this is the only time they will get to celebrate a championship.
Paul Pierce clowns the Knicks and says the NBA Cup is the only championship they’ll ever win
“They won’t win an NBA title in my lifetime.”😳
(🎥 @NFGShow / https://t.co/A7KMqMIbPj) pic.twitter.com/ku2l2UaiVk
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) December 18, 2025
NBA fans have similar opinion while others think Knicks are disrespecting the NBA Cup.
Lakers and Bucks have recent NBA Finals banners so they don’t have some inferiority complex that stopped them from also raising an NBA Cup banner.
— Justin Wills (@itsjwills) December 17, 2025
I thought the NBA Cup made some strides in catching on with fans this season. This is a step backwards. The players have treated the tournament like something that matters, now that it’s won they’re too cool for it? https://t.co/PO7w0hMPkd
— Trevor Lane (@TrevorLane) December 17, 2025
If losing franchises are going to be too prideful to raise the banner, then you might as well just get rid of the entire tournament because it’s for sure going to start drawing a negative connotation. Maybe it would have been best if Spurs or Thunder won this year https://t.co/tXgR1Neu3u
— Pepé Silvia ⚜️ (@SlayYoung23) December 17, 2025
fake “winning culture” stuff like this is funny cause watch the Knicks still not raise a Championship banner for another 10 years lol https://t.co/IWZAwFLDz9
— jus (@justhegoat) December 17, 2025
Just hang the banner lmao stop putting on airs like you’re too good for this. https://t.co/Mbgan6HS6A
— kang (@jaycaspiankang) December 17, 2025
This Cup disrespect will not go unpunished by the Basketball Gods https://t.co/JJXlCjJPUA
— Harrison Faigen (@hmfaigen) December 17, 2025
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