June 17, 2026 NEW YORK, NY The drought is officially over, and New York City is burning with championship fever!

For over five decades, New York Knicks fans have endured heartbreak, false prophets, and endless rebuilding phases. But on Saturday night, inside a stunned Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, history was rewritten. The Knicks are the NBA Champions!

Yet, as the confetti rained down and players clutched the Larry O’Brien Trophy, the spotlight shifted to one man—and the staggering king's ransom it took to bring him to Gotham.

The Most Heavily Criticized Trade in Modern NBA History

When Knicks President Leon Rose emptied the war chest before the 2024-25 season, critics called it madness. The Knicks surrendered a staggering five first-round draft picks to their cross-town rivals, the Brooklyn Nets, just to acquire veteran shooting guard Mikal Bridges.

For two long years, that steep price tag hung around Bridges’ neck like a millstone. The storybook narrative didn't always match the harsh reality:

• Bridges averaged a modest 16 points per game.

• His three-point shooting hovered at a lukewarm 36.2%.

• Fans at Madison Square Garden routinely let him hear their frustration.

During the grueling postseason run, his offensive numbers vanished for stretches. In the Finals against the Spurs, Bridges was held to single digits in three out of five games. The media was sharpening its knives, preparing to label the trade one of the biggest busts in basketball history.

Then came Game 5.

"F---K THEM PICKS!" The Unforgettable Moment the Fandom United

When everything was on the line, Bridges silenced the doubters. He exploded for 14 clutch points in Game 5, shooting an efficient 50% from the field and draining three massive buckets from beyond the arc to seal the title.

As the realization of a championship washed over the New York faithful who had invaded San Antonio, a hilarious, rowdy chant echoed through the rafters:

“F—k them picks!”

Suddenly, those five missing future assets didn't matter. The crown was back in New York.

Bridges Shocks Reporters with an Epic Post-Game Response

New York Knicks guard Mikal Bridges (25) speaks to the media
Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images

Instead of using his post-game press conference to take a victory lap or bash the fans who had booed him for two seasons, Bridges showed the ultimate class. When asked about the crowd's vulgar new catchphrase, he smiled.

“You talking about f—k them picks?” Bridges laughed. “Yeah, f—k ’em."

Rather than holding a grudge over the immense pressure and criticism he faced in New York, Bridges embraced the notorious "tough love" of the Big Apple.

“Given all of the times I’ve been struggling, and our fans are on me, I want to always be better," Bridges admitted. "I appreciate the tough love. I know some fans might be crazier than others, but the ones that truly care, they just want me to be better. So don’t stop now.”

With a ring on his finger and his place in New York lore secured forever, Mikal Bridges proved he has the one thing required to survive and thrive in New York City: the heart of a champion.

Was the Mikal Bridges trade the greatest move in Knicks history, or did they still give up too much? How are you celebrating the championship?

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