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Jalen Brunson is afraid to open the bag with his Knicks NBA championship hat

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson remains in a unique state of championship limbo four months after leading the franchise to its first NBA title in half a century. Though the team defeated the San Antonio Spurs in five games—culminating in Brunson’s 45-point explosion in a tense Game 5 road win—the star has yet to open the unwashed bag containing his commemorative hat, joking on a recent podcast that its contents reek of champagne, sweat, cigars, and celebratory excess.

The hat, still sealed since the victory parade and subsequent festivities (including Brunson hosting *Saturday Night Live*), now sits unclaimed in his closet alongside teammate Josh Hart’s similarly preserved memento, a quirky twist on the usual post-title rituals.

Brunson’s offseason wrist surgery—performed to address an injury he played through during the championship run—has since healed, allowing him to enter the Knicks’ title-defense campaign fully fit. The team kicks off the 2026-27 season Tuesday at Madison Square Garden, where Brunson and his teammates will finally receive their championship rings and see the long-awaited banner hoisted in the rafters of the arena that witnessed their historic run.

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Knicks savior Jalen Brunson will be front and center as title team is celebrated on Opening Night