Shaquille O'Neal Says Knicks Had a "Lot of Luck" Winning the Championship Last Season

Despite only reaching five games, the 2026 NBA Finals were one of the hardest-fought titles in recent memory. The New York Knicks won every single game except one, but they had to claw their way to a comeback in every single win.

While many are in awe of the resilience that Jalen Brunson and company displayed, not everyone thinks their title win was earned. Among those people is four-time champion Shaquille O'Neal, who thinks the Knicks stumbled onto the title.

During the latest episode of the Big Podcast with Shaq, with Iman Shumpert as a guest, O’Neal raised the issue directly. Stating that luck shaped two of his own four titles, he asked Shumpert if the Knicks’ championship was “a little lucky this year.”

"You don't think the Knicks championship was a little lucky this year," he asked after his admission, directing the inquiry at Shumpert.

Shumpert shook his head, rejecting the idea. Co‑host Adam Lefkoe countered by noting the Knicks’ impressive postseason win streak. But O’Neal pressed his case, citing three specific moments he felt swung the series.

"If you don’t get that tip, it’s over," he said, referring to Knicks C Karl‑Anthony Towns’ tip on G Dylan Harper’s inbound pass or OG Anunoby’s putback tip‑in. He also pointed to De’Aaron Fox’s late blunder in Game 4 and the Spurs’ squandered 29‑point lead as evidence that fortune favored New York.

The Knicks’ Snatched Each Game of the 2026 Finals From the Jaws of Defeat

Game 1 set the tone. The Spurs controlled much of the second and third quarters, leading by 14 midway through the third. Knicks PG Jalen Brunson led the rally, erasing the deficit before the quarter ended, and New York closed out a 10‑point win.

Game 2 followed the same script. The Spurs built a 12‑point lead early, but the Knicks clawed back. In the final seconds, San Antonio briefly seized the lead before New York escaped with a one‑point victory.

In Game 4, the Spurs looked poised for an easy win, leading by 29. However, New York displayed total resilience. They mounted the biggest comeback in Finals history, winning 107‑106.

Game 5 was no different. The Spurs led by as many as 16, but the Knicks stormed back again, sealing the championship.

O’Neal’s assessment remains divisive. Some see the Knicks’ run as pure resilience, while others agree that luck played a decisive role in their first title in decades.