Reigns Finally Gives Knicks and Brunson the One Thing Nobody Gets — His ‘Acknowledgement’

For years, Roman Reigns has made WWE fans wait endlessly for his signature “acknowledgement.” The New York Knicks and Jalen Brunson didn’t have to wait long at all.

Hours after the Knicks clinched their first NBA title since 1973, Reigns posted a graphic imagining the 2025-26 Knicks holding the Larry O’Brien Trophy. His caption? “Acknowledge The Champs!” — complete with a pointing-up emoji and tags for the team and Brunson.

It’s a moment that blends two worlds: the squared circle and Madison Square Garden. Brunson, a known WWE superfan, has frequently name-dropped Reigns in interviews. Now, the Tribal Chief returned the favor at the highest possible moment.

The Series That Ended a 53-Year Drought

The Knicks took down the San Antonio Spurs in five games, capping a dominant postseason run with a tense Game 5 on the road. The Spurs held a five-point lead at halftime in front of their home crowd, clamping New York to just 37 points in the first half. But Brunson refused to let the moment slip.

He poured in 45 points on better than 50% shooting, adding three rebounds and three assists. Across the series, the Knicks captain averaged 32.6 points, 4.2 boards and 4.6 assists. His entire playoff run averaged 28.4 points per game.

It was enough to earn him NBA Finals MVP — the crowning achievement for a player who joined the franchise ahead of the 2022-23 season.

From Villanova to New York Royalty

Brunson’s winning pedigree predates the NBA. He won two NCAA championships at Villanova before landing in New York. In four seasons with the Knicks, he led them to the playoffs every year, and in Year Four, he finally delivered a parade down the Canyon of Heroes.

He has been named an All-Star in each of the last three seasons (2024-2026) and earned All-NBA Second Team honors in that same stretch. Now, with the Larry O’Brien Trophy and Reigns’ public sign-off, Brunson has more than just hardware — he has the Tribal Chief’s respect.

For a superstar who rarely offers that word to anyone, it might be the ultimate postgame ritual.