The New York Knicks enjoyed a memorable night at the 2026 ESPYs, capping off their impressive season with multiple honors. Jalen Brunson was among the standout winners, but the biggest moment came when the Knicks were named Best Team at the annual awards ceremony, celebrating one of the franchise’s most successful campaigns in recent years.
The celebration also featured a light-hearted moment between teammates. As Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson accepted the award on behalf of the Knicks, they jokingly thanked ESPN for making sure Josh Hart was not present at the ceremony, drawing laughs from the audience and adding a playful touch to the team’s big night.
Jalen Brunson’s Hilarious Josh Hart Joke Steals The Show As Knicks Win ESPY Award
The New York Knicks capped off their championship-winning season with another major honor after being named Best Team at the 2026 ESPYs. While the award celebrated the franchise’s remarkable campaign, Jalen Brunson made sure the acceptance speech also included a dose of humor, playfully targeting teammate Josh Hart before the celebrations turned emotional.
As Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns walked on stage to accept the award, the pair joked about Hart’s absence from the ceremony. Towns opened by saying, “Thank you so much. You may see someone is missing up here.” Brunson quickly followed with, “We want to say thank you to the ESPYs for pulling Josh Hart’s invite.” The light-hearted exchange drew laughs before the focus shifted to the team’s achievement.
Towns then delivered a heartfelt message reflecting on the Knicks’ championship journey and the support they received throughout the season. He said, “Thank you, we appreciate you, ESPYs, so much. I’ll say thank y’all from all my teammates. Especially in New York, getting this trophy shows the world love. The love of each other and this team is what got us through the humps in December when we weren’t playing our best basketball. The love from the fans is what got us back down 29 at home. Also, I think this award shows the love of New York, because the love of New York made this whole journey and this whole accomplishment of winning a championship worth it. Thank you, New York. Thank you to the fans. Thank you to the organization for giving us this chance and for believing in us. Shoutout and always, Knicks in five!”
Why Didn’t Josh Hart Attend The ESPYs With The New York Knicks?
Josh Hart was notably absent as the New York Knicks collected the Best Team award at the 2026 ESPYs following their championship-winning season. The guard, who played a key role in helping the franchise secure its first NBA title since 1973, did not attend the ceremony, giving teammate Jalen Brunson the perfect opportunity to joke about his absence during the acceptance speech. The reason behind Hart’s absence has not been revealed. However, he appeared to be active on social media during the day, sharing his thoughts on the Lionel Messi versus Cristiano Ronaldo debate and drawing comparisons between Argentina and the Knicks. The 2026 ESPYs were held at the Lincoln Center in New York City and hosted by Saturday Night Live comedian Marcello Hernandez.
