Jimmy Fallon Makes Knicks Announcement After NBA Finals
After a 53-year drought, the New York Knicks are finally NBA champions again. One of the millions of Knicks fans who saw their team win it all for the first time in their lives on Saturday was late-night television host and comedian Jimmy Fallon, who is 51.
The New York native is routinely parked in celebrity row during Knicks games at Madison Square Garden. He along with fellow celebrities like comedian Jerry Seinfeld, actor Timothee Chalamet, comedian Larry David, tennis legend John McEnroe, singer Taylor Swift, and actor/filmmaker Ben Stiller collectively lost their minds after the team completed the biggest NBA Finals comeback in history on Wednesday. It beat the San Antonio Spurs 107-106 in Game 4 after erasing a 29-point deficit.
New York then defeated San Antonio 94-90 on Saturday to win the series in five games, and Fallon announced a special type of celebration on Sunday.
"My late night is Fallon. My show is tonight. My announcement is live…Knicks in five!" he posted on social media.
The caption accompanied the promotional material for Monday's episode of NBC's "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," which will feature the entire Knicks team as well as performances from hip-hop groups Wu-Tang Clan and The Roots.
My late night is Fallon
— Jimmy Fallon (@jimmyfallon) June 15, 2026
My show is tonight
My announcement is live…@nyknicks in five! pic.twitter.com/K1bo0ZStId
Knicks' Title Brings Landmark Ratings for NBA
Given that New York is the NBA's biggest market, it always helps the league when the Knicks do well. The 2026 finals were no exception, as Wednesday's contest was the most-watched finals Game 4 since 1998, up 123% from Game 4 of the 2025 finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers, per ESPN PR. 1998 was when Michael Jordan won his final title with the Chicago Bulls over the Utah Jazz, so the fact that the Knicks brought in similar ratings to arguably the most iconic player in basketball history is a win for the NBA.
The Knicks' upcoming appearance on "The Tonight Show" will continue that momentum, as it provides another way for casual and/or new fans to get to know the team. It will also be a cultural moment for New York, as Wu-Tang Clan has been a local staple since the 1990s and performed at halftime in Game 4. The group of rappers hails from Staten Island, one of the city's five boroughs.
The episode will air at 11:35 p.m. ET on NBC and will feature surprise guests, per LateNighter.
Related: The Person Behind Taylor Swift's Knicks Fandom Is No Longer With the Team
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This story was originally published June 14, 2026 at 8:11 PM.