The news
Per @NBA, Jalen Brunson received his 2025-26 NBA championship ring before Tuesday's opener. The ceremony celebrated last season's title on the first night of the 2026-27 season. The night formally closes the championship run and starts the title defense.
Jalen Brunson addressed the MSG crowd before New York raised its third championship banner on opening night. He thanked fans for staying through Game 4, drawing laughs during the ceremony. He added, "Most importantly I want to say thank you to you guys for not leaving Game 4."
The crowd greeted the captain with loud cheers and MVP chants. The Captain and NBA Finals MVP Jalen Brunson flashed a big smile as he looked at his championship ring. Jalen Brunson wore 'Ring Night' Kobe 6 PEs ahead of the banner-raising, and the moment added to the occasion before tip.
Prior context
Brunson opens the new season as captain after leading the 2025-26 title team. He closed the 2025-26 season as Finals MVP. He enters after collecting Emirates NBA Cup MVP, Eastern Conference finals MVP and NBA Finals MVP in 2025-26.
The banner formalizes New York as defending champion entering the 2026-27 season. It celebrates the first championship in 53 years. The presentation opened the defense of last season's title with the core intact.
Jalen Brunson has said the group has turned the page already after last season's championship run. He said most of the locker room has already moved on from last season's title. He rejected the idea that winning last season lets New York relax entering this season.
New York brings back most of its title-winning core for the 2026-27 preseason. Continuity is very valuable with most of a championship core returning while the rest of the East reshaped. A sharp camp preserves that edge after last spring's Finals breakthrough, and a settled opening group clarifies roles before tip.
What it means
The ceremony marks the turn from celebration to the upcoming 2026-27 season. Banner raisings set the tone before tip, and tip follows once the banner ceremony concludes. Opening night sets the tone for the repeat bid at home.
Jalen Brunson is locked in. Form at guard shapes early-season direction. Preseason action will show where his game stands and how much of last season's rotation carries over.
His availability and production set the baseline for a repeat bid. Health and continuity top the early watch list. How returning players handle that shift will shape the opening weeks, and the focus shifts to opening week and the regular-season rotation.
What reporters are saying
Per @NBAonNBC, the spotlight stayed on the captain receiving his 2025-26 championship ring on banner night. Per @NBCSports, the loud reception underscored his standing with the home crowd. Per @ESPNNBA, the smile as he looked at the ring captured the start of the title defense.
Per @YahooSports, attention also fell on the details around the ceremony, including fans being encouraged to be in their seats by 630PM for the banner raising. Per @TheAthletic, the get-in price of $1,474 marked the opener as the highest-priced entry among the league's most expensive games. The figures framed opening night as a major occasion beyond the court.
Per @SportsCenter, the basketball backdrop included 45 points in a Finals closeout game as a measure of the title run. Per @krisplashed, the 'Ring Night' PEs tied the footwear to the banner-raising occasion. Per @NBA, the address to the crowd closed with the line, "The joy that this city had this summer, we'd love to replicate that again."
What to watch next
New York hosts Philadelphia to follow the ceremony. The scheduled game had not started when the ceremony took center stage. Watch whether the reunited unit extends its rhythm once the opener begins.
Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. The 2026-27 season tips off Tuesday with the home opener following the ceremony. The opener sets the baseline for a repeat bid under championship expectations.
Watch how New York sets its opening rotation as the 2026-27 season approaches. Watch the opening minutes for the rotation order off the bench. A sharp start preserves the continuity edge before the repeat push begins.
Companion to our earlier report: Jalen Brunson collects 2025-26 championship ring.