The New York Knicks’ NBA Cup celebration took a wild and very internet-ready turn in Las Vegas on Tuesday, and it had nothing to do with a speech, a champagne shower, or even the trophy itself. Instead, the moment everyone is talking about came courtesy of a split-second interaction between Knicks star Jalen Brunson and his longtime friend and teammate Josh Hart. Cameras were rolling, the vibes were high, and one unexpected move instantly stole the spotlight.
As NBA Cup MVP Jalen Brunson stood on stage with his teammates, the Knicks were soaking in the moment after a huge win. Karl-Anthony Towns was front and center, lifting the NBA Cup trophy, while Brunson and Hart stood off to the side, cheering him on. Everything looked like a standard championship celebration until Hart decided to get a little too playful. Out of nowhere, Hart reached for Brunson’s rear end and appeared to stick a finger where it probably should not have gone.
Brunson’s reaction said it all. He immediately jumped up and turned around, clearly startled and trying to process what had just happened. The cameras caught every second of it, leaving absolutely no room for denial. Within moments, the clip was already destined for viral status, the kind of moment that lives forever once the internet gets hold of it.
Vibes Are High In New York
Hart, for his part, did not exactly try to hide from the moment. In fact, he leaned right into it. Shortly after the clip started circulating, Hart took to X and owned the situation in the most modern way possible. “Caught in 4k,” he wrote on X with crying laughing emojis. As if that was not enough, he followed it up with a tongue-in-cheek attempt at an alibi, adding, “IT WAS AI.”
The self-awareness only fueled the buzz. In an era where athletes are increasingly media-trained and cautious, moments like this feel chaotic, unfiltered, and very human. Hart’s reaction suggested he knew exactly how bad it looked and how hilarious it was going to be for everyone watching from home.
Part of what makes the moment resonate is the long history between Brunson and Hart. These two are not just teammates thrown together by a roster move. They go way back. Brunson and Hart played college ball together at Villanova, where they won two championships and built the kind of bond that clearly still exists today. That shared history adds context to the interaction, framing it as over-the-top goofing around rather than something more serious.
Josh Hart and Jalen Brunson Go Way Back
Their Villanova connection also explains why the chemistry feels so natural, even when it goes completely off the rails. Brunson signed with the Knicks as a free agent ahead of the 2022-23 season, becoming the face of the franchise and a leader in the locker room. Hart joined a year later, reuniting the college teammates in New York and bringing that familiar energy with him.
The timing of the incident made it even more memorable. This was not a random regular-season moment or a bench prank during warmups. This happened during an NBA Cup trophy celebration, with the cameras locked in and the whole basketball world watching. It was a reminder that no matter how big the stage, teammates will still find ways to mess with each other.
In the end, the Knicks still got their moment, Towns still lifted the trophy, and Brunson still stood there as NBA Cup MVP. But thanks to Hart’s antics and his now-infamous “In 4k” confession, this celebration will be remembered for more than just basketball. It was messy, funny, and perfectly on brand for a team that seems to genuinely enjoy playing together, even if that enjoyment sometimes goes a little too far.
