The New York Knicks are headed to the NBA Finals and a WWE wrestler’s curse may have something to do with it.
The NBA has been unpredictable the last couple of years. From the still-insane Luka Dončić trade catastrophe to the emergence of alien-like players such as Victor Wembanyama, we have seen things in basketball we have never seen before. But a curse/uncurse gimmick takes the cake.
What Did Danhausen Actually Do to the Knicks?
On May 1, 2026, just as the NBA was hitting the midway point of the playoffs, WWE wrestler Danhausen, a demonic imp with a penchant for mischief, lifted a “curse” he put on the New York Knicks. Of course, it’s fake and should be treated as a joke, but is it really? Since lifting the curse, the Knicks have gone 11 and 0 and are heading to the finals, their first time back since 1999.
The Knicks’ 11-0 Run: A Playoff Breakdown
Pre-uncursing, the Knicks were down 2-1 in a first-round matchup against the Atlanta Hawks, and many sports analysts were already eulogizing their demise. But post-curse? They won three straight games against the Hawks to advance to the second round. Then the Knicks swept the Philadelphia Seventy-Sixers in the second round and just swept the Cleveland Cavaliers to advance to the NBA Finals, where they will either face the defending champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, or the San Antonio Spurs.
Why This Knicks Run Matters for Wrestling and the NBA
Could this string of good fortune lead the Knicks to the promised land? They haven’t won an NBA championship since 1973, and this is the closest the team and its emotionally invested, championship-starved fanbase have come in years. If the Knicks come out on top, this might be the best thing to happen not just for New York basketball but for professional wrestling in years.
Frequently asked questions
Danhausen is a professional wrestler who made his name in the independent scene before joining WWE in February 2026. The wrestler has taken off since then and become a fan favorite for his penchant for curses and macabre references.
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WWE wrestler Danhausen has a penchant for cursing his enemies. In his short time in WWE, he has cursed Dominik Mysterio, The Miz, and Kitt Wilson, just to name a few.
When did Danhausen uncurse the New York Knicks?
After some back-and-forth with ESPN host and Knicks fan, Stephen A. Smith, Danhausen took to Instagram to lift his curse on the Knicks. The team has been undefeated since then and is heading to the NBA Finals.
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Before this remarkable 2026 playoff run, the Knicks last reached the NBA Finals in 1999. Led by Patrick Ewing, the Knicks started as the eight seed in the playoffs and made it all the way to the finals, where they lost to the San Antonio Spurs four games to one.
The Knicks last won an NBA championship back in 1973. They beat the Los Angeles Lakers four games to one.
