Jalen Brunson has gone from skeptic to believer when it comes to Danhausen’s curse powers. The New York Knicks captain and 2026 NBA Finals MVP gave the WWE star credit for the franchise’s first championship since 1973 during a Monday night appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
Brunson appeared alongside teammate Karl-Anthony Towns and head coach Mike Brown for a celebratory episode taped two days after New York closed out the San Antonio Spurs in five games. Fallon, a longtime Knicks fan who sat courtside through the playoff run, raised the fan theory that Danhausen “uncursing” the team sparked the title.
There’s a WWE wrestler, Danhausen, who un-cursed the Knicks,” Fallon said. “And apparently, after he un-cursed the Knicks, you guys won every single game.
Brunson, a known WWE fan who has made appearances at company events, leaned into the bit.
At first I was a little skeptical, but I mean, you have to believe it now,” Brunson said.
Danhausen Responds To The Co-Sign
The very nice, very evil one wasted no time taking a victory lap. Danhausen posted his reaction on X on Tuesday morning, thanking the Finals MVP for validating his work in front of a national audience.
The storyline traces back to the first round of the playoffs, when Danhausen lifted a curse off the Knicks while they trailed the Atlanta Hawks 2-1. New York reeled off a run that knocked out the Hawks, swept the Philadelphia 76ers, swept the Cleveland Cavaliers, and toppled the Spurs for the trophy.
The angle picked up steam when Danhausen crashed ESPN to issue a curse ultimatum to Stephen A. Smith during the Finals, demanding a TV show or courtside seats. The crossover has only grown since, with WWE and TKO building a major Danhausen deal around the champion Knicks.
Brunson’s on-camera endorsement hands Danhausen something money cannot buy: the reigning Finals MVP confirming the bit on late-night TV, two days after the biggest win in 53 years of Knicks history.