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Lesson Info

Post Type
Article
Level
Level 3 / B1
Published
Title
Knicks Win NBA Championship
Webpage
https://eslnewsstories.com/articles/2026-06-14-knicks-win-nba-championship/

In this lesson:

  • Warm-up Prediction task and general discussion questions.
  • Vocab List Useful words and meanings.
  • Reading Read the main text.
  • Listen and Fill Gaps Listen for missing words.
  • Main Idea Choose the overall message of the text.
  • True or False Check understanding.
  • Put Events in Order Arrange events from the story into the order they happened.
  • Multiple Choice Check understanding.
  • Words That Go Together Connect words and collocated phrases from the lesson.
  • Discussion Builder Think about how ideas relate to each other to choose connecting expressions.
  • Sentence Unscramble Reorder mixed phrases into correct sentences.
  • Discussion Questions Open speaking questions for discussion (or writing practice).
  • Answers Answer key for the printed tasks.

Think Ahead: What do you think happened after the Knicks won?

a) The two teams had a fight.

b) Fans celebrated in New York.

c) The city canceled all celebrations.

A New York Knicks logo in front with silhouettes of basketball players in action around the logo.
The New York Knicks.

Ask: (1) Do you enjoy playing or watching basketball? (2) Which sports teams are popular where you live?

VOCAB LIST

championship (n.) — The final win or title in a sports competition.
disappointment (n.) — A sad feeling when something is not as good as hoped.
celebration (n.) — A happy event or action for something good.
heartbreak (n.) — A very sad feeling after something bad or disappointing happens.
crowd (n.) — A large group of people in one place.
arena (n.) — A large building or place for sports or shows.
victory (n.) — A win in a game, fight, or competition.
ticker-tape parade (n.) — A big public parade to celebrate an important person, team, or event.
decade (n.) — A period of ten years.
near miss (n.) — A time when someone almost succeeds but does not.

Reading

New York Knicks fans waited more than 50 years for this moment. On Saturday night, the Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 and won their first NBA championship since 1973.

The game was played in San Antonio, Texas, but the streets of New York were full of celebration too. Crowds filled parts of Manhattan, including areas near Times Square. Fans shouted, hugged, and celebrated late into the night.

Some Knicks fans even traveled to Texas to see the game in person. Elizabeth Madigan flew from New York to San Antonio before the game. She said she had waited almost her whole life for the Knicks to win again. “Knicks forever,” she said after the victory.

The win ended decades of disappointment for the team. The Knicks had not reached the NBA Finals since 1999. That year, they also played the Spurs, but they lost. This time, they finished the job.

For many fans, it did not matter that the Knicks won away from Madison Square Garden, their famous home arena. New York was still full of excitement.

The city will hold a ticker-tape parade and a ceremony at City Hall to celebrate the championship. The mayor also asked fans to enjoy the night safely. After years of near misses and heartbreak, Knicks fans finally have another championship.

Knicks Win NBA Championship

Level 3 Source: bbc.com

Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It

A New York Knicks logo in front with silhouettes of basketball players in action around the logo.
The New York Knicks.

New York Knicks fans waited more than 50 years for this moment. On Saturday night, the Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 and won their first NBA championship since 1973.

The game was played in San Antonio, Texas, but the streets of New York were full of celebration too. Crowds filled parts of Manhattan, including areas near Times Square. Fans shouted, hugged, and celebrated late into the night.

Some Knicks fans even traveled to Texas to see the game in person. Elizabeth Madigan flew from New York to San Antonio before the game. She said she had waited almost her whole life for the Knicks to win again. “Knicks forever,” she said after the victory.

The win ended decades of disappointment for the team. The Knicks had not reached the NBA Finals since 1999. That year, they also played the Spurs, but they lost. This time, they finished the job.

For many fans, it did not matter that the Knicks won away from Madison Square Garden, their famous home arena. New York was still full of excitement.

The city will hold a ticker-tape parade and a ceremony at City Hall to celebrate the championship. The mayor also asked fans to enjoy the night safely. After years of near misses and heartbreak, Knicks fans finally have another championship.

Speaker: American Male  Duration: 1:45  Watch on YouTube

Two ways to use this audio:

  • Method 1: Listen for the main idea: what is the article about in one sentence? Listen a second time for more details, then try the Understanding activities below.
  • Method 2: Read the article first to learn the vocabulary and ideas. Then look at the gap-fill sentences to see what to listen for, and listen to fill them in.

Listen and Fill Gaps

Listen to the audio on eslnewsstories.com and complete the gaps below:

New York Knicks fans waited more than 50 years for this moment. On Saturday night, the Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 and won their first NBA (1) since 1973.

The game was played in San Antonio, Texas, but the streets of New York were full of (2) too. Crowds filled parts of Manhattan, including areas near Times Square. Fans shouted, hugged, and celebrated late into the night.

Some Knicks fans even traveled to Texas to see the game in person. Elizabeth Madigan flew from New York to San Antonio before the game. She said she had waited almost her whole life for the Knicks to win again. "Knicks forever," she said after the (3) .

The win ended decades of (4) for the team. The Knicks had not reached the NBA Finals since 1999. That year, they also played the Spurs, but they lost. This time, they finished the job.

For many fans, it did not matter that the Knicks won away from Madison Square Garden, their famous home (5) . New York was still full of excitement.

The city will hold a ticker-tape (6) and a ceremony at City Hall to celebrate the championship. The mayor also asked fans to enjoy the night safely. After years of near misses and heartbreak, Knicks fans finally have another championship.

Main Idea

Choose one answer, then click CHECK to see your result.

Main Idea

Choose one:

  • A famous basketball team won an important game away from its home arena.
  • New York fans showed their strong support for a team after many difficult years.
  • The Knicks won a long-awaited championship, and fans celebrated across New York. Correct answer
True or False

Answer each question by selecting True or False, then click CHECK to see your results.

  • The Knicks won their first NBA championship since 1985.
    The first paragraph says the Knicks won their first NBA championship since 1973.
  • The championship game was played in New York.
    The second paragraph says the game was played in San Antonio, Texas.
  • Some Knicks fans traveled to Texas to watch the game.
    The third paragraph says some Knicks fans traveled to Texas to see the game in person.
  • The Knicks had reached the NBA Finals every year since 1999.
    The fourth paragraph says the Knicks had not reached the NBA Finals since 1999.

True or False

1. The Knicks won their first NBA championship since 1985. TRUEFALSE False

2. The championship game was played in New York. TRUEFALSE False

3. Some Knicks fans traveled to Texas to watch the game. TRUEFALSE True

4. The Knicks had reached the NBA Finals every year since 1999. TRUEFALSE False

Put Events in Order

Put the events from the story in the correct order from first (1) to last (5):

  • The Knicks beat the Spurs 94-90 in San Antonio.
  • The Knicks last won an NBA championship in 1973.
  • The city planned a parade and a ceremony at City Hall.
  • The Knicks reached the NBA Finals in 1999 but lost to the Spurs.
  • Fans celebrated in New York late into the night.
  1. The Knicks last won an NBA championship in 1973.
  2. The Knicks reached the NBA Finals in 1999 but lost to the Spurs.
  3. The Knicks beat the Spurs 94-90 in San Antonio.
  4. Fans celebrated in New York late into the night.
  5. The city planned a parade and a ceremony at City Hall.

Multiple Choice

1. What was special about the Knicks' win?

   a) It was their first NBA championship since 1973.Correct

   b) It was their first game in San Antonio.

   c) It was their first season in New York.

   d) It was their first win against any team.

2. Where did crowds celebrate in New York?

   a) Only inside Madison Square Garden

   b) In parts of Manhattan, including near Times SquareCorrect

   c) Only at City Hall after the ceremony

   d) At the airport before the team flew home

3. What happened when the Knicks played the Spurs in the 1999 NBA Finals?

   a) The Knicks won the championship.

   b) The game was canceled.

   c) The Knicks lost.Correct

   d) The teams played in Times Square.

4. How will the city celebrate the championship?

   a) By moving the next game to Texas

   b) By closing Madison Square Garden

   c) By asking fans to stay home and practice

   d) By holding a parade and a ceremonyCorrect

Words That Go Together

Loading vocabulary activity...

Words That Go Together

Match each word with the words it goes with:

1. Winf) an NBA championship

2. Fille) parts of Manhattan

3. Endd) decades of disappointment

4. Reachc) the NBA Finals

5. Holdb) a ticker-tape parade

6. Enjoya) the night safely

a) the night safely

b) a ticker-tape parade

c) the NBA Finals

d) decades of disappointment

e) parts of Manhattan

f) an NBA championship

Discussion Builder

Discussion Builder

Choose the best phrase for each gap:

  1. I would travel for a big game it might be a once-in-a-lifetime chance.

    and / because / but / so

    I would travel for a big game because it might be a once-in-a-lifetime chance.

  2. Watching at home is more comfortable, I like watching in comfort.

    so / and / but / because

    Watching at home is more comfortable, and I like watching in comfort.

  3. parades are fun.

    To me, / Also, / Because of that, / For example,

    To me, parades are fun.

Sentence Unscramble

  1. A. I think B. to the team C. her comment D. shows E. she stayed loyal F. for years.

    I think her comment shows she stayed loyal to the team for years.

  2. A. people should B. feel unsafe. C. if things D. friends E. In a large crowd, F. stay with G. and H. leave

    In a large crowd, people should stay with friends and leave if things feel unsafe.

  3. A. part of B. People stay loyal C. one team D. because E. who they are. F. can feel like

    People stay loyal because one team can feel like part of who they are.

Discussion Questions

  1. What does Elizabeth Madigan's comment show about Knicks fans?
  2. Some fans traveled to San Antonio for the game. Would you travel to see your team play in a different city? Why or why not?
  3. Which do you prefer, watching a game at an arena or watching with friends at home?
  4. What are some safe ways to celebrate in a large crowd?
  5. Why do cities hold parades after big sports wins?
  6. Which feels better: finally winning after a long wait, or supporting a team that usually wins?
  7. Why do people stay loyal to a team for many years, even when that team keeps losing?
  8. New York is a big, rich city. Why don't its sports teams win more often?

Answers Knicks Win NBA Championship / Level 3

Think Ahead: b

Listening: (1) championship, (2) celebration, (3) victory, (4) disappointment, (5) arena, (6) parade

Main Idea: The Knicks won a long-awaited championship, and fans celebrated across New York.

True or False:

  1. False. The first paragraph says the Knicks won their first NBA championship since 1973.
  2. False. The second paragraph says the game was played in San Antonio, Texas.
  3. True. The third paragraph says some Knicks fans traveled to Texas to see the game in person.
  4. False. The fourth paragraph says the Knicks had not reached the NBA Finals since 1999.

Multiple Choice: a, b, c, d

Put Events in Order:

  1. The Knicks last won an NBA championship in 1973.
  2. The Knicks reached the NBA Finals in 1999 but lost to the Spurs.
  3. The Knicks beat the Spurs 94-90 in San Antonio.
  4. Fans celebrated in New York late into the night.
  5. The city planned a parade and a ceremony at City Hall.

Vocabulary:

  1. Win: an NBA championship
  2. Fill: parts of Manhattan
  3. End: decades of disappointment
  1. Reach: the NBA Finals
  2. Hold: a ticker-tape parade
  3. Enjoy: the night safely

Discussion Builder:

Hints: 1) Reason. 2) Contrast. 3) Opinion.

  1. because
  2. and
  3. To me,

Sentence Unscramble:

  1. I think her comment shows she stayed loyal to the team for years.
  2. In a large crowd, people should stay with friends and leave if things feel unsafe.
  3. People stay loyal because one team can feel like part of who they are.

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