If the New York Knicks are proof that any team can win an NBA championship, then ESPN\u2019s Vincent Goodwill believes the Larry O\u2019Brien Trophy might be on the verge of becoming a participation trophy.<\/p>\n
The Knicks won their first championship in 53 years Saturday night<\/a> after defeating the San Antonio Spurs in five games. With championship hardware in their hands, Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges and the entire Knicks roster have now forever cemented themselves as a great team, right? Depends who you ask.<\/p>\n Tuesday morning on ESPN\u2019s Get Up, Mike Greenberg asked Vincent Goodwill and Alan Hahn to discuss whether the league is better with a dynasty or parity. In a league historically dominated by dynasties, the Knicks are now the eighth different team to win an NBA championship since 2019. It\u2019s great for allowing more teams to believe they have a chance of winning every year, but Goodwill isn\u2019t sure parity it\u2019s ultimately better for the sport.<\/p>\n \u201cYou mean participation trophy?\u201d \u2013 Vincent Goodwill<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Larry O\u2019Brien is a participation trophy?\u201d \u2013 Alan Hahn<\/p>\n \u201cIf everybody gets one\u201d \u2013 Vincent Goodwill pic.twitter.com\/FgqACveIui<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 16, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cDynasty is better for the sport,\u201d Goodwill said. \u201cI like to know that greatness is validated. How do we know that any of the last eight champions are actually validated because they have not done it again? Giannis is itching to get out, Boston is thinking about trading Jaylen Brown, they don\u2019t believe in their one championship. LeBron\u2019s one championship in LA was not enough. So why would it be enough for us?\u201d<\/p>\n Hahn said the Larry O\u2019Brien Trophy is all the validation players and teams need to prove their greatness, regardless of how many championships they have.<\/p>\n \u201cYou mean participation trophy?\u201d Goodwill pushed back.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d Hahn interjected. \u201cLarry O\u2019Brien is a participation trophy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf everybody gets one,\u201d Goodwill answered.<\/p>\n Goodwill joined the Awful Announcing Podcast prior to the NBA Finals, where he was similarly asked whether the NBA is better with dynasty or parity. And just as he did on Get Up, Goodwill said he believes the league is better when it has a dynasty, citing the fact that it attracts the casual fan.<\/p>\n \ufeff<\/p>\n After his ESPN appearance on Tuesday, Goodwill called the segment \u201chyperbole.\u201d<\/p>\n Clearly I was using hyperbole. Wasn\u2019t meant to be taken literally, chief. https:\/\/t.co\/xKprJW8Mt6<\/a><\/p>\n