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Jayhawk Kevin McCullar Jr. Wins NBA Title with New York Knicks
6/15/2026 8:59:00 AM | Men's Basketball
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Former Kansas guard Kevin McCullar Jr. became the 17th Jayhawk to win an NBA title when the New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 on June 13 to win the 2026 NBA Finals, 4-1.
McCullar's feat marks the fourth time in the last five seasons a Jayhawk has won an NBA title. He joins recent Jayhawk NBA title champions Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk (Boston, 2024), Christian Braun (Denver, 2023), and Andrew Wiggins (Golden State, 2022).
McCullar was a second-round selection by the Knicks in the 2024 NBA Draft. The San Antonio native appeared in four games his rookie season in 2024-25 and 21 contests in 2025-26.
New York was the Eastern Conference No. 3 seed after going 53-29 in the regular season. The Knicks won the 2025 NBA Cup. In the 2026 playoffs, the Knicks defeated Atlanta (4-2), Philadelphia (4-0) and Cleveland (4-0) to reach the NBA finals. The title was New York's third in NBA history with the others in 1970 and 1973.
McCullar played two seasons at Kanas in 2022-23 and 2023-24 after playing three seasons and transferring from Texas Tech. He was a four-time All-Big 12 selection, including first team honors in 2024 where he was also named All-America honorable mention by the Associated Press and the USBWA. McCullar was a three-time Naismith Defensive Player of the Year semifinalist.
In 2023-24, McCullar led the Big 12 in scoring at 18.3 points per game and he ranked in 11 conference statistical categories. He posted back-to-back triple doubles against Kentucky (12 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists on 11/14) and Chaminade (22 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists on 11/20), which were the third and fourth in Kansas history.
McCullar graduated from Kansas in May 2023 and concluded his five-season collegiate career with 1,517 points, 745 rebounds, 338 assists and 217 steals.
With the addition of McCullar, there are 17 Jayhawks who have won 22 NBA titles during their professional careers. McCullar becomes the ninth Jayhawk under head coach Bill Self to win an NBA title. He joins Wayne Simien (2006), Mario Chalmers (2012, 2013), Brandon Rush (2015), Sasha Kaun (2016), Markieff Morris (2020), Wiggins (2022), Braun (2023), and Mykhailiuk (2024).
NBA Champion Jayhawks (*Finals Most Valuable Player)
Clyde Lovellette (1950-52 at KU)
1954 - Minneapolis Lakers
1963, 1964 - Boston Celtics
Maurice King (1955-57 at KU)
1960 - Boston Celtics
Wilt Chamberlain (1957-58 at KU)
1967 - Philadelphia 76ers
*1972 - L.A. Lakers
Jo Jo White (1966-69 at KU)
1974, *1976 - Boston Celtics
Bill Bridges (1959-61 at KU)
1975 - Golden State Warriors
Wayne Simien (2002-05 at KU)
2006 - Miami Heat
Jacque Vaughn (1994-97 at KU)
2007 - San Antonio Spurs
Paul Pierce (1996-98 at KU)
*2008 - Boston Celtics
Scot Pollard (1994-97 at KU)
2008 - Boston Celtics
Mario Chalmers (2006-08 at KU)
2012, 2013 - Miami Heat
Brandon Rush (2006-08 at KU)
2015 - Golden State Warriors
Sasha Kaun (2005-08 at KU)
2016 - Cleveland Cavaliers
Markieff Morris (2009-11 at KU)
2020 – Los Angeles Lakers
Andrew Wiggins (2014 at KU)
2022 – Golden State Warriors
Christian Braun (2020-22 at KU)
2023 – Denver Nuggets
Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk (2015-18 at KU)
2024 – Boston Celtics
Kevin McCullar Jr. (2023-24 at KU)
2026 – New York Knicks
McCullar's feat marks the fourth time in the last five seasons a Jayhawk has won an NBA title. He joins recent Jayhawk NBA title champions Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk (Boston, 2024), Christian Braun (Denver, 2023), and Andrew Wiggins (Golden State, 2022).
McCullar was a second-round selection by the Knicks in the 2024 NBA Draft. The San Antonio native appeared in four games his rookie season in 2024-25 and 21 contests in 2025-26.
New York was the Eastern Conference No. 3 seed after going 53-29 in the regular season. The Knicks won the 2025 NBA Cup. In the 2026 playoffs, the Knicks defeated Atlanta (4-2), Philadelphia (4-0) and Cleveland (4-0) to reach the NBA finals. The title was New York's third in NBA history with the others in 1970 and 1973.
McCullar played two seasons at Kanas in 2022-23 and 2023-24 after playing three seasons and transferring from Texas Tech. He was a four-time All-Big 12 selection, including first team honors in 2024 where he was also named All-America honorable mention by the Associated Press and the USBWA. McCullar was a three-time Naismith Defensive Player of the Year semifinalist.
In 2023-24, McCullar led the Big 12 in scoring at 18.3 points per game and he ranked in 11 conference statistical categories. He posted back-to-back triple doubles against Kentucky (12 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists on 11/14) and Chaminade (22 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists on 11/20), which were the third and fourth in Kansas history.
McCullar graduated from Kansas in May 2023 and concluded his five-season collegiate career with 1,517 points, 745 rebounds, 338 assists and 217 steals.
With the addition of McCullar, there are 17 Jayhawks who have won 22 NBA titles during their professional careers. McCullar becomes the ninth Jayhawk under head coach Bill Self to win an NBA title. He joins Wayne Simien (2006), Mario Chalmers (2012, 2013), Brandon Rush (2015), Sasha Kaun (2016), Markieff Morris (2020), Wiggins (2022), Braun (2023), and Mykhailiuk (2024).
NBA Champion Jayhawks (*Finals Most Valuable Player)
Clyde Lovellette (1950-52 at KU)
1954 - Minneapolis Lakers
1963, 1964 - Boston Celtics
Maurice King (1955-57 at KU)
1960 - Boston Celtics
Wilt Chamberlain (1957-58 at KU)
1967 - Philadelphia 76ers
*1972 - L.A. Lakers
Jo Jo White (1966-69 at KU)
1974, *1976 - Boston Celtics
Bill Bridges (1959-61 at KU)
1975 - Golden State Warriors
Wayne Simien (2002-05 at KU)
2006 - Miami Heat
Jacque Vaughn (1994-97 at KU)
2007 - San Antonio Spurs
Paul Pierce (1996-98 at KU)
*2008 - Boston Celtics
Scot Pollard (1994-97 at KU)
2008 - Boston Celtics
Mario Chalmers (2006-08 at KU)
2012, 2013 - Miami Heat
Brandon Rush (2006-08 at KU)
2015 - Golden State Warriors
Sasha Kaun (2005-08 at KU)
2016 - Cleveland Cavaliers
Markieff Morris (2009-11 at KU)
2020 – Los Angeles Lakers
Andrew Wiggins (2014 at KU)
2022 – Golden State Warriors
Christian Braun (2020-22 at KU)
2023 – Denver Nuggets
Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk (2015-18 at KU)
2024 – Boston Celtics
Kevin McCullar Jr. (2023-24 at KU)
2026 – New York Knicks
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