Karl-Anthony Towns said his fiancée's orange lucky bag helped the New York Knicks win the 2026 NBA championship [1].
The attribution of the victory to a personal item highlights the role of superstition in professional sports, where athletes often rely on rituals to maintain momentum during high-stakes series.
Towns said the accessory belonging to his fiancée, Jordyn Woods, was a major reason for the team's success [2]. The orange bag served as an unofficial lucky charm for the franchise throughout the postseason [3]. According to reports, the bag remained undefeated during the Knicks' playoff run [4].
The superstition culminated during Game 5 of the 2026 NBA Finals [1]. The Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs with a final score of 94-90 [1]. Following the victory, Towns said his parents, Anthony Edwards, and Woods provided support during the championship pursuit [1].
Towns said the bag acted as a catalyst for the team's success [3]. While the victory was decided by the players on the court, the center emphasized the positive energy provided by the charm [3]. The win secures a title for the New York franchise after a hard-fought series against San Antonio [1].
“The orange bag served as an unofficial lucky charm for the franchise throughout the postseason.”
The intersection of professional athletics and superstition is a recurring theme in the NBA. By publicly crediting a 'lucky bag,' Towns aligns himself with a long history of athletes who utilize psychological anchors to manage the intense pressure of the NBA Finals, suggesting that mental comfort and ritual are viewed as complementary to physical performance.
