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Miles ‘Deuce’ McBride Reveals the Knicks’ New Group Chat Name Inspired by Their NBA Championship (Exclusive) “The group chat’s been going crazy,” McBride told PEOPLE on the 40/40 Club red carpet at Fanatics Fest after the Knicks won the 2026 NBA Finals By Skyler Caruso Skyler Caruso Skyler Caruso is a Staff Writer at PEOPLE. She joined the brand in 2021. People Editorial Guidelines Published on August 7, 2026 01:56PM EDT Leave a Comment Miles ‘Deuce’ McBride of the New York Knicks. Credit : John Nacion/Getty NEED TO KNOW Miles McBride gave PEOPLE an exclusive glimpse inside the New York Knicks group chat after the team’s 2026 NBA ChampionshipThe point guard revealed the team’s group chat name inspired by the winThe Knicks’ victory marks their first NBA title in 53 years Miles “Deuce” McBride and his teammates are closer than ever. The New York Knicks point guard, 25, opened up to PEOPLE exclusively about what the relationship is like with his teammates after securing the 2026 NBA Championship title, and shared a glimpse inside their group chat since the win. “The group chat’s been going crazy,” McBride told PEOPLE on the 40/40 red carpet at Fanatics Fest last month, just a few weeks after the Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs to secure the championship. Miles McBride speaks onstage during “Knicks Film School” podcast the Fanatics Fest NYC 2026 at Jacob Javits Center on July 18, 2026. John Nacion/Getty “Everybody’s celebrating in so many great different ways with their families, with their loved ones and it’s just been a lot of celebration texts going back and forth,” he said of the Knicks’ group chat. When PEOPLE asked McBride about the group chat name, he didn’t hesitate to share. “What do you think? ‘Champs,’ baby! Champs,” he said proudly. Take PEOPLE with you! Subscribe to PEOPLE magazine to get the latest details on celebrity news, exclusive royal updates, how-it-happened true crime stories and more — right to your mailbox. Miles McBride #2 of the New York Knicks celebrates with the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy after winning the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs during Game 5. Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty The Knicks win over the Spurs was huge for New York City, marking the first time in 53 years that they secured the NBA Championship. “Hasn’t sunken in,” McBride told PEOPLE of the victory, about one month after his team walked away with the Larry O’Brien Trophy. “Every time I hear ‘champ,’ it’s like, it feels right but it’s still such a blessing, such a surprise, I feel so grateful.” Shortly after the NBA Finals win, McBride told PEOPLE exclusively that it was “resiliency” that helped him and the Knicks get the job done against the Spurs in Game 5. “And that resiliency paid off, I became an impactful player just through work,” he said. Related Stories Knicks’ Miles McBride Reflects on How His ‘Resiliency’ Helped Him Become an NBA Champion (Exclusive) Ana Zortea, Miles 'Deuce' McBride's Girlfriend, Gives Peek Inside the Knicks WAGs Group Chat During NBA Finals (Exclusive) “It wasn’t really handed to me, I just always had that mindset,” he continued. “I knew I was talented enough. I knew I had a lot of the intangibles to make it work. Sometimes, things just take longer, and I think that’s God’s way of just making you ready for big-time moments, as long as you just prepare for them.” Miles McBride #2 of the New York Knicks dribbles the ball during the game against the San Antonio Spurs during Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals. Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Before NBA champion McBride was playing in the NBA Finals, the 25-year-old Knicks guard was just vying for playing time at Madison Square Garden. “To think back, I was driving up to Bridgeport, Connecticut, you know, to play in G-League games,” said McBride — who has been with the Knicks since 2021, but played his first two seasons with New York’s G-League squad, the Westchester Knicks. Our new app is here! Free, fun and full of exclusives. Scan to download now! “I stayed patient,” he shared. “The organization, the coaching staff, and my teammates all just believed in me. I kept working.” McBride’s girlfriend, Ana Zortea, caught up with PEOPLE on WAG World shortly after the NBA Finals and also shared a glimpse inside the Knicks wives and girlfriends group chat. Close Leave a Comment Read More: Entertainment Sports Basketball