The New York Knicks captured their first NBA championship since 1973 on Saturday night, defeating the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 in Game 5 of the 2025-26 title series. Although he did not appear in the postseason, center Trey Jemison was part of the Knicks’ championship roster and is eligible to be recognized as a champion under NBA two-way contract rules.
Jemison’s path to the title was built through years of stops across college basketball and the professional ranks. A standout at Homewood and Hoover, he finished his college career at UAB after earlier seasons at Clemson, averaging 9.1 points and 8.4 rebounds in his final season with the Blazers. He later began his pro career in the NBA G League with the Birmingham Squadron during the 2023-24 season, where his rebounding numbers helped put him on NBA teams’ radar.
His first NBA opportunity came with the Washington Wizards, who signed him to a 10-day contract on Jan. 20, 2024. That stint was brief, with Jemison appearing in only two games and logging just one minute. After that deal expired, he quickly landed another 10-day contract with the Memphis Grizzlies, who were dealing with a wave of injuries. This time, he received a real chance to contribute and eventually earned a two-way contract.
Jemison played 23 games for Memphis, including 14 starts, and shot 55.1% from the field while averaging 7.4 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists. He was later waived by the Grizzlies on July 24, 2024, and claimed by the New Orleans Pelicans, returning to a franchise with which he had previously attended training camp. In 16 games with New Orleans, he averaged 2.4 points and 2.8 rebounds before being released on Jan. 9, 2025.
Nine days later, Jemison signed a two-way deal with the Los Angeles Lakers. He appeared in 22 games for Los Angeles during the 2024-25 season and averaged 2.6 points and 2.8 rebounds. Over the course of his NBA career, Jemison has now played in 76 games across three seasons.
With New York, Jemison appeared in 13 regular-season games this season, producing 13 points, 18 rebounds, five assists, one steal and two blocked shots in 82 total minutes. In 31 games with the Westchester Knicks, the G League affiliate, he averaged 8.3 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.3 blocks. Two-way players do not count against the standard 15-man roster and can move between the NBA and G League, making them eligible for championship rings at the franchise’s discretion.
