After 53 long years of watching both contending teams fall short of the finish line and others appear on a collision course with the NBA Draft lottery, the New York Knicks are NBA champions.
And, as in the first four games of the 2026 NBA Finals, Mike Brown's team had to rebound from a slow start. However, unlike their other three wins, the Knicks had to rely mainly on Jalen Brunson to get the job done in San Antonio on Saturday night.
The Knicks' captain went off for 45 points, leading the team to a 94-90 win over the San Antonio Spurs at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio. Unsurprisingly, he was named the winner of the Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP award.
Shooting 8-of-15 from the field and 12-of-13 from the foul line, Brunson scored 29 points in the second half alone. No other Knick scored more than seven points (Josh Hart) in the second half, as Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby struggled with foul trouble for most of the night.
San Antonio built up double-digit leads in all five games of the series. However, except for Game 3, they were unable to keep the Knicks from clawing their way over the finish line. Towns shot 1-of-7 from the field, scoring just two points before fouling out, while Anunoby finished with 11 points on 3-of-11 shooting.
Mikal Bridges (14) and Josh Hart (13) also scored in double figures, with the Knicks' three Villanova alums combining to score 72 of the team's 94 points. Given how lead executive Leon Rose put this team together, it is fitting.
Spurs rookie Dylan Harper capped his series with another outstanding performance, scoring a team-high 25 points while also accounting for five rebounds and four assists. Victor Wembanyama added 19 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks, but the struggles of Stephon Castle and De'Aaron Fox were too much to overcome.
They shot a combined 4-of-25 from the field, with Castle not scoring his first field goal until late in the fourth quarter.
Given San Antonio's youth, the expectation is that they'll have more opportunities to hang another banner. However, as the Knicks can attest, getting back onto this stage is not guaranteed.
The Knicks are finally back on top of the basketball world.
After five games - five breathless, eternally memorable games - the franchise has finally captured the elusive Larry O'Brien Trophy for the first time in 53 years.
It's been a whirlwind postseason, and the Knicks lost just three games on their march to the championship.
While the streets of New York City are crammed with fans, young and old, celebrating arm in arm, social media is abuzz with reactions to this incredible moment.
Of course, just a borough away from Madison Square Garden, both the Mets and Yankees congratulated the Knicks on bringing a championship back to New York City.
The talking heads of the sports media world were in awe of the 45 point performance of Jalen Brunson, which earned him the NBA Finals MVP award.
âEveryoneâs better than Jalen Brunson until itâs time to be better than Jalen Brunsonâ
Former legends of the hardwood, including former Knicks guard Jamal Crawford, chimed in as well, with Dwight Howard posing a question that could become a very interesting and prominent discussion as the dust settles on the Knicks' triumph.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - JUNE 13: Daniel Schneemann #10 of the Cleveland Guardians hits a two-run homer during the second inning against the Detroit Tigers at Progressive Field on June 13, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It was a huge win for the Guardians as they regained first place in the AL Central standings and continue to destroy the Tigers season. Winning this game against Skubal was great not only in the standings but it also had to demoralize the Tigers players. A 2 run HR from Schneemann was all we needed today after a great start from Cantillo where he didnât walk a single batter, which is absolutely massive for him. I know there has been some panic over the bullpen, but I feel really good about all 3 of Holderman, Gaddis, and Smith right now. I think theyâre gonna be just fine, especially when we get the likes of Aleman, Espino, and Walters settled in.
We are really going to see what this team is made of over the next month and a half. They will look to sweep the Tigers tomorrow at 1:40 pm ET. It will be Gavin Williams vs Casey Mize.
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - JUNE 13: Ernie Johnson Jr. interviews Josh Hart #3 and Mikal Bridges #25 of the New York Knicks after the victory against the San Antonio Spurs in Game Five of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center on June 13, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Thereâs one feeling nobody who is a fan of the Phoenix Suns has ever experienced: the pure elation that comes with winning the final game of the NBA season. And now another season has come and gone. The 58th season in Phoenix Suns history is officially over as the New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs 4-1, capturing their first NBA championship since 1973.
For most fan bases, moments like this are a celebration. A chance to relive memories and reflect on what it felt like when their team finally climbed the mountain. Suns fans donât have that luxury. Every June serves as a reminder that Phoenix has never won the final game of an NBA season. Despite decades of success, Hall of Famers, MVPs, Finals appearances, and more than 2,500 victories, that one box remains unchecked.
Itâs what makes being a Suns fan unique. You learn to celebrate the journey because youâve never been rewarded with the destination.
As the Knicks celebrate their first title in more than five decades, Suns fans are left doing what theyâve always done this time of year: watching someone else hold the trophy while hoping that one day, somehow, itâll finally be Phoenixâs turn. When you watch the postgame celebrations, hear the speeches, see the smiles, and watch players lift the trophy, you canât help but feel a little jealous.
Sure, itâs been 53 years since the Knicks last won a championship. Most of their fans werenât even alive the last time it happened. But for the Suns, it simply never has. So when you watch those moments unfold, thereâs a bit of envy. Thatâs only natural. At the same time, thereâs also happiness for the players who once wore your jersey and now get to experience the feeling that every player and fan chases.
Two former members of the Phoenix Suns won a championship tonight: Mikal Bridges and Landry Shamet.
The relationship with Shamet had become complicated by the end of his time in Phoenix. Expectations were high, especially for a player making $9.5 million a season, and he never quite delivered the way many hoped he would. Still, heâs part of the fraternity. He wore the uniform, and now heâs an NBA champion.
Then thereâs Mikal Bridges. Thatâs different. Thatâs the one that tugs at the heartstrings.
Mikal was beloved from the moment he arrived in Phoenix. He embodied everything fans wanted in a player. He worked hard, played every night, smiled constantly, and became a foundational piece of a team that made a run to the NBA Finals.
When he was traded, Suns fans felt it. And tonight, seeing him hold the Larry OâBrien Trophy, itâs hard not to feel a little joy for him. Maybe a little sadness, too. But mostly joy.
Because while Suns fans continue waiting for that moment to arrive for their own franchise, itâs nice to see someone who meant so much to the organization finally experience what itâs like to stand at the top of the basketball world. Mikal Bridges, who has never missed a game in his NBA career, was the definition of an iron man during his time in Phoenix. He spent five seasons with the organization and was one of the young cornerstones who helped lead the Suns to their first NBA Finals appearance in 28 years in 2021.
When he was traded for Kevin Durant, it hurt.
At the time, most of us understood the logic. You were acquiring one of the greatest players of his generation in an effort to chase a championship. But now that the dust has settled, the fallout has played out, and Durant has been gone from Phoenix for over a season, itâs hard not to revisit that decision and wonder what might have been. You canât help but feel like something was lost. At the same time, itâs impossible not to be happy for Mikal.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani declared that there would be a parade Thursday to celebrate the Knicks championship victory.
âParade. Thursday. Manhattan,â Mamdani posted on X.
The New York Knicks hold their NBA Finals trophy after beating the Spurs in Game 5 on Saturday, June 13, 2026. Getty ImagesFans celebrate on top of a school bus near Times Square. Christopher Sadowski for NY PostCelebrations also took place outside of Madison Square Garden. Brenden Willsch-Imagn ImagesMamdaniâs tweet about the victory parade. X/@NYCMayorThe Postâs front page on June 14, 2026: âCHAMPS!â
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 10: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks reacts after his three-point basket against the San Antonio Spurs during the fourth quarter in Game Four of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden on June 10, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A once-top target for John Groceâs Illinois staff has now won NBA Finals MVP.
Jalen Brunson was the one of the top players in the 2015 class out of Stevenson (Lincolnshire) after winning the IHSA 4A state title.
Brunson went on to win two titles with Villanova and famously graduated in three years before darting for the NBA where he spent time with the Mavericks before joining the Knicks.
Now, Brunson may be proclaimed the best player in the world after scoring 45 points in Saturdayâs Game 5 to lift New York to its first NBA title in 53 years.
Imagine the world where he committed to Illinois.
Is Groce still here? Does Illinois find a way to get back to the tourney sooner? Do we ever get Ayo, then Kofi, then TSJ, then KJ/Will, then Keaton?
Probably not.
It still probably ends poorly, just a few years later for Groce, meaning Brad Underwood never arrives in Champaign, and weâre in a totally different timeline.
Congrats to (my high school classmate) Jalen and the Knicks! I think it worked out in the long run for all of the parties involved.
The Knicks outscored San Antonio 29-18 in the final quarter as the Spurs fell apart at the seams.
But things seemed to unravel a bit before that. After Stephon Castle hit a free throw with 2:25 left in the third quarter, the Spurs went up 70-55 and appeared to be shutting down any hopes of a Knicks comeback.
Victor Wembanyama struggled again in NBA Finals Game 5 on June 13, 2026. Jason Szenes for the New York PostSan Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle #5 reacts on the court during the 2nd half.
Charles Wenzelberg / New York PostThe Postâs front page on June 14, 2026: âCHAMPS!â
Victor Wembanyama, the all-world Spurs big man, basically disappeared in the fourth quarter, going 1-for-5 from the field.
In just the final two minutes, he missed one of his two free throws and clanked two 3-point attempts to all but seal the Knicksâ victory.
He had a team-high 19 points with 14 rebounds, but it was not enough as the Knicks stormed back once again to take their first title since 1973. It was eerily similar to how he closed out Game 4, when he had just two points with no rebounds in the final 9:30.
Spurs coach Mitch Johnson, who saw his team leading late in every single game of this series, summed up the Finals rather succinctly after it was all said and done.
âWe werenât ready to win an NBA championship. The better team won,â he said.
Any hopes the Texas Longhorns had of contending in the College World Series took a massive blow on Saturday at Charles Schwab Field in a 7-1 loss to the Georgia Bulldogs as right-hander Joey Volchko delivered the best outing of his career, striking out a career-high 15 batters in a complete game for the first Bulldogs win in Omaha since 2008.
Volchko took control early by striking out the first three batters he faced and never faltered, pouring in strikes early in the count and missing bats with the glove-side run on his four-seam fastball and electric slider. Of the 114 pitches thrown by the Stanford transfer, 84 went for strikes as Texas only managed four hits, two by sophomore shortstop Adrian Rodriguez, who scored the only run for the Horns in the fifth inning. Volchkoâs ability to fill up the strike zone resulted in Texas only drawing one walk.
The Horns went 1-for-9 (.111) with runners on and 1-for-5 (.200) with runners in scoring position as only one player in the starting lineup, junior first baseman Ashton Larson, avoided a strikeout. Larson went 0-for-3.
As Volchko worked ahead in count, Texas responded by trying to attack the first pitch, a strategy that worked as poorly as attempting to get deep in at bats. After junior right fielder Aiden Robbins worked a full count against Volchko to start the game before striking out, the Horns didnât get to a three-ball count again until pinch-hitter Josh Livingston in the eighth inning.
The Bulldogs took advantage of early mistakes by the Longhorns as sophomore left-hander Dylan Volantis struggled with his command in the first inning, walking the first batter he faced before giving up a line-drive home run off the foul pole in left field by center fielder Rylan Lujo.
Even as Volantis became more effective, it backfired when junior catcher Carson Tinney airmailed a soft throw on a swinging strikeout that allowed Georgia to put a runner on first with one out after Lujoâs homer. A soft single through the right side of the Texas infield increased the pressure on Volantis, who was able to record the second out before hitting a batter and giving up two unearned runs when Tinney made another mistake on a swinging strikeout, missing his throw to first instead of trying to get the runner out at home.
So the Bulldogs took command of the game after the first inning with the benefit of only one hit as Tinney committed his third and fourth errors of the season in an uncharacteristically shaky performance.
Volantis wasnât always able to work in the zone over the ensuing innings, hitting two more batters, even though he didnât allow another hit until the seventh when he gave up an RBI double and a two-run single when Georgia scored three unearned runs thanks to an error by junior third baseman Casey Borba.
If the game wasnât already out of reach for Texas before the seventh, it certainly was afterwards as the top four batters in the lineup combined to go 0-for-15 with 11 strikeouts, including four by redshirt senior second baseman Temo Becerra.
The Horns also saw junior designated hitter Ethan Mendoza depart in the eighth inning with an injury after hitting a single up the middle.
With the season on the line, Texas faces Alabama on Monday at 1 p.m. Central in an elimination game. The Tide lost to the Sooners 9-0 in the early game on Saturday.
Jun 13, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks 7th ave. squad celebrating outside of Madison Square Garden on Plaza 33 while watching the conclusion Game 5 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs. Mandatory Credit: Brenden Willsch-Imagn Images | Brenden Willsch-Imagn Images
It was nearly a home game. According to TickPick data, New York and New Jersey residents bought 45% of the tickets to Game Five in San Antonio. You could hear it in the opening minutes, when the âBocker backers were just as loud as the Spurs fanatics.
Unfortunately, the visiting team didnât give a lot to cheer about early on. Once again, the Knicks fell behind by double digits. They scored the fewest first-quarter points of the season, down 23-13, and trailed at halftime, 42-37. But the Knicks can never be counted out when Captain Jalen Brunson wears an orange and blue cape. Scoring 45 (rest of team: 49), Jalen led the troops on another rally, this time from 16 down. With big shots in the fourth and big misses by the Spurs, the Knicks pulled ahead with three minutes to go and held for a 94-90 win.
Hang the banner! Theyâre the champs!
Each team stumbled through the first two minutes. The Knicks missed four shots, while the Spurs missed one and turned the ball over before Wemby dunked around 9:30 and Jalen Brunson answered with a three-ball. From there the Knicks continued to brick (missing 13 of their initial 15 shots) and fell behind by six before OG Anunoby hit a catch-up corner three. At the midway point, coach Mike Brown, hoping to get some offensive mojo working, subbed Landry Shamet for OG. Harper worked Shamet for a layup, and then Landry was way off from deep as the shot clock expired. That ShamWow magic was all tapped out, apparently.
SWAT THE THREE-POINT ATTEMPT. STUFF THE SHOT INSIDE.
Going up by double digits, the home team scored 12 of their first-quarter points in the paint, while New York had scored none. The home-viewing audience saw a lot of contact on the court, but the refsâmuch closer to the actionâsaw very few fouls to call. Perhaps that had something to do with Scott âThe Extenderâ Foster heading the officiating crew.
Brown sent Anunoby back in and swapped Josh Hart and Karl-Anthony Towns for Alvarado and Mitchell Robinson.
Through the first four games, New York had not managed more than 25 points in a quarter, while San Antonio had averaged 34. Tonight was the ugliest first frame yet. The visitors had just 10 points before Brunson swished from deep with a minute left. When the period concluded, both teams had recorded their lowest first-quarter point totals of the series. Spurs up, 23-13.
This was the entirety of the Knicks offense. All of it:
Brunson: 25-foot three-pointer
Anunoby: Corner three
Anunoby: Two free throws
Brunson: 11-foot step-back jumper
Brunson: 27-foot three-pointer
To start the second quarter, Wemby blocked Alvarado on the perimeter and then stuffed Shamet in the lane, while Julian Champagnie made the deficit 13 at the other end. The Spurs applied full-court pressure, and the Knicks had trouble getting the ball across midcourt, let alone putting it in the hoop. Rookie Dylan Harper made free throws for a 15-point advantage. When Wemby hit from the corner, it was 16. Mike Brown needed a timeout to regroup the troops.
Brunson, Bridges, and Hart combined for a 17-7 run that brought the differential back to six with about 2:30 left in the half. The Spursâ defense, which rocketed out of the gate like angry pit bulls, began to lose a step. When Anunoby nicked a Stephon Castle pass, Hart took it all the way for a layupâand Fox, trailing, shoved him from behind with two hands for a flagrant-1. It was a reckless play by Fox. The Knicks fans present erupted at the announcement, then again when Hart made the free throw, and then again when Bridges floated a bucket over Wembanyama.
Thanks to a buzzer-beater in traffic by Devin Vassell, the Spurs took a 42-37 lead into halftime. Stunned by those numbers? Us, too! That was the fewest points scored by the Knicks in a first half this season.
The glaring number is points in the paint: 18-6 Spurs. Thatâs a big gap, especially when neither team could shoot straight. The hosts had made two more field goals than the guests. The Knicks actually shot better from three (37% to 29%), thanks to Brunson making 3-of-4. On the glass, the Spurs held a 26-23 edge overall and had nine second-chance points. The Spurs had 14 bench points, the Knicks none. Turnovers, assists, and points off turnovers were essentially even. New York had taken 44 shots and scored only six paint points. Brunson led all scorers with 16; Harper led the Spurs with 11.
To start the third quarter, Towns was immediately dinged for a soft elbow on Wemby (who preceded that with a push-off). The Extender was all over it, whistling Karlâs fourth penalty of the night and sending him to the bench.
A few moments later, Wemby scored on a dunk, and Robinson pushed him gently from behind, earning the same flagrant-1 that Fox did earlier. Those two fouls by their centers were momentum killers for the Knicks. Wemby hit the freebie, Champagnie made a three, and Wemby made a bucket to make the hole 12 again. A Bridges three-pointer and a Brunson jumper cut it back to seven, and the see-saw continued.
Ariel Hukporti checked in around the eight-minute mark, but not for longâWemby took the bench, and Brown opted for Shame, hoping for that elusive offensive surge.
At around the 5:30 mark, Wembanyama clearly violated Brunsonâs landing area on a three-point attempt. Jalen landed on his foot, turning his ankle. The refs swallowed their whistle on the obvious flagrant. Why? Because it would have been his fourth flagrant-foul point and suspended him from Game Six.
â Knicks Fan TV đđ„đșđ (@KnicksFanTv) June 14, 2026
Hereâs a convenient place to drop this fun fact: Financial analysts tracking deep postseason runs note that a single Finals game hosted in a premier arena can clear $20 million or more in total building revenue. (h/t Inc. Magazine.) The league takes a 25% cut of all gate receipts from playoff games. Plus, economic impact studies frequently show that hosting a single Finals game can inject tens of millions of dollars into a cityâs local ecosystem.
On the next sequence, Bridges was poked IN THE EYE DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF FOSTER, but yet again, no whistle. The Spurs fans chanted DE-FENSE, but it should have been FOS-TER! With the Knicks playing 5-on-6, the Spurs went ahead by 15.
Mikal Bridges gets poked in the eye right in front of Scott Foster⊠No call đ€ pic.twitter.com/rKF1win32V
Send your thoughts to asilver@nba.com. Maybe, if the NBA believes in ethical basketball, they will assess a belated flagrant on Wemby after reviewing the game.
Throughout the Finals, Shamet, McBride, and Clarkson have been mostly negatives. That continued tonight. One bench player who gave New York positive minutes was Hukporti, who blocked Kornet at the rim and fought for a timely offensive board.
Hart hit a triple, Brunson hit three freebies, and Robinson tipped in a Brunson miss to make the score 72-65 after three.
7-point game headed to the 4th, thanks to Mitchell Robinson!
The teams traded buckets to start the final frame. Shamet hit a threeâfinallyâand Vassell answered. Early in the quarter, Hart blocked a driving Vassell and called for a foul. Brown challenged it. Even though Hart contacted the ball first, the challenge was unsuccessful. Send your thoughts to asilver@nba.com.
Shamet hurt his ankle coming down for a layup and exited the game. Hate to see him injured, but it might have been the only to stop Brown from playing him!
Wemby was actually called for a loose ball foul, then Brunson took him to the woodshed for a difficult finger roll. The score was 83-79 at the midway mark. Towns picked up his fifth foul around then, shoving Wemby from behind into Hart. That meant Robinson was back in the game when New York needed an offensive push to keep the game close or even go ahead.
Brunson made two free throws and a freight train layup to cap a 10-0 run. All knotted up at 83 with four and change remaining. Vassell made a jumper for a lead, but then fouled Brunson on a three (and violated his landing space, but shhh). Captain Clutch made all three freebies and took the lead. Fox missed on a pull-up, Robinson grabbed the board, and Brown called a timeout to beat Mitch Johnson to a Hack-A-Mitch.
Brunson was dinged for an offensive foul, and the Spurs missed a couple of point blank at the iron. Theyâd missed nine of their last ten shots, and then Vassell goaltended on an Anunoby dunk. 88-85 with two minutes left.
At the other end, Towns fouled out when called for an offensive foul when Wemby charged into him. Wemby missed one of two, and the Knicks fans were delirious. Harper and Cap traded buckets, and with a minute left, the Knicks lead was two. Hart missed from yard, Harper got the ball and ran the length of the floor, but blew the game tying layup with 27 seconds on the clock.
Hart was fouled and made the first. He missed the second, but Mitchell Robinson hauled in the biggest rebound of his career. The ball kicked out to Anunoby, who was fouled and made one of two. This time Vassell grabbed the board and called a timeout. Knicks up, 92-88. Just 20 seconds left.
Out of the break, the Spurs ran the same play the Knicks did to win Game FourâCastle inbounded, then dunked the putback of a Wemby miss. It was Castleâs first field goal of the night, after missing nine straight.
Out of the Knicks timeout, Brunson was mauled at halfcourt by Wemby and Harper but Foster ignored it. The ball finally reached Bridges, who was given a foul. At the line, Bridges missed the first but canned the second. 93-90. Spurs timeout, nine seconds left.
Shamet (back in the game) fouled Harper, and the rookie, who led his team with 25 points, wilted in the moment. He missed both, then fouled the rebounding Anunoby. OG missed one, made one, and the game ended with Wembanyama missing from deep. How fitting.
The Larry OâBrien trophy was presented. Jalen Brunson was named the MVP. Karl-Anthony Towns was finally a champion. The remaining Knicks fans at the Frost Bank Center celebrated. I cried. You cried. And after 53 years of wandering the desert, we finally made it home.
Joey Volchko made College World Series history on Saturday, June 13, in Georgia's 7-1 win over Texas, delivering a masterful performance while being virtually untouchable.
The 6-foot-4 starter finished his first-career complete game with a career-high 15 strikeouts against the Longhorns, holding their lineup to one unearned run on four hits and a walk. He needed 114 pitches in the complete game, and dominated hitters with virtually untouchable cutter and sweeper combination.
Volchko's start led the way for Georgia's first College World Series win in over 18 years, and his 15 strikeouts were the most by any pitcher in program history in Omaha, Nebraska.
Volchko, the No. 73-ranked prospect of the 2026 MLB Draft by MLB Pipeline, has struggled with command at times in 2026, entering June 13's game with 45 walks in 86 1/3 innings pitched. But his strike-throwing was on point against Texas, walking one hitter while throwing 84 of his 114 pitches for strikes.
He lowered his ERA by nearly 0.40 points, as his average reduced from 4.07 to 3.68 after the career performance. The first-year transfer from Stanford flashed overpowering stuff all night against the Longhorns, touching 96 mph on his cutter while mixing in devastating sweepers and curveballs that kept Texas off balance.
The Bulldogs got out to an early 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning against Texas ace Dylan Volantis, a first-team All-SEC pick this season, due to multiple errors from the Longhorns defense. From there, it was a pitchers' duel between Volchko and Volantis, the latter of whom allowed seven runs, only two of which were earned.
Should Georgia reach the national championship series, Volchko would be fresh enough to make another start, which at that point would come with huge expectations after the imposing showing.
Here's what to know of Volchko after his powerful win against Texas in the College World Series:
Joey Volchko stats
Volchko had his career-best start against Texas in the College World Series on June 13, tossing a complete game with no earned runs. Here's his final line against the Longhorns, along with his season stats:
vs. Texas: One run (unearned) on four hits with one walk and 15 strikeouts across nine innings. Threw 84 of 114 pitches for strikes.
2026 season: 11-2 record with a 3.68 ERA and 119 strikeouts in 95 1.3 innings pitched.
Joey Volchko MLB draft projection
Volchko is MLB Pipeline's No. 73-ranked prospect for the 2026 MLB Draft. MLB Pipeline notes his potential as a front-line MLB starter, although only if he can blend his power with more finesse.
Clearly, he showed it against Texas.
"He has a durable 6-foot-4 frame, athleticism and a quick arm that could help him fit in the front half of a rotation if he can find some finesse to go with his power," MLB Pipeline writes.
MLB Pipeline also gives Volchko a 60-grade fastball and a 60-grade slider, although his splitter, curveball and command were graded at 40, which is below average. Overall, he's a 50-grade prospect, according to the prospect evaluators.
The out-of-control Knicks fans were seen smashing up a cop car outside of Madison Square Garden, while others destroyed MTA and school buses among the madness in the hours after New Yorkâs historic win on Saturday night.
Two maniacs were seen jumping on top of the car and smashing up its front windshield , according to a video posted byFreedomNews TV.
A NYPD cop car windshield was smashed during the mayhem Saturday night. FNTV
In another wild scene captured on video, NYPD officers took down a crazed fan and shoved several others back outside the garden.
The detained man, wearing a Knicks Finals sweatshirt, was handcuffed and escorted away but appeared to have been let go and ordered onto a sidewalk.
It wasnât immediately clear how many people had been arrested amidst the chaos as of early Sunday.
A Spurs fan had hopped into a police vehicle in an attempt to escape the packed Knicks crowd that had surrounded it.
Knicks fans immediately started getting rowdy on Saturday night. FNTVSmoke erupts on the streets of New York as Knicks fans celebrate the championship at Bryant Park on June 13, 2026. REUTERSA crowd of people climbs on top of a school bus as Knicks Fans celebrate the teamâs NBA Championship on June 13, 2026. Christopher Sadowski for NY PostA fan climbs a pole in Bryant Park after Game 5 of the NBA Finals. REUTERS
Hundreds of NYPD officers in riot gear raced into the area, pushing the rabble-rousers off of W31st Street.
The surging officers detained several people, taking them to the ground as the rest of the crowd ran off the street, according to video posted on X.
Officers on horseback took over an intersection on 8th Avenue, trying to disperse the crowd outside of the arena.
Officers say they havenât worn this much protection in the streets of the city since COVID
âIâve been doing this job for 20 years and Iâve never had to wear riot gear,â one officer told The Post outside MSG.
A person is detained in front of a destroyed NYPD vehicle during a chaotic scene in New York on June 14, 2026. Michael Nagle for NY PostKnicks captain Jalen Brunson holds up the MVP trophy next to owner James Dolan after winning the NBA Finals in San Antonio on June 13, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York PostVideo captured cops lining up to potentially face fans. FNTVOne person is seen taken away by NYPD in the video. FNTV
A frenzied mass spread to Times Square to continue the celebration, where dozens of people, some decked out in Knicks gear, climbed on top of an MTA bus
Two school buses and an MTA bus were taken over by rowdy groups as the madness turned chaotic after midnight.
Several instigators began to destroy one of the buses, ripping the front paneling from the engine compartment and swinging the debris to the approval of the delirious crowd, according to video shot by The Post.
At one point, a shirtless man spiked the engine grill cover onto the street before two other men jumped on top of it.
People hold flares as they take over a school bus in Times Square as thousands of Knicks fans celebrate the teamâs win. Christopher Sadowski for NY PostTwo people are arrested by the NYPD along 9th Avenue after the Knicks win on June 13, 2026. Aristide Economopoulos for NY PostFans climb inside a school bus parked along 42nd Street in Times Square. REUTERSKnicks fans walk past a car that was damaged after people jumped on top of it on 9th Avenue. Aristide Economopoulos for NY PostKnicks fans sitting on top of a school bus watch as others dismantle a barrier set up in Times Square. REUTERS
âWe want everybody tonight, in New York, be safe,â Dolan told reporters in the post-game press conference. âOK, celebrate, but be safe.â
The New York Post front cover for June 14, 2026.A rowdy crowd ignites a fire in the streets near Bryant Park after the Knicks win on June 13, 2026. REUTERSA person stands on top of a car as thousands of Knicks fans flooded the streets of NY after the teamâs win. AP Photo/Heather KhalifaA man uses his arms as a hoop as another shows off his Knicksâ Jalen Brunson jersey on top of a pole at the intersection of W34th and 9th Avenue on June 13, 2026. Aristide Economopoulos for NY PostKnicks fans perched on the New Victory Theater after the historic win. Jennifer Bain
Knicks fans across the state raced down to the city Saturday to watch the final game on the streets of New York.
âIt feels amazing,â Yanal Zeid told The Post. âThe city is electrified right now. Thereâs no further of coming together than this. This is the most you will see a city come together. We are bonding, weâre completely tied together now. Itâs amazing.â
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NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 13: Eli White #36 of the Atlanta Braves celebrates with teammates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run in the fourth inning during the game between the Atlanta Braves and the New York Mets at Citi Field on Saturday, June 13, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Evan Yu/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
As we nervously await the diagnosis on what appeared to be a pretty grim injury to Spencer Striderâs throwing arm, the Braves scraped a win in Flushing with their fifth starter and missing two of their most productive bats. While there is some pitching depth returning from injury, in the form of Hurston Waldrep, AJ Smith-Shawver, and Spencer Schwellenbach, none of those can be taken for granted. This team is in a great spot in the standings and is getting significant offensive firepower back, but they have a real need to add pitching and likely another viable bat at the deadline. With the exploding farm system
Brunson, who finished with 45 points and was unanimously named NBA Finals MVP, was emotional in his postgame interview on ESPN.
Jalen Brunson drives to the basket for a layup in the fourth quarter of the Knicksâ Game 5 win over the Spurs to claim the NBA championship. NBAE via Getty Images
âI donât know what I am feeling. Iâm in awe. Whenever people counted us out, we came back and did something about it,â Brunson said.
The Spurs, once again, had the Knicks down double digits in Game 5 but New York pushed past them with a 29-18 fourth quarter to claim the franchiseâs first championship in 53 years.
The Postâs front page on June 14, 2026: âCHAMPS!â
âMy confidence comes from my work ethic,â the 29-year-old Brunson said. âAll I can think of is all the hours in the summer, every summer since I ever can remember making this a reality. Iâd just be alone in the gym.â
Brunson did not have an answer for what it meant to accomplish this goal with his father, Knicks assistant coach Rick Brunson.
ESPNâs Lisa Salters said the answer was obvious as tears streamed down Brunsonâs face as a picture-in-picture showed Rick joyously celebrating.
âYou can see it,â Brunson said, repeating Saltersâ line.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JUNE 01: Paul Sewald #38 of the Arizona Diamondbacks delivers a ninth inning pitch against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Chase Field on June 01, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. Diamondbacks won 4-1. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
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The Diamondbacks bullpen may be getting reinforcements shortly, in the long-absent shape of A.J. Puk, who last pitched for the team on April 17 last year. He has been on rehab assignments in the minors, and has made five appearances there since May 23. However, I use the word âmayâ, since Nick Piecoro reported yesterday that Puk was experiencing shoulder discomfort as a result of those outings, and will undergo an MRI. So his return is now at least a few weeks off. Iâm just glad that when we posed this weekâs question, âwhen heâs healthyâ was affixed to the end. Anyway, the topic was whether or not Puk should take over from Sewald immediately. Here are the results.
Thatâs quite a resounding show of support for Sewald. To his credit, Paul has been almost perfect in the role, with just one blown save in sixteen opportunities, and a 2.30 ERA there. Of course, there are the four losses and a 5.87 ERA over his ten appearances in non-save situations. But closers tend to be measured largely by how they close, and itâs hard to argue against Sewald there. Itâs very much a âRide or dieâ mentality there: as long as you donât blow saves, nobody is too bothered what happens. My concerns, personally, are more whether Sewald can be as effective going forward, because the peripherals arenât great, and suggest he may be over-performing.
He goes into this Cincinnati series with 15 saves, a number exceeded by only a handful of pitchers this season. But among the 190 relievers with 20+ IP in 2026, his ERA is very much middle of the pack, at #91. His xERA (using exit velocity, launch angle, and sprint speed to model what a playerâs ERA âshouldâ be) isnât bad, coming in 26th at 2.63. But his FIP (Fielding Independent ERA) of 3.88 is 111th and his xFIP of 4.26 is 129th. The main reason for concern is, far more balls in play are becoming outs than youâd expect. His BABIP is .148 â about half league average, and the third lowest of those 190 pitchers.
It does help that heâs not allowing a lot of line drives, which tend to be the engine room which powers BABIP. At 12.3%, Sewald owns the 15th-lowest rate. In addition to doing a good job of limiting hard contact and barrels, he has been successful in getting pitchers to chase, particularly with his sweeper to right-handers. They are 6-for-39 with 12 strikeouts and a feeble .457 OPS against Paul. Considering his low cost â just $1.5 million for the year â he has been a bargain, and has likely already been worth more than that. You just have to look at struggles around the league of far more high-priced closers, to understand why I doubt weâll see changes in Arizona anytime soon.
Jun 6, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Kansas City Royals catcher Carter Jensen (22) hits a sacrifice fly to score a run during the ninth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images | Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
Noah Cameron had a rough start, the bullpen couldnât hold it together, and finally, the defense let the Royals down. In a game where the Astros scored seven of their runs via home run, they finally defeated the Royals with a groundball hit right to Bobby Witt Jr. that the Royals failed to convert into a double play. The final score was 8-7 in favor of the bad guys.
As described in the game discussion post earlier, Noah Cameron has been one of the best pitchers over the last month. Youâd be forgiven, however, if you didnât believe it from watching him tonight. On the one hand, he pitched three hitless, walkless innings to start the game. But he gave up a two-run home run in the fourth and another in the fifth. He gave up two more hits after that and got pulled for John âGas Canâ Schreiber.
The first inning went poorly for the Royals, who went down in order on only eight pitches. But starting in the second, they began to make some noise. Jac Caglianone took a one-out walk and went to third on a Salvador Perez groundout. Michael Massey came through with an RBI single, and the Royals had their first lead.
In the bottom of the third, Kameron Misner led off with an infield single. Carter Jensen grounded into a fielderâs choice, but Bobby Witt Jr. managed to flick a ball off the end of his bat into right field. Vinnie Pasquantino came through with an RBI single. That sent Bobby to third, where he was able to score on a passed ball a few pitches later. A 3-0 lead with Cameron on the mound felt pretty secure, but thatâs when the first two-run bomb came. Lane Thomas smacked a solo shot into the fountains the next inning, and all seemed well again. But thatâs when the second of the two-run bombs came against Cameron.
The Royals failed to score in the fifth, so the Astros decided to take the lead in the sixth as the wind picked up and the clouds loomed even more. Brice Matthews belted a solo home run off of olâ Gas Can. Schreiber otherwise did yeomanâs work, striking out 3 in his 1.2 innings of relief.
The Royals came back with a vengeance in the bottom of the sixth. Salvy singled to center and Massey doubled him to third. Thomas took a walk to load the bases for hometown-hero-in-waiting Misner. Unfortunately, weâre all still waiting because he popped up a 3-2 pitch that may have been ball 4 for the first out. But the hometown hero we already knew we had, Carter Jensen, smoked a changeup at 100.8 MPH into left center to clear the bases and give the Royals a 7-5 lead.
Thatâs just a really pretty swing. Going the other way against a changeup pitcher is almost always the right idea, and Carter did it perfectly.
The Royals tried to score more after Bobby hit a pop-fly double to right-center that could only advance Carter to third. Unfortunately, Isaac Collins was batting in the three hole after Vinnie Pasquantino appeared to injure his wrist â more on that in a minute â in his previous at-bat. Collins flew out to shallow left, and the Royals tried to score Jensen from third anyway. He was thrown out handily. Still, with horrible storms on the radar, all the Royals needed to do was hang on to that lead for a little while longer.
Daniel âDanny Dripsâ Lynch IV came in to pitch the seventh and performed a clean inning. By this point, the grounds crew had the tarp uncovered and were all standing behind it, ready to start rolling it out at a momentâs notice. The Royals went quietly in the bottom of the seventh. Royals fans were looking nervously at the tarp, hoping it would come on the field sooner or later, and we could all call it an early night with a Royals victory.
Instead, out of the bullpen came Matt Strahm-boli. If youâve been paying attention, you knew that heâd allowed solo home runs in each of his last four appearances, five of his last six, and six of his last eight. But with a two-run lead, a solo home run couldnât do them in. So he hit a batter before allowing Jose Altuve to go yard and re-tie the game. It wasnât what youâd call a rainmaker, but it got the job done. Strahm managed to get the next batter out, but the rain immediately followed, and so did the tarp. Just two batters too late.
This is as good a time as any to talk about Vinnie, I guess. After he hit a pop-up in the bottom of the fifth, he immediately reacted as if something had happened to his right hand. He held it gingerly as he jogged to first, and when he got back to the dugout, he immediately went up the tunnel. The Royals later reported that it was a right hamate injury. Itâs unclear whether itâs broken, but hamate injuries can be a massive problem for hitters.
Typically, even once a hitter returns from the IL, they will not have any power in their swing until the following season. Blake Mitchell had a hamate injury in Spring Training last year. He was able to come back at the beginning of May, but finished the year with only 13 extra-base hits in 60 games. For comparison, he had 37 in 111 games the year before, and heâs already got 18 in 53 games this year. Itâs possible he could return to form; Corbin Carroll had a hamate injury in Spring Training this year, and heâs been just fine since returning. But I wouldnât advise you bet on it.
The Royals can ill afford to lose Vinnie, as he was finally getting hot. Itâs an arbitrary endpoint, but he was slashing .289/.379/.408/.787, good for a 116 wRC+, over his last 20 games entering tonight. If you shrink the sample, the numbers can get even higher. But now it seems like the Royals might not have the real Vinnie until sometime next year. If they were still on the fence about selling after the Rangers series, they probably shouldnât be anymore. Considering how many potential buyers there are and how few teams know whether they should be sellers or not, perhaps the Royals could get a good deal done if they wanted to jump the market. Of course, theyâd probably need to trade Michael Wacha and/or Seth Lugo because Cole Ragans and Kris Bubic have each suffered additional setbacks in their returns over the last week, and weâre awaiting the results of additional testing before we can even begin to know what their new timelines might be.
When the rain delay ended, Alex Lange-xiety came to pitch as the only reliever who had yet to appear in the series. He got the final two outs of the eighth, but the Royals did nothing in the bottom half. Lange came back out for the ninth because, yeah, everyone else had already pitched too much or in this game. Maybe Beck Way or Eli Morgan could have pitched, but theyâre not exactly anyoneâs top choice in a close game. Lange walked pinch-hitter Joey Loperfido to start the inning, then got Jeremy Peña on a shallow fly to left. He convinced Yordan Alvarez to pound one into the ground, but it hopped over Caglianone at first.
With runners at first and third, the Royals played the infield back, hoping for a double play ball. And thatâs exactly what they got, an easy roller straight to Witt. He threw to second for the first out, but Loftin yanked the throw to first, and Caglianone couldnât get to it. The broadcast crew wondered if Caglianone should have caught it, and I donât know, maybe if he had been able to wait a moment longer before entering his stretch, but the guy has primarily been a right fielder for about a year now, and I think that would be a tough play for any first-baseman. Itâs only because heâs a lefty that he even got close to it. Iâm not going to harp on him whiffing on what was truly an awful throw by Loftin.
The Royals looked like they might tie it again in the bottom of the ninth when Bobby hit a one-out double. Collins, still batting in the three hole, smacked a liner over Peñaâs head at short, but he made an amazing leap and caught it. Unfortunately, Bobby was trying to get a good break so he could score. Peña was able to lob it to second to complete the Astrosâ double play and end the game. Because, of course, the Astros were able to make the far more difficult game-saving double play. When it rains, it pours.
Anyway, the Royals get to try to avoid the sweep tomorrow. A phrase weâve had to speak or type far too many times this year. Spencer Arighetti (2.21 ERA, 9.1% K-BB%) will go for Houston. Stephen Kolek (3.14 ERA, 12.2% K-BB%) will take the ball for KC. The game is scheduled for 1:10 Kauffman time, if you care to keep watching.
