The sting of Tom Thibodeau’s firing still lingers.
Thibodeau, fired in June 2025 after coaching the Knicks for five seasons, told The Athletic before the 2025-26 season he was deeply wounded and “had a sense of betrayal” as he felt he’d helped certain people in the organization who didn’t return his loyalty.
On Wednesday, the outlet reported that a friend of the coach said he is “genuinely very happy for the players and his guys” for winning a title — but some less-happy feelings still linger.
Tom Thibodeau reacts on the court during a Knicks-Pacers Eastern Conference Finals game in 2025. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“Tom is still hurt that the decision-makers made it appear he needed to be replaced,” the anonymous friend told The Athletic.
“I talked to Thibs (Saturday) and the first thing we talked about was that he had no malice in his heart, he didn’t have any kind of hatred,” Gibson said. “He was so happy for the guys, he was just really proud of the guys for what they accomplished.”
Knicks owner James Dolan and president Leon Rose moved on from Thibodeau due to his inability to get the team to the next level, but also due to a lack of collaboration with with the front office.
But even though Thibodeau’s time in New York ran its course after the Knicks lost to the Pacers 4-2 in the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals, he’s one of the key factors in the team’s return to relevance.
Tom Thibodeau speaks with Josh Hart during a game against the Mavericks. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Before he was hired in 2020, the Knicks weren’t an attractive landing spot for free agents, had missed the playoffs in sevens straight seasons and hadn’t won 30 games since 2017-18.
Thibodeau immediately established a defensive, gritty identity with the Knicks, guiding them to a 226-174 regular season record in five seasons and winning four playoff series in his final three years.
Mike Brown then replaced Thibodeau in July 2025 and ultimately led the Knicks to their first title in 53 years in his first season.
The Knicks faced their biggest test right away. They trailed the Hawks two games to one after a pair of one-point setbacks in Games 2 and 3. Atlanta guard CJ McCollum was torching them, averaging 27 points through the first three games of the series.
Ahead of a pivotal Game 4 in Atlanta, reserve guard Miles McBride sounded the alarm.
“I’d say we’re playing for our lives,” he said.
The Knicks routed the Hawks in Game 6. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
The Knicks responded by reeling off three straight victories to win the series. It started with coach Mike Brown making a major tweak to the offense. With Brunson being hounded by standout Hawks guard Dyson Daniels, the Knicks started running offense through Towns. He notched a triple-double in Game 4 — the first of his playoff career — in a 16-point win.
The Knicks won the final two games of the series by a combined 80 points. In the clincher, they set an NBA playoff record for the largest halftime lead of 47 points, going on to win by a whopping 51. The entire starting five reached double figures on a night the Knicks shot a scalding 59 percent from the field. It also included a Mikal Bridges breakout. Amid calls for Bridges to be benched, Brown stuck with the struggling veteran wing, and he rewarded him with a 24-point performance on 10-for-12 shooting. It started a torrid stretch for Bridges and the Knicks, who wouldn’t lose again until the NBA Finals.
“He just did what he’s capable of doing,” Brown said. “Is he gonna go 10-for-12 every night? No. But he was aggressive. Took great shots. I wouldn’t let it go unnoticed that his defense was phenomenal.”
The Knicks swept the 76ers in the second round. Jason Szenes for the New York Post
How it happened:
This series was never close. The 76ers’ lack of depth combined with a short turnaround after a grueling seven-game series victory over the Celtics gave them no shot. Only one of the four games was decided by single digits — the Knicks’ six-point Game 2 victory – and even that was never really considered in doubt. A hobbled Joel Embiid created major defensive issues for Philadelphia that the Knicks took advantage of. They won the four contests by an average of 22.2 points.
The most interesting part of the series was the final two games in Philly. Ahead of the matchup, Embiid implored 76ers fans to not sell their tickets, to avoid a repeat of two years prior when Knicks fans took over Xfinity Mobile Arena (then Wells Fargo Center). His plea fell on deaf ears.
Game 4 sounded like Madison Square Garden. Embiid heard boos during warmups.
Afterward, a giddy Josh Hart joked: “I used to think Philly was a sports town. I don’t know if it is anymore.”
Said 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey: “It absolutely sucks, if I’m being honest. It just sucks.”
There wasn’t much for 76ers fans to cheer about. The Knicks won the series finale by 30 points, 144-114, and equaled an NBA playoff record with 25 3-pointers.
The series also showed off their depth. Anunoby suffered a mild hamstring strain late in Game 2 and missed the last two games. It didn’t matter. McBride and Landry Shamet stepped up in his place. Shamet, buried on the bench before Anunoby’s injury, exploded for 15 points in Game 3 and McBride drained seven 3-pointers in Game 4.
“I always feel like I’m going to make shots,” McBride said. “I trust my work, trust my preparation. They left me open.”
The series was really decided by Game 1. With a nine-day layoff, the Knicks were rusty. The Cavaliers took advantage, building a 22-point lead early in the fourth quarter. Cleveland seemed on its way to stealing home-court advantage. Then, Brunson slipped on his Superman cape.
The Knicks’ captain rallied them from down 22 in the final 7:52 of regulation, finishing with 38 points. He relentlessly attacked Cavaliers All-Star James Harden during an 18-1 run, and the Knicks dominated overtime. The win marked the Knicks’ eighth straight playoff victory. It was also the first time in the play-by-play era (1997 and on) that a team that trailed by 20 or more points in the final seven minutes of the fourth quarter had ever won.
The Knicks also swept the Cavs. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
The Cavaliers never recovered, blasted in the final three games by a combined 66 points. There was a different Knicks star in every game. Brunson owned the first game, Josh Hart was terrific in Game 2 — he made five 3-pointers and scored 26 points – Anunoby and Bridges shared the spotlight in Game 3 and the bench took over the finale, scoring 58 points in a 37-point romp.
Like Philadelphia, Knicks fans took over Cleveland to see their team advance to the NBA Finals for the first time in 27 years. The playoff win streak was now at 11, and 10 of those victories had come by at least 11 points.
“To be part of this team that revives the word ‘hope’ in this city, it’s something special,” Towns said. “It’s something really, really special. And it’s an honor.”
The Spurs started fast and the Knicks finished faster. That was this series in a nutshell. In all four wins, the Knicks trailed by double digits and were behind late in the fourth quarter. It included a Finals-record comeback from 29 points down in the third quarter of Game 4. It included the Knicks becoming the third road team in Finals history to win the first two games of the series, along with the 1993 Bulls and 1995 Rockets.
It included Brunson proving all his critics wrong, that he was good enough to be the star of a championship team despite all the questions about his limitations. He poured in 38 points in that Game 4 rally, then scored 45 more in the clincher en route to MVP honors.
The Knicks bested Victor Wembanyama in the NBA Finals. AP Photo/Darren Abate
Anunoby had the biggest play of the series – arguably the biggest play in franchise history — with his flying tip-in of a Brunson miss with 1.2 seconds left, capping that iconic Game 4 comeback. It saved the Knicks from a 2-0 series lead becoming 2-2, a win that will stand alone among the 16 it took to end a 53-year drought.
“That has to be the most iconic shot in the history of New York basketball,” Brown said.
The Spurs entered the betting favorite after eliminating the defending champion Thunder. They had the superhuman Victor Wembanyama and two of the brightest young guards in the league in Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle. But the Knicks had experience, and they had Jalen Brunson. That won out in the end, as the Knicks won all three games in San Antonio at Frost Bank Center.
“I’m sorry it took so long but here we are,” owner James Dolan said, “and hopefully it won’t take that long again.”
Jan 25, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns center Mark Williams (15) celebrates a play with forward Dillon Brooks (3) and guard Collin Gillespie (12) against the Miami Heat in the second half at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The NBA season is officially over, and the rest of the league is finally catching up to where the Phoenix Suns have been for the past month and a half: the offseason.
We currently find ourselves in that two-week window between the conclusion of the NBA Finals and the start of free agency, a period in which teams can begin conversations with their own restricted and unrestricted free agents as they lay the groundwork for the 2026-27 season. For the Suns, that means turning their attention toward roster construction and determining which players they want to retain as they continue navigating a challenging financial landscape.
This year’s free agent class isn’t particularly noteworthy, but that’s become the norm in today’s NBA. Star players rarely reach unrestricted free agency anymore, choosing instead to sign extensions with their current teams or force their way to preferred destinations via trade. As a result, the available talent pool is often thinner than it once was. That reality creates additional value for teams that already possess productive players entering free agency.
The Suns find themselves in that position with several players whose futures remain unresolved. Whether it’s restricted free agents, unrestricted free agents, or players the organization has various rights attached to, Phoenix has decisions to make and negotiations to begin.
One interesting perspective on that value comes from John Hollinger of The Athletic, who annually publishes his Top 25 NBA Free Agents list. What makes Hollinger’s rankings unique is that they aren’t simply based on reputation or box score statistics. He uses a valuation system of his own creation to quantify a player’s market value and expected contract value based on production, age, role, and projected impact.
I developed a player valuation system called BORD$ (short for “Big Old Rating Dollars”) that uses analytics and playing time data from the last two seasons, projects values for the coming season based on a player’s age and performance and then converts the projected performance and playing time into a salary estimate based on the projected cap in 2026-27 of $165 million. (More on the methodology from this story five years ago.)
It’s an interesting exercise, especially when evaluating some of the Suns’ internal free agents and determining where they might fit in the broader landscape of this offseason market.
On Hollinger’s list this year, two of the Suns’ four notable free agents made the cut.
Jordan Goodwin and Amir Coffey did not crack the top 25, but Collin Gillespie landed at No. 10 while Mark Williams checked in at No. 23. Using his BORD$ valuation system, Hollinger views both as players who carry significant market value entering free agency.
Collin Gillespie: $21,472,942
Obviously, if $21.5 million is what Collin Gillespie is worth and somebody is willing to offer him that kind of money, I don’t think the Suns bring him back. That’s a lot to pay for a backup point guard.
This valuation may sound pretty extreme because Gillespie’s career had little traction until he blew up in his age-26 season, but he was fantastic last year. He’s also a career 40.5 percent 3-point shooter on serious volume, holds his own on defense and can run an offense. Paying him fifth-starter money isn’t crazy.
Obviously, if $21.5 million is what Collin Gillespie is worth and somebody is willing to offer him that kind of money, I don’t think the Suns bring him back. That’s a lot to pay for a backup point guard.
Make no mistake about it, as fantastic as Gillespie was last season, and understanding that he faded a bit down the stretch, he’s not a starting caliber point guard. Or perhaps he is, but not in a Phoenix Suns ecosystem that already features both Devin Booker and Jalen Green. And that’s the decision facing Phoenix this offseason.
Gillespie or Green?
One path involves moving on from Jalen Green, who is ultimately a duplicate of Devin Booker in many ways, and attempting to acquire assets that fortify the roster. In that scenario, Gillespie and Booker become your starting backcourt, allowing you to build differently around them.
The other path is to retain Green and pay Gillespie to come off the bench. At that point, the question becomes simple: how much are you willing to pay a reserve guard?
I think the answer lands somewhere in the middle.
My guess is that the Suns and Gillespie ultimately settle in the $12 million to $14 million per year range. If that happens, I could see it being a four-year deal with a team option attached to the final season, giving Phoenix some flexibility as it continues navigating its long-term cap situation. But that’s only my guess.
Mark Williams (restricted): $16,190,218
As we can see, Hollinger’s system has a little inflation built into it. I don’t see Mark Williams commanding $16.2 million annually in free agency. That said, I don’t think it’s wildly off either.
Williams helped answer questions about his durability by playing a career-high 60 games for the Suns, and now he seems set for a raise. His qualifying offer of $9.6 million is inexpensive enough that Phoenix surely will tender it to make him a restricted free agent.
The trick for Phoenix is having enough room below the first apron to bring back both Williams and Collin Gillespie, which may require the Suns to trade one of their 19 shooting guards.
Yes, the Suns do have a shooting guard problem, don’t they? Still, I’m not sure that is the issue. Because the Suns may not be prioritizing being under the first apron, as Hollinger suggests. What they do have to battle is the open market. There are plenty of teams around the league that could view Williams as worth something in that $16 million neighborhood.
The Lakers immediately come to mind. Yes, they’re the same team that failed Williams on his physical and voided the trade. But they still have a glaring need at center, and it wouldn’t be surprising if they revisited him this summer. All it takes is one team to believe in the talent and be willing to overlook the injury concerns.
PHOENIX, AZ – JANUARY 9: Khaman Maluach #10 and Mark Williams #15 of the Phoenix Suns high five before the game against the New York Knicks on January 9, 2026 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The question then becomes whether the Suns would match. The center position is arguably the most important storyline of Phoenix’s offseason. You have a lottery pick waiting in the wings in Khaman Maluach, but is he ready to handle that responsibility from Day 1? Or is it smarter to fortify the depth around him and allow his development to occur at a more natural pace?
Personally, I’m all for bringing Williams back. I loved what I saw from him during his time in Phoenix. Yes, the health concerns are real and should not be ignored. But he plays with a high motor. He’s constantly sprinting the floor, running in transition, attacking the glass, and putting pressure on defenses simply through effort. That’s the kind of player you want around a young center.
You want Maluach to watch that every day and understand that success in this league isn’t solely about talent. It’s about energy. It’s about effort. It’s about consistently doing the little things. Hustle, running, and perhaps most importantly, catching the damn ball.
Of course, the Suns could let Williams walk and take their chances in unrestricted free agency. There are some intriguing names available, and some of them would likely come at a lower price point. But are any of them good enough to help fortify the development of your young center? That’s the question Phoenix has to answer. The price, obviously, has to be right.
We’ll know more in the coming days as negotiations begin and the market starts to reveal itself. That’s when we’ll get a better understanding of what these players are actually worth and where they may ultimately end up. For now, all we have are projections, evaluations, and educated guesses.
Still, the fact that the Suns have two players ranked among Hollinger’s top 25 free agents speaks to the value they’ve created internally. Whether you agree with his exact dollar figures or not, the underlying point remains the same. Collin Gillespie and Mark Williams have established themselves as legitimate NBA players with real market value. And that’s exactly why Phoenix should be focused on bringing them back.
The Suns aren’t operating from a position of financial strength. They don’t have the cap space to replace productive players on the open market, nor do they possess a treasure chest of draft assets to quickly replenish the roster. Continuity matters. Internal development matters. Retaining players who have already proven they fit within your system is a must.
That’s why this offseason feels so important. The Suns have spent the past year trying to establish an identity, build a culture, and find players who complement what they’re attempting to become. Gillespie and Williams appear to check those boxes. Now comes the hard part. Figuring out what it costs to keep them.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 09: Jaylon Tyson #20 of the Cleveland Cavaliers runs down court during the third quarter in Game Three of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs against the Detroit Pistons at Rocket Arena on May 09, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Cavs fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Summer should be a season of growth for the Cleveland Cavaliers. While all eyes are on competing for a title in the immediate future, the continued development of their youth is arguably just as important. There aren’t as many prospects on the roster as there were a few years ago — but there are still a few players worth talking about.
Jaylon Tyson, Tyrese Proctor, and whoever the Cavs potentially select 29th overall in this year’s NBA Draft are the main prospects we are focusing on.
In your opinion, whose development is the most important?
Tyson is probably the closest to making an impact. He had a breakout sophomore season as a multifaceted role player who knocked down over 40% of his three-point attempts. Tyson’s on-ball game is ripe with potential, and he has one of the highest motors on the team. A more refined defensive game could make him a highly valuable two-way threat.
Proctor, meanwhile, is still lurking in the shadows. Opportunities were limited during his rookie season. But Cleveland is counting on him to take a leap and be playable next year. He’s got all the tools to play next to James Harden and Donovan Mitchell as an efficient shooter who can defend the point of attack. The Cavs would love to have Proctor in their rotation.
Finally, the 29th pick in the draft is a mystery. We don’t know who they might pick or what position they would even play. If there’s a prospect that has piqued your interest, then maybe you’ll vote for them.
Either way, we want to hear from you in the comments. Do you believe Tyson, Proctor, or the 29th pick can develop into something special on this roster? Who has the highest ceiling? Let us know!
The Knicks now boast three championship teams in their history, three forever squads anchored by legendary players who delivered unforgettable memories.
Here’s a closer look at each title-winning team:
The Knicks will soon have a third championship banner at MSG. Sports Illustrated via Getty Ima
1969-70
The coach: Red Holzman
The regular-season record: 60-22
The playoff record: 12-7 (4-3 vs. Bullets in Eastern Division semifinals, 4-1 vs. Bucks in Eastern Division finals, 4-3 vs. Lakers in NBA Finals)
The playoff stats: Willis Reed was a double-double machine, averaging 23.7 points and 13.8 rebounds. He had plenty of help at both ends from Dave DeBusschere (16.1 ppg and 11.6 rpg). Clyde Frazier was swishin’ and dishin’ his way to 16 points and 8.2 assists per game, while hitting the glass for 7.8 rebounds.
Willis Reed #19, head coach Red Holzman (R) of the New York Knicks in the locker room is being interviewed by ABC’s Howard Cosell after the Knicks defeated the Lakers in Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Championship May 8, 1970. Getty Images
The memories: The most famous moment in Knicks history is the sight of Reed limping out of the tunnel before Game 7 of the NBA Finals. Teammates left the locker room not knowing if the league’s MVP would play after missing Game 6 with a torn thigh muscle.
Reed scored the first two baskets of the game – his only four points – but an inspired Frazier authored a Game 7 masterpiece with 36 points, 19 assists, seven rebounds and five steals.
To get to the Finals – where they overcame Jerry West’s game-tying 60-foot buzzer-beater in Game 2 – the Knicks first outlasted the rival Bullets in Game 7 behind 28 points apiece from DeBusschere and Dick Barnett, then took out the Bucks, led by rookie center Lew Alcindor (later Kareem Abdul-Jabbar).
The team’s 18-game regular-season winning streak remains a franchise record.
The Knicks celebrate their title in 1973. From the lens of George Kalinsky
1972-73
The coach: Red Holzman
The regular-season record: 57-25
The playoff record: 12-5 (4-1 vs. Bullets in Eastern Conference semifinals, 4-3 vs. Celtics in Eastern Conference finals, 4-1 vs. Lakers in NBA Finals)
The playoff stats: Frazier was unstoppable with the ball in his hands, leading the Knicks in scoring (21.9 points per game) and assists (6.2) while logging 45 minutes per night. His backcourt mate was an old rival: Earl Monroe chipped in 16.1 points and 3.2 assists per game. The bigs weren’t quite as potent as they were three years earlier, but DeBusschere (10.5 rpg) and Reed (7.6 rpg) still made their presence felt.
The memories: The Knicks became the first road team in NBA history to win a Game 7 at Boston Garden, clinching the Eastern Conference finals.
In Game 4 against the Lakers in the NBA Finals, the Knicks 13-point lead was trimmed to two in the final minute before DeBusschere grabbed an offensive rebound over Wilt Chamberlain, scored a putback and was fouled. DeBusschere’s signature game (33 points, 14 rebounds) in the 103-98 victory restored command of the series.
The 1973 Knicks are the last NBA team to send all five starters to the Hall of Fame.
“The Lakers wanted us,” Reed said after winning his second NBA Finals MVP in four years. “They got us.”
2025-26
The coach: Mike Brown
The regular-season record: 53-29
The playoff record: 16-3 (4-2 vs. Hawks in Eastern Conference first round, 4-0 vs. 76ers in Eastern Conference semifinals, 4-0 vs. Cavs in Eastern Conference finals, 4-1 vs. Spurs in NBA Finals)
The playoff stats: Jalen Brunson (28.4 points per game) earned his “Captain Clutch” moniker in fourth quarters, and OG Anunoby also averaged 20.1 points per night. Karl-Anthony Towns controlled the boards, averaging 10.6 rebounds. Brunson (6.1 assists per game) and Towns (4.9) were the primary facilitators at different times.
The Knicks ended their 53-year title drought. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The memories: What tops a 22-point comeback in the final eight minutes of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Cavs? How about a 29-point second-half comeback (20 in the fourth quarter) in Game 4 of the NBA Finals versus the Spurs, capped by Anunoby’s immortal go-ahead flying tip-in with 1.2 seconds remaining?
The Knicks not only tied the NBA record for second-longest playoff winning streak (13) but did so in unprecedented blowout fashion, with 11 victories by double-digit margins during the elimination of the Hawks, 76ers and Cavaliers. Their first three series close-out wins came by an average of 39.3 points before their 94-90 championship-winning clincher in Game 5 in San Antonio. In that one, a dazzling Brunson poured in 45 points on 14-for-27 shooting from the field.
And for a team whose stars — Steph Curry,Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green — all are age 36 or older, Golden State especially could benefit from finding younger role players to ease their load.
But that’s easier said than done. So general manager Mike Dunleavy knows he must be open to any methods of helping the Warriors from a talent standpoint, as he discussed in a press conference Wednesday before next week’s 2026 NBA Draft.
A reporter asked Dunleavy if the organization is comfortable with adding older veterans this summer instead of fresher, but less experienced players.
“Frankly, it’s not the best thing, but if it’s going to make us better — like significantly better — I think we have to look at that, because that’s really our thought process and job right now, is to make this team better,” Dunleavy responded. “So if it means doing older, then we’ll do it, but that’s pretty unlikely. There’s only so many guys I feel like we could bring in that are older, and we’ve got some guys on the back end of it already, and to add to that, you know, there would definitely be some risk. But maybe there’s a situation we do that and go for it, but yeah, I mean, we obviously prefer to get younger.”
Last offseason, the Warriors largely stuck to the strategy of adding more proven players, such as De’Anthony Melton and Al Horford. However, the downside was their inconsistent availability, as both Melton and Horford largely were unable to play both ends of back-to-backs, along with other needed off days.
And with Butler and Curry dealing with long-term injuries of their own, Golden State often seemed to have more players on the injury report than not. So naturally, acquiring younger, less injury-prone players seems like the right move.
But, of course, if an older star — say, LeBron James or Kawhi Leonard — decides they want to join forces with Curry and Co. on the Warriors, Dunleavy could determine the team would be better off with that established force instead of some more youthful energy.
With the NBA offseason about to come into full gear in the coming weeks, Dub Nation will find out Dunleavy’s decided strategy soon enough.
Singer Este Haim said she, sister Alana Haim and Taylor Swift were surprised by the mass attention that their matching blue and orange shirts received at Game 4 of the NBA Finals on June 10.
Singer Este Haim said she, sister Alana Haim and Taylor Swift were surprised by the mass attention their matching blue and orange shirts received at Game 4 of the NBA Finals on June 10.
During a Tuesday interview with Variety, Este shared the behind the scenes of their “magical” night on Celebrity Row at Madison Square Garden, where the Knicks pulled off the biggest comeback in NBA Finals history over the Spurs in Game 4.
“I mean I think it surprised all of us,” Haim told Variety while at the Los Angeles premiere of “Voicemails for Isabelle” on Netflix on Tuesday. “I just went into being like were going to go to a basketball game and have fun, thats literally it.
Este Haim on her viral "Stevie Knicks" t-shirt and getting invited to MSG by Taylor Swift. pic.twitter.com/QbjIrUbjR4
“Taylor invited me and Alana. I’ve never sat courtside ever, so it was a magical experience.
“I’ve never heard the Garden be that loud in my life. It was amazing. I had the best time.”
The Haim sisters and Swift sported blue shirts with Knicks-coded puns on the front in orange.
Swift’s shirt said “Stevie Knicks,” which was a nod to the legendary singer, who she’s been friends with for some time.
(L-R) Alana Haim, Taylor Swift and Este Haim react in the first quarter during Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden on June 10, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect(L-R) Alana Haim, Este Haim, Taylor Swift, and Mariska Hargitay react in the first quarter during Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden on June 10, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Este’s shirt, “Knickole Kidman,” was a reference to actress Nicole Kidman.
Alana donned a shirt with “Knickelback,” a twist on Canadian rock back, Nickelback.
They were courtside with actress “Law & Order: SVU” star Mariska Hargitay — a close friend of Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson — who also donned a “Stevie Knicks” shirt.
Taylor Swift and Este Haim celebrate after Game Four of the 2026 NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks on June 10, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. NBAE via Getty Images
“It’s over! It’s over! Knick fans, this is not a dream!” Breen said as the clock ticked down on the Knicks’ 94-90 win, a victory that gave them their first title since 1973. “Your long, long wait is ended. Go ahead and cry: after 53 years, the Knicks are finally NBA Champions once again!”
Breen, who grew up a Knicks fan as a Yonkers product and Fordham alumn, understood the moment before it happened.
“I do know what it would mean to the city and to the fans of the city,” he said during a pre-Finals conference call. “It might be one of the great moments in the history of New York sports if they win because of what the fan base has gone through and how loyal they’ve been to the team.”
The parade is set to kick off at 10 a.m. at Battery Park. It travels down Broadway and ends at City Hall, where Breen will take the microphone.
Walt Frazier and Patrick Ewing will finally get their parade.
The Knicks’ biggest legends, among other team alumni, will travel down the Canyon of Heroes during Thursday morning’s championship parade in lower Manhattan, The Post has learned.
Frazier led the Knicks to two titles more than 50 years ago, but he and his teammates never partook in a parade. In 1970, the Knicks were honored with a ceremony at Gracie Mansion.
Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (l.) and legend Walt Frazier (r.) celebrate after the team’s NBA championship win on June 13, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / NY Post
In 1973, roughly 2,000 fans joined them at a celebration at City Hall.
During this run that broke the franchise’s 53-year championship drought, the Knicks welcomed back several former players to games at Madison Square Garden, including Bill Bradley, Bernard King, Larry Johnson, Latrell Sprewell, Marcus Camby, Jeremy Lin, among many others, including Ewing, John Starks and Allan Houston, who are each currently employed by the team.
Karl-Anthony Towns (c.) and Patrick Ewing (r.) hold up the New York Post cover after winning the NBA championship on June 13, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Ewing, who brought the Knicks within one win of a championship in 1994, will now be showered with confetti on Broadway, a quarter-century after that long-awaited moment seemed lost to history.
“It means everything to the city,” Ewing said after the Knicks clinched the championship in San Antonio. “It was a magical run, all the things they were able to accomplish.”
With the 2026 NBA Draft approaching, there are many questions surrounding who the Warriors will take at No. 11 overall.
But what does Mike Dunleavy have in store for Golden State’s second-round pick, locked in at No. 54?
“I think the approach on the second round for us has been not to overthink it, you’re looking for a guy that can just make it,” Dunleavy told reporters during his Wednesday press conference at Chase Center regarding the upcoming draft. “You don’t worry about position, you don’t worry about size, you don’t worry about age, you’re picking, for example, late 50s, it’s hard to make it to the NBA that far back in the draft.”
The Warriors have found recent success in the second round, drafting players such as Gui Santos, Quinten Post and Will Richard.
“If there’s a guard that we think could make it and it’s just going to mean we have more guards, you just got to do it because the rest of the guys if you try and pick for position at that point you could go wrong,” Dunleavy told reporters. “So I think the focus is just, which guy has the best chance to make it, let’s get him in our program, develop him, get him to Santa Cruz a little bit and see where it goes.”
That development path is exactly what turned Santos, a No. 55 overall pick in 2022, into a real contributor. He spent his entire rookie season in the G League with the Santa Cruz Warriors, averaging 13.7 points per game over two seasons there before earning a consistent role in Golden State.
With Stephen Curry entering what could be one of his final seasons, every value pick matters more than usual for a Warriors roster trying to maximize what’s left of his prime — even one as far down as No. 54.
While the second round might not hold all the answers to the team’s recent struggles, Dunleavy’s philosophy suggests there could be a diamond in the rough waiting to join the Warriors in 2026.
For the foreseeable future, the Knicks are New York's team. It's not surprising, then, that the Yankees want to get a piece of that action.
The ballclub announced Wednesday, June 17 that NBA Finals MVP Jalen Brunson and teammate Josh Hart will throw out the first pitches at that night's game against the Chicago White Sox at Yankee Stadium.
The ceremonial tosses will come a little more than 12 hours before the Knicks will be feted with a parade through Lower Manhattan's so-called "Canyon of Heroes," proceeding north on Broadway to City Hall.
Brunson averaged 32.8 points during the Finals as the Knicks won 15 of their last 16 playoff games, losing only Game 3 against San Antonio at Madison Square Garden. Brunson has pulled off first pitch duty in the Bronx as recently as 2024.
Brunson, Hart and Mikal Bridges, famously, were teammates at Villanova during the late 2010s.
The Los Angeles Lakers have been searching for a long-term answer at center for years. Now, one of their favorite targets may suddenly be available.
According to sources and confirmed by the California Post, Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler is increasingly frustrated with the organization over the handling of his contract situation, creating an intriguing offseason storyline for a Lakers team desperate for size, rim protection and a frontcourt partner for Luka Dončić.
Reports of tension between Walker Kessler and the Jazz could create an intriguing offseason opportunity for the Lakers’ center search. NBAE via Getty ImagesWalker Kessler #24 of the Utah Jazz passes the ball to Johnny Juzang #33 of the Utah Jazz JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST
According to sources, the Jazz offered Kessler a 5-year contract worth around $140 million, which would come out to $28 million AAV. That would make Kessler the 10th-highest paid center in the league, just below Oklahoma City’s Isaiah Hartenstein ($28.5M) and ahead of Milwaukee’s Myles Turner ($26.6M).
However, sources say Kessler’s camp is not thrilled with that offer and is wanting signifcantly more, this putting the two sides at odds.
The development is notable because the Lakers have pursued Kessler before.
Utah has repeatedly rebuffed trade inquiries for the 24-year-old center, who has emerged as one of the NBA’s premier young defensive big men. But with tensions now reportedly simmering between player and team, a path that once seemed completely closed could become more realistic.
Kessler checks nearly every box on the Lakers’ wishlist.
Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after scoring Corey Sipkin for NY PostKarl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks goes up for a shot as Walker Kessler #24 of the Utah Jazz JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST
At 7-foot-1, he provides elite rim protection, strong rebounding and efficient finishing around the basket. He is also viewed as an ideal fit alongside Dončić, whose ability to create lob opportunities helped turn centers like Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford into highly productive offensive weapons in Dallas.
Even after a shoulder injury limited him to just five games last season, Kessler averaged 14.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.8 blocks and 1.4 steals while shooting 70.3 percent from the field.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst recently highlighted Kessler as one of the most intriguing names to watch during free agency.
“The Lakers do badly need a high-level starting center,” Windhorst wrote. “The two best ones on the free agent market this summer, Jalen Duren and Walker Kessler, are restricted free agents, and their teams have indicated they want to keep them.”
Jaxson Hayes #11, Luke Kennard #10, and Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers walk down the court during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder NBAE via Getty Images
Windhorst noted that Los Angeles could attempt to pressure Utah by presenting Kessler with an aggressive offer sheet.
“The Lakers could try to work with Kessler — a defensive specialist with excellent size who has been far apart from the Jazz in contract talks since last summer — to try to stress the Jazz with an offer sheet,” Windhorst wrote.
He quickly added a warning.
“But that’s a dangerous game.”
Because Kessler is a restricted free agent, Utah retains the right to match any contract offer. League insiders still largely expect the Jazz to do exactly that.
Still, for a Lakers team that has spent years searching for a dominant young center, the fact that Kessler’s relationship with the Jazz appears strained is enough to make this one of the offseason’s most compelling situations to monitor.
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CHICAGO, IL - MAY 12: Tarris Reed Jr. shoots the ball during the 2026 NBA Draft Combine on May 12, 2026 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Knicks enter the 2026 NBA Draft with picks No. 24, No. 31, and No. 55. Depending on how the board falls, Tarris Reed, Jr. could be available when New York is on the clock. Should the Knicks consider him?
The Basics
School: UConn
Position: Center
Height: 6’10” (Measured 6’9.75” barefoot at the 2026 Combine)
Projected Draft Range: Late first to early second round (Picks 24–40)
The Numbers
On the surface, Reed profiles as a traditional, retro low-post center. But deeper investigation of his senior season under Dan Hurley at UConn shows a highly modern interior engine. Reed posted an efficient 61% field goal percentage, largely because he understands his limits and dominates the restricted area.
The advanced metrics that stand out are his defensive and playmaking indicators. Reed grabbed nine boards per game with a strong defensive rebound percentage, but his defensive utility is what pops: he averaged two blocks per game, anchoring the paint using his massive 7’4.25” wingspan and a 9’2” standing reach.
Perhaps the most surprising evolution in Reed’s game is his passing. Jumping up to 2.3 dimes per game as a center isn’t an accident. He logged an impressive eight-assist game against Georgetown in the Big East tournament, showing he can act as a high-post hub or find cutters out of short-roll scenarios. The red flag remains at the charity stripe, where a 62% free-throw mark (and a total lack of three-point shots) confirms he is strictly an interior finisher.
What Does He Do Well?
Interior Physicality & Screen Setting: Reed is absolute bruising. At 263 pounds, he sets bone-crushing screens that create massive separation for ball-handlers. He creates extreme roll gravity because defenders must respect his strength as he barrels toward the rim.
Elite Rebounding Motor: He doesn’t rely solely on height; he understands boxing out and using his lower body to carve out space. He is relentless on the offensive glass, generating second-chance opportunities through pure effort and physical dominance.
Short-Roll Passing & Processing: Unlike many traditional college enforcers, Reed doesn’t suffer from tunnel vision. When teams blitzed UConn’s guards, Reed caught the ball at the free-throw line and quickly mapped the floor, hitting weakside shooters or dumping it off to baseline cutters.
On-Ball Interior Defense: While he won’t explode out of the gym with raw vertical leap, his 9’2″ standing reach makes him a wall at the rim. He handles post-up threats with ease, holding his ground without fouling, and rotates with exceptional timing.
Concerns?
Limited Vertical Explosiveness: Reed is a below-the-rim athlete in terms of explosiveness. His 29.5” standing vertical at the combine shows that he wins with positioning and length rather than jumping over people. This raises minor questions about how his finishing will translate against elite NBA shot-blockers.
Zero Floor-Spacing Capability: The shooting is entirely non-existent from the perimeter. He didn’t make a single three-pointer this past season, and his sub-optimal free throw shooting indicates that a reliable mid-range or pick-and-pop jumper could be years away.
Perimeter Switchability: While Reed has nimble feet for a guy his size, he will struggle if isolated on an island against the NBA’s quickest elite guards. He would flourish in a drop scheme, and matching up against modern, highly skilled stretch-bigs who pull him out to the arc will be a challenge.
Age: Turning 23 shortly after draft night means Reed is older than your typical prospect. Teams might view his ceiling as relatively capped compared to an 19-year-old developmental big. But how old was Tyler Kolek when Leon Rose drafted him? We’re obliged to mention it, but age probably won’t be a big deterrent.
The Knicks Fit
Reed is a physical, blue-collar enforcer who thrives on doing the dirty work that impacts winning. The Knicks have a need for dependable, low-mistake interior depth off the bench, and Reed fits like a glove. Unlike a raw developmental project who needs two years in Westchester, Reed spent two seasons under Dan Hurley playing a highly disciplined, demanding style of basketball. He understands defensive rotations, values every possession, and sets the exact type of physical screens that Jalen Brunson loves to exploit. He would be a safety net at the five spot, giving the Knicks a rugged interior presence who can be a physical rebounder and pass out of the short roll.
NBA Comparison
Best-Case Comparison: Isaiah Stewart / Day’Ron Sharpe
Median Outcome: Michael Cage with a passing gene
Low-End Outcome: Reggie Evans / Modern Enforcer off the bench
The Verdict
Pass at 24, Draft at 31.
If the Knicks keep both picks, taking Reed at No. 24 might feel like a slight reach given his lack of vertical explosiveness and spacing. However, if he is sitting there on the board at No. 31, run don’t walk Leon.
Mar 30, 2026; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Sam Merrill (5) goes up for a shot against Utah Jazz guard Bez Mbeng (21) during the second half at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images | Rob Gray-Imagn Images
When the Cleveland Cavaliers signed Sam Merrill to a contract extension and let Ty Jerome walk, it raised a lot of eyebrows. It created unnecessary discourse around who they should have let walk in free agency when they could have retained both at the expense of going further over the second apron. Merrill’s 2025-26 season showed why the Cavaliers invested in one of the league’s purest three-point shooters.
All grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.
Regular Season Stats
12.8 points
2.6 rebounds
2.4 assists
46.1% FG
42.1% 3PT FG
85.5% FT
Merrill is arguably one of, if not the most straightforward, grades on this Cavaliers roster. The question boils down to “how well did Merrill shoot the ball in 2025—2026?” The answer to that question is very well.
It was not only that Merrill had his highest three-point percentage since his rookie season, but also that he accomplished this feat while shooting the highest number of attempts from the perimeter in his career.
If one word could describe Merrill’s past season, it is confidence. It takes a certain mindset to blindly fire from the perimeter as Merrill did. There is a sureness with his approach, combined with the ability makes him a one-man wrecking crew to opposing defenses. I’m not saying Merrill was the Cavaliers’ version of Steph Curry, however, the way that his presence can bend a defense is a difference maker alone.
Merrill is an active shooter; he does not sit idle in the corner and wait for the primary ball-handler to generate his looks for him. When Merrill is on the floor, he is arguably the most active player, constantly forcing opposing defenses to keep their eyes on him as much as any star the Cavs have in lineups with him.
What separated Merrill’s 2025-26 season from others is that it felt like the Cavs optimized Merrill as a player. They featured him in a way that previous versions of the team didn’t. This was best shown once the Cavaliers acquired James Harden at the trade deadline.
Harden passed the ball most to Merrill of anyone on the Cavs, averaging nearly 10 passes a game. James Harden and Merrill are an intriguing example of how Merrill’s game is far from just a floor spacer. Their partnership evolved into these convoluted pick-and-roll or pop actions where their basketball IQ would stand out almost instantly.
When players like Harden immediately take note of how dynamic a player Merrill can be, it validates the investment made into Merrill at the beginning of the season. The Cavaliers made the correct choice of extending Merrill and keeping his elite skills in house. As the Cavaliers look forward, it’s safe to say that Merrill will continue to play an integral part of the offense and motion of it.
New York, N.Y.: San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama reacts after hitting the floor hard against the New York Knicks during the fourth quarter of Game 3 of the NBA Finals on June 8, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. (Photo by J. Conrad Williams Jr./Newsday RM via Getty Images) | Newsday via Getty Images
To get a sense of how universally beloved Victor Wembanyama was before playing a single second of NBA basketball, look at the way the best players in the world described him ahead of his first professional minutes.
“I think he’s going to be one of the best to play this game,” added Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Wembanyama had a higher approval rating than pizza and puppies when the San Antonio Spurs selected him first overall in the 2023 NBA Draft out of Le Chesnay, France. The 7-foot-4 center with an 8-foot wingspan walked into the league looking like a wacky waving inflatable tube man and became the first unanimous Rookie of the Year since 2016, averaging 21.4 points and 10.6 rebounds. Despite being a 20-year-old rookie, he led the league in blocks with 3.6 per game, finishing second in Defensive Player of the Year voting behind fellow French big man Rudy Gobert. “Let [him] win it now,” Wembanyama said. “Because after that, it’s no longer his turn.”
Confident quips like that one — along with various philosophical ruminations — only worked to further endear Wembanyama to the basketball world and beyond. Legions of new fans from all over fell in love with his rare combination of brash competitiveness, raw vulnerability, confidence, calculation, and, of course, his one-of-a-kind style of play. One couldn’t help but stare in wonder at the way he dominated the game on the defensive end, where the biggest, fastest athletes in the world veered away from him at all costs.
Off the court, Wembanyama was unafraid to stand out in historically unmasculine ways. “Personally, I refuse to carry the burden of having to hide my emotion,” he said after crying on the court following a big Spurs win. In a league full of guarded superstars who would rather act tough than stand out, Wembanyama’s vulnerability was a breath of fresh air. “He has a spine, guts, and heart,” NBA journalist Michael Pina wrote. “To soberly possess such authenticity at that age, in front of the world, is special. It makes him such an easy player to bet on. He cares deeply.” The recognition only continued to build as Wembanyama won the 2026 Defensive Player of the Year award and finished third in MVP voting after leading the upstart Spurs to 62 wins and a spot in the NBA Finals this June.
However, over the past few weeks, people have started to turn on Wembanyama. Though it started with Oklahoma City Thunder and New York Knicks fans, it wasn’t just egg-gate — basketball fans everywhere are suddenly turning on the NBA’s golden child. “I cannot stand this guy,” basketball podcaster David Jacoby said on “The Zach Lowe Show.” “I hate his outfits. I hate his face. I hate his hair. I hate everything about him.”
The question is, why?
Is it because Wembanyama is a frontrunner — a rare exception in being considered the world’s best basketball player before winning a title? Is it because he’s a bully, throwing elbows and jabs at opposing players without facing repercussions from the NBA? Or because he’s too full of himself? Too corny? Too calculated? Or is it simply because he has the conviction to parade around with his dogs out in the Garden?
Wembanyama the frontrunner
On May 18, despite coming into Game 1 of the Western Conference finals as significant underdogs to the reigning NBA Champion Thunder, Wembanyama became just the fifth player in NBA history to drop 41-points and 24-rebounds in a playoff game. The Spurs won the double-overtime classic, 122-115, with Wembanyama looking like the best player on the floor over two-time NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Typically, an athlete isn’t crowned as the best player alive until they win the big one, especially in basketball, where one player can affect the game in so many different ways. But Wembanyama is different. “The best player in the (expletive) world,” Spurs guard Stephon Castle announced for all the world to hear in a postgame interview on NBC. And it wasn’t just him: basketball analysts and former players were equally loud about Wembanyama now having the claim to basketball’s throne.
It was clear to anyone watching that he was on his way there. But now? At age 22? For some, he was being punctually recognized. For others, it was too much praise too fast, resulting in him becoming overrated. “Wemby ain’t the one, yo. Y’all crowning Wemby too fast,” radio host and culture critic Charlamagne tha God said on “Breakfast Club Power 105.1.” “I don’t see the dominance yet.”
Wembanyama the bully
Wembanyama’s frustration had been mounting throughout the postseason, where he was subjected to more contact than anyone since prime Shaquille O’Neal. And it boiled over during the opening minutes of Game 3 of the NBA Finals, when Wembanyama shoved Knicks star Jalen Brunson to the floor despite the ball not being anywhere in their vicinity.
“I hate him. He’s a bully,” Knicks fan and head of content at The Ringer, Sean Fennessey, said on the “Bill Simmons Podcast.” “He’s dirty, like it’s very obvious; you can watch clips from the game, he plays like a bully, and he’s not being officiated like a bully, and it’s annoying. So, it’s hard to watch the series.”
Knicks fans like Fennessey had a legitimate gripe: Wembanyama already accumulated two flagrant fouls earlier in the postseason, most notably for losing his temper and elbowing Minnesota Timberwolves forward Naz Reid in the head during their second-round series, which resulted in an ejection but not a suspension. A third flagrant would have put him one short of a one-game suspension in the NBA Finals — a death knell as far as the NBA’s surging ratings were concerned. And while the league had an opportunity to retroactively upgrade the clear violation to a flagrant foul, they chose not to. “It’s just better for the league if there’s six games or seven games instead of four games, and so it’s hard not to think that when you’re watching the game,” Fennessey added.
The tinfoil hats came out, and anyone rooting against the Spurs was quick to point out that the NBA was protecting their golden child, who brought so many new, global eyeballs to the game that he could do no wrong. The animosity only grew from there.
Wembanyama the tryhard
After missing a buzzer-beating jump shot that would have won Game 2 of the NBA Finals for the Spurs, Wembanyama needed to decompress. “The Playoffs, it’s like… a whirlwind. It’s hard to put your head out of the water,” he said. “I need some time off, let my brain cool down, recover. Recover as much for the body as for the mind.”
Last Sunday, in between Games 2 and 3, he went to Gramercy Park in lower Manhattan with his sister, Éve, to sketch. All of a sudden, his park rendezvous became the main storyline, with hilariously inaccurate hypotheses flying about regarding the calculated, pretentious superstar. “He’s corny as fuck,” one Knicks fan said to the Channel 5 YouTube channel. “And he’s just trying way too hard to make a storyline for himself.”
Finally, after the Knicks won Game 5 of the NBA Finals and put an end to their 53-year championship drought on Saturday, Wembanyama returned to the Spurs locker room without shaking hands with his opponents. It drew the ire of fans and players alike, with four-time NBA Champion Draymond Green saying, “Look your killer in the face. You got to look them in they face… and so to see them walk off the court, it was disheartening.”
But isn’t Wembanyama supposed to be different? Isn’t that what people liked about him in the first place?
Wembanyama the product of the internet age
It’s clear that people are turning on Wembanyama for the same reasons they originally fell in love with him, from his awe-inspiring feats of athleticism to his brash competitiveness to his quirky hobbies. These characteristics endeared him to people until they didn’t. It begs the question: Is it possible that Wembanyama changed during the postseason, behaving in a more distasteful way? Or is there something about the postseason spotlight that changed the way we think about him?
One could argue that he brought the villain narrative onto himself, going out of his way to provoke Knicks players and fans. There’s no doubt that Wembanyama enjoys being an agitator at the center of the basketball universe, growing increasingly disdainful of the media as the postseason went along before saying “see y’all… never” at his final press conference of the season. But it’s not so simple as to say Wembanyama chose villainy for himself.
Wembanyama isn’t the modern NBA’s first villain, and he won’t be the last. Just a few weeks ago, Gilgeous-Alexander had a similar fall from grace. After ethically working his way up the basketball ranks from an undersized underdog in Hamilton, Ontario to the best player on earth, he was framed as an unskilled flop-artist who was ruining basketball (and the future of the sport). What do Wembanyama and Gilgeous-Alexander have in common, other than the fact that they are both foreigners?
They are both products of the internet.
An unfortunate truth of the modern world is that people increasingly encounter reality through “algorithmic feeds built to warp reality, on platforms with every commercial incentive to keep users scrolling,” culture and technology writer Lane Brown writes in a Vulture story titled “The Feed is Fake.” Now that everything an athlete says or does can be recorded, cut up, aggregated, and misrepresented online through bad-faith actors who understand that extreme content gets rewarded, celebrity athletes like Gilgeous-Alexander and Wemby are subjected to the internet and its hot-take machinery finding something they don’t like about them and drumming it up until it becomes a story.
“On social media, popular opinion is being formed, measured, and manipulated all at once,” Brown continues. “And every signal the platforms produce — a trending song, a backlash, a talking point, the feeling that ‘everybody’ is suddenly talking about the same thing — can now be fabricated by unseen actors with hidden agendas.” As hateful content gets drummed up by the algorithm, trust in journalism declines and good reporting disappears behind paywalls, the average fan and media member are forced to look towards the comment sections for a sense of what’s being said. Talking heads pick up on that and bam! You got a snowball of negativity becoming too big to stop because on the internet, hate rises to the top.
It happened to Gilgeous-Alexander. And now it is happening to Wembanyama — and it will only get worse. Next season, the French Freak will be back in San Antonio with more tricks in his bag and more haters magnifying and criticizing his every move. Because in the modern NBA, the true sign of superstardom isn’t rings or MVP trophies: it’s hate and villainy. Get used to it.
