NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 9: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics shoots a three point basket during the game against the New York Knicks on April 9, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. 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 Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
When the Celtics entered the 2025 2nd round vs. the Knicks, it felt like they were on a different level than New York. That was proven wrong and since that point, it has become clear that it is New York who is on a different level than Boston.
Three wins away from their first championship in 53 years, the Knicks look like they tower over everyone else in the Eastern Conference.
It became very clear as the 76ers, who came back from down 3-1 vs. the Celtics, were not only swept by New York, but embarrassed by them, that the gap between Boston and New York was bigger than any of us thought it was.
It is up to Brad Stevens and company to close that gap this summer.
Does making a marginal move like trading Sam Hauser for a center help the Celtics? Yes, but we need to be thinking bigger.
The trio of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Derrick White has shown us they are good enough to win at the highest level. Get more of a contribution from the younger players in the playoffs and the Celtics could be back at the top of the East next year. Maybe you think the Celtics’ exit and the Knicks run are both flukey and that Boston shouldn’t panic.
Is that something that the Celtics should be betting on?
The roster is just not good enough as is and when you have Jayson Tatum on your team, you owe it to him and yourself to be doing everything to win the championship every year.
BOSTON – MAY 6: Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) is forced to pass after he is guarded by Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart (36), Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) and Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) during the second quarter. The Boston Celtics host the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 4 of the NBA Eastern Conference semifinals at TD Garden in Boston on May 6, 2019. (Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
That is why so many, myself included, feel that trading Jaylen Brown for Giannis Antetokounmpo is something Boston should be exploring.
Antetokounmpo would give the Celtics so many different layers to both their offense and defense that Brown doesn’t, including getting to the rim more, which is something that Brad Stevens talked about at his end of season press conference.
Yes, you’d be losing some of the great stuff Brown does like those mid-range shots, but Antetokounmpo gives more than Brown does on both ends of the floor.
You could also keep the Tatum and Brown duo together, and find a way to use Derrick White to upgrade the roster with either a big man or a scoring guard to pair with the Jays. The way the Celtics offense fell apart in the first round was much more worrying to me than their defense was.
The Celtics have four tradable picks and a $27.7 million trade exception. They don’t have to move any of Tatum, Brown or White to make an aggressive move. Maybe the Pelicans would be willing to give you Trey Murphy for Hauser, one or two of the young wings and a bunch of draft picks.
When the Knicks felt they needed to catch up to the Celtics after Boston’s 2024 championship, they traded for Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns. They took big, risky swings and it is the Celtics’ turn to do just that. I don’t know that Boston has two moves like that in them, but they should be making at least one big time addition to close the gap.
They’ve proved everyone wrong, and they’re hellbent on doing it again.
Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) is helped off the floor by teammate Stephon Castle (5) during Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Knicks in San Antonio on June 3, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
The basketball world winced when Wembanyama suffered a concussion in Game 2 of the Spurs’ first-round series against the Trail Blazers and needed to enter the league’s concussion protocol. There goes the Spurs’ postseason run.
It rolled its eyes when San Antonio lost Game 1 of its second round series to the Timberwolves. So much for being the real deal.
It started writing the Spurs’ obituary when they faced Game 7 of the Western Conference finals in Oklahoma City against the reigning champion Thunder and its two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Welp, it was a good run.
But the Spurs didn’t flinch in any of those moments. They leaned on one another. Their belief in themselves over the last two months has deepened to form a well of confidence form which they now draw after squandering home-court advantage against the Knicks in a 105-95 loss on Wednesday.
Said Wembanyama: “I’m not worried the slightest.”
Added Castle: “We feel like we’re the better team. We didn’t play well, and we still had a chance to win.”
Spurs center Victor Wembanyama speaks to reporters the day before Game 2 of the NBA Finals on June 4, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
The Spurs led by as many as 14 points in the third quarter before they let their lead slip through their fingers in the final six minutes of that period. They were outscored in the fourth quarter, 29-19.
Spurs coach Mitch Johnson didn’t even need to watch film to pinpoint where they need to improve. It was obvious. It was glaring.
San Antonio gave up a whopping 50 points in the paint. It had only 16 assists. Wembanyama, who shot 51.2 percent from the field and 34.9 percent from beyond the arc this season, shot a woeful 6-for-21 from the field (28.5 percent) and 2-for-9 from deep (22.2 percent) in Game 1.
Gregg Popovich, who coached the Spurs for 29 seasons and led them to five championships before stepping down after suffering a stroke in Nov. 2024, sent Wembanyama a text after watching the team’s implosion Wednesday night.
The gist?
“I’ve been bad,” Wembanyama said. “And I’m better than this.”
Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) puts up a shot against the Knicks during Game 1 of the NBA Finals on June 3, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
The Spurs weren’t good, and they still had a 95-94 lead with 2:16 left. They let Jalen Brunson score 13 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter. They committed five turnovers in that period while the Knicks had none. They were careless. They were outplayed.
They got in their own way.
That doesn’t instill fear in the Spurs. If they played their best and lost, that might have shaken them a bit more. But this was not that.
Heck, even if that had happened, this Spurs team would likely still believe in themselves.
If there’s anything this playoff run has taught us about them, it’s that they’re unflappable.
The Spurs’ stars might barely be of drinking age, but they’ve proved they’re mature enough to block out noise that can be deafening for players who are accustomed to big stages.
The New York Post front cover for June 4, 2026 featuring the Knicks’ Game 1 win.
Too young? Too inexperienced? They’ve made a mockery of those narratives.
Counterintuitively, it makes you wonder if their youth is their superpower. There’s a certain cockiness that can come with not knowing any better.
Castle was quick to shut that down.
“I don’t know if that’s our youth talking,” he said. “It might just be more of what our character is like. I don’t think we’ll ever change from being this way, having this kind of confidence in each other, no matter how young we are.”
That deep belief in themselves is what has gotten the Spurs through three series. It has gotten them to the championship round earlier than anyone thought possible.
They’ve faced a 1-0 series deficit before. That didn’t faze them.
They dethroned the defending champs who many believed would become the league’s next dynasty. You think they’re afraid of the Knicks?
Wembanyama already indelibly stamped his name into postseason lore with a 41-point, 24-rebound, three-block performance against the Thunder in Game 1 of that series. You think he’s going to get in his head about a mediocre Finals debut?
Think again.
There’s a fearlessness about the Spurs.
No one thought they’d be here this quickly. They have nothing to lose.
And that makes them very dangerous.
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CHICAGO, IL - MAY 12: Cameron Boozer 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 NBA Draft is in less than three weeks, and the speculation about Cam Boozer is hitting new heights.
Part of it may be gamesmanship, as various front offices try to push players up or down to get their true target.
Subterfuge is actually one of our favorite parts of the whole process. In Boozer’s case, though, we’re not sure that’s necessarily what’s going on.
He’s been through the combine, and he’s done the interviews. Teams have a much better idea of who he is now.
The top three picks, as you probably know, are Washington, Utah, and Memphis, and there’s the consistent rumor that Oklahoma City would like to trade up to get him.
It’s not a bad position to be in, really, other than going to the Wizards. In our opinion, it’s less important to be an early pick than it is to be picked by a stable franchise. Memphis and Utah are remaking their teams, but management appears to be competent. And it would be hard to do much better than OKC.
HENDERSON, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 06: Babacar Sane #4 of G League Ignite reacts after hitting a 3-pointer against the Perth Wildcats as time expired in the first quarter of an NBA G League Fall Invitational game on September 06, 2023 in Henderson, Nevada. Ignite defeated the Wildcats 124-105. 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 Ethan Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Last month, St. John’s announced the signing of Senegalese forward Babacar Sane. Rick Pitino was quoted as being “extremely impressed” with Sane’s athletic ability. At 6-foot-8, Sane possesses the prototypical NBA forward frame, but his freakish 7-foot-2.5 wingspan places him alongside NBA champion Kawhi Leonard and Knicks forward OG Anunoby. The Senegal-born forward didn’t take the traditional route to college basketball. Instead, he joined the NBA Academy in Africa and was placed on Dakar Université Club, where he thrived.
Sane ended up joining G League Ignite alongside Pistons guard Ron Holland and other NBA talent. In 75 career games, Sane averaged 8.9 points and 5.1 rebounds per game while shooting 43.7% from the field. The consensus around Babacar Sane has always been that he’s a prospect who has the raw tools to become an NBA forward but hasn’t taken that step just yet. Sane possesses freakish vertical jumping while still being able to create his own shot. Granted, his shooting splits across all levels haven’t been eye-popping; Sane has a viable jumpshot.
When watching film across three different continents for Sane, one thing is evident: He’s a phenomenal athlete. Sane’s film shows multiple clips of him finishing above the rim and impacting plays on both ends. Sane should thrive in Rick Pitino’s transition offense. His long strides and grab-and-go ability allow him to cover ground quickly, making him a threat in the open floor.
That downhill pressure often draws multiple defenders, creating open looks from beyond the arc, as seen during the 2023 FIBA Intercontinental Cup. Sane averaged 13.3 points and 7.7 rebounds in the Intercontinental Cup, and those marks are pretty impressive because most of those G League Ignite players were kind of just looking for their buckets and not making the extra passes.
Sane works more in the off-ball player role, where he finds himself in a bunch of motions and is constantly cutting to the basket. The reason he’s gonna do well in this role at St. John’s is that Babacar has never had a point guard of the same quality as Quinn Ellis in terms of playmaking. Ellis has a special ability to find the right player at the right time, and I could count on multiple occasions how many times I saw a guard miss a wide-open Sane cutting to the rim. If Quinn Ellis can consistently find Babacar in transition or on cuts, this could be a lethal Big East pairing. Sane is nearly impossible to contain once he’s going downhill, and even when defenses do, he still gets to the free-throw line, where he converts at an above-average rate.
One of the big questions heading into this season will be how many minutes Sane will get. In 17 minutes per game at MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg, Sane had 16 double-doubles in 28 games and had three games with 20-plus points. So if we adjust Sane’s minutes and he ends up playing 20–25 minutes, he could definitely average around 12 points per game off the bench and could be a big momentum shifter when he checks in.
The make-or-break attribute for Sane and his playing time will be directly tied to his three-point shooting, where he was about average everywhere he played. His jumpshot is not broken; it is actually workable. His base looks good, his arms are tucked in, and he’s not a stiff shooter. So knowing how Pitino gets the best out of all his players, there’s nothing stopping Babacar Sane from becoming Big East Sixth Man of the Year besides himself.
Sane has been a successful international player with Senegal and has been a solid role player on three different continents. But it’s time for him to break out of his shell and live up to the potential most scouts think he has. Look what Rick Pitino did for Dillon Mitchell—he wasn’t an NBA-ready player at the beginning of the season, and now he’s projected as an early-to-mid second round pick.
I’ll say this one last time: Babacar Sane is gonna be must-watch TV at Madison Square Garden with his glamorous dunks and ability to create offense through his movement alone. He is one of many new pieces for the Johnnies this season, and we should all be excited to see how Pitino uses him.
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 12: AJ Dybantsa looks on 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
It’s June. The second game of the NBA Finals is later today. But here we are, still think about the 2026 NBA Draft on June 23-24, 2026.
FanDuel Sportsbook will say that AJ Dybantsa is the No. 1 pick and so will everyone’s mom, dad, sibling, better half and dog. Even Dybantsa thinks so himself. Ari Alexander of WHDH-TV in Boston (yes, BOSTON) had an interview with him which goes into depth about his thoughts about the Wizards, Utah and where he will be in the draft.
1 ON 1 WITH AJ DYBANTSA
The likely #1 pick in the NBA Draft sat down with me at a workout in the Boston area to talk about
– His confidence leading into the draft – His thoughts on the Wizards & Jazz – And to show me his signature gather move pic.twitter.com/ndCbXtxBLv
But let’s just take a step back. The Wizards don’t just have the top pick. They have the No. 51 and No. 60 picks thanks to previous trades. It’s possible Washington could trade these picks more higher draft selections or use them for a pick in 2027 or later. That said, let’s assume Washington stays put with the No. 51 and 60 selections.
So this ends up being a harder question, but it’s fun nevertheless. Who are your favorite prospects at No. 51 and No. 60? And yeah, you can always say who your favorite pick is at No. 1 as well. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
On Thursday, a project involving the NBA, San Antonio Spurs and Emirates unveiled a newly renovated space at Denver Heights Community Center. Jacob Tobey hosted a panel including NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, R. C. Buford, and Spurs players. Attendees involved NBA’s executive vice president, head of basketball operations James Jones, local politicians, families, and attendees of the Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA basketball camps.
Renovations included roof and ceiling repairs, fresh paint, new court flooring, a scoreboard, backboards, wall tile improvements, technology, and gaming equipment to the center’s gymnasium and multipurpose room.
Following the ceremony, a clinic took place involving local youth. They and the families visited the library and received an introduction to the technology.
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Jun 3, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) practices before game one of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images | Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Karl-Anthony Towns has taken full control of the New York Knicks offense this postseason.
NY is essentially playing Towns as a point-center and allowing him to both distribute the basketball but also find his own shot depending on the matchup.
That method has worked incredibly well for the Knicks as they find themselves up 1-0 over the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals.
Not only is Towns playing great offense, though, but he was pretty impactful against the Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama on Wednesday night at the defensive end of the court.
His two-way ability has shined and in the win, the former Kentucky Wildcat felt his late mother’s presence.
“I don’t know what it was, but I just felt a calm and a peace that, I don’t know, had to be coming from the woman above,” Towns said on ESPN.
“I felt really confident about today, I felt good,” Towns said. “I felt like a kid. It was just fun out here. This is something that as a kid you always dream about. You always hope to be an NBA player, let alone to be in the NBA Finals.
“All day, it was just a weird feeling. It felt like I was a kid getting ready to play my Saturday AAU games and my Sunday AAU games. In a way, it felt like I was seeing her in the stands. It was fun, it was really fun, and it was really comforting.”
His mother passed away in 2020 due to complications with COVID-19. The Knicks will suit up for Game Two of the Finals tonight in San Antonio and are 5.5-point underdogs.
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BOSTON - 1980: Andrew Toney #22 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives to the basket against the Boston Celtics during an NBA game at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 1980 NBAE (Photo by Ron Koch/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Andrew Toney is somewhat overlooked today, which is really a shame.
Drafted out of the University of Lousiana by the Philadelphia 76ers in 1980, Toney quickly established himself as a superb offensive guard.
He was particularly lethal against the Boston Celtics, to the point where Beantown media called him The Boston Strangler.
He was a key part of the 1983 Philadelphia championship team, starting alongside Maurice Cheeks, Bobby Jones, Moses Malone, and Julius Erving.
Sadly for Toney, his career ran into real problems after about five years. He was having serious pain in his feet, and he and the Sixer disagreed about the cause. Ultimately, he was found to have stress factures in both feet, and the last three years of his career were difficult, personally and professionally. His relationship with the 76ers deteriorated and has never fully recovered.
He retired in 1988, because he never recovered from his feet problems.
His contemporaries knew how good he was. Charles Barkley said he was the best player he ever played with, and since he was teammates with Malone and Erving, that’s really saying something. Larry Bird and Sidney Moncrief thought he was right there with Michael Jordan.
Here are some of his career highlights. Keep in mind that Toney was just 6-3 and most of his scoring was not near the basket. Nonetheless, he shot 50% for his career.
CLEVELAND, OH - MAY 25: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks celebrates in the locker room with the Bob Cousy Trophy after winning Game Four of the 2026 Eastern Conference Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers on May 25, 2026 at Rocket Arena 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Karl-Anthony Towns did not arrive in New York needing to prove he could play, but the Knicks surely enhanced his game, and the partnership saw the Big Bodega reach a stage he could never quite grace during his time in Minneapolis.
If we’re talking legacies, Towns couldn’t have had a better start to building his. KAT was drafted with the No. 1 pick coming off one year of college ball at Kentucky. He went on to win the Rookie of the Year award. Would eventually partake in the All-Star game six times while on his way to earning three All-NBA selections.
And career-wide, Towns never took the pedal off the metal, boasting averages nearing 23 points, 11 rebounds, and three assists per game while shooting above 50% from the floor and nearly 40% from three.
That is a real résumé, to say the least. Winning an NBA championship with the Knicks, however, would make it read differently and put KAT in a completely different stratosphere.
Ask Towns himself, who has always made the loudest shooting case among modern bigs and has not even been a tiny shy about proclaiming himself an all-time great the GOAT at it.
“Honestly man, I ain’t gotta play like nobody. I’m me. I’m the greatest big man shooter of all time. That’s a fact,” Towns said back in December 2021, while still a Timberwolves hooper. “You can see the stats. I ain’t got to play like no one else. Everyone trying to find themselves to be the second version of me when I’m the first version. I don’t got to be the second version of someone else. I’m already an original. I don’t have to be a duplicate of someone else.”
Like it or not, the numbers surely support the argument. Towns became the first center to win the NBA Three-Point Contest in 2022, has cleared 42% from deep two different seasons separated by seven years, has notched more than 40% of his threes in six of his 11 years in the Association, and he’s now giving the Knicks a kind of frontcourt spacing and playmaking ability that both 1) Knicks fans spent years looking for, 2) pretended they could live without and win in the current basketball economy, and 3) was simply unheard of in KAT Land.
His Minnesota years were never empty, even though the franchise’s struggles made them look meager, and started to build a wrong narrative about Towns’ true talent.
Towns spent nine seasons with the Timberwolves, became the first bona fide face of the franchise after Kevin Garnett’s prime, and helped them reach the playoffs in 2018, 2022, 2023 and 2024. The biggest breakthrough came in 2024, when Minnesota beat the defending champion Denver Nuggets in Game 7 and reached the Western Conference finals for the first time since Garnett’s 2004 Wolves did it.
Knicks have acquired Karl-Anthony Towns from Minnesota for Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo and a first-round pick via Detroit, sources tell me and @JonKrawczynski. pic.twitter.com/FafQlY48Y1
Towns grew up in New Jersey, starred at St. Joseph High School and returned to the area with the Knicks via trade before the 2024-25 season. In New York, his numbers carried immediate weight: 24.4 points, 12.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists while shooting 52.6% from the field, 42.0% from three and 82.9% from the line.
Now he is in the 2026 NBA Finals as a central piece and 1B to Jalen Brunson’s 1A. KAT entered the series averaging 16.9 points, 10.6 rebounds and 5.9 assists in the playoffs while shooting 57.2% from the field and 48.9% from three, then opened his first-ever finals with 18 points, 12 rebounds and four assists in New York’s Game 1 win over the San Antonio Spurs. That’s all FanDuel needed to turn the Knicks into the new favorites to win the title, listing them at -134 odds.
Speaking of legendary big-man shooters, it’s fair to say that a ring might not place Towns in Dirk Nowitzki’s tier. Dirk still has an MVP award, a Finals MVP, 14 All-Star selections, 12 All-NBA selections, and also won a title in 2011, leading the underdog Mavs team against the mighty Heatless.
But a ring would make Towns a champion in New York, and bulk up an already-packed résumé and help him overtake a few big shooters out there. Outside of Dirk, it’s fair to say that KAT would have done more than enough to consider him a better big-boy shooter than walking-glass Joel Embiid, perhaps the second-best ever only behind Dirk (best shooting PF) and legitimately the No. 1 and undisputed top shooting center in history, breezing past Nikola Jokic.
On top of that, and with a title under his belt, Towns would no longer be just labeled an elite shooting big with a questionable playoff track record and just a few monster regular seasons. He would be the Knicks center who helped end a title drought dating back to 1973 alongside Jalen Brunson and the rest of the Manhattan Mob. He won’t be even remotely close to joining the absolute best centers to ever grace hardwood courts around the L—although he will have a solid case to crack the top-20 easily—but he will once and for all get his name legitimazed and shut all of his naysayers’ mouths in one fell swoop.
GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA - MARCH 19: Henri Veesaar #13 of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts after a dunk during the first half against the VCU Rams in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 19, 2026 in Greenville, South Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Barring a trade involving the selection, the Boston Celtics are currently slated to hold the 27th overall selection in the 2026 NBA Draft.
This will mark just the second time in franchise history that the team has selected from this exact draft position. The first instance came in 2018, when Boston accomplished precisely what it hopes to replicate this year. With the pick, the Celtics selected Robert Williams out of Texas A&M, a raw but immensely talented big man who eventually developed into one of the NBA’s premier defensive anchors. Williams not only became a cornerstone of Boston’s defense but also served as a key asset in the trade that brought Jrue Holiday to the organization.
There are a ton of trade rumors circulating around this time every year so in this world (article) where trades are turned off, let’s look at some potential big man options that could be there at pick 27.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 06: Tarris Reed Jr. #5 of the UConn Huskies is introduced before playing against the Michigan Wolverines in the National Championship of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 06, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) | NCAA Photos via Getty Images
Tarris Reed Jr. may not be one of the flashier prospects in the 2026 NBA Draft class, but he has quietly established himself as one of the most dependable and NBA-ready big men projected to be available in the late first round.
After transferring from Michigan to UConn, Reed put together a breakout campaign that showcased many of the traits NBA teams covet in a modern role-playing center. Reed possesses the size, strength, and physicality necessary to compete against professional frontcourts from day one.
Reed’s greatest strength is his work in the paint, particularly as a rebounder and rim protector. His 24.5 defensive rebound percentage and 14.2 offensive rebound percentage, both ranked in the 82nd percentile illustrating how he can consistently impact games by controlling the glass on both ends of the floor. Reed uses his strength and positioning to carve out space and secure possessions. His motor rarely wavers, and he embraces the physical battles that come with playing center.
Defensively, Reed is an effective shot blocker who relies more on timing and positioning than pure athleticism. Reed does an excellent job protecting the rim, relying on both strong positioning and verticality while also possessing the ability to elevate and make plays as a weak-side help defender. Although drop coverage projects as his ideal defensive scheme at the next level, he has shown impressive fluidity on the perimeter for a player weighing 265 pounds. Several of his steals this season came from jumping passing lanes near the top of the key and turning those opportunities into transition dunks. His average of three stocks per game (two blocks and one steal) highlights the quick hands, instincts, and reaction time that should translate well to the NBA.
Offensively, Reed thrives in the role of a traditional center. He is a powerful screen setter who creates space for ball handlers and excels as a roll man in pick-and-roll situations. He shot 69% at the rim last season and has also shown an array of different finishes around the paint area. One of the more encouraging developments in his game has been his growth as a passer. Reed has shown an improved ability to read defenses from the high post and make quick decisions, a skill that should help him fit seamlessly into NBA offenses that value ball movement and decision-making from every position. He posted a career high 17.8 assist percentage last season which ranked in the 95th percentile for his position. He should be ready to go day one as a handoff passer.
The primary concerns surrounding Reed revolve around his perceived potential as an older prospect and limited offensive game. For a team like Boston, however, Reed’s strengths should outweigh those things. It would be astronomically good for Reed’s career if he was to develop a reliable three ball, but I just don’t think he needs it.
The Celtics have consistently valued intelligent, physical players who understand their role and contribute to winning without requiring touches. Reed checks each of those boxes. If he can do the hustle/dirty work big man things and make smart passes for a playoff team he will be just fine.
GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA – MARCH 19: Henri Veesaar #13 of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts in the second half against the VCU Rams during the first round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 19, 2026 in Greenville, South Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Originally from Tallinn, Estonia, and developed through the prestigious Real Madrid system before coming to the United States, Henri Veesaar emerged as one of the more intriguing international big men in college basketball.
Offensively is where Veesaar will make his mark, and his greatest strength is his versatility. He is a legitimate shot maker at the big spot who can knock down three-pointers, particularly in pick-and-pop situations (1.24ppp), while also possessing touch around the rim and in the mid-range. The accuracy at which Veesaar converted his attempts as a player that shot an array of shots from every distance was really impressive. His 67.7 2-pt percentage, Relative True Shooting percentage (9.9), and Effective field goal percentage (66.7%), all ranked in the 98th percentile or higher last season.
Any way you want Veesaar to score, he has the skills to do so. Unlike many shooting bigs, he is comfortable putting the ball on the floor for a few dribbles, attacking closeouts, and making the extra pass when defenses rotate. He also flashed the potential to be more than just a handoff passing big. He does a good job of connecting the team and getting the ball to guards quickly to keep the action going, but he has some rip and run reads that are super fun.
He isn’t a great athlete, but he was still able to be really effective as a finisher at the rim. He can be a vertical spacer catching lobs and someone who shows touch down there with hooks and floaters. He also plays with extreme fire and an intensity that I see every time I watch him. Defensively, Veesaar isn’t going to be an explosive shot blocker, but he does have the height and wingspan/standing reach to be solid down there. He played drop most of the time at UNC, and I expect that to be his main coverage in the NBA. I thought he moved solidly enough for a player his size but not well enough to switch onto guards of course and even get out to stretch bigs effectively. He can really benefit from a team at the next level honing in on his closeout technique as I think he can be so much more impactful there.
Veesaar cleaned the glass well last season, posting a 21.9 defensive rebounding percentage. Even though he was a monster in this aspect for the majority of the season, there were certain matchups that could negate his size on the boards with seals and very physical play. From an NBA perspective, Veesaar projects as the type of center every team is searching for: a floor-spacing big who can pass, move the ball, and fit into modern offensive systems. His combination of size, shooting touch, and feel gives him a relatively high floor, while continued physical development is essential for him growing his game at the next level. The biggest questions revolve around strength, physicality against NBA-caliber centers, and whether his defensive mobility will hold up against the best of the best.
If Veesaar can show enough of the skill and shot making ability to get him on the floor early on and work through some of the physical and defensive stuff, he can turn into a really good pro.
Chris Cenac Jr. | 6’10’’ – 240 | Houston | 19
9 pts | 8 rebs | 24 minutes | 48/33/62 | 54.6 TS%
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – MARCH 13: Chris Cenac Jr. #5 of the Houston Cougars celebrates against the Kansas Jayhawks in the first half during the semifinals of the Big 12 Tournament at T-Mobile Center on March 13, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In a world of superheroes like Spider-Man, Superman, and Batman, 19-year-old Chris Cenac Jr. is Potential-Man. He arrived at the University of Houston as a five-star recruit after starring at Isidore Newman and Link Academy, where he built a reputation as a high-level finisher, rebounder, and emerging perimeter threat.
His profile blends rare physical tools, developing skill, and a still-evolving sense of consistency, making him one of the more intriguing big men in the 2026 NBA Draft class. Offensively, Cenac is best described as a face-up big with the upside to have real shot making versatility. He is comfortable operating from the elbows and perimeter, where he can attack closeouts, take straight-line drives, or rise into mid-range jumpers after relocating to open space. His shooting mechanics are generally considered clean and projectable, and he has shown enough perimeter confidence, spot-up threes and occasional pull-ups, to suggest real long-term floor-spacing potential if his efficiency stabilizes.
However, he is not yet a consistent self-creator, and much of his scoring comes from transition runs, cuts, putbacks, and finishing plays as a roll man or lob threat which can give a team a reason to play him early while he develops. His athleticism and motor on the glass strike me as the most translatable skills for Cenac off the jump. His 26.1 defensive rebound percentage illustrates his glass cleaning ability.
Defensively, Cenac offers more upside than polish, but I cannot express how special his movement skills look on some possessions.
His length, agility, and vertical pop allow him to protect the rim in spurts, rebound outside his area, and switch onto smaller players. He also has some impressive plays in two on one situations, shutting down multiple options as he moves. At Houston, he was often deployed in a physical, defense-first system that highlighted his activity level and rebounding instincts more than pure shot-blocking dominance. He does not yet anchor a defense consistently, but he shows the tools to develop into a multi-positional defender who can play both drop coverage and switch-heavy schemes depending on matchups. The main concerns are strength and discipline; he can get pushed off his spots by more powerful bigs and can drift into foul trouble or over-aggression on closeouts.
Because of the range of outcomes his potential brings, evaluators generally view him as a first-round talent with real long-term upside, but also a player who will need patience and development before fully translating his tools into reliable NBA impact which may cause him to slide on draft night. Boston is looking for contributors right now, but at some point, the value and intrigue might align.
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Blue and orange are pretty popular colors around New York City these days.
For the first time in 27 years, the New York Knicks are in the NBA Finals, and after a thrilling Game 1 victory over the San Antonio Spurs, one thing’s for certain — even if basketball wasn’t your thing before, we’re all Knicks fans now, and we have to dress the part.
Luckily, the world of sports merchandise goes far beyond jerseys and a lot of what’s available looks just as at home on the streets of NYC as it does in the stands at MSG, and naturally, with the Knicks making a run this deep into the playoffs, fashionable merch is in high demand.
Both in store and online, Knicks gear is flying off the metaphorical shelves.
“I feel like we made the best bet ever,” Danielle Snyder, the co-founder of DannijoPro, a premium label that combines fashion and sports fandom, told The Post ahead of Game 2. The brand’s Knicks bestsellers include the Game Day tee, satin bomber jacket and and a letterman half zip with a crocheted collar, but Snyder notes that it’s been difficult to keep things in stock and many of its top products are currently sold out.
Brooke Shields (r) and daughter Rowan Henchy were spotted in DannijoPro Knicks gear during the 2026 NBA Playoffs. courtesy of DannijoPro
She cites “the power of the Knicks brand” as a reason why DannijoPro’s designs have caught on with regular New Yorkers and famous fans alike. Gary Vaynerchuk and Spike Lee have received custom-made pieces from DannijoPro and Brooke Shields and her daughter Rowan Henchy were spotted in DannijoPro at The Garden.
DannijoPro co-founder Danielle Snyder worked on a custom jacket for Knicks superfan Spike Lee. courtesy of DannijoPro
“It’s not just a garment…” Snyder said. “It’s a premium product that’s tied to emotion, experience, a specific roster, historic run.”
Terez, founded by Zara Tisch, is another brand in the premium sportswear space. Its Knicks bomber jackets, baby tees, and crewneck sweaters have been bestsellers throughout the recent postseason run.
“I never knew I wanted to even be in the sports category, but our mission has always been about bringing people together,” Tisch said. “In the male-dominated industries, we need to celebrate the women behind the athletes, the women at home, the women in the field and the women on the team.”
Knicks fans aren’t just searching for new merch; vintage Knicks gear is in-demand, too.
“After last year, which was an incredible run, this year has doubled that,” Michael Spitz, owner/operator at the East Village vintage shop Mr. Throwback, told The Post.
Michael Spitz, the owner of Mr. Throwback in the East Village, says the store has shipped out over 100 online orders in the past week. Emmy Park for NY Post
Mr. Throwback stocks vintage hats, T-shirts and more, in addition to new customs the shop is designing and selling.
“You can’t walk into any other store and find what you want,” Spitz said. “You would need a DeLorean to take it back to 1994 and go to Sports Authority or Champs or Modells and buy it, but you could buy it now.”
DANNIJOPRO
DannijoPro
New York-based label Dannijo, known for statement crystal work, bold silks and powerful storytelling, is taking fandom fashion to a new level with Dannijopro — “a new era for premium fandom.” The officially licensed NBA gear is inspired by the founders’ “love for sport, style, artistry and nostalgia with the power of being on a team.”
While styles are selling out quickly, these are still available in most, if not all, sizes:
The Captains Crewneck ($115.00)
The Letterman Pull-over ($275.00)
SHOP DANNIJOPRO
Terez
terez
Terez is a woman-owned sportswear brand catered toward women “designing clothing the fan wants to wear not only to the stadium, but during their everyday lives,” per founder Zara Terez Tisch. The brand counts Anne Hathaway among its famous fans; Hathaway was spotted at MSG last year in a Terez x Knicks bomber jacket.
While that style is sold out (as are many of the brand’s other Knicks best sellers), these are still available to add to your cart now:
Unisex NY Knicks Sweater in Blue Tie Dye ($298.00)
Knicks Technicolor Crew ($165.00)
New York Knicks Marquee Stripe Crew ($198.00)
NY New York Knicks Embossed Crew in Light Gray ($230.00)
You don’t have to be in NYC to shop vintage from East Village shop Mr. Throwback. The brand’s vintage and custom designs are available to shop online, too. In fact, they’ve been fielding more online orders than normal since the Knicks secured their spot in the NBA Finals.
SHOP MR. THROWBACK
New York or Nowhere
New York or Nowhere
It will always be New York or Nowhere, but right now, it’s NBA Finals or Nowhere. The iconic NY brand dropped some new Knicks-inspired designs especially for the Finals, including “The Finals or Nowhere” tee and a “Knicks 6th Borough (Finals Edition)” design.
The NBA Finals pieces are available to preorder now, but if you’re looking for something in stock, these pieces are available in a range of sizes now:
Knicks Always Crewneck ($145.00)
Knicks Downtown Varisty Jacket ($315.00)
Knicks Trophies Hoodie ($155.00)
SHOP NEW YORK OR NOWHERE
Mitchell and Ness
Mitchell and Ness
Mitchell and Ness is one of the leading brands for licensed athletic apparel, and if you’re looking for a vintage jersey, this is the place to get it. In addition to fun New York-themed T-shirts, you can snag jerseys from every era of Knicks basketball, from the ’50s through the early ’10s.
New York Knicks Cream Concrete Apple T-Shirt ($50.00)
Carmelo Anthony New York Knicks 2010-11 Blue Swingman Jersey ($150.00)
New York Knicks Black Hardwood Classics Coffee T-Shirt ($38.00)
SHOP MITCHELL AND NESS
Faherty x Jalen Brunson
Faherty
Ahead of the NBA Finals, Faherty teamed up with current NY Knicks captain Jalen Brunson on a capsule collection with seven pieces.
Most of the pieces in the collab are only available in one size and have extremely low stock, but this hoodie with Brunson’s personal mantra — “the magic is in the work” — is available in nearly every size offered. If you’re looking for a cozy way to show off your Knicks fandom, this might be it.
Jalen Brunson High Standard Fleece Hoodie ($198.00)
SHOP FAHERTY
Off Season
Fanatics
Founded by NFL wife Kristin Juszczyk, inspired by designs she’d create for herself and other NFL WAGs, Off Season is “a new vision for sports-inspired style” that has expanded into the NBA. Off Season’s Knicks designs blend sport and style seamlessly for your new favorite blue and orange pieces perfect for any season.
New York Knicks Off Season x NBA Unisex Track Pants ($185.00)
New York Knicks Off Season x NBA Women’s Halter Top ($105.00)
New York Knicks Off Season x NBA Unisex Standard Puffer Jacket ($375.00 $265.00)
SHOP OFF SEASON VIA FANATICS
Guizio
Guizio, Getty Images
Just a few weeks after the brand went viral when Kylie Jenner wore one of its Perfect Classic Tanks on Celebrity Row, Guizio dropped its New York Forever Shrunken Hoodie ($168) — a cozy, cropped zip-up hoodie in Knicks blue with an orange applique.
SHOP GUIZIO
Jill Martin
Jill Martin
Temps are rising in NYC, but if you’ll be watching the games from home, a blanket hoodie from Jill Martin is the perfect way to relax and cheer on the Knicks from the comfort of your own couch. The brand calls it “the best hoodie in the world” and notes it’s “the perfect blend of lounge and streetwear.”
Just in time for the NBA Finals, the brand dropped a new hoodie with a New York Knicks 2026 NBA Finals embroidered chest design in four different colors.
New York Knicks 2026 NBA Finals Unisex Blanket Hoodie ($89.00)
New York Knicks Regulation Size Fanny Pack ($49.00)
New York Knicks Remix Logo Cropped Sherpa Lounger Jacket ($210.00)
New York Knicks Cropped Sherpa Hoodie ($99.00)
SHOP JILL MARTIN
Daphne
Daphne
While “Giggly Squad” host Paige DeSorbo’s fashion line Daphne doesn’t have anything outwardly sporty among its catalogue of “ready to lounge” basics, Knicks fans can get free orange embroidery on white or navy Hannah tees ($68.00) with the code GOSPORTS.
There was no tournament program with his name, no first name even among the starters at the scorer’s table.
More than a decade later, Tom Crean still blends shock and awe at the first impression of OG Anunoby, then an unknown, lightly recruited three-star prospect, per 247Sports, not inside the nation’s top 200 in the 2015 class.
“We saw him for the first time in Atlanta, at an Under Armour tournament,” Crean told USA TODAY Sports. “We didn’t know his name; wasn’t even in the program.
“We go see the book, it just says ‘Anunoby.’”
Crean remembers thinking, “... we had to find out his name.”
Now, the entire NBA knows the Anunoby name — from rookie-year starter to eventual NBA champion with Toronto to current glue-man for the surging New York Knicks.
He scored 12 points in the fourth quarter of the Knicks’ 12th straight postseason win, and will again be an X-factor Friday in Game 2 in San Antonio.
“He's a product of when the ball is moving at a high level, like New York is doing, he can score, he can finish, he can do all that,” Crean said of Anunoby, one of the 16 NBA pros with contracts totaling more than $1.4 billion to hone their crafts under Crean in college.
“What separates him defensively are these four things: his remarkable intelligence, excellent instincts, he’s a very good anticipator and is always on-balance. He can absorb contact because he’s got great contact-balance.”
Those are all elements Crean remembers lurking near the surface but hardly unlocked during that summer recruitment, featuring Crean’s attendance at every one of Anunoby’s summer-circuit events in an Indiana Hoosiers class to feature three eventual pros: Anunoby, Thomas Bryant and Juwan Morgan.
“He’s from (Jefferson City) Missouri, University of Missouri didn’t even recruit him,” says Crean, a college basketball analyst for ESPN also doing work for NBA Radio. “Once we saw him in Atlanta, and once I saw the film… I was intrigued in person and sold off the film and the phone call we had.
“We went everywhere he was that summer. I personally went to every one of his tournaments.”
Still wistful, Crean knows Anunoby’s Indiana career is a bit paradoxical. There are just 50 career games, injuries robbing 18 from Anunoby’s 2016-17 sophomore campaign, and a mere 10 career starts.
“He has unbelievabe intelligence and basketball intelligence to go with great competitive stamina,” says Crean, remembering his Hoosiers beat out George Mason, Georgia, Iowa and Ole Miss to sign the 6-8, 220-pound Anunoby. “He doesn't wear down.
“He grew into that with us, but we didn't get to see the best sides of it. But his freshman year, he really came on in January and was a huge part of why we won the Big Ten championship and went to the Sweet 16.”
Today, Anunoby and Crean still talk.
In the hours Thursday morning after the Knicks’ near wire-to-wire win in the franchise’s first NBA Finals appearance this millennium. They swapped phone calls and texts.
Routine, Crean explained.
“Our conversations aren’t always basketball-driven,” Crean says. “I send those guys a lot of stories or articles I read about life. OG is in the top three of people in my life of who if he sees something interesting, he sends it to me. He's a very introspective, loyal, thoughtful person. Always trying to get better. He does the same for me.
“Then, we might discuss it over text or a call. I always end a call with praying for him, I do that with all these guys (Crean coached and with whom he maintains relationships). Ultimately, that’s what it’s about more about than anything else. Anthony (Edwards) is the same way; we don't see each other as much but when you talk to them, you pick up right where we left off.
"I love OG and love his family and love how much he loves my family.”
The court invader will be banned from all NBA arenas for life [Getty Images]
Major sports events present an "enormous platform to do stupid things", says NBA commissioner Adam Silver.
A spectator ran on to the court during game one of the NBA Finals in San Antonio on Wednesday, with a young man filming himself on his phone as he approached Victor Wembanyama.
He stopped in front of the San Antonio Spurs star, without appearing to make contact with the 22-year-old Frenchman, before two security guards swiftly bundled him away.
He was arrested on charges of intentionally interfering with a lawful gathering, and criminal trespass for entering the court area despite having notice that such entry was prohibited.
An NBA spokesperson confirmed that the court invader and a second individual will receive a lifetime ban from all NBA arenas. The league did not disclose what role the second individual played.
"I've never been in that situation, I didn't know how to act," said Wembanyama, the NBA's defensive player of the year.
"It really surprised me, almost as much as that time where a bat crossed the court," added the France international, referring to an incident during a Spurs game in January 2024.
Commissioner Silver said: "I even hesitate to describe that person as a fan. They seemed to have an ulterior motive for doing so.
"It's unfortunately part of all sports," he added.
"I think the other side of the coin of global attention is that somebody realises that there's this enormous platform to do stupid things. The consequences are dramatic if you do this."
Silver also said extra security will be required at New York's Madison Square Garden if US President Donald Trump attends a game later in the NBA Finals.
Trump said he will take up an invite from New York Knicks owner James Dolan and "maybe do both" game three on Monday and game four on Wednesday.
The NBA incident comes a week before the start of football's World Cup, which is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Pitch invaders have been increasingly common in football, with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo having been targeted for selfies on multiple occasions.
There have been at least three further incidents during Miami games in the US and Canada this season.
Messi and Portugal rival Ronaldo are set to play in their sixth World Cup, with their group games being played in the US.
Portugal coach Roberto Martinez said it was "a concern" that five people made it on to the pitch during their win over Turkey at Euro 2024 in Dortmund.
"Today the intentions of the fans were good," said Martinez. "But you [must] understand there's a difficult moment if their intentions are wrong."
A pitch invader also made contact with Ronaldo as he was warming up for a Nations League game against Germany last June.
A scouting report on NBA draft prospect Christian Anderson:
Position: Point guard
Height: 6-foot-1 (without shoes)
Weight: 180 pounds
College: Texas Tech
Strengths
Anderson was a serious workhorse for the Red Raiders. His 38.4 minutes per game as a sophomore ranked second in the country behind only Delaware’s Christian Bliss, who averaged a whopping 39.8. Anderson tallied 18.5 points, 7.4 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game.
The 20-year-old has also shined in FIBA play for Germany. (Anderson’s father, Christian Anderson Sr., is a German former professional player who still works closely with his son.) At last year’s FIBA Under-19 World Cup, Anderson earned a silver medal and averaged 17.3 points, 6.6 assists and 4.9 rebounds. He was named to the tournament’s All-Star 5 along with fellow draft prospects AJ Dybantsa, Mikel Brown Jr. and Hannes Steinbach.
Anderson has a pure jumper with beautiful balance and fluidity. He shot it at a stellar percentage in college, too. On 7.9 three-point attempts per game last season, Anderson was at 41.5 percent. He can burn defenses with puil-ups, step-backs and just about any sort of jumper he can find.
Anderson’s pick-and-roll craft and passing skill should be handy in the NBA. He’s happy to hit open teammates, appears to see the entire floor, and possesses a good grasp for how to beat whatever defenses throw at him.
Weaknesses
Anderson is on the small side for a professional guard and the NBA can be a cruel place for such players.
Anderson’s size bleeds into typical questions for smaller prospects on both ends of the ball. How much will facing long, physical NBA defenders bother him and dent his efficiency? Can he play through contact and score in the paint at the next level? Will he manage to play adequate NBA defense by leaning on anticipation and effort?
While he doesn’t need perfect answers across the board, Anderson clearly has multiple major obstacles in front of him.
Fit
The Sixers shouldn’t be picky about position with the 22nd selection in the draft.
Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe are locked in as the team’s heavy-minute backcourt duo, but more young talent at guard would not hurt at all. Each team will have its own evaluations on the guards widely projected to go around this area of the draft, including Bennett Stirtz and Ebuka Okorie.
Payton Pritchard is a recent example of a late first-round pick with some similarities to Anderson in size and skill set that contributed early in his career and grew into an valuable piece for title-contending Celtics teams largely through offensive excellence.
SAN ANTONIO — Stephon Castle took a page out of James Harden’s playbook Thursday.
While, yes, the Knicks won Game 1 of the NBA Finals despite not being at their best, the Spurs’ young guard remained just as confident in his team.
“I think [Victor Wembanyama] said it best: I don’t think we have anything to be too worried about,” Castle said. “Obviously, we feel like we’re the better team. We didn’t play well, still had a chance to win.”
It was somewhat reminiscent of Harden saying he felt the Cavaliers were better than the Knicks after getting swept in the Eastern Conference finals. This is, of course, just one game.
Spurs guard Stephon Castle talks with the media on June 4, 2026 in preparation for his team’s Game 2 battle against the Knicks. NBAE via Getty Images
But the Spurs had a 14-point lead in the third quarter and were at home, yet the Knicks outscored them by 17 points in the second half and won their franchise-record 12th consecutive playoff game.
They held Wembanyama in check, holding him to 6-of-21 shooting and forcing six turnovers. Wembanyama, who finished with 26 points, placed the blame on himself both after the loss and again Thursday.
He didn’t necessarily discredit the Knicks defense against him, but the 7-foot-4 Frenchman didn’t seem overly impressed by how they guarded him, either.
“It’s almost like I [don’t] have anything to figure out. It’s almost like I have to play normal, not even good,” he said. “It’s just like doing the right things is enough. When we play bad, when I play bad, is when we shoot ourselves in the foot. This is why I’m not worried. We’re going to be so much better. I’m going to be so much better.”
Spurs coach Mitch Johnson had a similar take on the series opener.
He felt San Antonio was uncharacteristically isolation-heavy on offense, relying on their talent instead of what has gotten them here. It led to only 16 assists and 43 3-point attempts, with the Spurs making just 11 of them.
“I think the way we played offensively in terms of a team and our brand, we didn’t play with the pass enough, we didn’t put enough pressure [on them], force the [ball] in the paint,” he said. “It led to a lot of making or missing shots, us trying to play with talent offensively instead of playing together and finding opportunities to take advantage of. New York gets a lot of credit for that. I think we have a lot of room for improvement on that moving forward.”
The Spurs, it should be noted, have been here before. They trailed the Thunder in the Western Conference finals and the Timberwolves in the series before that.
“We just need to play our game. We just need to be normal,” Wembanyama said. “We don’t need to do anything incredible.”