NBA greats LeBron James and Steve Nash sat down on The Mind the Game podcast to talk about Cooper Flagg and his former Duke teammate Kon Knueppel, and who had the most upside.

Not surprisingly, they both agreed on Flagg.

That’s no knock on Knueppel, who had an unbelievable rookie year, vastly exceeding expectations.

He played like he’s been in the league for a decade. It’s very rare to see a guy his age with that level of maturity and sophistication.

Our comparison is to Chris Mullin. Like Mullin, he is not overly athletic, but he lives and breathes the game, and is about as efficient as he can possibly be.

Flagg, though, is something else entirely.

Like Knueppel, he is way ahead of schedule. It took him a few weeks to settle in after the point guard experiment, but it all paid off. Flagg was doing things that, like Knueppel, are far beyond his age.

However, Flagg’s athleticism is a level or two above Knueppel’s. He dominated some amazing athletes this year, and he’s just 18. You may remember a video we linked to where he just completely frustrated Joel Embiid, who ended up just throwing his hands up – literally.

When Flagg fills out, he’s going to be impossible to stop.

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The Path, Part III: Maxing out on the Jays era? Exploring major C's changes originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Editor’s Note: As the Celtics begin an uncertain offseason, Insider Chris Forsberg is rolling out a three-part series called “The Path,” in which he breaks down three potential avenues for president of basketball operations Brad Stevens to take this summer. You can read Part I (minor tweaks)and Part II (the middle road) here.Today: the series finale.

Call us hopeless romantics. We love a fairy-tale ending. Maybe that’s the writer in us. When we ponder the Boston Celtics’ most endearing path forward, it almost always involves Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown overcoming the latest adversity together to return to the NBA mountaintop.

This story has already had plenty of twists and turns. The chapters have piled up. There were early successes and frustrating setbacks. The Jays finally reached the title stage in 2022, only to get stiff-armed by the veteran Warriors. A jarring overhaul to the supporting cast around the Jays helped the duo finally deliver that elusive Banner 18 in 2024.

Tatum’s torn Achilles stunted dreams of a repeat, and Brown’s magical 2025-26 campaign as the focal point of the team ended in bitter disappointment with a first-round playoff exit.

Which delivers our protagonists to their latest crossroads. The Celtics must plot a path forward, one in which a restrictive new collective bargaining agreement makes it unclear if two max-money superstars are a viable long-term luxury for any team. 

For Part III of our annual summer path series, we’re left to ponder maybe the most unsavory option: major changes to the foundation of the Celtics franchise.

Another disclaimer: Just because we are examining this pathway doesn’t mean we’re championing it. That said, what surprised us as we’ve gone about the exercise of pondering all the paths — from Small Tweaks to Medium Tweaks — is that, if the team feels that something more than minor changes are necessary to be a legitimate contender again, then a major overhaul might be the team’s best chance to get where it wants to go.

We say it often — especially after seasons end earlier than expected — but the Celtics’ brass has to examine all pathways. It’s front office malpractice not to.

Maybe, at the end of the day, they decide there is no surefire upgrade available and elect to march forward with the Jays. But they have to at least ponder the alternatives.

And so shall we. 

Mission statement

With goals of 1) Maximizing money allocation under a prohibitive and apron-filled collective bargaining agreement and 2) Extending the window for the next title run, the Celtics make the swallow-hard decision to trade one of their two superstars.

The ultimate goal: Create a team with one big-money centerpiece, then build a deep roster around them featuring a blend of mid-tier and minimum-salary players.

The path

• Trade Tatum or Brown.
• Remain under the tax for one more season, creating freedom to build a high-level supporting cast around the remaining centerpiece long term.

The Celtics had barely dispersed for the summer following their first-round demise before the Brown-for-Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors ignited.

Part of the reason we’ve pushed back on the idea of that potential swap is because it doesn’t solve the long-term money issue. You still have two players making max money and you are likely shortening your title window at a time when you can’t freely spend to stockpile around that duo.

Maybe it comes to pass that Antetokounmpo is far and away the best available player this summer, and the Celtics have to consider it if the team believes the core of this team has run its course. We simply believe this deal introduces too much unnecessary risk.

In our mind, the bigger conversation is whether you can start the process of getting younger and extending your window if you elect to move on from Tatum or Brown, all while remaining competitive and not sacrificing prime years of whatever player remains.

But trying to find a deal that brings back a combination of established and future talent, especially on the level of one of the Jays, is no easy task.

The wish list

Some half-baked trade ideas to get the brain rolling: 

1. A deal with the Clippers that brings back Kawhi Leonard and the No. 5 pick in this year’s NBA Draft.

The soon-to-be 35-year-old Leonard is entering the final season of his contract that will pay him $50.3 million next season — at least $7 million less than what Tatum ($58.5 million) and Brown ($57.1 million) will earn in 2026-27.

The Celtics still have pathways to remaining under the tax this season while adding a high draft pick who can infuse low-cost, high-upside talent and help extend Boston’s title window. The drama that tends to follow Leonard might be tough to embrace, but he finished one spot behind Brown in MVP voting this season while appearing in 65 games.

Imagn Iamges

2. A deal with the Pelicans for Dejounte Murray and Trey Murphy III.

The Celtics essentially split one of their max-money slots while bringing in a former All-Star in Murray, and a potential future All-Star in the offensive-minded Murphy III.

The other wrinkle here: The Celtics could take Murphy III into the Anfernee Simons traded player exception, potentially creating a valuable new TPE that could further aid the team in roster construction during the summer of 2027 when pesky repeater penalties are eliminated.

3. Deals involving Lauri Markkanen, Amen Thompson or Scottie Barnes.

Nothing you can drum up feels quite right. We’d call the Jazz about Markkanen, whose contract is slightly more digestible long term.

We’d dial up the Rockets to see if you can pry some of their young pieces, — especially Thompson — and take on salary filler.

We’d contact the Raptors about Barnes, if only because there are only so many players in their mid-20s making less-than-max money who can even be pried from their current team.

What it looks like

We suspect that, at the end of the day, none of these moves would be enough to make the Celtics break up their core. Our guess is that Boston would have to be overwhelmed by a collection of young talent and picks to even ponder moving one of the Jays.

But the ability to build a deeper roster with only one max-salary player is undeniably intriguing. Just look at the last teams playing this season.

The Knicks can pay five players north of $20 million because Jalen Brunson is on a sweetheart deal and only Karl-Anthony Towns makes max money.

The Thunder are steamrolling toward major financial decisions next year when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s contract rises to max money, but they can stomach at least one more season with as many as six players making $17+ million.

The Spurs are in great position with so many players on rookie deals and eventually can pivot off De’Aaron Fox’s money if resources are needed to pay the next deals for Victor Wembanyama and Co.

The new collective bargaining agreement made the math game tough. The Celtics got ahead of the curve in the summer of 2023 and were rewarded with Banner 18. Now they need to figure out if they can make the math work to give the Jays another shot at winning it all.

The two teams in the NBA Finals, the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs, are both looking to break their championship droughts.

The Spurs haven't hoisted the Larry O'Brien Trophy since 2014, and New York has waited even longer, last celebrating a title when the nation was enthralled by the Watergate scandal.

The Spurs dispatched the defending championOklahoma City Thunder by winning Game 7 on the road, and the Knicks have blitzed all challengers in the Eastern Conference and are currently on an 11-game winning streak.

All eyes will be on Spurs star Victor Wembanyama, the 22-year-old phenom, who has taken the basketball world by storm. But the Knicks, who have the No. 1 ranked offense and defense in the 2026 playoffs, have been absolutely dominant in their postseason run and are beating teams by 19.4 points per game, including series-clinching victories of 51, 30, and 37 points.

Here are the seven players who could have the biggest impact on the NBA Finals:

The Spurs took a different team-building route than the Knicks. While Leon Rose and the Knicks focused on trades and free agency to construct their core, San Antonio mostly became a contender again by maximizing its draft capital.

Ahead of the NBA Finals, The Post dissects how the Spurs took shape.

Victor Wembanyama

How he was acquired: Selected No. 1 overall in 2023.

How he’s helped them get here: The Spurs’ fortunes changed when they won the lottery and took Wembanyama, the 7-foot-4 phenom who has already become a face of the NBA and is averaging 20.9 points — along with 10.8 rebounds — in his first postseason.

De’Aaron Fox

How he was acquired: Traded by the Kings in February 2025 in a three-team deal that included Bulls star Zach LaVine and three first-rounders — two from the Spurs — going to Sacramento.

How he’s helped them get here: Fox became the star to complement Wembanyama, averaging 18.6 points and 6.2 assists while making the second All-Star Game of his career during the regular season.

Stephon Castle

How he was acquired: Drafted No. 4 overall in 2024.

How he’s helped them get here: The guard has emerged as a key piece of the Spurs’ young core, someone capable of scoring (19 games with 20-plus points during the regular season) and facilitating (ninth-most assists in the NBA during the regular season with 502).

Devin Vassell

How he was acquired: Taken No. 11 overall in 2020.

How he’s helped them get here: Vassell signing the largest deal in Spurs history — at the time — in 2023 (five years, $135 million) captures the two-way wing’s value as someone capable of averaging 13.9 points while also contributing to containing Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Julian Champagnie

How he was acquired: Signed a two-way deal in February 2023 after getting waived by the 76ers.

How he’s helped them get here: The former St. John’s star has hit 39.3 percent of his 3s in the playoffs and carved out a starting role despite being undrafted to start his career.

Dylan Harper

How he was acquired: Drafted No. 2 overall in 2025.

How he’s helped them get here: The guard from Rutgers earned votes for Rookie of the Year and Sixth Man of the Year before averaging 13.1 points per game during the postseason.

Keldon Johnson

How he was acquired: Selected No. 29 overall in 2019.

How he’s helped them get here: Johnson, the longest-tenured Spurs player and the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year this season, recorded the most bench points in a season in franchise history (1,081).

Luke Kornet

How he was acquired:Inked a four-year, $41 million deal in free agency last summer.

How he’s helped them get here: A former Knick, Kornet won a ring with the Celtics and became Wembanyama’s backup — averaging 6.1 points and 6.5 rebounds during the regular season.

Harrison Barnes

How he was acquired: Landed in San Antonio from the Kings as part of a three-team deal in July 2024.

How he’s helped them get here: Perhaps most known for helping the Warriors win the title in 2015, Barnes has been a needed source of experience on the bench.

Carter Bryant

How he was acquired: Drafted No. 14 overall in 2025.

How he’s helped them get here: Bryant’s postseason moment occurred when he leveled Gilgeous-Alexander in Game 6, but the small forward also flashed potential — including a career-best 17 points April 8 — and chipped in throughout the playoff run.

Kelly Olynyk

How he was acquired: Acquired from the Wizards in July in exchange for Blake Wesley, Malaki Branham and a second-rounder.

How he’s helped them get here: The 35-year-old averaged 8.6 minutes and 3.2 points per game, and logged more time when Wembanyama was injured. This will mark his second trip to the Finals — with the other in 2020 with the Heat.

Mason Plumlee

How he was acquired: Turned a 10-day contract into a deal for the rest of the season after getting waived by the Thunder in February.

How he’s helped them get here: Plumlee, 36, is one of the veterans in the final stage of their career stashed on the bench, appearing in 12 games for them across the regular season and playoffs.

Lindy Waters III

How he was acquired: Signed a one-year deal last summer worth nearly $2.5 million.

How he’s helped them get here: Waters gave San Antonio shooting depth despite limited minutes (7.1 per game) and production (2.4 points per game) during the regular season, including when he hit three 3s March 17.

Bismack Biyombo

How he was acquired: Turned two 10-day contracts in February 2025 into a deal for the remainder of last season before returning on a one-year pact.

How he’s helped them get here: On his seventh NBA team and in his 15th season, Biyombo appeared in 34 games for San Antonio across the regular season and playoffs as frontcourt depth.

Jordan McLaughlin

How he was acquired: Arrived as part of the Fox deal in February 2025.

How he’s helped them get here: McLaughlin averaged 2.0 points and 6.4 minutes for the Spurs in the regular season, but in Game 2 of the Thunder series, he logged seven minutes and hit a pair of 3s while filling guard minutes.

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As Victor Wembanyama goes, so go the San Antonio Spurs.

It is not a knock on either of them that they may still be tired from the Western Conference Finals. That seven-game series clearly took everything Wembanyama and San Antonio had.

These Victor Wembanyama picks expect a sluggish showing in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, though that does not mean Wembanyama will struggle in all regards on Wednesday, June 3.

Victor Wembanyama prop pick for Game 1

Victor Wembanyama best bet: Over 11.5 rebounds (-125 at bet365)

The New York Knicks look more like the Minnesota Timberwolves than the Oklahoma City Thunder. They are driven by a ball-centric guard while playing one rather traditional big man. While Rudy Gobert provides excellent rim protection, Karl-Anthony Towns’s underappreciated strong lower body may actually succeed better at keeping Victor Wembanyama away from the rim.

Amid relative offensive struggles in that second-round series, Wembanyama still cleared this modest rebounding prop in four of the five games he played genuine minutes in. (Let’s just ignore his stats from Game 4, when Wembanyama was ejected after playing 12 minutes for an egregious elbow to Naz Reid’s throat.)

The only game in which Wembanyama fell short of this prop was the clinching Game 6, when the San Antonio Spurs led by 13 at halftime and 26 by the end of the third quarter. Even Wemby’s 27 minutes did not require full effort. Otherwise, Wembanyama ruled the glass, averaging 15.5 rebounds per game.

Expect that version of Wembanyama early in this series. His legs are worn out from the Western Conference Finals, so his offensive aggression may lag. But even then, the Defensive Player of the Year can haul in a bounty of boards.

Victor Wembanyama same-game parlay

Wembanyama fell short of this points prop in three of those four notable games against the Timberwolves, not to mention in four of seven games against the Thunder. Amid understandable fatigue, this should be a low-scoring Game 1 from Wembanyama.

Doubting him to rack up blocks ties more to Karl-Anthony Towns’s offense than anything else. The New York Knicks should position Towns on the perimeter, both in a playmaking role and shooting 3-pointers, particularly as Towns has shot 48.9% from deep this postseason.

Wembanyama may be reluctant to stray from the paint, but every step toward the arc will lessen his blocks tally.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

As the Spurs head into Game 1 of the NBA Finals, comparisons have been made between the Tim Duncan era Spurs and what shall be known as the Victor Wembanyama era Spurs.

Both Duncan and Wemby made their first run to the Finals as 22-year-olds. Both beat the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round and the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round. And like Duncan in 1999, Victor Wembanyama will tip off against the New York Knicks in his first Finals appearance.

But what about the rest of the team?

One player that resembles the Spurs dynasty of the early 2000s is Keldon Johnson. Johnson, the longest tenured member of the Spurs roster, received the Sixth Man of the Year award this season. The only other member of the Spurs to earn the honor was Manu Ginobili, back in 2008.

Before Ginobili was ever crowned Sixth Man, he served as a started for the Spurs.

Manu originally struggled with the change. As he stated, his ego had to be removed from the equation so that he could accept that the move was for the greater good of the team.

On Tuesday, the NBA held media press conferences with the Spurs and Knicks. During Keldon Johnson’s time at the podium, he was asked this questions:

Face of the franchise, 20 points per game until now. What’s the toughest part of switching from that role to the role you’re in with this team?

Coincidentally enough, his answer mirrored Ginobili’s:

“Honestly, I would say ego. Just being the guy and then you having to adjust. I feel like when you — there’s a point where you look in the mirror and you want to be a part of something special or you want to chase personal goals. Being here and being throughout this season and winning has been an ultimate reward.” He continued, “It just shows that everything was worth it. Obviously I went from being the guy to coming off the bench and being sixth man. I feel like winning is the most addictive thing in this league. This year is a testament to that, being able to win and contribute to us winning means more than anything that I’ve done in the past.”

Ego for the individual giving way to a selflessness for the greater good of the team. It worked for Manu and Timmy and Tony and Pop and all of the others who rejoiced in picking up a championship ring during those runs 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2014.

Johnson’s acceptance of his role has elevated the Spurs bench. Keldon was one of the seven players who scored in double figures this season. The only other player in double figs off the bench was Dylan Harper.

Devin Vassell, the second longest tenured Spur, had this to say about his relationship with Johnson and the chemistry they have as a team:

“I think that is one of the main reasons why we’re here, because we’ve been so locked in and on and off the court we’re all talking, we’re all together. But we know as soon as we get in between the lines, we’re ready to go.”

Julian Champagnie echoed Vassell’s comments about chemistry in his time with the media:

“Obviously, me, Keldon and Dev and Vic have all been together for about three years now. Then you add guys like HB, Foxy, Carter, Steph, Dyl, all those guys bring a light, good attitude to the locker room.”

Ultimately, the 2026 Spurs have learned what some teams never do — if you leave your ego at the door, trust in your teammates, and play to the best of your ability, you can accomplish great things. In this case, many pundits call them “unexpected” things. While fans and media didn’t think the Spurs could accelerate this quickly, the team knew. And they carried that confidence as their momentum built.

To that end, a lot of credit goes to Johnson. He arrived 54 days after the Spurs last playoff game, and has stuck through the longest playoff drought in Spurs history. He’s now reaping the benefits of patience, faith, and trust in the process.

But it is not just KJ who has bought in. Vassell played through those rough patches as well. This season, Harrison Barnes gave up a decade-long run as a starter, moving to the bench as the Spurs adjusted toward their playoff run. De’Aaron Fox, who arrived last season through a savvy trade, was the go-to for the Sacramento Kings. He understood his role was being altered as the Spurs were built around Victor Wembanyama.

Speaking of Victor Wembanyama, his buy in has been paramount to the success. As a cornerstone to the franchise, Wemby could have pushed for trades, coaches, and player combinations. When the buzz around Giannis Antetokounmpo was at its apex, the Spurs superstar was silent. When Gregg Popovich retired, Wemby trusted in Pop’s heir to steer the ship. There has never been a hint at negativity from behind the scenes seeping out into the open.

That may be the greatest comparison between these Spurs and their predecessors. The Spurs Culture is still in tact. The Spurs Way continues on. And the behind the scenes dynamics of the franchise belong to the team. What fans see is what they generate on the court.

What they produce now may be their sixth NBA title. Sixth to the franchise, but the first for the members of this roster. And if history repeats itself, it will be the first of many.

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Good morning, BBN!

The NBA Finals tip off tonight, and like many Finals in the past, this one has plenty of former Cats looking to get a ring.

• San Antonio Spurs: De’Aaron Fox, Keldon Johnson
• New York Knicks: Karl-Anthony Towns

Obviously, SGA has been showing out for UK, coming off a championship last year and back-to-back MVP awards.

This year, there will be at least one Cat who wins their first ring.

Fox has been harboring an ankle injury, but he played a huge part in getting the Spurs past the Thunder in Game 7, while Keldon Johnson also had a big game to help the Spurs advance. They scored 15 points and 11 points, respectively.

Meanwhile, KAT has been elite for the Knicks this postseason, averaging 16.9 PPG, 10.6 RPG, and 5.9 APG on 57.2FG%/48.93P%. He’s a big reason the Knicks are there and have been dominating this postseason.

It should be a fun series! Which Cat will get their first ring?

Tweet of the Day

For all the basketball nerds out there, Milan is an elite shooter, everywhere.

Headlines

Entire Lineup from NCAA Women’s Golf Championship Run Returns to Kentucky for 2026-27 – UK Athletics

Let’s go!

Kentucky’s Season Ends in Extra-Inning Defeat – UK Athletics

Just tragic.

Randall Cobb Named to 2027 College Football Hall of Fame Ballot – UK Athletics

Awesome, hope he gets it, he deserves it!

A.J. Brown elated to join Patriots, ‘moving forward’ from Eagles – ESPN

Crazy move.

Caitlin Clark and Stephanie White say all is good while downplaying sideline spat video – NBC Sports

You have to say this for optics, but it’s getting concerning in Indiana.

How Knicks and Spurs were built: Why unique rosters of NBA Finalists might now be impossible to replicate – CBS Sports

Great read.

Jared Verse essential to Myles Garrett trade, Browns GM says – ESPN

The Browns still didn’t get enough for Garrett.

Josh Jacobs at practice Tuesday, Matt LaFleur calls it “business as usual” – NBC Sports

Very weird.

Aaron Donald return rumors are flying after Myles Garrett trade: Five signs ex-Rams star might unretire – CBS Sports

This would be insane.

Sources: Stephen Curry signs $400M deal with China’s Li-Ning – ESPN

Huge deal for Steph that gives him creative control.

If the Spurs want to win the NBA Finals, they'll have to buck this historical trend originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

In addition to having a 7-foot-4 alien who can shoot, pass, dribble and single-handedly stop elite offenses from getting to the rim, what makes the San Antonio Spurs’ run to the NBA Finals unique is they possess what most champions typically lack: youth.

When the NBA’s championship round tips off Wednesday night, the Spurs will be looking to become the youngest Finals winner in recent NBA history.

NBC News analyzed the average ages of NBA champions’ playoff rotations since 2016, and San Antonio would be the youngest team to win a title — out-young-ing last year’s Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Spurs rotation’s average age is 24.4, while their opponent, the New York Knicks, are coming in at a relatively ancient 28.8.

Compared with the overall average championship age of 27.8, San Antonio is 3.4 years younger, while the Knicks are 1.0 years older.

The Spurs aren’t just a relatively young team on the whole — their best players are also on the younger side.

San Antonio’s leading scorer in the postseason is center Victor Wembanyama, who is only 22 years old and in his third year in the league. Wembanyama would be the youngest leading scorer to lead his team to a Finals victory in recent history. (If he wins Finals MVP, he would join Magic Johnson and Kawhi Leonard as the youngest players to win it.)

The Spurs’ three leading scorers — Wembanyama, Stephon Castle and De’Aaron Fox — would also be tied with last year’s Thunder as the youngest top-scoring trio of the last 11 NBA Finals.

Compared with New York, San Antonio is led by neophytes. The Knicks’ leading scorer, Jalen Brunson, is 29 and in his eighth season in the NBA. New York’s top three scorers — Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby — also average 29, with none younger than 28.

The median age of leading champion scorers is 27, with Wembanyama coming in a clean five years younger.

At least through three playoff rounds, youth and inexperience haven’t been barriers for the Spurs. They’ve already beaten a team that made two straight conference finals, the Minnesota Timberwolves, as well as last year’s champion, Oklahoma City, en route to the Finals.

In fact, less playoff seasoning may even help San Antonio.

“The lack of experience is a strength of us,” Wembanyama told ESPN on Tuesday. “Because we could do impossible stuff because we don’t know it’s impossible.”

The NBA Finals haven’t even begun and already the fixation with the New York Knicks is exhausting.

Did you know this is their first trip to the Finals since 1999? Did you know they haven’t lost in more than a month? Did you know they have the most famous fans in the world? Did you know tickets to games at Madison Square Garden cost more than a car?

Stahhhhhp.

Fortunately for folks who aren’t Knicks fans, which is pretty much the rest of the country, New York’s opponents in these Finals are the San Antonio Spurs, who might just be the most down-to-earth team in the NBA.

The San Antonio Spurs are America's team in the NBA Finals

They’re small market and worth about half what the Knicks are. Their nickname does not bring instant recognition. Their arena does not have name recognition in their own state, let alone the whole world. Their most famous fans are nuns, not celebrities.

And while Victor Wembanyama is the undisputed future of the NBA, he’s an unassuming superstar.

Instead of hanging out with Kardashians, Wemby spent last off-season with monks. While not an actual alien, he is interested in outer space and can talk at length about it. He’s responsible for an uptick in reading in San Antonio, for goodness sake.

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The Spurs are what you want in a championship team.

The Knicks are … what New York wants in a championship team.

Knicks are a team only New Yorkers can love

Every sport has at least one team that everyone else loves to hate. The Dallas Cowboys in the NFL. The New York Yankees in Major League Baseball. Duke in men’s basketball.

It’s usually a byproduct of success, a toxic owner or an arrogant fan base. In the Knicks’ case, it’s a little bit of everything. Well, maybe not the success part. Not lately, at least. But the owner and the fan base more than make up for that.

Leon Rose and the Knicks focused on trades and free agency to construct their core, San Antonio mostly became a contender again by maximizing its draft capital, leading to a rematch of the 1999 NBA Finals, won by the Spurs.

The Post dissects how the Knicks took shape.

Jalen Brunson

When he arrived: 2022

How he was acquired: Inked a four-year, $104 million deal in free agency that seemed like a reach but has since become a bargain.

How he’s helped them get here: He’s the franchise point guard. Captain Clutch.

The superstar who left money on the table with his extension two years ago. Brunson has single-handedly shifted the reputation of the Knicks, turned them into a contender and etched a place on their Mount Rushmore, averaging 26.3 points per game while unlocking another tier of that production on the postseason stage.

Karl-Anthony Towns

When he arrived: 2024

How he was acquired: A connection years in the making, the Edison, N.J., native arrived via trade in exchange for a package headlined by Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo.

How he’s helped them get here: Towns, who grew up a Knicks fan, is one of the best shooting centers of all time and was pegged as the missing piece, the superstar to complement Brunson. The six-time All-Star has averaged 22.2 points and 12.3 rebounds per game across his two seasons with the Knicks, and his point-center role this postseason ignited the offense.

OG Anunoby

When he arrived: 2023

How he was acquired: When the first domino in a series of Leon Rose trades fell, Anunoby (and Precious Achiuwa) arrived in exchange for RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley.

How he’s helped them get here: Known for his defensive skills, Anunoby has added a dynamic scoring ability since coming to the Knicks — and has averaged 19.7 points per game during this playoff run. He’s an unassuming two-way star who typically draws the most difficult matchup, keeps getting snubbed from All-Defensive First Team honors and makes the most expensive contract in Knicks history ($212.5 million) worth every penny.

Josh Hart

When he arrived: 2023

How he was acquired: Ahead of the trade deadline in 2023, Hart landed from the Trail Blazers for a package that included Cam Reddish.

How he’s helped them get here: Hart’s career with the Knicks has been defined by adjusting on the fly and fitting into a variety of roles.

He has started and has come off the bench. He’s demanded defensive matchups and taken over games offensively. His friendship with Brunson and Mikal Bridges from their days at Villanova — and his personality — make every press conference a must-see too.

Mikal Bridges

When he arrived: 2024

How he was acquired: Via a blockbuster that sent five first-round picks back to the Nets.

How he’s helped them get here: Bridges, known for his durability and defense, could never quite escape the price that Rose paid to land him and the price the Knicks paid to keep him (a $150 million extension) last summer. It led to a polarizing relationship with fans, especially when he’d get benched.

But the Knicks’ 11-game winning streak has perhaps altered his image for good, with Bridges averaging 16.6 points per game on a sizzling 62.6 percent shooting.

Miles McBride

When he arrived: 2021

How he was acquired: In the second round after the Knicks traded down to No. 36 on draft night.

How he’s helped them get here: McBride’s three-year, $13 million extension in 2023 was an absolute bargain, as he has embraced his role coming off the bench and providing a spark. He can rip off 3-pointers in bunches (career-best 41.3 percent on 6.6 attempts per game during the regular season) and has answered questions about whether he could make it at this level with his 6-foot-2 frame.

Mitchell Robinson

When he arrived: 2018

How he was acquired: Drafted in the second round in 2018 at No. 36 overall.

How he’s helped them get here: The oft-injured Robinson is the longest-tenured Knick and has seen it all. He ceded the center position to Towns while still being their best offensive rebounder and interior defender.

His most encouraging stat this year? Robinson’s 73 games between the regular season and playoffs, the most of his career and proof of a season-long load management plan working.

Landry Shamet

When he arrived: 2024

How he was acquired: The Knicks signed Shamet two weeks before training camp began in 2024, and he re-signed with them last summer on a non-guaranteed contract.

How he’s helped them get here: Who knows what would’ve happened if Shamet’s 3-pointer didn’t bounce in and help force overtime in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals? The 29-year-old overcame a pair of shoulder injuries the past two seasons and regained his lost spot in the rotation this year before becoming a forever name because of that shot.

Jordan Clarkson

When he arrived: 2025

How he was acquired: After agreeing to a buyout with the Jazz, Clarkson signed with the Knicks on a veteran minimum deal.

How he’s helped them get here: It hasn’t been the smoothest of seasons for the former Sixth Man of the Year, as he fell out of Mike Brown’s rotation before recovering a spot late in the year thanks to a commitment to defense.

But he assisted the Knicks by signing for the minimum in exchange for a chance at a title. He averaged a career-worst 8.6 points per game during the regular season but has turned back the clock on occasion.

Jose Alvarado

When he arrived: 2026

How he was acquired: The Brooklyn native arrived from the Pelicans ahead of the trade deadline, in exchange for Dalen Terry and two second-round picks, to boost the Knicks’ guard depth.

How he’s helped them get here: This was a homecoming made in basketball paradise. Alvarado is the energizer off the bench capable of thriving in the spotlight of the Garden, someone who can hit 3s — like he did eight times against the 76ers in February — or frustrate opponents to the point of turnovers.

Ariel Hukporti

When he arrived: 2024

How he was acquired: The Knicks landed the rights to Hukporti — the No. 58 overall pick by the Mavericks — on draft day in 2024.

How he’s helped them get here: As the Knicks’ third center, Hukporti has been thrust into critical moments when one or both of Towns and Robinson were out — or when Hack-a-Mitch returned. A Dec. 7 win, when Hukporti earned the team’s Defensive Player of the Game against a tough Magic team, served as a tangible sign of his value, too.

Tyler Kolek

When he arrived: 2024

How he was acquired: The Knicks moved up to No. 34 to take Kolek in exchange for three second-rounders.

How he’s helped them get here: Kolek quickly became a fan favorite as he competed for backup point guard minutes, delivering memorable performances in the NBA Cup final comeback and on Christmas Day to help save the Knicks. He has fallen out of the rotation since but has two more years of team control remaining to snag a role.

Mohamed Diawara

When he arrived: 2025′

How he was acquired: The Knicks took him with the 51st overall pick in 2025.

How he’s helped them get here: The Knicks don’t win their Dec. 29 game against the Pelicans without Diawara, who collected a career-best 18 points, and he adds wing depth with his rangy length and athleticism. He won’t log meaningful minutes in the Finals unless something goes terribly wrong, but Diawara — on an expiring deal — flashed enough potential to become an intriguing offseason decision.

Jeremy Sochan

When he arrived: 2026

How he was acquired: Sochan, the No. 9 pick in 2022, signed with the Knicks in February after getting waived by the Spurs.

How he’s helped them get here: Signed as bench depth, Sochan struggled to carve out a role in Brown’s rotation. But when Robinson missed Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, the Knicks needed him to log 55 seconds of meaningful time with both Towns and Hukporti in foul trouble. He’s a break-in-case-of-emergency option.

Pacôme Dadiet

When he arrived: 2024

How he was acquired: Dadiet was drafted No. 25 overall, joining the Knicks as an 18-year-old forward from France.

How he’s helped them get here: Dadiet remains a G-League player (23.1 points, 4.8 rebounds per game for Westchester this year) logging NBA minutes during garbage time, but on a team filled with expensive veterans, he has two seasons remaining — if the Knicks pick up the final option — to become an inexpensive rotation piece.

He’s a big shot thanks to their big shots.

A Long Island rooted diehard Knicks fan living in the heart of Celtics territory is going viral for turning New York playoff wins into clever Billy Joel lyrics — and it might just be a good luck charm for the NBA Finals vs. the Spurs.

“When I decided to do it, they had won maybe five straight by that point,” 21-year-old Luke Wenner of Attleboro, Massachusetts, told The Post after the streak reached 11 straight.

“I was like, yeah, might as well see how it goes. Obviously, it’s worked out pretty well,” added Wenner, who has gotten praise from Mick Jagger’s son, Lucas.

The New Englander’s magnum opus came in homage to Madison Square Garden’s favorite with a “Piano Man” parody after Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals vs. Cleveland. Wenner energetically recapped when the Knicks erased a historic 22-point fourth-quarter deficit over the Cavaliers.

“It’s eight o’clock on a Tuesday, the regular Knicks shuffle in / They swiftly go down from their rustiness — and soon the comeback begins,” Wenner sang and played on piano. 

“The Cavs had their biggest lead of the day — and the Knicks are down 22, but Brunson swoops in and scores 15 real quick and the Cavs are crying boo hoo.”

Wenner — a devout Knicks, Islanders, Giants, and Mets fan because his dad is from Middle Island — followed in Game 2 with a takeoff of “Movin’ Out” AKA “(Anunoby’s Song),” and then “New York Knicks State of Mind” for Game 3. 

He changed “She’s Always a Woman” to “It’ll Always Be New York for Me” when the Knicks swept Cleveland in four, in a clip that was liked over 10,000 times.

“I’ll sit there, as I’m watching the games, I’ll either pick a song or two of Billy Joel’s to keep in mind,” said Wenner, who idolizes Hicksville’s hometown hero Joel.

“I’ll be reading the lyrics, and I’m like, ‘oh, this player’s name would work perfectly in this verse.'”

Wenner showed The Post his “For the Longest Time” rework he will release ahead of the team’s first finals appearance since 1999. 

“Maybe some had thought our hope was gone, but the true New Yorkers did stay strong,” it goes.

“And now the time’s come, let’s go and take home this one — we have been waiting for the longest time.”

The recent psychology and criminal justice grad began with about 70 followers after dropping the Game 1 jingle. He’s close to 3,000 in a matter of days since blue and orange nation became touched by his tunes.

“It’s just been so great seeing that a huge majority of the comments are very favorable, and they definitely love what I’ve been doing,” Wenner said. “It’s just been nuts.”

And, Wenner’s river of dreams is a long time coming after putting up with the folks around Beantown.

“I’ve definitely gotten a lot of flak throughout my whole school career, because, pretty much all of my teams have been pretty horrible,” lamented Wenner. 

He likened the Knicks’ underdog outlook to that of his G-Men when they faced the Patriots in Super Bowl XLII and again in Super Bowl XLVI.

“They didn’t give the Giants a chance. So, I think it’s possible,” said Wenner. 

“It would just mean the world to me, especially given that I can rub it in the faces of my fellow Celtics fans.”

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Rockets fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

Hey, everyone. Sorry for the delay on this one. School is finishing up this week, so I’ve been busy grading, and cleaning my classeroom, and wrapping things up administratively. It’s no excuse, but it’s why I’m a little behind right now.

Anyway, we asked you last week, if the Rockets were to trade for a star, which one of the guys they are currently being linked to would you most want them to trade for? Your options were Kyrie Irving, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jaylen Brown, Donovan Mitchell, or Kawhi Leonard. Here’s what you said:

And by a landslide, the Jaylen Browns have it. I think that’s a prudent choice. He’d obviously fit right in with Ime Udoka, and is arguably the best roster fit in my opinion. I doubt that the Rockets do anything, though. My guess is that they run it back. I don’t think that’s the right move, but if they did trade for one of these available stars, Brown would be my choice as well.

Thanks for voting. We’ll be back soon with more Reacts.

Across an NBA Finals, it’s often the matchups within the matchups that determine the victor.

And, interestingly, both the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs feature players they can leverage in specific matchups to gain minor advantages in a game-by-game basis.

Of course, all eyes will be on Victor Wembanyama of the Spurs and Jalen Brunson of the Knicks, the two best players in the series, but a Finals presents the chance for secondary stars and role players to step up and fill a specific role.

Here are the five matchups that will determine the 2026 NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs:

I’m most looking forward to ...

Where to even begin? Victor Wembanyama, the brightest young star in the NBA, appears on the biggest stage imaginable (in this galaxy, at least ... I’m not sure how big the stages are where he comes from), while one of the most storied franchises in American sports has its return to relevance cemented. And, maybe most importantly of all, The Garden, baby! CDL

Watching what a Knicks team that has the best defensive net rating of the NBA playoffs can do when they play an elite opponent anchored by a generational talent. In other words, seeing them attempt to, not stop Wemby, but bring him down to a level below the god of all basketball gods. Their strategy to do something, anything, to postpone the crowning of the Frenchman for one more season is going to be fascinating. A lot of that responsibility will be in the capable hands of OG Anunoby, in what will be an incredibly stern challenge. DL

I’m excited to see the Knicks tested against the best possible competition. They’ve won 11 consecutive games, many by gaudy point differentials. They went up 72-22 on Atlanta on the Hawks’ home floor! But it’s one thing to embarrass a sixth seed, or the Cleveland Cavaliers, and another to look that good against the Spurs. Are these Knicks really one of the best teams ever, or has their competition flattered them? Let’s find out. OL

The Alien at the Garden. NBA stars have cemented their legacy on basketball’s biggest stage, and I expect Wembanyama’s first finals at Madison Square Garden to be theatrical. Game 3 will ignite a Super Bowl-like atmosphere on and off the court as premium ticket prices have skyrocketed to over $100,000 on the secondary market. AS

What the Spurs need to do to win …

Keep their composure, and not run out of gas. If San Antonio’s young core can be as mature, self-assured, and unbothered as they were in Game 7 on the road in Oklahoma, they’re a force to be reckoned with. But that bruising series against the Thunder presents problems: it’s yet to be seen if they have enough left in the tank to topple a red-hot Knicks team, who have been resting for a week plus. CDL

Slow down a Knicks team that dismantled three opponents on the way to the finals. The Knicks are playing total basketball - there’s no sticking wings in the corner and waiting for passes. The off-the-ball movement and distribution brought us the most dynamic offense we’ve seen in a while. San Antonio must drive the Knicks back into their regular season mode, where they failed to maximize their talent and were sometimes frustrating to watch. Cleveland did have some limited success with zone defense in the Eastern Conference finals; will San Antonio use it to try and shove these new Knicks back in the bottle? DL

Get everybody involved. Wembanyama’s Game 1 performance against the Thunder was astonishing, but tired him for the next couple games. In Game 7, seven Spurs scored in the double digits and the team shot 42.5% from three, which is a much healthier victory recipe. If Devin Vassell and Julian Champagnie hit from beyond the arc, De’Aaron Fox tears through the defense for short jumpers, and Stephon Castle distributes and defends at his best, the burden on Wembanyama will be manageable. OL

The youthful Spurs have avoided costly mistakes that often hinder young teams in the postseason. Defensively, they must minimize Jalen Brunson’s drives inside the paint, similar to how they stifled Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s effectiveness in the Western Conference finals. If they replicate the same physicality, the Spurs can overwhelm the more seasoned Knicks. AS

What the Knicks need to do to win …

Exactly what they’ve been doing. The Knicks are in that weird, magical place teams sometimes get to where everything is falling into place. Role players are making every shot, bad habits are nowhere to be found, and their star, Brunson, is rising to the occasion. They have Team of Destiny energy, and cruised through the Eastern Conference. If they can step up against the San Antonio Spurs, the most formidable team they will face this postseason, they’ll take home the trophy. CDL

Exhaust San Antonio. The Spurs are coming off an incredibly physical series, so a lot of the work has already been done for them. The Knicks are deeper, fresher and with the exception of Mitchell Robinson, healthy. San Antonio are roughly seven deep; New York must force them to go deeper into their bench. Jalen Brunson is obviously the key to everything offensively for the Knicks, and in a way, so is Josh Hart, who the Spurs will dare to shoot, just as Cleveland did. DL

Contain and fatigue Wembanyama. The Thunder had success wrapping up the Spurs’ stick bug via Isaiah Hartenstein, who at times exhausted or restricted Wembanyama enough to take his rebounding out of games. The Knicks may be able to approximate the same strategy with Karl-Anthony Towns and Anunoby. Wembanyama will remain a constant scoring and blocking threat, but better to deal with his abilities in isolation than the full terrifying package. And don’t default to Brunson iso-ball until the shot clock weeps for relief at the expense of running the offense through Towns. OL

The Knicks hold an advantage in veteran leadership, role players, and established coaching. To win, the Knicks must force the young Spurs to become uncomfortable offensively. The Spurs tend to go on stretches where they force bad shots and rely heavily on three-pointers. If the Knicks pressure the Spurs to second-guess themselves, they’ll survive as champions. AS

This is the most exciting finals series since ...

At the risk of sounding hyperbolic, because last year’s finals between the fearless Indiana Pacers and the then-juggernaut Oklahoma City Thunder was a delight, I don’t think I’ve been this excited for an NBA finals since LeBron and Steph were going at it in the 2010s. There are storylines aplenty, star-power galore, and the backdrop of the Mecca as a cherry on top. CDL

Toronto v Golden State in 2019. That was interesting because the Warriors were favored, even after losing Kevin Durant. Kawhi Leonard was at the peak of his powers, as was Stephen Curry, but without Durant, Toronto won in six games. DL

The Thunder and Indiana Pacers last season. Sorry! The Pacers rode an unprecedented run of magical buzzer-beaters to the finals, where they made fascinating and modern music with the Thunder’s supersonic defense until Tyrese Haliburton’s achilles gave out. I’m not still mad about it. The Knicks are on a historic run and Wemby’s early presence in the finals is thrilling, but we’ll be lucky if the quality of the series itself equals that of last year. OL

Cavaliers v Warriors in 2016. LeBron James and Kyrie Irving led the Cavs to a historic comeback against Steph Curry and the Warriors during their dynasty era. This year’s finals could produce a more intriguing spectacle headlined by Wemby in Gotham; Brunson v. Stephon Castle; and celebrity row at the Garden. AS

Unheralded player to watch ...

I’m gonna cheat and do one for each squad. Anunoby feels like the key to the series in a lot of ways for New York: he’s been an excellent jump shooter in these playoffs, which has been important to the Knicks’ offense, but he’s also probably going to spend at least some time with the Wembanyama assignment. On the San Antonio side, Castle, the beyond-impressive guard, has shown remarkable poise in his first playoff outing, but guarding Brunson in the Garden will be perhaps his toughest test so far. CDL

It’s Hart, who has the best engine in the NBA. He’s capable of a triple-double with rebounding prowess that far exceeds his size. New Yorkers are familiar with his game, which is mostly to do a little bit of everything, but I don’t think the rest of the basketball world has an appreciation of what a wonderful all-around player he is. DL

Anunoby. The Knicks’ muscular forward has been one of their best players these playoffs, both offensively and defensively, and could defend Wemby on key possessions. But he’s also missed some playoff games with a hamstring strain, bringing unpleasant memories of Jalen Williams’ long absence to mind. Anunoby’s availability and efficacy are must-haves for the Knicks. OL

Dylan Harper. Throughout the playoffs, Harper has remained a steady hand for the Spurs off the bench by maintaining offensive control and hitting timely shots. Wembanyama, Brunson, Castle, and Towns will garner the most attention, but Harper could be the unsung hero during clutch moments in the fourth-quarter. AS

The finals MVP will be …

It’s likely that Brunson will never have to pay for anything in New York for the rest of his life; win, lose, or draw in these finals. But if he brings the Knicks their first title in over half a century, there will be Brunsons dining for free in the city that never sleeps for generations to come. CDL

Brunson, capping one of the most extraordinary rises in NBA history. This is a second-round pick who has been underestimated as a sluggish, undersized, shoot-first point guard. Even now, despite his showcase performance in the Knicks’ improbable Game 1 comeback over Cleveland in the Eastern Conference finals, he’s still in the long shadow of Wembanyama. But, thanks to some of the best footwork in NBA history, along with razor basketball instincts and shooting, elite leadership capabilities and timing, he will be MVP, and he will be the most celebrated New York City athlete of the 21st century so far. DL

Wembanyama. His performances affect the game on the defensive end in ways nobody else in this series can dream of, and he may already be the best offensive player on these teams, too. Unless fatigue ruins him or the Knicks find a nonexistent skeleton key to lock him up, look for Wembanyama to join former Spurs Tim Duncan and Kawhi Leonard in the club of 22-year-old finals MVPs. OL

There is only one player in the NBA finals who can dominate the game on every level. Wembanyama is the most unguardable force since Shaquille O’Neal in 2000, and his defensive presence in the paint will force the Knicks to make offensive adjustments. Once he asserts himself, expect Wemby to compile multiple video game-like stat lines on his way to securing the finals MVP.

Your winner will be ...

Knicks 4-2 Spurs. I’ll be the first to admit that I did not think the San Antonio Spurs would be this ahead of schedule. As impressed as I was with their first two rounds of play, I still thought they were a year away, and predicted that the conference finals were their ceiling. I stand corrected: they’re really, really good, and Wembanyama looks like the best player on Earth. But New York present a unique challenge, with far more ball handling and shot creation than the Spurs have faced thus far (they came up against an Oklahoma team missing two of their best in that department in Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell). The Knicks are on a heater the likes of which I’ve never seen in an NBA playoffs, and it’s been largely written off as the spoils of the weaker East. But they’re for real, and primed to play spoiler to the Spurs’ magical ride from lottery to finals. San Antonio will win at least one, if not several titles in the Wembanyama era. But this year, my money’s on the Knicks. CDL

Knicks 4-1 Spurs. The Knicks will frustrate Wemby, they will share the ball in a way the 1970s pass-first Knicks would relish. Towns will continue to unwind all the soft parts of his game. Anunoby will get to the basket with determined physicality. Mikal Bridges will slash and drain from mid-range. Brunson will take over down the stretch and Robinson, bad pinky and all, may even hit a few foul shots. As Nikola Jokić once said: “When is parade?” DL

Spurs 4-2 Knicks. A Knicks win won’t surprise – they fared well against the Spurs during the regular season, they’re fresher, and they’ve been more dominant in the playoffs – but Wembanyama is transcendent and his supporting cast fits perfectly around him. After watching San Antonio overcome the Thunder in Oklahoma City, it’s too hard to bet against them knocking off anybody else. OL

Spurs 4-3 Knicks. In our preseason predictions, I picked the Knicks to clinch an NBA finals berth, although I didn’t think they’d do it in such a dominant fashion. But the Knicks’ uncomplicated journey to the finals could be both a gift and a curse: after enduring a rigorous seven-game series against the defending champions, the Spurs are more battle-tested than New York. Their defensive discipline will halt the Knicks’ surging offense, and Wemby will be the series’ biggest X-factor. By the time the title is decided, it will be clear that the Wembanyama era has arrived. AS

The time has come for the Knicks to play an NBA Finals game.

The day is today, and you, like everybody and their mother, will surely be watching.

Here’s a mammoth bulletin to get you ready for what will come later.

Mike Brown

On Mitchell Robinson’s status heading into Game 1:

“He did individual stuff (Monday). I’m about to talk to our medical people to see what he can do (Tuesday).”

Ariel Hukporti

On staying ready in case Mitch is ruled out:

“I’m always preparing. I’m always ready. Always stay ready. When you’re in the third unit, you never know. Stuff happens, people in foul trouble.”

Mikal Bridges

On the Spurs-Knicks recent past:

“I think those games matter, those regular-season games matter. But [they’re a] really well-coached team, really talented team. You can tell how together they are, which is very dope. But with all that, they’re ready to go out there and fight. They’re going to battle. Watching them in the playoffs, [they’re] not soft at all. They’re going to go out there, compete at a high level. It’s great. I feel like we do the same.”

On his favorite college memory:

“Probably winning our national championships—against UNC.”

On the Knicks’ focus throughout the season:

“I think everybody out there is trying to do just one thing, win.”

On getting a second chance at the Finals after his 2021 trip:

“It’s tough to get here once, but to be here a second time, just blessed, honestly.”

Josh Hart

On how to prepare to face Wembanyama:

“I don’t know if you can, because there’s not a situation that’s similar.”

On focusing on the team over individualities:

“For us, I think if we focus on ourselves and focus on the habits that we’re building, we’ll put ourselves in good situations to be successful. We can’t focus too much on one player and focus on Wemby too much because obviously they’ve got a lot of extremely talented guys that can go off any single game. We’re focused on them as a whole. But he’s an interesting guy to game plan for.”

On doubting himself earlier in the season:

“I definitely didn’t see the bigger picture. There were moments I went home, and I’m like ‘damn, man, am I ass? Do I suck as a basketball player?’ There’s a lot of those moments. Whenever your minutes go down, or you get a bench, you have those thoughts, that thought process.”

On using those benching experiences to improve:

“But for me, it was like, okay, how can I build off of it? How can I improve as a player to not put myself in that situation? And, you know, now I’m cool with it sometimes. I mean, there was game one, I got bench, you know, Atlanta was out there hooping, and I was happy about it. And, you know, but that took a little bit of time and self-reflection to get to that point.”

On the Knicks’ selflessness:

“This team was a selfless group. At the end of the day we know we’re willing to sacrifice our own individual performance or stats or accolades for the betterment of the team. When you have not just one, two or three, but a whole team of those kinds of guys, that kind of character, it puts you in a position to be successful.”

On building championship habits steadily:

“When you’re building championship habits, it’s very boring and it’s very meticulous. It’s frustrating at times, but it never changes. We continue to do what we do, continue to build those habits. Nothing changes from the first round of the playoffs to the Finals. We know we got to be locked-in, focused, have attention to detail, physicality, a sense of desperation. It’s been like that for every single series, every single game of these playoffs and it doesn’t change now that we’re in the Finals.”

Jordan Clarkson

On representing the Philippines in the Finals along with the Spurs’ Dylan Harper:

“(It’s) another amazing thing that’s happening right now. Definitely inspiring to the Filipino-Americans and Filipinos all around the country. It’s definitely going to be fun to watch. One of us (will be) taking a championship back home to the Philippines and representing that well.”

On Harper’s early career:

“(Harper has) been really good throughout the whole year. I’ve been watching him, keeping up with him, as well. Him being so young and having so much poise throughout this whole playoffs, it’s a great sight to see a young star coming in this league and doing what he’s doing.”

On growing up in San Antonio watching Spurs parades:

“My stepmom worked at The Westin, so I would see the parades through the hotel balconies and stuff. I would sneak around there. At the hotels at that time, everybody was staying at the Westin downtown. Being able to take pictures and run up on players for autographs, I was definitely that kid. I was around to see how alive the city comes when the Spurs are in the Finals and winning championships. … Just a lot of growth, man, from here as a kid. This definitely feels great.”

On his father’s presence in Game 1:

“[I’m] focused on trying to win, but my dad’s strength and everything has been the world to me, and seeing him continue to fight has been an amazing battle. My dad detailed the cars of a lot of Spurs players in terms of washing them and doing that … [but] my dad, definitely he’ll be a Knicks fan this series. I wouldn’t let him have it any other way.”

On the Knicks’ collective mindset:

“One through 15, I think we’re all just trying to impact the game in any way. Doing the small things is a big emphasis for us that we put on everybody, and that’s what we try to do.”

Jose Alvarado

On making the Finals and doing so playing for his hometown Knicks:

“It’s really something I can’t put in words. I’m blessed. I can’t even say it’s a dream, I never thought about being in the finals playing for the Knicks. But I’m here, I’m extremely excited. I’m a kid from the city living a dream.”

On what to expect from Knicks fans during the Finals:

“The atmosphere is always going to be amazing. That’s just New York.” 

On his role with the Knicks after the mid-season trade:

“They got me for a reason. It’s something that’s easy to be a part of, when everybody is on the same page defensively. That’s what we are, we know defense can win us games or at least give us a chance, and that’s what we do at a high level.”

On what’s next for him as a perennial NBA underdog:

“I always think of [my journey]. I want to try to continue the story. You’re a reporter — I’m your height. That’s not really normal in the NBA. Just keep doing what I’m doing, man. The story is not over and I just want to continue writing it and give everybody hope. Don’t say nobody can’t do it. I am living proof.”

Karl-Anthony Towns

On facing Victor Wembanyama:

“Obviously, he’s a special talent and the NBA’s blessed to have him and to be able to showcase his talent to the world. For us, we just have to have discipline in our gameplan and execute at a high level.”

On playing in his first Finals:

“It means a lot, because for my career I’ve only been able to see that [NBA] Finals logo on TV. So it means a lot to be the person that sees the logo on their jersey and has this opportunity.”

Jalen Brunson

On Victor Wembanyama’s skill set:

“Yeah, watching him as a player, it’s pretty unbelievable. The things he’s able to do on both sides of the ball, people have never really seen before for a person of his size. It’s incredible to watch from a player’s perspective.”

On game-planning for Wembanyama:

“As an opposing player, [Wemby] is something you constantly have to be on watch for. You just never know the things that he’s capable of doing. That’s why game planning and our game-planning discipline, our attention to details are so important when it comes to playing because he’s pretty incredible.”

On the Knicks’ mindset:

“I think we’re a hard-working group. I feel like we’ve been doubted a lot. There’s been a lot of noise on the outside that we could obviously talk about and complain about, do something about, but we’ve always just gone into the gym, worked on our game individually… Our mentality is the right place at the right time. We just have to stay focused and keep learning. We can’t be satisfied just because we’re here; we have to continue to keep learning.”

On making the Finals:

“It’s pretty surreal – it’s something I haven’t really thought about. Once the season’s over, once the career’s over, we’ll be able to think about this stuff. It’s a cool feeling.”

On the Knicks’ focus during the Finals run:

“I mean obviously, we’ve been playing hard. Mix in a little luck as well. I think most importantly, we’ve been coming in focused. Just focus on one possession at a time, and just playing hard for that possession and worry about the future later. We’ve been locked in on the moment and we need to continue to do that.”

On preparing for Game 1 of the Finals:

“Everything leading up to Game 1 is going to be definitely high-end just because of everything that goes on around it. I think most importantly, when you can prepare the right way, when you do your routines, you treat it like a normal game, it allows it to be as normal as possible. I’m just trying to make sure I’m level-headed, making sure I do the things I need to do pregame-wise, not change anything just because it’s the Finals.”

On the meaning of making the Finals:

“I’m very excited to be here. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. You can’t take it for granted.”

On facing Stephon Castle:

“He’s great. I think his intensity and tenacity is special. He plays with a chip on his shoulder. He’s had that since I’ve seen him at UConn. The way he’s played over these first couple years of his career, he’s going to be a great player, great defender.”

On the Spurs’ team defense:

“Yeah, they’re very physical. The way they play, obviously, they’re able to pressure on the perimeter. Obviously, having Wemby down there on the weak side creates havoc. They’re multidimensional. A lot of ways they can beat you on both sides of the ball.”

On preparing for the Finals during yet another extended break:

“When we were in the gym, we were focused. We were practicing pretty hard, understanding that not knowing who we were playing yet, we had to prepare for both teams. We didn’t want to be behind the eight ball. It was really important for us to have those days because we saw how we came out in Game 1 last time when we had the rest days. I feel it’s really important those days we had, it was important for us, for sure.”

OG Anunoby

On how to guard Wembanyama:

“He’s pretty unique. I mean, there’s little things like maybe guarding [Nikola] Jokic or [Kristaps] Porzingis or Joel [Embiid]. He’s different. He’s taller. Just being aware of where he’s at all over the floor. He can do everything. Super talented. Just being aware of him at all times, trying to make it as difficult as possible.”

On the Spurs’ depth:

“Yeah, they’re a very versatile team, very deep. They have talent all over the court, at all positions. They can all shoot, drive, do everything. And they rebound really well, too. They’re getting the rebound, they can push, one-man fast break. They can push the pace. They really speed the game up. They do a great job doing that.”

James Dolan

On whether the Knicks represent New York City:

“It represents the people of New York City, yes. Absolutely. That’s New Yorkers, right? They’re tough, they’re gritty, they’re full of personality. But they’re also high-character individuals. You have a good sense of right and wrong and what’s fair and what’s not, and if you cross it with ’em, you’re gonna get a New York hello. That’s New Yorkers, right? We’re not subtle, but we’re very straightforward. New Yorkers, they love effort. They don’t just love winners, they love effort … sincere effort. And if there’s nothing else you’re getting from the Knicks, you’re getting sincere effort. And so, I do think they represent New York.”

On why he believes the Knicks will win the championship:

“Because they’re a team. Because they have heart, and they have that X factor in heart. And we’ve seen it all season long, but we’ve really seen it in the playoffs, and in talking to them, they’re gonna be almost impossible to beat. Because they have that heart, and you’re never gonna get them to quit. They will never quit. That’s how winners win.”

On his NBA Finals-or-Bust proclamation:

“That’s why I don’t do a lot of interviews — I’m usually very frank (smile). I did not go into the interview thinking, “Oh I’m gonna say this.” But it was on my mind, and I knew that the rest of the organization knew it too — we all knew it. We knew it from the moment that we said goodbye to Thibs (Tom Thibodeau) and we hired Mike (Brown), that we were gonna be in a hot spot because we just made the conference finals. We didn’t win, but you don’t make a change unless you’re expecting to do better. We didn’t change ’cause we wanted it to be worse! To me, it was a little obvious, so I just said it because it was obvious.”

On hiring Mike Brown:

“Leon (Rose) convinced me (laugh). When we knew we were gonna make the change, we didn’t tell the players about making a change. We first had talked to all the players and I was there, and then sat down with Leon, and we talked about what it is we want in a coach. ’Cause we knew we had a good coach in Thibs. We weren’t just going for a change, right? There was something we wanted, and we laid it out, really on paper, what we were looking for in a coach. I would say the No. 1 quality was collaborative, that was a big piece … somebody who strategically could avail himself of all the minds around him and put it together, particularly at game time, between halves, that was a big thing. And we were looking for flexibility. So we laid out all these sort of characteristics that we were looking for, and then I set Leon loose. And he interviewed a lot of different guys, and he came back with Mike, and I’m like, “OK.” Leon did all the work. I just blessed it.”

On what he likes most about the Knicks’ play:

“Their willingness to sacrifice has been just off the charts. They’re all like this, whatever it takes to win, and don’t worry about me, I’ll do whatever it takes. That’s a sacrifice. We played some opponents who haven’t actually had that kind of a commitment. I’m not gonna name names, but you probably know who they are. I think that’s what sets this team apart, and it’s probably what I like most about them right now.”

On why he hired Leon Rose:

“I obviously have been doing this for a while before Leon showed up, and it was much more about just getting convinced that no matter if you get the most brilliant strategist in the world, you have to have talent in order to win. And so I thought about the guy who would be best in bringing talent to New York, and Leon’s name was at the very top of the list.”

Walt Frazier

On the Greatest Knick of All Time conversation:

“I always say it’s Willis (Reed), and Willis said it’s Patrick (Ewing), and Patrick says it’s Patrick. So he would definitely be on Mount Rushmore. We’ll put him up there if he can bring this title.”

On what a title means in New York:

“I can’t walk the street, it’s like I’m in a parade. Anywhere I go people are like, ‘Oh, there he is, there’s Clyde! There’s Clyde!‘ So if these guys win another title — man, I can’t spend money now in New York. I’ll never have to spend money again in this city. And that’s what I want to show the players. Hey man, I’ve been doing this for 50 years. Fifty years just for winning two titles! So you guys can have it if you just win one title.”

Jeremy Lin

On Knicks fans:

“I always felt like Knicks fans deserve the best performances. They’re so passionate. And as cool as it was for me to give good performances only for that stretch of time, I genuinely wish that I was able to do more. I genuinely wish I was able to stay longer, genuinely wish that I could have a lot more success and done things in the playoffs for the Knicks, but that never came to fruition.”

On his ESPN trial run leading to his hiring for the Finals:

“I think after those three days, the reception that we got from the fans as well as what I felt internally was definitely beyond what I expected. So that was nice in the sense of like, oh, people had really appreciated the breakdown, but I also felt joy in being back in NBA basketball.”

Charles Barkley

On Knicks fans in New York:

“I’m not gonna lie, last year in the Conference Finals, (TNT’s Inside the NBA) traveled, and man, it’s a different thing being in New York. I know New Yorkers are annoying. But man, they’re right. When the Knicks are doing good, it’s a different energy in that city.”

On New York’s Conference Finals atmosphere:

“It was one of the most amazing things those three games we went to in New York. And then now you’re gonna put it on steroids going to the Finals.”

On covering the Finals at ESPN and the meaning of the Knicks-Spurs matchup:

“For me, being able to do the Finals for the first time, to get the New York Knicks in the Finals…I’m so glad we’re gonna get to do the games. But for Adam Silver, this is a dream matchup to get the Knicks against Victor (Wembanyama).”

Mitch Johnson

On Stephon Castle’s defensive impact:

“I don’t want to get crucified. But in terms of output of energy, when you think about what he’s doing defensively and offensively, it takes you to some really rare territory of names that you may not want to say in terms of because you’re not comparing him to that person or this person. It’s similar to Victor in terms of he’s basically in the middle of every single play for us offensively, defensively, but he’s on the basketball.”

De’Aaron Fox

On his message to the Spurs heading into the Finals:

“Don’t change anything that we’re doing. There’s a reason that we’re in the Finals. There’s a reason that we won 60 games. There’s a reason we didn’t lose three games in a row the whole year.”

On enjoying the moment:

“I think my big message for the guys is, especially as we we’re going through this process, not right now but as we were playing in the first round and going up; enjoy the moment. This is a hard thing to do. It’s hard to get back to these places. We don’t want to get to this place and then start changing the way we play.”

On the Game 7 vs. Oklahoma City:

“Going to game seven, a lot of times superstars think, people say ‘unload the clip,’ ‘get all your rocks off,’ whatever phrase you want to use. Going into that game, I’m like, no, do the things we’ve been doing throughout the course of the year, those are the reasons we’re playing the defending champs, that we forced a game seven on their home court. We don’t need to change anything. We’re a good team, and we know that. Going to these games knowing that there’s a reason that we’re here and continuing to play the way that we play, double down on it, triple down on it and continue to do those things.”

On his time in Sacramento:

“I think the hardest part was you have a good year and then you kind of expect it to get better, and then it doesn’t. I think that’s probably the biggest part. Usually, when you hear guys who went to the Finals or won the Finals, they talk about loving; getting to that point. But it’s a hard thing to do once, and it’s definitely a hard thing to do multiple times. Once you taste that success a little bit, I think the hardest part was not being able to get back there.”

Victor Wembanyama

On seeing the Spurs’ lack of experience as a positive thing:

“The lack of experience is a strength for us. Because we don’t know. We could do impossible stuff because we don’t know it’s impossible.”

On the Spurs’ need to lock in after the sugar rush of beating OKC in a Game 7:

“Coming back down from this is a challenge. It’s not done yet. We still need to really come back down to Earth and realize we haven’t done the hardest (thing) yet. The job isn’t done at all. So we still got about, I don’t know, what time is it, like 30-plus hours to recenter.”

On the Knicks:

“It’s a great team of experienced guys who are not here by chance, but by relentless effort over the years. Very different career paths for all of them. They’re right where they’re supposed to be, in my opinion. All of them are going to be super hungry in their own way.”

Devin Vassell

On not being satisfied with winning the conference title:

“We didn’t get here to say, we’re the Western Conference finals champions. We want to sit here and say we’re the NBA champions, we won the finals. It was great while it lasted, but we’re ready for the next chapter.”

Julian Champagnie

On the meaning of facing the Knicks as a Brooklyn native:

“For sure. For sure (it means a lot). I have a lot of friends who are New York fans. I would love to spoil their plans. I would love to. It would just be fun.”

On competing for a championship in NYC:

“Obviously going back [to New York] and competing for a championship is great. I personally want to win, so we’ll just see how it goes.”

Stephon Castle

On admitting toflopping and selling calls:

“I don’t really know how to answer that. I mean, I sell calls, too, sometimes. I mean, I can’t lie. But I mean, it’s really just a field thing, especially in the playoffs, you know. If it’s too egregious, the refs aren’t going to bail you out. They’re going to make the two teams, they’re going to make the better team win. So, I think just taking it game by game and not trying to put yourself at a disadvantage. I don’t really think it’s about selling calls or not trying to sell calls to make yourself look a certain type of way. You know, I think we talk to the refs a lot, especially me in particular, but most of the times they’re right. So, I mean, just having a short term memory. I mean, whether you fall down or not, if you get the call or you don’t get the call, it’s not really something you can change. So, I think for us, just playing the game and seeing how the refs are calling it.”

On defending Jalen Brunson:

“I think what’s worked for me is trying to be physical with him. He’s obviously shorter than me, but he’s a very physical guard, he gets to his spots well. Uses deception well, has great footwork. Trying to be as disciplined as I can, crowd his space, but not give him the angles that he’s looking for. At this point, he’s seen pretty much every coverage, been guarded all kinds of ways. Just trying to impose my will and use my physicality to my advantage.”

On needing to move on from the Game 7 win over OKC:

“Playing the defending champs on the road in a Game 7 like that, it’s hard to flush that out of the back of your mind, especially when you’re the team that came out on top. We have a balance where we understand we can’t get complacent or satisfied with that. We still have a job, so come game time, we’ll be ready.”

On not having an issue with the Spurs being much younger than the Knicks:

“I don’t think that was ever a problem for us. I think for us, that was all outside noise. In-house, we have nothing but confidence in each other. I mean, we’ve been making history — with every game, we see something new. We got four more [wins] to go. We got this far. We still haven’t really done anything yet.”

Dylan Harper

On representing Filipino heritage in the Finals:

“I think me and him (Clarkson) get to do something really special, representing our country, where we’re from, representing everything on the biggest stage in basketball. I feel like over there in the Philippines, basketball is probably the biggest thing. I think we’re very excited for that, and we’re just very blessed and grateful to be in this position.”

Luke Kornet

On returning to the Finals:

“Talking about being on [the NBA Finals] stage, it’s a little different than the [literal] stage at the Westchester County Center that is on one end of the court. I was just trying to make a name for myself, or really, just be able to be in the NBA and see how that goes … I had a great time in my first two years, especially in Westchester. I feel like the group that we had, it was some really fun basketball that we played. That’s what I remember the most. We had a lot of talent and young guys and it felt like an extension of college. I felt like I was growing my game a lot at that time. A lot of guys always talk about the G-League like you can’t wait to get out of it, but I really enjoyed my time.”

On facing the team that first signed him to an NBA deal:

“It’s definitely a cool, full-circle moment playing the Knicks and having started there. Now it’s like my third Finals … one of those things that maybe 20 years from now I’ll have a little more perspective on, but for the moment just trying to succeed and win a championship.”