Boston - May 11: The Celtics Marcus Smart erupts in celebration after his teammate Jayson Tatum (0, back-round right) slammed home two second quarter points to put Boston ahead 51-38. Tatum is celebrating himself with teammate Jaylen Brown (7) in the background. The Boston Celtics host the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semi-finals between the Celtics and Bucks on May 11, 2022 at TD Garden in Boston. (Photo by Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
Upfront, I’ll admit that I’m a sentimental guy. I love nostalgia and in Boston, basketball is a brotherhood. How many times have you seen alumni visiting the Auerbach Center and talking to the team or lining the front rows of TD Garden during a playoff game?
I’d be lying if the Knicks’ dominating march through these playoffs didn’t remind me of my high school reunion. With the trio of Nova Knicks — Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, and Josh Hart — teaming up with Jersey-born Karl-Anthony Towns and Brooklyn’s Jose Alvarado, the party they’re having at Madison Square Garden after every home win feels like the prom night redux at my 25th. Even as a rival, I can appreciate how special this is.
It’s not dissimilar to how I felt with the Celtics this season. The majority of Boston’s roster was either drafted by the team or signed their first contract with the franchise. So, for the most part, it was a homegrown and that matters. It’s our team made up of our guys.
The Celtics have already started to get the band back together by hiring Isaiah Thomas as a scout. He won’t suit up, but tell me that doesn’t warm your heart?
There’s a scenario where Stevens elects to bring most of that 56-win team back. However, there’s an opportunity to put on that dusty letterman jacket, relive old glory, and maybe win at an even higher level with some old friends.
Cap experts don’t really see next season as a true contending year for the Celtics. It’s not exactly a gap year like this year was, but after ducking the luxury tax for two consecutive years, Boston will be set up in 2027-2028 to really push the envelope and spend big as the Jays enter the middle of their primes. In the meantime, I propose a sort of continuation year from 2025 like Tatum didn’t tear his Achilles and like the first and second apron don’t exist.
Boston has some glaring needs, most notably at the 5. After having to break up with them last summer to duck under the luxury tax, the Celtics could reunite with Horford and/or Porzingis as soon as this July. After a circuitous route that reunited them in Golden State last season, Porzingis and Horford enter free agency with a chance to chase a ring and there may be no better place for their careers than with the Celtics. Can you imagine the hero’s welcome they’d get at their first (re)introduction on the parquet? I can.
The Timelord has been a popular name to fill out Boston’s frontcourt. Why not? He had his first healthy season in years and was a force in the playoffs. Here’s ESPN’s Bobby Marks on NBC Boston’s podcast with Chris Forsberg:
Count me in, Forsberg.
For me, the most welcoming homecoming would be for Marcus Smart. When the raised Banner 18, I always felt like it belonged to Marcus, too. And in a way, to bring home Smart would be equivalent to landing Jrue Holiday, a savvy vet that can quarterback the offense and defense. More so, it’s returning the heart and soul of the team back to Boston.
I’m sure right now, Boston’s front office is crunching the numbers, analytically and financially, to see what players are the best fit for winning next season. They’ll address deficiencies from last year and raise the roster’s ceiling.
But sometimes, if you’re lucky, what feels right and what’s best are in alignment.
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 1: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs dunks the ball during the game against the New York Knicks on March 1, 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
Just last year, the San Antonio Spurs were waiting on bated breath to see where their lottery pick would fall in the NBA Draft. Flash forward to today, when the Spurs’ young core will play in Game One of the NBA Finals against the New York Knicks.
The stakes are clear: the Spurs have a chance to kick off a new dynasty earlier than expected by winning their first championship since Tim Duncan and the big three won in 2014. The Knicks have a lot of historical baggage as well. This will be New York’s first NBA Finals appearance since 1999. The franchise hasn’t won a championship since 1973.
It’s also a big moment for the NBA Cup! It’s the first time the NBA Finals have replicated the Cup finals. The Knicks defeated the Spurs 124-113 in the Cup. New York won the overall season series 2-1. However, both teams look much different now than they did in the regular season.
The Knicks’ path to the Finals has been simple. They beat the Atlanta Hawks in six games, then swept both the Philadelphia 76ers and Cleveland Cavaliers to get here. They have won 11 straight games heading into Game One. The Spurs are coming off an emotional 7-game Western Conference Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Before that, they defeated the Portland Trail Blazers in five games and the Minnesota Timberwolves in six games.
Both teams bring versatile, star-studded rosters. Victor Wembanyama will headline the series, leading his squad to the Finals in his first playoff run. He is the anchor for one of the best defenses in the NBA. Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns lead the New York Knicks, one of the league’s best offensive teams. Both teams bring unique strengths and counters to the table in what should be a chess match of a series.
The Knicks played their last playoff game 10 days ago on May 25th, while the Spurs are coming off an intense seven-game series. Rest vs. rust will be a real factor in Game One in San Antonio. The Spurs will look to carry the momentum from Game Seven of the Western Conference Finals and defend home court as they attempt to win four more games and hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy.
The Knicks pose real matchup problems for the Spurs. Towns is a bruising big man who can also shoot the three. OG Anunoby is a big, strong wing who can play inside and out. San Antonio’s defensive scheme is focused on Wembanyama roaming off of a non-shooter so he can protect the rim, while the team around him scrambles to guard the perimeter. Everything funnels into Wemby. The issue with this strategy against the Knicks is that Towns and Anunoby are so big that they can punish smaller defenders who get cross-matched onto them.
Mitch Johnson is faced with a choice: put Wembanyama on a non-shooter like Josh Hart, and risk Towns beating a smaller defender like Stephon Castle inside, or put Wembanyama on Towns and risk the Knicks pulling him away from the paint. The Spurs’ defensive game plan and its effectiveness are the most important things to track in Game One.
Winning the possession battle
Where have you heard this before? One critical factor for the Spurs throughout the postseason has been reducing turnovers and securing the glass. Turnovers crushed the Spurs in both losses to the Knicks in the regular season. They also got crushed on the glass. San Antonio won’t stand a chance if they are giving New York extra possessions by turning it over and letting them pound the offensive boards. At the same time, San Antonio’s defense is smothering and is at its best when it is creating easy offensive looks in transition. The Spurs can gain an advantage in the possession battle by forcing giveaways, even if the Knicks aren’t a turnover-prone squad (12.4 turnovers per game in the playoffs).
Three-point shooting
The Spurs really haven’t faced a team that has consistently made it rain on them this postseason. The Knicks have been shooting the three-ball well in the postseason, knocking down 40% of their deep shots. That said, they have a few players who have been up-and-down shooting the ball, including starters Hart and Mikal Bridges. Their three-point shooting becomes very important in this series. San Antonio needs shooting from its role players, too. Devin Vassell and Julian Champagnie add a lot if they are knocking down threes. De’Aaron Fox’s shooting is an x-factor in the series. When he can take the top off the defense, it opens a lot of stuff up for the Spurs around the rim.
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — The NBA brought in Grammy-winning rap icon Nas and three-time Emmy-winning composer Nicholas Britell to help tell the tale of this season's NBA Finals.
The league debuted a new spot — “History is Calling” — promoting the Finals early Wednesday, hours before the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks were set to begin this year's title series.
Britell — the composer known for “Succession,” “Moonlight” and “Andor” — envisioned a piece that, the league said, “draws inspiration from the emotional progression of basketball, from anticipation and momentum shifts to the defining moments that shape outcomes.”
Nas provides the voice, with nods to the 80-year history of the league and what it takes to get to the NBA Finals.
“Thirty teams start this journey, but only two are left standing,” Nas begins. “The math is simple. The quest, anything but. This isn't just a series. This is legacy. Everything's on the line, because history is calling. This is the NBA Finals.”
The NBA said Britell's score “marks the first expression of the league’s new signature audio identity,” and that Britell and Nas will have an expanded partnership with the league going forward.
Has any of the 2026 NBA Draft’s top four been in for workouts — and interviews at HSS Training Center? Not that we know of, although there were reports that A.J. Dybansta might drop by. Nothing new on the quintet of lead guards — Darius Acuff, Mikel Brown Jr., Kingston Flemings, Keaton Wagler nor Brayden Burries — nor big men Aday Mara, Karim Lopez and Nate Ament, the newest poster boy for Nets Twitter angst.
They may have been in but Sean Marks & co. don’t release names of those who’ve journeyed to 168 39th Street to show their wares, answer bizarre questions … and be wowed by the views out the Great Window on the eighth floor.
However, we have been compiling from a variety of sources, led by but not limited to Hoopshye’s Draft Workout Tracker, a list of others, most of them hoping lightning will strike. Here’s what we got:
Keba Keita, the 6’9” BYU center who played with both Dybantsa and Egor Demin;
Cruz Davis, Hofstra’s high scoring 6’3” lead guard;
Malik Dia, a 6’9” 3-and-D type who played at Vanderbilt, Belmont, then his final two years at Ole Miss;
Grant Newell, another 6’9” forward who played at California, North Texas and most recently Western Kentucky;
Jaden Henley, Grand Canyon’s 6’7” wing, a 3-point specialist.
Isaac McKeenly, Mikel Brown’s 6’4” backcourt running mate at Louisville and another 3-point specialist;
Kobe Knox, a 6’5” wing at South Carolina named for Kobe Bryant;
Corey Stephenson a 6’6” shooting guard who played last season FIU after two years at UCSB;.
Dain Dainja, a 6’9” forward who averaged 14 points and six rebounds for the Heat’s G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce last season.
Of the nine, only two are listed on ESPN’s Top 100 Big Board — Jaden Henley and Isaac McKneely — the former at No. 67, the latter at No. 89. Dainja who’s only 23, could be a candidate for the Long Island Nets.
As we’ve noted, the Nets have two second round picks at Nos. 33 and 43 plus two Summer League rosters, training camp and Long Island Nets roster.
We’ll try to keep things current, particularly when any of the candidates for first round slots show up.
SACRAMENTO, CA - MARCH 13: Head Coach Mike Brown, Associate Head Coach Jordi Fernandez, and DeAaron Fox #5 of the Sacramento Kings talk during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on March 13, 2023 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. 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 Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The 2026 NBA Finals are now upon us, and while it’ll involve games just a few train stops away from the Barclays Center, the Brooklyn Nets couldn’t be further from the championship stage right now. You all know this, but the Nets didn’t have the greatest season in the world this past year. They fell out of playoff contention with less resistance than a plane missing its wings.
However, being well-removed from something doesn’t mean you’re not connected. Growing up, my dog used to shed constantly. Her hair would get everywhere, especially in the summer, and especially on my clothes if I wasn’t paying attention. To this day, I’ll still occasionally find a strand of her’s on a shirt or pair of slacks, and much like the Nets, she’s been in the ground for years now.
While there are obvious ties to the New York Knicks, largely in the shape of Mikal Bridges, there’s far more “Brooklyn Nets residue” on these NBA Finals beyond that. Whether you’re the kind of person that’s friendly with your exes, or that kind that isn’t, here’s your guide for who to look out for.
The Obvious Ones
Indeed, Mikal Bridges is the strongest connect between Brooklyn and these NBA Finals. Brooklyn traded him for whopping five first round picks and a swap almost two summers ago now. The move drew applause from fans and analysts alike, as it allowed the Nets to reset after a failed season where they tried to position Bridges as their franchise player.
Be that as it may, if Bridges and his buddies are able to win it all this year, it’ll become near impossible to argue that Brooklyn won the trade. The Knicks haven’t won a Larry since 1973. Mikal is averaging 14.6/2.5/3.1 on 59/34/100 splits in the postseason.
However, Bridges isn’t the only consequential ex-Net hooping for New York right now. Landry Shamet, who played alongside Brooklyn’s big three at their full-might during the 2020-21 season, has also established himself as a key rotation piece. He’s shooting 21-35 from three in the postseason
One Deeper Cut
Who remembers Mason Plumlee? Brooklyn drafted this Duke product big back in 2013 and kept him for two seasons before sending him off on a journeymen’s path that’s now landed him in San Antonio. Plumlee only appeared in six games for the Spurs this season, but undoubtedly makes the list of of “guys you’d like to see get a ring” in this series.
Plumlee’s best moment in Brooklyn had to have been his game-winning block over LeBron James during an early April contest amid the 2013-24 season. Brooklyn eventually lost in a gentlemen’s sweep to Bron’s Miami Heat in the second round that year, but with that help from Plumlee, boasted a 4-0 regular season record against the defending champs. Foolishly or not, that made us believe for a time.
And if Plumlee gets a ring, he will have won three enviable championships, Duke’s NCAA title in 2010, Team USA’s FIBA World Cup title four years later and a Spurs NBA title.
From the Bench & Front Office
Sean Sweeney is about to take up head coaching duties with the Orlando Magic, but first wants to end his tenure as an associate head coach in San Antonio with a ring. Sweeney began his career as a video coordinator with the then New Jersey Nets in 2011. He ascended to an assistant coach role for the 2013-14 season under Jason Kidd, but then followed him to Milwaukee.
Maurice Cheeks isn’t known for his time with the Nets, but his Hall of Fame playing career ended in New Jersey during the team’s 1992-93 campaign. At 36 years old, he appeared in 35 games for the team. He’s now an assistant coach and special advisor for the Knicks.
Frank Zanin is a name you might be less familiar with, but the now Assistant GM in New York also served in that role from 2013-2016 with Brooklyu. A favorite of former GM Billy King was also Brooklyn’s Director of Player Procurement from 2012-2013.
Across Coaching Trees
While Knicks head coach Mike Brown has no direct correlation to the Nets franchise, it’s worth noting Jordi Fernández coached under him for two years in Sacramento and before that, was Brown’s son’s trainer. Both Brown and Fernandez coaches current Spurs De’Aaron Fox and Harrison Barnes on their rosters. Fernández also coached Plumlee for four years in Denver.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - MAY 30: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs celebrates with Stephon Castle #5 and De'aaron Fox #4 after defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder with a score of 111 to 103 to win Game Seven of the NBA Western Conference Finals at Paycom Center on May 30, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 Joshua Gateley/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I am not well.
Allow me to clarify. Physically, I’m doing great. I’ve been going on morning jogs more often; I’m working on eating well (though McDonald’s Japan just dropped spicy McNuggets, and I’m only a man). I feel energetic and healthy, despite my seared corneas due to my numerous hours spent playing Mina the Hollower on my Nintendo Switch 2.
Career-wise, I’m very pleased with my momentum, as I’m currently writing more than ever and broadening my horizons beyond the world of sports. I’m writing Utah Jazz content daily, and even recording a (rough) weekly podcast about the NBA and Utah’s place in it — apologies for that digging into my increasingly limited time and bandwidth for my posts on SLC Dunk. Add to that the fact that I even picked up work as a video games journalist (print and digital), and I’m booked. But incredibly happy.
But despite the positive momentum in my personal life, I bore witness to the Western Conference’s dramatic changing of the guard. I beheld as a 22-year-old Victor Wembanyama led his fledgling San Antonio Spurs past the flailing defenses of the title-defending Oklahoma City Thunder, and I cheered for the champion’s demise. And though I smiled as San Antonio claimed the Western crown, I know deep in my heart that San Antonio would be the team I cheer against this time a year from now. Should Wemby lead his forces to victory against the Knicks and their Villanovan power of friendship, the target of scrutiny will fall upon his goliath shoulders.
But that pressure doesn’t bother me; the natural ebb and flow from underdog to champion is the natural order of competition, and I have no stake in the Spurs’ well-being.
But knowing that the Utah Jazz intend to vie for a championship in the coming years, the road leads through San Antonio from this point forward — or Oklahoma City will win one back over their adversaries next season, and that’s not a whole lot better.
The Western Conference is controlled by warring titans, and the Utah Jazz’s chances of scaling the colossus do not do a lifelong Jazz fan well — very little does a lifelong Jazz fan well, come to think of it.
Thus, I am not well, for Utah is finally ready to compete, and I will be compelled to invest myself in their journey. I know what the Jazz are up against, and it does not inspire hope.
Fortunately, the Utah Jazz do not approach their inevitable clash with the West’s captors without a weapon, as I believe Utah’s lineup is shockingly well-equipped to brave the challenge before them. Matching Wembanyama with a single player is an effort in futility — there is no one player like Wemby — but the Utah Jazz can take a page from Billy Beane’s playbook and recreate Wembanyama in the aggregate.
Take a look at this highly scientific Venn Diagram, which should illustrate my point.
Get the picture?
I look to Utah’s front court tandem of Walker Kessler, one of basketball’s most effective shotblockers at 7’2”, and Jaren Jackson Jr., a former Defensive Player of the Year who can space the floor on the offensive end and has an undefeated record against Victor Wembanyama in head-to-head matchups. Were these games played before Wembanyama and the Spurs became the 60-win behemoth we see today? Yes. Do I choose to ignore logic for the sake of optimism? Also yes, as is my right as a fanatic.
The Spurs are a horrifying basketball team, and if history tells us anything, it’s that players like Wembanyama win plenty of championships. If the Utah Jazz — or any team in the NBA — want to take home the NBA Finals trophy, they’ve got to get through the Spurs.
That horrifies me to my core.
We’ll have to wait and see if they can keep their trajectory this year against New York.
Calvin Barrett is a writer, editor, and prolific Mario Kart racer located in Tokyo, Japan. He has covered the NBA and College Sports since 2024.
LAS VEGAS, NV - DECEMBER 16: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs defends Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks during the game during the NBA Emirates Cup Final on December 16, 2025 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Spurs and Knicks will clash in the NBA Finals for the second time in NBA history, with New York looking to avenge the loss they suffered in 1999. The two teams had different paths to the ultimate destination, as San Antonio faced tougher competition, but it’s clear they are the class of their respective conferences. It’s set to be a heavyweight bout that could go either way.
Before the playoffs started, the general sentiment was that whoever came out of the West would be the champion, but it’s hard to count the Knicks out, considering how dominant they have looked and the success they had against the Spurs in the regular season and the Emirates NBA Cup. San Antonio is still the favorite according to FanDuel’s odds, but the gap has been closing leading up to the series to show that New York is not an ordinary underdog. The Silver and Black will have to be at their best to raise another banner.
The Spurs need to push the pace and hunt matchups on offense
For a team that features Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, the Knicks are a surprisingly good defensive squad. They have their identity, familiarity, and a group of versatile, long wings to thank for that. Josh Hart, OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges can guard multiple positions and provide enough help when needed without surrendering too many open looks. Their turnover-averse offense allows them to force teams to play against a set defense that has flaws but also has the tools to hide them, and their elite rebounding doesn’t allow for many redos. It’s why pace will be so important in this series.
The Spurs are at their best when they attack early. Everybody knows that by now, but it can be hard to stop them because they have quick, aggressive guards who will push the pace given the opportunity. Against the Knicks, they will need to be even more assertive than ever to hunt those buckets in the first few seconds of the possession or to simply use pace to create mismatches when they are forced to slow down. Making New York uncomfortable is hard because of their ability to switch and adjust along the wing, but the best chance to do it is by catching them off guard and relentlessly targeting favorable matchups.
Defensive rebounding will be key to kick-starting transition opportunities, because the Knicks won’t cough the ball up often. New York has a size advantage at several positions and one of their keys to success against San Antonio will be to weaponize it on the glass. It’s not just about stopping them from getting the extra possessions but also about cleanly grabbing the board and passing ahead to start the attack. The more contested rebounds they have to fight for on their own end, the more the Silver and Black will be forced to play in the half-court on offense. Boxing out is not optional and gang rebounding is a must.
If the game does become a slow-paced affair, the Spurs will need to make the Knicks’ defense move while searching for the right matchup. Jalen Brunson will likely try to hide on Julian Champagnie, so getting Champagnie or whoever else Brunson is on involved in plays will be hugely important not only to tire out the engine of their offense but also to force New York to help, unlocking the three-point line for San Antonio’s shooters. Stephon Castle tends to initiate slowly on offense, which helps keep his turnovers in check, but in this series, pace in the half-court will be as important as pace on the open floor.
It will be interesting to see how the Knicks deal with Wembanyama, because it could determine how the series goes. Do they put bigs on him, play drop, and try to contain the pick and roll without sending help, risking buckets close to the rim? Do they stick Anunoby or Hart on him and switch or swarm, hoping that Wemby will be forced to take jumpers? There’s no perfect answer when it comes to stopping The Alien, but how the defense treats his matchups will determine whether Wemby can be helpful as a decoy, allowing him to save energy on the offensive end by just drawing attention as a dive man or as a floor-spacer.
As the series progresses, both coaches will make adjustments, but at first glance and at this point in the postseason, the offensive battle seems to be more about who gets to set the terms of engagement than about Xs and Os. If the Spurs can get points early in the offense after misses, figure out how to hunt matchups, and use Wembanyaama creatively, they should be able to keep up. If instead they play slow and try to grind possessions out with little movement, they could be in trouble.
On defense, it’s all about the possession game and the lessons from the Thunder series
The Spurs are coming off a series in which they faced an opponent who had an elite primary creator and a bunch of role players who weren’t great at manufacturing their own shots but fantastic at finishing the looks their superstar got for them directly or with his gravity. The Knicks are similar in that, outside of Jalen Brunson, they don’t have anyone who is a top-end bucket getter, but plenty of players who know what to do when they are open. One of the lessons from the Conference Finals is that sometimes it’s better to let a superstar get his points if it means others don’t contribute much.
The matchup-specific advantage of that strategy is that it could help the Spurs negate the massive size advantage New York has on the wing. Mitch Johnson could simply slot De’Aaron Fox on Brunson and live with the results, which would allow him to put Stephon Castle on Towns in a similar way in which he had him guarding Julius Randle. Now, the potential pitfalls of the strategy are clear and dangerous. A fully healthy Fox struggled against Brunson in the regular season. Once the Knicks superstar gets going, it’s almost impossible to stop him. If Wembanyama has to overhelp to prevent him from going off for 60, the glass will be open. But with no good way to hide Fox, it might just be worth putting him in the spotlight and luring the Knicks into having Brunson attack him while everyone else watches.
While it should be an option, the above might be too daring an approach to start the series. It’s more likely Mitch Johnson keeps it simple, at least early on. The best point of attack defender, Castle, will probably be on the opponent’s best creator. The Spurs can’t afford to have Wembanyama on Karl-Anthony Towns full-time, but they can have him start some possessions on him and use their unique one-man zone in which Wemby is always in help position. Towns could shoot over smaller defenders, and Josh Hart, the guy who Wemby would, on paper, guard, might get hot from outside, but San Antonio could live with that if the paint is protected. New York has two counters to that strategy, as they can go five out by taking Hart out, or they could use two bigs if Mitchell Robinson is available, to force Wemby to commit to guarding someone instead of roaming. But if they are forced to change their approach, it means the Spurs’ familiar strategies are working.
Whatever the Spurs decide to do on defense, they need to make sure it doesn’t leave them exposed in the glass. If Hart is left open, he can not only make San Antonio pay by hitting shots but also by crashing the boards from the corner, so someone needs to always be aware of where he is. If a smaller player guards Towns, they’ll need to put a body on him before he can get position inside once a shot goes up. Robinson will get his offensive boards because he’s elite at it and neither Wembanyama nor Luke Kornet, who was helpless against him in his time in Boston, should be able to keep him from recovering misses, but if he’s the only one doing the damage, the Silver and Black should be fine. After all, Wembanyama might be able to get points back on the other end if Robinson guards him.
If there was a recipe for guarding Brunson, the Knicks wouldn’t be in the Finals. He’ll get his points. The key for the Spurs will be to win the possession battle by not turning the ball over, limiting the amount of second-chance opportunities New York gets, and trying to keep anyone else from catching fire. Mike Brown’s team is great at grinding out games when they have to, and Brunson is an elite closer, so it won’t be easy to win even if the defense does its job. The key will be to not panic if things go awry but also not be scared to mix things up and make daring adjustments, as the Thunder series showed.
Prediction: Spurs in six
The Knicks are a machine. They carried over the successful identity they built under Tom Thibodeau and added depth and some more spice to their offense. They have been as impressive as any team in the postseason, even accounting for the lesser competition they faced compared to the Spurs. They are a horrible matchup for a San Antonio team that will be in a consistent size disadvantage, and for Victor Wembanyama, who might be forced to venture to the perimeter when Towns is out there and could exhaust himself trying to keep Robinson off the glass. And it might still not matter.
The Spurs, at their best, can steamroll opponents in different ways. If the transition buckets aren’t there, they have the creators and the finishers to use simple actions to get open looks. If the open looks aren’t there, they have shot-makers and guards that will relentlessly test the defense with drives, brute-forcing their way to the line. And they have Victor Wembanyama, the most impactful two-way force in the league, locked in and ready for the challenge.
Both teams have advantages that they should be able to exploit, but if the Spurs’ young talent plays to its full potential, with Wemby leading the way, San Antonio could come out on top in what will surely be a close series.
SAN ANTONIO — A season ago, Mikal Bridges led the league in total minutes played. Josh Hart was second. OG Anunoby was in the top 10. The three of them, as well as Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, all averaged at least 35 minutes a game.
When the Knicks lost to the Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals, part of the reason was that then-coach Tom Thibodeau had worn out their legs getting to that point, and he was slow to trust Landry Shamet and other players off the bench with serious minutes.
This season, Thibodeau was out, and Mike Brown was in and among his mandates was the need to grow and develop the Knicks' bench.
"It's a philosophy I had. One of the many things I learned from Pop [Gregg Popovich] and Steve [Kerr]," Brown said, referring to legends he was an assistant coach under. "Steve was really good at trying to play a lot of different guys...
"Then at the end of the day, I'm not a medical person, but just from what medical people say, if you can kind of control the minutes during the regular season, it helps them during the postseason. From people telling me that, I believe it. That's what I tried to do."
It worked. The Knicks bench — primarily Shamet, Miles McBride and Mitchell Robinson, but others in spots — have been a key part of why New York is not only back in the NBA Finals for the first time in 27 years. If there is a parade in Manhattan celebrating the team's first title in 53 years, that bench will play a huge role.
Not easy getting there
It does not mean it was all smooth sailing to get to this point.
Did Josh Hart see that bigger picture Brown was looking at when Hart sat glued to the bench for some clutch fourth quarters during the regular season?
"No, I definitely didn't see the bigger picture in those moments," Hart said. "There was moments I went home and I'm like, damn, am I ass? Do I suck as a basketball player? There was a lot of those moments. Whenever your minutes go down or you get benched, you have that thought process. But for me, it was, okay, how can I build off of it?"
Hart eventually came around.
"Now I'm cool with it, sometimes," he said. "Game 1 [of the Eastern Conference Finals] I got benched because Landry was out there hooping, and I was happy about it. But that took a little bit of time and self-reflection to get to that point."
The Knicks have developed a unity and a willingness to put ego and personal production aside for the greater good of the team. They support their teammates in a way not always seen around the league.
"Truthfully, with this team — I've said it a number of times — we've got a group that truly roots for each other, wants each other to succeed..." Landry Shamet said. "Look at our bench, different guys throughout the playoffs that have been inserted, have had to step up, play bigger roles in certain situations. There's a lot of reasons on paper where it would look like you could get a little bitter about so-and-so is taking so-and-so's minutes, whatever the case may be. Truthfully, this team, we have a special group where we all root for each other, know that job and role could look different for anybody any night... That's really cool and really unique to be a part of with this team."
Spurs bring same selflessness
Shamet recognizes that same selflessness in the Spurs, something their young, tight-knit core has talked about.
"They're obviously a very talented group, a deep group," Shamet said. "A lot of the same things I'm saying, can rely on a different guy every night off the bench to be a spark. We have to be ready for that, take our individual matchups seriously."
Maybe the best example in San Antonio is Keldon Johnson. Just three seasons ago, he was averaging 22 points a game and was the face of the franchise. But as the team drafted its young stars like Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper (and went out and got De'Aaron Fox in a trade), Johnson knew he had a choice to make.
"There's a point where you look in the mirror and ask, 'Do you want to be a part of something special, or do you want to chase personal goals?'" Johnson said. "Being here throughout this season and winning has been the ultimate reward. It just shows that everything was worth it.
"Obviously, I went from being 'the guy' to coming off the bench and being sixth man [he won Sixth Man of the Year this season]. 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."
Whichever bench contributes more to winning in this series will have a big say in which team will hoist the Larry O'Brien Trophy when it's all over.
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - DECEMBER 27: Dillon Brooks #3 of the Phoenix Suns dunks during the first half of a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center on December 27, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Dillon Brooks continues to draw attention during the offseason. First, he showed up to see LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers get eliminated by the Oklahoma City Thunder, which produced a viral meme. Next, he formed a partnership with Underdog Sports, making fun of NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s flopping, which prompted SGA’s team to send a cease-and-desist letter to Underdog.
Now, he’s completed flight school, according to his Instagram. Posts about his accomplishment have received more than a million views online.
While the Suns have been eliminated for about a month and a half now, Brooks seems to be enjoying the public spotlight he’s put himself in since the Suns have been eliminated, as he keeps sharing what’s new in his life.
Now 30 years old, he’s entering his second season with Phoenix, has one more year left on his deal, and is eligible for a 4-year, $125 million extension. He was one of the main reasons the Suns surprised many this season, averaging a career-high 20 points per game and bringing defensive energy and tenacity to the squad. The team acquired him along with Jalen Green and Khaman Maluach when they dealt Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets last offseason.
Just like he did in the regular season and playoffs, Brooks and his actions remain a topic of conversation.
SAN ANTONIO — The day before a highly anticipated NBA Finals, both the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs met with the media. Here are a few highlights of what was said.
Spurs' Dylan Harper on family members requesting tickets when the series moves close to his home in New York: "As much as they say those tickets are going to be there, there ain't going to be a lot of tickets going out."
Spurs' Victor Wembanyama on hangover from Western Conference Finals 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 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."
Spurs' Stephon Castle on that Game 7 win: "I mean, honestly, I think it was a feel-good win for us. 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."
Knicks' Jalen Brunson on Wembanyama: "Watching him as a player, it's pretty unbelievable. Things he's able to do on both sides of the ball include people have never really seen before, for a person of his size. It's incredible to watch from a player's perspective."
Knicks' Landry Shamet on Karl Anthony-Towns: "I think he's lived through a number of different seasons within the season this year, where we've asked him to do some different things... KAT has been kind of coming into that role. When we got into the Playoffs, he's been a fantastic facilitator, playmaker at the top of the floor for us. Been really aggressive offensively, as well. Been asked to defend at a high level, and he's done that.
Knicks' Karl-Anthony Towns on what it means to help the Knicks return to the Finals: "It means a lot for my mother. When she emigrated from [the Dominican Republic] to New York, she saw Madison Square Garden for the first time and saw the energy the city has for Madison Square Garden and the Knicks. My mom, even to the day she passed, wasn't big on the NBA rules, but one thing she did know was that only the best of the best perform and play at Madison Square Garden. To be able to have this moment in Knicks history where we're back here, where New York has been hungry to be back in this Finals, it means a lot. It means a lot to me, my loved ones, to be part of the Knicks history that's doing this."
Spurs' Devin Vassell on the Knicks beating them twice during the season: "We feel like the Knicks have played us really well this year. We went into their house and they beat us. They beat us in the in-season tournament. They beat us last year on Christmas. We feel like we've got to get some get-back because they've been successful against us."
Spurs Harper, on being compared to Manu Ginobili: "I think that's a fair comparison to say. I think it's an accurate comparison. We're both lefties, big guards. Yeah, I've had a lot of conversations with him, especially when I first got here. Me and him kind of talked a lot about the role of the team and what to do, things of that nature. I think he's kind of, more than anyone for me, been that vet that's been around the Spurs for a long time and kind of just giving me insight of what he's been through."
Josh Hart on first meeting fellow Villanova guys Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges (delivered with Hart's trademark deadpan humor): "I hated Jalen. I thought he was one of them annoying five-star recruits that come in entitled. Unfortunately, he was the opposite, and we sparked a friendship...
"Mikal was the same way. I hated him, too. He came in, we obviously played a similar position, especially in college, and he was weaker, more frail than I was, so he would grab me and I hated it. Obviously, love those guys now."
