Category: Basketball

While free agency provides lots of uncertainty, there are two known facts heading into this upcoming summer.

The Lakers have a lot of cap space and the Thunder need to shed salary.

After years of building up a contender through the draft, Oklahoma City is now experiencing the hardships that come with the CBA. In order to avoid going above the second apron, a shedding of salaries will need to happen.

One of the prime candidates is Lu Dort, a talented wing with limitations and a contract set to pay him $17.7 million next season. With players around him fit to take his spot in the rotation, it’s easy to see him dealt this offseason.

It’s not a shock, then, to see that the Lakers have reportedly called about Dort. According to NBA beat writer Jake Fischer, LA has checked in on Dort ahead of the start of free agency.

I’m also told that the Lakers have called the Thunder about swingman Lu Dort’s availability.

Oklahoma City is facing a well-chronicled roster crunch, with 15 players currently under contract and two first-round picks to make at Nos. 12 and 17 barring draft-night trade activity, sparking a belief that the Thunder might be open to trading Dort after picking up his $17.2 million team option to make it easier to re-sign big man Isaiah Hartenstein. Oklahoma City holds a $28.5 million team option on Hartenstein and is generally seen as a lock to retain his services either by picking up the option or working out a longer-term deal with him at a lower annual salary.

Last season, Dort averaged 8.3 points and 3.6 rebounds per game while shooting 38.5% from the field and 34.4% from the 3-point line. Across the board, those were the worst averages and percentages of his career outside of his rookie season.

It was also the fewest minutes he’s played per game, a sign of his diminishing role with the Thunder. Across his career, he averages 11.6 points per game and shoots 40.5% from the field and 34.4% from range.

All that being said, offense has never been his calling card. Dort has been one of the premier perimeter defenders across recent seasons. In 2024-25, he was named to the All-Defense First Team.

However, in becoming one of the top defenders, he’s also gained a reputation as one of the dirtier defenders in the league. Things reached a boiling point last season, in particular, when Dort had a series of dirty plays that drew the attention of fans.

There are certainly pros and cons for acquiring Dort that the Lakers will weigh. He’d certainly improve the defensive talent and depth of the roster, but at a price.

The Lakers would be doing the Thunder a big favor, so he’d likely come at a discounted cost. Does that make him a gamble worth taking?

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

According to Michael Scotto, the Utah Jazz have interest in re-signing Jusuf Nurkic.

Reporting on Giannis Antetokounmpo trade talks, Jaylen Brown, Tyler Herro, Kawhi Leonard, trade talks for the Pistons, Nets, Timberwolves, Raptors, and Nuggets. Plus, updates on free agents and extension candidates for the Suns, Thunder, Magic, and Jazz. https://t.co/76AU2Zjbz7

— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) June 21, 2026

There’s not a lot here other than the simple statement about Utah wanting Nurkic back. From Scotto:

The Utah Jazz has expressed interest in re-signing center Jusuf Nurkic, league sources told Hoopshype. 

There you have it. The Jazz have interest, which makes sense. Nurkic had a nice season with the Jazz and appeared to enjoy his time with the team and the team’s style of play. His mix of passing, rebounding, and scoring fit really well with the Jazz. He played so well for Will Hardy that he ended up having a three-game triple-double streak last season. That mix of talent and proof of concept for Utah made him seem like a no-brainer to bring back. All that said, it will have to be on a reasonable contract. If Utah can get him on a veteran-minimum type of deal, it could be a great addition.

Utah does need to think about center depth. Walker Kessler is most likely joining the team next season, but he hasn’t had the best injury history. Some security at center would be a good idea in case Kessler has another injury.

All in all, it makes sense for the Jazz to bring Nurkic back. He fit perfectly with what Utah did last season, with the center being a hub at times in Hardy’s offense. Utah lacked some playmaking last year so that may not be as big of a need next year, and they may change their style, but it would be nice to have some continuity as well to what they’re doing.

Jose Alvarado is enjoying himself following the Knicks’ championship — perhaps a little too much.

Early on during the Knicks’ historic playoff run, Alvarado said he would get drunk for eight days straight if they were to win the NBA Finals.

“If we win, I’ma be drunk for eight days,” Alvarado said on the “7PM in Brooklyn” podcast in May. “I’m having a party in like every state.”

“Y’all gonna think I’m the MVP,” he added. “Y’all gonna be like ‘yo he got the MVP.’”

Now that the Knicks have won, Alvarado appears to be updating fans on his condition after seven days.

The guard posted a picture of him lying down on a table with a hat over his face to his Instagram story on Saturday, with the caption reading: “Day 7.”

Alvarado, a Brooklyn native, has been perhaps the most energetic throughout the championship celebrations.

He was seen celebrating at both the Knicks’ historic ticker-tape parade as well as the Puerto Rican Day parade last week.

At Thursday’s parade up the Canyon of Heroes, Alvarado grabbed a boombox and microphone and started hyping up the massive crowd.

“We brought the trophy home. Let’s party, baby, let’s party. Knicks in five,” he yelled while standing on one of the floats.

Growing up a Knicks fan in the five boroughs, the championship has a special meaning for Alvarado, who the Knicks picked up at the trade deadline.

“It’s really something I can’t put in words. I’m blessed,” he said before Game 1 of the finals. “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.”

Mitchell Robinson didn’t forget those closest to him when celebrating the Knicks’ NBA title.

Robinson shared a special, quiet night with his neighbors ahead of the team’s championship parade Thursday down the Canyon of Heroes in lower Manhattan.

The moment was shared through a LinkedIn post by Lindsay Anthony — one of the Knicks center’s neighbors in a quiet New York suburb — and she praised Robinson for his decision where he had “nothing to gain from,” but did it anyway without cameras.

“He parked one of his infamous monster trucks that he’ll be on tomorrow in that driveway and let a neighborhood kids (and let’s be honest some parents) take a peek, sign some autographs (and a middle school yearbook!) and catch up about his infamous Knicks season,” Anthony wrote.

“No production. No entourage. Just him, showing up because he’s our neighbor and he said he would,” she added.

Anthony shared photos of various kids checking out the inside and outside details of Robinson’s orange and silver monster truck.

Robinson was also seen taking pictures with parents and got a big group picture with all of the kids in the neighborhood.

Robinson’s neighbor explained his appearance is the neighbor she knows, rather than what Knicks fans’ see on the surface on television, at games and during press conferences.

“Fans see the dunks and the foul shots and the game winning steals. Reporters get him in pressers and highlight reels, Anthony wrote. “We get him on a random night, with nothing to gain from it, doing it anyway. (Complete with a side of country music).”

“There’s a lesson in there for anyone whose job is reputation, mine included: the real story of someone’s character isn’t always on the court or at a press conference,” she added. “It’s what someone does when there is no camera and no upside. He’s quiet about almost all of it, on the court and in the driveway.”

Robinson brought the same monster truck to the Knicks championship parade, driving it at times and standing on the truck bed in others, waving and celebrating with fans along the route.

“Congratulations, #23. You have made your communit(ies) proud,” Anthony concluded.

He had a promising regular season that never really showed in the Knicks playoff run and NBA Finals series, shooting just 29.3 percent from the free-throw line.

The longest-tenured Knick remains the team’s most intriguing offseason decision.

The Golden State Warriors are trying to find a way to escape the purgatory they’ve been over the past several seasons.

Golden State hasn’t made it past the second round of the NBA Playoffs since winning the league championship in 2021. This team will never not be competitive while Steph Curry is on the roster, but the Warriors frankly don’t look like a championship-caliber roster at this point.

But that’s not to say this team isn’t talented. In fact, one Warriors player showed off their talent on June 20—although this talent has nothing to do with basketball.

Guard Moses Moody attended a Juneteenth celebration at the Golden Gate Park bandshell, and brought out his guitar. The Warriors’ X account posted a video of Moody performing at the event, which is drawing attention because most fans didn’t know that Moody could handle a guitar like he does a basketball.

---

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters

A man of many talents!@mosesmoody joined today’s Juneteenth celebration at the Golden Gate Park bandshell, and played a little guitar pic.twitter.com/rnCtyu72Tv

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) June 20, 2026

While it’s cool to see Moody performing on stage, Warriors fans are hoping he’ll perform on the court once next season begins.

The 24-year-old averaged a respectable 12.1 points per game last year, but missed the final portion of the season because of a torn patellar tendon in his left knee.

If Golden State can make a championship run before Steph Curry retires, they could use a fully healthy Moody to make a jump in productivity during the 2026-27 campaign, as that would add a lot of crucial depth to the team’s roster.

In the meantime, fans will be content to hear Moody’s music.

Collin Gillespie showed his worth during his years at Villanova. While it took some time to show at the next level, Villanova fans are not surprised that the point guard has found success in the NBA.

On Saturday, Gillespie cashed in on an incredible season. Shams Charania reported that the former Villanova great signed a four-year, $48 million contract to return to the Phoenix Suns.

Free agent guard Collin Gillespie intends to sign a four-year, $48 million deal to return to the Phoenix Suns, sources tell ESPN. Gillespie spent three straight seasons on two-way contracts after going undrafted out of Villanova in 2022 and now earns a lucrative long-term deal. pic.twitter.com/HIBFG0dDMU

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 20, 2026

Gillespie went undrafted in the 2022 NBA Draft before signing a two-way contract with the Denver Nuggets. This allowed him to split time in the NBA and the G League affiliate. He did not make his debut in year one due to a leg injury.

Gillespie returned to Denver in 2023-24 on another two-way contract before signing the same deal with the Suns the next year. He would play in 57 games in those two years, averaging 4.7 points per game.

After returning on a one-year deal, Gillespie had a breakout season for the Suns in 2025-26. He set the franchise record for 3-pointers with 232. He played in 80 games, making 58 starts, averaging 12.7 points and 4.6 assists per game. He also averaged 1.2 steals while shooting 40.1% from 3-point range.

Gillespie played at Villanova for five years. He was a part of the National Championship team in 2018 as a freshmen and led the Wildcats back to the Final Four in his final season in 2022. Gillespie was a two-time Big East Player of the Year and three-time All-Conference selection. In his final year, Gillespie was a Third Team All-American after averaging 15.6 points and 3.2 assists while shooting 41.5% from 3-point range.

In total, Gillespie played in 156 games for Villanova and made 125 starts. He averaged 11.9 points during his career. Gillespie’s decorated career put him in line with the great guards that have played at Villanova.

Just days into the NBA offseason, the Suns are already making moves.

Phoenix is set to re-sign guard Collin Gillespie to a four-year deal worth $48 million, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Saturday.

This marks Gillespie’s first NBA contract since his rookie year in 2023-24, having only signed two-way deals since arriving in the league.

Gillespie enjoyed a career year last season, averaging 12.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.6 assists across 80 games.

He also set the Suns’ single-season franchise record with 232 3-pointers.

Gillespie, who started 58 games last season, filled a valuable role at both guard positions alongside five-time All-Star Devin Booker.

The Suns are now projected to be just $4 million under the $200.5 million luxury tax after signing Gillespie.

After missing the playoffs in the 2024-25 season, Phoenix experienced an impressive turnaround this season, holding a 45-37 record and earning the No. 7 seed in a competitive Western Conference.

Their playoff hopes were cut short, however, with the Thunder sweeping them in the first round.

At the All-Star break this year, general manager Brian Gregory talked about how changing the culture around the organization sparked their quick return to the playoffs.

“Last spring, in the preseason right before the first game, we talked about creating a new identity
and creating a culture based on toughness and grit and unselfishness,” Gregory told reporters then. “We made the decision and talked about it openly that our success wasn’t solely going to be defined by wins and losses, but more importantly, by building the daily habits and behaviors that are going to drive those characteristics and hopefully define our team.”

He added that he believes the team is headed in the “right direction” for the future.

“I think they’re in a good place. I think we’ve made progress in all of those areas. I think our fans, our great community in Phoenix, and maybe even [the media] can feel it a bit. We’ve made the changes. We’re moving in the right direction. I like the spot that we’re in,” he added.

Landry Shamet was trying to play it cool.

The Knicks depth piece was casually seen on the subway in New York on Wednesday, going incognito with a hat and sunglasses in what seemed to be an attempt to disguise himself.

However, some fans did recognize Shamet, 29, as he tried to be like every other New Yorker.

The moment came just a day before the Knicks celebrated their NBA title during a championship parade Thursday up through the Canyon of Heroes in lower Manhattan.

Shamet could be seen on a Knicks float with a camera hanging from his neck, taking pictures of the crazy Lower Manhattan scene while holding a beer.

He also got a picture with Mayor Zohran Mamdani as the Knicks received the keys to the city at City Hall at the end of the parade.

Shamet was a big part of the Knicks’ dominant playoff run after struggling through a shooting slump.

He entered the playoffs further down on the list of coach Mike Brown’s rotation, but went on to prove he could deliver in the moment that mattered with some clutch shots leading up to the NBA Finals.

Shamet knocked down all four 3-pointers in the Knicks’ 130-93 Eastern Conference finals Game 4 rout of the Cavaliers that clinched their place in the Finals.

It capped off an incredible run of 17-for-21 from 3-point range across a six-game stretch.

The offseason is officially underway in Phoenix, and the Suns are off to a good start.

Free agent guard Collin Gillespie agreed to an extension with Phoenix after the two sides became eligible to begin negotiating with their own free agents last weekend. The deal is roughly 4 years and $48 million, although we do not have the exact financial details yet.

Free agent guard Collin Gillespie intends to sign a four-year, $48 million deal to return to the Phoenix Suns, sources tell ESPN. Gillespie spent three straight seasons on two-way contracts after going undrafted out of Villanova in 2022 and now earns a lucrative long-term deal. pic.twitter.com/HIBFG0dDMU

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 20, 2026

ESPN’s Shams Charania broke the deal and added that his agents at Excel Sports Management, Jordan Gertler and James Dunleavy, handled the deal with Suns executives during this window.

The extension caps a breakout season in which Gillespie set a Suns franchise record with 232 three-pointers while posting career highs in points (12.7), assists (4.6), rebounds (4.1), steals (1.2), and games played (80). He was also a pest defensively, picking up opponents full-court and applying constant pressure while creating chaos with Jordan Goodwin.

He was a steady force in the Suns’ guard rotation and a major reason why they exceeded expectations last season.

Gillespie went undrafted out of Villanova in 2022 despite winning the Bob Cousy Award and two Big East Player of the Year honors. He spent two seasons in Denver on two-way deals before signing a two-way contract with Phoenix in July 2024. A strong finish to that season earned him a standard guaranteed deal last summer, and the breakout followed.

After Phoenix’s first-round exit against Oklahoma City, Gillespie said publicly his desire to stay had not changed. The Suns made it official before free agency opens June 30.

All in all, this feels like a great deal for the Suns. A well-earned contract from mister Gillespie as well.

---

There is a lot of uncertainty swirling around the Lakers now.

The team is coming off a 2025-26 campaign that ended with it getting swept by the Thunder in the second round of the NBA playoffs. What’s more, superstar forward LeBron James is an unrestricted free agent. Standout guard Austin Reaves is expected to decline his player option but can agree to a deal with LA prior to the start of free agency July 1.

There’s a case to be made that even though the Lakers haven’t made a deep playoff run since Luka Doncic was traded to Los Angeles, there are few better places for LeBron to succeed than with the Lakers, especially because he has a good dynamic with Doncic on and off the court.

As for Doncic, he’s under contract with the Lakers for two more seasons and therefore isn’t going anywhere. Well, he did go back to Slovenia, his home country, for the offseason to spend time with his family.

And comments he made in a recent interview with prominent Slovenian news site 24ur.com are catching attention.

At one point in the interview, Doncic was asked in Slovenian whether he and LeBron had ever played golf 1-on-1.

“We played once or twice. Right now, [it’s] a bit harder cause we ain’t close,” Doncic said. While his answer was in Slovenian, it was translated to English by X user @LukaUpdates, where it has now gone viral on social media.

Interviewer:
"What impressed you about golf? We see you posted a lot. Also LeBron. Do you play eachother ever?"

Luka:
"We played once or twice. Right now a bit harder cause we ain't close, but… Like you're in nature 4 hours, sometimes even 8 hours. I play 36 holes, which they… pic.twitter.com/ZgrtIOV3ER

— Luka Updates (@LukaUpdates) June 20, 2026

It’s important to note that Doncic is referring to the literal distance between he and LeBron, given that he’s in Slovenia while LeBron is still in the United States. This is what he meant when saying a translated version of “we ain’t close.”

Still, this answer has already drawn a lot of attention. Lakers fans will hope these two can reconnect for a round of golf at some point, if only so Doncic can help convince LeBron to re-sign with Los Angeles.

A year-and-a-half into the Luka Dončić era and the Lakers, despite a pair of 50-win seasons, have been far from title contention.

It’s not entirely inexcusable as acquiring a franchise-altering superstar in the middle of a season is going to drastically change the outlook of a team. After being built around someone they viewed as the center of the future in Anthony Davis, the Lakers have had to change their identity on the fly over the last two seasons.

But with relatively clean books, picks to trade and an offseason to tackle it on, the Lakers will be out of excuses after this summer. While it’s unlikely they make the leap all the way to a title in one summer, reasonable improvements need to be made, and that’s not just the opinion of the fans, but Luka himself.

This past week, Dave McMenamin of ESPN wrote a lengthy piece with plenty of reporting, including a tidbit about the expectations from Luka for the Lakers next season.

The team has kept Doncic informed as the draft and free agency approaches; there is an expectation from the six-time All-Star for the Lakers to present a near-immediate path to championship contention.

“Luka wants to be a championship team yesterday,” a source close to Doncic said. “Ever since the trade, they’ve always told us: ‘summer of ’26. We’ll show you in the summer of ’26.’ So, we are so excited that the summer of ’26 is here.”

Honestly, this is more than fair.

As understandable as it was for the Lakers to not have a competitive team around Luka the last season-and-a-half, it’s also fully understandable to expect them to have a competitive team after this summer.

Even before Luka the summer of 2026 has been circled on the Lakers’ calendars. They have focused on this summer for some time, so there should be expectations of them coming out of it a better team.

When you have a superstar in their prime, the clock is always ticking. And when you aren’t fielding a title-contending team, that ticking is going to be extremely loud.

The Lakers should be under pressure this summer to get things right. This is an extremely important summer with added emphasis through their own long-term planning. It’s imperative they get this right and take the team fully into the new era with Luka.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

Herald Celtics draft preview: Potential targets, trade rumors, expectations at No. 27

GlobeReport: ESPN broadcaster Kendrick Perkins set to join Jackson State men’s basketball as new GM

Brian Windhorst says there’s a ‘very good chance’ Jaylen Brown stays put with Celtics

NBA insider: Timberwolves have ‘strong’ interest in trading for Derrick White

Forty years later, a look back at how the death of Len Bias impacted the Celtics on and off the court

CelticsBlogCeltics linked to Rudy Gobert and Isaiah Stewart as frontcourt upgrades

Seven players the Celtics should consider in the NBA Draft

SB Nation Reacts: could Hugo Gonzalez be the next Rajon Rondo?

NESN New Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade Idea Sees Celtics, Heat Both Miss Out On Him

Celtics Predicted To Draft 6‑Foot‑11 Center Who Could Transform Their Frontcourt

ESPN Analyst, Former Celtics NBA Champion Kendrick Perkins Lands New Job

Mass LiveCeltics showing trade interest in 4-time Defensive Player of Year

Celtics targeting sharpshooter as backup plan for Giannis Antetokounmpo trade

Intriguing center upgrade option for Celtics hits trade market

Celtics WireOur Celtics 2026 NBA Draft big board

Has Tarris Reed risen out of the Celtics range in the 2026 NBA Draft?

Report: Boston Celtics looking for big man depth; Detroit center Isaiah Stewart a target?

Will UNC big man Heniy Veesar fall to the Boston Celtics range in the 2026 NBA Draft?

Are the Celtics really after Giannis Antetokounmpo?

The Celtics may be willing to wait out the Giannis trade saga

The Athletic My Top 75 NBA Draft prospects, from Cameron Boozer to Tobe Awaka

Hardwood HoudiniJaylen Brown and Derrick White highly coveted in trades, even if not by the Bucks

Celtics calling Bucks’ bluff on ‘unrealistic’ Giannis Antetokounmpo trade demands

Paul Pierce sounds off on blockbuster Jaylen Brown-Giannis trade rumors

Celtics non-Giannis pursuits show Brad Stevens isn’t messing around

Chowder and ChampionsThe Celtics’ dream draft target is hiding in plain sight

CLNS Media/YouTube 3 Potential STEALS of the NBA Draft for Boston | Celtics Daily

Why Celtics Should Target Mitchell Robinson in Free Agency | Still Poddable

Heavy Report: Celtics Receive Major Update on Bucks’ Price for Giannis Antetokounmpo

Celtics Proposed to Trade Jaylen Brown for $162 Million Rising Superstar Duo

Celtics Proposed to Form $528 Million Mega Trio Around Jayson Tatum

NBA Trade Rumors: Market Heats While Celtics ‘Up to Something’

Celtics Set High Bar in Jaylen Brown Trade Amid Giannis Interest

Timberwolves’ Derrick White Dream Gets New Trade Framework

Celtics’ Previous Pursuit of 4-Time DPOY Adds Twist to Derrick White Rumors

Clutch PointsWould Celtics turn to Jayson Tatum to sign off on a Jaylen Brown for Giannis Antetokounmpo trade?

NBA rumors: Trail Blazers have ‘serious interest’ in Celtics’ Jaylen Brown

AsatunewsMaryland Remembers Basketball Legend Len Bias 40 Years After Death

St Louis Magazine 6th Annual The Jayson Tatum Foundation Charity Golf Tournament & Silent Auction

NESN/YouTube Can Celtics Pull Off Giannis Trade Without Losing Jaylen Brown?

Fansided NBA rumors: Celtics frustrated with Giannis process, Thunder cost-cutting trade trade

Blazer’s Edge Giannis Trade Dream Dying for Trail Blazers, Jaylen Brown Might Be Alive

Pelican DebriefJoe Dumars and the Pelicans won’t let the Celtics’ Trey Murphy III dream come true

Bleacher ReportNew NBA Trade Rumors on Isaiah Stewart Reveal Landing Spots for Pistons Center

New Giannis Trade Rumors Reveal Heat ‘Only Willing to Go So Far’ in Deal for Bucks Star

New Celtics Rumors Reveal Rudy Gobert Interest Amid Giannis Trade Buzz

New Giannis Rumors on Bucks ‘Unrealistic’ Asking Price in Trade Talks Amid Heat, Celtics Buzz

SI .comWhat a Trey Murphy-to-Celtics Trade Could Look Like This Offseason

Celtics Trade Rumor Roundup: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White

Posting and Toasting REPORT: Celtics listening on Brown, shopping for size

Basketball NetworkBrian Windhorst warns Celtics about Jaylen Brown-Giannis Antetokounmpo trade: “A generational decision”

Sportsnaut Portland Trail Blazers Have ‘Serious Interest’ in Jaylen Brown Trade: What Would Make It Worth It For Boston Celtics?

Rumor Reveals Boston Celtics Preferred Target in Potential Derrick White Trade?

BasketNewsCeltics shown interest in acquiring three-time All-Star

Fadeaway World Bucks Reportedly Want Jaylen Brown And 3 First-Round Picks For Giannis Antetokounmpo

The Celtics ChronicleTwo More Names Boston Should Know Before Pick 27

Larry Brown SportsCeltics interested in blockbuster 1-for-1 trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo

Hoops RumorsFischer’s Latest: White, Gobert, Randle, Draft, More

Rival Teams Call Bucks’ Asking Price For Giannis ‘Unrealistic’

Fan RecapBrad Stevens May Finally Have Bostons Answer At Center

USA Today2026 NBA mock draft: AI predicts every pick from the first round

New York PostThe potential holdup in Celtics acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo

Dunking with WolvesTimberwolves’ interest in Derrick White might not be a pipedream after all

One of the great joys about being a fan of a team is sharing the experience with other fans of your team. That is why many of us wear our team’s gear around town – a “Go Spurs” greeting from a total stranger who sees your Spurs hat means that the two of you are no longer total strangers, at least for that moment. And that moment can becomes minutes, or more, if the two of you turn that greeting into a conversation. Most of you reading this live much closer to San Antonio than I do here in LA, so my “Go Spurs” encounters are few and far between – and that much more special. Last winter I had one on a bus coming back from skiing in Park City with my super-daughter. I also still remember one in Cancun, Mexico where a guy in a #21 Duncan jersey was thrilled to run into someone who wrote for Pounding the Rock.

That shared connection is why fans gather at each other’s houses, or at outdoor watch parties, or at the home stadium when the team is on the road to watch on the Jumbotron. Of course, best of all is being at the game itself, even if some participants in the front row spend the game looking down at their phones, or even worse, fall asleep in their luxury suites. If all goes extremely well, all the fans of one special team get to gather one last time for that season with a victory parade.

Knicks fans were the lucky ones who had their victory parade. Apparently, two million fans attended the parade. Two million! There were more people at the Knicks’ victory parade than the entire population of the cities of twenty-five of the NBA’s thirty teams.

Perhaps because New York is the media capital of the country, the media was all-in celebrating the Knicks victory, whether on the national nightly news, morning talk shows, or late night TV. Of course, that the Knicks had not won since 1973 mattered too. That was a long time ago: The top song of 1973 was “Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree” by Tony Orlando and Dawn. The highest-grossing movies were The Exorcist and The Sting, and the most popular TV shows were All in the Family and The Waltons. Put another way, the car I drove in law school was a used maroon 1974 Chevy Vega.

That car had not been built the last time the Knicks won the NBA Championship. Neither that car or I attended the Knicks’ victory parade.

I watched the games at home with friends, family and food – all very good, except for the outcomes of four of the five games. But while those outcomes, and the overall outcome, were very much not good, sharing those games with others brought the same sense of camaraderie that sports fans love to share. Long-time Laker season-ticket holder Mike jumped on my Spurs bandwagon early, and sat next to me for the games talking out what “we” (the Spurs) need to do in the next quarter, the next possession of (after a loss) the next game.

Two women who sit near my office at work would say “Go Spurs” as I left early to get home in time for that night’s tip-off – and we all then avoided talking about Game Four until very late in the afternoon the day after. A long-time friend called me near the end of the series to tell me that even though his mother and the rest of his family were from New York and Knicks fans, he was rooting for my Spurs because he wanted me to be happy. That meant a lot.

Many post-series conversations with sympathetic friends ended with how bright the Spurs’ future is. And while we all recognize that the future is not promised to anyone, I do like the “future is bright” mindset. Known as The Lil Ol Band from Texas, ZZ Top sings:

Things are going great, and they’re only getting better
I’m doing all right, getting good grades
The future’s so bright, I gotta wear shades
I gotta wear shades, I gotta wear shades
I gotta wear shades

Other end-of-season thoughts

• The outcome drives the narrative. Jalen Brunson was an easy choice for Finals MVP.  And people are praising him as a “winner”, with the Knicks’ championship as proof.  But the outcome drives the narrative. Most would agree that two plays that turned the Finals were Victor Wembanyama’s pass to Stephon Castle’s back at the end of Game Two and OG Anunoby’s game-winning tip-in to win Game Four. Both of those came off misses by the Finals MVP — Brunson missed a runner with the score tied that led to Victor’s rebound, followed by his disastrous turnover.  People forget that after the ensuing foul, Brunson bricked the first free throw before making the second to give the Spurs the chance to win the game on their last shot — which would have made Brunson the goat for the missed free throw.  On the OG tip-in, Brunson fired up a long three-pointer that missed. If that brick had gone anywhere else than the perfect volleyball-like set for OG, Brunson’s ill-advised three would have been the story. And if both of those plays had gone differently, the Spurs would have headed back to San Antonio with a 3-1 lead, with all the momentum and confidence to finish the Finals at home.  But those plays broke the other way, resulting in Brunson rightfully winning the Finals MVP.  The outcome drives the narrative. 
• A bit more on Brunson.  His output in Game Five was historical, scoring 45 of the Knicks’ 94 points.  He took 27 shots and had 3 assists.  (I have played with guys like that.) Brunson’s game joins the list of all-time memorable close-out performances.  These include Magic Johnson’s 42 point, 15 rebound and 7 assist game in his rookie year against a powerful 76ers team led by Julius “Dr. J” Irving; Michael Jordan’s 45 point game against the Utah Jazz in the Bulls’ 87-86 clincher in 1998, including MJ’s game-winning shot over Bryon Russell (after MJ subtly shoved Russell away); Tim Duncan’s 2003 near quadruple double (21 points, 20 rebounds, 10 assists and 8 blocks in Game Six against the New Jersey Nets, no, they have not always been the Brooklyn Nets), which the Spurs won by the ugly score of 88-77; and most recently, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 50 points (out of a team total of 105), 14 rebounds, and 5 blocks, on 16 for 25 from the floor, and his stunning 17 for 19 on free throws by, frankly, a bad free throw shooter.  In honor of the Knicks, let’s also include Walt Frazier’s Game Seven win over the Lakers in 1970: 36 points, 19 assists (an NBA Finals Game 7 record), 7 boards, 5 steals (unofficial), 12-for-17 from the field and 12-for-12 from the free-throw line. 
• Now we need to consider the elephant in the room, or more appropriately perhaps, the giraffe in the room. Have NBA fans soured a bit on young Victor Wembanyama? (Spurs fans have not.)  The two million Knicks fans at the victory parade spent the last two weeks rooting against Victor. As mentioned above, the New York media is also very influential.  And the narrative of Victor shoving little Brunson away ignored Brunson’s grab of the jersey which led to the shove. Coming after the elbow of Naz Reid (again after several uncalled fouls), the inadvertent elbow to KAT’s neck and the non-called “landing zone” foul on Brunson. Victor leading the team off the court without congratulating the winners did not sit well with many, including this ex-coach. Victor remains a thoughtful, funny, intense, fascinating and extremely compelling and competitive young man.  I hope he does some soul-searching about both his game and his reaction to frustration.  I am sure that Spurs legends, including Pop and the Great Duncan will be more than happy to assist. 
• Often a game, or a series, just comes down to making shots.  In the Finals, the Knicks’ top four scorers (Brunson, OG, KAT and Bridges) combined to shoot 41% from three.  The Spurs’ top four scorers (Victor, Harper, Castle and Fox) combined to shoot 27% from three. Yikes.  Even with good shooting from Vassel and Champagnie, the Spurs still only shot 34% from three as a team — worse than the 40% by notorious bad shooter Josh Hart. in the Finals.

Some commentators have compared the 2025-2026 Knicks to the 2014 Redemption Finals Spurs’ championship.  The comparison is based on (1) both teams “putting  it all together” for a magical 5-game Finals victory and (2) a big scoring margin throughout the playoffs. From my recap of the Redemption Finals in 2014:

“After winning the NBA Championship Sunday night, several Spurs went out of their way to say that this wonderful season, and the way they dominated the Finals, made last year’s loss OK. Essentially, last year’s defeat gave them a common pain. That common pain bound the Spurs together in a common goal. They decided to do everything they could to make this season’s ending different. Perhaps included in that was the desire to play so well that the Spurs would not lose on the sort of freak plays that led to the Game Six loss last year – which means not allowing close games. As a result of that common goal, this year’s Spurs crushed teams in the playoffs. It takes 16 wins to become NBA Champions. In 12 of the Spurs 16 wins, the margin of victory was 15 or more. The Spurs essentially eliminated the margin of error that leads to close losses. One missed shot, funky bounce or bad call (or one Ray Allen step back three from the corner) doesn’t matter as much when you are winning by 20 points.”

I would love to see the 2026-27 Spurs take that same attitude. This season, Spurs and their fans really enjoyed the journey, but the team just missed reaching the destination.  Next season, the Spurs hope to again enjoy the journey, and then reach the destination.  

Finally, as is my tradition, like “One Shining Moment” at the end of March Madness, I will end this season with a list of Favorite Memories. I hope these Favorite Memories will sustain me (and you) during the barren wasteland of the NBA offseason — some from the distant past, some from the recent present. Upon further reflection, many of these are both Favorite Memories and things I look forward to seeing again when NBA play begins anew.

• Michael Cooper in a defensive stance,
• The Joker triple doubling,
• The late great Jerry West dribbling hard right and pulling up for a clutch jumper,
• The Spurs Beautiful Gaming the Miami Heat off the floor in the 2014 Redemption Finals,
• Robert Horry spotting up in the last minute of a playoff game,
• DannyGreen!! snuffing out an opponent’s fast break,
• Wilt finger-rolling,
• Dylan Harper attacking the hoop, finishing with either hand,
• Steph Curry sprinting around the court, using multiple screens, looking for a split-second opening to catch, shoot and make a three — from distance!,
• Magic Johnson running the middle dishing this way, wait, no, that way,
• Patty Mills sprinting over to help a teammate to their feet after taking a charge,
• Rick Barry under-handing,
• Giannis Euro-stepping,
• The Oui Frenchman tear-dropping,
• Dirk step-backing,
• My Man Manu Ginobili dunking all over Bosh,
• Earl the Pearl spin-dribbling,
• A Shooter heating up, with the crowd joining in,
• Stephon Castle defending,
• Pistol Pete behind-the-backing,
• The Great Duncan blocking a shot, controlling the ball, and throwing the long bounce outlet pass,
• Dr. J dunking,
• Victor pointing at the rim for a lob without needing to use the words “throw it up there”,
• And in honor of the NBA champion New York Knicks and their two million fans, enjoying each other’s company one last time as the long season ends, celebrating.