SAN ANTONIO – New York fans were a lovely bunch of coconuts during their stay in Texas, congratulating the hosts repeatedly for the Spurs’ shimmering future, checking the views of security guard’s faces to determine if a postgame pogo pit was appropriate behavior in the upper bowl for this sort of San Antonio scenario.

It was. Knicks fans won over their hosts in the same way Knick players won over their hosts. The Knicks managed to jam a dozen of our nation’s most-visible celebrities into a short, five-game series and still emerge without threats of overexposure. Mariska Hargitay is a legend, but it ain’t as if it’s a struggle to find an episode of her television show. And of course Taylor: Ms. Swift would re-issue her appearance in Game 4 if a more productive songwriter’s take were available. As is her right.

Texas was for the punters, the traveling Knicks fans familiar with the upper bowl. Stands at-least half-filled with Knick backers watching the Lawrence O’Brien trophy handed to their Knicks for the first time in the Lawrence O’Brien trophy’s history.

The catcalls in San Antonio after Game 5 were all ball, nothing rude. And the largest chant I was around, organic and fresh and a little unsteady like a sidewalk grocer, was for Leon Rose. The GM! Nobody ever cheers a GM because every sports fan knows they could do a better job than most GMs. And while this may not be correct, sportswriters enjoy promoting the idea so as to retain readership.

Knick fans are familiar with Knick GMs shooting for the top and sending projectile pieces southward and into their own foot. Owners remain but general managers come and go, GMs representing the human element of the sport while in charge of the human element in the locker room and the field.

We won’t argue that Leon Rose’s hiring was typical, he was the NBA’s most-influential NBA agent for the bulk of his pre-Knicks run. Rose helped put together the Miami Heat’s championship Big Three, yet drew applause for daintily stepping aside without conflict or rancor after LeBron James left Rose’s stable of clients to front Rich Paul’s Klutch collective. Rose played college basketball and also used institutions of higher learning to become a dang lawyer. Hardly the picture of the coffee-stained, hapless basketball scout, standing through another Star-Spangled Banner at a VCU game in November.

Knick fans cheered throughout the Star-Spangled Banner in Game 5, nothing runs the blood like a talented youngster belting out a song that’s impossible to sing, and chanted Leon Rose’s name after winning the NBA title. All instinct, continuing with the keen and warming atmosphere that’s carried over the top of these Knicks since falling in Indianapolis in 2025.

Rose and the Knicks didn’t make large player personnel changes after that defeat, he couldn’t, wouldn’t return fair value for his stars and prevented from making large-scale changes due to the team’s top-heavy roster. Few outfits took in as much dismissal and derision as those 2024-25 Knicks, waiting out another successful regular season only to watch as team mainstays Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns turned sieves in the postseason.

They didn’t, though, and not because Rose secured the rights to temerity and strong footwork in a draft night trade. Towns’ bridge iced before his road developed, Brunson was always big on the inside, each only needed time. Rose didn’t hire the pair because of output, he brought them together to build something larger, to learn together and develop.

There were alterations: Malcolm Brogdon was signed by Rose ahead of 2025-26 in the hopes of providing competent reserve minutes at point, but Brogdon retired before the season began in spite of an available roster spot. In February Rose traded Guerschon Yabusele and Guerschon’s guaranteed contract next season for, in effect, Jose Alvarado and the chance to sign (the Queens-raised) Alvarado (who owns a $4.5 million player option for 2026-27) to a longtime deal. Guerschon, meanwhile, will shoot 40 percent from the field as starting center for the Chicago Bulls in 2026-27, a team yet to win an NBA title this century.

All the while, Rose is owed a trillion favors around the league, this transactional transaction bidness. That won’t go away with a championship, the other 29 NBA GMs think each year’s champions are nice and cute but would rather focus on their own five-year plans, championship hopes.

The Knicks ensured any detractor would only scan as sour grapes, the name of an interesting but mostly unwatchable Larry David film. Worldwide villain to billions David Zaslav mostly watched Game 3 from a courtside seat next to LD, yet nothing deterred the impartial fan for falling for the Knicks. Leon Rose’s Knicks, built by a guy who looks as if he needs to “talk to you about a thing.”

As opposed to the last Knicks personnel chief, Scott Perry, who sounds like the sort of guy to keep us in a meeting all morning without revealing a thing. Perry is the picture of executive grace, hard to imagine Scott Perry drafting a force of nature like Obi Toppin with his first ever lottery selection, but that’s where Rose went.

Rose also watched, for two seasons as Knick chief, as Jalen Brunson put up 51/39/82 in JB’s final pair of campaigns with Dallas. Orthodoxy claimed this Mavericks gig as the perfect role for Brunson, a shoot-first undersized point guard who cannot defend and will run out of energy the longer a contest moves along. Leon Rose disagreed with the consensus behind Brunson’s outlook.

Jalen owned no such difficulties putting up points, but Rose saw something in his efficiency that previous spotters may have noticed with Stephen Curry and/or Steve Nash. Simply because a player hasn’t worked 35 minutes a night yet, it doesn’t make them incapable of the feat.

In one of my last stories before 2022 Knicks camp, I reported in Leon's 1st scouting meeting in 2020, he named Dallas reserve Jalen Brunson as a top target. Perry's scouts were stunned. Leon struck out on bringing Melo to NYK as agent but hit grand-slam homer for ages with JB.

— Marc Berman (@NYPost_Berman) June 14, 2026

Rose owed New York one following the Carmelo Anthony fade, securing the bag for his client in 2014 after meetings with then-Knicks prez Phil Jackson, neither side knowing any of it work but neither willing to get in the way of NBA business.

Leon’s first coaching hire in 2020 was Tom Thibodeau, who took the Knicks from a (prorated) 27 wins to (prorated) 47 wins in his first year, making the playoffs behind the Julius Randle, RJ Barrett, Kevin Knox-core Rose and Thibs inherited. The Knicks missed the postseason in 2022 when half the league jumped Kemba Walker’s turnstile, but brought in Brunson to settle all point guard claims in 2022.

See, point guard’s been a problem in New York since these sons of guns traded Walt Frazier to Cleveland, since the days of Ticky Burden, Butch Beard, Jim Cleamons. The team never found a sage guide to work consistently alongside Patrick Ewing, rather past-prime vets and zero-prime clangers like Charlie Ward. Or trading a first-round pick for 36-year old Mark Jackson and Mark’s 19 percent turnover rate.

That a point guard led the Knicks to the title, won Finals MVP, must be the most astonishing part of New York’s championship – at least to the folks who posted on the RealGM message board two decades ago. This city destroys its quarterbacks, and Brunson’s package deal with his father raised all manner of eyebrows. Problem is: Rick Brunson can coach his tail off, and we all saw what Jalen Brunson is capable of in the of a 7’4 Defensive Player of the Year.

If Rose’s brooding presence gave New York its CAA-cultivated edge, Brunson delivered the public grin. He signed contract extensions early, ensuring all the ex-Villanova teammates Rose acquired could continue to work alongside the point guard who took them to an NCAA title. Sure, they combined for a series of enervating cellular carrier advertisements, deadening our senses throughout repeated NCAA Tournaments. But Brunson took less money in sports, the ultimate brand of divinity. Fans never forget these things no matter how much (oft-unavailable, sez this travelin’ sportswriter) rural coverage Brunson and his cohorts promised.

Rose even broke up the Wildcats, somewhat, sending Donte DiVincenzo (and Randle) to Minnesota for Karl-Anthony Towns, one of the league’s most popular and most-polarizing players. Still came out smelling like a red flower, simply because KAT is so irrepressible, so easy to root for. Rose snatched the effusive OG Anunoby from Toronto, overpaid for long reliever Mikal Bridges but so what, the Knicks required Mikal Bridges.

Thibs was let go after 2024-25, MSG broadcasts eliminating its least-liked feature: Tom Thibodeau screaming angry instructions in a silent arena toward the end of a game decided over a half-hour before.

Leon Rose knew he needed Thibodeau, some stern voice ringing in ears when the next coach came aboard. The Doug Collins-cop and Phil Jackson-cop way of leading toward a confession still owns its charms, made much easier when Mike Brown is the second detective to enter the room.

Everyone loves Mike Brown, he’s enough to goose anyone into admitting to a crime they had nothing to do with. That’s all coaching is, chiding a player after a minor indiscretion so as to stave off the likely resultant major screwup. The Knicks chewed on six coaching candidates before – yeah, let’s go here – fate ensured the best one available took the job.

Any NBA coach could have done what was obvious, trim Thibodeau-styled minutes and loosen up the Thibs-styled offense. Brown won the energy of his charges by refusing early wholesale changes outside dropping average minutes per game, making work a little easier, less distracting. Cutting minutes absolutely led to this 2026 title, the Knicks routinely dragged heels throughout the postseason under Thibs, playing five performers over 35 minutes a night is no way to run a modern NBA team.

In the championship run, Brunson was the only one at (exactly) 35 minutes per game. Bridges was never made scapegoat, Anunoby was not dismayed by his status as a third-option. At his lowest point, Karl-Anthony Towns was afforded release in the form of Brown’s old high post plays from Sacramento, nobody was removed from any familiar roles, nobody lost a spot.

Rose made sure of this, as cutting any player after the Indiana loss only creates blame (if deserved), resentment from remaining players. This particular GM was hired to provide swagger, a back-room sensibility with all beaks drained for dipping, but instead Rose found his cubs in the form of his favorite players on other teams. It was as if Rose was under direction, after watching a two decades of Knick ball since the team’s last Finals appearance, to create a team that no NBA fan could refuse.

These charmers owed New York, 53-years without a title is unacceptable for a franchise with as diligent and studied a fanbase as New York’s. Also unacceptable for the less-informed, the ones shouting “Harden sucks.” It is a large city with diverse opinions, each valued.

These Knicks lost but THREE times in the 2026 playoffs, to four teams, in 19 games. Many of these conquests were outrageous blowouts, a ruined evening for those of us NBA fans tuning in for a competitive back and forth. These were somehow fun blowouts, though. The Knicks, Leon Rose’s tell ya what I’ll do-Knicks, never became anything less than beloved.

That’s on the leader, not the boss. Building a championship NBA team is legendary stuff, but building a winner the rest of the world falls in love with? That’s the work of someone in love with his team.

Kelly Dwyer writes about the NBA at kdonhoops.com.

Indiana men’s basketball alumnus OG Anunoby’s storied NBA career added another accolade this past weekend when the New York Knicks won game five of the NBA Finals to seal a 4-1 series win over the San Antonio Spurs.

Anunoby played a crucial role for the Knicks, averaging 21.2 points per game against the Spurs with a 33-point performance in game four that was capped by the late go-ahead tip-in to complete the largest comeback in NBA Finals history, not to mention his impact on the defensive end of the court.

Tom Crean was in San Antonio to see his former pupil win his second ring too:

pic.twitter.com/bDPhKRW4jg

— Tom Crean (@TomCrean) June 14, 2026

Here’s what you need to know about the Hoosiers today:

ICYMI on The Crimson Quarry

• Indiana football lands commitment from 2027 cornerback Chris Bradley
• Bison Breakdown: What’s the new bar for Indiana football?
• Indiana’s Curt Cignetti and Fernando Mendoza named to TIME Sports 100

What they’re saying about the Hoosiers

• The Indianapolis Star:New Indiana QB Josh Hoover consumes 2 seasons of film to master Cignetti’s offense
• The Daily Hoosier: Former IU basketball player shares letter he received regarding “recent poor behavior”
• PFSN:Football Debate Club Questions Charlie Becker As a Top-15 Pick for the 2027 NFL Draft

Around SB Nation

• Maize n Brew:Recruiting Roundup: Michigan ‘definitely has a shot’ with 5-star CB
• Knicks 94, Spurs 90: Scenes from a championship.
• Land-Grant Holy Land:OSU football adds a 4-star corner, while men’s basketball adds Vandy
• NBA mock draft 2026: Updated projection after NBA Finals ends
• A Sea of Blue: Kentucky Wildcats News: UK Basketball practice begins

If you’re Cameron Boozer, you can more or less relax in the run-up to the draft, because you almost certainly won’t go any lower than #4, and there’s a chance you could go #1.

For anyone outside of the projected lottery picks though, you have no certainty whatsoever. Some guys are going to slip while others are going to rise, and there’s often one guy who got invited to the Green Room who just sits and waits. The saddest example of this may be Florida’s Dwayne Schintzius. Expected to go early in the 1990 draft, he lingered until the 24th pick, finally taken by San Antonio, just one pick ahead of Duke’s Alaa Abdelnaby (keep in mind there were only 28 picks, and that he nearly fell out of the first round).

Since former Blue Devil Isaiah Evans is expected to go somewhere after the 20th pick, there’s just no way to begin to know where he will end up, and of course, he could always be part of a draft-night trade.

For any player, the most important thing is not necessarily how high you are picked, but rather being picked by a stable franchise that has a plan for you.

This story links to a Boston Celtics-focused podcast that talks about Evans being a possible pick for the C’s. Really, that could be a great situation or him. First, he already knows Jayson Tatum, who of course is Duke’s Chief Basketball Officer. He could be an excellent mentor for Evans.

Secondly, Brad Stevens is one of the smartest executives in the league and the Celtics are consistently one of the better teams in the league.

Thirdly, Joe Mazzulla has emerged as an excellent coach, and finally, Boston loves the three-point shot which is Evans’ calling card. He could be a great fit.

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Citi used to have a student loan management operation headquartered here in Sioux Falls.

Some years ago, they announced they were getting out of the student loan business, and that put a big question mark around the people in that department.

Citi hadn’t announced layoffs—in fact they hadn’t announced anything.

At one point, I asked a friend of mine who worked in that department if she’d heard anything.

Her response: “I don’t listen to what people are saying, because the people who know what’s going on aren’t talking.”

But here we are, talking once again about Giannis for Jaylen.

I’d love to put my friend’s advice to work here—and indeed, I suspect that most of the people talking are talking through their hats—but I can’t because these rumors have become the story to cover, and I am, as a fan, caught up in all this.

I have no insight whatsoever into what’s actually going on—an admission that I wish more talking heads would make before they repeat unsourced rumors.

What we’ve got is a situation where once again, we’ve collectively put Jaylen Brown on the trading block.

And, honestly, this is a weird place to be as a fan — at least those of us who are fans of Jaylen Brown. The guy has always been a polarizing figure among Celtics fans, which is probably why these trade rumors catch fire whenever they crop up.

There’s a subset of fans who are positively eager to see him gone. One or two of them might even chip in on the cost of moving van rentals. I’ve never understood these fans.

I like JB. I think that he struggled a bit with maturity on the court early on — he might have benefitted from a couple extra seasons of college ball — but he’s grown up into a valuable member of the team both in terms of what he does for himself, but also in terms of what he does for his teammates.

The C’s seem to have given up on designating team captains, but JB has basically taken up that mantle in all but name.

So it’s uncomfortable for me as a fan to think about trading him to another team in exchange for a superstar who might be on the verge of having his body break down on him (I can’t help but think of Kemba Walker when I look at Giannis’ age and the nagging injuries that he had all last season) — and who can walk at the end of next season if he wants to (shades of Kyrie).

It’s uncomfortable to be a Schrödinger’s fan when it comes to Jaylen — and Giannis. Am I supposed to look forward to JB’s contributions to the C’s next season, or am I supposed to get excited about seeing what Giannis can do?

It’s pretty hard to try to steer a middle ground through this. In fact, I’d say that it’s about as impossible as having an atom simultaneously be in a state of stability and decay. Ambiguity doesn’t work in some cases. Either we want Jaylen on the team next season or we want Giannis. I don’t think we can logically want both.

Adding further to the quandary is the fact that we have zero say in what actually happens. No matter how much we like Jaylen or doubt Giannis’ ability to contribute at a high level for the next few years, if Stevens is going to pull the trigger on this trade, he’s going to do so based on input from people who aren’t us.

All we want is certainty, and certainty is the last thing that’s on offer at the moment.

So here we are… Caught between two possible outcomes and trying to find solid footing on the shifting, slippery, oozy foundation of unsubstantiated rumors.

Frankly, I tend to have my doubts about the rumors that have been swirling for a month now simply because they’ve been swirling for a month now.

Again, I don’t know how Boston’s front office works, and I don’t know that they’ve done anything other than kick the tires on a Giannis deal—which any responsible front office needs to do. But this lingering chatter, these leaks, this doesn’t feel like the way Boston does business.

It doesn’t take that long to hammer out a deal.

It feels like Milwaukee is trying to drive up the return for a player who’s got only one year guaranteed, some nagging injuries, and a growing reputation as a malcontent.

I don’t know that Boston made an offer for Giannis back when these rumors started, but I’d be very surprised if that offer was an open-ended one. I don’t think Boston put an offer out as soon as their season ended with the idea that it would just sit with no expiration date while Milwaukee used it in an attempt to solicit better deals from other teams.

I always ask myself what people who leak rumors like these gain by leaking them. I mean, either these rumors are coming straight from the horse’s mouth or they’re being exaggerated somewhere down the line, by people who are distorting what they’ve heard for their own particular ends, ends that have nothing to do with objective reporting.

But here’s the thing. I may have my suspicions that these rumors are being started in bad faith, but there’s no certainty to these suspicions.

My skepticism has no more firm a foundation than the credulity of someone who believes that this is all smoke, and where there’s smoke, there’s fire.

But this is where I find myself as a fan.

I have an outcome that I would prefer—that Jaylen remains with the Celtics—and I’m constructing a rationale to justify it.

I don’t like living in this space.

Congrats to the Knicks

When the Knicks came back and beat the Jaylen Brown-less Celtics in game 80 of the regular season, I remember quipping to my brother, “Gee, you’d think they won the Finals.”

Well, whaddya know.

The important thing, as Celtics fans, is that we overreact to the Knicks, put them on a pedestal, and assume that only a major overhaul of the Boston roster will be sufficient to catch up with them.

During Will Dawkins and Michael Winger’s introductory press conference in June 2023, the duo outlined a multi-year plan to resurrect a dormant franchise in need of a major reset.

After years of chasing NBA titles with a play-in roster, Wizards ownership promised a different approach — one built on trust between an owner tired of mediocrity and a front office eager to build a perennial contender in the nation’s capital.

“The eventual expectation is that we’re gonna build a generational contender,” Winger said in 2023. “There’s no excuse for the lone NBA team in D.C. not to be contending for championships. Eventually, we’re gonna hoist a trophy here in D.C.”

Winger said his staff had “full autonomy” to reset the team. And reset it did.

Three 60-loss seasons, four lottery picks and several savvy trades later, only one player — Anthony Gill — remains from the roster Dawkins and Winger inherited.

But the rebuild isn’t complete.

One decision stands between three years of tanking and a potential title contender. It’s a decision the Wizards are lucky to have, yet desperate to get right.

The prospect Washington selects with the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft must carry the weight that selection bears and more.

They must want the ball when the game is on the line. They must possess the relentless drive to be great that is often the catalyst for legendary careers.

Most importantly, they must become the star the Wizards need to take them from a mere playoff participant to a feared title contender.

That player is AJ Dybantsa.

Why the Wizards should select Dybantsa at No. 1

There are several important metrics when evaluating NBA prospects, such as height, scoring ability, defensive impact and character. 

When it comes to the top pick, however, ceiling trumps all. That’s because when prospects are so closely aligned in the aforementioned categories like Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson and Cameron Boozer are, upside is the greatest tiebreaker.

While Boozer has the most polished game and Peterson is the silkiest scorer, Dybantsa possesses the skills and measurables of a future MVP candidate.

During his lone season at BYU, the 19-year-old forward scored a Division-I best 25.5 points per game while shooting 51% from the field. Dybantsa used his 7-foot wingspan to grab nearly seven rebounds per contest. His 3.7 assists per game showed a willingness to move the basketball into prime scoring positions when defenses loaded up to stop his scoring.

As the modern NBA shifted to a perimeter-oriented game, the college game followed. Most prospects in this year’s class reflect that shift, relying on 3-point shooting as their premier offensive threat.

But not Dybantsa, who owns a smooth mid-range jumper and puts relentless rim pressure on whoever dares stand in his way.

At 6-foot-10 in shoes, Dybantsa can rise and shoot over almost any defender — a rare trait seen in scorers like Kevin Durant and Victor Wembanyama. 

It’s why he prefers the mid-range jumper to the more popular 3-pointer. It’s also why he hits that shot at such an efficient clip.

Dybantsa shot 46% on mid-range jumpers as a freshman, which ranked in the 91st percentile among fellow prospects, according to draftballr.com. His eight mid-range shots per 100 possessions ranked in the 94th percentile.

This play against UConn, where Dybantsa gets to his spot, rises over an impeccable contest from 6-foot-7 Jaylin Stewart and sinks a mid-range jumper, encapsulates his talent.

2. Can get to his spots and shoot over almost any defender.

Dybantsa gets the ball in the post, steps to the free-throw line and drills a contested mid-range jumper through contact and over an incredible contest from 6-foot-7 Jaylin Stewart. pic.twitter.com/TBIdQSmjO4

— Greg Finberg (@GregFinberg) June 5, 2026

Dybantsa vs. Peterson

Dybantsa and Peterson both project as offensive engines poised for long careers filled with thousands of buckets. But how they project to score those points differs dramatically.

During his freshman season at Kansas, Peterson primarily operated on the perimeter and in the intermediate scoring areas with 3-balls and floaters. Dybantsa did the opposite, instead relying on layups, dunks and mid-range jumpers for the bulk of his buckets.

The key separator lies in their ability to get downhill and finish at the rim — an area Dybantsa dominated while Peterson faltered.

Dybantsa shot 72.3% at the rim, which ranks first among ESPN’s consensus lottery picks, on more than eight rim attempts per 100 possessions. Of Dybantsa’s 604 shot attempts, 153 (25.3%) came inside of three feet.

4. Can get downhill and finish at the rim.

Dybantsa takes the ball in transition and uses a low pickup to blow past the initial defender before using a euro step for the lay.

Next, he uses a quick first step and another euro to get past two defenders and get to the bucket. pic.twitter.com/sRSH9TYuhD

— Greg Finberg (@GregFinberg) June 5, 2026

The offensive-minded forward can draw contact as well. He attempted 13.1 free throws per 100 possessions, narrowly trailing Boozer’s 13.2 and Caleb Wilson’s 14.1, and finished his freshman campaign with a 49% free-throw rate.

Dybantsa’s 296 free-throw attempts led all Division-I players and more than doubled Peterson’s 132.

Peterson shot just 59.7% at the rim on 5.8 attempts per 100 possessions and finished with a 37.1% free-throw rate — nearly 12 percentage points behind Dybantsa. Furthermore, 41% of his shots came from 21 feet or more away from the basket and just 15% came from three feet or less.

Despite playing off ball at Kansas, Peterson’s camp believes he’s a point guard at the NBA level. But his low assist numbers — he averaged just 1.9 helpers per game compared to Dybantsa’s 3.7 — and subpar 1.o assist-to-turnovers ratio reflect a guard far from traditional NBA point guard standards.

His constant cramping issues and other nagging injuries, which caused him to miss 11 of his team’s 35 games, were certainly a factor. However, those health issues also represent the main concern for several evaluators who question Peterson’s long-term viability.

Peterson has Dybantsa beat in 3-point shooting and most defensive metrics. And at times, the Kansas product made college basketball appear too easy.

But Dybantsa’s long frame, freakish leaping ability and elite athleticism provide hope that his defense could dramatically improve with increased film study and reps next to top defenders like Alex Sarr, Bilal Coulibaly and Kyshawn George.

And his mid-range talent and relentless rim pressure, combined with his availability — he missed zero games at BYU — athleticism and upside as an All-NBA forward who could one day lead the NBA in scoring, give him the edge over Peterson.

Dybantsa vs. Boozer

Draft Express’ Jonathan Givony reported that nearly every NBA team has Boozer atop their draft board. And for good reason.

The Duke forward dominated nearly every matchup with his bruising 6-foot-8, 253-pound frame. His soft touch around the rim, seasoned footwork and smooth outside jumper posed near-impossible tasks for most defenses.

But when games got tight, and Duke needed a bucket, Boozer often reverted to his post game, one heavily reliant on bullying his way into the paint against smaller defenders, trying to force the officials to call a foul if his contested layup didn’t fall.

That approach is less likely to work in the NBA. 

There’s no denying Boozer projects as a terrific professional with All-Star potential. He’ll likely average 20 points and 10 rebounds and drive winning in any situation he’s drafted into.

The issue is that he projects as more of a complementary piece than a No. 1 option. And for a Wizards squad filled with complementary pieces, Dybantsa better fits what they’re missing: An offensive engine with elite shot creation tools that can get a bucket when everyone knows who’s getting the ball.

The numbers tell the story.

Dybantsa ranked in the 99th percentile of Draftballr’s age-adjusted offensive box score impact metric despite a 33.5% usage rate, which ranked in the 100th percentile. BYU continued to pile more onto his plate, which only raised his level of play.

When BYU’s second leading scorer, Richie Saunders, tore his ACL on Feb. 14, the Cougars’ reliance on Dybantsa skyrocketed. Defenses gameplanned to stop him at all costs, and even that wasn’t enough.

Dybantsa scored 20 or more points in every game to close the season, including three contests with 35 or more and a 40-point showing in Round 1 of the Big 12 Tournament.

While Washington’s young core has received praise for its two-way impact, outside shooting and tremendous upside, one question has lingered: Who would step up as the team’s go-to scorer in key moments?

Enter Dybantsa, who, despite being the centerpiece of opponents’ game plans, averaged 31.0 points on 52.4% FG in three Big 12 Tournament games and dropped 35 points in BYU’s lone NCAA Tournament contest.

AJ Dybantsa vs. Texas in the NCAA Tournament:

35 PTS
10 REB
11-25 FG
12-12 FT

(🎥 via @Frankie_Vision) pic.twitter.com/R7Dkym5Go3

— Greg Finberg (@GregFinberg) May 19, 2026

In big games and season-defining moments, Dybantsa doesn’t just want the ball. He demands it. And when he does, he meets the moment.

Just ask Texas coach Sean Miller, who seemingly ran out of adjustments in trying to stop BYU’s offensive engine.

“I don’t think we can [stop Dybantsa],” Miller said during his team’s NCAA Tournament victory over BYU. “There’s just very little you can do.”

Addressing the shooting concerns

The major question mark surrounding Dybantsa is his 33.1% 3-point clip, which ranks third-worst among Draftballer’s top-20 prospects.

But one collegiate season with poor outside shooting numbers doesn’t mean a prospect can never develop a 3-point jumper, nor does it mean that prospect can’t become one of the league’s premier scorers. Especially when that prospect possesses the athleticism, speed, rim pressure and two-point game that Dybantsa does.

Just ask John Wall, the Wizards’ No. 1 pick in 2010 who shot 32.5% from 3-point range at Kentucky before a lengthy NBA career that included five All-Star appearances. Or Derrick Rose, who shot 33% from three at Memphis before winning MVP as a 22-year-old with the Chicago Bulls.

Anthony Edwards was selected with the No. 1 pick despite shooting 29.4% from 3-point range at Georgia. Five years later, he made an NBA-best 320 threes at a 39.5% clip.

Other NBA All-Stars who shot sub-33% from three in college include Russell Westbrook, Jimmy Butler, DeMar DeRozan, Dwayne Wade and Rajon Rondo. What do those players have in common? They relentlessly attacked the rim, and when defenders took away their drive, they relied on an efficient mid-range game.

Dybantsa’s outside shooting numbers fall significantly behind those of Peterson (38.2%) and Boozer (39.1%). But other indicators, like his efficient mid-range jumper and touch in intermediate areas with floaters and push shots, showcase a shooting touch poised to stretch beyond the 3-point line with good coaching and lots of repetition.

The missing piece

Three years of losing have positioned Washington to achieve its ultimate goal: finding a centerpiece to build a perennial contender around.

Washington has done so in the inverse, spending the first three years accumulating talent to surround that centerpiece with.

Sarr is one of the league’s best young rim protectors. George and Coulibaly possess two-way potential as complementary offensive pieces who star on defense. Tre Johnson and Bub Carrington are 40% 3-point shooters who pose a threat from long range the second they cross halfcourt.

Will Riley flashed his shifty scoring ability in the latter months of an impressive rookie campaign. Justin Champagnie simply impacts winning on one of the league’s best contracts. The latest additions, Trae Young and Anthony Davis, add a veteran presence necessary for young teams to thrive.

It appears Washington is just one piece away. Winger said the Wizards aren’t looking for a “savior” with their top selection. But it’s no secret they lack a true No. 1 option.

Peterson has All-Star potential. And Boozer could become one of the league’s most dominant interior forces.

But Dybantsa possesses the greatest potential to become everything this rebuild was started for and more: A prospect with MVP upside, the missing No. 1 option to a puzzle that’s one piece away from its final form.

Oh, Jalen Green. What are we going to do with you?

There are only two years left on your contract, but I feel like we barely know you. You surprised us with that injury. That was pretty sneaky. To be real, I can’t quite figure you out. Some plays, I’m shouting, “MVP.” Some plays, I’m shouting, “Why did you shoot that?” Sometimes I’m shouting, “Man, if only…”

If only Jalen could finish at the rim, he’d be an All-Star. If only Jalen could improve his playmaking, we’d have an open three instead of a turnover. If only, if only, if only. But it was only two seasons ago that Jalen Green was the leading scorer on one of the best young teams in the NBA. He led the Rockets in points, field goal attempts, and three-point attempts. On the Suns, he ranked third in all three categories, and that makes me wonder. Were the Rockets a better fit for Jalen Green?

The pre-KD Rockets were young and athletic, stacked with long, rangy defenders that were developing their offensive games, and they relied on Jalen to do what Jalen Green does best. Get up shots. Create off the dribble. Attack the paint. Jalen Green led the Rockets in FGAs every single season he played for them.

That’s not what the Suns want from Jalen, at least not on that volume. The Suns have too many shooters for Jalen to stop the ball and go to work. The Suns want ball movement and open threes. The Suns want Devin Booker to go to work, and Jalen Green to be able to work off of him. For many of the Suns players, that was a recipe for success. Dillon Brooks took advantage of the spacing by posting a career high in points. Yet Jalen had a bumpier road. Derailed by an injury at the start of the season, Jalen returned to the Suns tentatively, clearly struggling with the mental aspects of returning from the first significant injury in his career, which underscores an important aspect of Jalen Green that needs to be considered. Jalen Green is still a young player.

There’s room for growth in Jalen Green’s game. The offseason has just started, and Jalen Green is already putting in the work. As is evident from the videos going around on social media, Green is developing that midrange game. And there’s room for improvement there. Last season, he struggled to shoot in traffic, posting his lowest FG% on shots between 3 and 10 feet, and in the workout videos I’ve seen, that’s where he’s shooting it from.

But I can’t help but notice as he puts up shots from the elbow, that’s the same space Booker likes to shoot it. So while improving those shots will make Jalen Green a better scorer. It may not make him a better fit for the Suns.

That doesn’t mean that Jalen Green doesn’t fit in with his teammates. He’s positive and energetic even through his injury. The same was true for the Rockets. Jalen Green is a great guy. It’s not a chemistry issue. 

It’s not a buy-in issue either. Jalen Green gives the effort and energy Matt Ishbia has demanded from the Phoenix Suns going forward. Defensively, he’s not locking anyone down, but in the play-in game against the Warriors, he showed just how disruptive he could be, posting three blocks and two steals. He shot it 20 times that game, going 8-of-14 from three and scoring 36 points. His best all-around game of the year. He led the Suns in FGAs that game.

Jalen came to the Suns, tacked onto the deal to make the salaries match. It’s like if you had a pot that you loved to cook with, but the lid broke. So now you gotta buy a whole new pot to replace the lid, but you like your old part. This new one’s just taking up space. What you really need is a pan.

This isn’t a knock on Jalen Green or a call to trade him. I don’t think there’s any question that the injury affected Jalen. On dunks this past season, he recorded a 64.6% field goal percentage. The year before in Houston he dunked it home 82.9% of the time. There’s plenty of reason to think he can put up the type of numbers he did in Houston with a healthy year.

But Houston traded him because he had plateaued. Can he add to the non-scoring related elements of his game, specifically his playmaking? Can Booker and the Suns coaching staff make adjustments to help unlock his scoring and improve his efficiency? As I mentioned earlier, he’s a young player with room for growth. But growth is not the same thing as change. Jalen Green will become a better Jalen Green. What the Suns need him to be is a different Jalen Green. And that might not be in the cards.

I do know the Suns have to decide if they want to re-sign him. Maybe they’ll have a better idea of whether Jalen Green fits what they want to do by the trade deadline. Some early-season success might improve his trade value. There are teams out there that need a primary scorer. The Suns already have one. They picked up Jalen because they had to get a lid for their pot, but if they really want to start cooking again, they don’t need a second pot; they need a new pan.

So Suns fans, do you think Jalen Green will be a part of the Suns’ long-term solution? Let me know in the comments.

Jared McCain’s NBA career has had an odd start. The former Duke star was a leading candidate for Rookie of the Year last season when he had a knee injury in mid-December. He suffered a thumb injury this year, and Philadelphia had a deeper backcourt rotation as well, and he didn’t get that much time. Then, on February 4th, he was traded to Oklahoma City, and by the end of the season, emerged as a deadly weapon for the Thunder.

Maybe next year, we can see what he can do across a full season.

Now that he has some downtime, the Sacramento native and his OKC teammate, Jalen Williams, hit L.A. to take in Friday’s U.S.-Paraguay match in the World Cup. The U.S. rolled, of course, winning 4-1, so maybe they should ask the pair back for their next match as a good-luck charm.

Here are some more links about McCain and how well things have worked out for him in OKC so far.

• Thunder GM Sam Presti Speaks On Jared McCain Acquisition
• Jared McCain Must be Ready to Become OKC Thunder’s Primary Sharpshooter
• Sam Presti reflects on trading for Jared McCain: ‘He understands winning’
• Timberwolves should be searching for their Jared McCain trade this offseason
• Jared McCain’s Progression Will Come At A Cost To The Thunder
• Jared McCain grateful for OKC support: ‘They showed a crazy amount of love’
• Jared McCain gives dazzling review on first impressions of being on Thunder
• Deadline Deal for Jared McCain Makes OKC Thunder Offseason Easier
• Andre Drummond gets candid about Jared McCain joining the Thunder

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Per a Spurs press release:

“The San Antonio Spurs, alongside Friends of the Carver/IDEA and the David Robinson Fellowship Program, joined Habitat for Humanity of San Antonio on Friday, June 12, for a volunteer build day celebrating Habitat’s 50th anniversary. Nearly 250 volunteers participated in the effort, helping advance Habitat’s mission of creating affordable homeownership opportunities across the community. As part of the celebration, Spurs Sports & Entertainment and Friends of the Carver/IDEA announced a combined $100,000 commitment to Habitat’s 50th anniversary initiative, which aims to build more than 50 homes across San Antonio this year.”

Spurs legend David Robinson spent the morning landscaping, painting and beautifying three homes on San Antonio’s East Side.

“Habitat for Humanity has transformed lives in San Antonio for 50 years, and we’re honored to help celebrate that legacy,” said Patricia Mejia, Chief Impact and Inclusion Officer at SS&E. “Habitat’s commitment reflects our shared belief that strong communities are built through opportunity, partnership and people coming together to make a difference.”

Additionally, the Spurs provided 50 tickets to Game 5 of the NBA Finals to residents of the homes supported through the initiative.

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The back end of the 2026 NBA Draft is going to be quite the adventure for the league, including the Dallas Mavericks. The conglomerate of players who could go between picks 15 and 45 is truly fascinating. One of the players who seems to firmly fit in that range is Iowa State forward Joshua Jefferson.

The basics

Joshua Jefferson (born November 21, 2003) was born and raised in Henderson, NV, just outside of Las Vegas. His father, Ben Jefferson, played football for the University of Maryland. As an offensive lineman, he went undrafted in the 1989 NFL Draft. Jefferson spent a few years bouncing around the NFL before eventually retiring in 1995. Joshua’s two brothers also played college football. Noah Jefferson played at USC and Florida Atlantic, while his other brother Cameron played for UNLV and Arkansas.

Choosing basketball was a good decision for Joshua, as he was the Southern Nevada Boys Athlete of the Year in 2022, as well as the MaxPreps Player of the Year. Jefferson helped lead his Liberty Patriots to their first ever state championship in 2022, defeating powerhouse Bishop Gorman 63-62 in overtime. Jefferson scored the last six points of regulation to force overtime. The win ended Gorman’s run of nine consecutive state championships in class 5A.

Jefferson spent a full four-year term in college, starting off at Saint Mary’s. Jefferson was a productive player for the Gaels, including averaging 10 points and nearly seven rebounds per game in 2023-24. However, after a season-ending leg injury, Jefferson decided to hit the transfer portal, where he signed with TJ Otzelberger and the Iowa State Cyclones. Jefferson blossomed as a player in Ames, as he averaged 17 points, over 7.5 boards and nearly five assists per contest. With his eligibility exhausted, Jefferson is off to the NBA draft.

The good

When you talk about unique players, Joshua Jefferson truly has a unique offensive game. There are very few forwards in college basketball who have the blend of scoring and passing skill that Jefferson does.

Jefferson was such an integral part of the Cyclones offensive attack, as without him on the floor, the lack of creation was evident. Tamin Lipsey did a nice job of running the show at point, but the real sauce that made Iowa State go was Jefferson’s ability to be a hub from inside the arc. When he was operating at the nail and attacking downhill, Iowa State was at its best.

The unique trait that teams hope they can maximize is the passing. Jefferson is without a doubt the best passer in this class of forwards. The vision is excellent, and the craftiness and creativity to find the correct windows is exceptional. He can use both his right and left hand to get the ball to teammates on time and on target. In an NBA setting, allowing him to play in the short roll in advantage situations will be elite offense.

i can't imagine joshua jefferson facing up and attacking set defenses in the NBA as often as he does in college and the passing chances won't be this challenging

i want my NBA role players overqualified and that's exactly the kind of offensive talent jefferson boasts pic.twitter.com/fXoca9BafQ

— Ben Pfeifer (@bjpf_) February 23, 2026

Jefferson does not have the athletic gift of speed or agility, but he is able to get to the rim and finish using a combination of size, feel and footwork. He goes to a little hook shot quite a bit, typically over his left shoulder but he is comfortable taking and making them with both hands. He’s not really ever going to be a “dump it down to him on the block” type, but if given the space to operate, he handles it well enough to get to where he wants to go.

Areas of concern

Jefferson shot it fine from three, as he’s been right around 35% from deep for the better part of three years now. However, he doesn’t always look willing to shoot them. For him to reach his potential in the NBA, having the three as a counter he believes in would go a long way.

Against top-of-the-line teams, Jefferson saw a bit of a drop in both efficiency and effectiveness. Some of that is to be expected, as the better teams figure to guard a bit better, but it was something to note. In fairness to him, teams LOADED up on him in conference play, daring anyone not named Milan Momcilovic to beat them from deep. Still, it’s worth noting.

Joshua Jefferson
@ PF
Combine Score = 19.4
Physical Score = 33.3, Agility Score = 35.5, Vert Score = 41.4 pic.twitter.com/HUcEbdDe7S

— Max Savin (@supersayansavin) May 12, 2026

Jefferson, as expected, tested like an average-to-slightly-below-average type of athlete at his position during the NBA Combine. In fairness to him, he’s coming off a tough ankle sprain he suffered in the NCAA Tournament, so perhaps he even tested worse due to that. Jefferson is not a slob or anything, he’s what I would consider passable as an athlete. He leverages his smarts and technique help him on the defensive end to compliment the size and movement skills he does have. But it isn’t a stretch to say that there will be some matchups that are tough for him to cover.

Fit with the Mavericks

There’d have to be some reshuffling of the forward room to make this fit. Namely, PJ Washington and Naji Marshall, two guys who figure to be featured heavily in trade discussions, would likely need to be moved to allow for a cheaper, cost controlled Jefferson. That said, if the front office is able to accomplish that, I think Joshua Jefferson would be a fantastic fit around Cooper Flagg and whoever they draft to compliment Kyrie Irving in the guard room. His IQ and playstyle would be a great ying to Cooper’s yang. Even if it requires moving on from a vet and moving up from pick 30, the Mavericks should try and pull it off.

NBA comparison

There’s some Collin Murray-Boyles here with Jefferson, which is ironic since Jefferson is the older player here. There’s a bit of extra seasoning to Jefferson’s game, largely seen in the passing and craft. Another good comparison is Kenrich Williams. Kenny Hustle was able to carve a career out for himself coming out of TCU, and Jefferson should be able to do the same, especially if the shot falls for him like it has for Williams at various times throughout his career. I think there’s real room for him to overachieve those if he hits his peak outcome.

Second day waking up as a fan of the reigning NBA champs.

Truth be told, it feels the same as it did yesterday, if not better.

Here’s the latest, including a brief and unexpected cameo from the man who built the house!

Tom Thibodeau’s full page ad in the New York Times thanks the entire Knicks organization and the fans.

“Watching you support our team, and seeing the Garden ignite with that incomparable Knicks energy, is something I will never forget.”

Thank you Thibs 🫡

📸 : @MikeAScottopic.twitter.com/dF6YiEZ6gB

— Let’s Talk Knicks (LTK) (@LetsTalkKnicks_) June 11, 2025

Tom Thibodeau (via Taj Gibson)

On his reaction to the Knicks’ championship:

“Man, that’s how it goes. You may have some good things going for you, may have some things that don’t go right for you, but I’m just proud of the guys.”

Knicks president Leon Rose: "There aren't really words you can put into what these guys have done, the character they have, the fight they have, the grit they have, the never say die…Incredible, incredible the run they've been on

Ernie: "KAT has said you've instilled a family… pic.twitter.com/OYwQEkw9Fa

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) June 14, 2026

Mike Brown

On the Knicks’ championship culture:

“The buy in. It was a contract that I had everybody sign opening dinner night and I still have it framed. Everybody’s signature from Mr. Dolan to Leon Rose, all the coaches, all the players, all the staff that was there that night signed it and basically it was about committing to sacrifice, having a competitive spirit, being connected, believing in each other in the process while holding everybody accountable — even myself. I’m not above the law, I’ve gotta be held accountable too.

I told everybody that night, if you’re not gonna abide by this, I’d have more respect for you to not sign it than to sign it and BS your way through the night and BS your way through this and everybody bought in from Day 1. And that speaks volumes to all of these guys as individuals and especially the leadership on this team, starting with Jalen Brunson.”

On Jalen Brunson’s contract sacrifice:

“He understands what winning is about. He took a pay cut that I wouldn’t take. Every time they would throw that number in front of me, I would say no, and I feel like I’m a great guy. He set the bar. That set the standard.

“You know, he comes and he probably takes a pay cut that I wouldn’t have taken. Every time they would’ve thrown that number in front of me, I would have said no — and I feel like I’m a good guy! He set the bar before he even stepped on the floor.”

On Jalen Brunson’s place in Knicks history:

“I love Pat[rick Ewing]. Pat’s up there. I hope Pat doesn’t kill me. He’s bigger than me. We’re both old and slow but because he’s got a longer reach, he might be able to kill me. But Brunson … he is him, man. When it comes to New York basketball, he is freaking him.”

On Leon Rose’s leadership:

“He’s been an absolute, no matter what happens going forward, I don’t care what happens going forward, he’s been an absolute joy to work with. His family’s been great. His wife, my wife, they get along fantastic. That synergy between me and him, our two wives, it helped the whole organization align horizontally and vertically. That’s what you have to have in these situations, especially when things get tough. He’s not going to waver.”

On assistant coach Chris Jent:

“There are a lot of jobs open out there. Chris Jent, my associate head coach, I’m surprised has not gotten an interview. He won the Summer League championship this past summer, he’s our offensive coordinator, associate head coach. He’s been around for a long time. Someone needs to give him an interview because he will help your team win at the highest level.”

the 2026 NBA Finals outro. Mike Breen nailed it again 🔥 pic.twitter.com/LGutxC3viq

— tooforwon (@tooforwon241) June 14, 2026

Jalen Brunson

On winning the championship:

“Words can’t describe it, but I’ll say I put a lot of time and effort into trying to be the best player I can be to try and help a team win. Just really thankful to have an organization, a coaching staff, my teammates, to have my back every single day. I think that means the most to me. And my family.”

On believing a title was possible after taking a pay cut:

“With a lot of hard work and effort, I knew it was achievable. But that was only a small portion of it. I think everyone bonding, coming together, having the mindset of just believing in each other, never giving up, no matter what the situation was, made this all possible. Yes, it may look like [the contract] had something to do with it, but it’s a credit to my teammates.”

On the challenge posed by the Spurs’ defense:

“I don’t think it took a toll on me mentally. Maybe a little bit physically, obviously, just because of the game and what they are trying to do. Mentally, I feel fresh. I feel like that’s where I thrive.”

On Leon Rose:

“I think he’s a great basketball mind. I also think he surrounds himself with good people. The way he’s been able to do this, especially here with all the scrutiny people do to him and everything — I just think the way he goes about his business is as good as anyone.”

On him not feeling real pressure after having experienced his father’s journey:

“No pressure. No pressure whatsoever. My dad being on eight or nine unguaranteed contracts throughout his career and not knowing when you’re going to get cut, when a team is going to move on from you, while your family is on the East Coast and you are wherever you are in the country. That’s pressure. Working out three times a day in the summertime and watching him push himself just to get a training camp deal, that’s pressure. I’m very fortunate to be in the position I am and I definitely think I worked pretty hard. So when the opportunity presented itself like it did today, I just trusted my work. … I’m just never afraid to fail.”

On his $113 million sacrifice:

“100% worth it. 100% worth it. I would… Even if we didn’t achieve this, I feel like being able to do that, grind, and go on a journey to try and achieve it, it would have been worth it as well. But this is definitely the cherry on top.”

On the Knicks’ identity:

“A team that’s never going to quit. We’re going to find a way. I feel like, over the years, we’ve had that mindset. But I think this year, we proved it. We actually truly believed it.”

On Mike Brown:

“He understands what it is to be a champion. He understands how to build a team, how to build habits that will put you in this position. And we’re so grateful, so thankful to have him at the top. He kept us even so many times. He’s brought the best out of us as people first, and, man, I’m so happy for him. He’s the reason why we’re (champions).”

On metting his father on the court after the final buzzer:

“I walked right to halfcourt, shook Mitch Johnson’s hand, and then turned around and my dad was there, and felt emotional from that point on.”

On becoming NBA champion and Finals MVP:

“It hasn’t sunk in. I honestly don’t know right now.”

On his message to Taylor Swift fans after Monica McNutt’s comments:

“I just want to say something to the Swifties. She’s a really good one, cut her some slack. It’s all good, I promise.”

a night that new york will never forget pic.twitter.com/IsjUrfa4hh

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) June 15, 2026

Karl-Anthony Towns

On finally winning a championship:

“God is good. It’s all happening.”

On the Knicks’ family culture:

“We conduct ourselves like family, and [Leon Rose] has always had that family mantra in everything he’s done. Doing that, I think that’s real. The connectivity, the unity this team represents every single night regardless of what the deficit is. … As a family, you never want to let your brothers down, and you never want to disappoint them. So, for us, it’s always about just being the best for each other and understanding that regardless of what happens in the world or what people say, we’re all we got and all we need. As a family, when you truly do believe in your family, you feel anything is possible.”

On Jalen Brunson playing through injury:

“That’s who Cap is — Cap always find a way to get back on the court and produce. That’s a testament to who he is, and just his story — never giving up, always have been the underdog, always been looked down upon. It always takes one person to believe in you. This organization believed in him, and we believed in him. We were going to do whatever it takes to get him to the next level.”

On Jalen Brunson’s journey:

“I see a man that’s grown up and took the challenge of being in the biggest market in the world, being with a team that hasn’t made it to the NBA Finals in 27 years and hasn’t won in [53] years, and knowing that he could do it. Shoutout to everybody who told him he couldn’t do it, because it gave him fuel for the fire. For him to welcome both of us here into this organization and trust that we were here for him, it means a lot. It means a lot to have a person like that who has been handed the keys to the city and was willing to have the door open for both of us to join.”

On Leon Rose:

“When you’re an agent, I think anyone who knows the sports agency business, it’s all about relationships. What Leon is one of the best in the world at is having genuine, loving relationships with people. I think because of that, you see the way our team acts, the way our team conducts itself. We conduct ourselves like family, and he’s always had that family mantra in everything he’s done. Doing that, I think that’s real. The connectivity, the unity this team represents every single night, regardless of what the deficit is.”

On the impossibility of carrying the Larry O’Brien Trophy in his duffel bag:

“How am I gonna do this? That s–t heavy. That’s why I workout! That’s why I workout!”

On where he’s putting the trophy:

“I’m putting this s–t next to the bed for when I’m getting it in.”

On his parents’ support:

“Shoutout to him and to my mom, too, because she had a lot of hours where they didn’t see me and trusted in me, and my pops was really putting it in at work and was trusting that we were going to make something special out of this.”

Josh Hart:

"Everybody wants to be the guy that scores the most, that puts the ball in the basket and that's not everybody's path. That wasn't my path and sometimes that's a tough pill to swallow but when you embrace that when you're a star in your role and you take pride in… pic.twitter.com/q8vsyZwZJF

— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) June 14, 2026

Josh Hart

On the five-pick talk after winning the championship:

“It’s an amazing feeling to be here. Forget those picks. Forget those picks, dawg! We’re here!”

On Jalen and Rick Brunson sharing the championship:

“Oh, man, it’s so cool. So cool to see that, because I’ve seen the hard work. I’ve seen their relationship. I’ve seen the work that they both put in to get to this point. … And to be able to do that with your dad, both played on the same team, that’s something they are going to remember for the rest of their lives.”

On sacrificing personal stats for winning:

“Everybody wants to be the guy that scores the most, that puts the ball in the basket, and that’s not everybody’s path. That wasn’t my path, and sometimes that’s a tough pill to swallow, but when you embrace that, when you’re a star in your role, and you take pride in doing the little things, that breeds winning basketball.”

On embracing his role in New York:

“For me, as embraced as I was in this city wearing this jersey, that sacrifice was easy. Some days it was tough, don’t get me wrong, but you sacrifice for moments like this.”

On winning the championship with the Knicks:

“Man, this is the best feeling, man. We worked so hard for this. I give glory to God. Everyone was doubted at some point. This team was doubted at some point. And all we focused on was the next game. All we focused on were those guys in the locker room, man.”

On the pressure of wearing a Knicks jersey:

“People don’t understand, you know, we don’t really talk about it, but the weight of that jersey, the expectations, the pressure of that jersey. And I guess today, right now, it’s the lightest I’ve ever felt. And all glory to God, man.”

THIS IS WHAT IT MEANS.

Mikal Bridges was overcome with emotion seconds after winning his first NBA Championship. pic.twitter.com/rmYeE55VyH

— NBA (@NBA) June 14, 2026

Mikal Bridges

On the criticism he’s received:

“Just grateful, just very grateful… But yeah, like f–k’em. You know all the times I’ve been struggling, and I got the fans on me. The thing about me is that I want to always be better. So you know, no matter how they feel, I always want to be better.”

On fan expectations for him in the future:

“Hope I’m still here, you know, continuing to keep that edge. Keep pushing me because if they strongly believe that we have a chance every year and they really strongly believe they need me to be better.”

On tough love from fans:

“I’m already thinking that, so I appreciate the tough love. I know some fans might be a little bit crazier than others, but the ones that truly care and want me to be better, don’t stop now, just keep pushing me.”

On handling criticism:

“I know sometimes I’ll struggle this and that, but just know I’m gonna keep working, and if they keep you know egging me on and talking a little s–t, that’s alright. I’m pretty tough, I’ll be alright.”

On criticism from Knicks fans:

“The times I’ve been struggling, the fans were on me — the thing is about me, I want to always be better. So whatever, how they feel, I always want to be better. They keep pushing me and if they strongly believe that we have a chance every year and if they strongly believe I have a chance to be better, I’m already thinking about that.”

On appreciating the Knicks’ faithful tough love:

“I appreciate the tough love. I know some fans might be a little bit crazier than others, but the ones that truly care, and want me to be better, don’t stop now. Just keep pushing me.”

"Before this photo was taken I jokingly told Mitchell I'll only post it *when* he wins that NBA title. He confidently responded that he'd do it.

Well, he did just that. Congrats, Mitchell!"

–– Mitchell Robinson's Chalmette High School teacher Chris Dier pic.twitter.com/774SD33ECv

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) June 15, 2026

Mitchell Robinson

On Jalen Brunson’s leadership:

“His mindset, his work ethic, his energy that he just brings. You know, he just brings joy, and you know, we need that. You know, when stuff gets rough, we have a little sit-down, talk, and he gets us back on track, like a leader, like a captain. To have him around, especially for the last four or five years, it’s been truly amazing. I mean, there’s really no words I can really put here, but he’s just, you know, he just does his thing.”

On catching another snake before the title-winning game:

“Yesterday, at the hotel, I caught a snake. Again. You know I caught a snake in the beginning of the playoffs when we played Atlanta. We won, and I caught one last night and we won today. I think it’s something about snakes.”

“New York Knicks! New York Knicks! We got the champions!”

Jordan Clarkson pulls up to support Jose Alvarado at the Knickerbocker Puerto Rican Day Parade

Alvarado also rides with Mayor Zohran Mamdani

🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷 pic.twitter.com/ZuNipCIStr

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) June 14, 2026

Jose Alvarado

On celebrating at the Puerto Rican Day Parade:

“I’m blessed. And a little drunk. Thank you guys so much, it means the world to me. Really. I’m a kid from Brooklyn. And the Knicks party f–kin’ did it.”

On winning an NBA championship:

“I really don’t know what to make of it yet. I can’t believe this really happened.”

On meeting Patrick Ewing:

“The craziest part is that Patrick Ewing knows who I am! I’m just a kid from Brooklyn and Patrick Ewing knows who I am!”

Tyler Kolek celebrates winning an NBA Championship with Deuce McBride, OG Anunoby, Jeremy Sochan, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mike Brown and Landry Shamet via Instagram Live https://t.co/SHjMjFr2Gepic.twitter.com/joOKLE8F9u

— Holden (@holdenpgumb) June 14, 2026

Tyler Kolek

On the Knicks’ new nickname:

“Champ Cheese!”

On being asked if he’s an NBA champion:

“Are you an NBA champ? Champ cheese!”

HISTORY FOR THE PHILIPPINES 🇵🇭

Jordan Clarkson is the first player of Filipino descent to win an NBA championship! pic.twitter.com/kaSkiSNMJC

— B3nClipsHQ (@B3nClipsHQ) June 14, 2026

Mohamed Diawara

On the celebration:

“I don’t drink guys. I definitely don’t drink. Never that.”

Kevin McCullar Jr.

On the best part of the celebration:

“Popping bottles.”

Dillon Jones

On winning back-to-back championship:

“This s–t is so unreal. It don’t even make sense. The NBA champions. F–king insane. I don’t even know what to say.”

Ariel Hukporti, MVP of the night pic.twitter.com/CaiuE7I1Ou

— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) June 14, 2026

Ariel Hukporti

On Mikal Bridges and the traded draft picks:

“F–k them picks. F–k ’em. Look what we got … We got him out of Brooklyn. Look at him now, you’re a champion. Look at him now.”

On the media Finals prediction:

“I thought this was a seven-game series? I thought they said Spurs in seven?”

Wow

This is incredible

Shots to @CBSSportspic.twitter.com/d7n3SY4iVz

— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) June 14, 2026

Rick Brunson

On winning a championship with his son:

“I could never envision this.”

On the Jalen Brunson haters:

“What they gonna say now?”

On Jalen Brunson’s decision to shake hands with the San Antonio Spurs players and coach before celebrating:

“Because he was raised right. But that’s his mom. That ain’t me.”

On his emotions right after winning the title:

“My heart is just in my sneaker, man. You can’t see it on the outside, but on the inside, I’m steaming inside.”

On Jalen Brunson exceeding expectations:

“I can’t imagine. I never thought he’d get to this level. I’d be lying to you if I said I thought he would be this good. I just wanted someone to come to New York, run a team, and hopefully have a chance to win a championship. And for him to be the guy to help me help the team, this is surreal.”

On his message to Mark Cuban:

“Tell Mark [Cuban], thank you!”

On the importance of being a father first:

“In ’99, it was a great run for us, but I would say now it’s more exciting for me as a father to see your son on the stage and performing.”

On his relationship with Jalen Brunson:

“The most important thing about a father is that you can’t be a fan. You’ve got to be a father. With my son and me, I’m his father. I’m not your friend, I’m not your buddy, I’m not a fan. He doesn’t cross that line, and I don’t cross that line.”

“I remember asking Jalen during his junior year of college if there was one word that he would use to encompass everything he's about,” Sandra Brunson said as she watched her son lead the New York Knicks to their first title in 53 years. “'Belief.'" https://t.co/Z2NXQ1vEwS

— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) June 14, 2026

Sandra Brunson

On instilling belief in Jalen Brunson:

“All I can say is it’s about belief. I remember asking Jalen during his junior year of college if there was one word that he would use to encompass everything he’s about. He said, ‘Belief.’ As you get older you realize your natural ability can only take you so far. You need something else. You need belief. Because you can’t control everything.”

On the Knicks believing in Jalen:

“I remember saying to Jalen when they made the offer, ‘You can bet on yourself now. They believe in you.’ It makes such a difference when people really want you and believe in you.”

On New York needing a star and JB filling that gap:

“People in New York were always saying they needed a star. And I used to wonder, ‘How do you become a star?’ You have to give him a chance, right? A chance to actually become a star.”

On helping Jalen focus as a child:

“That was my way of giving him something else to focus on. Dad’s not here, so focus on what we can control. Now that he plays 80-something games a year I don’t know if he does it each game anymore. It probably doesn’t go with his decor in his home.”

The @nyknicks Franchise Dashboard · 1999 Finals → 2026 NBA Finals

28 Seasons of Datahttps://t.co/aUtRZjWUEY

— Trace Cohen (@Trace_Cohen) June 14, 2026

Allan Houston

On Jalen Brunson’s toughness:

“He gets the toughness from his dad. The way he just keeps coming at you. Rick was the same way. Obviously, Jalen was more of an offensive player. But they’re both tough. Just tough.”

On processing the championship:

“It’s really hard right now to put it into words. I’m processing the win, but I haven’t processed the championship yet.”

On the 1999 Finals run:

“Even though we didn’t win it, it was the greatest moment, because it’s the highest stage you can ever play on.”

On the 2026 championship:

“It’s hard to get here. Very hard. Being able to be a part of seeing the journey for these guys who you get to spend time with — to see their journey and process individually and collectively — it’s incredible. It’s incredible to be a part of a championship team in New York. It’s kind of hard to process right now.”

"Tim (Duncan) and David (Robinson) were having a party against us, (now) it's ours… In '99, I had tears of sorrow, today I have tears of joy."

– Patrick Ewing as the Knicks get revenge on the Spurs 27 years later 🗣

(via @HectorLedesmaTV) pic.twitter.com/Ss03qJkwOj

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) June 14, 2026

Patrick Ewing

On the Knicks winning the championship:

“It has been a long time coming. The last time we were here in ’99, I had tears of sorrow. Today I have tears of joy. It’s a dream come true. I’m doing great. I’m feeling so blessed.”

On finally achieving the goal:

“We have had this goal. Myself as a player, myself as part of the organization, we’ve had the dream of getting to this point and winning the championship, and we finally achieved it.”

On beating the Spurs this time:

“The last time we were here, Tim (Duncan) and David (Robinson) were having a party against us, but tonight it’s ours.”

On redemption from the 1999 loss:

“It definitely makes up for what happened in 1999. They got us back then, we got them now.”

On his 1999 Finals injury:

“If I hadn’t gotten hurt, who knows what that future would’ve been. But you know what? In ‘99 I cried because I wasn’t able to go out there and help my team. Tonight it’s tears of joy. So ‘99 we didn’t get it done, but these guys were able to get it done for us.”

Attack on Wemby Across the Knicks Verse Full Series pic.twitter.com/1hT7XtHid8

— jylfeng (@jylfeng) June 15, 2026

Mitch Johnson

On the Spurs’ Finals loss:

“There’s a lot that goes into it. We didn’t deserve to win the games. There’s a lot of levels of execution. There can be rebounding. There can be end-of-game details. There can be starting the game where you get the lead and then you don’t sustain that. We weren’t ready to win an NBA championship. The better team won. We did a lot of good things, and we didn’t finish the job.”

On Victor Wembanyama’s growth:

“I think he’s stepped into every moment with the appropriate amount of fearlessness and also respect for the moment and being exactly who he is. He’s bringing his teammates and everybody else along with him. It’s been pretty fun to observe and be a part of.”

On Victor Wembanyama’s leadership:

“Victor Wembanyama’s leadership style has grown tremendously and has stepped into every moment with the appropriate amount of fearlessness and also respect for the moment.”

On what he wants the Spurs to learn from the loss:

“I hope it leaves them being hungrier than they’ve ever been and I hope it leaves them to be more motivated than we’ve ever been.”

On the Spurs’ season:

“We’ve been blood, sweat, and tears for nine months basically, it’s over. There’ll be plenty of time for reflection but on the surface level I don’t think anyone other than the people in that room expected us to be here.”

pic.twitter.com/epzD8qXvql

— Knicks Union 🗽 (@knicks_union) June 14, 2026

Victor Wembanyama

On his final words after yet another losing season:

“Appreciate y’all. See you… never.”

On the Spurs’ mistakes in the Finals:

“The margin for error is very thin. Our domination stints are absolute. We absolutely dominated for most of the series. But our errors, our mistakes are punished so hard that we can’t have ups and downs like this so much, you know? The ups are OK. The downs are the reason we lost.”

On waiting to return to the Finals:

“What I’m pissed about is, there’s probably a hundred games before we can be back in the Finals. I don’t know how to say it in English. But I’m going to have to hold that inside of me, slow down, wait and execute for a hundred games. It’s going to be all of it [shaping my mentality in the future]; who we are, what we’re made of, our experiences.”

On the lessons from the Finals loss:

“This has been a hell of a year in terms of experience. I don’t think we could have learned more and gained more experience in one playoff run and in one season, and personally in 18 months. This is the biggest lesson of my life, the biggest learning moment. I can’t tell you exactly what the lesson is. But we’re learning from that. I’m learning more than any other time in my life.”

What he said pic.twitter.com/xrGmORnxJF

— 🅽🆈🅺🅱🆁🅸🅼🆂&🆃🅸🅼🅱🆂‼️ (@knicksavage) June 14, 2026

Dylan Harper

On his performance in Game 5:

“There was some good, some bad. There were a lot of possessions I want to take back and do differently. But that’s now how the ball bounced. Just got to keep moving on.”

De’Aaron Fox

On his shooting struggles:

“I got shots I’ve made in the past and sometimes you just don’t make them. Some felt good. Back rim, in and out. It is what it is. Obviously, I wish I made those shots, but that team is physical. They force you into taking jump shots and try to keep you out of the paint. But shots just didn’t go down for me.”

Harrison Barnes

On learning from the Finals loss:

“I think you have to look at it for the season it’s been. The pain of losing in the Finals, and ultimately you have to accept that. There’s no guarantee that this group will ever have the opportunity to achieve that. Some players in this room may be able to get back to the Finals, some players in this room may be able to win a championship. I think accepting what this moment has been, where we come to as a team, and hopefully as guys continue on in their careers — whether it’s five, 10, 15 years — they’ll use this as a reference point.”

Draymond Green: “Wow they didn’t shake their hands… that’s not good" pic.twitter.com/X7NUsjgyIF

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) June 14, 2026

Devin Vassell

On watching the Knicks celebrate:

“Seeing them storm the court on our home court… it’s tough, it’s tough. We know we’ll do everything we can to scratch, fight to back into this position and have a different outcome but right now it’s tough.”

On the Spurs’ mistakes:

“Obviously, in the finals, with everything being amplified, one mistake can cost you a game. I think we had a couple that cost us multiple.”

On Dylan Harper’s season-long unhappiness with his role:

“Tremendously proud…. I think we all knew he was talented. I don’t know if anybody knew he was this talented besides himself. He was upset with playing time and different roles that he was in, but when we needed him most, he stepped up, and we have a star in the making. I know that he is going to put so much work into the offseason, it’s not just offensively, defensively, he’s made a lot of plays. He’s grown so much, I mean, what, he’s 20-21 years old. The sky is the limit for him.”

Carlos Mendoza opens his pregame press conference by congratulating Mike Brown and the Knicks on winning the 2026 NBA Finals 💙🧡 pic.twitter.com/zwwuQ8gjT6

— SNY (@SNYtv) June 14, 2026

Carlos Mendoza

On the Knicks’ championship run:

“It’s just special the way they came back, never gave up.”

Francisco Lindor

On the Knicks’ championship:

“It’s a great moment to be a New York sports fan. I’m proud of that group. All they talked about after they won last night is how they played for each other.”

On the Mets finding inspiration in the Knicks:

“Even the owner said it. We know what it’s like. We don’t need more inspiration, but something like that, seeing them win, of course it motivates us as players and is inspiring. Want to win here and when you have history being made in this city like they did, it gives you goose bumps and gets you excited for the ‘what ifs.’”

What does Tom Thibodeau think of this Knicks championship run?

Taj Gibson talks to @TheJaxShow and @DarthAmin about a recent conversation he had with Thibs about his former team

🔊 https://t.co/IW0WU5yeqtpic.twitter.com/u4eOew2f7x

— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) June 14, 2026

Taj Gibson

On speaking with Tom Thibodeau:

“I talked to Thibs yesterday, and the first thing we talked about was he didn’t have any kind of malice in his heart. He didn’t have any kind of hatred. He was so happy for the guys. He was just really so proud of the guys and what they accomplished.”

On Thibodeau’s humility:

“I was like, ‘Man, that’s just love. To have that humility and just knowing that you trained these players and have put so much into them, and know that they finally made that final leap to really take the top and go to the championship of New York City.’”

Cam'ron practicing his arguments about being a real New York Knicks fan before he lands back in New York pic.twitter.com/t4kBTRqoxI

— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) June 14, 2026

Aaron Boone

On the Knicks’ championship:

“Just to see that team and the way they came together, the amazing run they went on in the postseason, that team will be immortalized. Just excited for them and excited for a lot of people in New York that it’s been a long time coming.”

On lessons from the Knicks’ run:

“It’s just a great example of a team that’s certainly faced more than their share of adversity and questions and all that. I think their mental toughness and championship mettle ended up winning the day and obviously getting them to the top of the mountain this year. Fun to see that. Because each one of those guys, to varying degrees, went through rough moments, getting beat on at different points for different reasons. And they all persevered through it. It’s not an easy thing to do. That’s why they’re champions.”

Baron Davis

On New York after the championship:

“So happy for my real NYC people. People who took care of me when I played and the people who do now. Salute. You deserve to be champions and included! You make NYC what it is! Thank you!”

RING RING: Spike Lee called Michael Jordan to let him know that the Knicks are World Champions 🗽🏆 pic.twitter.com/GIdhdDBH0O

— House of Heat° (@houseofheat) June 14, 2026

Reggie Miller

On congratulating Spike Lee:

“This may shock MANY, but I have to give my Brotha @officialspikelee his flowers, he’s been around for the Good-Bad-Ugly. Congrats Spike.”

Knicks Win the Finals pic.twitter.com/orNtftZqSL

— Sidetalk (@sidetalknyc) June 14, 2026

Zohran Mamdani

On the possibility of a Jalen Brunson statue:

“I can’t make that promise yet. I can’t promise. Thursday parade. That’s how we’re starting. That’s not how we’re ending.”

On the Knicks’ championship:

“For more than 50 years, New Yorkers have waited for this moment. Through near misses, heartbreak and a hope that every year could be our year, this city never stopped believing in the Knicks. And this team fulfilled that hope with grit, resilience and heart — just like the five boroughs itself. New Yorkers have cheered for our team from packed living rooms in the Bronx to watch parties in Brooklyn, from bars in Queens to Staten Island to Manhattan, and Madison Square Garden itself. Now it’s time for our city to celebrate together. Bing bong.”

Someone tell Cody, the Knicks are NBA CHAMPIONS! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/JXtRcInsQE

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) June 14, 2026

SAN ANTONIO — Over the past two seasons, there has been no bigger lightning rod on the Knicks roster than Mikal Bridges.

He was an easy target for his inconsistency, but mostly because each of his performances was judged against the five first-round picks the Knicks used to get him from Brooklyn — picks that could have landed a superstar, such as Giannis Antetokounmpo.

But in the early hours of Sunday morning, Bridges wore a hat and shirt that declared him an NBA champion, taking sips of champagne after wiping away tears of joy. He was a vital piece of the Knicks’ first title team in 53 years, forever validating the trade that helped produce perhaps the most meaningful champion New York has ever seen.

“You talking about f–k them picks?” Bridges responded when asked about the constant criticism he’s received. “F–k ’em … I’m still here.”

If Leon Rose hadn’t traded for Bridges, he could’ve used those picks to acquire a greater talent. But it’s unlikely he would’ve found a better fit.

The chemistry was precise, reuniting Bridges — a two-time national champion at Villanova — with college teammates Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart, while bringing in a two-way talent who would sacrifice shots to contribute to a contender.

Less than eight weeks ago, Bridges was set to be a scapegoat, following a scoreless effort against the Hawks in which he was benched and the Knicks moved two losses from a first-round exit. But Bridges won the fanbase back, becoming unrecognizably aggressive on both ends of the floor while shooting the lights out and shutting down a series of All-Star guards during their 13-game winning streak.

“The times I’ve been struggling, the fans were on me — the thing is about me, I want to always be better,” Bridges said. “So whatever, how they feel, I always want to be better. They keep pushing me and if they strongly believe that we have a chance every year and if they strongly believe I have a chance to be better, I’m already thinking about that.

“I appreciate the tough love. I know some fans might be a little bit crazier than others, but the ones that truly care, and want me to be better, don’t stop now. Just keep pushing me.

“I know sometimes I’ll struggle, this and that, but just know I’m going to keep working. If they keep egging me on and talking a little s–t, I’m pretty tough, I’ll be all right.”

In Game 2 of the NBA Finals, Bridges carried the offense when Brunson struggled, recording 20 points, six rebounds and six assists in the road win. In the championship clincher, Bridges was the second-leading scorer (14 points on 5-for-10 shooting), adding four assists and a late-game block.

The verdict is in.

“F–k them picks,” teammate Ariel Hukporti said. “F–k ’em. Look what we got … We got him out of Brooklyn. Look at him now, you’re a champion.

“Look at him now.” 

It’s happening right now in the Utah Jazz front office. The front office is holding workouts with different players, reviewing notes from those workouts, discussing player rankings, and conducting background research. On top of that, they’re likely taking calls on the #2 pick from teams wanting to trade up, while also trying to figure out if there’s a way to move down if they want to get their guy one pick later.

Here’s my pitch for the guy I want the Jazz to take, Darryn Peterson.

1. He’s the most talented player in the draft, and that set of talents includes incredible shooting:
   • Whether it’s off the bounce or on the catch, he’s a deadeye with a lightning release. But it goes beyond simply off the bounce or on the catch, Peterson has incredible body control and balance. He can pull up like SGA or prime Harden in the midrange with impressive stopping power and then pulls up for a soft-touch jumper. That body control comes into play at every spot on the floor. He’s Steph-esque with his ability to shoot it at any time, from any spot, and decimate the opponent.
2. He’s a better passer than you think.
   • Yes, his 1.6:1.4 assist-to-turnover ratio has given the boxscore scouts ammo to claim he can’t make the plays necessary to win. He can make the corner pass, the pocket pass, the lob to the big, easy dumpoff. He consistently played within the offense and made the right play. The context of his passing is that the team wasn’t asking Peterson to constantly set up teammates, they were asking him to score. And if there’s one thing that Peterson can do at a spectacular level it’s score the ball. But don’t get it twisted, there is a part of Peterson’s game that will flourish with NBA spacing and NBA shooting around him, and that’s his passing. It would not be surprising to see him easily evolve into a 5+ assists per game player.
   • https://youtu.be/UXY7rAQIudY?si=nimACywY00adfguK&t=938
3. He’s a great defensive player and would also add defensive identity to the Jazz.
   • Peterson averaged 1.4 steals per game in 29 minutes. It’s something that gets mentioned with everything he does, but he did that while dealing with injuries and the cramping issues that have been well documented. That ability to create turnovers likely gets better when he’s fully healthy and could become an even bigger weapon. Peterson has a fantastic wingspan that will allow him to fill passing lanes and tip the ball away from loose handles. It’ll create easy offense for Utah on top of everything else he does.
4. Peterson gets to the line
   • Though he’s not as prolific as AJ Dybantsa getting to the line, manufacturing points at the line is definitely a part of his game. At 5.5 FTAs per game, Peterson is able to manufacture points that will make opponents wary of playing him too close. The issue there is Peterson’s needs just inches to get his shot off, so if the defender gives him space, he’s going to take advantage.

With the FanDuel odds putting AJ Dybantsa with the Wizards at #1, this is a very likely possibility for the Jazz.

---

Now it’s your turn. Sell me below who you think the Jazz should take at #2. If you want to talk AJ Dybantsa, that’s fine!

The 53-year wait was over. But there was still a bit of business to attend to before Jalen Brunson could begin to celebrate.

It was fitting. He finished the job the same way he conducted himself throughout the whole process.

With class. With humility. With champion identity.

Immediately after the final buzzer of the Knicks’ 94-90 Game 5 win over the Spurs on Saturday night at the Frost Bank Center, which secured their first championship since 1973, Brunson — as euphoria erupted around him — made his way from the bench over to Spurs coach Mitch Johnson to shake hands and exchange a few words. Brunson had not yet smiled or exhaled. Sportsmanship came first.

It wasn’t until Brunson’s dad, Rick, grabbed him by the shoulder that the weight of the moment hit him. That he fully grasped what he and the Knicks had just done.

“I turned around and my dad was there, and I felt emotional from that point on,” Brunson said. “Then I just remember Josh [Hart] talking into my ear, and him just saying, like, ‘We did it! We did it!’ And then I was emotional for a good, like, five, 10 minutes, and then the excitement started to kick in.”

That’s when the party truly kicked off.

It wouldn’t be long until the BAC levels rose. Until Ariel Hukporti made himself the MVP of the festivities. Until Jeremy Sochan’s shirt came off and stayed off. Until coach Mike Brown was barking, “Who let the dogs out?!”

By the time media got into the Knicks locker room, it immediately brought back memories of the mornings after frat parties in college — the wet and sticky floors, the empty bottles (Michelob Ultra beers, Moët & Chandon champagne and Patrón tequila were the main choices) and wafts of cigar smoke. Everyone was scattered around the bowels of the arena — between the locker room, the court, the interview rooms and the hallways in between.

The players and coaches with kids held them in their arms. The ones who didn’t held their drinks. Ben Stiller held something different — Brown’s whiteboard, given to him as a souvenir. Stiller grasped it tightly as if someone was going to try to steal it at any moment.

This was a team that was obsessively locked in the entire postseason. They would hardly even acknowledge their series leads or the unprecedented nature of their dominance. They repeated “0-0” as if they were hypnotized.

It was as if a burden on all of their shoulders was suddenly lifted.

“People don’t understand, we don’t really talk about it, the weight of that jersey, the expectations, the pressure of that jersey,” Hart said. “And, today, right now, it’s the lightest it’s ever felt.”

The rowdiest of the group were a few who almost never saw the court — Hukporti, Sochan, Mohamed Diawara and Pacôme Dadiet. They crashed the stars’ news conferences. They tried making half-court shots with the golden championship balls everyone was given. They playfully told their teammates it was enough family time and not enough party time.

When Mikal Bridges was speaking, Hukporti repeated “f–k them picks” a few times, a shot at all those who criticized the Knicks’ decision to send five first-rounders to the Nets to acquire Bridges.

“I got something to say,” Hukporti said. “You guys still listening? About them picks — we’re not leaving — man, we got him out of Brooklyn! Look at him now, you’re a champion! Look at him now. Everybody doubting your s–t. Ain’t take nobody from me. Hey, f–k them picks! F–k them picks!”

OG Anunoby, the hero of Game 4, walked around with sunglasses glued to his head and a stoic demeanor stuck on his face. Karl-Anthony Towns, the one who carried the Larry O’Brien Trophy off of the court, called him “Mr. Aura.”

But Towns also shared a few more serious moments, reflecting on his late mother, who passed during the pandemic, and his father, who has made it a point to be there for every step of his journey.

“Shoutout to him and to my mom, too,” Towns said, “because she had a lot of hours where they didn’t see me and trusted in me, and my pops was really putting it in at work and was trusting that we were going to make something special out of this.”

Back on the court, Sochan had taken control of the Knicks’ social media team’s camera and was following Hart. The two bickered about Arsenal and Chelsea, like they did for countless hours in the locker room throughout the year. Eventually, Hart begged Sochan to “leave me alone.”

And it all ended the way it started — with Brunson showing his and this Knicks team’s character.

When he got to the podium, he rhetorically asked, “Do I be myself, or do I talk my s–t?”

Of course, he chose the former. The question came about Becky Hammon’s now-infamous claim that Brunson would never be good enough to be the best player on a title team. Brunson could have used the moment as an opportunity for long-awaited gloating.

“I didn’t respond to them then,” Brunson said, “and I’m damn sure not going to respond to them now.”

The celebrations were cathartic. But, true to this team’s identity, they let their play talk loudest.

For most people familiar with the Utah Jazz, the answer to who the Jazz will select with the No. 2 overall pick comes down to whoever the Washington Wizards don’t select: AJ Dybantsa or Darryn Peterson.

But one prominent NBA media figure seems dead set in his stance that the Jazz will select Duke big man Cameron Boozer. For Bill Simmons, it’s not if the Jazz take Boozer, it’s when.

“I would bet anything AJ (Dybantsa) is the first pick… and I think Boozer goes two,” Simmons said on “The Bill Simmons Podcast” on Saturday night.

This wasn’t the first time that Simmons expressed his confidence in the Jazz selecting Boozer. On a June 8 episode of his podcast, Simmons expressed his hunch that Boozer would end up in Utah.

“I think Danny (Ainge) is such a wildcard at second,” Simmons said. “He did it with (Jayson) Tatum, he did it with (Jaylen) Brown, he did it when he was going to take Durant, he over and over again looks at the high end talent guys and is able to project them. You would think it’s going to happen with Peterson, but I think there’s too many red flags. I think he’s going to stay away from Peterson. I could see him taking Boozer at two. That would be my minus-130 bet right now. I might be wrong, but I really think they’re gonna take Boozer, I do. I can’t explain it.”

Later on, Simmons explained that the Jazz’s front office knows the families of Dybantsa and Boozer incredibly well, know that the two like playing in Utah — something that should never be taken for granted — and that Peterson is too much of a wildcard to take a swing on.

J. Kyle Mann, an NBA draft analyst for The Ringer who was Simmons’ guest on the June 8 episode did not echo this sentiment.

“I think the Jazz will take Peterson. I’ve heard they like Peterson, I’ve heard Danny likes Peterson,” Mann said.

Boozer was the national player of the year in his lone collegiate season at Duke, averaging an insane freshman stat line of 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game. Boozer’s high IQ and rebounding are two of his biggest strengths, while his defense and perceived lower athletic ability leave some teams hesitant on drafting the former Blue Devil.

The NBA Draft will be held on June 23 at 8 ET in Brooklyn, N.Y.

The Lakers’ search for a center this summer is going to require them to find someone who can be the yin to Luka Dončić‘s yang as a pick-and-roll partner.

What better way to ensure a successful partnership than finding someone who already flourished alongside him?

While a trade with the Mavs may have once seemed unlikely, a complete rehaul of the front office and coaching staff almost certainly makes it more of a possibility moving forward. And a player they have been linked to, even in the aftermath of the Luka trade, has been Daniel Gafford.

The big man was a key piece of the Mavs’ run to the Finals and looked great alongside Luka. However, with the Mavs entering a new era led by Cooper Flagg, he could be one of the players the team looks to move on from.

In a recent article on his Substack, longtime NBA beat writer Marc Stein named Gafford as one of the veterans the Mavs are open to moving.

“Klay Thompson, P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford, as we speak, are the veterans that the Mavericks are seen as most open to trading … with Thompson drawing particular notice now that he’s entering the final season of his current contract valued at $17.5 million in 2026-27.”

One of the biggest selling points about Gafford is his contract. He’s set to make $17.2 million next season and is under contract through the 2028-29 season. That is a contract that is easy to find a trade package for that works financially.

On the flip side, perhaps the biggest downside for Gafford is his availability. He’s played just 57 and 55 games in the last two seasons. That said, he had three consecutive seasons of at least 70 games played just prior to that stretch.

If the Lakers are comfortable rolling the dice on his health, as they were with Marcus Smart last season, then a deal could be reached this summer. Pairing Dalton Knecht and Jarred Vanderbilt gets the Lakers into the range of matching salaries.

It would be a gamble for the Lakers to make a deal for Gafford, but it’s also a player who has had success with Luka. Is that enough to make them roll the dice and take the risk?

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