Few owners in professional sports have generated more controversy with less winning than James Dolan.
In more than 25 years running the New York Knicks, he has fired coaches, feuded with legends, lost a sexual harassment verdict, banned lawyers with facial recognition software, ejected a beloved former player in front of a national audience and sued a rival franchise in a move the rest of the NBA largely viewed as bizarre.
Through it all, he has refused to sell, refused to step back and refused to stop inserting himself into decisions that have repeatedly damaged one of the most valuable franchises in sports.
Patrick Ewing gave the franchise 15 years and never got a ring. When he requested a trade, the Knicks sent him to Seattle in a 12-player deal without a proper sendoff. He spent two decades outside before the current front office brought him back as a basketball ambassador.
2003: Isiah Thomas
Dolan hired Isiah Thomas, freshly fired by Indiana with no front office experience, as president of basketball operations.
2005-2006: Larry Brown
Thomas hired Hall of Fame coach Larry Brown on a five-year, $50 million deal, which was the richest coaching contract in NBA history. It fell apart quickly as Brown openly feuded with Stephon Marbury, the team went 23-59 and Brown was gone after one season.
2007: Sexual harassment verdict
Former Knicks executive Anucha Brown Sanders sued Thomas, MSG and Dolan, alleging Thomas called her a “bitch” and a “ho” and made unwanted advances. A jury believed her and awarded her a settlement worth approximately $11.6 million.
Dolan pushed to acquire Carmelo Anthony from Denver in February, surrendering multiple players and draft picks in a deal widely criticized as too costly because Dolan was too eager not to miss out on another star. Donnie Walsh, who had built the Knicks for three years for that kind of big move, was let go in June after pulling off the deal the owner demanded.
2014-17: Phil Jackson
Dolan hired 11-time champion Phil Jackson as president on a five-year, $60 million deal, but it never worked out. Jackson tried to install the triangle offense in a league that had evolved past it. The Knicks missed the playoffs every season and Jackson clashed with Anthony
After giving up so much to bring him to the Garden, Carmelo was gone in 2017.
Feb. 8, 2017: Charles Oakley
One of the most beloved Knicks of all time, Charles Oakley was sitting courtside when security dragged him out of his seat, arrested him and banned him from the building. It was reportedly on Dolan’s direct orders. The franchise then issued a statement implying Oakley had a drinking problem. NBA Commissioner and legend Michael Jordan had to call Dolan to get the ban lifted.
Before a game against the Bulls, a season ticket holder outside MSG yelled “Sell the team!” at Dolan. Rather than keep walking, Dolan turned around got in the man’s face and screamed at him,
Dolan sued the Toronto Raptors for $10 million over an analytics staffer he claimed had stolen confidential files. Dolan simultaneously resigned from his league committee positions and wrote to commissioner Adam Silver that “the NBA neither needs nor wants my opinion,” accusing Silver of bias. The suit was quietly dropped in October 2025.
January 2024: The Weinstein lawsuit
Massage therapist Kellye Croft filed a federal lawsuit alleging Dolan sexually assaulted her in 2013 while his band, JD & The Straight Shot, toured with the Eagles, then arranged a meeting that led to Harvey Weinstein assaulting her. Dolan denied everything. A federal judge dismissed the case in September 2024 on technical grounds, without ruling on the underlying allegations.
2024: Thibodeau fired
The Knicks were in the middle of their best run in two decades. Thibodeau was fired anyway, over the reported objections of Jalen Brunson and Leon Rose. Dolan had reportedly sat in on player exit interviews during the process, which people around the league said they had never seen an owner do.
January 2026: Dolan speaks
Dolan broke a two-year media silence with a WFAN radio appearance and declared the Knicks “absolutely” had to reach the NBA Finals and should win it.
Hours later, the Knicks lost to the Detroit Pistons by 31 points.
Into the Finals
Maybe he's a prophet. Dolan’s firing of Thibodeau and hiring of Mike Brown has seemingly worked. The Knicks are in the NBA Finals and will face the San Antonio Spurs, looking for their first title since 1973.
Some fans say winning cures all, but other say 25 years of losing, embarrassment and controversy doesn’t wash off that easily. Dolan has said he has no plans to sell. Someone in the family, he said, will own the team. For now, the most controversial owner in New York City sports is one championship series win away from the most unlikely redemption story in New York history.
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 1: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs plays defense during the game against the New York Knicks on March 1, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The NBA will have a unique champion for the eighth straight year. The San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks are squaring off in a 2026 NBA Finals matchup no one could have seen coming. Before this stretch, the league had never had more than six consecutive unique champions, which happened from 1975-1980. No team has won multiple titles over the last eight years, and no team has even repeated as a conference champion since the 2019 Golden State Warriors.
Why is there so much parity in the NBA right now? It’s mostly a combination of salary cap changes and injuries. The Oklahoma City Thunder seemed primed for a dynasty when they won the championship a year ago, but the Spurs beat them in a fantastic Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals with their second and third best creators out in Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell.
The NBA is left with a rematch of the 1999 Finals, which the Spurs won in five games over New York. It’s going to be incredible watching Victor Wembanyama chase his first championship in Madison Square Garden against a Knicks fanbase desperate for their first championship since 1973. Let’s preview the series from both sides and make a championship pick.
The Spurs haven’t faced a true stretch five who can pull Wembanyama away from the basket on this playoff run. Enter Karl-Anthony Towns, the best three-point shooting center of all-time, who has suddenly been unlocked as the best version of himself over the last six weeks. Towns feels like the most important player in the series for New York. He’s a threat to score 25+ feet away from the basket, and that could potentially take Wemby away from defending the paint. The Spurs can try to stick Wembanyama on Josh Hart or another Knick, but that will create some problems for San Antonio, too.
It’s easy to discount Jalen Brunson, but he’s led his team to championships in high school and in college, and consistently rises to the occasion in the biggest moments. While the Spurs defended another mid-range shooter in Gilgeous-Alexander well in the West Finals, it’s worth noting that Brunson has a much higher three-point volume, taking 35.8 percent of his field goals from deep, compared to 22.6 for SGA. Brunson’s pull-up three ball will have to be a weapon in this series. The fact that he’s not much of a rim attacker means Wembanyama needs to come out higher on the floor when he’s not getting spaced out of the play by Towns. For as good as the Spurs’ defense is, Brunson has shown that he has so many counters to effectively get off his offense.
I’m fascinated to see how often and how effectively Anunoby defends Wembanyama. It feels like the best Wemby defenders are long and strong wings who are quick enough to neutralize him off the bounce, and Anunoby might be the best example of such a defender. Turning Wemby into a shooter is in the Knicks’ best interest, so if Anunoby and Mitchell Robinson can keep him out of deep post position, that’s a good start for a winning recipe.
The Knicks are also the much fresher team. While San Antonio just played a physically and emotionally draining 7-game series in the West, the Knicks have been chilling at home after consecutive sweeps. Sure the Knicks might be a little rusty at the start of Game 1, but that rest advantage will carry over through the remainder of the series.
It certainly feels like the Knicks have more offensive firepower than San Antonio. Brunson and Towns is an elite scoring duo, and Mikal Bridges and Anunoby can each carry the offense for a game or two themselves. De’Aaron Fox hasn’t been at his best for the Spurs basically the whole season, and asking Dylan Harper to immediately ascend to a true No. 2 option as a 20-year-old is a lot. The Knicks just have so much scoring punch in their eight-man rotation, and it’s conceivable that not even Wembanyama can slow them down.
Madison Square Garden is about to turn into one of the greatest environments in NBA Finals history. Knicks fans are craving a championship, and the team will be ready.
The case for the Spurs
It feels like Victor Wembanyama ascended to best player in the world status during the Western Conference Finals, which is a terrifying thought considering he’s only 22 years old and still has plenty of room to grow as a player. When he’s really locked in, Wemby looks like a 7’5 Kevin Durant capable of self-creating step-back threes while also being a dominant a rim runner and arguably the most impactful defender in NBA history.
How will the Knicks guard Wembanyama? It’s a question that could define the series. New York only has two 7-footers on the roster with Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson, but Robinson recently suffered a broken pinky that should linger into the Finals. New York can also use OG Anunoby to guard Wembanyama, and that might be their best matchup. For as long and strong as Anunoby is, Wemby is still going to be able to shoot over the top of him whenever he wants to. If the French superstar gets hot as a jump shooter or from floater range, the Spurs will immediately have an advantage New York can’t neuter. Even if Anunoby is effective for stretches, the Knicks will still need other defenders to soak up minutes against him, and their options are pretty limited.
Wemby’s impact is even bigger on defense, especially with so many good perimeter defenders in front of him. Stephon Castle did an outstanding job on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with Wemby lurking behind him, and that same duo will cause plenty of problems for Jalen Brunson. Like SGA, Brunson takes a lot of his shots from mid-range, which Wemby’s length can help evaporate. Brunson took 51% percent of his field goal attempts from mid-range this season, per Cleaning the Glass. The Spurs feel uniquely equipped to defend that kind of superstar shot profile.
The Spurs’ role players are also fully locked in right now. Julian Champagnie had a breakout conference finals series with multiple 20-point games and consistently good rebounding. Devin Vassell is playing the best ball of his career. Dylan Harper is already taking over playoff games at times at 20 years old. Luke Kornet is one of the league’s better backup centers, and could rebound from a tough matchup vs. the Thunder.
San Antonio’s defense will really be in the spotlight for this matchup. The Knicks’ offensive rating has jumped from 118.7 in the regular season to 123.3 in the playoffs, by far the best mark in the postseason. Meanwhile, San Antonio’s defensive rating has gone from 110.4 in the regular season (No. 3 overall) to 104.4 in the playoffs (second-best behind the Knicks). The Spurs’ defense feels built for the playoffs with more contact allowed on the perimeter and Wembanyama being almost adjustment-proof. If the Spurs can limit New York’s three-point attempts, Wemby can take care of the rest inside.
In what feels like a pretty even matchup, the tiebreaker should go to the team with the best player. That’s Wembanyama.
Prediction: Spurs in 7
This truly feels like a toss up to me, but I’m going with San Antonio in seven for a few reasons.
The Knicks’ romp through the East has been incredibly impressive, but they haven’t seen anything like the Spurs. The Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, and Cleveland Cavaliers are all two steps below San Antonio at least. I’m not sure if the Knicks’ hot three-point shooting is sustainable. Landry Shamet just shot 91.7 percent from three in the Eastern Conference Finals (not a typo). Is that really going to happen again? The Knicks have plenty of shooters on the floor at all times, but the windows disappear a lot quicker when someone like Wembanyama is closing out on you.
I was tempted to go Knicks in six here. New York clearly has a path to victory, and I wouldn’t be too surprised if they routed the Spurs the same way they’ve routed everyone else in their way on this playoff run.
If the Spurs can extend the series to seven, they will get the final game on their home floor. Weird things can happen in a Game 7, and I typically prefer the team with the best overall player. Wembanyama already slayed the biggest challenger in the league in his first playoff run. I think he’s ready to win a championship.
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 12: Max Shulga #44 of the Boston Celtics during the first quarter against the Orlando Magic at TD Garden on April 12, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Max Shulga’s season is tricky to give a definitive grade. He spent the vast bulk of the season with Maine and appeared in just 11 NBA games, playing a minuscule 3.3 minutes per outing. The 6-4 Ukranian guard was selected with pick number 57 by Boston and signed a two-way contract with the Maine Celtics.
Boston Celtics fans outside of Maine probably saw Shulga play the most in the Summer League last year. Shulga appeared in all five games for the Summer Celtics in Vegas; he had 5 points, a smidge under 5 assists, and 1.6 rebounds in 21 minutes per game. With Jordan Walsh and Baylor Scheierman on the team, Shulga deferred a fair bit, playing fairly conservatively, but should get a bigger opportunity this summer.
His debut Maine season was solid. He erupted for 35 points and 9 assists in Maine’s game at Iowa on Feb. 7, 2026. He showed versatility to score from behind the arc and get into lane and drive pass defenders to score with either hand. His shooting splits were just passable with 43% from the field and 73% from the line, and he will need to clear up the turnovers (3.2 per game) if he wants to find an NBA home long term.
Oct 8, 2025; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Boston Celtics guard Max Shulga (44) dribbles as Memphis Grizzlies forward Olivier-Maxence Prosper (18) defends during the fourth quarter at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images | Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Max is a fairly shifty combo guard but lacks elite NBA-level quickness. Max is not an elite athlete either, nor the greatest ball handler to run point, so this is where things get tricky.
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 10: Baylor Scheierman #55 and Luka Garza #52 of the Boston Celtics smiles against the New Orleans Pelicans on April 10, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Throughout the regular season, previously unproven players stepped up in the absence of Jayson Tatum and the rest of the departed championship core. It was Neemias Queta stepping into the starting lineup for Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis and Luka Garza being a nightly Tommy Award candidate. It was Jordan Walsh becoming a bona fide 3-and-D threat, the nineteen-year-old rookie Hugo Gonzalez looking like a seasoned vet, and Baylor Scheierman putting it all together in Year 2.
Unfortunately in the playoffs, Joe Mazzulla went away from that depth and eventually back to them too late. And if we learned anything from Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals, it’s that depth not only matters in the regular season, but also through the pace and intensity of the postseason and as series go deep and teams’ gameplans start to take away superstars in Games 4, 5, and 6, role players become increasingly more important to clinch the late games of a long series.
CelticsBlog’s Ian Inangelo reminded me of The Grant Williams Game against the Bucks and The Kelly Olynyk Game to eliminate the Wizards as some of the greatest Game 7 performances in the franchise’s glittering history. Now, it was a well-rounded effort by the Spurs to take down the defending champs on the road in Oklahoma City. Victor Wembanyama was crowned the conference finals’ MVP, but let’s not forget the peripheral performances that ultimately tilted the deciding game. It was Julian Champagnie’s 6-of-10 from 3 and even a big momentum-shifting block from Luke Kornet that really turned the tide for San Antonio.
For the Thunder, they’re not there without Alex Caruso’s gutty defense or Isaiah Hartenstein’s physicality or Jared McCain’s sharpshooting paired with SGA’s MVP heroics.
It was just another reminder that for the Celtics to reach this mountaintop again, it won’t just be the efforts of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. They’ll get doubled. Opposing teams will scheme against their tendencies and most efficient spaces on the floor. It’ll be up to players #4, #5, #6, #7, and #8 to not only make up the difference, but push the team over the top.
Watching the playoffs without the Celtics, it’s impossible not to daydream about what a postseason run will look like this time next year. Realities blur and my mind’s AI starts Photoshopping Spurs and Thunder out and replacing them with Celtics. I’ll squint my eyes and see Scheierman defending Wemby just like Alex Caruso. When Jared McCain rips off a 14-point quarter, I’ll fantasize that that’s Ron Harper Jr. taking it to baby brother Dylan Harper. And tell me Garza couldn’t have a Luke Kornetesque impact in a big game.
With some financial flexibility this summer, the Celtics will no doubt look to make upgrades. The $27 million TPE and the non-taxpayer mid-level could be in play and if they’re utilized, those additions will come with high expectations. But for the Stay Ready Group, their goal is a little more vague: deliver the unexpected and deliver it when it matters most.
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 03: Mitchell Robinson #26 of the New York Knicks during the preseason game against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on October 3, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matteo Marchi/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Can Wednesday come soon enough?
No, it seems it cannot.
Here’s the latest from Sunday’s practice at Tarrytown and elsewhere.
On Mitchell Robinson’s status during Sunday’s practice:
“I know there’s something there (on his hand), but I can’t… I can’t tell you what. I don’t know (if he’d be cleared for Game 1). I do know that the medical group has to tell me he can go out there for sure, okay.”
On having Knicks legends around the current team:
“It’s fantastic. It’s great to see. It’s great that Leon [Rose] and Mr. Dolan have these guys around. Obviously Pat [Ewing], he’s iconic, and then you have John Starks and Marbury and there’s just a plethora of other guys that you see come to our games, and we encourage that. I love it. And they always have a nugget or two that they can pass on to the guys that are actually playing now, and when you can hear it from different voices or different people, especially guys that played — cause I didn’t play, I was terrible — but from guys that played, it means a ton. So to see them be able to celebrate with us and the joy on their face, it’s priceless for sure.”
On wanting to beat the Spurs despite his San Antonio ties:
“They definitely want to beat me and I want to kick their ass. You love ’em and you can always love ’em before and after … I got ties to San Antonio and you appreciate the people, you appreciate the journey and all that other stuff. But at the end of the day, just like they want to beat you, you definitely want to beat them.”
On Gregg Popovich’s lasting impact:
“The job that he’s done, not only on the court with that team and the organization, but off the court too, is gonna be imprinted as long as the game of basketball exists. He still has a huge presence. He’ll always have a presence. His presence is very much felt all the time. I’ve got a lot of respect for the organization for a lot of different reasons. I worked there, having an opportunity to work there and being part of a championship there and my family being down there too reminds me of good times.”
On expecting Josh Hart to be guarded by bigger defenders and how he deals with it:
“Any time a team does that, like Cleveland — Cleveland put their big on Josh and Josh won us a game doing it. I’ll tell you Josh works very, very hard on his shooting and playmaking because he knows that he gets guarded by centers, and my message to Josh is, ‘Let it fly, let it fly, let it fly,’ because we believe in it. So we know that they’re probably going to come in and put their center on Josh, and if Wemby’s down the floor and that ball gets swung to Josh, first of all, he’s a great decision-maker. But secondly, if he’s open, his feet are set, we want him to let that thing fly.”
On the Spurs’ overall makeup entering the Finals:
“It’s going to be tough. They’re well-coached. They have an, obviously, tremendous player in Wemby. They’re quote-unquote young, to a certain degree, but they have some really good veterans on the team that kind of uplift the young guys and give the young guys a lot of guidance. So, they’ve got a nice mix of players on their team and they’re a team that comes out really aggressive and hits first, their crowd is into it and we’ve just have to go make sure we try to match or exceed their physicality to start the ballgame while leaning on our standards. The group has been resilient the whole year and we’ve got to keep sacrificing, we’ve got to keep playing with a competitive edge, we’ve got to stay connected, got to keep believing in each other and what we’re trying to do out on the floor and if somebody’s slipping in this area, that area, we’ve got to make sure that we help get them back on track by holding them accountable. So, all those things are going to come into play, playing a talented, well-coached team like the Spurs.”
On San Antonio’s blend of veterans and youth around Wembanyama:
“Having the mix that they have with Wemby is a nice recipe. If Fox is in, their backcourt — Fox is a veteran, seasoned player that has been in the playoffs before, been in a Game 7 now a couple of times, and been an All-Star, Clutch Player of the Year, a talented guy. … [Barnes] has been around a long time too, and he’s been on the big stage a few times. So they have a nice mix of veteran players and guys that are starting to get in their prime around Wemby. And I think when you have that, you have different messages that you can get from different guys all the time.”
On OG Anunoby’s defensive versatility helping with guarding Wembanyama:
“OG is extremely versatile, and the luxury of having a guy like that is, he’s long enough, athletic enough, strong enough to guard quick smaller guys. He’s obviously got the size and athleticism to guard big wings and then he’s got the strength and the length and the intelligence to guard bigger guys. So having a guy like that gives us a ton of versatility to be able to move him around, knowing that he can adapt-slash-adjust on the fly.”
On OG Anunoby still deserving First Team All-Defense:
“[The voters] were wrong. He should have been First Team All-Defense because of his versatility. And it’s shown throughout the course of the most important time during the year, which is the playoffs, and it will continue to show going into the Finals.”
On the presence of Knicks legends during the current playoff run:
“It truly means a lot, when they’re on the sidelines or baselines, they made their presence known. They’re full of energy. That’s just who they are. They want the best for us, it’s a really cool sight to see. It’s an honor to play for this organization, the history that it has, to see the former players around all the time that makes it even more special.”
"Technically, that game didn't happen, so I don't think there's anything that we can learn from" 😂
Josh Hart was asked how much the Knicks can take from their NBA Cup experience against the Spurs this season: pic.twitter.com/GV4rFHpoZK
On the Spurs’ supporting cast beyond Victor Wembanyama:
“They’re young, athletic, physical – they can do a little bit of everything, can shoot the ball, finish at the rim, defend at a high level. So, obviously, Wemby’s going to get a lot of attention in terms of game plan and media and that, but you can’t sleep on guys like De’Aaron (Fox) or (Stephon) Castle, (Dylan) Harper, (Julian) Champagnie because if you do that, it’s going to be a long series. So, we’ve got to give those guys the respect that they deserve and come out focused.”
On his approach to playing against Wembanyama:
“I go into the game and I play the game the way the game needs me to play. If that’s shooting and scoring, cool. If that’s rebounding and defending, cool. I don’t value what I do based on other people’s game plan or what the boxscore says. For me, it’s shoot the ball with confidence. Or be quick to make other plays — dribble handoff, stuff like that. If [Wembanyama] is down the floor, that’s my ability to get JB open looks, ‘Kal open looks, KAT open looks. It’s not different in terms of anything I’ve seen before. I’m comfortable making those plays.”
On being guarded by Wemby:
“That’s the only unanimous Defensive Player of the Year, so that’s a pretty good sign for me, right? That means I’m a pretty good basketball player.”
“He’s one of the hardest workers I’ve ever seen, and he works on it all the time, but he gets tired. It’s natural, being that tall, he gets tired. With the team we have, I think it’s important to give him different looks and, not beat him up, but be very physical with him and make him run. And he’s gonna get tired and he’s gonna have to take some plays off, in my opinion.”
On helping the Knicks beat the Spurs by sharing intel from his stint in San Antonio:
“Whether I’m playing or not, it’s important to feed all the information I have, and I think I know quite a lot. I’m watching their games now, I’m seeing the old plays we [ran], when they go up to certain people and at what times, it’s pretty obvious to see. It’s gonna be interesting.”
On the Spurs’ quick evolution into title contenders:
“I think this year, when I was there in the summer, I think everyone kind of agreed on locking in and playing for each other and playing with energy and just learning and growing. Since I left, you can see they’ve just built on that momentum. You see where they’re at now.”
On his relationship with Wembanyama:
“That’s my brother. Me and him, I came into the league and then he got drafted, we just had a connection from the start, a natural one. On the court, off the court. He’s a guy that loves to do a lot of different things. He’s curious, he wants to grow, wants to learn and is pretty competitive with everything. It’s fun to be around him. We’d always do game night with his people and my people and just compete in different sorts of games. He’s a real one. Let’s be honest, I think he is the face of the league.”
Rasheed Wallace gave his take on the Knicks hiring Leon Rose via the @ZachGelb Show on 6/26/20
“I was with him (Dolan) for a while, this is just a brain fart right here”
On honoring Knicks legends who never stopped supporting the team:
“They’ve been with us my whole five years here. It’s not just showing up when we’re winning — they’ve been with us through a lot. So shout out to them and obviously everything they did. So we just want to get the job done for them.”
On Victor Wembanyama posing a matchup challenge:
“He’s a special player. So, we just have to contain him as a team.”
On the Spurs’ identity entering the Finals:
“They’re a special team. Obviously, they have a Defensive Player of the Year – obviously, a great organization – and they’ve got a lot of great young guys. So, we’re just excited for this matchup.”
On Dylan Harper’s competitive makeup:
“I feel like he’s just a gamer. He’s one of those kids that just probably in the backyard [growing up playing all the time]. I know his family pretty well. So, just in the backyard, playing against his older brother. I have an older brother, so I feel like you just figure out how to score over bigger guys, older guys [that way], and you live for these moments.”
On how the Spurs pressure ballhandlers into Wembanyama:
“What I think they do a great job of is their guards putting a lot of pressure on the ballhandler, which is forcing them into Wemby. If you’re playing off the ball and not setting screens and allowing him to roam freely without being touched, it’s different if somebody’s screening you, and then you’re getting everything.”
On what it would mean to win with the Knicks and their legends watching:
“It’s special, and you see obviously what it means to them. And even only wearing a Knicks jersey for two years, I understand, too. There’s a real pride, you know? So I can’t imagine at that point. But we don’t take it lightly, and it adds to our collective fuel and camaraderie and how we feel. So it’s good to obviously celebrate this with them, but they know as well as we do that there’s more to do.”
On the plan to neutralize Wembanyama:
“Obviously, you’ve got to figure out how to get him out of the paint, how to run him, those little things I feel like OKC did a decent job at. But he’s a special player, so we just have to contain him as a team.”
The most 1999 thing about the previous NBA Finals between the Knicks and the Spurs might be that the Spurs were playing StarCraft against each other in between gameshttps://t.co/YkHrwoEzrX
On seeing similarities between the 1973 team and this Knicks squad:
“I’m living vicariously, man, from especially the ’73 team. In ’73, we were injured most of the season, but towards the playoffs we started to get healthy. And like the Knicks now, we had that momentum. We actually kept getting better and better going into the playoffs. So they remind me of that right now.”
On Jalen Brunson’s impact entering the Finals:
“Well, he’s Mr. Clutch, you know? He makes all the big baskets. He’s dishing and swishing. He’s gotta improve his defense. That’s gonna be amplified the next round. They got some very good guards in San Antonio and in OKC. But other than that, man, he’s been magnificent.”
On Mike Brown’s work with the bench and overall roster:
“He’s gotta start getting kudos. He’s developed our bench, which Thibs was crucified for. So Brown has 10 guys that are thriving. No matter who he’s seemed to put in there, they’re producing. And that’s what you want in the playoffs. So we’re not relying on Towns and Brunson to do everything. Look at [Mikal] Bridges, they elevated his game. OG [Anunoby], too. And so it’s been incredible to watch.”
On believing the Knicks should have reached this stage last year:
“It’s not surprising me that they are at this point. I thought they should have been there last year. That was my feeling. They should have been there last year. So this is a new year, and now it’s time for it to happen.”
On returning to the Finals atmosphere since 1999:
“It feels good. It’s been a long time, man, since 1999, since we played for a championship. And to be able to get here and see this and be down here in a closeout game, it’s just a special moment. And I’m happy for those guys because they did it together.”
On Jalen Brunson’s leadership:
“Jalen’s been Jalen since he’s been here. He’s just been a true leader, a consummate pro. He guides the team in the direction that we needed to be guided in. So he understands he’s a winner. He’s a champion. So Jalen’s gonna do what Jalen does: He goes out there and wins us ball games, and he’s a very special player.”
On the physical toll of the Western Conference Finals:
“That might go seven, and even when they win — they lose, you know? They’re gonna be beat up, whoever survives that series. But in order to be the champion, you got to overcome adversity, you know? That’s what it’s about. So they can’t be saying they’re tired. That’s not going to be a factor. They’ll be ready if they get there.”
Draymond calls out the Knicks
“Just like Becky Hammon said, prove me wrong…You’re supposed to get out of the East. It’s the f*cking East!”
On downplaying the Knicks’ trip to the Finals and siding with Becky Hammon:
“I double down on this, just like Becky Hammon said, prove me wrong, prove me wrong, double down. Absolutely double down, getting out of the East has never been a sure fire to win a championship, what y’all talking about? You get out of the East, you’re supposed to get out of the East, it’s the fcking East. Of course you’re supposed to get out of the East. That don’t just mean you win a championship because you get out of the East, it’s the fcking East. Great, it’s the East, would have beat up Boston. You should get out the East. Happy for Mike Brown, by the way, but you should get out of the East.”
"When I got there they were getting back on track, redoing everything…What Leon & those guys did, to now be in the Finals, pretty cool, even just for the City
Just rooting for them now…Lot of guys I'm pretty close with. Just happy for them"
On rooting for the Knicks after their Finals berth:
“I’m happy for them. I’d rather be playing against them, but I’m just rooting for them right now. There are a lot of guys I know (there). There are a lot of guys I’m pretty close with. So, I’m just happy for them.”
Kimmel: I like your football jersey. Supporting Ukrainian team?
Chef José Andrés: My beloved Spanish team, of course. But Ukraine is my team today. They didn’t make it to World Cup, but today they're fighting the biggest match — for freedom and democracy.
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 12: Cameron Boozer warms up during the 2026 NBA Draft Combine on May 12, 2026 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Tamez/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
If you were drafting a player solely on winning, Cam Boozer might be that player. In every competitive league that Boozer has been a part of, he’s been a winner. And not just a winner, but dominant. Don’t believe me, here’s a list of his accomplishments:
High School (Christopher Columbus High School, FL): Won four consecutive Florida state championships and a national title.
International (USA Basketball): Went an undefeated 13-0, securing gold medals at the 2023 FIBA U16 AmeriCup and 2024 FIBA U17 World Cup. He was named MVP for both tournaments.
Nike EYBL: Won three Nike Peach Jam titles during his AAU circuit career.
College (Duke): Captured the ACC regular-season title, the ACC Tournament MVP, and led the Duke Blue Devils to the Elite Eight. He led the country in double-doubles (22) while averaging 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game. All that while shooting 55.6% from the field and 39.1% from three.
If there’s one thing that Cam Boozer has done, it’s win basketball games, and if you are drafting Boozer, that’s exactly what you can expect him to do.
The only reason Boozer isn’t the clear-cut #1 pick in this draft is that it’s one of the top-heavy drafts in a long time. Boozer is going up against two of the most impressive on-ball prospects we’ve seen in some time in AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson. That said, there’s no reason that Boozer shouldn’t get considered by the Washington Wizards or the Utah Jazz at the #1 or #2 pick.
If you wanted a description of Cam Boozer’s game, it would be that he’s quite literally good at everything a big will be asked to do. Boozer can score from everywhere on the floor as a true three-level scorer. He’s an elite three-point shooter whether it’s off the bounce or the catch. That elite shooting forces defenders to run out to contest his shot, which leads to him driving and scoring. If the big is there on the drive, he can drop a floater with fantastic touch. His bread and butter typically comes in isolation with his back to the basket. He has an array of moves, whether it’s pure brute force backing down a mismatch, he’ll face up and knock down a pull-up jumper, or he’ll go with a wide array of spin moves leading to a variety of baby hooks.
He’s also a deft passer, whether passing within the offense, kicking out to shooters in the short roll, or passing to an open shooter out of the post. The thing his passing shows is an elite-level IQ, and it’s that IQ that gives you confidence that his game can translate to the NBA.
The only question marks about Boozer concern his defense and potential position. Boozer was not a good rim protector in college, and that weakness will only get worse in the league. That means that Boozer will be playing exclusively at the power forward. That’s not a big issue, but it does make roster construction around him vital to maximize everything he does. For example, Boozer’s back-to-the-basket game gets neutralized a bit if he’s on the floor with a non-stretch center. In college, where Boozer got blocked a surprising amount on post-ups, that will only get worse in the NBA, where he’ll face bigger, more athletic opposition. Now, that doesn’t mean he can’t figure things out, it’s just something to consider, and it means a good chunk of his game might be taken away. That said, Boozer can still do a lot with the ball, and a smart coach will find a lot of ways to use him. If he’s not backing people down in the post, he can just replace those post plays by getting the ball at the top of the key. He can hit cutters, pull up from three, or make his patented punishing drives to the basket.
As I mentioned before, the other element that raises some questions is his defense. Boozer can’t protect the rim, and he might also struggle on the perimeter in the NBA. Very rarely do you see multiple bigs on the floor that can’t handle and shoot. There will also be coaches that will challenge Boozer by forcing him to defend more agile 3s and 4s. It will be fascinating to see how Boozer handles those matchups. If he does well, then he’s the type of player that can contribute to championship-level basketball, maybe even be the leader of a championship team. If he can’t, then he becomes a liability come playoff time. A team deciding to make Boozer their franchise player is betting that Boozer can figure that element of his game out. And if there’s one thing we know about Boozer, he figures out how to win wherever he plays, there’s no reason to think he can’t do that in the NBA.
At FanDuel, Boozer is +1500 to go #1, but you never know if a GM makes a surprise decision and changes the entire layout of the draft. Could Utah make an unexpected move for Cam Boozer at #2? We’ll find out on June 23rd.
EL SEGUNDO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 12: President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Rob Pelinka of the Los Angeles Lakers speaks to the media during a press conference at UCLA Health Training Center on May 12, 2026 in El Segundo, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Now, when the system is as absurd as the one implemented by NBA commissioner Adam Silver, there’s going to be lots and lots of those types of ripple effects.
Last week, the league adopted a new draft lottery system that flattened odds overall and will punish teams for both being really bad and for being bad for a consecutive number of years. In doing that, it also brings play-in teams into the equation, increasing their odds of earning a top pick in the draft now.
For example, last year, the Hornets lost the second play-in game, landing in the 14th spot in the lottery. Subsequently, they had a 2.4% chance of moving into the top four and a 0.5% chance at the No. 1 pick. Under the new rules, which go into effect next season, the team in the 14th spot in the lottery now has a 2.7% chance at the first pick.
However, importantly, all 16 picks will be drawn now instead of just the top four with the remainder of the lottery sorted by record. So, a team could make the play-in, lose, and end up with a top pick in the draft all in the span of a couple of months.
By nature, those unintended consequences won’t be known until teams start operating under the new rules and find the loopholes. We’ve already started to see them as teams read the rules, most notably in that teams can not have top-five picks even if they own another team’s pick.
To provide another example, the Nets own the Nuggets’ 2032 first round pick. If Brooklyn picked in the top five in the 2030 and 2031 drafts but has things figured out while Denver stinks and would provide them another top-five pick, the Nets will not be allowed to pick in the top five even though it’s not their own pick.
Great work, Adam Silver.
More of these types of details will be found out moving forward, but an unintended result of all this could be the freedom with which picks are traded. If a team can so easily move into a top pick despite being a middling team, the calculation for making a deal changes.
No longer is a team that is going to be battling for the play-in trading a straightforward late-lottery pick. The odds and format will change things. Unless you’re a team with a clear direction, then second-guessing is going to come into play now.
And that could help the Lakers.
LA is not second-guessing about their future. They have a north star in Luka Dončić and a clear path to contention every year. They also have draft picks to trade and a roster that needs reshaping. There should be no hesitation on their end to go and find upgrades.
Teams might see the new lottery odds, realize how injuries could derail a season and decide to take the risk on a future Lakers pick. At the same time, if the other teams aren’t as willing to make those deals, then the picks could
If they enter the offseason with aggression and other teams enter with doubts of risking a potential top pick in the draft, could LA actually take advantage of those unintended consequences of the new lottery rules?
The inverse could also be true. Will Oklahoma City see the same value in having a host of draft picks if they can’t routinely make them top-five picks? The same goes for San Antonio.
And if the trade market is barren for draft picks, will those teams feel more eager to pull the trigger?
The Lakers find themselves at an interesting crossroads. The league just changed how the draft works, ahead of an offseason in which the Lakers have made it clear for years that they’ll have multiple draft picks to trade.
Is it a change that improves their ability to build a contender this summer? Or could there be other unintended consequences that shake things up?
Mitchell Robinson shoots a free throw before the Knicks' May 23 game.
Consider this a small step in the right direction.
Mitchell Robinson, dealing with a broken left pinky finger, took part in practice Sunday.
The valuable big man went through individual work, according to coach Mike Brown.
Brown said Robinson’s status is uncertain for Wednesday’s Game 1 of the NBA Finals in San Antonio, although there is hope he will be available, The Post’s Stefan Bondy reported.
The Knicks said they’d provide no further details on the fracture, including its cause.
“I can’t thank you guys enough for the love and support most of you bring especially at a time like this in my life,” Robinson wrote on Instagram under a picture of him walking into the Cavs arena during the conference finals. “It makes everything in fighting for 100x easier to deal with.
Mitchell Robinson is pictured during the Knicks’ May 21 game against the Cavaliers. Charles Wenzelberg
“The ones that want to see me down and hurt all I gotta say for you is f–k you. And last the ones that say they love and care about me but can’t be there for me when I need them but I’m always there to when they need me god get you.”
The Knicks’ top offensive rebounder and rim protector is the best equipped to deal with San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama.
He is also insurance for starting center Karl-Anthony Towns, who is susceptible to foul trouble.
Miles McBride knows Spurs guard Dylan Harper’s older brother, Ron Harper Jr., well.
Their dads were college stars in Ohio, Ron Harper attending Miami of Ohio and Walt McBride playing for Xavier.
He has been impressed by Dylan, the former Rutgers guard and five-star high school prospect out of Don Bosco Prep (N.J.).
“I feel like he’s just a gamer,” McBride said. “He’s one of those kids that just probably in the backyard [growing up playing all the time]. I know his family pretty well. So, just in the backyard, playing against his older brother. I have an older brother, so I feel like you just figure out how to score over bigger guys, older guys [that way], and you live for these moments.”
Knicks head coach Mike Brown has a special connection to San Antonio.
Another NBA Finals opens in San Antonio.
Mike Brown was on the bench — in what is now known as the Frost Bank Center — with Gregg Popovich during the 2003 NBA Finals, serving as a young assistant in the title series against the Nets, which ended with a parade along the San Antonio River.
Four years later, Brown was a second-year head coach with a 22-year-old superstar (LeBron James), attempting to lead the Cavaliers to an upset of Tim Duncan’s Spurs.
Now, Brown, 56, is heading back to a city where his family still resides, needing to defeat the friends and the franchise that helped catapult his career to claim his first championship as a head coach.
“They definitely want to beat me and I want to kick their ass,” Brown said following Sunday’s practice. “You love ’em and you can always love ’em before and after … I got ties to San Antonio and you appreciate the people, you appreciate the journey and all that other stuff. But at the end of the day, just like they want to beat you, you definitely want to beat them.”
Mike Brown reacts on the sideline during the Knicks’ May 23 game. Charles Wenzelberg
Brown was a hard-working but relatively inexperienced 30-year-old when he arrived in San Antonio, where he’d spend three years (2000-03) as an assistant who designed thorough scouting reports and color-coded practice itineraries.
Popovich (the five-time title-winning head coach who serves as the Spurs’ president of basketball operations) became a trusted mentor and close friend.
After Brown was fired as a head coach for the third time in 2014, Popovich helped convince him to unofficially end his coaching sabbatical by offering him a role as a volunteer consultant for the Spurs, giving Brown an open invitation to attend every game, practice and meeting he desired.
Gregg Popovich, Mike Brown and Tim Duncan are pictured after winning the NBA Finals in 2003. NBAE via Getty Images
Brown, who had recently gone through a divorce, took up part-time residence in San Antonio — sleeping in a double bed, beneath a Spiderman poster, in the former bedroom of Danny Ferry’s son — and spent more than half a season with the Spurs, helping the coach he could never properly repay.
“The job that he’s done, not only on the court with that team and the organization, but off the court too, is gonna be imprinted as long as the game of basketball exists,” Brown said. “He still has a huge presence. He’ll always have a presence. His presence is very much felt all the time.”I’ve got a lot of respect for the organization for a lot of different reasons. I worked there, having an opportunity to work there and being part of a championship there and my family being down there too reminds me of good times.”
OG Anunoby could be the Knicks' solution to stopping Victor Wembanyama.
Through the Knicks’ first eight postseason games, there was no player who was more valuable than OG Anunoby.
In the NBA Finals, he may be Mike Brown’s most important player again.
While Anunoby will be counted on to continue his career-best postseason run — ranking second on the team with 19.7 points while shooting 57.7 percent from the field (48.3 percent on 3-pointers) — it may be the 28-year-old’s defense that determines whether the Knicks will end their 53-year title drought.
Anunoby is expected to spend significant time matched up with San Antonio’s 7-foot-4 Victor Wembanyama, and the 6-7 wing’s previous encounters with the French superstar offer hope that the Knicks can limit the damage done by the former No. 1 overall pick.
Among players who have served as the primary defender on at least 100 possessions against Wembanyama, Anunoby has allowed the fewest points per possession, bothering the Spurs big man with his 7-2 wingspan, physicality and athleticism.
OG Anunoby knocks the ball away from Paul George during the Knicks’ May 6 game against the 76ers. Jason Szenes for the NY Post
“OG is an extremely versatile guard, and you know, the luxury of having a guy like that is he’s long enough, athletic enough, strong enough to guard quick, smaller guys, he’s obviously got the size and athleticism to guard big wings, and then he’s got the strength and the length and the intelligence to guard bigger guys,” Brown said Sunday. “So having a guy like that gives us a ton of versatility to be able to move him around, knowing that he can adapt, slash, adjust, or whatever you want to call it, on the fly.”
Victor Wembanyama goes to dunk the ball during the Spurs’ March 1 game against the Knicks. Jason Szenes for the NY Post
Wembanyama — the first unanimous NBA Defensive Player of the Year — will create countless issues for the Knicks as a rim protector, but the 22-year-old’s offensive impact has seen him ping-pong between being the best player in the world and a passive observer.
In San Antonio’s postseason wins, Wembanyama has averaged 27.9 points and 12.1 rebounds while shooting 55.3 percent from the field and 46.3 percent on 3-pointers.
In the Spurs’ losses, he has posted 14.5 points and 8.3 rebounds, shooting 39.4 percent from the field and 18.5 percent on 3-pointers.
It is the biggest test of Anunoby’s career, the greatest opportunity to prove he deserved better than a selection to the NBA’s All-Defensive Second Team.
“[The voters] were wrong,” Brown said. “He should have been First Team All-Defense because of his versatility. And it’s shown throughout the course of the most important time during the year, which is the playoffs, and it will continue to show going into the Finals.”
Josh Hart will need to make his shots for the Knicks in the NBA Finals.
Josh Hart has a unique take on potentially being defended by Spurs unicorn Victor Wembanyama.
“That’s the only unanimous Defensive Player of the Year, so that’s a pretty good sign for me, right?” Hart said Sunday after practice. “That means I’m a pretty good basketball player.”
Hart was somewhat joking, knowing if the Spurs do in fact put the 7-foot-4 Wembanyama on him, the intent is to allow the big man to roam, cut off the paint and protect the rim.
It’s up to Hart to make them pay from beyond the arc.
Other playoff opponents have defended him in a similar fashion, and during the regular season the Spurs used Wembanyama on Hart for large stretches too.
Josh Hart attempts a shot during the Knicks’ May 21 game against the Cavaliers. Charles Wenzelberg
“For me, it’s shoot the ball with confidence. Or be quick to make other plays — dribble handoff, stuff like that,” Hart said. “If he’s down the floor, that’s my [job] to get [Jalen Brunson] open looks, [Mikal Bridges] open looks, [Karl-Anthony Towns] open looks. It’s not different in terms of anything I’ve seen before. I’m comfortable making those plays.”
It has been a strong postseason for the gritty Hart.
He is averaging 11.4 points, 8.6 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.8 steals in 33 minutes.
His 3-point shot has been inconsistent, Hart shooting it at a 30.3 percent clip on 4.7 attempts.
But he has been better of late.
In the last five games, he is 13-for-32 from distance.
“Any time a team does that, like Cleveland — Cleveland put their big on Josh and Josh won us a game doing it,” coach Mike Brown said. “I’ll tell you Josh works very, very hard on his shooting and playmaking because he knows that he gets guarded by centers, and my message to Josh is, ‘Let it fly, let it fly, let it fly,’ because we believe in it.
Victor Wembanyama is pictured during the Spurs’ March 1 game against the Knicks. Jason Szenes for the NY Post
“So we know that they’re probably going to come in and put their center on Josh, and if Wemby’s down the floor and that ball gets swung to Josh, first of all, he’s a great decision-maker. But secondly, if he’s open, his feet are set, we want him to let that thing fly.”
The Los Angeles Clippers don’t necessarily have to hit the reset button after a mediocre 2025-26 season but will need to make the right decisions to replenish their roster for the future.
The Clippers will enter the NBA draft with the fifth overall pick on Tuesday, June 23.
It's the franchise’s lowest draft selection since picking Oklahoma's Blake Griffin with the No. 1 overall pick in 2009.
The Clippers likely will consider a guard with their first-round pick.
Even though the team acquired guard Darius Garland before the trade deadline during the season, the Clippers will consider their options from a guard-heavy list of draft prospects.
A forward could also be considered despite Kawhi Leonard’s likely return to the Clippers.
There’s still a chance that Leonard could be moved, but interested teams would have to be willing to make a trade offer and look past any potential punishment by the NBA for Leonard and the Clippers for their alleged involvement in a “no-show” agreement with a company to funnel extra compensation to the player.
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 09: General manager Will Dawkins of the Washington Wizards introduces Trae Young #3 during a press conference before the game between the Washington Wizards and the New Orleans Pelicans at Capital One Arena on January 9, 2026 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
So, you saw the title above. Why ask it?
We live in a world which is human. Things happen in life. Maybe Monumental Basketball President or Washington Wizards General Manager Will Dawkins have a change of heart and pick someone not named AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer or Caleb Wilson. What does it mean, and why?
According to FanDuel’s draft odds, the Wizards will almost definitely draft one of the aforementioned “Fantastic Four.” But if none of the four are picked at No. 1 (and we’re assuming the Wizards will keep the pick), why? THAT would be the shocker.
Well, we’re going to just keep it straight. Here’s why:
Maybe a prospect outside of these four impresses Winger and Dawkins so much that they believe he is the future. That would be a high risk move that would either make the two look like geniuses or get them fired in a couple seasons.
Maybe all four players are adamantly against playing in Washington and the Wizards don’t see a favorable trade opportunity involving the pick so they keep it.
And players are human. We sometimes forget that. No one wishes injury, but what if we live in a world where at least some of these prospects are found to be unable to play professionally due to a condition? Isaiah Austin of Baylor comes to mind back around the 2014 NBA Draft.
So yeah, when it comes to this No. 1 pick, the Wizards aren’t looking to be “smarter than everyone else.” They want a safe bet as a potential franchise player, especially after a prolonged period of tanking. So my prediction on who the Wizards will pick? Since death and taxes are the only guarantees in life, seeing a “Fantastic Four” prospect representing the DMV this fall is pretty damn close to those two guarantees.
CHICAGO,ILLINOIS - DECEMBER 7: Nicola Vucevic (9) of Chicago Bulls and Quinten Post (21) of Golden State Warrios in action during NBA basketball game between Chicago Bulls and Golden State Warriors at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois on December 7, 2025. (Photo by Jacek Boczarski/Anadolu via Getty Images) | Anadolu via Getty Images
You’ll notice a trend in these homages to Golden State Warriors players best nights from last season. Many of them came with the team in injury shambles.
This entry into the series is about Quinten Post answering the call. There is a version of Post’s career where December 8 never happens. Where the Warriors keep him in Santa Cruz , bring him along in small doses, protect him from moments that are too big too fast, and let him develop on a schedule that makes everyone comfortable.
The Warriors weren’t supposed to discover anything that night other thn survival. Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Al Horford were out. The Chicago Bulls were coming into Chase Center expecting a soft landing against a short-handed roster, and by every reasonable measure, Golden State was the kind of team you schedule when you need to get right. But in reality the Dubs won 123-91 and never trailed, and the most important thing that happened had nothing to do with the final score.
Post made threes on the team’s second and third possessions of the game, as if he wanted to establish immediately that this was not going to be a polite, careful, let-me-find-my-footing kind of night. He finished with 19 points on five threes in 26 minutes, and somewhere in the middle of all of it, he attempted a through-the-legs pass while setting a screen that had no business being as smooth as it was.Young players trying to survive in the NBA don’t attempt passes like that. Players who believe they belong do.
The box score tells one story. But anyone watching that night understood they were seeing something else: a player stamping his arrival in the way that competent people do when they stop waiting to be introduced and just start working.
The defense is what separates this performance from a hot shooting night and puts it in this series. Post was asked to carry a heavier defensive load without Horford and Green to cover for him, and he met that challenge by making Nikola Vucevic, a multiple All-Star center, look confused for most of the evening.
Vucevic kept finding bodies where he expected space. Drives turned into kickouts. Post’s contests appeared a split second sooner than Chicago expected. Possession after possession, the Bulls discovered that attacking the rookie wasn’t producing the results they thought it would. He held Vucevic to nine points on 13 shot attempts, and that defensive performance might have been even better than the offense.
I’m taking Quinten Post vs the Bulls over any other player in NBA History
If you want to point to a night that shows what QP is capable of when the chips are stacked agains this squad, look no further than that big December win against the Bulls despite missing hall-of-famers.
The New York Knicks have certainly waited long enough. The Eastern Conference champions will end up with 10 full days off before they face the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals, compared to just three for the Western Conference champions.
Plenty will wonder if that rest will lead to rust for New York, but logic expects more fatigue to show up for San Antonio than anything else.
And that edge, however short-lived and intangible, could prove crucial for the Knicks in the NBA Finals beginning on Wednesday, June 3.
Before diving into our NBA picks, let's take a look at the latest Knicks vs. Spurs NBA Finals odds, including the series price, spread, and total games markets.
Knicks vs Spurs NBA Finals predictions
Pick
Victor Wembanyama Finals MVP
-185
Series to end in Game 6
+210
Karl-Anthony Towns — Most threes made in series
+500
Knicks to win Game 1 & lose series
+475
Odds as of 5-31.
Knicks vs Spurs series odds
Team/Market
Knicks
+175
Spurs
-210
Knicks +1.5 Games
-130
Spurs -1.5 Games
+110
Over 5.5 Games
-165
Under 5.5 Games
+140
Some lookahead lines expected the San Antonio Spurs to be -225 favorites if they won the West, leaving the New York Knicks at about +185. They also suggested the Knicks would be better cast as a +2.5 underdog in the series odds rather than a +1.5 underdog.
But now that San Antonio escaped the West, it is only a -210 favorite. That may not be much of a move, but cutting the Knicks’ odds to +175 is still more than a 5% move.
For that matter, odds are somewhat heavily set expecting a seven-game series. As a 1.5-game underdog, New York is juiced to -130.
Then why is the series total heavily juiced to -250 on the Under 6.5 games? That difference effectively sums up the chance of the Knicks winning the series. If they do, it is unlikely to be on the road in a Game 7, even if that is the exact path the Spurs just took to slip by the Thunder.
Knicks vs Spurs series preview
Statistical Breakdown
It becomes difficult to compare postseason résumés. The Knicks not only faced lesser competition — they did, no one needs to waste time arguing this fact — they also so laughed at that competition that it further skews any view of the Eastern Conference.
But it is worth noting that New York has shot 40.0% from beyond the arc in 14 postseason games, the best mark in the NBA, while also giving up only 30.5% from beyond the arc, also the best mark in the NBA.
It may seem overly simple to highlight that stat, but this is a make-or-miss league. And if the Spurs’ youth cannot find quality shots against the Knicks’ perimeter defense, that could prove decisive.
Unsurprisingly, given they both reached the NBA Finals, these are the two best defensive ratings in the postseason and two of the three best offensive ratings.
San Antonio is deeper than New York, though at this point in the postseason, both teams should ride with the horses that got them here, and one of the greatest perks of a deeper rotation is the comfort in getting out in transition.
The Spurs turned over the Thunder with an abundance, an otherwise rather rare occurrence, and then San Antonio raced downcourt, capped by Devin Vassell’s Game 7-ending dunk. That should be especially effective when Wembanyama plays a role in transition, given Karl-Anthony Towns has long struggled in transition defense.
But beyond that, how will Jalen Brunson thrive when facing Wembanyama at the hoop? Brunson’s deep shooting has trailed off in the postseason; he wrecked the Cavaliers by getting into the paint and the midrange. Those shots should be too often obscured by Wembanyama’s long reach.
How will the Spurs win? We all know the answer. Wemby.
How the Knicks will win
Defense and experience.
New York has continued to play a relentless defense in the post-Tom Thibodeau era. That is almost a default when you have both OG Anunoby and Josh Hart in your starting lineup. If they can stifle Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper, suddenly, Wembanyama may not be enough scoring for San Antonio.
And the more pressure the Knicks can dump onto Castle and Harper, the better. This may be Wembanyama’s first playoff run, but he has seen plenty of high-pressure moments in his international and European careers. But Castle and Harper are still so young — and with due respect to Castle’s NCAA title with UConn — this is entirely new ground for them.
Harper could not get Rutgers into the NCAA Tournament last year. Could Madison Square Garden now rattle him? Not to be dramatic, but yes, it absolutely could.
Meanwhile, the Knicks are packed with veterans who should meet this moment. Because of one towering Frenchman, these rosters may appear lopsided, but some deference should be given to New York’s experience.
Knicks vs Spurs series props
Victor Wembanyama Finals MVP
-185 at bet365
That is a lot of juice, but the Spurs are -210 favorites for a reason, and if they do indeed win their first title without Tim Duncan, it will be because of another No. 1 pick manning the paint.
Presume Wembanyma has a relatively pedestrian series, at least by his standards. In 17 postseason games, he has averaged 23.2 points, 10.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 3.5 blocks per game. Those are, indeed, Finals MVP numbers.
The better question may be wondering how San Antonio could win the Finals without Wembanyama being named MVP. Find the gap between this -185 price and the -210 series price.
Perhaps Jalen Brunson (+210) would average 35 points through the series and still lose? Or Stephon Castle (+5000) may average double-digit assists, sitting at 6.7 per game this postseason and 7.6 in the Western Conference Finals.
Those both seem rather unlikely. If thinking about betting the Spurs to win the Larry O’Brien Trophy, your smarter move would be to simply bet Wembanyama to win the Finals MVP.
When will series finish: Game 6
Series Finish
Game 4
+550
Game 5
+240
Game 6
+210
Game 7
+210
Speaking of Wembanyama in a starring role, FIFA and the World Cup organizers are thrilled the Spurs advanced to the NBA Finals. Game 6 in Madison Square Garden will tip off mere hours after France’s World Cup debut … in New Jersey.
World Cup games typically take about two hours, right? Certainly in group play. France should thus beat Senegal at about 5 ET on June 16 in the Meadowlands, and Game 6 will tip off at 8:30 ET. Traffic and chaos may make that a tighter commute than ideal, but expect plenty of French fans in the stands cheering on Victor Wembanyama.
Game 7 actually has the shortest odds in this consideration at +205, but the French aspect of Game 6 lends some value to thinking Wemby could win his first ring on the road, but also in front of favorable fans.
Karl Anthony Towns — Most threes made
+500 at bet365
The question with Karl-Anthony Towns has always been how many 3-pointers will he take, not how many of them will he make. Poor shooting spells have been distinctly rare throughout Towns’s career.
Perhaps more than ever, New York needs Towns to shoot with volume. Doing so is the Knicks’ best hope of pulling Wembanyama away from the rim.
Put Towns and Jalen Brunson into pick-and-rolls. If Wembanyama knows Towns is ready to pop from deep, he may have to play aggressively on the perimeter, giving Brunson a needed moment to find a crease.
Towns has shot 48.9% from deep this postseason. Shoot, big fella. Taking 3.2 per game will not be enough, though that number has absolutely been deflated by the Knicks’ penchant for blowouts in their last 10 games.
Shoot six or seven times from deep each game. Make three per game. That may be New York’s best offensive approach.
Best Bet
Knicks to win Game 1 & lose series
+475 at bet3365
Parlaying these two items, with very rough math, would argue for a price closer to +300. Of course, as soon as New York wins Game 1, the series price would drastically adjust, but not by this much.
First of all, the second round went exactly to this tune, the Timberwolves slipping by the Spurs but then losing in six games.
Second of all, this is where the Knicks’ rest advantage should be most prevalent. Their Game 1 moneyline is +170; expect Game 2 to be closer to +200 no matter the Game 1 result.
This prop’s price is too high, and Game 1 is New York’s best chance at turning the series sideways. The Knicks should empty the proverbial chamber on Wednesday, though that could then become a pyrrhic victory.
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