It has been 27 long, agonizing, painful years for New York Knicks fans since they were last in the NBA Finals. So many years of promise before watching them slip away, so many years of seeing Spike Lee age courtside before our eyes. The years of Starbury, Melo, and the hopes of landing LeBron — none of it led to victory.
Now the Knicks are back. So much has changed since they faced the San Antonio Spurs in June of 1999 — heck, this was their starting five in those finals.
Charlie Ward Allan Houston Larry Johnson Kurt Thomas Patrick Ewing
It’s a good time to go through the wayback machine to remember what the world was like when the Knicks last had a chance to win it all.
Four new countries have been recognized by the U.N. since the Knicks were in the finals: Serbia (2000), Timor Leste (2002), Montenegro (2006), and South Sudan (2011)
Regular gasoline cost an average of $1.17 a gallon in the USA
The Super Bowl played in January featured the Denver Broncos beating the Atlanta Falcons. John Elway was named MVP. The halftime show was Gloria Estefan and Stevie Wonder
The No. 1 movie in America was Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, which was Mike Myers’ first movie since Wayne’s World 2
The top album in the United States was Livin’ La Vida Loca by Ricky Martin, and it still slaps
E.R. was the most popular TV show in the country. It ran for another 10 years after the Knicks were in the finals. Noah Wyle took a 16 year break and released another hit medical drama in The Pitt during the Knicks’ time off
The world was still gripped by the Friends season five finale, in which Ross and Rachel got drunkenly married in Las Vegas
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 12: Cameron Boozer shoots the ball 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 Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
One of the great things about the NBA Draft process is the gamesmanship and skullduggery. If somebody wanted, say, BYU star AJ Dybantsa, that team might plant doubts about his workouts or attitude, hoping to push him down the draft order.
Unless you get a crack at Shaquille O’Neal or Hakeem Olajuwon, where there’s no doubt who will go first, it always happens. It doesn’t always work, but somebody always does it. Sun Tzu would have loved the NBA Draft.
We’re not at all sure what’s happening with Cameron Boozer, but something is bubbling away. People are suggesting all sorts of things. There are subtle suggestions that the Washington Wizards might opt for him with #1. There are accounts that Utah may take him with the #2 pick.
This much is indisputable: Dybantsa’s family has moved to Utah and apparently quite likes living there. Dybantsa has said a couple of things that indicate he would like to stay in Utah. That would probably happen if Washington takes Boozer with the #1 pick.
And it’s worth remembering that Oklahoma City has a ton of draft picks that will devalue if they don’t make a trade to move up in the draft or at least move them further into the future.
OKC is a real wild card. If they decided that they wanted, let’s say, Boozer, they could work a trade with either Memphis or Chicago and send them a huge collection of future picks.
Barring that, the current wisdom is that Boozer will go either #3 to Memphis or at #4 to Chicago, but it doesn’t appear to be written in stone just yet.
The New York Knicks completed their sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers to advance to their first NBA Finals since the 1998-99 season, when they lost in five games to the San Antonio Spurs.
To put things in perspective, the New York Islanders were five years into their 23-season playoff series win drought at the time, coming off a 24-48-9-1 season, tied for the second-worst record in the NHL.
This was also Mike Milbury's final season as the team's head coach.
Following an 11-game winless streak, he stepped away from the bench to focus solely on his role as general manager, handing the coaching reins to Bill Stewart, who took over on January 21, 1999.
The Islanders’ leading point scorer was Robert Reichel, who had 56 points in 70 games before being dealt to the Phoenix Coyotes on March 20, 1999, for then-21-year-old Brad Isbister and a 1999 third-round pick.
Other notable Islanders from that season included Žigmund Pálffy, who was traded to the Los Angeles Kings during the 1999 offseason, and Zdeno Chara, who was in the second of four seasons during his initial stint with the Islanders.
At the time, Roberto Luongo and Mike Rupp were also prospects in the Islanders’ system, though both would be with new franchises by the 2000 offseason.
The Knicks will now face either the reigning NBA Finals champion Oklahoma City Thunder or the San Antonio Spurs in a 1999 rematch.
After the New York Knicks advanced to the 2026 NBA Finals for the first time since 1999, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani seized the moment to take a playful jab at the Cleveland Cavaliers on social media, reflecting the city's excitement in the team’s historic run in 27 years.
Just minutes after the Knicks defeated the Cavaliers 130-93 in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals, completing a decisive 4-0 series sweep, Mamdani tweeted a clever message: “I’d like to report a sweep,” tagging New York’s Department of Sanitation.
The department quickly joined in the fun, replying, “Clean up in Cleveland!!” The playful exchange captured the city’s jubilant mood as fans celebrated the Knicks’ dominant performance and their long-awaited return to the NBA’s biggest stage.
— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) May 26, 2026
Mamdani, a well-known Knicks supporter, was spotted at Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals at Madison Square Garden, cheering on the team alongside fellow fans.
It's been a big week for Mamdani's favorite sports teams with Arsenal clinching its first English Premier League title since 2004, also set to play on May 30 in the UEFA Champions League final.
Dec 30, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Caleb Wilson (8) reacts in the second half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
The 2026 NBA Draft is quickly approaching, and the playoffs always have a way of revealing what’s actually most important in high leverage games. Our instant mock draft immediately following the lottery tried to take a stab at how the picks will actually come off the board when the first-round begins on June 23.
Now, here’s a mock draft based on what I would do with every pick.
Boozer is the top player on my draft board, and in my estimation he’s the obvious No. 1 pick. I’ve been chronicling Boozer’s brilliance since he was in high school, and all he did as a freshman was win national player of the year in a nearly unanimous vote (59 out of 61). The Wizards should not be making team-building decisions with Anthony Davis in mind. Boozer was only four years old when AD was drafted. Washington needs shot-creation, shooting, and rebounding, and Boozer provides all of that at a high level. Alex Sarr should be a nice defensive complement to him in the frontcourt. This really shouldn’t be that hard.
2. Utah Jazz – Darryn Peterson, G, Kansas
I had Peterson over Dybantsa on my preseason board and my midseason board, and while I thought about moving off that take at times during Peterson’s bizarre freshman year, I’m sticking with it now. Peterson is just a better fit for what the Jazz need, and I do think Utah is potentially good enough for next season to be thinking about fit. Keyonte George needs a defensive-minded off-guard with volume three-point shooting next to him, and that can be Peterson. Of course, Peterson can also be so much more than that if he fully recovers from the strange soft tissue and cramping injuries that plagued his time at Kansas. Dybantsa would have some overlap with Ace Bailey if he’s the pick here. I like a lineup of George-Peterson-Bailey-Lauri Markkanen-Jaren Jackson Jr. with Walker Kessler off the bench. That feels like a playoff team with some real upside to me.
3. Memphis Grizzlies – AJ Dybantsa, F, BYU
Dybantsa probably won’t still be on the board at No. 3 on draft night, but if he is it would set up a fascinating decision between him and Caleb Wilson for Memphis. I give Dybantsa the edge simply because of his shot-creation ability. There just aren’t many players in the world this size — 6’8.5 barefoot, 217 pounds, with a 7-foot wingspan — who can create shots for themselves and others like Dybantsa. I’d love to see him take a little more pride in his defense and up his three-point volume, but he’d be a wonderful addition to Memphis’ rebuild.
4. Chicago Bulls – Caleb Wilson, F, North Carolina
Wilson is the obvious ‘best player available’ choice for the Bulls here. This draft has been defined by a ‘big three’ since these players were in high school, but Wilson was so good at North Carolina that it can now credibly be called a ‘big four.’ Wilson is a bit of an odd fit on the Bulls’ current roster with some overlap with Matas Buzelis, Noa Essengue, and Leonard Miller — the team’s three most appealing young players. Ultimately, that doesn’t matter. There’s a strong chance that Wilson is better than any of them, and Buzelis has developed as a shooter enough to play the three. Take Wilson and figure out the rest later.
5. Los Angeles Clippers – Aday Mara, C, Michigan
This is the first big decision of the draft. I’m torn between Mikel Brown Jr., Yaxel Lendeborg, and Mara, but ultimately it’s harder to find a 7’3 center with a 7’7 wingspan than point guards or forwards. Mara was the single biggest riser of March Madness, but I’ve been on him as a potential top-10 pick since he was entering UCLA out of Spain. His size is a game-changer in the middle, and he also has ridiculous passing feel for someone so big. I know the Clippers drafted Yanic Konan Niederhäuser at the end of the first-round last year, but I was never too high on him. After trading Ivica Zubac to the Pacers for this pick, the Clippers find their center of the future.
6. Brooklyn Nets – Mikel Brown Jr., G, Louisville
Yeah, the Nets took four pseudo point guards in the first-round last year, but that can’t stop one of the league’s worst rosters from drafting the best available player. Brown fits that description to me as the highest-upside prospect still on the board. The Louisville guard brings super-high volume three-point shooting, creative passing, and some downhill attacking ability to an offense desperately in need of juice. Brown’s frame is very thin and he doesn’t even have hair on his face yet, but the Nets need to be thinking long-term, and Brown is oozing with potential over time.
The Kings falling to No. 7 in the lottery is a huge bummer, but the upside is that the team really wanted a point guard, and there will be multiple great ones to choose from here. There’s already rumors that Sacramento has a preference for Darius Acuff, and that would be fine, but I like Flemings more. The Houston guard is a lot more disruptive defensively off the ball, and I give him a slight edge as a live-dribble playmaker. KINGSton Flemings to the Kings would be a very good fit for both the player and team.
8. Atlanta Hawks – Keaton Wagler, G, Illinois
The key to modern basketball is the intersection of positional size, shooting touch, and IQ. Wagler checks all three boxes while also having worst in class explosion and length for a point guard. How does a 6’6, one-and-done lottery pick finish the season with zero dunks? This will be the first time it’s ever happened, at least for as far back as the statistics go. The Hawks have had some trouble with smaller guards, so Wagler is at least tall while having the ability to play on or off the ball. His pull-up shooting would be really good next to Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Dyson Daniels, and Jalen Johnson, and the first two guys there could help insulate him defensively. He’ll probably go higher than this, but I like the fit in Atlanta.
I will have Lendeborg higher than No. 9 on my personal board, and I seriously considered him at No. 5 for the Clippers. I didn’t love his fit in Brooklyn, Sacramento, or Atlanta, but I do think he makes plenty of sense for the Mavs. Dallas should be ready to accelerate this thing around Cooper Flagg pretty quickly, in part because they don’t control their first-round pick from 2027-2030. Lendeborg will be a 24-year-old rookie, but he has unique strengths as a massive wing who can play on the perimeter or bang down low for some small ball five minutes. Critics of this pick will say Dallas already has PJ Washington, but he can be traded. Yaxel is four years younger, would be on a cost controlled deal, and in my opinion should be better pretty quickly. I like the idea of pairing Flagg with a defensive-minded forward who can stretch the floor and give the Mavs positional versatility.
I thought Quaintance would be a top-5 pick coming into the season. Instead, he rushed back from a torn ACL, and shut it down after only four underwhelming games at Kentucky. Quaintance explained his decision to end his season early to me at the combine. If he’s healthy, he has a case as the best defensive player in the class. While he’s a tad short for an NBA five at 6’9 barefoot, JQ measured well with a hulking 253-pound frame and 7’5+ wingspan. His offense is a huge question mark, but his defense should be bankable if he can stay healthy. Assuming the Bucks finally trade Giannis this summer, they will need a new identity long-term, and Quaintance can help that start on the defensive end.
11. Golden State Warriors – Hannes Steinbach, F/C, Washington
The Warriors could really go in any direction here, and I remain intrigued by the Mara fit from my instant mock if he’s still on the board. Given the way this draft goes, Steinbach feels like he would be a good choice to add some physicality and rebounding to the frontcourt. Steinbach’s offensive rebounding is potentially the single best skill in this draft class (behind Cameron Boozer’s brain), and he could feast off misses from Steph Curry and Brandin Podziemski to generate extra possessions.
12. Oklahoma City Thunder – Morez Johnson Jr., F/C, Michigan
Johnson is the best kind of tweener with the ability to be additive on both ends at either the four or the five. The 6’9 big man has a hulking 250-pound frame with 7’3.5 wingspan and boundless athleticism. He’s one of the best defenders in the class with the strength to wall up inside, the quickness to switch some screens, and outstanding ability to patrol the backline as a low man. I think he’s going to be shoot long-term, and if you agree, he has to be a lottery pick.
13. Miami Heat – Darius Acuff, G, Arkansas
I have questions about Acuff’s scoring process and worry that he might be the worst defensive player in the NBA, but at a certain point he’s too productive to continue passing on. This pick would absolutely be in play in a potential Giannis trade.
14. Charlotte Hornets – Dailyn Swain, F, Texas
The Hornets really need some beef inside, but this class just isn’t very deep in big men after Motiejus Krvias and Patrick Ngongba pulled out. I’ve liked Swain for a while as a bouncy wing stopper who made big offensive strides as a slasher and shooter during his junior season at Texas, but he wasn’t too impressive with his measurements or play at the combine. Still, this feels like a plug-and-play rotation piece for what should be an excellent team in the East next season.
15. Chicago Bulls – Brayden Burries, G, Arizona
I’d prefer Morez Johnson or possibly Jayden Quaintance here, but both are off the board in this mock. Burries will likely be long gone by the time Chicago comes on the clock at No. 15, but he would add two-way physicality to the backcourt with good shooting projection. I don’t think Burries has the shot-creation or the playmaking to be in an on-ball role that would give him star upside, but he checks a lot of boxes as a role player. He’s a player who feels like he’s pretty good everywhere but without a signature skill to fall back on.
16. Memphis Grizzlies – Bennett Stirtz, G, Iowa
Stirtz is a high-volume creator who doesn’t turn the ball over and also offers floor spacing potential with a quick and accurate trigger from three-point range. He’s not the biggest lead guard and he’s likely to have some issues defending at the point of attack, but he’s such an additive player offensively that he can work in a variety of roles. I’m curious what Stirtz would look like in a faster system and more scaled down role after creating every advantage and playing nearly every minute for Iowa during his senior season.
17. Oklahoma City Thunder – Nate Ament, F, Tennessee
Ament couldn’t live up to the top-5 hype in the preseason he as struggled with physicality and failed to score efficiently from any part of the floor. Still, there’s a reason he was so highly touted entering the year, and it’s easy to see the outline of an athletic, two-way four man who can still impact the game in a more scaled down offensive role. Ament’s 29 percent usage rate was tops on Tennessee, and giving him that much offensive responsibility on a team without great spacing was always too much to ask. I’d like to see what he looks like as a more of a fourth option on offense who can space the floor and attack closeouts while using his 6’10 frame to alter shots defensively.
18. Charlotte Hornets – Chris Cenac Jr., C, Houston
The Hornets have to come away with a big, and Cenac is the best available at this slot. While he’s likely a couple years away from making an impact, Cenac has elite physical tools at 6’10+, 240 pounds with a 7’5 wingspan. He has a confident shooting stroke from deep, and could be a valuable stretch five (or a four in bigger lineups) who also crushes the defensive glass down the line. He’s a bit raw right now and can struggle with his feel for the game, but the idealized version of Cenac would be a great piece for Charlotte as it continues to build a contender in the East.
19. Toronto Raptors – Labaron Philon, G, Alabama
Philon could inject some much needed juice into the Raptors’ halfcourt offense, which ranked No. 13 in efficiency during the regular season but struggled badly in the playoffs. The Alabama guard is super shifty off the bounce and will thrive in an NBA drive-and-kick game, and he offers scoring ability inside the arc with his floater. His three-point shot made a big leap this season (from 31.5 percent to 40 percent from deep while nearly doubling his volume), but there are some questions about how sustainable that is with a lower release point. Philon is very skinny and will probably never be a good defender, but this would be a very good value at this slot for a potential high-octane creator.
20. San Antonio Spurs – Cameron Carr, G, Baylor
For a 6’5 wing, Carr is extremely long (7’1 wingspan), highly explosive (44 dunks), and a really good spot-up shooter who hit 37.6 percent behind the arc on 205 attempts. There’s a case for him to go much higher than this, but his limited creation ability, shaky passing vision, and thin frame gives me some pause.
21. Detroit Pistons – Ebuka Okorie, G, Stanford
No one expected Okorie to be a one-and-done entering the year as a recruit ranked outside the top-100, but his creation flashes made it undeniable while playing for a middling Stanford team. Okorie has the best first-step in the class and the acceleration to separate once he gains the initial advantage. He’s more of a scorer than a playmaker right now, which isn’t ideal for a 6’2 guard. Still, his ability to create his own offense while limiting turnovers and showing a solid three-point stroke gives him real upside in this part of the draft. I’d like to see what Cade Cunningham looks like in a more off-ball role at times, and Okorie can get him there.
22. Philadelphia 76ers – Allen Graves, F, Santa Clara
Graves would fill a position of need for the Sixers at power forward while also offering two-way upside if he can cut down on fouling. The redshirt freshman from Santa Clara forced turnovers at an incredible rate this season while also shooting 40 percent from three, but his aggressive play led to a lot of hacking that kept him in a sixth man role. Graves isn’t the best athlete, but this area of the draft feels right for an analytics darling who measured well at the combine (7-foot wingspan and 225-pound frame) and has some real skill flashes.
23. Atlanta Hawks – Karim Lopez, F, New Zealand Breakers
Lopez is a big forward who can play with the ball in his hands, but there are questions about his shooting and off-ball defense. He can look good attacking in a straight line as a driver, but he’s a bit stiff athletically when he’s in need of counters. His frame and downhill ability are worth betting on at this point, and he could offer quite a bit of upside if he figures out his spot-up three-pointer.
24. New York Knicks – Joshua Jefferson, F, Iowa State
Jefferson’s ability to play with physicality on both ends while also bringing connective offensive traits makes him one of the best seniors in this year’s draft. I had Jefferson as the third best player in college basketball this year. While I doubt he’ll have quite as much creation equity at the next level, his reps in a high usage, more on-ball role at ISU will serve him well in the NBA when the ball swings to him. It feels like he fits the Knicks’ ethos well,.
25. Los Angeles Lakers – Henri Veesar, C, North Carolina
Veesar is one of the only stretch five options in this class, but he does a lot more offensively than just shoot. The 7-footer thrived in a high-low game with Caleb Wilson by showing good passing touch and efficient scoring inside the arc. He won’t be a plus defensively at center, but giving Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves a pick-and-pop big man with good feel offensively would be a nice choice after this range of the draft was thinned out by NIL.
26. Denver Nuggets – Christian Anderson, G, Texas Tech
It’s hard to find a place for all the small guards in this draft given the way the league is trending, and that means someone like Anderson could be a major steal. The Texas Tech point guard is one of the very best shooters in this draft class, and also a solid playmaker who won’t rack up turnovers. While he measured pretty small at the combine, he does have a 6’6+ wingspan that at least gives him a chance defensively.
27. Boston Celtics – Tyler Tanner, G, Vanderbilt
Tanner might be destined to return to college after being one of the most divisive players in this year’s class. He was one of the very best players in college basketball as a sophomore, but he’s just so small at a tick under 5’11 barefoot and 167 pounds with a 6’4.25 wingspan. He definitely plays bigger than his size on both ends with a sixth sense for forcing turnovers and a rare ability to dunk on your head for such a tiny guard. I have questions about his three-point shooting and creation ability at the next level. He’d be a great flier in this range.
28. Minnesota Timberwolves – Koa Peat, F, Arizona
The NBA seems to think Peat should return for his sophomore year, and it’s hard to blame them. He looks more like a run-stopping defensive end than an NBA power forward, but there’s still some potential here for a defensive wing stopper with short-roll playmaking and some play-finishing ability. His outside shot is broken and he lacks lateral quickness or agility, but he would be a fine flier in this range.
29. Cleveland Cavaliers – Zuby Ejiofor, C, St. John’s
Ejiofor is a rugged big man who can help wall off the paint defensively while adding some impressive connective passing traits in the frontcourt. He’s a disruptive defender who plays with a high motor and does all the little things good role players need to do. He’s a tad small for a five at 6’7.5 barefoot with a 7’2 wingspan and 245 pound frame, but he’ll find a way to make it work with an impressive combo of physicality and feel.
30. Dallas Mavericks – Meleek Thomas, G, Arkansas
Thomas can fill it up from outside as a microwave scorer while also not making stupid decisions with the ball. He should be able to defend a little bit better than most players in his archetype. The Mavs could stand to add some off-ball offensive firepower off the bench in this slot.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 25: Tyrese Proctor #24 of the Cleveland Cavaliers defends Miles McBride #2 of the New York Knicks during the fourth quarter in Game Four of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Rocket Arena on May 25, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Tyrese Proctor’s rookie season came to an end Monday night as the New York Knicks beat the Cleveland Cavaliers, 130-93, sweeping the series, 4-0.
Proctor, who rarely got off the bench in the playoffs, got 9 minutes here. He didn’t score, but he got 1 rebound and 2 assists.
The Knicks move on and will play either the San Antonio Spurs, with Mason Plumlee, or the Oklahoma City Thunder, with Jared McCain, in the finals.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 25: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on against the New York Knicks during the first quarter in Game Four of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Rocket Arena on May 25, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
CLEVELAND — The leap between being a great team and being a championship-caliber one is the hardest to make. This series shows that the Cleveland Cavaliers have a lot of work to do before they can say they’re on that level.
This was supposed to be a somewhat even matchup with the New York Knicks, but it wasn’t.
The Knicks dominated every aspect of the series since the fourth quarter of Game 1. That continued as they completed their sweep with a 37-point victory in Game 4.
The ending to this season was always going to be messy, but this was much worse than anyone could’ve reasonably expected.
This series, and the playoffs as a whole, were a referendum on Donovan Mitchell.
This group was constructed around Mitchell. Each player was brought here because they either cover up a weakness or accent one of Mitchell’s skills. So when Mitchell isn’t playing at a star level, things can get sideways quickly.
It’s not impossible for elite playoff teams to gameplan around a 6’2” guard who can only score at a high level. We’ve seen this throughout his four postseason runs in Cleveland, and did so again here.
Each team the Cavs ran into this postseason was able to take Mitchell out of his comfort zone.
The Toronto Raptors were physical at the point of attack and able to switch every on-ball screen. The Detroit Pistons put one of the best perimeter defenders in the league, Ausar Thompson, on Mitchell, making it difficult for him to get to his spots. And then the Knicks just crowded the paint, making it difficult to get anything going inside.
This all added up to Mitchell accumulating his lowest point total and the least efficiency in his last three postseason runs.
Throughout the playoffs, the Cavs were better with Mitchell off the court than they were with him on. They lost the minutes he’s played in 12 of the 18 postseason games. This includes every matchup against the Knicks.
Mitchell had good moments — including an impressive Game 7 in Detroit — but they made it to this point despite his play on the court, not because of it. That’s a problem.
Game 4 showed this again.
It was a four-point game when James Harden subbed out with three minutes left in the first quarter. Evan Mobley and Mitchell anchored a hybrid bench lineup without him. And by the time Harden came back into the game, it was a 12-point game.
This had been happening all postseason. Mitchell couldn’t elevate groups when Harden isn’t on the court, even when he’s going up against other teams’ bench units. As a result, the Cavs are losing the minutes Mitchell plays without Harden by 9.4 points per 100 possessions going into Game 4. Overall, the Cavs were outscored in when Mitchell is on the court by 1.4 points per 100 possessions.
It’s fair to wonder if the Mitchell and Harden pairing can ever work in the postseason. Far too often, the flaws of the backcourt — mostly on the defensive end — came through while their strengths didn’t. Those lineups weren’t outstanding offensively, and didn’t hold up well on the other end.
The duo didn’t have much time to gel in the regular season. Figuring out an entirely new playing style with under 1,000 regular-season possessions is nearly impossible. That alone could give you hope that they could improve.
“He’s helped this group and myself get somewhere we’ve never been,” Mitchell said of Harden. “And that’s with three months of work, three months of prep, three months of whatever. Now, you have a full summer of conversations, of film, of working out together, training, you have a whole year now.”
All that said, banking on them doing so is far from a guarantee, given both players’ track record in the postseason and Harden’s age.
For as inconsistent as this postseason was, the Cavs don’t get to this point without Mitchell.
This regular season was a disaster in so many ways. A combination of injuries to key players, the offseason acquisitions not living up to their standards, and a general step backward from most of the remaining pieces resulted in this team being 17-16 just after Christmas. For context, they didn’t lose the 16th game of the season before until the beginning of April.
This could’ve, and honestly, should’ve been a lost season. However, it wasn’t.
“He’s the number one reason we went to the conference finals,” head coach Kenny Atkinson said of Mitchell. “He took it to another level. Led even better than he did the year before. Adapted to a new roster. … With his communication, his leadership, he kind of made that work on the fly.”
For as frustrating as it ended, you don’t accidentally make it to the conference finals. That’s something you have to earn, and the Cavs proved something that they haven’t previously during this postseason run. However, just getting to the conference finals wasn’t the end goal, and there’s no guarantee that you will get back to that point.
This all makes deciding what they should do in the summer so much more difficult.
The argument for making a drastic change is straightforward. We’ve seen this group not play up to their standards in too many postseasons to run back the same basic two guard, two big structure and expect the result to be different.
Figuring out the perfect move that gets them over the hump isn’t.
Do you try to make a big swing for a player like Giannis Antetokounmpo? This would require giving up multiple key players and draft picks to do so, and then you’d have to figure out a way to retool the roster around a new number one.
Would doing everything you could to convince LeBron James to return for one more go around turn them into championship contenders?
Is there a way to retool and get younger, while not losing your standing in the conference?
There is still merit to wanting to avoid shaking things up too much. After all, this run showed that they can have postseason success. If they handle business quicker and shoot better against New York, this would be a very different conversation. A full offseason with Harden trying to figure out a more concrete playing style on both ends of the floor should help as well.
“I have no doubts that this group can get there,” Mitchell said. “I’ve said this all year. I think the biggest thing is you use this as a learning lesson. It’s a tough learning lesson, but now we know. … This team that we faced had to go through this. They’ve been together and had to go through this tough experience. So this is our turn.
“And I’m sorry for the city of Cleveland, for it to be like this, a sweep, like, that’s ass. But I told y’all last year, and I’ll say it again, we’ll be ready, and we’ll be hungry, and be locked in.”
HOUSTON, TEXA - MAY 4: Houston Rockets general manager Rafael Stone speaks to the media during a news conference wrapping up the season at Toyota Center in Houston, Monday, May 4, 2026. (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)
The Houston Rockets’ offseason plans haven’t been made clear. The Rockets could go in a number of directions, as they’ve got glaring roster needs.
Last season’s team lacked playmaking guards, not to mention the Rockets’ lack of outside shooters. The Rockets lost the math game essentially every night. And they could use more shot makers (and shot takers) in general.
From a roster standpoint, the team needs major upgrades. They can’t expect another season like this from Kevin Durant.
And they can’t expect Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams to make all the difference and fill all of the voids. They’ve even admitted that.
However, the messaging regarding what Houston intends to do this summer has been very inconsistent, especially if you’ve been keeping up with General Manager Rafael Stone’s media appearances since Houston’s early postseason exit.
During Houston’s end of season presser, Stone essentially stated that Houston would be running it back, save for marginal moves intended to shore up the tail end of the roster.
“In terms of the roster, we’ll look at everything and look at all potential deals but we think that the players in our locker room can win alot of games and be very competitive.
We have players coming back from injury that will help us. If we bring back largely the same group, continuity will help us.”
Stone and Ime Udoka sat side by side and emphasized the importance of internal growth from the Rockets’ younger players, across the board. Udoka’s quote is below.
“For us, I think improvement across the board with our young guys…not making any changes, that’s growth from those guys. Getting everybody back healthy, that’s part of it.”
Stone then joined the Ryen Russilo podcast and seemingly said something entirely different.
“Hopefully, we get healthy and we’ll work really hard this summer at bolstering the roster. Maybe there’s things we can do that help us a little bit and come back next year and hopefully we’re a much better team.”
Perhaps this is all just a matter of conjuring. Maybe Stone doesn’t want to show his hand.
Understandably.
Once you make it known that you’re looking to move a player, they lose value, as an asset. Because teams know you’re ultimately wanting to rid yourself of said asset and they may not be as inclined to offer top value.
The messaging has certainly been inconsistent and a bit difficult to follow, regarding whether the Rockets intend to run it back or make an aggressive, franchise-defining move. They likely want to find another bargain, like last year’s deal for Kevin Durant.
That seems unlikely. Especially on the star front.
Donovan Mitchell and/or Giannis Antetokounmpo — the stars on the market this summer — won’t come cheap. It’s been suggested that Houston could try to make a move at those players.
Regardless, Houston’s brass can’t afford to simply run it back and bank on internal improvement and/or development. They’re going to have to be active, if they hope to get on the same tier as the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs — who sit atop the Western Conference.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 25: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts during the second quarter an in Game Four of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Rocket Arena on May 25, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
An NBA season can end in many ways.
For about half of the league, the season ends without ever really beginning. Teams that finish in the lottery or lose in the Play-In Tournament never had much on the line.
Losing in the actual playoffs can vary. A hard-fought exit for a young team like the Toronto Raptors is still encouraging. A brutal 3-1 collapse from a title contender in Boston is harrowing, but they have enough championship DNA to feel good about running it back.
But then, there are the teams that get humbled. The ones who have to swallow some reality pills.
It’s hard to feel good about anything that comes on the wrong side of a sweep, and that only gets worse the deeper you go in the postseason.
For the Cleveland Cavaliers, I’m not sure a clearer message could have been sent in the Eastern Conference Finals: This team isn’t good enough.
Let’s start by adding context.
Getting this far is hard
Making it to the Eastern Conference Finals is an achievement. It’s not the ultimate goal, of course, but an accomplishment nonetheless. This was only the ninth time in 56 years that Cleveland made it to the final four. That means something.
It’s more impressive considering this team was put together on the fly. Darius Garland, De’Andre Hunter, and Lonzo Ball were all supposed to be key contributors to this team. All of which were shipped out in February, leaving the newcomers only a few weeks to acclimate themselves to Cleveland.
Teams that make a blockbuster move at the deadline rarely go deep into the playoffs. Inserting James Harden into the lineup and managing to go this far in the postseason is an anomaly. Again, that’s worth something.
But it still wasn’t good enough.
The Cavs hit the ground running in round one. They surged to a 2-0 series lead over the Raptors, riding the momentum of Donovan Mitchell and James Harden. The two-shot creators looked ready to rewrite the narratives around their playoff shortcomings and hit no hitches in their first two playoff games together.
That didn’t last.
Mitchell and Harden hit a wall in Toronto. They struggled to generate quality offense without turning it over or relying entirely on the outside shot. This would prove to be the theme throughout the rest of the playoffs, causing them to play seven games against a Raptors team that was missing multiple starters and then later failing to close out a reeling Pistons team.
“I tell you what didn’t help was losing those two Game 6’s,” said Kenny Atkinson. “I’ve been in this a long time, and you have to take advantage of those opportunities.”
Overcoming adversity and winning two Game 7s is encouraging. It’s a step forward for this squad. But it was also a sign that this team isn’t as close as they should be. Good teams don’t play with their food.
The Eastern Conference Finals confirmed that.
Shut Out by New York
The Cavs had to battle through two grueling seven-game series to get here. That begged the question, how much gas would they have left? The answer, after blowing a 22-point lead in Game 1, was none.
“We didn’t give ourselves a chance,” said Mitchell. “You can’t play with your food. We had an opportunity to close both [previous] series and give ourselves a rest.”
Cleveland jumped out to an early lead and then gradually played worse as the series went on. New York controlled every facet by the end, working harder, playing smarter, and providing solutions for anything the Cavs threw at them.
Conversely, the Cavs had nothing to fall back on. They aren’t an elite defense, falling outside of the top 10 this season for the first time since emerging as a playoff team. They also took a step backwards offensively, finishing the season 13th in three-point percentage after being a historically efficient squad last year.
That all rang true throughout the series as New York blew the doors off offensively while the Cavs failed to ever muster up a counter punch.
“I don’t think we even had a chance, not giving our best punch,” said Harden. “We didn’t even play a quarter of Cavs basketball.”
They were defeated through and through. I’m not sure holding on in Game 1 would have made a meaningful difference.
“Go through the other games, and look at the totality of it, and they pretty much dominated,” said Aktinson.
New York has won 11 straight playoff games. They’ve done it with the greatest offensive stretch of basketball in postseason history. That didn’t happen just because they shot the cover off the ball (they did), but because they properly adjusted to every moment of adversity and had an identity to fall back on.
Jalen Brunson and the Knicks don’t need three-pointers to beat you. They can get downhill, score from the mid-range, get to the free-throw line, or punish you with their passing. And while Brunson, for example, isn’t a great defender, the effort he puts into not being picked on was far greater than either Mitchell or Harden showed. That gives you a higher floor to work with.
That wasn’t true for Cleveland. The Cavs, who finished 13th in three-point percentage, launched over 150 three-pointers in this series and converted on fewer than 30% of them. That’s an indication that no one knows what this team is supposed to turn to when things get tough. They just kept firing away from deep, praying the results would change.
Again, how you end a season can tell you a lot.
The Cavs didn’t just get swept; they were run off their home floor in an elimination game. A night that was over almost as soon as the jump ball was thrown into the air. Championship-caliber teams don’t do that.
Season Conclusion
This type of exit means more than Cleveland’s previous losses. They weren’t injured. They didn’t underperform against a team that’s going nowhere. They measured themselves up against a legit contender and found out they don’t even come close to meeting the mark.
The writing was on the wall for most of the season. Cleveland wore their weaknesses on their sleeve and stayed committed to a process that no longer matched the personnel on the roster. They never came close to finding the joy, pace, or unselfish ball movement that defined their success a year ago. That finally led to their end versus New York.
The individual talent on this roster allowed the Cavs to overachieve in many ways. They made it farther than most. But the cohesion and willingness to adapt are what made the Knicks a significantly better basketball team. You can’t fake what they had — and the Cavs clearly didn’t have it.
Perhaps this is another stepping stone towards the end goal. That’s what the Cavs are hoping, anyway. Harden and Mitchell both ended their media availability by re-committing to the franchise and each other.
“I’m sorry for the city of Cleveland, for it to be like this in a sweep,” said Mitchell. “We have unfinished business. The city deserves a ring.”
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - MAY 24: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs celebrates during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game Four of the NBA Western Conference Finals on May 24, 2026 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Everything is tied up heading into Game Five of the Western Conference Finals. The San Antonio Spurs played stout defense against the Oklahoma City Thunder on their way to a 103-82 victory in Game Four. Now the Spurs need to win two of the next three games, including one on the road, to reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 2014.
San Antonio made a major adjustment in the Game Four win. The Spurs doubled Shai Gilgeous-Alexander early and often in the first three games of the series. That may have neutralized SGA’s impact to an extent, but it also led to more open shots for the Thunder’s role players. In Game Four, the Spurs guarded Gilgeous-Alexander 1-on-1 and sent light help on drives. The result was a 19-point game for SGA and a 6-33 night from deep for OKC.
The playoffs are all about adjustments and counter-adjustments. The Thunder will certainly come out with a solution to San Antonio’s defense. They’ll have to do it without key ball-handlers. Ajay Mitchell is out with a calf strain, and Jalen Williams is questionable as he deals with his hamstring injury.
Every playoff game is a “must-win,” but Game Five feels particularly important. Defeating a shorthanded OKC squad on the road with two chances to clinch the series would put the Spurs in a strong position to advance to the Finals. They’ll need another dominant defensive performance to steal Game Five on the road.
Thunder Injuries: Thomas Sorber – Out (knee), Ajay Mitchell – Out (calf), Jalen Williams – Questionable (hamstring)
What to watch for:
Interior scoring
The Spurs outscored the Thunder in the paint 50-36 in Game Four. So far in the playoffs, if San Antonio can control the battle on the interior, they typically can win the game. The Thunder have been good at keeping Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs’ guards from dominating inside. In Game Four, Wembanyama was able to score through or over Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren, while the guards did a better job getting downhill, particularly in the pick-and-roll. Outscoring the Thunder inside again will be crucial to winning Game Five.
Limiting turnovers
The best part about having De’Aaron Fox back in the lineup is the calming presence he brings alongside Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper. San Antonio has been much better at valuing possessions since Fox returned to the lineup in Game Three. The Spurs had just 13 turnovers in Game Four. OKC is at its best when it can create turnovers and score easy buckets in transition. San Antonio’s defense is already suffocating enough. They can’t give the Thunder breaks by turning the ball over and letting them get easy shots.
Champagnie’s shooting
Julian Champagnie has been ice-cold in the Conference Finals. He’s shooting 19.4% from three-point range in the series. San Antonio desperately needs him to start hitting shots. The Thunder have loaded up on Wembanyama and the Spurs’ guards. Devin Vassell has taken advantage of the lack of defensive attention. If Champagnie can follow suit, San Antonio’s offense could be set for an explosion in Game Five.
The New York Knicks are hoping to win their third NBA title [Getty Images]
The New York Knicks reached the NBA Finals for the first time in 27 years with a commanding 130-93 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Knicks continued their fine form as they swept the best-of-seven Eastern Conference Final 4-0 and extended their franchise record play-off win streak to 11 games.
Karl-Anthony Towns led the Knicks' scoring with 19 points and 14 rebounds, while the series' Most Valuable Player Jalen Brunson added 15.
The Knicks, whose only NBA titles came in 1970 and 1973, last reached the Finals in 1999 when they lost 4-1 against the San Antonio Spurs.
Brunson, 29, was two years old when the Knicks last reached the Finals, when his father Rick - who is an assistant coach at the franchise - was a guard on the team.
"It means a lot, but I wouldn't be here without my team-mates, the belief they had in me," said Brunson.
"They give me the confidence. They let me be me. Most importantly, we all believe in each other from top to bottom. It's an honour to play with them."
The Knicks will face either defending champions Oklahoma City or the Spurs in next month's showpiece, with the teams tied at 2-2 in the Western Conference final.
Landry Shamet, who scored 16 points and netted all four of his three-pointer attempts, said his side are remaining focused on the "larger goal" rather than dwelling on their victory over the Cavaliers.
"We've got four more wins to try and go get and we know it's going to be even harder. Being in this position with this team, it's pretty special," he said.
If the Knicks continue their unbeaten run and sweep the finals, they will equal the NBA's record play-off win streak of 15 set by the Golden State Warriors in 2017.
The Knicks ended the first quarter with an 8-0 run and began the second with 12 unanswered points to lead 50-26.
Shamet's third three-pointer later put the Knicks 61-32 up and they never looked back, overwhelming the Cavs after half-time with 22 turnovers.
Donovan Mitchell top-scored for the Cavs with 31 points.
Game five of the Western Conference Final takes place on Tuesday. (01.30 BST Wednesday).
CLEVELAND — Four years later, nobody is questioning that $104 million contract the Knicks gave to Jalen Brunson.
Looking back now, it was a bargain.
Brunson has the Larry Bird Trophy, given to the MVP of the Eastern Conference finals, as proof.
In his fourth postseason as a Knick, Brunson led the franchise back to the NBA Finals for the first time in 27 years, capped by their emphatic series sweep of the Cavaliers on Monday night.
Getty Images
“The belief that the organization has in me has been amazing, and something I don’t take for granted, and something not a lot of people get the opportunity to do,” Brunson said after notching 15 points and five assists in the 130-93 clincher over the Cavaliers in Game 4. “So I’m very thankful. It’s an honor to be here in this city for this organization with my teammates.”
Brunson set the tone in the series opener, exploding for 38 points and rallying the Knicks from a 22-point fourth-quarter deficit. Overall, he averaged 25.5 points and 7.8 assists in the sweep.
Brunson has changed so much for the Knicks during a short period. In the 21 years before his arrival, they won just a single playoff series. Since his arrival, they have claimed seven and will pursue their first championship since 1973 starting next week, against either the Spurs or Thunder.
Before the game, coach Mike Brown was asked if Brunson’s leadership reminds him of anyone he had coached, and he didn’t hesitate: Tim Duncan and Stephen Curry.
Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) reacts in the third quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
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“The aura that those guys have, the quiet strength that they have, is unbelievable,” Brown said.
High praise for the Knicks captain — praise he has earned since he joined the franchise four years ago this summer.
CLEVELAND - In some ways, it’s fitting that Leon Rose and the Knicks are headed to the NBA Finals after knocking out Donovan Mitchell and the Cavaliers.
Rose’s decision to pass on trading for Mitchell was one of the biggest pivot points of this Knicks era.
Remember: New York had the draft picks and the personnel to obtain Mitchell from Utah. But Rose ultimately decided that he didn’t want to meet Danny Ainge’s asking price.
At the time, it was a controversial decision.
In hindsight, it’s one of several pivotal choices by Rose that helped the Knicks ascend to the NBA Finals.
Instead of trading a package centered around RJ Barrett for Mitchell, Rose and his group moved Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and a second round pick to Toronto for OG Anunoby.
Anunoby has been one of the best players in the postseason. He had 17 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals in the Knicks’ closeout win over Cleveland on Monday.
Instead of using multiple first-round picks to acquire Mitchell, Rose sent most of his draft capital to Brooklyn in a trade for Mikal Bridges.
Rose took a ton of criticism for the trade, particularly when the Knicks had a chance to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo the following summer.
So, of course, Bridges made play after play on the defensive end throughout the postseason. He also found ways to attack within the flow of the Knick offense. He and Anunoby have peaked at the best possible time.
If they’d traded for Mitchell, there’s virtually no way they would have signed Donte DiVincenzo the next summer. And without DiVincenzo, the Knicks would’ve needed to use more draft capital to acquire Karl-Anthony Towns from Minnesota.
This was another trade that was criticized and questioned, but Towns on Monday hit 8-of-11 shots and grabbed 14 rebounds.
The Cavs cut the Knick lead to 16 at one point in the third quarter. Towns then went to work, blocking a shot on one end and then knocking down a three-pointer on the other end. Anunoby found Bridges for a wide-open three on the Knicks’ next possession.
That sequence took the life out of any Cleveland comeback.
Shortly after the trophy presentation, Rose spent a quiet moment with his family. Like the rest of the Knicks, Rose seemed to see Monday’s win as a major accomplishment -- but not one worth a raucous celebration.
Maybe that celebration will come in a couple weeks, but the fact that the Knicks are where they are today -- preparing for a trip to the NBA Finals -- is a testament to Rose’s determination and decision-making.
A few weeks ago, the Knicks executive did not receive a vote from his peers for the Executive of the Year award. It’s a regular-season award, and the Knicks had an uneven regular season.
But if you took another vote today, the results would look much different. Rose would probably be at or near the top, which is where his Knicks sit after this remarkable playoff run.
The road to get here wasn’t always easy, but the Knicks are headed to their first NBA Finals since 1999 after sweeping the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals on Monday night, and they are peaking at just the right time.
After going down 2-1 to the Hawks in the first round, New York has rattled off 11 straight wins and has a +272 point-differential over that span. It’s been one of the most dominant stretches not just in Knicks history, but NBA history, and it all starts with head coach Mike Brown who saw his team start playing a this version of basketball towards the end of the regular season.
“Down the stretch, like 6 or 7 games to go, after Landry [Shamet] got back, I started to see us play some good basketball and do more things that were selfless or more sacrificing from the group,” Brown said. “Throughout the course of the season you have your ups and you have your downs, and you have your good and your bad and your adversity that you have to fight through. Sometimes we got through it quickly, sometimes it took us a minute to figure it out.”
The trials and tribulations that the Knicks have faced not just this season but in postseason’s past where they got close to their final destination but couldn’t get over the hump has prepared them for this moment.
Even Brown, in his first season in New York, saw that the team had what it takes to get the job done.
“From afar, I just felt that this team was ready,” he said. “And I’m just thrilled to death that Mr. Dolan gave me an opportunity and Leon Rose gave me an opportunity to be a head coach again, especially here in New York.”
Brown had been a head coach for the Sacramento Kings for two full seasons and helped turn the franchise around before getting fired in the middle of last season.
He’s also no stranger to reaching the finals as he was an assistant coach with the Golden State Warriors for six seasons at the height of their dynasty. Therefore, he knows what it takes to finish the job and has been doing what he can to set his players up for success.
“Our group is playing good basketball and they’re doing it in different ways,” Brown said. “They’re doing it differently, depending on who our opponent is and when you show that type of versatility on both ends of the floor, it adds to your belief.
“I’ve said it before, you use the regular season to get ready for the postseason and our guys did a hell of a job with that.”
“This team is hungry and that’s the most important thing,” added Karl-Anthony Towns. “Even with an amazing, historical win we had tonight, the celebrations were minimal. We really want to get back to work. [We] asked coach can we get back to work quick.”
While the Knicks will and certainly deserve to celebrate their incredible accomplishment of reaching their first NBA finals in more than two decades, they know their ultimate goal is still out there.
However, it’s now within their grasps and closer than it’s ever been for them.
“It feels good. We’re excited, we’re happy we won, but we’re also not satisfied,” said OG Anunoby. “We’re gonna celebrate tonight, but then once tomorrow comes, start resting and preparing for the next round.”
If New York is able to defeat either the San Antonio Spurs or the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals, it’ll be the franchise’s first championship since 1973. But the way they’re playing right now – the best they’ve played all season – the Knicks should be considered the favorites.
“We’ve gotten to this point because we worked together, we’ve been a team, we’ve been unified,” Towns said. “The collective group has shown up in spots when we need to.”
