San Antonio Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama needs to be very careful about flagrant fouls in the NBA Finals. And in Game 5, he may have gotten away with one.
Midway through the third quarter Saturday, June 13, Wembanyama jumped to contest a 3-point attempt from Knicks All-Star Jalen Brunson. During Wembanyama’s closeout, he approached Brunson’s landing area, leading to Brunson landing on Wembanyama’s right foot.
Officials opted not to call a foul on Wembanyama, which normally would’ve induced a review to see if it constituted a reckless closeout.
Brunson was extremely upset with officials and ran over to argue. A closer look at the play, however, showed that Brunson kicked his leg out in a somewhat unnatural motion.
Wembanyama is currently sitting at 3 flagrant points, and any additional flagrant foul penalty — 1 or 2 — would trigger an automatic one-game suspension.
So, while it would seem Wembanyama may have skirted past a suspension, the NBA can still issue one retroactively, since it reviews prior games. If the NBA deems that the play indeed merited a reckless closeout and a flagrant foul, it can upgrade that play, which would result in the suspension.
The Spurs, of course, would need to hold on to win the game to extend the series, anyway.
San Antonio leads, 70-58, with 1:26 left to play in the third quarter.
It sure felt like Wembanyama committed a textbook flagrant foul in the third quarter of Game 5 for crowding Jalen Brunson’s landing spot on a made three-pointer, but the refs didn’t call it. The NBA can review and upgrade calls after the game, and if the league decides that this is indeed a flagrant, Wembanyama would miss a hypothetical Game 6.
This is the classic “Zaza Pachulia rule” — the league mandated that it’s a flagrant foul if a defender doesn’t give a jump shooter landing space after Pachulia injured Kawhi Leonard on a similar play in 2017.
The league already decided not to upgrade Wembanyama’s cheap shot on Brunson earlier in the series, and that sure felt like a flagrant, too. It would be a monumental bummer if Wembanyama missed a hypothetical Game 6 in Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, but the rules are the rules. I think the four flagrant points is far too few for a suspension in the deep playoff run, but that’s how the rules are written.
It will be fascinating to see if this play is upgraded. If it is, Wembanyama won’t be playing if there’s a Game 6 in the NBA Finals.
You'd be forgiven if you watch Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Saturday and think it's being played at Madison Square Garden; that's how big a presence Knicks fans are trying to make themselves known in San Antonio.
Basketball fans know Knicks fans travel well, but this is different. The Knicks are one win away from capturing their first championship in 53 years and fans want to be a part of it.
"Our fans have been fantastic all year. And during the playoffs, they’ve tried to show up and show out wherever we are," Knicks coach Mike Brown said before Game 5. "Not just in the arena, we see them walking around the area we’re staying in. We see them at the hotel. Just to know they are as enthused and rowdy as they are, it’s second to none.
"We love having our fans, we love having them in the building, we love having them around. Hopefully they’ll be able to cheer just as loud as they are at home, here tonight."
Knicks fans were loud early on. As the Spurs had their pregame workouts, fans in their seats were booing Victor Wembanyama as he took his shots.
When the hometown Spurs took the court for pregame shootaround, Knicks fans booed San Antonio's team mercilessly. And they cheered for the Knicks as they took the court.
How could this be? Well, Knicks fans bought nearly 50 percent of the tickets to Game 5. by fans in the NY/NJ area, According to Kyle Zorn of Tick Pick, fans from the New York and New Jersey area bought 45 percent of the tickets.
And of course, the Knicks fan celebs are in attendance.
Fat Joe, Ben Stiller, Timothee Chalamet are in San Antonio and there's likely going to be more as we sit and wait to see if the Knicks can undo 50 years without a title on Saturday night.
Ben Stiller, Timothée Chalamet and Fat Joe are all in San Antonio for Game 5 of the NBA Finals ⭐ pic.twitter.com/qp7ca48Gi2
Barkley, during the postgame of "Inside the NBA" after the Knicks' 107-106 victory, which gave New York a 3-1 series lead, called the Spurs the "dumbest basketball team in the history of civilization."
"That was some of the most mismanaged, stupid basketball," Barkley said. "When you blow a 29-point lead, the other team has to help you. The San Antonio Spurs helped the New York Knicks win this game by doing some of the stupid(est) stuff I've seen on a basketball court."
During the pregame show before Game 5, Barkley made it a point to say who he was directing his ire toward after he said a couple of NBA coaches had called him.
"When I said 'it was really dumb basketball' the other night, I was talking about the players," Barkley said. "I want to make it clear that I wasn't talking about Coach (Mitch Johnson)."
"When I said 'it was really dumb basketball' the other night, I was talking about the players.”
Johnson and his players were criticized for how they handled things in the second half, particularly their poor shot selection and lack of in-game awareness at the end.
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES - JUNE 10: OG Anunoby (8) of the New York Knicks and De'Aaron Fox (4) of San Antonio Spurs in action during the National Basketball Association (NBA) finals game between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs at the Madison Square Garden in New York, United States on June 10, 2026. (Photo by Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty Images) | Anadolu via Getty Images
The Knicks return to the Frost Bank Center to face the Spurs in Game Five of the NBA Finals. They’ve already won there twice—Games One and Two—and are coming off a 29-point comeback for the ages to win Game Four at home. Now, with the Spurs stunned by another blow-lead and heartbreaking loss, the Knicks are ready to close this series out and take home the Larry O’Brien. Meanwhile, Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs are playing for pride with their season on the line.
Should be a helluva game. Tip-off is 8:30 pm EST on ABC. This is your game thread. This is Pounding the Rock. Please don’t post large photos, GIFs, or links to illegal streams in the thread. Try not to lose your minds. And go Knicks!
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 10: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs shoots the ball over Josh Hart #3 of the New York Knicks during the third quarter in Game Four of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden on June 10, 2026 in 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 Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to the Game Thread. Veterans of the Game Thread know how we do things around here, but for all you newbies we have a few rules. Our community guidelines apply and basically say be cool, no personal attacks, don’t troll and don’t swear too much. The rule against trolling also applies to members of this site that visit other fan sites.
It’s been a rough three days, folks. I just had to listen to this song like a hundred times [warning: foul language] and have long conversations with my cats about the unfairness of life [they’re excellent listeners]. I’ve had to limit my PTR time, since every time I go onto the site, I see fans trying to tear each other apart and saying that everyone should be fired, and wondering how mad they would have been if the Spurs didn’t even make it to the NBA Finals1. It’s just really hard to get to the edge of success and then slip on a banana peel and fall down the mountain. A wise man once said, “I refuse to carry the burden of hiding my emotions.” And that’s the trick, feel it, let it motivate you, but don’t let it overwhelm you. That’s where the Spurs are in tonight’s game, they have to acknowledge their historic collapse in Game 3, but also have to move forward by playing with poise for 48 minutes. I think this series has shown that the Spurs have more talent in the starting lineup, but the veteran focus of the Knicks can take advantage of every mistake. They know how to exploit the way the game is being called by the refs and Coach Mike Brown knows how to work the officials.
You have to give credit to the Knicks for what they did on Wednesday night as they fought all the way to the end, but you also have to recognize the the Spurs should have won the game. If the Silver and Black can make better decisions, they still have a chance to win tonight’s game, and if they win tonight, then they just have to win one more, and then win one more again. This team can do it if they play up to their abilities, and maybe have a few bounces go their way. THIS ISN’T OVER, DAMMIT!!
Luke Kornet is questionable tonight with an undisclosed illness, and while the team hasn’t played well whenever Wembanyama has to rest, he does have to rest sometimes, because his fatigue late in Game 4 was a big factor in the Knicks comeback surge. If Luke can’t go, you might see a lot of small ball with Carter Bryant, and a lot of Hack-a-Robinson when Wemby sits. Devin Vassell could have a breakout game with the home-ish2 crowd. Things could get ugly tonight, but if it ends in a win for the Silver and Black, it’ll be beautiful. GO SPURS GO!!
Answer: they probably wouldn’t be mad at all.
It’s been reported that about half of the tickets for this game were sold to fans from the New York metro area. That’s going to make for a very interesting atmosphere.
Game Prediction:
Chants of “refs you suck” erupt whenever a foul is called against either team, because both Spurs and Knicks fans hate refs, and there’s a bunch of both in the arena.
San Antonio Spurs vs New York Knicks, NBA Finals, Game 5 June 13, 2026 | 7:30 PM CT Streaming: ESPN TV: ABC Reminder: It is against site policy to post links to illegal streams in the comments.
A Knicks superfan on Long Island is celebrating the team’s historic NBA Finals run with a lavish, 10,000 LED light display that cost $5,000 and took 40 hours to install.
James Hentschel, who is known for his elaborate light displays outside his Deer Park home, has had the Knicks-themed blaze of blue and orange up since Game 1.
“If they win tonight, it’s not coming down for at least a week or two. If they don’t, it stays on until they win,” Hentschel, 48, told The Post on Saturday
Knicks superfan James Hentschel decked out his Long Island home for the NBA Finals. Courtesy James Hentschel
The contractor purchased the Govee curtain lights last year, and painstakingly installed them in the back and front of his house.
The lights are connected to an app, which enables him to change the scenes year-round for every celebration from Halloween and Christmas to the Fourth of July and his children’s birthday.
On Sunday, he will also be adding a light display for the UFC Freedom 250, which is being held on the South Lawn of the White House.
The lavish setup cost $5,000 and took 40 hours to install. Courtesy James Hentschel
Hentschel, who also commemorated the Knicks’ playoff run last year outside his house, said neighbors near and far drive by to marvel at the decorations.
“Cars just stop, take pictures, stop, take pictures … and videos,” he said.
His wife isn’t as excited about being in the limelight.
“She tolerates it, I would say. It’s not her favorite thing. But it occupies me and keeps me happy.”
Some Knicks fans who planned to go to San Antonio are going miss their chance to witness history in person.
Raucous and eager Knicks fans were set to take off on an American Airlines flight from LaGuardia Airport to Austin at 12:30 p.m. ET to potentially watch the Knicks clinch their first NBA Finals title in 53 years, but that will not happen anymore for at least some of them after a few delays, according to a Knicks fan account on X.
The flight, originally scheduled for 12:30, was delayed until 2:30 p.m., and then until 4, and then again for another hour, meaning fans would likely miss at least the start of the 8:30 p.m. opening tip for Game 5 at Frost Bank Center when factoring in the commute from Austin to San Antonio.
When your flight was supposed to leave from LGA at 12:30, then got delayed to 2:30, and now delayed to 4.
Which means not getting to San Antonio in time. Thanks @AmericanAir
New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby goes up for a shot as San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper jumps to defend during the fourth quarter of NBA Finals Game 4. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
At 3:11 p.m., the flight no longer had a flight crew, with Knick fan @EverythinKnicks even joking that Spurs fans must be controlling the air traffic control centers.
The same account later posted that the flight was delayed until 5 p.m. and that they didn’t end up going as they’d miss practically the entire game.
“Flight ended up getting delayed to 5,” they wrote. “So nobody was going to make it to the game in time. All the Knicks fans decided to not take the flight at that point because once they told us we needed to get off the plane due to the delays, there was no point of getting back on.”
Some on X felt sorry for @EverythinKnicks, but others thought the user’s decision to cut it so close was bound to backfire.
“Oh my god I’m so sorry. Please tell MSG. Maybe they can help in some way – Game 6? Parade route? Player meet and greet?” X user @willrocklin responded.
“Am I the only one who thinks it’s crazy to not leave a day in advance instead of the day of to ensure I get to the game? Like this is poor planning and I don’t feel bad at all,” @Maiers_Luke wrote
Fans watch the NY Knicks game 4 of the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs outside of Healthy Market on Wednesday, June 10, 2026 in New York City. Michael Nagle for NY Post
Toby Hyde, a Brooklyn resident, was supposed to board a 5:33 p.m. flight from John F. Kennedy Airport to San Antonio on Friday, but the storms sent him scrambling for a backup plan.
Even with potentially fewer members of Knicks faithful there, the Knicks can close out the Spurs in San Antonio in Game 5 Saturday night to win their first title since 1973.
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 12: Mikel Brown Jr. looks on during the game 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
Pure talent is rarely enough to guarantee NBA success. Roster construction, development, and team fit are just as vital to a highly touted player’s longevity in the pros.
With the 2026 NBA draft less than two weeks away, the Brooklyn Nets’ priority at No. 6 overall should be selecting the player who best fits the organization’s long-term vision, not necessarily the one with the highest raw consensus rating. Ultimately, talent and development go hand in hand.
There’s been a flurry of names linked to the Nets at No. 6 overall, from players like Michigan’s Aday Mara and Tennessee’s Nate Ament to the top guards such as Houston’s Kingston Flemings, Arkansas’ Darius Acuff Jr. and Illinois’ Keaton Wagler.
League sources tell NetsDaily the current favorite is Louisville’s Mikel Brown Jr. In 21 games (19 starts) last season, Brown Jr. averaged 18.2 points, 4.7 assists, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.2 steals while shooting 41.0% from the field and 34.4% from beyond the arc.
At 6’5” and 190lbs, MBJ. was limited to just 21 games last season after he dealt with lingering back issues. Despite that medical flag, sources indicate there are no long-term concerns regarding his back.
Evaluating a high-upside prospect with a medical history like Brown’s speaks directly to the delicate balance of the front office. And while Sean Marks commands league-wide respect for establishing a first-class organizational culture, front-office insiders point to a persistent flaw in his team-building calculus: When assessing Marks’ decade-long executive resume, one league source emphasized that while the veteran executive excels at identifying raw talent, he struggles to account for their roster fit.
In this year’s draft, his goal is to find a talented player who also fits with the Nets.
Several league sources have expressed how well Brown Jr. fits the Nets’ future and vision, adding that he firmly fits the mold of what Jordi Fernández looks for in his players, largely due to his playmaking ability and spot-up shooting, coupled with strong defensive traits.
According to James Barlowe of the NBA Big Board, the Nets visited with Brown Jr. and his family in Orlando, while also hosting him for a pre-draft visit at the HSS Training Center.
“It’s a good sign of the interest level that the Nets have,” Barlowe said. “From what I understand, it was Jordi, it was Sean Marks, it was the assistant general manager, just trying to get a feel for the kid and the situation. From what I hear or what I heard, not only did he kill that interview, he’s killed every interview…
Sources: The Brooklyn Nets and the Milwaukee Bucks have recently both visited Mikel Brown Jr in Orlando to watch workouts and meet with the family.
Brown Jr is scheduled to visit the Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Clippers and Dallas Mavericks before the draft. pic.twitter.com/ey9KYTbHtT
However, the Nets may not be able to wait until the sixth overall pick to select the Louisville product. According to Sean Farham of ESPN, “[Mikel Brown Jr.] has now moved his name up and the momentum is on his side,” and could be in play for the Los Angeles Clippers at No. 5.
"[Mikel Brown Jr.] has now moved his name up and the momentum is on his side."@SeanFarnham joins @MJAcostaTV to discuss the latest surrounding the fifth pick in the NBA draft 👀 pic.twitter.com/KWk8gobQL2
The good news is the Nets could look to leapfrog the Clippers. Word around inside circles is that multiple teams in the top-10 are looking to enter the top-four.
Brooklyn certainly has the ammunition to be one of those teams.
As ESPN’s Bobby Marks pointed out, the Nets have the most draft assets through 2033, including a whopping 14 first-round picks over that span. Obviously, it is highly unlikely that the organization will make even close to all of those picks, meaning they could be better used as trade chips.
If the Nets elect to make a move on draft night, the Bulls could emerge as a team worth watching. Chicago holds both the No. 4 and No. 15 selections and has reportedly explored the possibility of moving back from No. 4 in exchange for more immediate help, while also remaining a candidate to trade up from the middle of the first round.
Last year shouldn’t impact their approach to this year’s draft. Aside from Egor Dëmin, none of the 2025 first-rounders will be guaranteed minutes right away in their second season. Instead, they’ll have to earn it.
Aside from Dëmin, none of Brooklyn’s other four selections consistently delivered a high level of play. Nolan Traoré, Danny Wolf, Ben Saraf, and Drake Powell each had strong stretches at times but struggled to sustain the level of success Dëmin did.
In league circles, the futures of the Flatbush Five aren’t as particularly promising. One talent evaluator told ND that he had a late second-round grade on Saraf, but he never saw the appeal with Traoré. Ultimately, choosing to make all five of those selections last year put the organization in a rough situation as they look to play competitive basketball starting in 2026.
With the draft right around the corner, the Nets face a pivotal decision. Talent is crucial, but fit also matters just as much. Whoever the organization selects will need to not only possess upside, but also fit the vision of where this organization is trying to go.
Whichever way they go, it needs to be the right pick.
If Boston is considering trading Jaylen Brown — and multiple reports have said they are at least open to the idea — it almost certainly would be part of a deal to land Giannis Antetokounmpo. The idea being that Boston president Brad Stevens wants to force coach Joe Mazzulla to focus more on attacking the rim than shooting 3-pointers by giving him a star player who doesn't really shoot the 3.
"They don't want a mid-career player if they're trading Giannis. So from what I've heard, they are looking at Jaylen Brown in terms of flipping him to another team. I've been told possibly Atlanta. ... I've been told possibly New Orleans, who have young players."
Marc Stein at The Stein Line confirmed that the Hawks are interested in Brown, if he's available, as are the Portland Trail Blazers and Houston Rockets. Then he gets into the real challenge: Brown is set to make $57.1 million next season and has two fully guaranteed years beyond that for $126 million. Brown is worth the money, he is coming off an All-NBA season where he averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game. The problem is just making it work under the salary cap rules in a world where teams are scared of the tax aprons.
If the trade is Antetokounmpo to the Celtics for Brown, there will be at least three, and maybe four or more, teams involved in a very complex deal. And complex deals with a lot of moving parts are much harder to pull together.
Agent says “10-12" teams interested in LeBron
The most likely outcome of the LeBron James saga this summer is that he remains with the Lakers for a ninth season. However, maybe that idea is premature if you ask LeBron's agent, Rich Paul, who said on ESPN he has not spoken to LeBron about this, and that "10-12" teams expressed interest in the 41-year-old.
Despite rumors circulating, Rich Paul tells @PatMcAfeeshow that he hasn't had a conversation with LeBron James about next season, but has received calls from "about 10-12 teams" interested
"Believe nothing that's out there because I haven't had one conversation with him." pic.twitter.com/drtwegSNhC
I don't doubt that many teams may have expressed some level of interest in Paul. However, there are other factors that narrow down that list: How many of those teams does LeBron want to play for? How many of them can pay more than the minimum? Can that team compete for a title (or at least be a playoff threat)? Does it keep him close to home and his family in Los Angeles?
Put those parameters on the list, and you get the Lakers, maybe the Warriors (who might be able to use the $15 million mid-level exception), and... not much else.
Pelicans listen to Murphy offers
While teams have called for more than a year, every time another GM asked about Trey Murphy III's availability, the Pelicans essentially hung up the phone.
No more, reports NBA insider Marc Stein at The Stein Line. He adds that the Pistons and Pacers have expressed interest, but you can bet the line is longer than that — these playoffs have shown how much versatile two-way wings/forwards are critical to teams that want to advance in the playoffs.
Murphy is a solid wing defender who averaged 21.5 points and 5.7 rebounds per game, shooting 37.9% from 3-point range last season.
It's likely the asking price for Murphy will be steep, but for a Detroit team looking for a secondary shot creator to put next to Cade Cunningham, it might be worth it.
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 28: Austin Reaves #15 and Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers high five during the game against the Dallas Mavericks during a 2025-26 Emirates NBA Cup on November 28, 2025 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Offensively, there are few arguments against it. The pair showed they are a more-than-capable on that end of the floor and, in fact, are one of the most potent offensive duos in the league.
The questions largely rest on the other end of the floor. Neither player is a strong individual defender, which raises plenty of questions about whether the Lakers can contend for a title with them as the starting backcourt.
For whatever it’s worth, the Lakers are confident it’s not nearly as much of a concern. In a recent piece on The Athletic, Dan Woike reported that the Lakers feel the defensive issues are “overstated.”
Provided the Lakers address other needs on the wing and at the rim, defensive concerns about a Dončić-and-Reaves pairing are overstated, one team source said. Reaves was also one of the most important voices inside the Lakers’ locker room a season ago, his leadership developing year over year.
The easy reaction to this is that obviously the Lakers would feel this way. In their defense, there are some numbers that back it up. From Feb. 1 through the end of March, a span of 29 games, the Lakers ranked 12th in the league in defensive rating.
That came without the rest of the team necessarily optimized around them. There were few plus defenders on the roster last year, something the team can hopefully address this summer.
If anything, that stat is not just a credit to Reaves and Luka for contributing to a solid defense, but also a testament to the work of head coach JJ Redick this season.
There are going to be caveats with having Luka and Austin on a team together. The team will need to be great offensively, but that should be the easy part. In that same aforementioned span, LA was sixth in offensive rating.
Through an admittedly limited sample size, the Lakers showed they can hang on both ends of the floor with a Luka-Austin backcourt. Clearly, that is enough evidence for them to believe in this long term.
The hope now is that it can be extrapolated to an entire season or more.
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - JANUARY 23: Morez Johnson Jr. #21 and Yaxel Lendeborg #23 of the Michigan Wolverines walk on the court during the second half against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Crisler Arena on January 23, 2026 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Jaime Crawford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The NBA Draft is right around the corner (finally!) and conventional wisdom would have you believe the Bucks should draft a guard. After all, most big boards are stacked with them, especially between the five and 10 spots. In fact, our very own Brew Hoop Community Draft Board saw eight guards taken within the first 14 picks: Darryn Peterson (2), Keaton Wagler (5), Darius Acuff Jr. (6), Kingston Flemings (7), Mikel Brown Jr. (8), Brayden Burries (9), Cameron Carr (13), and Labaron Philon Jr. (14).
Exclude the top four picks, who are widely considered head and shoulders above the rest, and the sum becomes 7 out of ten. And while it’s true that these are all very talented players, following conventional wisdom and taking one—or more, should the Bucks end up with multiple selections—would be a mistake. That’s right, it’s time for the Bucks to go against the grain and think—and move—forward with forwards.
A dime a dozen guards
While guards are imperative to NBA success, especially through ball handling and shot creation, they’re seldom the catalyst (more on that later). More significantly, there are just so many of them. And in a game that only features five on the floor for a team at any given time, this leads to positional dilution. We rightly rave about Ryan Rollins’ ascension this year and ponder his All-Star potential, but just last season, he was on a two-way contract. And while Rollins was great for the Bucks, putting up 17.3 PPG and 5.6 APG this season, those numbers ranked him 40th and 30th in the league among guards, a testament to the sheer volume of productive backcourt players.
Rollins’ teammate, the maligned Kevin Porter Jr., offers another prime example. He actually bested Rollins’ production, putting up 17.4 PPG and 7.4 APG, ranking him 38th and ninth in the league among guards. Yet the Bucks acquired him in a straight swap for MarJon Beauchamp, who was waived by the Los Angeles Clippers less than a month later.
None of this is meant to diminish Rollins’ or Porter’s contributions. Far from it; they were arguably the Bucks’ best players this season. But they didn’t require the Bucks to use a single draft pick—let alone a premium one. The question thus becomes: would any guard the Bucks select in the coming NBA Draft offer more than them? And if they did so statistically, would it really impact winning?
Winning time—size and defence matters
If you’ve read it once, you’ve read it 1000 times: the draft is where you swing for the stars, especially with a top 10 pick. And there’s no bigger star than the one who steps up on the game’s biggest stage, the NBA Finals. But of the 57 Finals MVP awards handed out since the award’s inception, only 10 have ever gone to guards in the true point-or-combo guard sense (i.e., not wings)—and only six of those recipients were shorter than 6’4”. Narrow it further to those who weren’t plus defenders, and you’re left with just two: the revolutionary Stephen Curry and the lightning-quick, live-in-the-paint Tony Parker. And both played on elite defensive teams.
Of course, despite what the pundits say, you don’t have to swing for the stars. In this case, size and defence matter even more; the role-playing forward will typically have more of a two-way impact than the role-playing guard. Besides, you’re far more likely to have a role-playing forward come up big to win FMVP (see Curry’s teammate Andre Iguodala, Parker’s teammate Kawhi Leonard, and the Boston Celtics’ Cedric Maxwell, whose own Hall of Fame point guard was described by his coach as someone who “could give up 32 points on offense but give away 36 on defense, so you were [behind] even before the game began.”).
Heck, OG Anunoby has arguably been the best player in this year’s Finals, outplaying his own—you guessed it—smaller lead guard. Even then, Jalen Brunson has at least one standout defensive quality, leading the league in charges drawn this year (and routinely finishing in the top five). In a league that values possessions more than ever, this makes a tangible difference. Still, like Curry and Parker and Tiny Archibald before him, Brunson is reliant on the coverage of his elite defensive running mates, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, and the aforementioned Anunoby, who can check a variety of offensive types.
Positional versatility and the modern game
Contemporary NBA basketball is less and less about defined positions. Instead, a premium is placed on versatility. Guards, for all their ball handling and shot creation, are often constrained in this respect—what can they offer when the ball isn’t in their hands and isn’t going through the hoop? They better have a whole lot of off-ball gravity, because they aren’t snatching a contested rebound (let alone making a game-winning tip-in) or switching onto an opposing big and getting a stop. They’re not creating the equivalent space as a big when screening. And they’re certainly not rotating or recovering to stifle a shot at the rim. No, versatile forwards do these things. And they also unlock lineup flexibility.
With modern offences as potent as they are—this year’s league-wide average of 115.6 PPG is the sixth-highest average ever and the most since the 1960s—teams need defensive optionality, the ability to present different looks. Versatile forwards are imperative to this. Need to prevent penetration? They let you switch. Want to shrink the court? Length lets you do that. Doubling, blitzing, zone? Yes, yes, and yes. But it doesn’t stop there. Forwards also unlock small-ball lineups.
Just imagine what the Bucks could do with Morez Johnson Jr., who our very own Finn Kuehl projects as being one of the “few players in the NBA [who] can genuinely cover every position effectively on defense,” while being “about as good as it gets” when it comes to switching. Now imagine what that could look like if he were paired with Giannis—or his Michigan teammate Yaxel Lendeborg. For a Bucks team that finished bottom five in both defensive rating (26th, 118.3) and rebound percentage (26th, 48.2%), this is far more important than an offensive guard—Milwaukee already finished third in effective field goal percentage (56.5%). It would certainly help address their worst-in-the-league offensive rebounding percentage (26.3%) too, an area new head coach Taylor Jenkins has historically prioritised.
Milwaukee’s roster construction
All of this brings us to the most pressing point, the Bucks’ roster construction. And while the team could look any number of ways by the time the 2026–27 season rolls around, there seem to be two prominent paths for now. In the first, Giannis remains a Buck, and the team looks to reload once again in the hopes that medical malpractice (Doc, not the medical staff) held it back. In this scenario, Milwaukee remains very much in “win now” mode and thus must address its glaring need at small forward. Lendeborg is likely the best fit in that case. After all, he’s just won a national championship, is well-rounded offensively, and is a defensive ace. Adding a young guard doesn’t solve this, and young guards are seldom win-now options; the Spurs’ Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper are exceptions, not the rule.
In the second scenario, Giannis is traded, and the Bucks begin their rebuild. While the Celtics, Portland Trail Blazers, Minnesota Timberwolves, and a bevy of other teams are all allegedly interested, the writing on the wall points to the Miami Heat as the Bucks’ most likely trade partner. According to The Athletic’s Sam Amick and Eric Nehm, a deal is “likely to include Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., either Pelle Larsson or Kasparas Jakučionis, and draft capital (they can offer up to three first-round picks).” Should this happen, the Bucks could have both their frontcourt and backcourt of the future.
Ware, Johnson, and Lendeborg would make a sizeable and versatile frontcourt trio, capable of controlling the boards, defending with versatility, and spacing the court (Lendeborg hit 37% on 4.5 3PA for Michigan, while Ware hit 40% on 3.0 3PA for Miami). Jaquez, runner-up in this year’s Sixth Man of the Year voting, adds depth and playmaking, as does last year’s trade deadline darling, Ousmane Dieng (assuming the Bucks bring him back). Jericho Sims, assuming he’s retained, adds another lob threat on a similar timeline, while Pete Nance would look even better as a third stringer. Of course, the Bucks also have Myles Turner, Bobby Portis, and Kyle Kuzma, who could start, come off the bench, or be moved for future assets.
In the backcourt, Rollins would likely pair with Tyler Herro, who—for all his criticism—is still a 26-year-old All-Star guard who will give you 20, five, and five a night (on career .450/.382/.878 shooting). He can also play both on and off the ball. For all their hype, this is a level many of the guard prospects would be lucky to reach.
In the longer term, the Bucks would hope Jakučionis will take over as Rollins’ running mate, with Herro moving to a sixth man role he’s already mastered—he was the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year in 2021–22—or being traded for capital. Jakučionis, the 20th pick in last year’s draft, has just turned 20, has size at 6’5”, plays both backcourt positions, and shot 42% from three in his rookie season. On the other hand, Larson could just as easily develop into Rollins’ sidekick. He already started 54 of 70 games for the Heat this season, averaging 11.4 PPG, 3.5 RPG, and 3.4 APG. These are more than bit players, and if you’re trading away the franchise’s best ever player, you don’t want to immediately stunt the development of the prospects you do get by drafting at their position, not when taking into consideration everything else.
Lost in all of this are some of the Bucks’ current guards. Milwaukee could easily bring back KPJ. Having just turned 26, he’s still young with upside to tap into. In turn, AJ Green would be much better served in a reserve role, where he’s not forced to defend out of position—and give up size—at small forward. A sharp-shooter on a controlled contract, he’d surely draw trade interest too. If that eventuates, there’s still Cormac Ryan, the Bucks’ two-way guard who came on strong to end last season, scoring 20 or more points in four of his 11 games (on .520/.458/.923 splits). Suffice to say, Milwaukee won’t be short on guard stocks.
Ultimately, whether Giannis stays or goes, Milwaukee’s roster construction points in the same direction. If the Bucks are attempting to contend, they need size, defense, and versatility around their superstar. If they’re rebuilding, they’re likely to acquire young guards and future backcourt pieces through any Giannis trade. In either scenario, the organisation’s biggest need remains the same. The best path forward is forwards.
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 10: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs guards Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks during Game Four of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 10, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York, 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
After the New York Knicks completed the largest comeback in NBA Finals history, Karl-Anthony Towns now stands one win away from basketball immortality.
Let that sentence breathe for a second.
The largest comeback in NBA Finals history. Madison Square Garden shaking like it was trying to detach itself from Manhattan. The Knicks down 29 points in Game 4, staring at what felt like a guaranteed 2-2 series tie, and somehow turning the entire second half into one of the most surreal, delirious, how-in-the-hell-did-that-just-happen basketball experiences any of us will ever see.
For San Antonio Spurs fans, it must have felt like watching a car crash unfold in slow motion. The chance to even the series and drag the Knicks back into the pressure cooker was sitting right there on the table. Then, possession by possession, miss by miss, turnover by turnover, it all slipped away.
For Knicks fans, it was euphoria.
For Wolves fans watching Karl-Anthony Towns chase the one thing that eluded him throughout his Minnesota tenure, it was something else entirely. It was joyful in that slightly complicated way, where the player you loved for years is doing the thing you always hoped he would do, just not in your uniform.
In the final seconds, fittingly, Towns still found a way to put his fingerprints on the moment.
With the Knicks clinging to the lead and San Antonio desperately searching for one final miracle, Towns managed to get his hand on the inbound pass, denying what may have been a clean layup or dunk for Stephon Castle at the buzzer. It was the sort of play that might get swallowed up in a highlight package dominated by the comeback itself, but one that ultimately helped secure a 3-1 series lead for New York.
And now Towns is one win away. One win from joining Kevin Garnett and Kevin Love as former Timberwolves franchise cornerstones who went on to capture an NBA championship after leaving Minnesota. There is something undeniably strange about that lineage, and maybe a little painful if you stare at it too long. The Wolves have never gotten to hold the Larry O’Brien Trophy themselves, but their former stars keep finding their way to it elsewhere.
Garnett got his in Boston in 2008. Love got his in Cleveland in 2016. Now Towns may get his in New York in 2026. Interestingly, each one of those championship runs featured its own absurd comeback story. Garnett’s Celtics erased a 24-point deficit against the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2008 Finals, a comeback that helped deliver Boston its first championship in more than two decades. Kevin Love’s Cavaliers did something even more ridiculous, climbing out of a 3-1 hole against the 73-win Golden State Warriors.
Now Towns has his own entry. The Knicks coming back from 29 down in Game 4 of the NBA Finals will live forever if New York finishes the job. That is the key. Great comebacks become immortal when they become part of a championship story. Otherwise, they risk becoming a wild footnote, something fans remember fondly but not something carved into league mythology. If the Knicks win one of the next three games and bring New York its first title in 53 years, Game 4 instantly becomes sacred text.
It becomes the game people talk about in bars 30 years from now. It becomes the game dads tell their kids about. It becomes the game Knicks fans will claim they never doubted for a second, even though every single one of them was mentally preparing for the series to be tied 2-2 midway through the third quarter.
For Towns, it becomes the game that helped rewrite the story. KAT’s career has been followed by questions, some fair, some unfair, some exaggerated by the gravitational pull of being the best player on a franchise that too often gave him chaos and asked him to turn it into stability. Could he lead a winner? Could he defend at the highest level? Could he keep his composure? Could he rise in the biggest moments? Could he be more than an elite offensive talent with a beautiful shooting stroke and a frustrating tendency to pick up fouls 35 feet from the basket? Those questions followed him in Minnesota. They followed him out of Minnesota. They were part of the conversation the moment he arrived in New York.
But championships have a funny way of changing conversations. Win a title, and the frustrations become growth. The long road becomes the reason the ending feels earned. If Towns hoists the Larry O’Brien Trophy, a lot of the noise that has followed him for years gets quieter.
He would be a champion. No qualifier needed. That is what makes Saturday night in San Antonio so fascinating.
The Knicks are one win away from finishing the job, but the Spurs are not going to simply roll over and hand them the trophy. Victor Wembanyama and San Antonio have 72 hours to sit with one of the all-time gut punches in NBA Finals history. They had Game 4. They had a chance to make this a brand-new series. Instead, they walked off the floor at Madison Square Garden looking like a team that had just been hit by a truck it never saw coming.
How does a young team respond to that? Do the Spurs pick themselves off the mat, return to Frost Bank Center, and remind everyone why they knocked off Minnesota and Oklahoma City on the way here? Does Wembanyama deliver the kind of monster response that reasserts his place as the terrifying future of the league? Does San Antonio turn Game 5 into a pride game, extend the series, and force the Knicks to feel the pressure of trying to close again? Or did Game 4 break something? That is the cruel beauty of the Finals. Nobody knows until the ball goes up.
For the Knicks, the mission is simple but not easy: do not give San Antonio hope. Do not let the Spurs believe this series has another turn left in it. Do not allow one of the most dramatic comebacks in basketball history to become merely the setup for another momentum swing. The Knicks have three chances to win one game, but the cleanest path is always the first one. End it now.
For Towns, the opportunity is almost too perfect. One game. One win. One chance to silence the doubts and validate every painful step along the way. One chance to stand next to Garnett and Love as another former Timberwolves great who found his championship moment.
If Karl-Anthony Towns is hoisting the Larry O’Brien Trophy tonight, you can rest assured that Wolves Nation will be watching. The Canis Hoopus faithful will be tuned in, cheering him on, ready to see one of the most important players in franchise history finally get the vindication he has been chasing his entire career.
By all logic, the San Antonio Spurs should be coming home with momentum in the NBA Finals.
Apparently, logic doesn't apply to the New York Knicks, who climbed out of win probability hell (0.6% with 9:45 left in 4Q) to take a 3-1 series lead Wednesday.
Basketball bettors are left to wonder about the mental state of San Antonio after it blew a 29-point lead in Game 4, backing itself in a corner for Saturday’s Game 5.
My Knicks vs. Spurs same-game parlay believes San Antonio will live to fight another day, while also singling out two scorers who had their recent efforts dampened by foul trouble.
Here are my best NBA picks and SGP predictions for Game 5 of the NBA Finals on June 13.
Our best Knicks vs Spurs SGP for Game 5
SGP leg #1: Spurs moneyline
The San Antonio Spurs get a two-day break to wash the scent of Game 4 off them before Saturday. That extra rest also helps star center Victor Wembanyama recharge after he looked sluggish in the second half of Wednesday’s loss.
The New York Knicks continue to win the 50/50 balls while also receiving plenty of lucky bounces and fortuitous breaks. Regression could be ripe with New York coming down from a crazy scene at MSG and hitting the road this weekend. San Antonio may not cover but it can stay alive in Game 5.
SGP leg #2: Karl-Anthony Towns Over 17.5 points
Karl-Anthony Towns was limited to just 26 minutes in Game 4, due to two fouls in the opening minute of action. Towns came back with solid work in the second half but was unable to get in the offensive rhythm we saw from KAT in the opening two games of the finals.
The Knicks tried to run the offensive through him early in Game 3, but foul trouble botched that scheme. Look for Mike Brown to stick with that plan in Game 5. Towns’ projections sit as high as 21+ points while my number is just shy of 19 points on Saturday.
SGP leg #3: Stephon Castle Over 16.5 points
San Antonio guard Stephon Castle was also limited with foul issues in Game 4. He too struggled to find his flow, shooting just 2 for 7 from the field. However, Castle has been aggressively attacking the rim and knocked down all eight of his FTAs on Wednesday. He scored 13 points in just 26 minutes in Game 4 and his Game 5 forecasts call for closer to 19 points, given his usual floor time.
Get Jason Logan's full breakdown of this game, including his best bet, plus the latest NBA odds, injuries, and betting trends, in his Knicks vs. Spurs predictions for Game 5.
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BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 26: The Milwaukee Bucks round 1 pick 23 during the 2024 NBA Draft - Round One on June 26, 2024 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, 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 2024 NBAE (Photo by Kostas Lymperopoulos/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
In this week’s Reacts survey, we discussed the possibility of the Bucks moving down from the 10th pick in this month’s 2026 NBA Draft in exchange for multiple selections this year. At last month’s combine, Milwaukee was said to be operating as if they’d be making more than one draft pick, and while that doesn’t necessarily mean an additional first (the rumor didn’t specify), that’s the route we’re looking at today. What was the verdict among voters?
As discussed on Tuesday, the Thunder and Hornets both have two picks in the teens: OKC at 12 and 17, Charlotte at 14 and 18. I wrote yesterday about who I might pick if I were the Bucks in those situations. But a small majority of our readership thinks it would be a good idea to move back from 10 in order to add a second rookie. And it’s possible, if not likely, that whoever the Bucks have eyes for at 10 will still be on the board at 12 anyway, perhaps even 14.
Acquiring a second pick this year could be flipped for the future too. If Milwaukee received 17 or 18, they could trade that pick for a future first, particularly to a team that doesn’t have a pick this year; New Orleans, for example. Last year, the Pelicans famously traded their 2026 first-round pick to Atlanta in order to move up in the 2025 draft and choose Derik Queen. That move was highly criticized at the time, and the Hawks ended up at eighth this year in exchange for moving back 10 spots from 13 to 23.
Maybe New Orleans doesn’t want to make that mistake again, but maybe Houston wants to get in on this highly-regarded class. They have no firsts this year, though they own Phoenix’s next year and have the right to swap theirs with Brooklyn’s. The latter might be too high a price to pay for the 18th pick this year, but if I were the Bucks, I’d gladly give them 18 for the Suns’ pick next year, which could certainly end up in the lottery. And with the new odds, it could end up being quite high.
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