As Mike Breen prepares to call his 21st NBA Finals on ABC, he’s also preparing to do something he’s never done before.
Breen has been the Knicks’ play-by-play voice on MSG Networks since 1998 — but this is the first time during that stretch that he’ll announce the Knicks in the Finals.
“It’s kind of a bucket list thing,” Breen said. “Twenty-one Finals is impossible to comprehend for me, and I always thought it’d be pretty cool to have the Knicks in one. And to see the growth of the team the last couple of years and to see what this team has done for the fan base of New York — I’ve lived in New York my whole life. It’s really energized the city like nothing I’ve ever seen, so I’m really looking forward to it.”
Breen announced the Knicks’ 1994 Finals series loss to the Rockets on the radio for New York’s WFAN. In 1999, when the Knicks made it back to the Finals, Marv Albert was on the call instead of Breen.
Now, Breen is getting a second chance. This year’s Knicks-Spurs championship series is a rematch of the 1999 Finals, when the Knicks became the first 8-seed to make the Finals at the conclusion of the lockout-shortened NBA season. But with Patrick Ewing out injured and Larry Johnson banged up, New York couldn’t finish the job and the Spurs won the first of coach Gregg Popovich’s five NBA titles.
“That’s when you started to realize Tim Duncan was going to be one of the greatest players of all time,” Breen recalled. “It was actually a great year for both teams, even though the Knicks fell short. But San Antonio, you started thinking, OK, this could be a team that’s going to win a lot of titles in a row.”
Breen grew up in Yonkers, New York, just north of the Bronx. He was 9 when the Knicks won the franchise’s first NBA championship in 1970, a sports-crazed kid who never imagined he’d one day be announcing games for his hometown team. He uniquely understands how generations of Knicks fans, some of whom haven’t witnessed the team win a title in their lifetime, ache for another championship.
When the cameras and the mics turn on, however, expect Breen to be the consummate professional. Breen has announced plenty of Knicks playoff games on national TV over the years, including this year’s Eastern Conference finals series against the Cavaliers.
“Watching him call it straight down the middle and watching him celebrate both teams, that’s the one thing that I gained so much respect for,” Jefferson said. “While people are always kind of looking at him and his love for the Knicks, I think his love for basketball and telling stories, I think that is so great.”
Breen is nonetheless prepared for what he described as an annual Finals tradition, fans accusing him of bias.
“The funny thing is, every year, even when the Knicks are not in it, if it’s Celtics-Lakers, Laker fans think that we’re rooting for the Celtics and the Celtic fans think we’re rooting for the Lakers,” Breen said. “The other thing, too, is that I just love basketball so much. So when De’Aaron Fox or Wemby or Stephon Castle make a spectacular play, I’m going to go crazy, because I love watching great basketball.”
The Knicks haven’t won an NBA championship since 1973, but Breen isn’t allowing himself to consider yet how he will feel if Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns and company are victorious. The Hall of Fame broadcaster is in work mode, preparing to summarize immense heartbreak for one team and triumph for another, whatever the outcome.
“The number one thing for me is I’ve got a job to do,” Breen said. “I do know what it would mean to the city and to the fans of the city. It might be one of the greatest sports moments in the history of New York sports if they win because of what the fan base has gone through and how loyal they’ve been to the team. As for my emotions, it’s hard to predict that.”
As for how Knicks fans would react to another title, Breen predicted, “I think it’s going to be one of the all-time reactions in terms of people being emotional. There’ll be a lot of crying.”
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Getting into the notoriously expensive 2026 NBA Finals finally got a little cheaper.
Just one day after our team reported that ticket prices for Game 1 at the San Antonio Spurs’ Frost Bank Center started at $1,000 including fees on SeatGeek, prices have plummeted.
At the time of publication, seats now start at $767 including fees to see Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle, De’Aaron Fox, Julian Champaigne and Dylan Harper in the Alamo City.
While still quite pricey, a $233 discount simply for waiting 24 hours to pull the trigger on tickets is not a bad deal at all.
Throw in the fact that you can score an additional $10 off if you use promo code NYPOST10 for purchases over $250 at checkout and you’ll practically be gaming the system (Editor’s Note: this discount is only valid for users’ first purchase on SeatGeek).
Should you attend a game at the New York Knicks’ Madison Square Garden, you’ll be ponying up quite a bit more moolah.
Over the past week, prices have steadily risen to catch Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, Josh Hart and co. on their home court.
On May 26, we found seats going for $3,543 including fees (for Game 4).
And that was the best deal.
Now, the lowest price we can find on tickets is a whopping $4,112 including fees.
For those without a calculator on hand, that’s a $569 (!) jump in just seven days.
Demand is high — tickets cost roughly the same what it’ll run you to get into the Super Bowl — but might be worth the eye-popping price tag.
“Nothing compares to Knicks playoff energy,” Post social media guru and Knicks diehard Olivia Silio told us.
“The roar of the crowd, the fans jumping up and down after every shot, the celebrities hyping up the crowd, the MSG organist leading the chants, the announcer after every point. MSG makes you feel like you’re a part of history.”
Want to save and go to a game in the House that Duncan Built or witness the 1999 NBA Finals rematch in the Big Apple?
We’re here to help, hoops-heads.
Our team has everything you need to know about seeing the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs in the 2026 NBA Finals live below.
San Antonio Spurs NBA Finals home game tickets
All Spurs playoff home game dates at the Frost Bank Center and the cheapest tickets available (versus what they cost on June 1) can be found here:
San Antonio Spurs home game dates
Ticket prices start at
Ticket prices started at on June 1
Game 1 Wednesday, June 37:30 p.m.
$767(including fees)
$1,000 (including fees)
Game 2 Friday, June 57:30 p.m.
$1,094(including fees)
$1,297 (including fees)
Game 5 Saturday, June 13 7:30 p.m.
$1,735(including fees)
$1,742 (including fees)
Game 7 Friday, June 197:30 p.m.
$3,881(including fees)
$3,983 (including fees)
New York Knicks NBA Finals home game tickets
A complete calendar, including all announced Knicks NBA Finals home game dates and the best prices on tickets are listed below.
New York Knicks NBA Finals home game dates
Ticket prices start at
Game 3 Monday, June 8
$4,258(including fees)
Game 4 Wednesday, June 10
$4,112(including fees)
Game 6 Tuesday, June 16 (if necessary)
$5,597(including fees)
Knicks playoff home game giveaways
Silio also let us know that there are some additional perks to attending games at MSG.
“The first home game of the series, you’ll go home with a souvenir t-shirt, commemorating the game,” she said.
“Other games have ‘Always Knicks’ towels for fans to keep as well as interactive arena bracelets, used for light shows and hyping up the crowd. Another bonus is you may see your favorite actor, singer or athlete, rooting alongside you.”
About Knicks-Spurs
The Knicks and Spurs played three times over the course of the 2025-26 season.
In their first contest, the stakes were high. New York and San Antonio met in the championship game of the 2025 NBA Cup on Dec. 16. OG Anunoby dropped 28 points while Brunson netted 25 and ended up winning MVP for the in-season tourney.
“This is great and we’re going to enjoy this,” Brunson said. “But once we leave tomorrow, we’re moving on.”
Game number two — just a good, old-fashioned regular season showdown — saw Julian Champagnie score 36 and lead San Antonio to a surprise, come-from-behind 134-132 victory on New Year’s Eve.
When the elite clubs played a third time, New York stomped on the Spurs and walked away with a commanding 114-89 blowout. Mikal Bridges scored 25 while Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart chipped in double-doubles.
Notable storylines swirling around the Finals are center Mitchell Robinson’s broken left pinky finger, whether Anunoby and/or Hart will be able to stop Wemby, New York’s week of rest versus San Antonio’s non-stop schedule following their seven-game bloodbath with the Oklahoma City Thunder and NYC local ties for Spurs players Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle.
This article was written by Matt Levy, New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed a Bruce Springsteen concert and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change.
Knicks forward OG Anunoby gifted Emmy-winning TV host Martha Stewart a pair of his shoes after she posted about them on Instagram.
The shoes were size 15.5 and included a “very nice message” and autograph, Stewart said on her Instagram.
The footwear flirtation started when Stewart commented on Instagram recently: “OG Anunoby wears my favorite Skechers while playing for the Knicks tonight at the Garden!!!!!“
Martha Stewart on IG: "A few days ago I posted a photo of OG Anunoby's Skechers. Today I received this pair––autographed with a very nice message!!!!! Size 15 1/2!!!! Thanks OG and best of luck to you and my favorite team!!!!!" pic.twitter.com/7y3c0oGvEC
Anunoby responded: “i’m glad you like them martha.”
Stewart has appeeared at a couple of games this postseason at MSG as the Knicks have made a run to the NBA Finals — most recently at Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Cavaliers.
Stewart, who was convicted of five felony charges related to the ImClone stock trading case, spent five months in federal prison for fraud. She was released in March 2005.
The media entrepreneur returned to professional life after her release, becoming Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia’s chairwoman again in 2015.
Her company has since been acquired by Sequential Brands Group and then sold for $175 million.
Martha Stewart attends Game Two of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals between the New York Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden on May 21, 2026 in New York City. Getty Images
Stewart became the oldest woman to appear on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue at age 81 in 2023.
Anunoby, who sent Stewart a pair of Skechers, signed with the company in May 2025 during the Knicks’ previous playoff run.
The former Indiana Hoosier joined Joel Embiid, Julius Randle and Josh Green on the Sketchers team.
Anunoby is averaging 19.7 points per game, 6.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists and one block per game this postseason spanning 12 games.
Many of his numbers are up from the regular season, when he averaged 16.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 0.7 blocks per game.
Anunoby missed part of the second-round 76ers series after suffering a hamstring injury in Game 2. He also missed nine games during the regular season with a similar injury.
Knicks forward OG Anunoby speaking to the media after practice at the Knicks practice facility. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
The forward and his Knicks teammates face the San Antonio Spurs in Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals on Wednesday night.
Anunoby averaged 16.3 points per game against the Spurs this season, with a high of 28 in December.
He also added 6.3 rebounds, two assists and one turnover per game.
After calling Knicks fans “annoying” during the conference semifinals, Charles Barkley has changed his tune.
Barkley raved about the “energy” of New York fans on Adam Schein’s “Mad Dog Sports Radio” show on Monday morning — while still having a little dig for the orange and blue faithful.
“I’m not gonna lie, last year in the Conference Finals, we traveled, and man, it’s a different thing being in New York,” Barkley told Schein, according to Awful Announcing. “I know New Yorkers are annoying. But man, they’re right. When the Knicks are doing good, it’s a different energy in that city.”
Charles Barkley has previously been critical of Knicks fans. Getty Images
“It was one of the most amazing things those three games we went to in New York,” Barkley said, referring to the Knicks’ Conference Finals matchup against the Pacers last year. “And then now you’re gonna put it on steroids going to the Finals.”
With “Inside the NBA” serving as the NBA Finals’ primary studio show for the first time in the show’s 38-year history, Barkley is especially looking forward to the series.
New York fans are eagerly awaiting the start of the NBA Finals. AP Photo/Tim Phillis
“For me, being able to do the Finals for the first time, to get the New York Knicks in the Finals…I’m so glad we’re gonna get to do the games,” Barkley said. “But for Adam Silver, this is a dream matchup to get the Knicks against Victor (Wembanyama).”
Barkley hasn’t always sided with New York, though, as he complained about the “annoying” Knicks fans during the first round series against Atlanta.
He claimed that Knicks fans who were staying in the same hotel as him questioned coach Mike Brown and suggested the team trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo when the Knicks fell 2-1 down in the series.
The Knicks, though, have won 11 straight games since and are on the doorstep of their first title since 1973.
Game 1 tips off on Wednesday night in San Antonio.
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This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping, Page Six, and Decider.com. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on every streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. When she’s not writing about (or watching) TV, movies, and sports, she’s also keeping up on the underrated perfume dupes at Bath & Body Works and testing headphones. Prior to joining Decider and The New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews.
LeBron James is still in the business of keep receipts.
On an episode of his “Mind the Game” podcast with Steve Nash, the Los Angeles Lakers superstar took a pointed shot at former Lakers champion Ron Harper while discussing Harper’s son, San Antonio Spurs rookie Dylan Harper.
“Yeah, Dylan’s great. I mean, his daddy ain’t s–t, but he’s good,” James said. “I’ll see him when I see him.”
The comment seemed to be a direct response to remarks Ron Harper made during NBA All-Star Weekend earlier this year. When asked whether he always envisioned both of his sons, Dylan Harper and Ron Harper Jr., reaching the NBA, the five-time NBA champion took an apparent swipe at James.
“I’m not LeBron James,” Harper said. “I’m not going to tell my kids what they have to do. I just want them to play and enjoy the game and whatever they can get back out of the ball game, we will take it.”
New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden – Former Chicago Bulls player Ron Harper pointing from his seat during the game. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Harper later doubled down during an appearance on the “It Is What It Is” podcast, ranking Scottie Pippen ahead of James on his all-time small forward list while criticizing LeBron’s defensive style.
James’ latest comment came while praising Dylan Harper, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. The former Rutgers star has quickly become one of the league’s most promising young players and is helping fuel a Spurs team that beat the odds by making the 2026 NBA Finals, beating out the favored Oklahoma City Thunder.
Dylan Harper #2 of the San Antonio Spurs and Jared McCain #3 of the Oklahoma City Thunder NBAE via Getty Images
For now, the exchange adds another chapter to an unexpected feud between two former NBA champions. And judging by LeBron’s response, it’s clear he hasn’t forgotten Harper’s comments anytime soon.
The Thunder “believe in Chet Holmgren” — even if some others don’t.
On Monday’s segment of “NBA Today”, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon made his thoughts on Holmgren clear: He’s a building block for the Thunder moving forward, even after his disastrous Game 7 and overall series against the Spurs.
“The Oklahoma City Thunder believe in Chet Holmgren,” MacMahon said. “They believe in his talent. They believe in his character. They believe in his work ethic.”
Chet Holmgren struggled on offense throughout much of the Western Conference Finals. Getty Images Getty Images
After Holmgren’s dud in the Western Conference finals against Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs, the big man has his fair share of critics.
Ogwumike said that while Holmgren was open for shots, he chose not to take them as Wembanyama disrupted his entire flow.
“It’s not like Chet has an issue in the NBA. He has a Victor Wembanyama issue, more specifically ” ESPN’s Chiney Ogwumike added. “If I’m Chet Holmgren, I’m turning off the TV, getting some rest, and then I’m locking myself in the gym. Because it was more so a mindset thing than it was a talent thing.”
Holmgren’s woes against San Antonio in Game 7 weren’t anything new.
In 11 games against the Spurs this season, including the playoffs, Holmgren averaged just 10.6 points per game, shot 46 percent from the field and 24 percent from 3.
Jaylin Williams #6 of the Thunder, Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs, and Chet Holmgren #7 of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks on during the game during Game 7 of the Western Conference finals on May 30, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
Against all other teams this season, Holmgren averaged 17.6 points per game, shot 57 percent from the field and 37 percent from downtown.
“I like to give people some grace, but he (Holmgren) has to figure it out soon,” Ogwumike said. “Because there’s (Nikola) Jokic in the West. There’s Wemby in the West. There’s (Rudy) Gobert in the West.”
Even with trade rumors swirling, MacMahon doesn’t think Oklahoma City has any plans to move its 24-year-old star.
“This idea that it’s time to pull the plug on Chet Holmgren in Oklahoma City — I can promise you this, (Thunder general manager) Sam Presti will not be taking that advice,” MacMahon said.
The Thunder have key decisions to make this offseason, but trading Holmgren may not be one of them.
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Former Iowa State sharpshooter Milan Momcilovic has committed to Kentucky, giving coach Mark Pope one of the best players in the transfer portal.
Momcilovic announced his decision on Instagram less than a week after pulling his name out of the NBA draft.
A 6-foot-8 forward, Momcilovic led the nation in 3-point shooting at shooting 48.7% on 7.5 attempts per game last season and was fifth nationally in 3-pointers made. He made at least five 3-pointers in a game 10 times in 2025-26, including eight in a last-second loss to Arizona in the Big 12 tournament.
Momcilovic averaged 16.9 points and 3.1 rebounds per game while leading Iowa State to the Sweet 16 for the third time in five years. He shot 43% from 3 in three seasons with the Cyclones.
Momcilovic announced in April he planned to enter the transfer portal and test the NBA waters before pulling out just before the deadline.
Eleven consecutive wins. A string of dominant blowouts. For the first time in 53 years, the New York Knicks are just four wins away from an NBA championship, and the entire city is at a boiling point.
But the mania isn’t just contained to the hardwood at Madison Square Garden. When massive, legacy-defining moments happen on the court, they trigger a massive secondary market reaction. According to new data released by eBay, the Knicks’ historic postseason run has sent Knicks basketball cards and memorabilia into the stratosphere.
This 2025 Padparadscha 1/1 Jalen Brunson sold for $17.4k on Goldin May 28th 2026, 2 days after the Knicks clinched a spot in the NBA Finals.
The Jalen Brunson Effect
No one embodies this gritty, dominant New York run more than Jalen Brunson. The Knicks captain, and last 2025’s clutch player of the year, has officially transcended standard stardom.
On May 26, the day after the Knicks officially clinched the Eastern Conference Finals, “Jalen Brunson” was searched more than 1,500 times per hour globally on eBay.
This 2018 National Treasures Jalen Brunson Rookie Patch Auto RPA RC #/99 PSA 10 POP 2 patch is currently listed for $150k on eBay.
While Brunson is leading the charge, the true story of this Knicks run has been their sheer depth and tough, cohesive play. That balanced dominance has caused search spikes for nearly every key piece of the roster. Comparing search data from the week leading up to Game 1 of the ECF (May 12–18) against the previous week’s baseline, the hobby’s obsession with New York is obvious:
Landry Shamet: up over 1,700%
New York Knicks (Team Gear/Cards): up over 440%
Jalen Brunson: up over 360%
Josh Hart: up over 260%
Mikal Bridges: up over 230%
Karl-Anthony Towns: up over 200%
OG Anunoby: up over 160%
Wemby’s Historic Performance
While New York owns the Eastern narrative, San Antonio’s phenom is generating Shohei Ohtani level hype.
On May 18, Victor Wembanyama became just the fourth player since 2000 to record a monstrous 40-point, 20-rebound playoff game. The historic masterpiece against the Oklahoma City Thunder sent shockwaves through the collecting community. On the night of the performance, global eBay users searched for Wembanyama more than 5,300 times per hour.
This 2023 Panini Prizm Victor Wembanyama 1/1 Black PSA 10 sold for $5.11M May 26th, 20206 | CardLadder
The following day (May 19), the scramble to secure his cards intensified, with specific searches for “Victor Wembanyama cards” surging over 300% compared to his mid-May baseline.
Sellers are moving quickly to cash in on the generational hype, too. Total eBay listings for Wembanyama items increased 40% in April 2026 compared to the opening weeks of the NBA season back in October 2025.
Capitalizing on the Moment
The hobby acceleration isn’t just happening on the secondary market, either, the manufacturers are already finding historic ways to capitalize on the upcoming Finals momentum.
Fanatics and Topps announced a massive, first-of-its-kind integration for the 2026 NBA Finals. As part of the league’s season-long celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, every single player taking the court during the Finals will wear a USA 250 patch on their jersey. These patches will be physically removed from the jerseys after each game. Select game-worn patches will then be embedded directly inside ultra-rare Topps trading cards.
It’s a brilliant play that perfectly aligns with the modern market’s obsession with scarcity and game-worn history. Instead of waiting months for products to catch up to the hype, collectors are being given a direct narrative link to the exact games crowning this year’s champion.
Every player in the 2026 NBA Finals will wear a USA 250 patch on their jersey. The patches will be removed after each game, with select game-worn patches later featured inside ultra-rare trading cards | Fanatics
The Takeaway
As the NBA Finals approach and the NBA Draft looms, the modern sports card market continues to act as a real-time ledger for fan attention. In 2026, the equation is simple: if you win on the court in May and June, you win the hobby.
Who are you collecting ahead of the NBA Finals? Let us know on Mantel.
When Mark Cuban sold the Dallas Mavericks, he said he got out in part because the NBA used to be a tech business (his strength) and was becoming a real estate business.
To that end, the Mavericks announced plans this week to build a new arena and surrounding entertainment district in the Valley View area of Dallas, about 12 miles north of their current arena (but within the Dallas city limits).
The goal is to have the team move in for the 2031-32 season, when the team's lease at the American Airlines Center is up.
"We have the opportunity to create a vibrant mixed-use destination anchored by a state-of-the-art arena, along with restaurants, entertainment options, public green spaces and family-friendly experiences," the team said in a statement announcing the deal. "Done thoughtfully and with community engagement, a project of this scale will serve as a meaningful economic catalyst for Dallas and its residents."
This should end the speculation that the new owners, the Adelson and Dumont families — which also run the Sands Casino empire — planned to move the team to Las Vegas. The Mavericks hired Rick Welts and made him CEO to oversee this arena project — he had overseen the Warriors' construction of the Chase Center in San Francisco.
The Mavericks are moving from near downtown Dallas to the former Valley View Mall site in North Dallas, where they have more than 100 acres to build out their entertainment district. That said, they are staying within Dallas, something the organization said was a priority.
"We believe in Dallas, and our priority has been clear from the beginning: keeping the Dallas Mavericks in Dallas," the Mavericks' statement said.
Clippers owner Steve Ballmer congratulates star player Kawhi Leonard after a game against the Detroit Pistons at the Intuit Dome in December 2025. (Katelyn Mulcahy / Getty Images)
The sentencing of Aspiration co-founder Joseph Sanberg to 14 years in federal prison on Monday brings the NBA a step closer to concluding its nine-month investigation into the Clippers allegedly circumventing the salary cap.
Sanberg pleaded guilty in October to federal charges of conspiring to bilk investors out of $248 million for portraying the now-defunct Aspiration as a “socially-conscious and sustainable banking services and investment products” firm.
The NBA has declined to comment on the status of the probe centered on $60 million invested in Aspiration by Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and the $28-million contract Clippers star Kawhi Leonard signed with Aspiration for endorsement and marketing work that he never delivered.
Players are allowed to have separate endorsement and other business deals, but at issue is whether the Clippers participated in arranging the side deal beyond simply introducing Aspiration executives to Leonard. Doing so would be a violation of Article 13 of the NBA collective bargaining agreement, punishable by a $4.5-million fine, the loss of a first-round draft pick and the voiding of Leonard’s contract.
The NBA Draft takes place June 23-24 and the Clippers have three picks, including the fifth overall selection. The league is not expected to release its findings until after the NBA Finals, which begin Wednesday between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs.
Clippers officials haven’t commented on the investigation. But Leonard, who has one year left on a three-year, $149.5 million contract that will pay him $50.3 million next season, told The Athletic after the Clippers’ season-ending game April 15 that “I think we’re going to be in the clear. I’m not stressing.”
Otherwise, among the few public comments about the investigation were letters submitted to federal court judge Stephen V. Wilson ahead of Sanberg’s sentencing by Ballmer and the law firm conducting the probe on behalf of the NBA.
The letter from Dave Anders of Wachtell Lipton stated that Sanberg provided documentation and information helpful to the NBA investigation during two in-person interviews.
“In all our dealings with Mr. Sanberg, both directly and through his counsel, he provided information that was consistent with our review of contemporaneous documents and other evidence,” Anders wrote. “Mr. Sanberg’s cooperation substantially assisted our investigation, including our ability to develop a more complete understanding of key events.”
Ballmer countered by asking Wilson for a stiff sentence in a five-page Victim Impact Statement posted on social media by his lawyer, David N. Kelley.
“Sanberg continues to exploit his fraud of Mr. Ballmer for his benefit, providing information to the NBA in return for a sentencing letter that the league submitted on his behalf,” Kelley wrote. “The reliability of Sanberg’s information is suspect given that he has pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges, and the government has made its own determination that he is not credible.”
Before handing down the sentence, Wilson made it clear that Sanberg’s credibility was questionable.
“He portrays himself as a do-gooder who was in business to help the world, but he did personally gain from his fraud,” Wilson said, later adding, “I would put the grade of his fraud at the zenith.”
Ballmer, a former longtime CEO of Microsoft who has owned the Clippers since 2014, accused Sanberg of targeting him for his well-known interest in environmental sustainability and exaggerating their relationship to convince others to invest in the fraudulent company. He said he met Sanberg only once.
Ballmer invested $50 million in Aspiration in September 2021. A month later, the Clippers announced a $300 million sponsorship deal with the company. Ballmer nearly granted Aspiration naming rights to the team’s new $2 billion venue as well, but instead chose financial services firm Intuit. Ballmer made an additional $10 million investment in Aspiration on March 9, 2023.
Ballmer was added in November as a defendant in a civil lawsuit against Sanberg and several others associated with Aspiration. Ballmer and the other defendants are accused by 11 investors in Aspiration of fraud and aiding and abetting fraud, with the plaintiffs seeking at least $50 million in damages.
Kelly contended that Ballmer was added as a defendant because of his “visibility and resources,” and portrayed the Clippers owner as a victim, saying “Mr. Ballmer’s losses are not measured solely, or even primarily, on a balance sheet. They are measured in the reputational damage that will take years to remediate, and in the chilling effect on future endeavors intended to do good.”
The lone public comment about the investigation from NBA Commissioner Adam Silver came during All-Star Weekend in February at the Intuit Dome when he described the issue as “enormously complex.”
“You have a company in bankruptcy, you have thousands of documents, multiple witnesses that needed to be interviewed,” Silver said.
The investigation was triggered by reports from podcaster Pablo Torre that Leonard’s sponsorship deal with Aspiration was to circumvent the salary cap. Torre and the staff of “Pablo Torre Finds Out” won a Pulitzer Prize for Audio Reporting for their efforts.
Jalen Brunson’s popularity among New Yorkers is soaring into Billy Joel and Spider-Man territory as he leads the New York Knicks into battle against the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals tonight.
The hopes of Big Apple basketball fans rest with the explosive guard, and my Knicks vs. Spurs predictions for Game 1 call for Brunson to do damage from deep.
My NBA picks like him to knock down at least three triples on Wednesday, June 3.
Don't miss tip-off at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
UPDATE: Added a prediction for who will win tonight!
Knicks vs Spurs Game 1 prediction
Who will win Knicks vs Spurs Game 1?
Knicks: The Knicks saw the bad side of extended rest in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals and needed a historic comeback to avoid a loss. New York will be much more cautious of that layoff in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. I like the Knicks’ defensive rotation against Wembanyama and believe New York’s ability to hit from outside will expose the Spurs’ soft perimeter defense in a way the shorthanded Thunder couldn’t. Add in a possible letdown spot from San Antonio after Game 7 with OKC, and I like New York’s chances to steal the opener in Texas.
Knicks vs Spurs best bet: Jalen Brunson Over 2.5 made threes (+135)
Where an attacking SGA would avoid the arc like an ex-girlfriend, Brunson is a pull-up threat the second he crosses half.
With Victor Wembanyama lurking in the key, the Knicks need to stretch a Spurs defense that doesn’t have much length beyond Wemby. That means smaller defenders and cleaner looks for Brunson.
Projections lean toward a trio of triples from Brunson with an underdog game script giving Over 2.5 threes a shot in the arm at plus-money.
COVERS INTEL: San Antonio didn’t have a defender within at least four feet on 93% of OKC’s 3-point attempts in the WCF. Brunson laps up those looks and went a collective 10 for 24 from distance in three meetings with the Spurs this season.
Knicks vs Spurs Game 1 same-game parlay
“Rest vs. Rust” is on everyone’s mind but New York’s extended break has the Knicks at nearly 100% health (save for Mitchell Robinson’s pinkie). That means OG Anunoby is recovered from a hamstring injury and leads the charge in frustrating Victor Wembanyama. New York has better defensive options than the Spurs, which makes them a dangerous Three-and-D foe.
I like the Knicks to keep it closer than bookies expect.
Jalen Brunson’s 3-point attempts prop sits at 6.5 O/U for Game 1, but if San Antonio plays the perimeter as passive as it did versus the Thunder, Brunson will make the most of that space.
He’s had to deal with longer defenders closing out in the first three rounds, but San Antonio doesn’t have that same size in the backcourt. Brunson’s projections and game script, with New York playing from behind, all give life to three or more makes from long range.
Karl-Anthony Towns has thrived as a “point forward” for New York in the playoffs, doubling his assist output from the regular season to almost six dimes per game.
With Wembanyama defending Josh Hart, in order to stay close to the key, KAT will get picked up by much smaller forwards. That creates space for cuts and screens underneath and the taller Towns can pass over the top to those waiting hands.
He can also drive from the top of the key or post up smaller defenders, collapsing the Spurs defense and kicking out to open shooters.
His Game 1 models aren’t as bullish on his assists (3.5), but KAT has recorded five or more dimes in nine of his last 11 playoff games. This matchup with San Antonio allows him to exploit his size edge as a passer again, something he didn't have against the bigger Cavaliers.
Knicks vs Spurs SGP
Knicks +4.5
Jalen Brunson Over 2.5 threes
Karl-Anthony Towns Over 4.5 assists
Our "from downtown" SGP: City slicker
The Spurs may be ripe for a letdown spot after an emotional Game 7 win in the Western Conference Finals.
The Knicks have had 10 days to rest and scheme for slowing down San Antonio. If the regular season is any indicator — and it was for the Spurs vs. OKC — New York has gotten the better of their Finals foe in two of their three meetings.
Brunson anchors that opening victory by knocking down open threes, taking in a trio of rebounds, and swiping at least one steal from a San Antonio backcourt that’s been sloppy at times in the playoffs.
Knicks vs Spurs SGP
Knicks moneyline
Jalen Brunson Over 2.5 threes
Jalen Brunson Over 2.5 rebounds
Jalen Brunson Over 0.5 steals
Knicks vs Spurs odds for Game 1
Spread: Knicks +4.5 | Spurs -4.5
Moneyline: Knicks +155 | Spurs -185
Over/Under: Over 218.5 | Under 218.5
Knicks vs Spurs betting trend to know
The Knicks are 31-11 SU when Jalen Brunson makes three or more 3-pointers. Find more NBA betting trends for Spurs vs. Knicks.
How to watch Knicks vs Spurs Game 1
Location
Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, TX
Date
Wednesday, June 3, 2026
Tip-off
8:30 p.m. ET
TV
ABC
Knicks vs Spurs latest injuries
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Despite the San Antonio Spurs dethroning the reigning league champions and looking like the team to beat heading into the best-of-seven NBA Finals, bettors are finding plenty of value with the underdog New York Knicks.
Key Takeaways
FanDuel and DraftKings both reported that more than 60% of the money is on underdog New York to win the NBA title.
Caesars has taken more Knicks tickets, but the handle is leaning toward the favored Spurs.
Several big bets with large payouts were made at opportune times.
Three U.S. sportsbooks told Covers this week that the Eastern Conference champs are taking more action than the Victor Wembanyama-led Spurs to win the series at around 2-to-1 odds before Wednesday’s Game 1.
“Early action has seen this series pretty evenly bet to this point,” David Lieberman, Caesars Sportsbook’s pro basketball lead, said. “As far as tickets, there are more on the Knicks so far by about 2:1, while the Spurs have taken slightly more money.”
FanDuel reported that the Knicks, who are currently +162 in the NBA Finals odds, are getting 56% of the bets and 65% of the handle. DraftKings said 63% of the money is backing New York, leaving the Spurs with 37% of the handle.
Bigger liability
Since the NBA championship market opened last summer, BetMGM has seen the Knicks take 14.1% of the total wagers, with San Antonio second at 12.2%. However, the Spurs, who took a smaller percentage of the money, are a bigger threat to the operator.
“The Spurs have the best player and the better overall team, making them clear favorites in the NBA Finals,” BetMGM sports trader Anthony Parenti said. “The sportsbook will be cheering for the Knicks as San Antonio is the biggest remaining liability on the futures book.”
The Spurs are a 4.5-point favorite at home in Game 1, and DraftKings reported early Wednesday that 55% of the handle and 54% of the bets have come in on the underdog Knicks to cover the spread.
Operator
Spurs’ series odds
Knicks’ series odds
FanDuel
-194
+162
DraftKings
-205
+170
BetMGM
-210
+170
Caesars
-195
+165
Spurs’ odds to get here
The Spurs started with the longer championship odds, opening at +2,500 in BetMGM’s odds last summer and ballooning to +6,600 when the season began with Wembanyama dealing with a calf issue.
By Christmas, San Antonio’s odds shortened to +2,200 and then down to +1,200 a week later. After winning 62 regular-season games and claiming the second seed in the Western Conference, the Spurs entered the playoffs at +450 to win it all at BetMGM. San Antonio was still +300 before they shocked the +140 favorite to win it all before the playoffs began in the conference finals in seven games.
Knicks’ odds to get here
New York opened with much lighter +700 odds to win the NBA title, but the Knicks lengthened to around +1,000 when the season began. Their odds spiked as high as +2,000 late in the regular season, when they won 53 games to take the third seed in the East.
New York’s chances grew dimmer when it was tied 2-2 in the first round against the Atlanta Hawks. Still, the Knicks enter the final series winning 12 consecutive games over the Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, and Cleveland Cavaliers, going from +900 at the start of the second round to win it all to under +200 heading into the final series.
Big payouts
Caesars reported multiple futures wagers that could result in significant payouts. A Kentucky bettor placed a $5,000 bet at the beginning of the regular season on the Spurs when they were +2,500 for a potential $125,000 win. A New York customer is looking to cash in for $120K on a $10K bet placed in February on the Spurs at +1,200.
A bettor in New Jersey found great value on the Knicks in April, getting $5K down to win $100K. A Colorado customer foresaw this exact matchup in October, betting $500 on a Knicks over Spurs final that would pay $95K. In February, a New York bettor took the Knicks over the Spurs for $1,000 with odds of +10,000, while a Caesars customer in Massachusetts did the same in early May, which would produce a $90K win on a $2K bet.
BetMGM said it took a $50,000 wager on the Spurs at +650 and a $22,000 futures bet on the Knicks at +2,200.
A bettor at @BetMGM wagered $20,000 on @nyknicks +2200 to win the NBA Championship
The top talents in the series are unsurprisingly getting the most betting action for NBA Finals MVP odds at multiple sportsbooks.
Wembanyama, who started the playoffs at +600 to win the award, is now -190 at BetMGM, while New York star guard Jalen Brunson has gone from +2,800 to +200 to take home series MVP.
Brunson is BetMGM’s biggest liability in the futures market with 16.5% of the tickets, with Wembanyama second at 14.4%. DraftKings said the Spurs’ second-year center is the most-bet player by handle. Brunson is second, with Karl-Anthony Towns third.
The Knicks’ center is getting the third-most tickets at BetMGM. Caesars said it has seen significant interest in Knicks forward OG Anunoby (+3,500) and Spurs guard Dylan Harper (+15,000).
How much Tyler Kolek do you think we’ll see in the NBA Finals? | Photo by David L. Nemec/NBAE via Getty Images
Hey, remember when the New York Knicks lost two playoff games to the Atlanta Hawks??
It’s true! They were down 2-1 in that series after a 109-108 loss in Game 3, which was back on April 23rd.
THEY HAVEN’T LOST SINCE!
Three straight against the Hawks to win that series 4-2, then a sweep of Philadelphia and a sweep of Cleveland in the Eastern Conference Finals! 11 straight wins, and now the Knicks are back in the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999!
Unfortunately for our purposes here at Anonymous Eagle, OUR GUY Tyler Kolek only played nine total minutes against Cleveland in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. That seems a little weird because as we discussed in the preview/schedule post for that series, the Knicks are undefeated at 8-0 in the playoffs when head coach Mike Brown puts Kolek on the floor but now just 4-2 when Kolek does not play. GET IT TOGETHER, MIKE BROWN!
In fairness to Mike Brown, he’s the guy steering the ship on the best 10 game point differential in NBA history, regular season or playoffs…. and that margin is NOT CLOSE.
We should note that Kolek had eight points, a rebound, and an assist in eight minutes in New York’s 130-93 demolition of the Cavaliers in Game 4. That game was so lopsided that when it went to the half with the Knicks up 68-49, the Inside The NBA crew spent intermission openly discussing how much the Cavaliers had quit, up to and including an on screen stat package titled “QUITTING TIME.” That’s a yikes!
Anyway, the Knicks are in the NBA Finals, and after Saturday night’s Game 7, we know that they’ll be facing the San Antonio Spurs, making it a rematch of the 1999 NBA Finals. The Spurs went 62-20 in the regular season, which earned them the #2 seed in the Western Conference, and for the purposes of this series, that means San Antonio will have home court advantage in the Finals since New York was 53-29.
The Spurs got to the Finals by beating Portland, Minnesota and Oklahoma City in the Western Conference playoffs, which does mean that they beat the #1 seeded Thunder 4-3 in the conference finals and thus dethroned the reigning NBA Champions. San Antonio had to win Game 6 at home to force Game 7, and then they beat the Thunder 111-103 on the road to get to the Finals for the first time since 2014.
San Antonio was led in the Western Conference Finals by Victor Wembanyama, the 7’4”, 22-year-old phenom. He averaged 27.3 points and 10.9 rebounds per game against OKC, which includes a 16-for-40 effort behind the three-point line, and honestly: Big Vic shooting 40% on threes on top of everything should be declared illegal. He also chipped in 3.1 assists and a shockingly low 2.7 blocks per game against the Thunder, so he’s doing a little bit of everything for the Spurs.
The Spurs are more than just Le Slim, and it’s former UConn Husky Stephon Castle showing up as their #2 scorer from the conference finals at 18.0 points per game. He also led the squad in assists with 7.6 in the series, but don’t ignore De’Aaron Fox and his 6.2 per game either. There’s a little bit of noise in that signal since Fox did miss two games in the series, but he did play over 35 minutes in Game 7, so we’ll presume he’s good to go when the NBA Finals start on Wednesday.
One last thing, which I saw on Saturday night: Game 6 of the Finals, if necessary, will be at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, June 16th. France — Wembanyama’s home country! — plays their first match of the 2026 World Cup…. five hours earlier at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Could be quite the day for Francophones in the New York/New Jersey area, that’s all.
2026 NBA Finals
All games are on ABC, and all games start at 7:30pm Central
Game 1: Wednesday, June 3 Game 2: Friday, June 5 Game 3: Monday, June 8 Game 4: Wednesday, June 10 Game 5*: Saturday, June 13 Game 6*: Tuesday, June 16 Game 7*: Friday, June 19
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - MAY 30: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs celebrates with Stephon Castle #5 and De'aaron Fox #4 after defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder with a score of 111 to 103 to win Game Seven of the NBA Western Conference Finals at Paycom Center on May 30, 2026 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. (Photo by Joshua Gateley/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I began writing for Pounding the Rock in October 2014 in the soft autumn afterglow of the Redemption Finals in June of that year. No one predicted that would be the Spurs’ last trip to the NBA Finals for over a decade.
Because I am both a Spurs fan in particular and a basketball fan in general, I would still watch the NBA finals each season, even without the Spurs involved. Long-time readers know that I cannot watch a sporting event without rooting for one team or the other. Those parts of my personality led me to write an annual column about which team Spurs fans should root for in each of the Finals which did not once include the Spurs after 2014.
Last year, the Finals were between OKC and Indiana. In my June 5, 2025 piece, I gave six reasons to choose the Indiana Pacers over OKC, and concluded with:
Like that Warriors team, this Thunder will be a massive problem for the league, and the Spurs, for many seasons to come. As a result, even if they aren’t already doing so, Spurs fan might as well start rooting against the Thunder. We certainly will be doing exactly that for the foreseeable future. Go Pacers!
When I wrote that nearly a year ago, no one (including mylsef) knew that our Spurs, not the Thunder, would become “the massive problem for the league” this season. As a result, for this season at least, I can retire my annual analysis of which team Spurs fans should root for in the NBA Finals. I have some more thoughts to share, but if you are reading this to determine who I think Spurs fans should root for in the 2026 NBA Finals, I don’t need to provide a lengthy analysis or a list of reasons to root for one team or another. Go Spurs Go!
Other thoughts
In my piece from last year, I explored the English derivation of the word “juggernaut”. I assumed it was Germanic. (Try saying “juggernaut” with a German accent. Very Germanic, right?) It turns out that the word comes from India, not Germany:
“An idea, custom, fashion, etc., that demands either blind devotion or merciless sacrifice,” 1854, a figurative use of Juggernaut, 1630s (Iaggernat), “huge wagon bearing an image of the god Krishna,” especially at the town of Puri, drawn annually in procession during which (apocryphally) devotees allowed themselves to be crushed under its wheels in sacrifice. Altered from Jaggernaut, a title of Krishna (an incarnation of Vishnu), from Hindi Jagannath, literally “lord of the world.”
I raise this word again this year because after the Spurs established themselves as true contenders this season, many pundits began describing the Spurs and Thunder as the two true juggernauts in the league. Many assumed that the winner of the Western Conference Finals — assumed by all to be either OKC or San Antonio — would crush the Eastern Conference winner like the Krishna devotees under the massive wheels of his huge wagon. It turns out that we may have a third juggernaut — the New York Knicks. Although their competition was not up to Western Conference standards, the Knicks smote their playoff competition in a truly historic manner. From The Athletic:
“The Knicks enter as the hottest team in the history of the NBA playoffs. They have won 11 games in a row, against the Hawks, 76ers and Cavaliers. In running up a 12-2 playoff record, the average score of their games has been Knicks 120, Opponents 101. New York’s 19.4-point margin per game is, for the moment, six points ahead of any other postseason team since the NBA-ABA merger.”
Despite this historic dominance, and the Knicks’ massive rest advantage, the Knicks are 2-1 underdogs to a team who was picked as a possible Play-In Tournament participant at the start of the season. Of course, the Knicks have had a spotty history in the 50+ years since their last title, while the Spurs won a crown or two (or five) while the Knicks were flaming out each year. And the Spurs have several perimeter defenders a little bit better that the Harden/Mitchell backcourt that the Knicks’ guards torched in the Eastern Conference Finals. That being said, 2 t0 1 still seems a bit high.
The player of the game for the Spurs in Game 7 was Julian Champagnie. He went 6 for 10 from three, scored 20 points on 11 shots, and was a game-leading +16 during his 38 minutes on the floor. For much of the time down the stretch of an absolute must-win Game Seven on the road, Mitch Johnson went with his four top-5 lottery picks, and Julian Champagnie.
In a related note, the absolute play of the game was Luke Kornet’s block of Isaiah Hartenstein’s breakaway dunk attempt.
That play happened with just under seven minutes left in the fourth quarter and the Spurs up 97-91. Absent that block, OKC would have cut the lead to four, probably forcing a Spurs time-out with the OKC fans making it impossible for anyone to hear. Instead, the Spurs got the ball back and scored, turning the game into a much more comfortable (and quiet) 99-91 eight-point lead. During the six minutes he played, Kornet had the same number of blocks as Victor Wembanyama (1), and two more offensive rebounds (3 to 1) — and hustled into the key play of the game that sent the Spurs into the NBA Finals.
Why do I mention Champagnie and Kornet together? Each of them were undrafted out of college. Very Spursian. They join other key Spurs from the past who were either undrafted or second round picks: Avery Johnson, Manu Ginobili, Patty Mills, DannyGreen! and many others. The Spurs’ proud franchise was built not only on top picks like the Admiral, the Great Duncan and Victor, but also on players other NBA teams decided were not good enough to play in the league.
I haven’t done a Fun with Box Scores edition in quite a while, largely because Pounding the Rock has a guy who does it much better than I can. But Game Seven’s box score has some notable items. For instance, both teams shot 45% from the field, but the Spurs went 17/40 from three, while OKC was 12/35. Put another way, the Spurs shot five more threes — and made all of them.
Also, Stephon Castle had the devil of a game: 6 rebounds, 6 assists and 6 turnovers. The Spurs’ nuns still forgave him because he had 16 points and 4 offensive rebounds. Ryan Harper had 3 offensive rebounds, meaning the two young Spurs guards combined for 7 offensive rebounds.
Another cool stat — after OKC got 9 offensive rebounds in the first half, they had only 1 in the entire second half. You think the Spurs coaching staff may have emphasized that at halftime? Yeah, me too. The Spurs got 5 more offensive rebounds for the game (15-10), and had 1 fewer turnover (13-12), which means 6 extra opportunities to score in a game decided by 8 points. By the way, the 111-103 final was the second closest game of the series. A very odd series, with two excellent games bookending five contests which were not in doubt in the fourth quarter.
One final question: why does ESPN always have Dylan Harper listed last on the Spurs box score? It is certainly not alphabetical, or based on his uniform number. Maybe because he went to Rutgers?? If anyone has a logical answer, please drop it in the comments.
One last stat: this one from halftime of Game Seven. The Spurs were up 3 points, 46-43. In the first half, the Spurs were 7 for 8 from the free throw line, while the Thunder were 4 for 8. Which means that with all the shooting and rebounding and steals and defense in the first half, the Spurs were ahead because they made three more free throws than OKC on their eight attempts.
That also made it odd that OKC’s coach chose to replace two of his starters to start the second half. I thought that sent an unusual message to a team that had the best record in the league the past two seasons. It might have been better to tell his guys “we got this”, “we are at home and we weathered the storm”, and yes, “we are the defending champs, let’s go out and show the world.” Instead, OKC benched two starters.
In contrast, when Stephon Castle got his 4th foul in the third quarter, and Victor got his 5th foul with over seven minutes left in the game, Mitch Johnson subbed them out for less than two minutes each, and then sent them back into the game. He trusted his guys to play without fouling, and switched Castle off SGA for much of the remaining game. (During Victor’s minute-long rest, Kornet has his chase down block — and then immediately subbed out to much adulation from the Spurs’ bench.) Johnson knew that the team needed Castle and Victor on the court for the Spurs to win Game Seven on the road, and he was right. Nice job by the Spurs’ head coach — also a rookie in his first playoffs.
Several good quotes to mention. First, Anthony Edwards said this about the Spurs, and in particular their offense when Victor was not in the game: “It made it hard on us because now everybody (on the Spurs) was playing free,” Edwards said. “They play egoless basketball anyway, but they made it a little tougher.”
As a coach, I want opposing players to describe my team’s offense as “egoless”. Love it. The second quote was from Reggie Miller after Keldon Johnson, who lives on a farm, drained two key threes in the fourth quarter: “His goats are very happy.”
Finally, my buddy Ferg dropped this dime describing Chet Holmgren’s four point, four rebound performance in Game Seven. “He Chet the bed”.
Because this is my “rooting for” post, I end by pointing out that the Spurs were clearly the fan favorites in the Western Conference Finals. Other than people from Oklahoma, or the OKC players’ close relatives, it seems that everyone was either rooting for the Spurs or against the Thunder. I don’t know if that will carry over to the Finals. There are an awful lot of New York Knicks fans out there, and I mean awful when describing Knicks’ fans. (To my Knicks fan buddies, sorry for the cheap shot.)
Anyway, because I traditionally root against teams from New York, my choice is doubly easy. I just don’t believe the series will be.
COVERS INTEL: San Antonio didn’t have a defender within at 
