Category: NBA

Narrowing down the five best fits for Warriors in a loaded 2026 NBA Draft originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Narrowing the best fits for the Warriors in the NBA draft this year down to a top five was harder than usual. This is, of course, great news for Mike Dunleavy ahead of his highest pick yet as Warriors general manager at No. 11. The Class of 2026 is that deep, giving Dunleavy and the Warriors’ front office an abundance of options. 

Where’s Labaron Philon Jr.? What about Aday Mara? Karim Lopez? Chris Cenac Jr.? Or even Nate Ament, Christian Anderson, Bennet Stirtz and a handful of others? Excluding some players wasn’t an easy pill to swallow.

The Warriors have holes all over their roster, but most of all, they need as much talent as possible to open the doors at Chase Center and walk into their locker room. The Warriors will explore every avenue in the 2026 NBA raft. These five prospects fit the bill and make the cut above the rest in a year where the honorable mentions place an emphasis on honorable. 

Cameron Carr, SG/SF, Baylor 

The combination of the highest upside and every tool to be what everyone wants from a modern 3-And-D wing makes Carr the ideal fit for the Warriors. 

He has the length and shot-making ability to play shooting guard and small forward. He had a slow start to his college career and then burst onto the scene as one of college basketball’s premier breakout stars as his talent caught up his one year at Baylor. Carr had 15 games of 20-plus points last season as a redshirt sophomore, which are five more than the prospect below, and one fewer than the leader on this list.

At 6-foot-5 with a 7-foot-1 wingspan, Carr is the cutout teams search for. He just has to get stronger after weighing in at 184 pounds. The rest of the combine, however, was all his. Carr registered the second-highest standing vertical leap (38 inches) and max vertical leap (42.5 inches), as well as the lane agility sprint (10.46 seconds). 

Once he was in a game setting for his scrimmage at the NBA draft combine, Carr took over. The 21-year-old, who will turn 22 in late November, dropped 30 points on 9-of-18 shooting and went 6 of 12 from three in under 27 minutes. Carr also had seven rebounds in the game, blocked two shots and frequently made his way to the free-throw line. 

Look at how easy Carr’s high and long 3-point shot goes down. Look at how he glides and accelerates on these dunks, and look at his two-way potential. 

Carr in the very least will be a super scoring sixth man. It’s very easy to see him become more. 

Yaxel Lendeborg, F, Michigan 

While Carr is more of a bridge prospect between the present and the future, Lendeborg is viewed as a quintessential plug-and-play pick. Starting the 2026-27 NBA season without Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody, but being able to trust a rookie from Day 1, would be quite the luxury for the Warriors. Lendeborg could be the answer there. 

Lendeborg already has played so many different roles through his one of a kind path to the draft. He will be 24 years old before he plays his first NBA game, yet Lendeborg is a late bloomer. He barely played any high school basketball at all, spent three years in junior college, was a two-time AAC Defensive Player of the Year in his two years at UAB and then starred in whatever Michigan needed him to do while winning a national championship and counting awards. 

What Lendeborg did for any previous critics this past season was show he can evolve, and that there still is potential to be tapped. In two seasons at UAB, Lendeborg made multiple threes in six games. Lendeborg at Michigan reached that number in his first eight games, and he finished with 20 such games. 

On a national championship team that featured three soon-to-be first-round 2026 draft picks, Lendeborg ranked first on Michigan in points per game (15.1) and steals per game (1.1), and second in rebounds per game (6.8), assists per game (3.2) and blocked shots per game. He also led them in 3-point percentage (37.2 percent) and was one behind the leader in total threes, 68 to 67. 

Yaxel Lendeborg regular season highlights

Best player in the Big Ten?? pic.twitter.com/a7DxFpavzB

— College Basketball Report (@CBKReport) March 9, 2026

The Warriors need a bit of everything, and Lendeborg brings a bit of everything. He has an NBA-ready frame at 6-foot-9, 241 pounds with a wingspan over 7-foot-3. His floor is worth questioning the ceiling. 

Brayden Burries, G, Arizona

Watching strong guards like Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper power their way to the paint in the NBA playoffs only made the desire for these types of players that much more. Burries, at 6-foot-4, is slightly shorter and doesn’t have the same massive wingspan as a Castle or Harper, but he might be even stronger at 215 pounds. He then had the fourth-highest standing vertical at the combine (35 inches) and the fourth-fastest lane agility run (10.59 seconds). 

Burries checks all the boxes of the kind of combo guard Warriors coach Steve Kerr would love. He had 14 20-point games, one fewer than Carr, and impacts games in so many ways. Burries had 22 games of five-plus rebounds, including three of 10-plus, 21 games of multiple threes and 18 with multiple steals.

The advanced stats love him, too. Burries ranked second in the Big 12 in win shares (6.4). He was fifth in offensive win shares (3.7) and third in defensive win shares (2.7). There’s a reason he’s the least likely of the bunch to be available for the Warriors. 

BRAYDEN BURRIES HIVE

pic.twitter.com/YO6cOY29nT

— Tyler Rucker (@tyler_rucker) February 25, 2026

If he is there, the Warriors should have a happy draft room. It doesn’t hurt that Burries showed out in front of Kerr in the Sweet Sixteen with 23 points on 7-of-11 shooting, five rebounds and two threes. 

Morez Johnson Jr., PF/C, Michigan

Winning teams will all love Johnson on the court, and it’s easy to see why he’d be loved in the locker room. Just turn on the tape of the national championship game and it’s easy to see why. 

Johnson in that game went to work down low to score 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting. He led Michigan with 10 rebounds – five offensive and five defensive – and swatted a game-high two blocked shots. Johnson ranked second in defensive rating in the Big Ten (96.1) and fifth in offensive rating (135.4)

Versatility separates Johnson defensively with the chance to be the best player from this draft on that side of the ball. He can play the 4 or the 5 with a 7-foot-4 wingspan, but he guards out to the wings and beyond. Johnson wants the challenge of defending 1 through 5 and can back it up. 

The Warriors ranked last in dunks last season and are begging for athleticism. Johnson is the kind of athlete they’re lacking, and he has all the right intangibles in his game. 

Hannes Steinbach, C/PF, Washington

Can the Warriors find their Alperen Şengün after missing out on him in the 2021 draft? Steinbach is right around the same size as Şengün. He doesn’t pass as well as him, but he rebounds just as well or better, can score around the rim like him, and has shown the ability to be a real stretch big man down the road. 

Most teams want to make sure their top pick has at least one elite trait, and Steinbach clearly does. His strong and massive hands help him be the best rebounder in the draft. Steinbach positions his body well and he just has a knack for the ball. He led the country in rebounds per game (11.8) and he also ranked second in the Big Ten with 126 offensive rebounds. 

Since his college season ended, Steinbach has proven to teams he has the size to be a center after coming to the combine at over 6-foot-10 barefoot and weighing in at 248 pounds. Steinbach has a strong international background in Germany, and players as productive as him at a high level in Europe and college are going to stick around for a long career. 

These are some of Hannes Steinbach’s best buckets imo

He’s really efficient, positions himself well, uses his body well, & has good speed/power with the ball already

(Also has clear 3pt shooting upside)

He’s got so much room for growth, especially developing his skillset… pic.twitter.com/QEI3OMU8Bs

— ItsAllLove (@nbanerdd) June 7, 2026

From a production standpoint, Steinbach’s freshman season was as good as it gets. He had 16 20-point games and averaged 18.5 points per game, shooting 57.7 percent from the field. The possession battle is becoming so important in today’s NBA, making Steinbach a trusted pick with a lot to like.

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The Knicks just made their hoop dreams a reality.

New York’s heroes in orange and blue are inspiring an entire generation of players ready to take the game to new heights at their Long Island high school gyms next fall, as these teens learned that anything is possible from the 2026 NBA champs.

“The Knicks had to wait a long time, but it came, and I feel like for anybody, you just take that into your own life,” Sachem North forward Jacob Steffens told The Post of snapping the 53-year drought.

“We haven’t made a long playoff run in a long time, we haven’t won our league in 20 years, so I think it could just keep going after it,” added his teammate, guard Sean Galvan.

Greenport guard and all-county star Troy Myers is taking in a lot of the Knicks’ recipe for success that he’ll bring to the Porters next year.

“Nobody on their team has egos; everybody plays together. I just love how they all bond together, even in tough times,” said Myers, who recently moved from North Carolina and fell in love with the Knicks. “When games get tougher, we all just have to stay together. … When we get down, we just can’t let ourselves be down about it. We’ve had to keep going and just keep pushing.”

Delaney Walters of New York state Catholic league champion St. Mary’s High School learned something similar from Jalen Brunson’s bunch as the Lady Gaels aim to win it all again.

“A big thing about them this year was just never giving up. … They definitely didn’t sulk when something didn’t go right, like they just kept their head up and they just kept playing,” the guard said.

“They taught me when things aren’t going how I plan them to go on the court, or if my shots aren’t falling, not to keep my head down, just keep my head up, and just go for the next play,” she added.

Other champs, like Matt Grande of the Nassau title-winning South Side Cyclones, relate to being counted out prematurely after their star guard, John Pericolosi, got injured midyear.

“The Knicks are an underdog story because they were just so bad for so long, I feel like that’s kind of the same way with us,” said the guard, who was all smiles at the parade Thursday.

“Everybody wants to win again. I feel like that was with the Knicks, too — the last guy on the bench to Brunson and the starters encouraging each other … that’s a big role we saw with the Knicks to bring to our gym.”

In the latest Stein Line, Marc Stein provided new intel about who the Washington Wizards might be picking at #1, and it might be changing from the consensus.

Leading off with the battle — yes, battle — to go No. 1 overall in Tuesday night's NBA Draft: https://t.co/fDs3oMeCZehttps://t.co/cggGlQp1Sa

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 19, 2026

From Stein:

With only a few days to go before Tuesday night’s first round of the NBA Draft, multiple draft experts have passed along that they legitimately believe Washington could select Kansas’ Darryn Peterson over BYU’s AJ Dybantsa with the No. 1 overall pick.

“Increased consideration” is the way one well-placed insider put it.

Regular readers know that I don’t really curate a full 1-to-60 draft board … but I can certainly say that I’ve been expecting Dybantsa’s name to be called first by Adam Silver in Brooklyn for literally months.

Peterson’s camp, of course, expects to invalidate such expectations and prevail in a photo finish. The Wizards, as you’ve surely heard by now, are the only team being granting a private workout with the Kansas star in advance of the draft.

How serious are the Wiz about selecting Peterson after all the Dybantsa hype? Is such chatter some sort of smokescreen? These are natural questions that we can probably only answer for sure shortly after 8 PM ET on Tuesday.

Yet we can certainly say this much now: Jazz owner and BYU alumnus Ryan Smith would undoubtedly be giddy with this outcome. Especially just one year removed from the Jazz going 17-65 to post the league’s worst record and coming away with the fifth pick in the Cooper Flagg Sweepstakes.

Dybantsa slipping to No. 2 this June, for Smith and his Jazz, would be a dream.

There’s a ton to unpack here. First, it’s clear that Darryn Peterson’s talent is keeping the Wizards front office up at night. To me, this feels like the Wizards are worried. The amount of rumors we keep hearing is one of two things. They’re worried that they’re not making the best choice, or they’re still trying to bait the Jazz into a trade for the #1 pick. In a weird way, it makes me feel even better about the #2 pick in this draft. All the pressure is on the Wizards, Utah gets to take the one they don’t pick. And best of all, the Jazz win either way. I can’t blame the Wizards either. Dybantsa and Peterson are both elite prospects. They both have the potential to be top-10 NBA players eventually, maybe more. And that’s what the Wizards are probably worrying about. Get this wrong, and that might be the difference between an MVP and an All-Star.

But what about Cam Boozer? Stein has info on that as well.

PS — What we can also say, according to league sources, is that neither Duke’s Cam Boozer nor North Carolina’s Caleb Wilson are in contention to go No. 1 overall. Boozer is widely projected to go to Memphis at No. 3 and Wilson is expected to go to Chicago at No. 4 as Bryson Graham’s first-ever draftee as the Bulls’ new lead decision-maker.

So we know that only the Jazz have interest in Cam Boozer, not the Wizards. We’ve seen a shift lately in what has been the consensus lately, it’s just hard to tell what’s real.

It has definitely felt like the Wizards have been trying to bait the Jazz into trading for the #1 pick and AJ Dybantsa. But with all the draft experts saying that Dybantsa was the first choice, why would they want to trade that to the Jazz? Maybe there’s some merit to this rumor about Peterson. If they’re just as happy with Peterson, it makes more sense that they would try to trade the pick to the Jazz.

Or maybe we’re hearing this rumor now because they know that Utah has another preference? Do they know that Utah might prefer Peterson instead of Dybantsa? Could this be that they’re trying to get Utah to trade up for him? Maybe, but something tells me, just like Stein says, the Jazz are going to be happy either way. And if they end up with AJ Dybantsa, it’s going to be one of the best sports stories in Utah history. To think that AJ Dybantsa might be in a Jazz uniform feels like a sports movie.

According to ESPN, Boston has emerged as a leading destination in the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes. No deal is on the table (that we know of), but the mere possibility might raise a few concerns.

Concern numero uno is obvious. Giannis is one of the handful of players capable of altering the championship picture by himself. Pairing him with Jayson Tatum would create an impressive combination of size, athleticism, versatility, and star power. The question is whether Brad Stevens and the Celtics can actually pull it off without creating a new set of problems for themselves.

Boston’s path to Giannis is narrower than it first appears. The Celtics would almost certainly need to move Jaylen Brown, either directly to Milwaukee or through a third team. Reports indicate Brown has little interest in joining the Bucks (in paraphrase: “Milwaukee?! Yuck!”), which complicates matters further. We start moving from a blockbuster trade to a three-team puzzle involving contracts, draft compensation, and competing agendas.

Even if Boston finds a way through that maze, there’s no guarantee the resulting team will succeed.

Giannis may be a better asset than Brown, but championships are not won by comparing players one-for-one. They’re won by building complete teams (case in point: YOUR WORLD CHAMPION NEW YORK KNICKERBOCKERS ).

Brown averaged more than 28 points per game last season while defending multiple positions. He can create his own offense, punish smaller defenders, and absorb primary scoring responsibilities when Tatum is unavailable (as Tatum was for most of last season, recovering from a torn Achilles). Replacing him with Giannis raises Boston’s ceiling, perhaps, but also changes the structure of the roster.

The Celtics have spent years building an ecosystem around two star wings. Remove one and the supporting cast suddenly becomes more important, which means Stevens would have many more decisions to make before the start of training camp. 

What catches me up is, if the Bucks believed that Giannis has more great years ahead of him, would they so quickly offload him to a conference rival? Might he actually be a distressed asset?

Giannis will turn 32 this season. He has generally been durable over his career but has dealt with increasing lower-body issues (especially calves and knees) in recent years, leading to more missed time. To wit:

•  2022–23: 63 GP / 19 missed

• 2023–24: 73 GP / 9 missed

•  2024–25: 67 GP / 15 missed

•  2025–26: 36 GP / 46 missed

Wouldn’t that just be the worst if the Celts parted with Brown to get him, and then Giannis missed extended time due to injury? Like, the absolute worst? (Insert diabolical laughter.)

A healthy Tatum-Giannis pairing would present unique challenges for New York. The Knicks would need to defend relentless downhill pressure while also containing one of the league’s best bucket creators. But, given their depth, New York may be better equipped than most teams to handle it.

So if the Celtics’ pursuit of Giannis causes an initial flutter of worry, you can let that just drift on by. The scenario only noses toward Red Alert if Boston nabs him while somehow also acquiring a guard who makes up for what they’d lose with Brown’s departure. 

But wait! This just in: Chris Haynes has pushed back on the idea that a Giannis Antetokounmpo-to-Boston deal is close. He writes that Boston does not appear to be a promising destination and suggested the situation could extend into July. Additionally, Marc Stein reported that the Celtics are frustrated by speculation involving Jaylen Brown, while Brian Windhorst said Brown has not been formally offered in a trade. So, to quote the great William Goldman (also a Knicks fan), “Nobody knows anything.”

It’s worth noting that the Miami Heat are also reportedly in the mix. We’ve heard that the lack of income tax is alluring to the Greek Freak. Plus Florida offers sunny, warm weather, which is not a defining feature of Wisconsin. In the end, though, joining Boston would allow Giannis to keep all his favorite green-themed items in his wardrobe, and shouldn’t looking good be a priority, too?

Go Knicks.

With the NBA Draft less than a week away, the Jazz will have the chance to select one of the best, if not the best, prospects they’ve ever drafted. The best part of this draft is that it counts for the top three picks. AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, and Cam Boozer all have their own legitimate case for the #1 pick.

The Washington Wizards have the first pick and will take one of those three off the board, but no one knows who they’re taking. Both AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson believe they’re the #1 pick based on their interviews with the Wizards, but the Wizards are holding their cards close to the chest.

Jazz fans, on the other hand, let us know who they would prefer if they were choosing between all three prospects, and here’s what they said:

Clearly, Jazz fans have a favorite, and that’s AJ Dybantsa. Not only do Jazz fans appear to prefer Dybantsa 1st, but 41% prefer Peterson. That means that 88% of Jazz fans prefer either Dybantsa or Peterson. Now, maybe some of those Dybantsa voters might prefer Boozer if the Wizards select Dybantsa #1, but it’s pretty clear that a vast majority of fans want Dybantsa or Peterson on draft night.

It’s a good reminder of just how great landing at #2 was on lottery night. Whatever the Wizards do, Jazz fans will come away with the clear top two choices. At FanDuel, AJ Dybantsa has the best odds of going #1, so it may mean that Jazz fans will have to go with their second choice. But in this draft, that’s probably just as good as first.

The Lakers sent shockwaves through the NBA when the organization traded Anthony Davis for Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic.

The move signaled the Lakers’ desire to find their next generational star as the organization shifted its focus to the future of the franchise.

Over a year later, there have been rumblings about a potential reunion between the Lakers and Davis. The team has a clear need for an A-list big man, and the 33-year-old fits the bill.

It would be costly for the Lakers to acquire Davis, but NBA reporter Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson proposed a wild three-team mega deal that would get the 10-time All-Star back in the purple and gold.

Lakers could acquire Anthony Davis in wild 3-team mega deal

Robinson’s trade idea involves the Lakers, Jazz and Wizards.

The Lakers would receive Davis, Utah’s young star Ace Bailey, two Jazz second-round picks (2027) and two Wizards second-round picks (2026).

Washington would acquire the No. 2 overall pick in this year’s draft along with Lauri Markkanen, Jarred Vanderbilt, Dalton Knecht, a Lakers unprotected 2030 first-round pick, a Lakers unprotected 2032 pick and a portion of LA’s future pick swaps and additional draft assets.

As for the Jazz, the team would receive the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, Trae Young, Jake LaRavia, the Lakers’ No. 25 overall pick in this year’s draft, a portion of the Lakers’ future pick swaps and a Lakers 2033 second-round pick.

The trade would have to be executed prior to Tuesday’s NBA draft, but the massive deal would immediately launch the Lakers into title contention.

There have also been rumors about Davis’ activity on social media, which includes the big man liking multiple posts about when he was initially traded to the Lakers in 2019.

The Lakers are in desperate need of a reliable lob threat big man this summer…

Imagine if the Lakers try and bring back AD from Washington to coincide with Luka while resigning LeBron to a team-friendly deal.

AD has also been liking a lot of posts on socials about when he… pic.twitter.com/25hLGRdTxD

— Polymarket Hoops (@PolymarketHoops) June 17, 2026

However, the trade is unrealistic for a number of reasons.

It is highly unlikely the Jazz would give Bailey to the Lakers. Danny Ainge, CEO of the Jazz, would be reluctant to aid LA in any shape or form. Giving up Utah’s brightest young star seems all the more far-fetched for the Jazz.

Additionally, the odds of Davis getting traded are actually higher nearer the trade deadline because the Wizards would be able to increase his value throughout the first half of the season.

Doncic and Davis in LA? It seems too good to be true, but the organization has a storied history of star-studded teams. If the blockbuster trade transpires, it would be a deal that gives the Lakers a strong chance of winning their first championship since 2020.

Tiago Splittter doesn’t want to think about his departure from the Blazers. 

While speaking to the media in Chicago Wednesday, shortly after being named the next Bulls coach, Splitter gave a blunt and cryptic response when asked about why he left Portland. 

“I really want to leave that behind,” Splitter said. “I’m going to think about the Bulls, that’s my goal right now, and I want to keep that behind (Blazers departure). I respect all opinions and think there’s too many things being said already, and I think that’s enough. I’m past that and I want to think about the Chicago Bulls.”

Tiago Splitter asked about what led to his departure from the Blazers.

“I really want to leave that behind.” #RipCitypic.twitter.com/dn8pmI62Mr

— Ryan Clarke (@RyanTClarke) June 17, 2026

One narrative flowing around the league surrounding Splitter’s departure is that Blazers owner Tom Dundon wouldn’t have offered the coach sufficient money, and that Splitter wouldn’t put up with that. 

Taking over for Chauncey Billups, who is facing federal charges from a gambling scandal, Splitter guided the Blazers to a 42-40 record and their first playoff appearance since 2021.

The Blazers lost to the eventual Western Conference champion Spurs in the First Round. 

Splitter was the first Blazers coach to have a winning record in his first season with the team since 2001-02, and led the team to a top-10 defense across their final 51 games. 

Despite his cryptic answer Wednesday, Splitter still thanked the Blazers for his tenure. 

“Thank you to everyone in the organization for your daily dedication and support from day (one),” Splitter wrote on Instagram. “Thank you to the fans for all the love and encouragement. Thank you for the opportunity to be part of this journey.” 

Splitter succeeds Billy Donovan, who spent six years in Chicago before resigning in April. Donovan went 226-256 with the Bulls, and made the playoffs just once, in 2022. 

The new Bulls coach inherits a team that went 31-51 this season, led by guard Josh Giddey, who averaged 17 points per game. 

The Bulls also have the fourth pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, giving them the opportunity to hand Splitter a franchise player to work with immediately. 

Splitter also brings championship pedigree to Chicago as a former player, as he won the 2014 Finals with the Spurs. 

The 2007 first-round pick averaged 7.9 points per game across his seven-year career, and now looks to catapult a middling Bulls team back to contention.

Stephen A. Smith is calling Jalen Brunson a hero. 

On a segment of the “Stephen A. Smith Show” on Thursday, the ESPN talking head said Brunson “saved the NBA” by winning a championship, and that if the Spurs won, the league would’ve focused solely on how to stop Spurs big man Victor Wembanyama. 

“He [Brunson] literally saved the NBA because if Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs had captured an NBA championship, everybody would be evolving their game planning, their drafting, their analysis and everything that come with it,” Smith said.

“Everything would have been evolving around ‘How we do knock off the [7-foot-4] alien from France?’” 

“You would’ve seen cats who might’ve been inferior talent, but they would’ve still turned around and drafted them anyway just because they were 6-foot-10 or 6-foot-11 or 7-feet tall because you need height when you’re going up against Wemby,” he added. 

Smith wants everyone to truly appreciate what Brunson’s title did for the NBA, and said teams could now look at smaller guards in the draft and not be fazed by their height. 

The analyst specifically pointed to Darius Acuff Jr. and Darryn Peterson, two projected top-10 picks and smaller guards in the upcoming NBA draft, as players who could be looked at differently after Brunson’s heroics. 

“To see him [Brunson] play and to use his marvelous footwork, basketball IQ, poise, seasoning and fearlessness… to see him do that, just think about what that would mean to everybody. Think about what that does for the game of basketball,” Smith said. 

Stephen A. Smith says Jalen Brunson saved the NBA:

“I know a lot of people out there think it’s hyperbolic to say such a thing. I would say to you, you’re not really listening to me. You’re not really, really hearing me. He literally he saved the NBA because if Victor Wembanyama… pic.twitter.com/GelvWF1l4G

— NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) June 18, 2026

“Without him winning this title, our default position would’ve been ‘How are we going to deal with the [7-foot-4] alien’?” 

Even with critics calling him “too small” and not a “1A player”, Brunson rose to the occasion and won Finals MVP, guiding the Knicks to their first title in 53 years. 

Brunson averaged 32.6 points per game across the series and scored 45 points in a closeout Game 5. 

Though Wembanyama still averaged 26 points in the Finals, he shot just 9-for-25 in Game 4 and 7-for-19 in Game 5 to seal the Spurs’ fate.

Don’t start planning another parade in 2027 just yet.

As millions gathered in Lower Manhattan to celebrate the Knicks’ first NBA title in 53 years Thursday morning, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith declared the team as a heavy favorite for another deep postseason run next season – but not necessarily a championship.

“We’re gonna keep it a buck. [The] New York Knicks shouldn’t be the favorites next season, even if they are the champions,” Smith said during Thursday’s edition of “First Take.”

“If you know basketball and you’re covering basketball, you know what happened this year. You could look at this team and legitimately say the New York Knicks deserve to be the favorites coming out of the East. 

“Without question, the Knicks should be the favorites to represent the Eastern Conference in next year’s NBA Finals — not the Celtics. I don’t give a damn if Jayson Tatum is healthy, okay?”

If the Knicks do make it out of the Eastern Conference, however, Smith believes the Oklahoma City Thunder — not the Spurs — pose the biggest challenge.

The Thunder came close to back-to-back NBA Finals appearances before falling to San Antonio in a seven-game Western Conference Finals while missing several key players.

"We're gonna keep it a buck. [The] New York Knicks shouldn't be the favorites next season, even if they are the champions."@stephenasmith isn't picking the Knicks as the favorites for next season pic.twitter.com/L3rgPsadzy

— First Take (@FirstTake) June 18, 2026

“We can’t put anything past the Oklahoma City Thunder,” Smith added. “The Oklahoma City Thunder were in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals. The Oklahoma City Thunder were without Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell, your second and third [best] scorers.”

Williams, after initially suffering a left hamstring sprain in the Western Conference Semifinals, returned with a bang in Game 1 win against the Spurs before re-aggravating the injury in Game 2. 

He missed the rest of the series.

As for Mitchell, the Belgian guard sustained a right calf injury, which sidelined him for most of the series, including the decisive Game 7.

“When [Williams] is healthy, you can’t key on [Shai Gilgeous-Alexander] the way [the Spurs] did, double and triple teaming him,” Smith said. “As a result, the reigning two-time MVP is free to get loose…so gotta look at it from that standpoint.

“Ajay Mitchell, some were debating whether he was better than Jalen Williams or not, that’s how much of a stud they both are, and they were both out.”

Sportsbooks agree with the sentiment, with FanDuel’s odds giving New York the fourth-best odds to take home the Larry O’Brien trophy next season, with the Thunder +250 favorites.

Knicks owner James Dolan indicated during a WFAN interview Wednesday that he would “write as big of a check as possible, but I can’t write a check that goes into the second apron.”

If that comes to fruition, the team could be without several key players from this year’s Finals run, which, partnered with a healthy OKC, could spell trouble next season.

“If they’re healthy, they beat the Spurs in the conference finals,” Smith added. “Spurs ain’t in the Finals, they beat the Spurs and they would’ve been favored over the Knicks.

“So I think because that’s the reality, Oklahoma City is number one, Knicks number two and then everybody else is behind them. I believe right now, if you’re making a prediction, it should be the New York Knicks and the Oklahoma City Thunder will meet one another in the NBA Finals next year.”

He’s not NBA Finals MVP Jalen Brunson.

He’s not OG Anunoby, whose last-second tip-in will forever be etched into the minds of New York sports fans.

He’s not Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges or any of the other players that helped the Knicks defeat the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals for the organization’s first championship in 53 years.

But, as Tyler Kolek found himself having to clarify on Thursday, “I swear I’m on the team bro.”

Read more:Mayhem mars euphoria as New York City celebrates the Knicks' first championship in 53 years

That was what the backup point guard wrote on X, followed by three laughing-until-crying emojis, soon after he was stopped by two police officers who apparently did not recognize him as a Knicks player during the team’s championship parade in Lower Manhattan.

A video that has gone viral on social media shows Kolek skipping along the parade route next to a barrier meant to keep fans off that part of the street, using one hand to hold a beer and the other to slap hands with fans.

At one point, an officer stepped in front of Kolek to block his path while another gently grabbed him by the shoulders and motioned for the confused player to go back in the direction from which he came.

An unidentified man who had been accompanying Kolek quickly stepped in, and then officers allowed him to pass.

Read more:Should Knicks superfan Spike Lee get a championship ring? These celebrities say yes

To be fair to the officers, Kolek — wearing a Knicks hat, Knicks T-shirt and gym shorts — looked like he could have been one of the estimated 2 million fans attending the parade.

And he’s not the most recognizable player on the team. Kolek has made one start in 103 game appearances during his two years with the Knicks, averaging almost 10 minutes a game. He did not make it into an NBA Finals game but played in eight postseason games this year, averaging 3.5 points and 6.6 minutes a game.

It doesn’t appear that the very brief run-in with the law dampened Kolek’s mood, based on the parade videos he posted on his Instagram. One showed his view of the massive crowds on either side of the street; another showed him throwing confetti while singing along to “New York, New York;” and another showed him standing outside the railing on a moving float while dancing and cheering.

And, yes, one showed the incident with parade security, along with the caption “I hoop bro I swear” and four laughing-until-crying emojis.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Here's how New York City Hall mixed up Patrick Ewing's retired number during Knicks' parade originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Patrick Ewing’s jersey number was on display during the New York Knicks’ championship parade…but it had the wrong name above it.

Banners hung on the outside of City Hall in Manhattan on Thursday honoring each player on the 2026 roster that helped bring the franchise its first NBA title in 53 years.

That included…No. 33?

That number, last worn by the legendary Knicks center and retired in his honor in 2003, was topped on the banner with the last name of current Knicks bench player Dillon Jones.

Jones played in just seven games for the Knicks this season, and he wore the No. 1. While playing for the Washington Wizards during the preseason, Jones did wear No. 33, and some Knicks rosters online inaccurately list it as his current jersey number.

A spokesman for Mayor Zohran Mamdani told the New York Times the error came about because Jones’ number was listed as No. 33 on the team’s online roster.

But the millions who attended the parade are well aware who the number truly belongs to – even if some staffers in Mamdani’s office are not.

Ewing wore it for the duration of his 15-year career with the organization while becoming the team’s all-time leader in games played, points scored, rebounds, blocks and other categories. The Hall of Famer, an 11-time All-Star and seven-time All-NBA selection, brought the Knicks within one victory of an NBA championship in 1994 before falling to the Houston Rockets.

The Knicks went another 32 years before ending their championship drought. For that achievement, they were honored with a parade down the Canyon of Heroes, a route that ends at City Hall.

Mike Lawrence/NBAE via Getty Images

Each player’s name and number were displayed on the exterior of the building as a backdrop to the stage where the post-parade ceremony took place.

Ewing was on hand for the parade and ceremony but has not yet publicly commented on the mix-up.

In case you missed it, former Marquette guard Tyler Kolek recently won an NBA championship with the New York Knicks. It was a whole thing, as the Knicks turned into the most dominant team in NBA history (by way of aggregate margin of victory) for about six weeks and rolled through the playoffs after falling behind 2-1 to the Atlanta Hawks in the first round.

After the Knicks won Game 5 on June 13th, New York City held a championship parade for the squad on Thursday, June 18th. At some point in the proceedings, Tyler Kolek figured out exactly why the players mostly stay on the floats or in the cars or whatever in the parade. Kolek — who did not play in the NBA Finals but still gets a ring, making him a more successful NBA player than Karl Malone — ended up wandering around down by the barricade along the street with what appears to be a Michelob Ultra bottle in his hand and celebrating with the fans.

This was fine for the first eight NYPD officers that he passed.

BUT NOT THE NINTH.

Cops mistook Tyler Kolek for a fan 😩 #alwaysknickspic.twitter.com/7LxI29zahb

— Kimberley A. Martin (@ByKimberleyA) June 18, 2026

Turns out, in fairness, it might be hard to tell that you are an NBA player if you are a 6’2”, 195 pound white guy of relatively average build wearing a ballcap, black T-shirt, and black shorts. That’s the defense for the officer in the white uniform running over to collect Kolek. However, because Kolek did pass by eight different law enforcement officers, I feel like White Uniform Officer and his backup, Bearded Officer With Stripes, qualify as non-ball knowers here. Eight different officers watched Kolek skip on by and said “oh, that Tyler Kolek, what a scamp” and let him go. Not those guys. They tried to stop Kolek and then grab Kolek and turn it into A Whole Thing. If they knew ball, then they would have never come close to stopping the 2023 Big East Player of the Year from doing what he does best.

Thankfully there’s the guy in the matching ballcap that’s right next to Kolek at the start of the video. I’m presuming that he’s team security walking along with the parade for exactly this circumstance. He trails along and then runs up to clearly say “hey, that’s Tyler Kolek, he’s on the team.” The situation immediately de-escalates from there, so no harm, no foul.

Although…..

….. I can’t be the only one who is wondering what the presumably at least slightly intoxicated Kolek is shouting at Bearded Officer With Stripes, right?

---

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With the NBA Draft set for Tuesday, June 23, all basketball eyes turn to Milwaukee.

The Bucks insisted Giannis Antetokounmpo would either be traded — or decisively not traded — before the NBA Draft, and yet here we are, simply waiting.

As we wait, studying the NBA Draft odds reveals a few chances at profit, though prudent betting is likely the smartest betting ahead of Tuesday night.

Even Shams Charania has been loudly shown to know nothing for sure until picks are made.

Best NBA Draft predictions

Percentages via Kalshi.

NBA Draft Predictions & Analysis

No. 1 Pick To Be Traded: No 

-900 at Kalshi

This may seem rather obvious, but it is still underpriced.

The tanking in the 2025-26 season was so egregious that it has now sparked paradigm-shifting reforms in the NBA, changes that could have unexpected effects for a decade to come.

The Washington Wizards did not bench Trae Young and Anthony Davis upon receiving them in separate trades, only to now trade away the No. 1 pick. The Wizards see their future. It is based around this top pick, complementing Young offensively and Davis defensively for the rest of the 2020s.

Short of Antetokounmpo — who would never re-sign with the Wizards and thus Washington would never consider sending assets for him — there is no one on the market that would justify even thinking about moving the No. 1 pick.

Draft Matchup: Darryn Peterson vs Cameron Boozer

Pick: Darryn Peterson
strong/strongstrong-213 at Kalshi/strong

No, Darryn Peterson has not visited the Utah Jazz, trying to force his way into the No. 1 pick. That looks less and less likely for Peterson, most informed minds expecting the Wizards to select AJ Dybantsa from BYU.

But that does not mean the Jazz will not take Peterson at No. 2. First of all, Utah selected Ace Bailey last year, fifth overall, without ever meeting with him. Second of all, Peterson both has a higher ceiling than Boozer does and fits the Jazz roster better.

Utah already has a massive interior presence that cannot guard wings on the perimeter in Walker Kessler, no matter what contract dispute is going to plague any headline on Kessler for the next few weeks. Adding Cameron Boozer alongside Kessler would simply be poor roster design in the modern NBA.

No. 2 Pick: AJ Dybantsa

strong+488 at Kalshi/strong

Do not expect this. Dybantsa very much looks like the No. 1 pick. Peterson’s struggles in his one season at Kansas dampened the certainty a front office wants in a No. 1 overall pick.

But perhaps we will look back and scoff at the confusing health concerns that limited Peterson last season. He may prove to be an ironman now that he says he has figured out why cramps repeatedly sidelined him in Big 12 play.

Washington might believe that. And if it does, Dybantsa will certainly not fall past No. 2 overall, especially given the built-in fanbase he would have in Utah as a BYU product.

Peterson is priced at 21 cents to go No. 1 overall, which underscores the touch of value presented here of Dybantsa going No. 2 overall.

No. 3 Pick: Caleb Wilson

strong+614 at Kalshi/strong

Again, this is a long-shot play, but it is offered as skepticism that the Memphis Grizzlies want to invest in another big.

Cameron Boozer and Zach Edey have little in common; Boozer is by far the better and more complete player who can do much more on the court. But the Grizzlies have already made massive decisions around the belief that Edey is a player to build a franchise around, however misguided that may or may not be.

Putting Boozer next to Edey would leave Memphis exposed defensively for years to come, no matter the claimed rim protection provided by Edey. Neither Boozer nor Edey can keep up with the perimeter-driven stars that dictate the Western Conference.

That leaves the Grizzlies with two choices: Either begin to lessen Edey’s shadow on the franchise or draft someone besides Boozer.

Caleb Wilson could help fill the hole that will eventually be left by Ja Morant, whose time with the franchise continues to appear like it is winding down. Optimistically, a Wilson/Edey pick-and-roll could be a foundational piece of a functional offense.

Draft Matchup: Mikel Brown Jr. vs. Kingston Flemings

Pick: Mikel Brown Jr.
strong-317 at Kalshi/strong

Mikel Brown Jr. has one of the longest track records of success among the players in this lottery. A back issue cost him a decent amount of his sole season at Louisville, but before then, Brown had already led the U.S. to a FIBA gold medal in the U19 competition last summer.

By comparison, Kingston Flemings emerged on draft boards more thanks to his one year at Houston. He was excellent, and he played up to the competition in the Cougars’ biggest games.

But in NBA front offices, they have been scouting these players for years, and Brown’s earlier successes loom large in draft evaluations.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.