NBA Finals courtside tickets sold for more than $100,000 as the New York Knicks pushed for their first NBA championship since 1973, a feat clinched Saturday night. In Madison Square Garden, much of the front row was occupied by celebrities, including Taylor Swift, who attended Game 4.
On Sunday, the Cleveland Cavaliers, who the Knicks defeated in the conference finals, will soon find out how valuable those seats are after the games are done.
In partnership with authenticated memorabilia marketplace The Realest, Cleveland is auctioning the chair Swift sat in during the Cavs’ Eastern Conference finals series against New York. As of Saturday evening, the top bid was $7,000. Travis Kelce’s spot is also available, as are chairs used by Kylie Jenner, Timothée Chalamet, Ben Stiller and Machine Gun Kelly.
“I’m definitely surprised at how much attention it’s gotten,” Cavaliers chief marketing officer Chris Kaiser said. Earlier this year, the team sold a seat used by LeBron James when the Lakers visited for $1,905. But the Cavs didn’t stop there. For $245 more, a collector grabbed the grip powder LeBron used during his signature pre-game routine.
“Anything that our authenticators can put their eyes on and mark, it’s all fair game,” Kaiser said.
The definition of sports memorabilia has expanded in recent years alongside a boom in collecting and the support of companies like The Realest, which has developed an expertise in authenticating off-beat items, from Lincoln Financial Field snow to a Ryder Cup rake. Kaiser is hopeful that the team’s eye-catching offerings will also generate awareness of more traditional auction items. The highest price paid this year was for a James Harden jersey worn during his home debut with the team in February.
Working with The Realest and selling the items directly will give fans more confidence in their authenticity, Kaiser said. The team is already considering in-arena activations, such as the ability to bid on a night’s game-used ball up until the final buzzer. By this time next year, Kaiser said, he anticipates the Cavs’ memorabilia offerings representing a mid-six-figure business.
Days after the virtual gavel bangs on Taylor Swift’s chair, Cleveland will drop another collection of items. Coming up soon: the ceremonial sword several celebs and former players have held aloft as part of the team’s pregame ceremonies.
As for what a fan might do with such a saber? That’s up for the highest bidder to decide.
The 2026 NBA Finals finished up last night at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas, with the Eastern Conference champion New York Knicks, which was making their first championship appearance since the 1998-1999 season, defeating the Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs for the title. For the Knicks, it was their first NBA championship since 1973.
Both teams have drafted players near and far when it comes to constructing their rosters as athletes are dotted along each roster hailing from states within the country and around the world. The starting players from New York all played a role in helping bring the Big Apple a title, but where did the Knicks’ players all play in high school boys hoops at?
Rivals went through the entire roster for the 2026 NBA champion New York Knicks, giving to you where each of the players starred on the prep boys basketball scene.
New York Knicks: Where did they play in high school?
Before Brunson arrived to the Big Apple and became the face of the Knicks, he was a high school hoops star out of the Prairie State. The point guard was a five-star product coming out of Adlai Stevenson High School and had plenty of accolades along the way. Brunson led Adlai Stevenson to the 2015 IHSA Class 4A state championship, and was also a McDonald’s All-American in addition to being Illinois Mr. Basketball.
One of the most versatile players for the Knicks heading into tonight’s showdown with the Spurs is Anunoby, who played his high school boys hoops out of the Show Me State of Missouri. During his hay day as a three-star forward prospect, Anunoby averaged 19 points, 8.6 rebounds as a senior and was a Missouri Mr. Basketball finalist.
Whether Bridges is asked to cover guards on the perimeter or needed to head into the painted area and snag rebounds, he’s a do-it-all type player for New York. The former Villanova star played his high school boys basketball at Great Valley, earning Class AAAA all-star selectee and Philadelphia-area honors.
The big man for the New York Knicks has been the next biggest star next to Brunson throughout this playoff run, which has brought the franchise to their first NBA Finals appearance in nearly three decades. Towns was a five-star prospect out of Saint Joseph where he won multiple state championships and was a McDonald’s All-American.
Another former Villanova product has shined on the big stage for New York and will look to do so again beginning tonight in Texas. Hart back in his high school boys basketball playing days was a four-star shooting guard prospect, ranking as the state’s No. 2 player and No. 12 at his position. Hart was a First-team All-Met selection and led Sidwell Friends to a 22-9 record his senior campaign.
The 7-foot, 222-pound center will likely be tasked with covering arguably the league’s top player in Victor Wembanyama throughout the series because of his length and agility. Robinson was a can’t miss prospect out of the Pelican State, ranking as a five-star prospect before heading off to play collegiately at Western Kentucky. Robinson finished his high school career at Chalmette after being at Pensacola (Fla.) Pine Forest, named a McDonald’s All-American and averaging 25 points and 12 rebounds per game.
McBride is a rotation player for the Knicks that will be expected to play key minutes throughout the NBA Finals. Before his days in the NBA and collegiately, however, McBride starred at Archbishop Moeller where he led the Crusaders to multiple state titles and earned all-state honors.
It’s a homecoming of sorts for Clarkson tonight as he will play in a city where he made a name for himself on the high school boys basketball scene. In his senior season out of the Lone Star State, Clarkson was named San Antonio Player of the Year before playing collegiately at Missouri.
Played his college days at Georgia Tech after his high school boys basketball career playing for one of New York’s top teams in Christ The King Regional. There with the Lions, Alvarado his junior season was the CHSAA Player of the Year and notched the ultra-rare quadruple-double in a game his senior year.
Sochan was one of the best high school boys basketball players out of the state of Tennessee coming out, rated as a four-star forward before playing at Baylor University. The forward played at a number of schools during and after his high school days, including Itchen College (UK), La Lumiere School (Indiana; junior year) and eventually played professionally in Germany.
When it comes to little or no fanfare coming out of high school, but ending up playing at the highest level, that’s the story for Shamet. The guard played mostly at Bartram Trail (Fla.) before heading to Park Hill and eventually collegiately at Wichita State.
Dadiet didn’t play any high school boys basketball within the states as he starred at Saint-Charles Charenton for nearly a decade before entering the professional world of hoops. The 6-foot-9, 217-pound forward for the Knicks could see rotational time in the Finals series.
A Rhode Island high school boys basketball standout before heading to college and the pros, Kolek was the 2019 Rhode Island Gatorade Boys Basketball Player of the Year after scoring 1,000 points his senior year and earning all-state honors.
Hukporti is another international player that developed outside of the United States before jumping into the NBA. The 7-foot, 245-pound center spent a majority of his time in the German youth basketball system before playing professionally in Austraila and Europe.
Another player that played his high school boys basketball growing up in the San Antonio area and now will be back in the city is McCullar, who like Clarkson also played at Wagner. McCullar re-classed and graduated early to play collegiately at Texas Tech before moving on to Kansas.
Rounding out the list of 16 players heading into tonight’s NBA Finals is Jones, who is the lone representative of the Knicks from the state of Kansas. Jones for his first three years of high school boys basketball played at W.J. Keenan High School in Columbia, South Carolina where he won a SCHSL Class 3A state crown before heading to Sunrise Christian Academy for his senior season.
CLEMSON, SC - FEBRUARY 28: Louisville Cardinals guard Mikel Brown Jr. (0) during a college basketball game between the Louisville Cardinals and the Clemson Tigers on February 28, 2026 at Littlejohn Coliseum in Clemson, S.C. (Photo by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The New York Knicks are NBA champions, and it’s still hard to believe it. The Knicks won their first NBA championship in 53 years by knocking off the San Antonio Spurs in five games on Saturday night. New York’s historic 29-point second half comeback in Game 4 will be remembered forever as one of the wildest finishes in league history, and it ends a five decade title drought for one of the marquee franchises in the sport.
The NBA offseason starts now. The 2026 NBA Draft is coming June 23 and 24, and it will be followed by the start of free agency a week later. All eyes are on a potential Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, and the arrival of loaded draft class will only bring more pressure to complete deals quickly around the league.
There was a brief moment where I considered Peterson at No. 1, and that was when he dropped 58 points on Dybantsa in Feb. 2025 when they matched up near the end of their high school careers. The full game is on YouTube, and it’s still a spectacular watch:
The best version of Peterson feels like one of the strongest guard prospects to hit the NBA in recent memory. We did not see that player this year as he dealt with bizarre soft tissue strains and cramping at Kansas. He says the problem is under control now — he was taking too much creatine without proper hydration — and I tend to think that getting professional advice from an NBA team will be better for his health than listening to his family or private trainers.
This draft is starting to remind of the 2022 class, when everyone was so sure the Orlando Magic were picking Jabari Smith Jr. at No. 1 until they decided to take Paolo Banchero when they turned in the card. Dybantsa just leaves too much doubt outside of his scoring for a top pick. I predict the Wizards go with Peterson or Boozer, and today I’m settling on Peterson.
What are the other swing picks in this draft?
The Clippers at No. 5: The top-4 feels like the top-4 in this draft. Ask 20 people who they think is the fifth best prospect in the class and you might get 10 different answers. That means the Clippers have the biggest decision in this class after earning the pick from the Indiana Pacers in the Ivica Zubac trade. I could see the Clippers going with Keaton Wagler or Kingston Flemings or even Yaxel Lendeborg or Aday Mara. In this mock, I’m giving them my pick for the fifth-best player in the class, Louisville guard Mikel Brown Jr. Brown’s shot selection can get wild at times, and it’s scary that he was already hampered by a back injury at age-20, but his intersection of pull-up shooting, three-point volume, passing creativity, and rim pressure sets him apart from the other guards in the class in my mind.
The Nets at No. 6: Brooklyn feels like such a wildcard in the draft. I hated the Nets five-man class last year, and time will tell how it pans out. I don’t really like the names associated with the Nets this year, either. It appears this is shaping up to be Nate Ament vs. Darius Acuff, and while I’m not as high on Acuff as others are, he’s still the better option out of the two in my eyes. Acuff’s offensive production was unreal at Arkansas, but I fear he’s going to need to maintain his greatness on that end of the floor because his defense is full of red flags. Maybe he can do it, but I’m skeptical of his shot selection and if he’s really going to be a 44 percent three-point shooter long-term in the league. I know what you’re thinking: didn’t the Nets draft a bunch of ball handlers last year? Yes, but this is the Nets, the roster is terrible and their draft strategy doesn’t make any sense. I feel bad for the cool Brooklyn fans out there.
The Bucks at No. 10: I had Milwaukee taking Labaron Philon at No. 10 last week. This week, Ament falls to the Bucks after Brooklyn passes on him. I certainly wouldn’t take Ament in the top-10 of this draft, but I can see the appeal for a tall forward who potentially spaces the floor and adds some supplemental rim protection. If the Bucks finally trade Giannis, they are fully resetting their timeline to zero, and Ament would have a long leash to develop.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - JUNE 3: Mason Plumlee #45 of the San Antonio Spurs arrives to the arena before the game against the New York Knicks during Game One of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 3, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE(Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
If we learned anything from the San Antonio Spurs in June, it’s that this is not the franchise we saw when Gregg Popovich coached there.
The Spurs blew three games they should have won, and crumbled in the fourth quarter nearly every game, including in Game 5 Saturday night, which means that former Blue Devil Mason Plumlee will not get a ring in what may be his final season.
The truth though is that there is no way to argue that the Spurs deserved to win. The Knicks, however, certainly did, and not least of all Jalen Brunson. He was magnificent again in Game 5. He’s relatively normal, athletically speaking. He’s not like Ja Morant or Anthony Edwards. He has to rely on hard work and smarts, and in the end, the Spurs couldn’t begin to counter him. No one is more deserving.
Part of the problem for San Antonio was simply youth. Their three foundational pieces, Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper, and Victor Wembanyama, are all under 22. It’s astonishing that a team that young got that far, really.
Those guys are the rising Big Three for the Spurs. The rest of the team? Who cares? No one else is indispensable. Let’s see what the front office does in the next few weeks to shore up Wemby, Castle, and Harper. It’s probably asking too much, but with Jaylen Brown allegedly on the trading block, that’s a fun potential move.
Whatever it is, they’ll have to do something. Devin Vassell and De’Aaron Fox are clearly insufficient. One thing they could use is a bruiser to help protect Wemby. With the 20th pick, the Spurs could choose between guys like Jayden Quaintance, Joshua Jefferson, Koa Peat and Tarris Reed, all of whom could be useful rebounders, defenders, and enforcers.
As for the Knicks, what an amazing run. As Brunson said in his postgame interview, this team just found a way. It’s a tired comment that most teams say after winning, but it’s never been more true. The Spurs buckled in multiple games, but New York was ready to take advantage of their mistakes and miscues. When it started to happen again Saturday, you kind of knew what was going to happen. The Spurs are just too young and inexperienced to make winning plays.
Give them a couple of years, though. They are not going anywhere, and as painful as this loss is, they’ll learn from it.
On his podcast, The Ringer’s Bill Simmons said he believes the Celtics are going to acquire Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo and thinks they’ll do it in the next week.
Bill Simmons says that Giannis will land in Boston as early as next week:
"I think Boston's going to get Giannis, And I think it will happen in the next week." pic.twitter.com/J7Qw02tlHb
The Antetokounmpo rumors have gotten louder as the week has gone on and many believe it is about the Bucks and Celtics finding a third team to take Jaylen Brown to get it across the finish line.
Antetokounmpo is one of the best players in the NBA, a 2-time MVP, Most Improved Player, Defensive Player of the Year, champion and Finals MVP. He averaged 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists in a down year that was headlined by injuries as he played in just 36 games.
Over the prior three seasons, Antetokounmpo averaged 30.6 points, 11.7 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game in 203 games.
It is wildly expected that Jaylen Brown goes out the door in any deal. Brown just had the best season of his career, averaging 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game this season.
San Antonio led by double digits in all five games, including a 29-point second-half lead in Game 4 that quickly evaporated under a hail of poor shot selection, and at the end of the game, a decision by De'Aaron Fox not to dribble out the clock, which could have swung the series in their favor.
So, while the Spurs have all summer to ponder what-ifs, they should be right back in the fold in the Western Conference next season.
While still only 22 years of age, Wembanyama sometimes showed his age during the playoffs, committed stupid flagrant fouls, hoisted ill-advised threes, and did not ask to be taken out of the game when he was clearly fatigued. That responsibility also lies at the feet of head coach Mitch Johnson, who also failed to use timeouts in a desperate manner when settling down his young squad would have been the smart move.
Wembanyama averaged 39.7 minutes per game in the series, averaging 26.6 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 3.6 blocks per game – one of six Spurs who averaged double figures in scoring in the series.
Wembanyama's supporting cast is solid, but one thing needs to be clear. Game 5 should be the final game that Dylan Harper starts on the bench. The rookie led San Antonio with 25 points, and at times could not be stopped no matter what Knicks defender tried to stand in his way.
The team doesn't need much: they ranked third in points scored, fourth in offensive efficiency and third in defensive efficiency.
The bottom line is they have the tools to win the championship.
But in the Finals, they relied too much on third-point shooting, and while that got them a record 14 in the first half of Game 4, they still lost the game because they had no alternative when those shots didn't fall in the second half. A proven three-point shooter should be first on the mind of general manager Brian Wright. The NBA catchword is spacing, and as Wembanyama gets stronger and plays more in the paint, San Antonio would be better off with shooters who could make teams pay for trying to bully Wembanyama.
Whether Wembanyama needs some maturity (pointing to his head after drawing a Game 4 flagrant on Mitchell Robinson) or is being overly confident, saying "everybody knows we're gonna do it," when referring to the team's chances at coming back from a 3-1 series deficit, is a matter of debate depending on who is doing the debating.
“One of many things I’ve learned is the margin of error is very, very thin,” Wembanyama said after the Game 5 loss. “Our domination instincts are absolute. We absolutely dominated for most of the series. But our errors, our mistakes, are punished so hard. We can’t have ups and downs like this, the ups are okay, the downs are the reason we lost.
As far as next year's roster turnover, there shouldn't be much of it. The team should be able to replenish the bench, as none of the six unrestricted free agents were part of the regular rotation in the playoffs. A savvy veteran who has playoff experience and is seeking a title run wouldn't hurt.
Small forward Julian Champagnie, a starter who averaged 11 points during the finals, has a $3 million club option for next season.
“This is the biggest lesson of my life, the biggest learning moment,” Wembanyama said . “I can’t tell exactly what the lesson is, but we’re learning.”
If they want to get back to the championship series in the near future, the Spurs need to pinpoint that lesson.
MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 8: Head Coach Mitch Johnson of the San Antonio Spurs looks on during the game against the Miami Heat on October 8, 2025 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Eric Espada/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Lots of emotions flowed through Frost Bank Center last night. An estimated 44% of tickets purchased for Game 5 were done so by New York Knicks fans, so when the final buzzer reigned in a champion, their fans were there to cheer them through the trophy presentation.
In the press room, Spurs Head Coach Mitch Johnson and members of the Spurs took turns answering questions just moments after the reality set in that there was no tomorrow to the 2025-2026 season.
‘The general sentiment is just I want them to feel all the emotions. I feel that, too,“ stated Johnson. ”Whatever they feel, that’s real. That’s what is competitiveness. That’s what makes you better. That’s what pushes you to continue to improve in the dark, long hours when nobody is around. We improved a whole lot this year. We still have a lot now. More motivation to continue to get better.“
Victor Wembanyama, who has been open about his emotions throughout the season, did not hold back his frustration. But already permeating through the loss is his hope and positivity for what is to come.
“I think that compared to anything before, this is the biggest lesson of my life, the biggest learning moment,” he stated in his postgame conference. “I can’t tell you exactly what the lesson is, but we’re learning from that, for sure. I’m learning more than any other time in my life before.”
Fans have seen Wembanyama’s reaction to big losses. The video of France losing to Team USA (and the genesis of the “feud” between him and Chet Holmgren) when he was a youngster. The 2024 Olympic loss to Team USA. And now his first foray into the NBA Finals. Wemby is facing temporary heartache, but has long-term gains to reap from the experience.
“I don’t think we could have learned more and gained more experience in one Playoff run and in one season, and personally in 18 months,“ he shared. ”It’s been hard and full of lessons.“
Devin Vassell, the second longest tenured member of the Spurs roster, gave a shout to the fans who’ve been with the team through thick and thin.
“First off to the fans, just thank you guys so much for supporting us, especially in my journey being here six years, from where we started from the 20 wins we were at to being in the Finals,” Vassell said. “They’ve been loyal. I just want to say thank you to them. Without them and the noise, having our backs, we’re not in this situation, we’re not in this position. Thank you to them.“
Dylan Harper said he’d remember “The chemistry, how everyone blended. Really the sacrifices we all made to be in the position we were in.”
And Julian Champagnie had a message for everyone: “We’ll be back again next year.”
There were so many positives in these Finals for the Spurs to build upon. The lessons will take shape over the summer and their hope is it will carry them into next season with more awareness and better preparation.
“I think with these games in the Finals, it just shows that every possession matters and every little detail matters,” stated Vassell. “You can mess up some stuff in the regular season and still kind of get away with it. Obviously in the Finals, with everything being amplified, one mistake can cost you a game. I think we had a couple that cost us multiple.”
Dylan Harper, after completing his rookie season as the youngest player in NBA Finals history to score 20+ points in a game shared, “It meant a lot. Whole lot to grow on. Whole lot to learn on. At the end of the day, this is my first year. Can’t keep moving forward if you don’t got a positive attitude. Obviously we lost and I wanted to win that, but at the end of the day, we’ve got to bounce back.”
‘I learned one of many things, the margin of error is very thin,“ Wembanyam stated. ”Our domination stints are absolute. We absolutely dominated for most of the series. But our errors, our mistakes, are punished so hard that we can’t have ups and downs like this.“
Perhaps Mitch Johnson said it best. “I hope they take the same thing that we’ve taken from our success. I hope it leads to them be hungrier than they’ve ever been, and I hope it leads them to be more motivated than they’ve ever been, and hopefully that leads them to be more — yeah, just to continue to improve in every facet.”
In the coming days and weeks, much will be said about the collapse of the young, inexperienced team. But what will be made clear was how the Spurs responded with real time adjustments. After each loss, they were able to reset. In the end, they knocked out the Minnesota Timberwolves who’d been to the Western Conference Finals for the last two years. They also knocked out the 2025 Champion OKC Thunder in their series, taking Game 7 in Oklahoma City.
In these Finals, unfortunately, the Knicks were able to cover their mistakes better than the Spurs. From Brunson’s struggles in Games 1 and 2, to Karl-Anthony Towns disappearance in Game 5 (as well as his fourth quarter struggles throughout the series), the Knicks were the same one or two mistakes, one or two calls, one or two missed shots away from watching the Spurs hoist the Larry O’Brien. Simple twists of fate have given New York their first title since 1973, the year the San Antonio bought the Dallas Chaparrals and created the Spurs.
Over the last 53 seasons, the Spurs have had ups and downs, more ups compared to other franchises. The pairing of Gregg Popovich with Tim Duncan created one of sports greatest love stories. With the addition of Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili and supporting casts throughout Duncan’s nineteen seasons, the Spurs became a model franchise winning five NBA titles in three different decades.
Make no mistake, this modern-day Spurs team is special, and like their predecessor, they are not going away. They are developing at a rapid rate. And boasting one of the most gifted basketball minds as their cornerstone, the Spurs are poised to dominate for years to come.
Make no mistake, this Finals was just the beginning. They may have not been ready this season, but when they are — watch out.
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CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 07: Caleb Wilson #8 of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts during the second half of the game against the Duke Blue Devils at Dean E. Smith Center on February 07, 2026 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With the first pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, the Washington Wizards are almost certain to pick either AJ Dybantsa or Darryn Peterson. They’re both impressive prospects who’d warrant being the top selection in nearly any draft. But 2026 is a rare year with four elite prospects who would normally be considered The Guy.
So far in this series, we’ve looked at Dybantsa, Peterson, and Boozer. Also check out the current Big Board, according to Ye Olde Draft Analyzer (YODA), my stat-based draft prospect evaluation tool. Today, let’s look at why Caleb Wilson might be the perfect player for the Wizards at No. 1.
Could Caleb Wilson be the right choice for the Washington Wizards at No. 1? | Getty Images
Wilson doesn’t warrant No. 1 overall status because of his offense. Although he was extremely efficient (128 offensive rating) on high usage (28.7%), he shot just 7-27 from three-point range — low volume and inaccurate. He shot just 71.3% from the free throw line. Not terrible, but not exactly a harbinger of future long-range success.
I’ll pause to make a limited observation. There’s another forward who shot poorly from deep in college (25.0%), was unimpressive from the free throw line (74.4%) and turned into a great NBA shooter (39.1% career percentage on threes; 86.3% career on free throws). That other forward is Kawhi Leonard.
Let me reemphasize the limited nature of the Leonard observation. I’m not comparing the players directly. I’m not saying Wilson will, can, or might be The Next Kawhi. The point is that things like NCAA shooting and the signals we look for in the numbers are not automatics. A guy shooting great in college usually means he’ll be at least good in the NBA. And players who shoot poorly in college usually aren’t good shooters in the NBA.
But not always.
Wilson, for example, is 19-years-old. Many players improve their shooting as they get older, stronger, and put in the work. In Wilson’s case, the biggest reason to think his shooting won’t improve is that it hasn’t. His lack of shooting ability has been a known flaw in his game before he got to North Carolina. It’s still an issue.
And that pre-NCAA experience might be where the Leonard example breaks down. The available evidence suggests Leonard was a competent distance shooter in high school and amateur ball, and that his San Diego State numbers might have been something of an aberration. Tough to say — it turns out, predicting the future of teenagers isn’t an exact science.
Anyway, the point of this digression is to say that shooting isn’t the reason to choose Wilson No. 1. It’s everything else.
With the exception of shooting, Wilson’s statistical production is up there with Boozer and anyone else in the draft. He checks the boxes for rebounding (at both ends), passing (3.4 assists per 40 with a 1.4 assists-to-turnovers ratio), steals (1.9 per 40) and blocks (1.8).
This season, he posted 15.7 rebounds + steals + blocks per 40 — ninth best in the draft behind only centers and Allen Graves. In other words, Wilson was an impactful and active defender who put in work on the boards to end defensive possessions and prolong offensive possessions for his team. That’s valuable.
Wilson is lanky and athletic (unlike Boozer, who’s slower and more ground-bound). He’s an effective, perhaps elite, defender, and he has potential to grow significantly on the offensive end. As noted previously, he was hyper-efficient on high usage despite not being a three-point threat or shooting a high percentage from the free throw line.
And there’s a signal in the numbers indicating he was an absolute handful for NCAA competition — 9.6 free throw attempts per 40 minutes. That’s a tick behind Dybantsa and George Washington’s Rafael Castro (9.7) for the top spot in this category in the 2026 draft. In other words, the free throw attempts indicate the opposition couldn’t compete with him without fouling. That’s not always predictive of NBA success, but it’s a good sign.
Now, the FanDuel odds are unchanged. Wilson is a long-shot to go No. 1. It’s still looking like Dybantsa or maybe Peterson. But any of the top four prospects could turn out to be the best player from this draft, and there’s a case that Wilson could be that guy.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 14: New York Knicks fans climb on buses as they celebrate after they win the NBA Finals in Times Square on June 14, 2026 in New York City. The New York Knicks lead the San Antonio Spurs 3-1 and could win the franchise's first NBA championship since 1973 if they win tonight.(Photo by Adam Gray/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Your New York Knicks are the 2026 NBA champions. Full stop.
And hey, it was very obvious from the moment the final buzzer sounded inside that sad-for-the-hosts arena in San Antonio, that the thing that mattered the most to everybody in New York City was going outside. Going mad outside.
There will be two banners. There will be a proper parade. There will surely be a whole lot of summer to review and replay and comment on Jalen Brunson’s historic 45-point Game 5 masterpiece.
Now, though? Now it’s the New Yorkers who stuck around for 53 years who are getting all the spotlight they too deserve.
You know why? Cause before Game 5 tipped off on Saturday evening, the Knicks were -500 to win the series on FanDuel. That’s cool! But you know what and why, too? The damn oddsmakers had the Knicks as the underdogs at +172 to close it out in San Antonio, as 5.5-point underdogs. To hell with that, fam.
New York beat the San Antonio Spurs 94-90, finishing the Finals in five games and ending a five-decade-plus championship drought. Brunson won Finals MVP after scoring 45 points in the clincher. The damn Knicks did it again and came back from a 16-point deficit on the road, in a closeout game. What’s not to love!?
The NBA showed Knicks fans celebrating in Central Park as the title became a reality.
Right after the game and during Josh Hart’s presser, James Dolan briefly interrupted the Knickerbocker to send a message to the New York masses. “Stay safe out there,” he said. Good luck with that! (But stay safe out there, fam)
— Bart Trzynadlowski (@BartronPolygon) June 14, 2026
ABC7NY captured fans celebrating after Game 5, with New York City finally getting to release everything that had been eating them since 1973.
New York Knicks fans celebrate their victory after Game 5 of the NBA Finals basketball series against the San Antonio Spurs, Saturday, June 13, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa) pic.twitter.com/QwrRdmVmYw
Breaking911 posted the Times Square scene, which looked like every Knicks fan in the city had agreed to meet in the same spot to lose their minds collectively.
CBS wasn’t lucky avoiding F-bombs, with a fan out of her mind making it clear what she was feeling, and the reporter nearly collapsing live in reaction to the best statement ever.
An F-bomb derails a CBS News New York live report on Knicks fans celebrating the championship. pic.twitter.com/CANmwEmahX
Acyn shared aerial footage of New Yorkers celebrating on fire escapes, balconies, and pretty much every available surface.
More aerial footage of the celebration in New York: You see people out on their fire escapes, on their balconies, clinging on the side pic.twitter.com/dRuMCiicdn
Want some hope as a hapless New York Jets or New York Mets fan, as I am? The Knicks’ victory might already be breeding a new generation of banana/football/baseball throwers!
Knicks fan threw a banana into the crowd and it promptly came back to him 😭🍌👏 pic.twitter.com/A2nEDctZoJ
Jun 13, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) celebrates with his teammates after the Knicks defeat the San Antonio Spurs during game five of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images | Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
The NBA Finals have officially wrapped up, and the New York Knicks are NBA champions once again.
After a 53-year drought, and a total of 19,312 days since the Knicks last hoisted the trophy, they can do it now. The city that never sleeps will certainly not rest after this historic playoff run. With only three losses and two series sweeps, the NBA has crowned them champions, and for the third time in four years, a former Kentucky Wildcat will add a ring to their finger and an NBA title to their personal biography
This year, following Jamal Murray in 2023, and Cason Wallace and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in 2025, Karl-Anthony Towns is officially an NBA champion. Towns averaged 13 PPG, 10.6 RPG, and played a huge role in slowing down what seemed to be an unstoppable force in Victor Wembanyama.
After the finish that nobody wants to speak of at Kentucky, KAT is finally able to get at least a little bit of the monkey off his back and is now a champion.
During the postgame celebration with Ernie Johnson, Towns had some words to share with the world about the Knicks’ big-time accomplishment.
“You know, you work your whole life for this moment. Throughout my career, I’ve seen myself fall down, people tell me to stay down, and I got back up. Even when I was in the mud, and I kept putting my left foot in front of my right foot. I kept trusting God, I kept trusting my faith, I kept trusting the work.” Towns shared with TNT’s Ernie Johnson.
KAT also shared on ESPN during postgame coverage, “It is written. This was written for New York, and we went and got it done today, and it’s because of all the brothers here, all the fans — Y’all heard my story, y’all know my story, and I just want to say, Thank you, Momma, I appreciate you getting me one.”
Karl-Anthony Towns has always been a fan favorite for Kentucky fans. He played for one of the most loved teams in program history, the 2014-2015 Kentucky Wildcats, which nearly had the greatest season any team has ever had at the college level. Towns has always had that infectious smile and endless joy that always seem to make people love him.
Towns tragically lost his mother in 2020 due to complications of COVID-19, which was very hard on their family and loved ones and still is. So, it was only right that on the big stage on this night, he would bring up his late mother and mention her at the peak of his playing career.
From being traded away from the team that drafted him No. 1 in 2015, to an NBA champion, it’s quite the roller coaster ride. Hats off to you, NBA champion, Karl-Anthony Towns!
CLEVELAND, OHIO - MARCH 27: Thomas Bryant #3 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts during the second quarter against the Miami Heat at Rocket Arena on March 27, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Thomas Bryant, fresh off a trip to the NBA Finals with Indiana, was meant to provide additional depth to the Cleveland Cavaliers frontcourt. He fell just short of that goal, but the underlying issue might have been outside of his control.
All grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.
Regular Season Stats
6.2 points
3.4 rebounds
0.6 assists
50.6% FG
35.9% 3PT FG
80.3% FT
Bryant’s fit in Cleveland seemed straightforward. He’s a 6’9” center who plays with strength and physicality. He can also space the floor, knocking down 34% of his career three-point attempts. Bryant should have fit nicely with either Evan Mobley or Jarrett Allen.
This didn’t translate to the real world. Bryant mostly clogged things up offensively and his lack of defensive mobility was jarring when placed on a Cavalier team that wasn’t equipped to defend around him. Cleveland was in the 36th percentile for defensive rating when Bryant was alone at center (no Mobley or Allen).
Bryant can be a passable defender when he’s on a team that’s loaded full of versatile and switchable wings. A defense that can contain the perimeter and limit dribble penetration is one that Bryant can slot into as a big who protects the paint. Cleveland was missing that all season. Their point-of-attack defense was shoddy, at best. Often leaving Bryant stuck in space, trying to cover gaps that are outside of his pay range.
Then on offense, a dynamic game plan that’s predicated on ball movement is the type of system that Bryant fits in. Indiana exemplified this. The Cavs did not. Especially in the back half of the season, when stationary spacing became their motto. That style doesn’t work with Bryant.
For this, I think we can conclude that Bryant’s fit in Cleveland was never as good as it might have looked on paper. The Cavs, in my opinion, need to find an athletic forward who can create plays off the dribble to pair with either Mobley or Allen. That’s to say, Bryant’s archetype is not the one this team was missing. I think that context is important when evaluating a role player who underwhelmed.
Bryant’s best moments came when his three-point shot was falling, or when he was stirring the crowd into a frenzy by celebrating like a maniac whenever anything remotely positive happened. His energy was infectious, and you can’t say the man didn’t care about winning. He played every game with an intensity that was unfortunately not always matched by his teammates, particularly in the first half of the season.
MILWAUKEE - 1970: Jon McGlocklin #14 of Milwaukee Bucks and Earl Monroe #33 of New York Knicks reach for the ball during a game circa 1970 at the MECCA Arena in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1970 NBAE (Photo by Vernon Biever/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
With the New York Knicks having won the 2026 NBA championship Saturday night, it’s a good time to look back at one of the great stars from the last Knicks teams to win a championship, Earl “the Pearl” Monroe.
Monroe played college basketball for Clarence “Bighouse” Gaines at Winston-Salem State in the early 1960s, in the waning days of segregation. Wake Forest assistant coach Billy Packer, despite being warned not to, went over to Whitaker Gymnasium, and Winston-Salem Memorial Coliseum (now Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum) when Monroe began drawing bigger crowds. He found Monroe mesmerizing.
Monroe was then drafted by the Baltimore Bullets in 1967, where he became a sensation. However, they traded him to the Knicks in 1971, and in 1973, the Knicks won their second NBA title, with the first having come in 1970.
Monroe dazzled the league with what for his day was an astonishing bag of tricks. He may look somewhat dated now, but he was a brilliant force for the Knicks.
He played for New York until he retired in 1980.
He was an extraordinary talent, and more so because he played for his entire career with significant arthritis in his knees. Monroe has had dozens of surgeries, and the last time we saw him make a public appearance, he was using forearm crutches.
This video asks how good was he? Well, as you’ll see, he was brilliant.
