7-foot-4 Spurs star Victor Wembanyama was spotted in Manhattan’s private Gramercy Park, according to video posted on Instagram on Sunday.
While it’s unclear if the video was shot on Sunday, the implication was that the 22-year-old Frenchman was spending time before Monday’s Game 3 of the NBA Finals “drawing a statue,” according to the clip posted by Visitour Media.
The statue in Gramercy Park is of Edwin Booth, the Shakespearean actor whose brother was John Wilkes Booth, the man who assassinated Abraham Lincoln.
Keys to Gramercy Park — which sits south of Lexington Ave. between 20th and 21st Streets — are reserved for residents who live right along the park, members of the National Arts Club and Players club, or members of the Brotherhood Synagogue or Calvary-St. George’s Church. Guests at the Gramercy Park hotel, which is set to reopen this fall after renovations, can also get keys.
Spurs star Victor Wembanyama appears to draw a statue in NYC’s Gramercy Park. Instagram/visitourmedia
So it’s not clear how Wembanyama got access. The Spurs appear to be staying at the Ritz-Carlton NoMad on 28th Street, according to videos posted on social media.
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The Gramercy Park video comes as the Spurs trail the Knicks 2-0 in the series after Wembanyama missed a game-winning shot attempt at the end of Friday’s 105-104 Knicks victory.
Spurs star Victor Wembanyama during practice at MSG on June 7, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Wembanyama was asked Sunday about how he handles pressure.
“I think the key is acceptance a lot of times and taking a step back, realizing the journey that’s behind us and what’s ahead of us, and just being OK with who I am, where I am, what I’m doing,” he said. “At the end of the day, this is everything I wished for, so there’s no reason to really overthink it. This is what I’m built for.”
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 7: OG Anunoby #8 of the New York Knicks talks to the media during 2026 NBA Finals Practice and Media Availability on June 7, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE(Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Pinched myself. Still awake. Here we go.
The Knicks return to Madison Square Garden tonight for Game Three of the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs. Tip-off is at 8:30 p.m. on ABC. The Knicks have won 13 straight games and are two wins from their first championship since 1973, while the Spurs face a 3-0 series deficit from which no team has ever recovered.
Our heroes won Game Two, 105-104, on Friday at Frost Bank Center. The score looks close because it was close. Skin-of-their-teeth close. Karl-Anthony Towns led New York with a 21-point, 13-rebound double-double, while Mikal Bridges added 20 points, but it was Jalen Brunson’s late bucket and steal, plus costly mistakes by Victor Wembanyama, that held off a 14-0 fourth-quarter run by the Spurs.
Wembanyama finished with 29 points, but the game flipped when Towns attacked him steadily. Also, Wemby attempting just four field goals in the first half was remarkable (hence, I’m remarking on it). To his credit, Wembanyama showed leadership after intermission and rallied his troops to near victory. If not for his backbreaking pass (into the back of Stephon Castle) and his final brick . . . the Knicks would be in a very different position coming home tonight.
You heard that the Knicks gave up too many picks to get Bridges? Pshaw. He has proven himself worthy of the trade in these playoffs. In Game Two, Bridges was on such a heater that every time he rose to shoot, we were sure it was money. With the city gone Knicks-crazy, expect the Brooklyn Bridge to be renamed the Mikal Bridge if they win the championship. Appropriate, given that he crossed it to join us.
New York’s supporting cast keeps showing up. Landry Shamet keeps hitting huge, steeply discounted shots. Josh Hart did Hart things (fewer than in Game One, but totally fine). OG Anunoby made momentum-changing defensive plays, and his dunk on Wemby should be on a poster in your bedroom. Miles “Deuce” McBride made a couple of timely shots. Everyone’s showing up for the party! Jordan Clarkson is due for a few minutes in the limelight tonight.
Fun fact: the Knicks have not lost a third quarter in 16 straight playoff games. Either Coach Brown and his staff are making excellent halftime adjustments, or the players are hitting the go-go powder before returning to the court. Whatever works!
The Spurs’ expected starting five tonight: Julian Champagnie (40% from three in the Finals), Devin Vassell (five assists, nine rebounds in Game Two), Victor Wembanyama (29 points, nine rebounds, four blocks in Game Two), De’Aaron Fox (20 points, five assists, 63% FG in Game Two), and Stephon Castle (14 points, four assists in Game Two). Castle rolled an ankle late in the last game but is expected to be available. Fox continues to play through a high-ankle sprain. Both teams are otherwise healthy.
Three factors will likely decide the game. First, Towns must continue to dominate Wembanyama and avoid foul trouble. Second, the Knicks need to limit turnovers after committing 15 in Game Two. Third, they must keep up the pace to tire out the lanky Frenchman, while also not tiring themselves out. ESPN gives the Knicks a 58% chance. Fair enough. We’re picking the Knicks by eight.
Because my wife got so excited watching the first game, she joined me to watch the final quarter on Friday. She squealed through most of it. I might’ve squealed a little, too. After the final buzzer, as Wemby was leaving the court, Jen said to my horror, “I feel bad for him. And the fans! They all look so sad!”
She doesn’t understand. No one has ever cared for Knicks fans. I picked New York to win the Finals in six games, but now it feels like they have to sweep to finally get the respect they deserve. Anything less will be tagged with disclaimers—that Games One and Two were given away by the Spurs, and Fox was injured, and blah blah blah. As for sympathy: the Knickerbockers will never get any sympathy if they screw the pooch and lose the series. No one would cry for our heartbreak. They’d just laugh with the usual derision and say, LOLKnicks. So, I say let’s sweep to avoid any misery and squash any potential qualifying narratives.
Go Knicks!!!
Game Details
Who: New York Knicks (2-0) at San Antonio Spurs (0-2) Date: Monday, June 8, 2026 Time: 8:30 PM ET Place: Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, NY TV: ABC Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky
If the definition of insanity is repeating the same process over and over while expecting a different result, then maybe the issue is me and not Jalen Brunson’s long-range stroke.
The San Antonio Spurs are doing a solid job slowing down the New York Knicks' star in the NBA Finals, including limiting him to a 4-for-16 mark from beyond the 3-point arc.
But after watching him miss multiple open looks from the perimeter — like a slot machine coming up “7, 7, Cherry” — I can’t help but bite a third time in my Jalen Brunson prop picks for Game 3.
Jalen Brunson best bet: Jalen Brunson Over 2.5 threes (+120 at bet365)
Three times in the fourth quarter of Game 2, I held my breath in anticipation as Jalen Brunson fired from beyond the arc. And three times I cringed in frustration as the New York Knicks' guard failed to hit his third triple.
What made those misses sting even more was that there was not a San Antonio Spurs player in the zip code. That’s been the case in many of Brunson’s 3-point attempts.
Entering tonight, 14 of Brunson’s 18 threes are graded as “open” or “wide open” with no defender within at least four feet. He’s actually been worse on 3-point shots with nobody within six feet, shooting 1-for-7 on wide-open attempts.
It’s enough for any prop bettors to blacklist Brunson’s 3-point market, but with the vig climbing on the Over 2.5 treys and the finals coming to New York, the value is there.
Through two NBA Finals games, his 3-point volume is much higher than in the previous series. Those twin eight 3PA efforts are tied as his third most active outings from distance in the playoffs, and with the Spurs not throwing as many double teams at Brunson, the space will continue to be there.
The trip to Madison Square Garden will help those triples drop tonight. On the season, Brunson does shoot better from deep at home, and in the postseason, his 3-point success spikes to 37% compared to just 30.6% on the road.
Player projections range from 2.2 to 2.7 triples, with the majority of models at 2.5 or higher. My number comes out to 2.6 threes from Brunson, which should have the Over 2.5 listed around +112.
Sportsbooks are offering that as high as +140, so shop your available operators.
Jalen Brunson same-game parlay
The Knicks step up in the crunch while the Spurs have sputtered in those closing minutes. Madison Square Garden will be electric, and if a young San Antonio team found the moment too much at home, just wait until they get a bite of the Big Apple.
That crowd is going to erupt when Brunson bangs home three triples, along with his signature celebration.
Mikal Bridges has been a mid-range monster against San Antonio, picking up the slack with the Spurs focusing defensive fire on Brunson. His projections flirt with 15 points in Game 3.
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The Knicks are back in the New York groove.
Eighteen days after their last game at Madison Square Garden — when they played the Cavaliers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals on May 21 — Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart and OG Anunoby return to Manhattan tonight for their first NBA Finals game at MSG this century.
The Knicks are up 2-0 against Victor Wembanyama’s San Antonio Spurs and ticket prices for Game 3 are through the roof.
However, what you might not have heard is that last-minute prices are dropping.
When our team last reported how much Knicks MSG Finals Game 3 tickets cost on June 5, the cheapest seats available were $8,417 including fees on SeatGeek.
Now, just one long weekend later, prices start at $4,585 including fees at the time of publication.
That’s a whopping $3,832 in savings.
Should you purchase, make sure to use promo code NYPOST10 at checkout to save an additional $10 if you’d like to sweeten the deal just a little more (Editor’s Note: this discount is only valid for users’ first purchase on SeatGeek).
Knicks stars can’t wait to put on a show for their faithful either.
“We got to be desperate for these fans,” Karl-Anthony Towns said after practice Sunday, according to The Post. “Fans have earned the right and deserve the right to see Finals basketball be played here at Madison Square Garden. For this to be the first game in a long time that they have seen Finals basketball, it’s up to us to bring it, give ’em something to cheer for, give ’em something to get loud for and also give ’em something to believe in.”
More Coverage on the Knicks during the 2026 NBA Finals
If you’re on the fence, now is the time to act especially since the lowest price on seats for Game 4 on Wednesday is $9,280 including fees.
Prepare for roadblocks tonight as well with President Trump planning to attend.
“NYPD and Secret Service officials outlined planned closures ahead of Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden Monday as President Trump is expected to attend the Knicks’ matchup with the San Antonio Spurs,” The Post reported.
For more information, our team has everything you need to know and more about attending Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden below.
What do tickets cost for Knicks NBA Finals games at MSG?
A complete calendar, including all announced Knicks NBA Finals home game dates and the best prices on tickets are listed here:
New York Knicks NBA Finals home game dates
Ticket prices start at
Ticket prices started at on 6/5
Game 3 Monday, June 8
$4,585(including fees)
$8,417 (including fees)
Game 4 Wednesday, June 10
$9,280(including fees)
$8,079 (including fees)
Game 6 Tuesday, June 16 (if necessary)
$11,510(including fees)
$8,190 (including fees)
What do tickets cost for Spurs NBA Finals games in San Antonio?
All Spurs playoff home game dates at the Frost Bank Center and the cheapest tickets available can be found below.
San Antonio Spurs home game dates
Ticket prices start at
Game 5 Saturday, June 13 7:30 p.m. (if necessary)
$1,761(including fees)
Game 7 Friday, June 197:30 p.m. (if necessary)
$4,634(including fees)
What are the Knicks Finals home game giveaways at MSG?
New York Post social media guru Olivia Silio let us know that there are likely some additional perks to attending Finals games at MSG.
“The first home game of the series, you’ll go home with a souvenir t-shirt, commemorating the game,” she said, based on her experience attending the Eastern Conference Finals.
“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.”
How can I watch the Knicks and Spurs in the NBA Finals on TV?
Fans hoping to catch Mike Brown’s ballers on the tube can watch all NBA Finals games on ABC and ESPN.
Just make sure to review your local listings before tuning in.
If you don’t have cable, your best bet may be DIRECTV.
What are the planned closures for Game 3 of the NBA Finals?
Vehicular and pedestrian traffic will be prevented from entering from West 30th Street to West 35th Street between 6th Avenue and Eighth Avenue starting at 4 p.m., the NYPD said.
The only people allowed inside that perimeter will be fans with tickets, commuters going to Penn Station and those who are working inside that part of Midtown Manhattan.
Fans won’t be allowed to bring backpacks, bags, purses or other containers inside the venue and are strongly advised to show up at least two hours before tip-off. There will be no storage area for spectators who bring a bag, officials warned.
“All attendees will pass through TSA-style magnetometer screening before entering the arena,” said Matt McCool, who is the Special Agent in Charge of the Secret Service’s New York field office.
Huge concerts at MSG in 2026
Not sure what to do once the final buzzer sounds on the 2025-26 NBA season?
MSG has you covered.
The legendary venue has booked a number of exciting acts to entertain audiences all summer long.
Here are just five of our favorites you won’t want to miss live.
• Bon Jovi (July 7-9, 12, 14, 16, 19, 21, 23, 26)
• Earth, Wind, and Fire with Lionel Richie (July 11)
• Phish (July 22, 24, 25, 27, 29)
• RUSH (July 28, 30, Aug. 1, 3)
• J. Cole (Aug. 2, 4)
Want to see who else is Big Apple-bound? Check out this list of all the upcoming events at Madison Square Garden to find the show for you.
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.
As Atlanta is pivoting from the Trae Young era to a new iteration with Jalen Johnson as part of its core, it is locking up its brain trust. First was working out a long-term deal with the head of basketball operations, Onsi Saleh.
Now the Hawks have locked up head coach Quin Snyder with a multi-year extension, the team announced.
We have agreed to a multi-year contract extension with Head Coach Quin Snyder! pic.twitter.com/9UwPjbHYej
"Quin has been a phenomenal leader for our team, and extending his contract reflects our commitment to stability and sustained growth as we build toward high-level success," Saleh said in a statement. "Over the past three seasons and amid an evolving roster, we've seen clear, measurable progress, which is a testament to the culture he's established and the leadership he brings every day. He has created an environment where our players are challenged, supported, and empowered to grow, and that focus on player development has elevated our entire program."
This was expected. Atlanta ownership has been understandably happy with how the team has been built and coached, how it has pivoted out of the Trae Young era without going into a total rebuild. With that, it has rewarded and locked down the guys in charge.
Snyder joined the Hawks during the 2022-23 season and, this past season, helped the Hawks pivot away from the Trae Young era — he was traded to Washington at the deadline — toward a more balanced offense led by Jalen Johnson. The Hawks were 20-6 after the All-Star break without Young, finished sixth in the East and (as of today) were the last team to take a game from the New York Knicks in the playoffs.
"I am grateful to the Ressler family and humbled to continue leading this team. I love this group of players, love coaching this team and am fortunate to have a tremendous coaching staff. Atlanta has truly been home for my family, and I am excited to continue this journey," Snyder said in a statement. "Tony, Jami and the entire Ressler family are deeply committed to providing us every resource we need for success and the partnership Onsi and I have developed is strong, with the shared focus of bringing Hawks fans the success they deserve."
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MARCH 11: Hannes Steinbach #6 of the Washington Huskies shoots against the USC Trojans in the first half during the second round of the 2026 Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 11, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Are you interested in a big man that plays a lot of minutes on a lot of nights and eats rebounds for breakfast, lunch and dinner? If so, and most Sixers fans should be, then Hannes Steinbach is your guy. The 20-year-old German had a very strong freshman campaign statistically at the University of Washington and looks ready for the NBA. But will the Sixers be able to maneuver their way up in this month’s first round to land the Husky?
Measuring at just under seven feet tall and 250 pounds, Steinbach will enter the NBA with a frame that should allow him to play a lot of minutes as a rookie. After all, he just finished a college season in which he was playing roughly 35 out of the 40 regulation minutes and did so in the Big 10. He’s not going to get pushed around in the paint like some bigs who come out of college with a lot of athletic traits but haven’t filled out physically.
Fundamentally, Steinbach is rock solid. His footwork enables him to find lots of ways to finish inside, something he does rather smooth and effortlessly around the rim. These sound fundamentals extend beyond interior scoring as Steinbach can be used effectively on the perimeter in pick-and-rolls and is comfortable passing out of said pick-and-rolls.
Both offensively and defensively he’s an aggressive rebounder and seems to always be in the right positions to possess the basketball. College stats can sometimes be misleading, but at the same time when you’re averaging almost 12 rebounds per game in your age 19 season as Steinbach did last year, you’re doing something right, wherever you’re playing.
Weaknesses
The majority of Steinbach’s concerns at the next level can be traced back to his lack of athleticism. While he has the smarts to be a good pick-and-roll player on the perimeter offensively, he is certainly not laterally quick enough to defend big men who are more capable of stretching the floor. The absence of elite athletic traits in Steinbach’s game also raises question about how good of a rebounder he will be in the NBA. Is he going to be able to average double-digit rebounds just on good positioning and instincts? There are some NBA bigs who might not be as fundamentally sound as Steinbach is but more than make up for that with their athletic ability.
Additionally, in his lone year of college basketball, Steinbach was not much of an outside shooter. His 34% from the three-point line might not look bad, but it came on less than two attempts per game and he didn’t have much of a midrange game either. Can he score 10-15 points per game as a rookie in the NBA solely on good fundamentals? Either way, if he’s going to be a regular starter, there needs to be some perimeter development as a scorer.
Positional Fit
With his current skillset, Steinbach is a traditional NBA center. If his jump shot develops well, he could be used as a bigger power forward that would develop into more of a three-level scorer. Having said that, you wouldn’t want Steinbach too far away from the basket on either end of the floor due to how well he rebounds. But his rebounding would make him a great fit with the Sixers, who finished second-to-last in postseason rebounding in 2026 and were only middle-of-the-pack in regular season rebounding. Steinbach would immediately be the second-most skilled offensive big on Philadelphia’s roster behind Joel Embiid and would play a lot of minutes with the Sixers as a rookie given Embiid’s constant lack of availability.
Draft Projection
SB Nation Mock Draft: In the most recent SB Nation mock, Steinbach goes at the tail end of the lottery to Golden State. The fit seems to track well given the Warriors might be looking for one last kick at the can with Steve Kerr on the sidelines and Steph Curry in the backcourt. An NBA-ready big to come into their lineup and rebound instantly would make sense. The problem for Philly is that Golden State has the 11th overall pick, well ahead of the Sixers at 22. Perhaps this is where a Paul George trade could make sense for the Sixers and maybe Golden State is a partner that makes sense. If new President of Basketball Operations Mike Gansey covets Steinbach, a team that’s ahead of the Sixers that would be looking to contend next season and would value George’s veteran presence and postseason production might be a logical trade partner. Either way, it seems unlikely that Steinbach is available for Philadelphia if the team stays put at 22.
ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 25: Jalen Brunson #11 and Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks looks on during the game against the Atlanta Hawks during Round 1 Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 25, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
If the NBA’s Western Conference represented a different class of competition than the East, nobody told the New York Knicks. Mike Brown’s team extended their playoff win streak to 13 games after stealing two tight games in San Antonio, and are now playing their first NBA Finals games in Madison Square Garden in 27 years with a 2-0 series advantage. The Spurs have looked more terrestrial than their reputation, but they’ve held leads late in both games, and perhaps the real difference between conferences is showing up in the fatigue factor in the final minutes.
The market for NBA Finals MVP on FanDuel is a valuable measure of the impact that each player has had on the series so far. It’s also a look beyond the box score to consider the narratives that are likely to close out the season.
Jalen Brunson (+115)
Brunson shook off a slow start to game 1 (including multiple injury scares) to take over in the fourth quarter and nailed tough looks down the stretch. Conventional wisdom and historical precedent have suggested that a team can’t win a championship if their best player is short. But this is nothing new to Jalen Brunson, who’s carried his teams to titles at every level of his career.
He hasn’t been an efficient shooter to start the series (33.9% FG), but he’s found ways to force his impact; scoring 30 points in the opener and grabbing five steals to go with his 20 points and six assists in game two. The Knicks’ offense evolved when Towns became more of a facilitator, but Brunson’s penetration and pull-ups are still the team’s primary options in crunch time.
Karl-Anthony Towns (+165)
Maybe the best argument in Becky Hammon’s favor is that the Knicks are on the precipice of a championship because of the play of their big man, Karl-Anthony Towns. He’s challenged conventional wisdom about his own play during this win streak, using his size to play physical defense and wear on Wemby, while grabbing 12.5 tough rebounds.
Towns has unlocked the Knicks’ offense by serving more as an offensive hub and highlighting his passing, but he’s still the best shooting big man of all time. He sank 3 three-pointers while shooting an efficient 66.7% from the floor in game two, and could easily catch fire and come out of his matchup with Wemby as the most impactful big man in a short series.
Victor Wembanyama (+380)
Even with his team down two games, Wemby has looked like the best player on the floor for significant stretches. He shot over 50% from the field for 29 points in game two while logging nine rebounds, four blocks, and two steals. Those are star numbers, but the Spurs will need him to resemble something more superhuman if they’re to overcome their size and youth disadvantages and climb back from down 0-2.
Nobody has won the Finals MVP in a losing effort since Jerry West in 1969, and it would take an effort at least as impressive as West’s 40-point triple-double in game seven to repeat the honor. If anyone in the league could pull off those kinds of numbers though, it’s Victor Wembanyama.
Longshots
There’s still plenty of basketball left, and a handful of players have made steady impacts that could explode with the right combination of adjustments and luck.
Mikal Bridges (+17500) has regained his form as a dynamic two-way threat. He scored 20 points in game two, and has been a connective tissue and clutch shooter throughout the Knicks’ win streak.
OG Anunoby (+17500) has shown no fear, nailing jumpers and dunking on Wemby for 17 points in each contest. He’s also been an imposing force on defense, totaling six blocks and assists through two games.
Stephon Castle (+25000) has played beyond his years, cutting down his turnovers while scoring in double digits and holding up well on defense.
Dylan Harper (+25000) didn’t even make a postseason tournament with Rutgers last year, but he’s looked more than comfortable on the game’s biggest stage. The rookie has only shot 1-7 from deep in the first two games, but he’ll keep seeing more minutes.
United States President Donald Trump isn't expected to show up uninvited to Game 3 of the NBA Finals. He'll be inside Madison Square Garden as the guest of New York Knicks owner James Dolan, and Trump made clear the two go way back.
"Well, I’ve been a Knick fan for a long time, and I’m also a Jim Dolan fan," Trump told reporters last week when asked about his plans to be in attendance when the Knicks host their first NBA Finals game since 1999 on Monday, June 8. "He’s a nice guy, OK? He spent a long time wanting to win, and he’s a competitive guy. He’s got a team that’s amazing.
"They're really great, a great team. I'm happy for Jim (Dolan) because Jim has really been fighting hard to produce such a team," Trump added.
So Trump will now become the first sitting U.S. president to attend an NBA Finals game, with extra security precautions that will affect some fans. He also raised the possibility of attending Game 4 as well thanks to his relationship with Dolan, who took over day-to-day operations of the team in 1999, two years after his father, former Cablevision founder Charles Dolan, bought it.
"Mr. Dolan is a long-time friend and supporter of President Trump," a Knicks spokesperson said at the time. "His contribution is a matter of public record, and was made by Mr. Dolan as a private citizen."
Dolan was also criticized in October 2024 when Trump held a rally at Madison Square Garden. Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe controversially called Puerto Rico a "floating island of garbage" when he spoke before Trump. Arena reps noted that former President Joe Biden had previously held an event at Radio City Music Hall, which is also owned by Dolan.
“As a business we are neutral in political matters," a Madison Square Garden official said in a statement. "We rent to either side. We don’t censor artists, performers or speakers."
James Dolan is a Mar-A-Lago member
In addition to Trump's numerous public proclamations regarding his friendship with Dolan, the Knicks owner said previously he's a member at Trump's Mar-A-Lago club. Dolan held his wedding at there in 2002 and his son, Charles, did the same in 2017.
"I've known him for a long time. I got married at Mar-a-Lago. I'm a member of Mar-a-Lago, and I support him as a friend," Dolan told ESPN in 2018. "And you don't have to agree with everything that he's doing in order to support him. And he's, by the way, our president, and I don't understand people who wish our president to do badly. Why would you wish your president to do badly? It's like wishing that your milkman will bring you sour milk."
Trump is a longtime Knicks fan
NBA commissioner Adam Silver confirmed Trump's bonafides as a Knicks fan last week when asked about the President's potential attendance at Madison Square Garden.
"Donald Trump, before he ever ran for office, he was a big Knicks fan," Silver said. "I was there at many Knicks games with him in the old days. He attended many of our drafts when they used to take place at Madison Square Garden."
Silver noted he hopes Trump's appearance will "emphasize what we have in common, not what pulls us apart. We’re seeing that in New York and I think President Trump is very much a New Yorker, and I’m thrilled that yet another New Yorker wants to participate in the enthusiasm and the joy around this Knick team."
Dolan, Trump involved in Penn Station project
The Trump administration is reportedly involved in plans that, if approved, would lead to a massive renovation of Penn Station and moving Madison Square Garden from its current spot on top of the midtown Manhattan train station. The plan needs Dolan's approval and he initially declined interest in moving the arena.
The New York Post reported that Dolan and Trump had a meeting in April to discuss the Penn Station plans and the prospect of renaming Penn Station after Trump.
James Dolan, Rockettes controversy at Trump inauguration
Dolan, as Madison Square Garden executive chairman, also runs the Rockettes Christmas show out of Radio City Music Hall in New York. For Trump's first inauguration, Dolan agreed to have the Rockettes perform and the dancers endured social media backlash. They were not ultimately forced to perform.
"This is a great national event," Dolan said to the dancers, according to a recording leaked to Marie Claire magazine. "Every four years we put in a new president. It's a huge moment in the country's history. It usually signifies a whole change in how the government is going to run. The fact that we get to participate in it … we are an American brand, and I think it's very appropriate that the Rockettes dance in the inaugural and 4th of July and our country's great historical moments.
"A good portion of people voted for this person" Dolan added. "Hopefully they will like our brand. If 1% of 1% of them come to our show, we're going to do great."
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 09: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers calls for a foul against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second quarter in Game Three of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 09, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The franchise will have full Bird rights on LeBron, so they can sign him to anything up to a max contract. However, he might not have long to make his decision. He’ll have a $57.75 million cap hold on the Lakers’ books until they either re-sign him, sign-and-trade him elsewhere or renounce their free-agent rights on him entirely.
In other words: The Lakers’ offseason starts with reaching a decision on LeBron either way. They will not have a single dollar of cap space until they do that.
So, let’s explore what all of his different contract options would mean for the Lakers’ free-agency outlook.
Max contract
If LeBron wants a max deal, the Lakers can give him one, even though that would take them back over the cap. That’s the power of having LeBron’s full Bird rights.
However, that would also take them out of the running for other marquee free agents.
LeBron’s max salary next year is the same as his cap hit, $57.75 million. He and Luka Dončić alone would be earning $107.25 million. Add in Jarred Vanderbilt ($12.4 million), Jake LaRavia ($6.0 million), Dalton Knecht ($4.2 million), the No. 25 pick ($3.2 million), Adou Thiero ($2.1 million) and the guaranteed $1.26 million portion of Bronny James’ salary in 2026-27, and the Lakers would already be up to nearly $136.5 million.
That’s before factoring in the possibility of Deandre Ayton ($8.1 million) and Marcus Smart ($5.4 million) picking up their respective player options or Austin Reaves’ $20.9 million cap hit. Add those into the picture, and they’d already be over the cap after re-signing LeBron.
If the Lakers decided to operate as an over-the-cap team this offseason, they could have access to the $15 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception as long as they stayed below the first apron. But using it would trigger a first-apron hard cap, which could complicate their ability to re-sign Reaves, Rui Hachimura and/or any of their other free agents.
If LeBron wants more than the non-taxpayer MLE but is willing to take less than a max, the Lakers could meet him anywhere in the middle.
With just Luka, Vando, LaRavia, Knecht, the No. 25 pick, Thiero, the guaranteed portion of Bronny’s salary and Reaves’ cap hold on their books, the Lakers would be at $99.6 million in guaranteed salary. If they somehow convinced Ayton and Smart to decline their respective player options, they could have upward of $60 million in spending power. Granted, that would require them to renounce the rights to everyone, including LeBron, Rui and Luke Kennard. That isn’t likely to happen.
If the Lakers signed LeBron to a deal in the $25-30 million range, they still wouldn’t have any cap space once factoring in cap holds for Hachimura ($27.4 million), Kennard ($13.2 million) and Jaxson Hayes ($6.6 million). They’d have to renounce all of them to have significant cap space.
So, the TL;DR version: If the Lakers re-sign LeBron to something more than the non-taxpayer MLE, they aren’t likely to have cap space this summer.
NTMLE
If LeBron is willing to settle for the non-taxpayer MLE, that could open up more options for the Lakers.
The Lakers could go about that one of two ways. They could operate as an over-the-cap team and use their actual non-taxpayer MLE on LeBron, or they could just give him an equivalent amount with his Bird rights.
If they went the Bird rights route, they’d then have either the room MLE or non-taxpayer MLE to spend on another free agent, depending on whether they dipped below the cap or stayed above it.
This is the contractual range where it starts to make sense for the Lakers to bring LeBron back. If they lost Rui and Kennard in free agency, they still could have significant spending power to bring in other free agents before they turned their attention to re-signing Reaves.
Room exception
Unless LeBron is willing to take a minimum deal, this would be the Lakers’ dream scenario.
They would renounce their rights to LeBron at the start of free agency, spend all of their cap space and then re-sign him using the $9.4 million room MLE. This would not impact their free-agent plans whatsoever since his $57.75 million cap hold would be off their books.
If the Lakers also renounced their rights to Hachimura, Kennard and the rest of their free agents, they could have upward of $50 million in spending power to round out their roster around Luka and Reaves before re-signing LeBron with the room MLE.
The only question is whether LeBron is willing to settle for that amount when other contenders (including the Spurs) would be able to offer more via the non-tax MLE.
Min deal
If LeBron doesn’t care about money at this stage of his career and only wants to maximize his chances of winning a championship, he should take a minimum contract this offseason, whether with the Lakers or another team.
Teams get a special salary-cap exception to sign players to minimum deals, so even teams over the second apron are able to hand out such contracts. Much like the room MLE scenario, the Lakers would renounce their rights to LeBron at the start of free agency, spend the rest of their money elsewhere and then re-sign him once they’re capped out.
The only difference here is that they’d preserve their access to the room MLE to spend on someone who might be more of a long-term fixture in L.A. moving forward. That would help put the Lakers in a better position for whenever LeBron retires.
The bottom line is that the Lakers technically can give LeBron whatever he wants contractually. But the less that they can convince him to take, the better off they’ll be with regard to the rest of free agency.
The 2026 NBA Finals shift to Madison Square Garden for Game 3 with the Knicks firmly in control after taking the first two games on the road. New York enters Monday night up 2-0 in the series and riding a 13-game playoff winning streak, now just two wins from its first championship since 1973. No team has ever lost the NBA Finals after winning the first two games on the road. The Spurs, meanwhile, no question will face a loud and hostile environment just a couple of days after rallying late but then letting a golden opportunity slip through their fingers to even the series in Game 2.
Game 2 was a classic, with the Knicks escaping San Antonio with a 105-104 win in a back-and-forth finish. Karl-Anthony Towns led New York with 21 points and 13 rebounds on 8-of-12 shooting, while Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges each added 20 points in a balanced effort that saw five Knicks score in double figures. The Spurs erased a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit and briefly took the lead late, but a turnover by Victor Wembanyama with under 10 seconds remaining led to Brunson’s go-ahead free throw. Wembanyama then missed a potential game-winner at the buzzer, finishing with 29 points and 9 rebounds in a strong but ultimately costly performance.
Through two games, the Knicks’ depth, efficiency, and experience have been the defining differences in this series. Towns has been arguably the series’ best player, averaging 19.5 points and 12.5 rebounds through two games in the series Game 2 while leading the defensive effort against Wembanyama. Despite Brunson shooting just 33.9% in the series (19-56), the Knicks’ leader has averaged 25 points and four assists per game. For San Antonio, De’Aaron Fox rebounded from a poor Game 1 (7 points, 5 assists) with 20 points on 8-of-12 shooting. Devin Vassell (14 points, 9 rebounds) and Dylan Harper (15 points) were also solid in Game 2 loss.
The concern for the Spurs heading into Game 3 is their poor execution on the offensive end, most noticeably in transition. Despite generating more chances on the break than New York, San Antonio has struggled to convert, scoring just 0.84 points per possession in transition during the Finals. In addition, highlighted by Wembanyama’s pass to an unsuspecting Stephon Castle late in Game 2, turnovers in key moments have proven decisive.
Keys in Game 3:
Wembanyama has to get off to a better start. As fatigued as he may be, he has to find a way to maintain an exceptionally high level of play for the entire game.
Castle need to shoot the ball better. They need him to be an efficient secondary option.
Josh Hart needs to stay on the court. The rebounding machine for the Knicks got in foul trouble and played just 18 minutes.
Brunson needs to own the moment. The NBA’s most clutch player must own Madison Square Garden tonight. A fast and efficient start could finish Game 3 early.
Lets take a closer look at tonight’s matchup and take into consideration lineups, injuries, and other factors affecting the line and total.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game Details and How to Watch Game 3 Live: Knicks vs. Spurs
Date: Monday, June 8, 2026
Time: 8:30PM EST
Site: Madison Square Garden
City: New York, NY
Network/Streaming: ABC
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NBA Finals Game 3 Odds: Knicks vs. Spurs
The latest odds as of Monday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: New York Knicks (-130), San Antonio Spurs (+110)
Spread: Knicks -1.5
Total: 215.5 points
This game sits almost right where it opened with the Knicks favored by 1.5 and the Game Total set at 216.5.
Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!
Expected Starting Lineups for NBA Finals Game 3: Knicks vs. Spurs
New York Knicks
PG Jalen Brunson (20 points, 6 assists in Game 2)
SG Mikal Bridges (20 points, 6 assists in Game 2)
C Karl-Anthony Towns (21 points, 13 rebounds in Game 2)
SF Josh Hart (0 points, 6 rebounds in Game 2)
PF OG Anunoby (17 points, 2-5 from 3-point range in Game 2)
San Antonio Spurs
PG De’Aaron Fox (20 points, 8-12 from the field in Game 2)
SG Stephon Castle (14 points on 5 of 14 shooting in Game 2)
SF Devin Vassell (14 points, 9 rebounds in Game 2)
PF Julian Champagnie (8 points, 4 rebounds in Game 2)
C Victor Wembanyama (29 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 turnovers in Game 2)
Injury Report: Knicks vs. Spurs
New York Knicks
No injuries to report
San Antonio Spurs
David Jones Garcia (ankle) has been declared OUT for tonight’s game
Important stats, trends and insights: Knicks vs. Spurs – Game 3
The Knicks are 36-11 on the road this season
The Spurs are 35-15 on the road this season
The Spurs are 57-44-2 ATS this season
The Knicks are 56-42-1 ATS this season
The OVER has cashed in 46 of the Knicks’ 99 games this season (46-53)
The OVER has cashed in 47 of the Spurs’ 103 games this season (47-56)
Landry Shamet has buried 3, 3-pointers in each of the first two games of this series
Luke Kornet scored 1 point in Game 2 after going without even 1 point in Game1
Rotoworld Best Bet
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Monday’s Game 3 between the Knicks and the Spurs:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Knicks on the Moneyline
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Knicks -1.5
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total UNDER 215.5
Player Props:
Devin Vassell 3+ 3-pointers (+106) – Vassell’s record over the last 8 games is 4-4 so more than likely will be a sweat, but the Spurs know they need to get him going tonight. The volume will be there.
Karl-Anthony Towns 4+ Assists (-145) – may not be worth the squeeze as the price has dropped, but this cashed in Games 1 and 2 of the Finals, twice in the East Final, and in all 4 games in the Second Round
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The winning bid was split by the law firm Gibson, Dunn and Crutcher LLP and private equity firm Veritas Capital. The fundraiser benefited the Garden of Dreams Foundation, and the Knicks said it was the largest single donation in the history of the foundation, which works with MSG’s companies to assist children at need in the tristate area.
The seats are located in section VIP 10, row AA, seats 25 and 26, right off center court. It’s impossible to know what they would usually cost, because the team doesn’t sell them. Instead, they are given to the celebrity fans such as Tracy Morgan and Timothée Chalamet who are courtside fixtures.
Seats everywhere in the building are expensive. The cheapest upper-deck seats available Sunday night were going for more than $6,000 on secondary markets like StubHub, SeatGeek and VividSeats. The experience of being courtside went for more than $75,000.
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 03: U.S. President Donald Trump displays a graph entitled "Our Pool is Bigger than Skyscrapers" as he speaks on his renovations to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool during an event in the Oval Office of the White House on June 03, 2026 in Washington, DC. The landmark is being painted as part of President Trump's efforts to repair Washington D.C. in preparation for the Nation's 250th birthday. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Donald Trump hates the NBA, but he loves attention. This has manifested itself by creating hell at Madison Square Garden for thousands of basketball fans in order to get some camera time, with Trump set to attend Game 3 of the NBA Finals in New York City on Monday night.
Knicks owner James Dolan, noted Trump supporter and shitty musician, invited the president to attend Game 3 of the Finals at Madison Square Garden. In doing so he’s displaced thousands of die-hard fans who love the NBA, and have supported the Knicks in spite of Dolan’s horrible ownership tenure.
With ticket prices soaring into the tens of thousands of dollars, one of the most popular events for Knicks fans have been watch parties outside Madison Square Garden. Those have been cancelled by the NYPD and Secret Service for Monday, citing security concerns with the president in attendance. In addition, fans who are actually attending the game will go through more rigorous “TSA-style” security screenings, which have resulted in fans being told to arrive two hours before tip-off, transforming the sporting event into an airport security line. That’s not all, as a ban on all bags is in effect as well — which includes clear bags typically allowed into NBA arenas. It’s unclear if the bag ban will also impact medication and childcare needs, which are typically allowed.
New York mayor Zohran Mamdani has made alternate plans in response to the MSG watch ban, announcing a 5,000 person watch party in Manhattan’s Bryant Park, some eight blocks away from the arena. It’s a nice gesture to make up for some of the ban, but won’t nearly accommodate the number of fans who would have been outside the arena had Trump not attended the game. It’s estimated that 10,000 fans were in attendance for the watch party on West 33rd Street for Game 1, with the Eastern Conference Finals topping 6,000 fans.
All of this was unnecessary. Dolan chose to invite President Trump, which is his prerogative — but in doing so, he actively alienated the lifeblood of his organization: die-hard fans who have supported the Knicks, warts and all, over the 20-year NBA Finals drought. These are people who bleed blue and orange, who have been priced out of being inside the arena so the exceedingly wealthy can buy tickets. Now they’re being pushed back from being in close proximity to the arena, in service of a vanity appearance from a president who knowingly hates the NBA and its players.
There is a popular meme of Kobe Bryant from the 2009 NBA Finals.
In a news conference, despite the Lakers ahead 2-0 in the series, he was asked why he wasn’t smiling.
“What’s there to be happy about? Job’s not finished,” he famously replied. “Job finished? I don’t think so.”
Jalen Brunson recreated that moment Sunday, as the Knicks prepared for Monday night’s Game 3 at the Garden up 2-0.
Knicks guard Jalen Brunson speaks to reporters after practice ahead of Game 3 of the NBA Finals on June 7, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / NY Post
“In my mind there’s nothing really to celebrate yet,” the Knicks captain said. “There’s still a lot of work to be done.”
Brunson has had complete focus throughout the postseason. When the Knicks clinched a spot in the Finals for the first time in 27 years, a video was posted of the team celebrating in the locker room. Brunson was sitting on his own, a look of determination on his face instead of joy. He has refused to take promotional photos with the Larry O’Brien Trophy. Asked about the excitement in the city, as the Knicks look to clinch their first title in 53 years, Brunson said he has refused to soak it in. He’s repeatedly told reporters he would look back at what this team accomplished when it’s over. Not a second sooner.
“I do my best to stay present in the moment, to do the things I can to make sure my mind is right,” said Brunson, the first player in NBA history to score the game-winning points in the final two minutes of consecutive Finals games. “Being mentally and physically ready every day. Trusting my work. That’s what’s gotten me here.”
Kobe Bryant speaks to reporters after the Lakers’ Game 2 win in the 2009 NBA Finals. Getty Images
When Game 2’s wild ending was brought up, Brunson looked at the glass half-empty. Yes, he was happy the Knicks were able to rally after blowing a 14-point advantage, but he was also concerned with what led to them losing that lead.
“We do need to be able to finish the game better,” he said. “Unacceptable the way we just obviously let that 14-point lead go the way we did.”
Clearly, Brunson is taking after Bryant. The only time to celebrate is when the ultimate goal is accomplished.
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Spurs Game 3 computer picks
Dylan Harper Under 5.5 rebounds (-115)
Projection: 3.83 rebounds
This is the one and only five-star play our model found for this game, sitting with a 25.75% EV edge. Dylan Harper has been a beast on the boards, but our projections call for fewer rebounding chances for the guard at MSG tonight.
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Julian Champagnie Over 10.5 points (-115)
Projection: 11.25 points
Julian Champagnie took only five threes in Game 2, but still finished with eight points. The San Antonio Spurs need him to knock down outside looks to avoid a 0-3 hole, and his volume will be high enough to reach 11 points.
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De'Aaron Fox Over 14.5 points (-112)
Projection: 16.26 points
After a sluggish Game 1, De'Aaron Fox found his groove in his last outing with 20 points. Mitch Johnson has proven he is riding with his veteran PG, and he'll continue to get plenty of shots.
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Knicks Game 3 computer picks
Josh Hart Under 4.5 assists (-112)
Projection: 3.48 assists
Josh Hart has had a rough NBA Finals thus far, playing just 18 minutes in Game 2. While that was mostly due to foul trouble, our model doesn't see Hart's playmaking having much impact tonight.
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Karl-Anthony Towns Over 3.5 assists (-150)
Projection: 4.97 assists
Karl-Anthony Towns has been doing it all for the New York Knicks this series, eclipsing this assist total in both games. KAT is averaging nearly six assists per game in the postseason, and our model calls for him to dish out four more tonight.
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Jalen Brunson Under 25.5 points (+100)
Projection: 24.87 points
The Spurs have made it clear they're willing to let anyone but Jalen Brunson beat them. JB scored just 20 points on horrible efficiency, and one can only assume he'll get the majority of the defensive focus tonight at MSG.
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How to watch Spurs vs Knicks Game 3
Location
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Date
Monday, June 8, 2026
Tip-off
8:30 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN
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