The Thunder guard/forward, who averaged 17.1 points per game this season, reinjured a hamstring injury in Game 2. He sat out Games 3, 4 and 5 and returned to the court for Game 6, where the Spurs evened the series to force Game 7. He played just 10 minutes off the bench and had one point, a free throw.
"It was a unique situation. Ever since he got hurt, he's been hell-bent on trying to get himself to this point," Daigneault said. "I give him a lot of credit. He's a big-time team guy. He's a big-time competitor. He's obviously not a hundred percent. He didn't know what to expect. I didn't know what to expect, so it was a matter of getting him out there in kind of an insulated role and see what he can bring to the team.
"... He hasn't done a full return-to-play the way that he would if this was the regular season and yet he just wants to do whatever he can to try to contribute whatever he can to the team."
Knicks coach Mike Brown told reporters Friday that Robinson did not sustain the injury in a game or practice, and added that he's aware that Robinson has had surgery.
"I don't know much about the details, obviously I know that he had surgery and all that," Brown said. "For me it's the same thing, I don't want to know. Just let me know if he can play and when he can play. Just like we normally would, we're getting everybody else ready to go."
He added: "For me, I'm always going with who's available today and (Robinson) didn't practice today, so we're getting whoever we need ready to go."
When a reporter asked Brown a follow-up inquiring exactly how Robinson was hurt, a member of the Knicks' media relations staff interrupted and said "we're not going to get into specifics."
Robinson reportedly plans to play. The NBA Finals begin Wednesday, June 3. The Knicks are preparing to face the winner of the Western Conference finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs.
Robinson has been a key contributor off the bench for New York, providing size and an interior presence defensively when Karl-Anthony Towns is off the floor.
Despite battling numerous injuries in his career, Robinson has been a stud for the Knicks during the postseason, averaging 5.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 0.6 bocks and 0.5 steals in just 14.2 minutes per game in 13 playoff games this year.
Robinson has made the most of his sparing minutes, giving the Knicks additional scoring opportunities by grabbing 2.5 offensive rebounds per game.
Despite his desires to play, if he is unable to go, it would be a huge loss for the Knicks, who will need all the size they can in the NBA Finals when New York faces either Victor Wembanyama or the duo of Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren.
The next man up for New York would be second-year, third-string center Ariel Hukporti, who appeared in just 54 games this season, playing 9.2 minutes, which came mostly during the waning minutes of blowout games.
Jalen Williams tried. He suited up for Game 6 ready to see if he could help Oklahoma City close out San Antonio. What was clear in his 10 minutes off the bench is that his strained left hamstring was not ready for an NBA game.
Williams has officially been ruled out of Game 7 on Saturday, the team announced, something that wasn't a surprise after he sat the entire fourth quarter of Game 6 (even though the game was out of hand, if Williams could have played he would have been out there to shake off some rust). Ajay Mitchell also remains out with the calf strain that has sidelined him for the last few games.
It's bad news for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who has been up and down this series — and is shooting 37.9% for the first six games — because an elite San Antonio defense can drill down on stopping him, and he doesn't have his most trusted secondary shot creators next to him to relieve the pressure.
It also leaves Thunder coach Mark Daigneault with some tough choices. He almost certainly now keeps Jared McCain in the starting lineup, but Oklahoma's lineups in this series with SGA, McCain, Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein and Lu Dort have struggled — San Antonio keeps racing out to a lead in games for a reason. Does Daigneault start Cason Wallace in Dort's spot? Is changing the starting lineup for a Game 7 wise?
That said, it's best to know that Williams just can't go, rather than feeling obligated to roll him out for minutes where he only hurts the team in the biggest game of the season.
It’s been over two weeks since we last saw Austin Reaves on a basketball court.
On Friday morning, Reaves was joined by his girlfriend, Jenna Barber, posing for a photo with a cake that read “Happy 28th,” as the couple was celebrating his birthday. But what was notable in the photo was Austin’s new haircut.
Austin was seen rocking a buzzcut on top of his head.
Lakers star Austin Reaves displayed a new haircut while celebrating his 28th birthday. X/@LADEig
The news of his new look comes after the Lakers’ season ended on May 11, following a 115-110 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The reaction of the Lakers’ guard rocking a buzzcut got some attention across the internet.
One of Austin’s friends from high school, Kelly Harriete, commented on the post saying, “I guess it’s the same haircut 2014,” showing a picture of Austin repping a buzzcut.
Other reactions on the post included X account @BallKnowerSquad commenting, “Two evolutions away from becoming Ivica Zubac.”
While Reaves is kicking back and enjoying his birthday with a new hairstyle, this offseason will have major implications for a Lakers team that is looking to win its 18th NBA title.
Reaves has to make a decision soon about whether he wants to come back to the Lakers for $14.9 million or elect to utilize his player option and hit free agency.
Reaves has a huge offseason lying ahead of him, with a massive contract extension coming his way. Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Last season, he appeared in 51 games for the Lakers, averaging 23.3 points per game with 4.7 total rebounds and 5.5 assists.
On top of that, the Lakers have also been considered serious contenders in the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes, as reports indicate they will look to trade some draft capital for the former MVP.
Spurs associate coach Sean Sweeney is finalizing a deal to move to the Sunshine State after the conclusion of the postseason and join Orlando, according to multiple reports.
Sweeney beat out two other candidates for the position — former Bulls head coach Billy Donovan and Clippers assistant Jeff Van Gundy.
Sweeney has been coaching in the league since 2011, but this is his first head coaching job.
Spurs Associate Head Coach Sean Sweenny NBAE via Getty Images
In the past, he worked for the Nets, Bucks, Pistons and Mavericks before joining the Spurs this season. Sweeney played college basketball for both Green Bay and St.Thomas.
Sweeney takes the reins over from Jamahl Mosley, who was fired after blowing a 3-1 series lead in the first round of the playoffs to the Pistons. Mosley built a strong foundation in Orlando, reaching the playoffs in three straight years but never getting past the first round.
Jamahl Mosley during the playoffs after losing game 7. Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
“We’re grateful to Jamahl for all he’s done for the Orlando Magic,” Magic president Jeff Weltman said in a statement after the firing. “We appreciate his leadership and the positive contributions he made as head coach. While this was a difficult decision, we feel it’s time for a new voice and fresh perspective. We wish Jamahl and his family nothing but the best.”
Now, Sweeney is tasked with taking the core of Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Desmond Bane past the first round of the playoffs.
Sweeney is viewed as one of the best up-and-coming defensive minds and has played a key role in the Spurs’ long playoff run. Sweeney turned the 25th-best defense in the league into the third-best with a 108.5 defensive efficiency this season.
Sean Sweeny with forward Victor Wembanyama. NBAE via Getty Images
Sweeney was also able to fully harness Victor Wembanyama’s defensive abilities. He helped the forward become the first-ever unanimous winner of the Defensive Player of the Year award.
Sweeney and the Spurs will head to Oklahoma City to face the Thunder in Game 7 on Saturday, hoping to reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 2014.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - MAY 28: Devin Vassell #24 of the San Antonio Spurs and Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs high five during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game Six of the NBA Western Conference Finals on May 28, 2026 at the 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 (Photos by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
In the words of Zaza Pachulia: NOTHING EASY! NOTHING EASY! WE GOING TO GAME 7, BABY! GAME SEVEN! GAME SEVEEEEENNNN!
The San Antonio Spurs dismantled the Oklahoma City Thunder in a 118-91 win in Game Six. With the series tied 3-3, the Spurs will head to Oklahoma City with an NBA Finals appearance on the line.
The Spurs won the game on defense, holding the Thunder to just 13 points in the third quarter. While the defense stifled the Thunder, Victor Wembanyama and Dylan Harper scored at will. They’ll lead our Game Six player grades. As a quick reminder, player grades are based on each player’s on-court performance, going beyond just the stat sheet. A “B” grade represents the average performance for an individual. If a player logs fewer than 5 minutes or plays only in garbage time, their grade will be incomplete.
Wembanyama responded to the moment. Wembanyama came out aggressively after a disappointing Game Five. He made it rain from three and attacked the basket on a few difficult drives. He was much more impactful on the defensive end, constantly disrupting the Thunder’s drives to the basket.
If you’re looking to pick apart Wembanyama’s game, he probably took too many jumpers. The Thunder are doing everything in their power to prevent him from catching lobs at the rim or getting deep post position. Finding a way to get him going toward the basket will be key in Game Seven. As +132 underdogs on FanDuel, the Spurs will need everything they can get from Wembanyama.
Fox still doesn’t have the lift on his jumper due to his ankle injury. He made up for his lack of scoring with his passing and defensive effort. Fox had 7 assists and 0 turnovers in the win. He knew exactly when to push the pace in transition and when to slow it down and find his healthy teammates. Game Seven will be a different story. The game will almost certainly slow down, and the Spurs will need Fox’s scoring.
Castle has been fantastic in this series. He was great at handling the ball in Game Six with 9 assists and just 1 turnover. Once again, he defended his tail off against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Spurs held SGA to 15 points on 6-18 shooting.
Champagnie didn’t have the same explosive game he did in Game Five, but he continued to knock down shots. He made his presence known with an awesome finish at the rim and a sweet block from the weak side. He is playing really well right now on both ends. The Spurs are going to need another big performance from him in Game Seven.
Where would the Spurs be without Vassell? He was on fire in Game Six and maintained his excellent defense and effort. He’s been given incredibly difficult defensive matchups in SGA and Chet Holmgren. He’s held his own with Gilgeous-Alexander on the perimeter and played tough against Holmgren inside. His block against Holmgren was one of the biggest highlights from the game.
This might have been Harper’s best game of the series. He looks like he’s back after struggling with an injury. He played with strength as he got to the basket and made aggressive plays in transition. What stood out the most was his tough shot-making in the mid-range and from three. When those shots are falling, the Spurs are incredibly hard to beat.
Johnson continues to play within the rhythm and in the flow of the offense for the most part. There are times when he puts his head down and gets into trouble. His energy has been so important. He’ll need to bring that same passion and fire to Game Seven.
This was a scrappy game for Kornet. He was mucking things up inside, especially during the Spurs’ big run without Wembanyama on the floor. Surviving without Wembanyama on the floor has been a key part of the Spurs’ victories in this series. Kornet helped San Antonio thrive in Game Six.
Barnes grabbed an offensive rebound and knocked down a pair of triples in his limited minutes. Johnson went to him over Bryant earlier in the game, but ended up using both players.
Bryant had another incredible dunk. He also played awesome defense on SGA in his limited minutes. That’s not counting him laying him out in a moment that almost led to a flagrant foul.
PERTH, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 13: Mike Gansey current Cleveland Cavaliers General Manager and former basketball player arrives at Perth Airport on December 13, 2022, in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Faith Moran/GC Images)
The Sixers have a new front-office boss.
The team will reportedly hire Cleveland Cavaliers general manager Mike Gansey as president of basketball operations, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Just in: Cleveland Cavaliers general manager Mike Gansey has agreed to become the new President of Basketball Operations for the Philadelphia 76ers, sources tell ESPN. Gansey — who rose the ranks within the Cavaliers front office since joining in 2011-12 — now lands the top… pic.twitter.com/QXwblvV1pf
Gansey was one of four candidates — including Minnesota Timberwolves GM Matt Lloyd, Phoenix Mercury GM Nick U’Ren and a lone internal candidate in Jameer Nelson — reportedly on Bob Myers’ short list to replace Daryl Morey.
As Gansey separated from the pack of candidates, it’s been speculated that the Sixers could potentially promote Nelson to their GM role. The only word out so far comes from Adam Aaronson of PhillyVoice, who has reported that a decision regarding the St. Joe’s legend has yet to be made.
No decision yet on Jameer Nelson's role within the Mike Gansey-led Sixers front office, I am told.
In Gansey, the Sixers get an interesting candidate.
Gansey was a standout player in college for both Saint Bonaventure and West Virginia. After playing a few years professionally both overseas and the then D League, he quickly joined the Cavs’ front office as director of development league operations in 2012. He won the D League’s Basketball Executive of the Year in 2017 for his work with the Canton Charge, the Cavs’ D League affiliate. He was then promoted to assistant general manager before president of basketball operations Koby Altman named him GM in 2021.
Cleveland was able to recover fairly quickly after LeBron James and company were swept in the NBA Finals by the Golden State Warriors in 2018. James departed to the Los Angeles Lakers in free agency and the Cavs won 19, 19 and 22 games, respectively, the following three seasons amidst a rebuild.
After selecting Evan Mobley third overall in 2021, adding him to a young core featuring Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen, the team finished with 44 wins, good enough for the East’s eighth seed. Unfortunately, they lost both play-in games and didn’t get to the actual NBA playoffs.
A blockbuster trade for All-Star Donovan Mitchell helped the team raise the bar and expectations. After disappointing playoff finishes the following two seasons, the team fired head coach JB Bickerstaff and brought on Kenny Atkinson. Atkinson won 64 games in the regular season, but the team was bounced in the second round again.
After a polarizing trade that sent the oft-injured Garland to the LA Clippers for James Harden, the Cavs were able to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2018. But obviously, Cleveland had a massively underwhelming performance against the New York Knicks.
While it’s fair to wonder how much say Gansey had in the Harden deal, there’s no questioning the Cavs’ recent ability to draft and develop players while finding talent on the margins. It’s obvious Gansey played a huge role in that.
That will likely be Gansey’s immediate goal — build the best team possible around the max deals of Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey while not compromising the future of the Maxey-VJ Edgecombe backcourt. No easy task there.
So, the Sixers got their guy. His first test comes rather quickly with the 2026 NBA Draft on June 23, followed quickly by free agency. We’ll see how the team’s new steward plans to build the roster now and in the future.
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren was already enduring a grueling Western Conference Finals against San Antonio before Devin Vassell emphatically swatted away his routine dunk in Game 6. To make matters worse, Vassell piled on the dejected big man with a heavy dose of trash talk as the Frost Bank Center crowd erupted.
Despite that, my Spurs vs. Thunder predictions aren't counting out the talented center, who faces a massive gut check ahead of Game 7.
Our NBA picks for Saturday, May 30 expect Holmgren to bounce back — or at least blow past market expectations that have dropped due to recent blowout scripts — as Oklahoma City enters Saturday's decisive showdown as a 3.5-point home favorite.
Don't miss tip-off at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.
UPDATE: Added a prediction for who will win tonight!
Spurs vs Thunder Game 7 prediction
Who will win Spurs vs Thunder Game 7?
Thunder: Much like young Michael Jordan was tormented by the Detroit Pistons before winning his titles, Victor Wembanyama and the young Spurs face their own foil in Oklahoma City. San Antonio is so close but just not ready to defeat those demons. The one-sided loss in Game 6 had Thunder coach Mark Daigneault waving the white flag in the third quarter and saving his legs for Saturday. Oklahoma City is no stranger to pressure, having won a Game 7 in last year’s NBA Finals. Securing home court in the playoffs pays off in this contest, with OKC owning the best offensive rating as a host in the postseason while also going 11-5 SU on its own floor off a loss this season, including 3-0 SU in those spots in the playoffs.
Spurs vs Thunder best bet: Chet Holmgren Over 13.5 points (-112)
In the past two games, Chet Holmgren has been shooting 59% for a collective 26 points, including hitting all six FTAs.
Passive play and limited minutes in recent blowouts are stunting his scoring.
With squashes in the last four games vs. the San Antonio Spurs, Holmgren’s minutes go from an average of 15 in the 1H to 11.9 in the 2H, including a piddly four minutes in the 4Q. His usage drops with it.
Saturday’s short spread writes a tight game script that keeps Chet on the floor. Projections sit as high as 16+ points, which is comfortably beyond his shrinking prop total.
COVERS INTEL: Rarely do you get precedent in these high-pressure scenarios, but Holmgren also struggled offensively vs. Indiana in last year's NBA Finals. He followed a 6-for-24 skid in Games 5 and 6 with a big 18-point effort in Game 7. Chet can answer the bell.
Spurs vs Thunder Game 7 same-game parlay
Experience counts in the crunch, and the Oklahoma City Thunder have played in plenty of pressure cookers.
While the offense has been humming for the Thunder at home, their defense has made the biggest difference by being disruptive. They’ve forced the San Antonio Spurs into an average of 19.7 turnovers in three games at OKC (six more than in San Antonio), quickly translating those miscues into 25 average points off turnovers.
Nerves will get the better of the young Spurs and feed into those transition buckets for Oklahoma City.
Lost in a sea of slander, Holmgren has hauled in 22 total rebounds over the past two games. Those boards are even more impressive when you factor in his limited minutes in the second half of those blowouts.
Chet has been in position for 36 rebounding opportunities in that span and is aggressive on the offensive glass, with seven boards on the offensive end in the past two showings.
Spurs vs Thunder SGP
Thunder moneyline
Chet Holmgren Over 13.5 points
Chet Holmgren Over 8.5 rebounds
Our "from downtown" SGP: Fourteen feet of fun
The big men shine brightest on the biggest stage.
Holmgren and Victor Wembanyama add to their rivalry with OKC’s 7-footer projected for as many as 16 points and nine rebounds, while the Spurs’ 7-foot superstar is capable of 27 points and 13 rebounds — a mark he would have surpassed had he not sat in garbage time of Game 6.
As basketball bettors and NBA fans, we can only hope Game 7 takes a different path and stays close. I like Oklahoma City’s edge at home on Saturday.
Spurs vs Thunder SGP
Thunder moneyline
Chet Holmgren Over 13.5 points
Chet Holmgren Over 8.5 rebounds
Victor Wembanyama Over 26.5 points
Victor Wembanyama Over 12.5 rebounds
Spurs vs Thunder odds for Game 7
Spread: Spurs +3.5 (-110) | Thunder -3.5 (-110)
Moneyline: Spurs +125 | Thunder -150
Over/Under: Over 212.5 (-110) | Under 212.5 (-110)
Spurs vs Thunder betting trend to know
The Thunder are 6-2 SU when coming off a double-digit loss on the season, and they were missing MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in two of those “bounce-back” spots. Overall, OKC is 15-5 SU off a loss, including a perfect 3-0 in the playoffs. Find more NBA betting trends for Spurs vs. Thunder.
How to watch Spurs vs Thunder Game 7
Location
Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
Date
Saturday, May 30, 2026
Tip-off
8 p.m. ET
TV
NBC/Peacock
Spurs vs Thunder latest injuries
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The Spurs aren’t done with the Thunder yet, but their fans are already eyeing up the Knicks.
After San Antonio won 118-91 to send the Western Conference finals to Game 7 against the Thunder, fans at the Front Bank Center called out Knicks star Jalen Brunson — who is still waiting to see which team his Knicks will face in the NBA Finals.
“We want Brunson!” Spurs fans chanted.
It appeared to be a direct response to a call-out by Knicks fans at the Empire State Building, who shouted “We want Wemby” for San Antonio’s star center Victor Wembanyama.
Fresh off the Spurs’ Game 6 blowout of the Thunder, jubilant fans turned their attention to the NBA Finals, breaking into “We want Brunson!” chants aimed at Knicks star Jalen Brunson.
— San Antonio Express-News (@ExpressNews) May 29, 2026
Spurs fans claim they want a piece of Jalen Brunson. NBAE via Getty Images
Spurs fans shouldn’t be looking too far ahead going into Saturday, as they still have to fave the defending champion Thunder in a do-or-die Game 7.
Oklahoma City is dealing with a ton of injuries as their second-best player, Jalen Williams, appears to be hobbled by a hamstring injury, while secondary ball handler Ajay Mitchell is out with a calf strain.
Mitchell looks seriously questionable to return during these playoffs, while Williams is a shell of his All-NBA self.
Lakers guard Luka Doncic is part of an investment group that has purchased Italian team Vanoli Cremona with hopes of joining NBA Europe in the near future. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Luka Doncic could be involved in two championship bids this upcoming season.
The Lakers’ superstar and former Dallas Mavericks general manager Donnie Nelson are leading an investor group that acquired a professional basketball team in Italy, it was announced Friday, with hopes that the franchise could become part of the NBA’s new European venture.
The group plans to move Vanoli Cremona, a team that plays in a northern Italian city about 60 miles southeast of Milan, to Rome, and submitted a bid for the club to join NBA Europe, making Doncic the first player to state his ambition to become part of the NBA’s expansion across the pond.
“I have dreamed about owning a team in Europe for a long time, to finally have this happen is amazing,” Doncic said in a statement. “Vanoli has a great history, and we are ready to take it to the next level in Rome. We have an amazing group of partners, and I really believe we can do something special for basketball in Italy and Europe.”
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said this year that the NBA is working with FIBA, the world governing body for basketball, to begin a standalone league in Europe. The league could begin as soon as October 2027 with up to 16 teams hosted in major cities in England, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Greece and Turkey.
Rome and Milan are the top Italian targets to host NBA Europe teams. Rome, the Italian capital, has not had a Serie A team since 2020, when Virtus Roma ceased operations because of financial difficulties. Vanoli will begin playing in Rome for the 2026-27 season.
“Rome deserves world-class basketball, and we are excited to be bringing it back,” Nelson said in a statement. “Vanoli Cremona has a proud history, and we are committed to honoring that legacy as we build toward an exciting future in Rome. This city has been without top-flight basketball for too long. That changes now. We are bringing the resources, the expertise, and the passion to make this club a source of pride for Rome and for all Italy.”
Nelson, who is the lead investor and managing partner, was the general manager when the Mavericks traded for Doncic on draft night in 2018 and was the architect of Dallas’ 2011 NBA championship team led by German star Dirk Nowitzki. The investor group also includes Valerio Bianchini, a celebrated coach in the Italian league, and Rimantas Kaukėnas, a 17-year pro across European leagues.
The 27-year-old Doncic, who was born in Slovenia and started his professional career with Real Madrid in Spain, is part of a recent wave of international stars taking over the NBA. The last eight most valuable players have been born outside of the United States. Doncic finished fourth in MVP voting this year behind two-time winner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is from Canada, three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, who is from Serbia, and Victor Wembanyama, a 22-year-old Frenchman expected to dominate the league for years.
The NBA played two regular-season games in Europe this season, with the Memphis Grizzlies and Orlando Magic facing off in Berlin and London. Next season, Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs will play in his home country against the New Orleans Pelicans and in Manchester, England.
The Lakers superstar is part of an investment group, which is led by former Mavericks executive Donnie Nelson, that purchased professional basketball club Vanoli Cremona of Italy’s top-division Lega Basket Serie A.
The Lakers’ Luka Doncic (77) is part of an investment group that wants to relocate an Italian team to Rome. NBAE via Getty Images
As part of the deal, new ownership announced the team will relocate to Rome, with plans to submit a bid to be part of the NBA’s plans to create a league in Europe.
Rome hasn’t had a top-division basketball team since the bankruptcy of Virtus Roma in 2020.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced earlier in the year that the NBA, in partnership with FIBA, is working on bringing a new league to Europe but didn’t announce formal plans, share a timeline for when the league could potentially start or the number of teams that could be a part of the league.
Rome is expected to be one of the target host cities for the league along with Milan, London and Manchester in England; Lyon and Paris in France; Berlin and Munich in Germany; Barcelona and Madrid in Spain; Athens in Greece; and Istanbul in Turkey.
While details for the new league haven’t become official, the working target date for the league to launch is fall 2027.
The NBA and FIBA have explored a 16-team league, which includes 12 “permanent” spots and four other teams that qualify for a spot in the league.
Nelson, 63, is the son of former NBA coach and executive Don Nelson, and was the Mavericks’ president of basketball operations and general manager when Dallas acquired Doncic as part of the 2018 draft night trade with the Hawks.
Doncic, who’s Slovenian, played professionally for Real Madrid before coming to the NBA.
“Since I came to the NBA, my dream was to always own a team in Europe, especially because Europe gave me so much,” Doncic told The New York Times. “I grew up there, grew up playing basketball there.”
With Post wires.
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DETROIT, MI - MAY 13: Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers running down court in the game against the Detroit Pistons during Round Two Game Five of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 13, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers have a long summer ahead of them. The most pressing issue will be determining who belongs on the team next season. When asked if Evan Mobley will ‘definitively’ be back, Koby Altman gave a somewhat shaky response.
“Umm, yeah, I mean, he’s part of our future,” said Altman.
Altman’s comments are open to interpretation. At face value, and given his tone when answering, it almost sounds like Altman is dismissing the question altogether. Why wouldn’t Mobley be on the team next season?
Another reading would suggest that this question flustered Altman. His hesitation has been seen as less than reassuring to Twitter.
I’ll leave it to you, glorious Fear the Sword reader, to determine which side of the aisle you land on.
The rest of Altman’s answer dodges the question. He declines to comment on any speculation of trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo and goes on to praise Mobley for his growth in Cleveland.
“Since Evan’s been here, we’ve had the third-best record in the league,” said Altman. “All Evan has done is impact winning; he’s been remarkable for us.”
Mobley won the Defensive Player of the Year award in 2025 and notched his first All-NBA and All-Star selections during the same season. But in his most recent campaign, Mobley failed to repeat any of those performances. Some have seen this as a regression, or at best, stagnation.
“He knows he needs to get better,” said Altman. “We’ve talked about the intangibles-not even skill stuff, the intangibles; how are we going to get stronger?”
It’s no secret the Cavs have been waiting for Mobley to make a superstar leap. That hasn’t happened yet, even if he showed some noticeable improvements in the playoffs this year. Pressure to win is mounting, and there are questions as to whether or not Mobley can do enough to push his team over the top.
Still, Altman saw growth in the playoffs and suggested he believes Mobley can get to where he needs to be.
“Mobley, you could argue, was consistently our best player throughout the playoffs,” said Altman. “He’s a franchise-caliber player, and we’re very fortunate to have him.”
Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ends up on the court after making a shot during Game 2 of the Western Conference finals against the San Antonio Spurs on May 20 in Oklahoma City. (Tony Gutierrez / Associated Press)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander apparently isn’t amused by a new board game that pokes fun at the Oklahoma City Thunder star’s reputation for garnering foul calls at the hint of contact by an opposing player.
Last week, a lawyer representing the two-time reigning NBA MVP sent a cease-and-desist letter to sports prediction market and fantasy sports company Underdog that includes a demand for the destruction of all copies of the cheeky and extremely limited-edition game Unethical Hoops.
Done in the style of the children’s classic Operation, Unethical Hoops requires players to use tweezers to pull objects from tiny holes, with the slightest touch of a metal border setting off a buzzer indicating failure.
Instead of pretending to be doctors attempting to remove body parts from a patient, however, Unethical Hoops players act as members of an opposing basketball team trying to take the ball from a cartoon character who very much resembles Gilgeous-Alexander.
In this game, the buzzer represents the whistle of a foul-calling referee.
“Shai has made hoops all about foul baiting and now you’re stuck guarding him in Underdog’s new board game,” a description reads on the game’s website. “Don’t get baited. Steal the ball without getting whistled.”
In a letter dated May 22, attorney Eric Fishman of ArentFox Schiff LLP demanded that Underdog “immediately and permanently cease and desist from any and all use of Mr. Gilgeous-Alexander’s NIL in any and all media, including but not limited to your website (including the Unethical Hoops Website)... and any physical goods including but not limited to the board game advertised on the Unethical Hoops Website.”
The notice also calls for Underdog to “immediately destroy all physical goods or advertisements that use Mr. Gilgeous-Alexander’s NIL, including but not limited to the board game advertised on the Unethical Hoops Website,” as well as a promise never to use the star player’s name, image or likeness without his permission.
Fishman did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Times.
According to the Unethical Hoops website, which remains active more than a week after the date on the cease-and-desist order, only 100 copies of the game were made, to be given away to Underdog users. The giveaway ended as scheduled on Friday.
Underdog declined to comment on the matter other than to point out that the company has pulled comical stunts at the expense of members of the sports world.
“We’ve poked fun at Knicks and Lakers fans, the Red Sox owners, the Mets and more,” a spokesperson said via email. “We like to have some fun with whatever is in the sports fan zeitgeist.”
Gilgeous-Alexander is a four-time All-Star who led the league in scoring last season (2,484 points) and was second in scoring this season (2,117). He led the Thunder to their first NBA title last year and has them back in the Western Conference finals this year (the decisive Game 7 against the San Antonio Spurs is Saturday in Oklahoma City).
While one of the NBA’s biggest stars, Gilgeous-Alexander is often criticized for the number of favorable foul calls he receives — he has ranked second or third in the league for number of free throw attempts per game in each of the last four seasons and is currently second among all players in the 2026 playoffs with 9.8 a game — and the lengths he appears to go to in order to receive them.
After Game 2 against the Spurs, one NBA fan account on X wrote, “Shai flopped on every single shot attempt” and posted a video that showed seven such examples (Gilgeous-Alexander actually attempted 24 shots that night). The post has been viewed 22.7 million times.
Earlier this week, prior to Game 6 of the conference finals, another fan account on X posted a video “ranking all 44 times SGA fell on the floor while shooting during the 2026 playoffs from least to most egregious.” That post has been viewed 1.3 million times.
As the cartoon likeness of Gilgeous-Alexander states in the Unethical Hoops ad, “so much as breathe on me, I’m getting the call.”
The real-life SGA was asked during a TV interview after Game 3 in San Antonio about the “flopper!” chants that rained down on him at Frost Bank Center.
“It’s part of the game,” he said. “It’s nothing. I’ve been dealing with it for a long time. I don’t really hear it. I’m focused on what’s going on on the court.”
PORTLAND, OREGON - NOVEMBER 26: Head coach Mitch Johnson of the San Antonio Spurs reacts with associate head coach Sean Sweeney during the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on November 26, 2025 in Portland, Oregon. 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 Steph Chambers/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It seemed bound to happen, but Spurs associate head coach Sean Sweeney is reportedly on the verge of accepting his first (and well deserved) head coaching gig. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Sweeney and the Orlando Magic are finalizing a deal for him to replace Jamahl Mosley as head coach, who was fired after a disappointing season and has since been hired by the New Orleans Pelicans.
BREAKING: The Orlando Magic are finalizing the hire of San Antonio Spurs associate coach Sean Sweeney as the franchise's new head coach, sources tell ESPN. Sweeney broke into NBA coaching in 2011 and now lands the Magic head job as a top rising candidate. pic.twitter.com/aV3Zj6l57k
Sweeney will finish the remainder of the postseason with the Spurs, including Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals tomorrow and, should they win, the Finals beginning on Wednesday, June 3.
After Mitch Johnson officially became the Spurs head coach last summer following Gregg Popovich’s retirement, he hired Sweeney away from the Dallas Mavericks as his “defensive coordinator”. Sweeney helped completely revamp the team on that side of court, and they went from a middling defense with Victor Wembanyama (and terrible without him) last season to one league’s top defenses this season. He is considered to one of the top X’s and O’s minds in the league, and it shows in the Spurs drastic improvements at all levels, from basics all the way up to their ability to shift schemes based on opponent or scenario. He no doubt played a huge role in their 28-game improvement from last season, and it will be interesting to see where the Spurs look to replace him.
The Magic will be a good launching point for his head coaching career. They are also a young, talented team with promising stars in Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs and one of the top defenses in the league, but they failed to meet expectations this season in large part due to injuries and offensive struggles, finishing 8th in the East and blowing a 3-1 lead to the Detroit Pistons in Round 1 of the playoffs. Other finalists for the position reportedly included former Bulls head coach Billy Donovan and Clippers assistant coach Jeff Van Gundy (whose brother, Stan Van Gundy, was the Magic’s coach from 2007-12 during their peak with Dwight Howard).
Before Sweeney joined the Spurs, he was Jason Kidd’s lead assistant in Dallas for four years, which included helping lead them to the Finals in 2024 with Luka Doncic. He began his NBA career in 2011 as a video coordinator for the Nets before becoming an assistant coach in 2013. He then had stints as an assistant coach with the Milwaukee Bucks from 2014-18 and Pistons from 2018-21.
Good luck to Coach Sweeney, and thanks for helping make this team what it is today!
MILWAUKEE, WI - APRIL 3: The sneakers worn by Ousmane Dieng #21 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the game against the Boston Celtics on April 3, 2026 at Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images). | NBAE via Getty Images
COVERS INTEL: Rarely do you get precedent in these high-pressure scenarios, but Holmgren also struggled offensively vs. Indiana in last year's NBA Finals. He followed a 6-for-24 skid in Games 5 and 6 with a big 
