Wembanyama appeared in the first play-off elimination game of his NBA career [Getty Images]
Victor Wembanyama produced an inspired performance as the San Antonio Spurs beat defending NBA champions the Oklahoma City Thunder 118-91 to set up a decisive game seven in the Western Conference Finals.
San Antonio coach Mitch Johnson had called on Wembanyama to score more than 20 points after a disappointing showing in game five, and the 22-year-old duly delivered.
Wembanyama finished with 28 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks as the Spurs dominated after taking an early lead to level the series at 3-3.
The Frenchman came out of the game with almost eight minutes remaining in the third quarter and midway through the Spurs scoring 20 consecutive points.
Johnson praised Wembanyama's "passion and desire" and taking "responsibility" after his dominant display.
Stephon Castle finished with 17 points, nine assists and one turnover, while Dylan Harper added 18 points off the bench.
Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander could not replicate his 32-point outing in game five as he finished with 15 points and four assists after making only six of 18 shots.
It was Gilgeous-Alexander's lowest scoring output since he scored 14 in game three of the 2025 Western Conference finals against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The two-time NBA MVP is shooting just 37.9% from the floor in the series after making 51.4% of his field-goal attempts during the first two rounds of this year's post-season.
"I'm not sure, to be honest," Gilgeous-Alexander said when asked why he is struggling.
"A lot of the shots that I'm shooting, I shot plenty of times before. They feel good, and it's not good.
"They [San Antonio] were the aggressors from start to finish. They played harder than us, hit more shots, were more aggressive, were in attack mode. We were on our heels."
Whoever wins game seven in Oklahoma City on Saturday, 30 May (Sunday 01:00 BST), will face the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals.
OAKLAND, CA - OCTOBER 17: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors hugs NBA Commissioner Adam Silver during their 2017 NBA Championship ring ceremony at ORACLE Arena on October 17, 2017 in Oakland, 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 Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After drafting 11th in this year’s NBA draft, the Golden State Warriors would really like to stay out of the lottery for the next few seasons. If they do end up there, they’ll be subject to some temporary anti-tanking reforms.
Breaking: The NBA's Board of Governors has passed new anti-tanking rules that include expanding the draft lottery from 14 to 16 teams, a relegation zone where the bottom 3 teams get penalized with lessened chances for the No. 1 pick, and flattened odds, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/e1oq10p2yV
Shams really writes like a poet, doesn’t he? The “relegation zone” also feels like an idea that would have existed had comics legend Jim Kirby consulted with David Stern on the original draft lottery proposal.
Here’s the gist of the changes. The new format of the draft involves what’s being called a “3-2-1 lottery,” which sounds like it was suggested by a consultant named Big Bird.
The name refers to the number of ping-pong balls each lottery team will receive. The teams with the 4th- through 10th-worst records get three balls. The three worst teams get two balls, as do the No. 9 and No. 10 seeds, which certainly creates a disincentive to win play-in games! The loser of the 7-8 game in each conference gets one ping pong ball.
What’s the big takeaway? It’s no longer worth it to be terrible! The odds of getting the top pick when you’re one of the NBA’s three worst teams dropped from 14.1% to 5.4%. This year, the Warriors’ odds would have improved from 2% to all the way to 5.4%. They also can’t protect picks landing between 12 and 15, which is extremely important when the Warriors front office leaks their trade offer for a superstar, two days after he lands with a different team.
Tanking hasn’t really been an issue for the Warriors since 2012. That was the year the Warriors owed a top-7 protected pick to the Utah Jazz, thanks to a complicated series of transactions. The Dubs gave the then-New Jersey Nets a protected first-round pick to add point guard/laptop thief Marcus Williams, who played 54 minutes for Golden State. Not games — minutes.
The Warriors panicked at the possibility of losing a lottery pick for a guy who barely played, so they sent the Nets two second-rounders to push the pick back to 2012, where it remained protected for picks 1-7. It made sense at the time — the team was bad. They were tied for the NBA’s third-worst record with one game to play and the draft featured future stars like John Wall, Boogie Cousins, Gordon Hayward, and Paul George.
In that final game, the Warriors went to Portland with six healthy players. They had only five players after Chris Hunter hurts his knee in the 1st quarter. Somehow, he was the team’s starting center. Devean George fouled out, but stayed in the game because by rule, the team can’t play with four. Steph Curry and Monta Ellis played 48 minutes each and combined for 76 points, while Reggie Williams and Anthony Tolliver never came out of the game.
The result? Golden State 122, Portland 116. The victory leap-frogged the Warriors ahead of the Sacramento Kings and Washington Wizards, so they were only the 5th-worst team in basketball. Subsequently the Wizards won the draft lottery and drafted Wall, while the Dubs took Ekpe Udoh at No. 6.
In 2012, the Lacob administration wasn’t risking anything. The team closed the season on a 3-22 run. Coach Mark Jackson delivered a master class in losing down the stretch. David Lee, Andrew Bogut, and Steph Curry all had surgeries the same week. Mikki Moore played 91 minutes in the Warriors’ final four games and never played in the NBA again. Mickell Gladness played 68 minutes in the final two games and never played in the NBA again.
Someone named Chris Wright almost ruined everything by scoring 25 points in 46 minutes in a close loss in the season finale. He would not play in the NBA the next season, and only eight more NBA games in his career. Mama, there goes that man — straight to the lottery.
It all worked out when the team stayed at No. 7 and landed The Black Falcon, also known as Harrison Barnes, who is now one game away from his third NBA Finals appearance after a 10-year absence. You could say the Warriors tanked during the 2019-20 season, but it’s more accurate to say they just sucked after everyone got hurt.
The new draft rules only last until 2029, when either management or the players can opt out of the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement. That means the Warriors may well be facing a new set of rules entirely for the post-Steph Curry era.
Our guess? Like Commissioner Adam Silver’s tinkering with the All-Star Game format, the new rules will end up being even more confusing and arcane in terms of restrictions on trades and pick protections, and probably include tradable draft credits, incentives for beating DraftKings over/under totals after the All-Star Break, and an artificial intelligence model for randomizing draft order that goes rogue and moves the New Orleans Pelicans to the site of a data center in rural Montana.
Eventually, the draft order will be determined by a combination of NIL money, TikTok follower counts of the draftees, and the declamations of a blind, nude oracle in a subterranean temple below the Intuit Dome. And upon that oracle’s death, or bribery by a tree planting charity deeply in debt to Steve Ballmer, they’ll go back to comically-large envelopes in a large glass ball.
Throwback to the very first NBA Draft Lottery in 1985, when the Knicks won the chance to draft Patrick Ewing pic.twitter.com/cS48IVuIp3
SAN ANTONIO, TX - MAY 28: Dylan Harper #2 of the San Antonio Spurs dribbles the ball 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 Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
After a disappointing performance Tuesday night in OKC, the Spurs bounced back with a dominant 27-point, wire-to-wire victory to stave off elimination and force a game 7.
The good guys came out with their hair on fire. San Antonio made a trio of threes, forcing the Thunder to call an early timeout. Wemby, specifically, played with the needed aggression that was missing in game 5. He drilled two triples and took Hartenstein into the paint before making a pretty turnaround jumper while deterring shots on the other end. The defense as a whole was sharp, with every player rotating and not giving up open looks for OKC. The Spurs played at a breakneck pace, getting into their actions early and running at every opportunity. Their momentum fuelled a scorching shooting start, as San Antonio made eight threes in the first quarter alone to build a double-digit lead.
Still, the Thunder kept their composure. Even with Shai on the bench, OKC played methodically to keep the game competitive. The Spurs maintained their defensive intensity, with the roof of Frost Bank Center almost coming off after Vassell blocked Chet at the rim. San Antonio continued getting good looks on offense, with Dylan Harper hitting multiple threes and penetrating the paint with ease. Some late-quarter blunders, however, led to two quick buckets from the Thunder that cut the lead down to single digits, and the good guys headed into the break up 60-53.
The Spurs’ resilience was on display to start the second half. OKC made it a two-possession game right off the bat, yet San Antonio kept answering with punches of their own. They managed to build on the lead during the non-Wemby minutes, even with Shai playing. The good guys neutralized the MVP, picking his pockets multiple times and forcing him into attempts from near-impossible angles while taking away open looks from the Thunder’s shooters. As a result, the Spurs went on a 13-0 run to build a 20-point lead without Wemby, and the dominance continued when he checked back in. OKC was noticeably frazzled, failing to generate good looks and chucking up long 3s so that they didn’t have to deal with San Antonio’s swarming defense. The Thunder went almost eight minutes without a single bucket, and the Spurs outscored them 32-13 in the third alone.
Down 26, Mark Daigneault got funky and threw a 2-3 zone at the good guys. It flummoxed them momentarily before the points started coming again, and Wemby comfortably checked out of the game with nine minutes remaining. Similar to game 4, Shai didn’t even touch the floor in the fourth, with both teams turning their focus to game 7 long before the contest was over. In the end, the Spurs came away with a dominant 118-91 victory on home soil.
Game notes
Wemby had a great game, finishing with 28 and 10 on 10-21 from the field and 4-9 from three. Yet, I didn’t like his process, as he only had two lob finishes/attempts total, which was also why he only shot four free throws. Almost all of his points came from hot shooting from deep and the mid-range, along with iso drives against OKC’s bigs. If he had a cold shooting game, the Spurs might be on their way to Cancun, and the team will need to get him touches closer to the rim if they hope to win game 7.
Harper looks like he’s back, and it couldn’t have happened at a better time. The rookie had 18/6/4 on 6-9 shooting and seemed to regain his explosiveness, effortlessly knifing his way to the rim multiple times for impressive finishes or kickouts to open shooters.
On the other hand, Fox had a horrendous game. The All-Star shot 1-9 and had just five points, although he also poured in seven assists. Fox didn’t have any of his usual burst and was largely invisible, but his presence is still a positive since it gives the Spurs another reliable ballhandler, while also forcing OKC to respect him from the perimeter.
Jalen Williams was active and came off the bench, although it remains puzzling as to why OKC brought him back. He was one of the worst players both from the eye test and on the scoreboard. JDub played just 10 minutes and had a single point while taking just one shot. He wasn’t involved in the Thunder’s offense at all and was attacked relentlessly on defense, unable to contain anyone on the Spurs. I was expecting OKC to hold him out until a potential game 7 to avoid re-injury, though perhaps they wanted to see how he looked so that they could gameplan moving forward? Well, they have their answer.
The Spurs will return to OKC to play the biggest game of the entire season Saturday night, with tip-off set for 7pm central time. Let’s punch our ticket to the finals and prove Corgi right!! Go Spurs go!
PHOENIX, AZ - APRIL 25: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder dribbles the ball during the game against the Phoenix Suns during Round One Game Three of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 25, 2026 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Phoenix Suns have been eliminated for over a month now, but one Phoenix Sun continues to stay in the public eye.
He’s not going to a get technical for it, but after Dillon Brooks’ partnership with Underdog Sports, where the Suns forward was promoting a game similar to Operation making fun of NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the point guard and his management team sent a cease and desist letter to Underdog Sports, according to the Athletic.
It doesn’t look like Underdog Sports is going to be stopping their promotion they did with Brooks. After SGA’s team filed for a cease and desist, according to Front Office Sports.
An attorney for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sent a cease and desist to Underdog about a promotional board game making fun of his "foul bating."
Underdog tells FOS it will not stop promoting the game: “We like to have some fun with whatever is in the sports fan zeitgeist.
If you’ve been on the internet or been following NBA discourse the last few months, you’ve probably seen the constant criticism and mockery of the 2-time NBA MVP and Finals MVP receives for his play style. One of the main vocalists has been Brooks.
During the team’s matchup in the first round, the two made subtle jabs at each other after the game.
Brooks had some words for the refs after the Suns lost in Game 2 of the series that were pointed at SGA’s play.
"Ya'll should be interviewing the officials."
Dillon Brooks after Game 2 loss to OKC as he fouled out with 30 points.
"That should be a new thing in the NBA. Officials got to explain themselves because it's getting ridiculous when you can see it. It starts getting fiery. No… pic.twitter.com/Lgvdi3B8af
Both Brooks and Gilgeous-Alexander are from Canada and play on the team’s Olympic squad together, so it may have been all fun and games between the two off the court to get in each other’s heads, but what remains true is that Brooks has kept himself in the NBA eye since the Suns were eliminated. Brooks showed up front row to see LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers, who he’s had history with, be eliminated by the Thunder in the second round.
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault spoke to the media after the loss about Gilgeous-Alexander's performance. The guard scored 32 points the game prior.
"I was pretty encouraged last game at the cracks we were able to get him," Daigneault said. "And obviously, I don't think we were able to do that as well tonight. I'd never discredit the defense and the opponent. There's always that. There are things I think we can do better."
Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 31.1 points per game in the regular season en route to his second straight Most Valuable Player award. He had a career-high 55 points early on in an October double-overtime matchup where the Thunder beat the Indiana Pacers 141-135, in a rematch of last year's Finals.
The four-time All-Star has cooled off a bit in the playoffs, though. He's been held under 20 points two other times this postseason. He had 18 points on May 5 in a 108-90 win over the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round of the playoffs and only notched 19 points in Game 4 against San Antonio, a 103-82 loss.
“I’m not too sure, to be honest,” Gilgeous-Alexander said when asked why he’s been struggling to hit shots of late (36.2% from the field over his last four games). “A lot of the shots that I’m shooting, I’ve shot plenty of times before and they feel good. They’re just not going in.
“But it’s too late to abandon my work and abandon my game and who I am. This late in the season, I got to trust it and live or die by it.”
His 15 points were the fewest he's put up in any game since he was held to 14 in a May 24, 2025 playoff game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He shot just 4-for-13 in that contest, which the Thunder lost 143-101.
The Thunder will host the Spurs in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals on Saturday, May 30. The winner will face the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JANUARY 15: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks and Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors look on during the game on January 15, 2026 at Chase Center in San Francisco, 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
I want to make this about New York, and their Knickerbockers.
On one hand, it is pretty awesome to see Knicks fans flooding the streets in a frenzy going absolutely wild for their franchise winning the Eastern Conference and making it to the big dance. On the other hand, as I stare out from the proud but dilapidating confines of the Golden Empire here in Dub Nation HQ, my eyes glaze over with creeping disgust. Knicks fans are already having a parade just for making it to the NBA Finals? That feels like a very Knicks move for as long as I’ve been a ballwatcher.
I’m not one for the “if you weren’t here for this” tweets. But I will say:
As a kid, I (and I know many of you) sat there watching every single game. Grasping for any hope. Jubilant for the smallest victories.
Marbury and Curry and Lee and Melo and Porzingis and tanks and…
I do not personally respect their franchise very much because my biggest Knicks related memories are Steph Curry dropping 54 on them in the Garden and Michael Jordan destroying them in the 90s. But I do enjoy their fan base. I have hella friends in New York and to see their eyes light up off Hennessy and deferred hopes coming to fruition is something I can relate to as a Warriors fan who saw my hometown team be trash for most of my life before they ruined the league for a decade.
I absolutely remember going to games during the late-90s and early-2000s when they were force feeding tickets on people. Get four hot dogs and four bags of chips with the family four-pack! Giving free tickets away if you complete the Oakland Public Library summer book club challenge! READ THE INDIAN IN THE CUPBOARD AND GET TO A GOLDEN STATE GAME FOR FREE!
(Also looking back that’s a CRAZY name for a kids book. I do remember enjoying the hell out of that series though, along with Beverly Cleary books about Ramona Quimby and Ralph the mouse with the motorcycle. Sigh. Simpler times.)
The point is that I understand Knicks fans better than they probably realize. I know what it’s like when your franchise spends decades surviving on hope. I know what it’s like when loyalty itself becomes the accomplishment because championships aren’t even part of the conversation. I know what it’s like when simply reaching a Finals feels like the biggest thing that has happened to your basketball life.
But I also used to sleep on an air mattress as a freshman in college. At some point you gotta level up and actually win some championships, as the Warriors have done in the Splash Bros era. The Knicks don’t know anything about that.
Loved that the Knicks had somewhat of a muted celebration. Happy but didn’t overdo it.
Perfect.
The job – as Mamba famously said – is not finished.
But how about that Knicks front office? Every move scrutinized and most heavily criticized off the bat: Brunson signing, KAT…
The Knicks last won a title in 1973 when Richard Nixon was president and the ABA still existed. Walt Frazier was still crossing people over in bell bottoms. Since then, eighteen different franchises have won an NBA championship. The Celtics built multiple dynasties. The Lakers built multiple dynasties. The Bulls happened. The Spurs happened. The Heat happened. The Warriors happened. The Raptors got one. The Cavaliers got one. The Nuggets got one. The Thunder got one. Fifty-three years!
Every season another franchise climbed the mountain while New York kept talking about how nice the view would be when they finally got there. Now my friends from New York laugh at my disdain for their organization. They ask me, “Ayo B, why you mad buggin’, son?!”
Fortunately I watched Do the Right Thing when I was a kid so I can translate.
I’m buggin’ because your team hasn’t won yet. Do you think I respected the 2018 Cavaliers, a team with LeBron damn James, just because they made the Finals? Absolutely not.
But my respect doesn’t pay bills or win titles, and so I’ll be watching to see if these plucky Knicks and their boisterous fanbase can actually get four more wins and write the most beautiful closing chapter in sports: becoming a champion.
The Knicks won’t know their NBA Finals opponent until Saturday night after the Spurs forced Game 7 in the Western Conference finals with a 118-91 blowout of the Thunder on Thursday in San Antonio.
The Spurs led wire to wire.
Victor Wembanyama, who scored 28 points, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander look on during the Spurs’ 118-91 Game 6 win over the Thunder on May 28, 2026 in San Antonio. NBAE via Getty Images
It means the Knicks will have to go through practice the next two days not knowing who to prepare for.
“Obviously, you want to focus on being ready as a team, but you gotta prepare for both [teams],” Jalen Brunson said after practice Thursday. “Just understand the differences between the teams. You have two really good teams going at it right now. We gotta prepare for both.”
Victory Wembanyama goes up for a layup during the Spurs’ Game 6 win over the Thunder. Getty Images
Regardless of opponent, the Knicks will have a significant rest advantage.
They will have had eight days between Game 4 of the conference finals against the Cavaliers and Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
The Thunder or Spurs, on the other hand, will have just three days between their Game 7 and Game 1 of the Finals.
“Just going out there, playing our way no matter what, whoever’s out there, don’t really care,” Mikal Bridges said Thursday. “Just go out there and just play our way, and whoever’s out there is out there. We just got to play the right way.”
With the way they are playing right now, the Knicks don’t seem to care who they face.
“If we expect to be who we think we are, then at the end of the day it doesn’t matter,” coach Mike Brown said. “If we play San Antonio, it’ll save me some money because my family lives in San Antonio. I don’t have to buy airline tickets. But at the end of the day, both teams are great and both teams will be a challenge for us.”
Victor Wembanyama, after his no-show in Game 5, returned to form in Game 6 and finished with 28 points — on 10-for-21 shooting overall and 4-for-9 shooting from 3-point range — along with 10 rebounds and three blocks. Stephon Castle added 17 points.
After a big Game 5, league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had just 15 points and missed all five 3-pointers he took.
Jalen Williams (hamstring) returned after missing the last three games but played just 10 minutes and did not make a field goal.
Williams has missed nine games this postseason with the hamstring injury and remains a major question mark for the Thunder.
Ajay Mitchell missed his third straight game with a calf injury and is also an uncertainty for the Thunder.
The past three games of the series have all been blowouts — two for the Thunder and one for the Spurs. Game 7 will be played in Oklahoma City, where the Thunder are 6-1 this postseason.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 30: Stephen Curry #30 and Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors embrace prior to the start of the game against the Detroit Pistons at Chase Center on January 30, 2026 in San Francisco, 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 Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The offseason is here for the Golden State Warriors, and Mike Dunleavy Jr. has a whole lot of decisions to make over the next few months. There will be rumors, reports, draft picks, signings, and likely trades. But for now, we only know two things: first, the roster that takes the court in October will be different than the roster that ended the season in April. And second? Well, it won’t be too different.
With that said, let’s take a look at the contract situations for the 18 players who ended the 2026-27 season wearing a Warriors jersey, so we can properly take stock of the offseason waiting ahead.
Guaranteed contracts (6)
Jimmy Butler III(1 year, $56.8 million) Steph Curry (1 year, $62.6 million) Moses Moody (2 years, $25.9 million) Brandin Podziemski (1 year, $5.7 million) Will Richard (1 year, $2.2 million, with a non-guaranteed contract in 27-28, and a team option in 28-29) Gui Santos (2 years, $9.6 million, with a player option in 28-29)
This is where the guaranteed money is, but it doesn’t mean the money is guaranteed to still be around come Opening Night. In reality, Curry is the only player here who is truly guaranteed. Butler’s contract would almost certainly have to be included in any trade for a star, while Santos and Moody’s deals could be used to make the money add up in a trade. Podziemski has a bit of trade value, and would be an appealing piece if the Dubs make a big swing. Richard would also make a nice throw in.
While these deals are all fairly short term, expect the Warriors and Curry to work on an extension this summer … and possibly one with Podziemski, too.
Non-guaranteed contracts (2)
LJ Cryer Malevy Leons
Cryer and Leons both impressed, the former for his hot shooting and the latter for his toughness. According to Spotrac, both players signed two-year, two-way contracts. All two-way contracts are non-guaranteed, as they’re prorated and the team can cut the players at any time without owing additional money. Furthermore, two-way contracts do not count against the salary cap.
Player options (3)
Draymond Green ($27.7 million) Al Horford ($6 million) De’Anthony Melton ($3.5 million)
The Warriors would likely be thrilled if Melton or Horford picked up their player option for next year, as the veterans were key players this past season, and provide steady play that Steve Kerr loves. I would assume that Melton seeks more money elsewhere, though he struggled towards the end of the season, so who knows. Horford will have to decide whether he wants to retire, chase a ring with a more competitive team, or run it back with the Dubs.
Green’s contract is the interesting one. He definitely won’t surpass the $27.7 million mark in free agency, and with Kerr returning, I’d be shocked if Draymond wants to play elsewhere. But he could opt out and re-sign — essentially restructuring his contract — to give himself a little bit more long-term security, while giving Dunleavy more short-term flexibility to build a competitive roster.
Unrestricted free agents (5)
Charles Bassey Seth Curry Gary Payton II Kristaps Porziņģis Nate Williams
Some interesting names here, and it’s hard to tell who might return. Bassey impressed the team during his very short stint, but it seems unlikely that it was enough to sway them into giving him a guaranteed deal; though if no one signs him this summer, I’d expect that he’s in camp at the very least. The younger Curry was a feel-good addition last year, and his spacing could really aid a Warriors team that no longer has Buddy Hield, but are the aging Dubs really interested in a player who is on the tail end of his career and was only healthy for 10 games last season?
Porziņģis is, obviously, the biggest name here, and his time with the team was a mixed bag following February’s trade. On the one hand, his skillset on both offense and defense was an excellent fit, and he seemed to get along well in the locker room as well. On the other hand, his availability remains a huge issue, and it remains to be seen what his market will be like from other suitors. It certainly raised a few eyebrows how non-committal he was when asked about whether or not he wanted to return during exit interviews.
It’s hard to imagine Payton playing elsewhere. He loves the Warriors, Kerr loves him, and GPII has seen firsthand that the grass isn’t greener on other rosters. But we’ll have to wait to see if the team has space on the roster for him. He’ll almost certainly only cost the veteran’s minimum.
Williams, like Cryer and Leons, impressed on his two-way contract. It wouldn’t be surprising if he’s back on the same deal.
Restricted free agents (2)
Quinten Post Pat Spencer
The Warriors like both Post and Spencer. It’s also clear that they need to improve their roster, so neither of these guys will be at the top of the free agency list. But it’s easy to envision either returning — especially Spencer.
“I think it helps even just being on the road a little bit, being in a hostile environment,” Mikal Bridges said following Thursday’s practice. “That should just get the mindset right off the jump anyway … Second time going around it, knowing that, ‘OK, we just got to pick it up.’ ”
Mikal Bridges talks with reporters during Knicks practice on May 27, 2026 in Tarrytown, N.Y. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Whether it was the result of rest or rust, the Knicks put up their worst three quarters of the postseason in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals, nine days after completing their sweep of the 76ers.
They opened 4-of-23 on 3-pointers. They scored 71 points in the first 40 minutes, falling behind by 22. A night defined by Jalen Brunson’s heroics started with the Knicks’ leading man shooting 7-of-19 (0-for-5 on 3-pointers) before he guided the greatest postseason comeback in franchise history.
This time, the crowd will not help carry them to the finish line. This time, the Knicks will enter a series as underdogs for the first time this postseason, facing one of the toughest defenses of this era.
“Comparing our situation from last time, just being mentally and physically locked in,” Brunson said. “I think that’s really important for us and that’s what we have to focus on these next couple of days.”
Knicks coach Mike Brown’s seventh appearance in the NBA Finals will be his third trip after an extended break.
In 2017, he filled in for Steve Kerr, leading the Warriors to a sweep in the Western Conference finals before Golden State cruised to a title. Following a sweep in the 2019 conference finals, the Warriors lost Game 1 on the road in Toronto and eventually the series.
“It’s hard to manufacture the competitive environment that you’re going to be in in Game 1,” Brown said. “So [we want] to continue to just find different ways to keep that competitive spirit or to keep that edge as high as you can … The biggest thing that I think should help us is knowing that as a group, the last time we went through this we started off a little slow in that game, and we can’t afford to do that again. Our guys, they’re a veteran group. They’ve been really resilient, and they’ve done a good job of growing quickly anytime they’ve hit adversity.
“The biggest thing is reminding them what happened in Game 1 of our last series, and let them know that when you’re watching these teams, it can’t happen this time around.”
May 28, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper (2) reacts against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first half during game six of the western conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images | Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images
The Spurs rattled Oklahoma City with a cogent 35-22 first quarter and a convincing 32-13 third quarter (including a 20-0 run) to secure a resounding game 6 win and force game 7 on Saturday night (NBA / Peacock 7:00 PM CDT). San Antonio did it by honoring its possessions, limiting its penchant for turnovers, and nearly doubling up the Thunder from three in the minutes that mattered. The Spurs also had the unexpected bench scoring advantage (46-38) in a trend that could bode well for Saturday evening. Victor Wembanyama (28 points, 10 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 2 steals) matched his four field goal total from game 5 in the first quarter alone and his Spurs led from start-to-finish. While the Thunder starters struggled with their outside shooting, Cason Wallace and Alex Caruso led a spirited backup effort to prevent a runaway over 2 1/2 quarters before San Antonio’s second-half detonation.
Wembanyama and Castle (17 points, 9 assists, and 5 rebounds) received a crucial boost from rookie Dylan Harper (18 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists), who had his best game since game 1 tonight as the third banana to his more heralded teammates. Devin Vassell (12 points and 2 blocks) and Julian Champagnie (10 points and 6 rebounds) supplied timely shooting and suffocating defense to aid San Antonio’s impressive start. Carter Bryant supplied a healthy dose of defensive pressure in his limited minutes, and Keldon Johnson performed well (9 points and 3 rebounds) in his spot minutes.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (15 points and 4 assists) was kept contained throughout the game with contributions from Isaiah Hartenstein (10 points and 5 rebounds) and Chet Holmgren (10 points and 11 rebounds) being empty calories. Wallace (11 points) and Caruso (7 points) provided an early bench boost for Oklahoma City. Jalen Williams returned to action for the first time since game two, but did not significantly impact the game
A 9-2 opening burst caused Mark Daigneault to call for time within 90 seconds. While Wembanyama and Castle got off to good starts, Vassell and Champagnie held up their end of the outside shooting bargain with three combined triples. Gilgeous-Alexander connected on his first two shots, and the Thunder defense kept the Spurs out of the lane over several minutes. Given the very close-quarters combat nature of the previous games, it was surprising that the teams combined for a ‘only’ handful of fouls in 10 minutes of action. Just as they had started the period, Wembanyama and Castle pieced together a 5-0 run to get San Antonio to 35-22.
Behind McCain and Wallace’s scoring, Oklahoma City closed the gap with the Spurs to six quickly. San Antonio’s rookie guard Harper supplied his most points since the first two games of the series. A pair of jumpers by Wembanyama pushed the lead back out to double-digits. The physicality ratcheted leaps-and-bounds late in the half with Vassell and Bryant instigating a good amount of San Antonio’s defensive presence. The Thunder threateningly found their shooting touch late in the stanza – bringing their deficit down to seven.
The Spurs continued to nudge the Thunder players well away from their comfortable spots throughout a third quarter that seemingly rattled Gilgeous-Alexander, and timely and accurate shooting from Vassell, Champagnie, and Harper increased the San Antonio advantage back to 15. During a 20-0 run coinciding with a good amount of minutes for Wembanyama to rest, Harper figured the most prominently in hastening the Frost Bank Center crowd to a froth. A Holmgren lay-up broke a 7+ minute Thunder drought and the Spurs went to the fourth up 92-66.
Observations
The stark differences in officiating and physicality between games 2 and 6 should be a real focus of Adam Silver’s this summer instead of lottery business. (yes, I’m typing this as I typed the words ‘Wembanyama,’ ‘Castle,’ and ‘Harper’ numerous times tonight).
Wembanyama – even at this stage of his career, is a more consistent free throw shooter than Tim Duncan and David Robinson at their peaks.
Very strange to hear Carmelo Anthony imploring the Spurs’ rotation players to ‘deliver the nastiness’ and ‘get the hustle plays.’
The (very subjective) 25-26 Spurs comps that I had going into game 5: 1990 Bulls (lost to Detroit in 7), 1998 Lakers (lost to Jazz in 4), 2005 Suns (lost to Spurs in 5), 2011 Thunder (lost to Mavs in 5).
Sequence of the Game #1: Late in the first quarter, Vassell admirably defended a 2-on-1 OKC fastbreak – standing up Gilgeous-Alexander on his lay-up attempt and then knocking away Caruso’s tip try. Harper encouragingly hit a three at the other end to make it 26-17.
Sequence of the Game #2: San Antonio showcased a ’Beautiful Game’ possession late in the opening half that saw Harper flick a pass baseline to Carter Bryant in the corner to Fox on the left wing to Wembanyama on the right wing. The superstar center drove slow-motion into the lane for a floater.
Sequence of the Game #3: After a well-defended possession moments into the third, Wembanyama snared the long carom, and fed a streaking Castle near the paint. Castle found Champagnie on the left baseline for a corner three.
Sequence of the Game #4: That 20-0 run in the third quarter looked way different than the tempporarly 15-0 run San Antonio started game 3 with.
Game Rundown
Champagnie saw his first three go down from the tip. Just like in game 4, Hartenstein responded with two floaters in succession. Wembanyama sandwiched two threes around a block on McCain. Lu Dort hit Oklahoma City’s first three. Wembanyama assertively drove Hartenstein deep into the lane and hit an effortless fadeaway. Gilgeous-Alexander knocked down his first two shots. San Antonio started settling for threes and their offense unsurprisingly stalled out. Vassell’s pair of triples put the Spurs up five. Gilgeous-Alexander noticeably didn’t fall to the ground on two misses. Fox and Johnson helped keep the Spurs’ sufficiently ahead. Wembanyama’s stepback three and Castle’s shotclock beating jumper helped put San Antonio up 13 at the end of one.
McCain’s transition three got Oklahoma City to within 10 to start the second period. San Antonio diligently drew three team fouls on the Thunder, and Harper’s three kept their advantage in double digits. Wallace’s pair of threes brought the Thunder within six. Harper confidently knocked down a baseline jumper and powered a lay-up over Hartenstein. His playmaking allowed Castle and Fox to get a breather over much of the quarter. Jaylin Williams (240 lb) got ‘laid out’ by Bryant (220 lb) on a pick. Bryant responded with an emphatic slam at the other end, and Vassell turned away Holmgren at the rim during a heated sequence. The Thunder put together a 10-5 run to make it a 60-53 game at the half.
Coming out of the break, Vassell hit his fourth three, which was answered by yet another Hartenstein floater. Shortly after, Wembanyama was whistled for a questionable goaltend on a Gilgeous-Alexander and-1. Wembanyama excellently kept Oklaoma City out of the paint. Holmgren and Harteinstein did tally two tip-ins to keep the Thunder in striking distance. Castle executed a nifty stepthrough move in the paint to draw an and-1, and Harper followed that with a stepback that would have made James Harden proud. Gilgeous-Alexander made contact with Harper’s head on a foul, but it was not reviewed for any further escalation. An emboldened Harper drew another foul on the next possession by driving it through several Thunder defenders. By the time San Antonio completed its 20-0 run, Oklahoma City essentially lost its chance to close out the series tonight.
Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr, left, is congratulated by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver during the Warriors ring ceremony held before the season opener against the New Orleans Pelicans at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2015. The event also featured the raising of their NBA championship banner. (Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group) (Photo by MediaNews Group/Bay Area News via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images
Okay, Grandpa, sit down. Put the remote down, this is important to the game of basketball that you love.
You know how every year some NBA teams spend the entire season losing on purpose? Not because they’re bad necessarily, but because they want to get draft lottery balls. They call it tanking, and for the last twenty years it has essentially been the league’s version of financial fraud. A franchise intentionally burns down its own house hoping the insurance payout is a 19-year-old who can dunk from the free throw line.
On Thursday, the league’s Board of Governors voted 29-1 to overhaul the draft lottery beginning in 2027, introducing something called the “3-2-1 Lottery” and attaching enough anti-tanking measures to make Sam Hinkie wake up in a cold sweat.
The simple explanation is that being the worst team in basketball is no longer the best business strategy.
Under the current system, teams at the bottom of the standings receive the best odds at landing the No. 1 overall pick. That’s why every spring fans find themselves watching perfectly healthy 24-year-olds develop mysterious soreness in seventeen different body parts while their teams explain that shutting them down is in everyone’s best long-term interests. Somehow every franchise doctor in America reaches the exact same diagnosis right around March.
The new system flips that incentive on its head. The three worst teams in the league will actually receive fewer lottery balls than the teams directly above them. Teams finishing fourth through tenth worst receive three balls. The bottom three teams receive only two. The NBA is essentially telling teams that there is now a meaningful difference between rebuilding and shamelessly face-planting down a flight of stairs.
There’s now a 71% chance the NBA’s No. 1 pick falls to a 6th place-12th place team. Only a 29% chance it falls to a bottom 5 team, per @ShamsCharania.
Think about how insane that would have sounded ten years ago. Imagine sitting through a 67-loss season, paying for tickets, and convincing yourself this suffering is all part of some master plan. Then draft night arrives and the league informs you that after all that losing, your grand prize is the twelfth pick and a player whose college highlights are mostly him setting really good screens.
The NBA just looked tanking teams dead in the eye and said, “Have you considered trying?” For years the league has watched franchises race toward the bottom because the reward structure encouraged it. Now the reward structure is encouraging something else. The lottery is expanding to sixteen teams and play-in teams will receive lottery balls. The league is giving itself the power to reduce lottery odds, alter draft positions, and levy significant fines if it believes a team is deliberately tanking.
In other words, the NBA isn’t just changing the game. It’s announcing that if you find a loophole, they’re planning to close that too. Whether any of this actually stops tanking remains to be seen. NBA front offices employ some of the smartest people in sports. Give them a rule and they’ll spend six months looking for the side door.
But for the first time in a long time, the league has attached actual risk to being awful. And as someone who watched the Warriors spend a decade proving that there are ways to build a champion besides intentionally setting your roster on fire, I can’t say I’m mad about it.
The ping-pong balls are still bouncing. They’re just a lot less friendly to quitters now.
Mikal Bridges has actually been to a Finals before. He knows what the experience is like.
And all the extras that come along with it — extra praise, extra criticism, extra media obligations, extra questions, extra attention.
He is one of only two players on the Knicks, along with Jordan Clarkson to have played in the Finals (OG Anunoby was on the Raptors but did not play in the 2019 Finals).
Bridges’ advice for his teammates centers on handling that extra praise.
Mikal Bridges talks to reporters during Knicks practice on May 28, 2026 in Tarrytown, N.Y. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“Just worry about what we have to do to be better,” Bridges said after practice Thursday. “Not get too into the media and all the stuff. A lot of questions, a lot of talk about how great we are, how great we’ve been. That doesn’t matter, we just gotta worry about being ourselves and stay locked in. And go win.”
There is so much fanfare around the Knicks, who are in the Finals for the first time since 1999. It’s coming from ordinary fans, from celebrity fans, from neutrals, from other local athletes, from local media and from national media.
They have broken record after record during their 11-game winning streak. Chief among them: They outscored their opponents by 262 points during those 11 games, the best point differential across 11 games in NBA history, regular season or postseason.
New York City has been whipped into a frenzy. Right now, Knicks players are gods among men. Everyone wants a piece of them.
That’s all nice and fine. But the Knicks want to ignore all of it.
Coach Mike Brown, who will be appearing in his seventh Finals as either a head coach or assistant, knows the toll all of it can take if not handled properly.
Head coach Mike Brown talks to reporters during Knicks practice. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“There are a lot more distractions that you have to navigate,” Brown said Thursday. “So you have to be, I was talking to Allan Houston and he used the right word when I was talking to him about it, but you have to be real intentional about what you’re doing because you’re gonna get pulled in so many different directions. And everybody is human and it’s natural to get pulled here, get pulled a little here, get pulled a little there and think that you’re OK. But at the end of the day, after doing the media and practice, you’re getting pulled in three or four different directions because you’re gonna have your family around you, you’re gonna have friends around you, you’re gonna have people wanting tickets, you’re gonna have people wanting you to go on this show, that show.
“At the end of the day, you may not realize it, but it can be fatiguing for you to do all of that stuff while trying to focus on some of the biggest games of your life. Again, going off of what word Allan Houston used, trying to be intentional about everything that we do during this time, while keeping an edge, is gonna be huge.”
Ignoring all of that is much easier said than done. It’s hard not to get caught up in the moment.
How can it be accomplished?
“I think it’s different for everybody,” Jalen Brunson said. “I’ve been off social media. I may post one thing and then just go back to deleting it. You just gotta block out the noise. You gotta do whatever you can to make sure you’re locked in. Everyone is different. Every individual has their way of blocking out things.
“It’s important to not hear some of the things. When there’s negative things being said about you, it’s important to ignore them. When there’s positive things about you, it’s easy to read them and feel good. You can’t do one and not the other. So just block it out as best as you can.”
The Knicks are the center of attention in New York City right now. Soon, they’ll be at the center of attention across the country.
But they’re doing everything they can to keep their focus directed inward.
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 12: Darryn Peterson looks on during the game during the 2026 NBA Draft Combine on May 12, 2026 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. 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 Melissa Tamez/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It’s draft night. The lights dim as the spotlight illuminates the Barclays Center stage. Colors and logos flash from the jumbo video screen as NBA commissioner Adam Silver approaches the podium. A smile nearly as luminescent as the reflection from his cranium flashes across his face as he takes a final step and leans into the microphone.
“With the first pick, in the 2026 NBA Draft,” Silver begins, the tension within the crowd materializing in the atmosphere. “The Washington Wizards select… TINGUS PINGUS!”
A stunned silence washes over the arena. Cries of “What?”, “Who?”, and “No!” pepper the stands as mystery is hastily ushered out by realization. Chaos breaks out. It’s anarchy. Replica jerseys are torn to ribbons and lit ablaze as the draft’s attendees roar in disapproval. The broadcast zooms in on BYU star AJ Dybantsa, who had instinctively arisen before his name was even called. Eyes open wide, the anticipated number-one pick stares through the fabric of reality, desperately searching for an explanation.
But none are more surprised than Draft HQ out in Salt Lake City, where the Jazz front office desperately scrambles to gather their thoughts as every great player is still available with the second overall pick.
Utah has a decision to make, and it’s one they must make quickly, because their team is on the clock, and the game plan has been thrown out the window.
You, the reader, are present in the Delta Center’s war room. Austin and Danny Ainge elbow Ryan Smith as the trio turns their attention to you. The room is still. The phone line to Brooklyn is in your grip. With every option available at number two, the decision is yours to make: who are you picking?
We asked you, the loyal (and might I add, attractive) readers of SLC Dunk, who you would prefer Utah to take with the second overall pick, and this is how you voted.
Darryn Peterson, G, Kansas (53% of votes)
AJ Dybantsa, F, BYU (38% of votes)
Cameron Boozer, F, Duke (9% of votes)
Disagree with the pick? Demanding justice for Pingus? I didn’t make the list; you did. If you’ve got a qualm or two, however, that’s why these articles have comment sections, my friends.
Calvin Barrett is a writer, editor, and prolific Mario Kart racer located in Tokyo, Japan. He has covered the NBA and College Sports since 2024.
This playoff run has been a series of firsts for the San Antonio Spurs.
Thursday, May 28 presented yet another: this is the first time this young Spurs core is facing elimination in the postseason.
The Spurs are hosting the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 6 of the Western Conference finals in a must-win situation, as San Antonio is looking to knot the series up a three games apiece to force a Game 7.
Here are live takeaways from Game 6 of the Western Conference finals between the Spurs and Thunder:
This Victor Wembanyama makes the Spurs close to unbeatable
It became clear in the first few minutes of Game 6 that Wembanyama was correcting his mistakes from Game 5.
After playing too passively two nights ago, Wembanyama set the tone early, going 4-of-6 from the floor in the first quarter and 9-of-16 in the first half to take 22 points into intermission.
The rest of the Spurs are feeding off Wembanyama, whose effort on defense and rebounding have also lifted San Antonio. Through the first half, Wembanyama has also hauled in 5 rebounds — which is just one fewer than his total from Game 5.
That said, Wembanyama did launch 8 attempts from 3-point range. And while he made three of his first four, he cannot be settling too much for perimeter shots; the Spurs are at their best when Wembanyama is attacking the rim.
The Thunder need another scorer to emerge
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 10 points in the first half, but only got to the line twice. Cason Wallace dropped 11 on a perfect 4-of-4 half (including three drained triples). The next closest Thunder scorer was Alex Caruso with 7 points.
Oklahoma City, however, needs one of its secondary stars — Chet Holmgren (6 points) or Jared McCain (5) are top of mind — to get going with more consistency.
Jalen Williams is playing, though he’s on a minutes restriction with his hamstring injury, and can’t be counted on to be a reliable scoring threat.
Dylan Harper is providing a crucial spark off the bench
The dynamic rookie has struggled over the last three games, combining to score just 18 points on 5-of-16 shooting over that span.
In the first half Thursday night, Harper was aggressive and in a rhythm, scoring 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting, including 2-of-3 from beyond the arc.
It couldn’t have come at a better time, as starting point guard De’Aaron Fox missed all five of his shot attempts and didn’t record a single point. Fox does have 4 rebounds and 4 assists, but San Antonio will need scoring from the point guard position, and Harper’s energy off the bench has been massive, especially because he’s not afraid to get out in transition.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 02: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors talks to Donovan Mitchell #45 and James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers after their game at Chase Center on April 02, 2026 in San Francisco, 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 Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I’m back from my Memorial Day vacation and I’ve been waiting to get this one off about Cleveland’s demise. There was a point during Game 4 when the camera panned across Rocket Arena and you could see Knicks fans celebrating while Cavaliers fans sat frozen in their seats trying to process what had just happened.
And for Golden State Warriors fans who enjoyed a bitter rivalry with The Land, this was pretty amusing not just because Cleveland lost. I mean, the Warriors and Cavaliers haven’t really been rivals in years. LeBron left and the Dubs are figuring out who they are at this juncture of their dynasty. But there is still something deeply funny about watching the Cavaliers spend years trying to convince themselves they had rebuilt a contender only for the whole thing to collapse under the bright white lights of the Eastern Conference Finals.
“Analytically… we’ve won 2/3 games on the expected (score),- Cavs HC Kenny Atkinson.
The Knicks didn’t just beat Cleveland. They swept them with aggression, finishing it all off by walking into Rocket Arena and winning by 37 points for good measure, 130-93. They turned what should have been Cleveland’s biggest game in years into a three-hour public humiliation. By halftime the arena already sounded nervous. By the fourth quarter it sounded like Manhattan had annexed Ohio.
Going to be a really weird Cavs offseason. Mitchell’s eligible for an extension nobody is going to feel 100% great about and you have to trade him if he doesn’t sign it. Gotta either re-sign Harden or lose him for nothing. Mobley and Allen will both be in trade rumors. Probably a…
And honestly? Warriors fans already knew where this was headed.
The Cavaliers spent the first two rounds of the playoffs leaking oil everywhere. Seven games against Toronto. Seven games against Detroit. Then they blew a 22-point fourth-quarter lead in Game 1 against New York and spiritually never recovered from it. Even when the score stayed close later in the series, the energy didn’t. The Knicks looked like a team discovering itself. Cleveland looked like a team slowly realizing it had miscalculated something important.
“Genuinely, I do feel like we are the better team,” – James Harden after the Cavs were swept by the Knicks 🫨🫨🫨 pic.twitter.com/JtDk8A7D2F
The Cavaliers had talent all over the floor this season. Mitchell is phenomenal. Evan Mobley remains terrifying defensively. Harden can still manipulate a defense when he has space to breathe. But the deeper this series went, the more Cleveland looked like a team relying on individual rescue attempts while New York looked like five people operating the same machine. That is what real contenders look like. This was the Knicks kicking the door off the hinges and spending four games revealing how fragile Cleveland actually was.
And from a Warriors perspective, there was something nostalgic about it.
The old Cavaliers used to walk into Finals games with LeBron James carrying the emotional weight of an entire franchise on his back like a demigod. You always felt pressure radiating off those teams even when Golden State was better. This version felt different. Talented? Absolutely. But watching this series, there was never a moment where they felt inevitable. So now the Knicks head to the NBA Finals for the first time in over 25 years while Cleveland heads into an offseason full of uncomfortable questions about roster construction, identity, and whether this core is actually built for deep playoff basketball. Judging by the brooms falling from the sky all over Ohio this week, the East takeover might need to wait. I feel overall glad that former Warriors assistant coach Kenny Atkinson got to take his team so far, but it’s sad to see him chained to Cleveland’s curse.
The lights came on and the Cavaliers blinked. And somewhere deep in the soul of Dub Nation, a lot of people probably smiled watching it happen.
