Category: NBA

The 1998-99 season was a year of change in the NBA.

Michael Jordan had retired for a second time, and the league's owners, fed up with the league's financial structure and players' rising salaries, locked the players out after failing to reach a new collective bargaining agreement.

Once a deal was reached, the season began on Feb. 5, and the schedule was reduced to 50 games. The San Antonio Spurs tied for the league's best record and beat the Minnesota Timberwolves, Los Angeles Lakers, and Portland Trail Blazers on the way to the Finals.

The New York Knicks, as the No. 8 seed, upset the Miami Heat in the first round, becoming the second No. 8 seed to beat a top seed. After sweeping the Atlanta Hawks, they beat the Indiana Pacers in six games to advance to the championship round.

Here are some takeaways from the last Knicks-Spurs NBA Finals matchup:

PARTY LIKE IT'S 1999: 10 things that didn't exist last time Knicks made the Finals

The 1999 NBA Finals are set.

Excuse me, I mean that the 2026 NBA Finals are set.

But you can forgive me for having a momentary flashback. After all, the last time the New York Knicks were in the NBA Finals, they met the San Antonio Spurs. Now those two teams will meet again starting tonight, with a champion waiting to be crowned.

Now, as SB Nation’s elder statesperson — which is yes a nice way of saying I’m the old one around here — I have the benefit of having lived through that meeting back in 1999. While some of my coworkers were navigating middle school or even elementary school, I was facing the real world having just graduated college. Some of my roommates and best friends that final year in school were Knicks fans. They lived and died with this team.

So it falls on me to take you back in time.

Here is a look back at the 1999 NBA Finals.

The 1998-1999 NBA season

We start by a look at the 1998-1999 NBA season, which might be remembered more for what happened off the court, rather than what happened on it.

First off, the season did not begin until January of 1999, due to a dispute between league owners and the NBA Players’ Association. When the two sides could not reach an agreement on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement, a lockout began in July of 1998.

That lockout lasted more than 200 days, until a deal was finally reached on January 6, 1999.

The season did not begin until a few weeks later, and schedules were shortened to just 50 games as a result.

Another big piece of off-court news? The dismantling of the Chicago Bulls. Chicago was coming off their second three-peat, but the retirements of Phil Jackson and Michael Jordan, plus the trade of Scottie Pippen to the Houston Rockets and the departure of Dennis Rodman in free agency, opened up both the Eastern Conference and the league at large for a new champion.

How the Spurs reached the 1999 NBA Finals

The 1998-1999 NBA season marked the second year that San Antonio could rely on the pairing of David Robinson and Tim Duncan down low.

And while the Spurs got off to a slow start, beginning the year 6-8, they quickly righted the ship, winning 31 of their final 36 games to finish the year with a 37-13 record. Again, the season was shortened due to the lockout, which ended in January.

That record tied San Antonio with the Utah Jazz atop the Western Conference standings, and San Antonio secured the No. 1 seed in the conference due to a tiebreaker.

Once in the dance, the Spurs stayed red-hot. San Antonio won its opening series 4-1, dropping just one game to the Minnesota Timberwolves. From there, the Spurs swept their way to the NBA Finals, dispatching the Los Angeles Lakers in four games, and then sweeping the Portland Trail Blazers in the Western Conference finals. Duncan scored 21 in Game 1 against Portland, adding 13 rebounds, and Robinson scored 20 with ten boards in Game 4 as the Spurs closed out the sweep.

For the first time in franchise history, San Antonio was heading to the NBA Finals.

How the Knicks reached the 1999 NBA Finals

While the Spurs enjoyed a relatively easy path to the 1999 NBA Finals, it was a much tougher road for the Knicks.

Ahead of the 1998-1999 season, New York made several key additions to help Patrick Ewing, adding Latrell Sprewell, Marcus Camby, and Kurt Thomas. Those acquisitions helped the Knicks begin the year with and 8-3 record.

But then, injuries started to mount. Sprewell played in just 37 games that regular season due to a stress fracture in his right foot, and Ewing missed time due to a knee injury. After starting 8-3 the Knicks began dropping games, and hovered around .500 for most of the year.

That stretch cost president and general manager Ernie Grunfeld his job in April.

Wins in six of their last eight games were enough for New York to secure the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference, as they finished with a 27-23 record. But that meant a date with the top seed in the East, the Miami Heat. New York won Game 1 in Miami, getting 22 points from both Sprewell and Allan Houston to steal the first game of the series. After dropping Game 2, New York took Game 3 behind a 20-point outing from Sprewell, giving the Knicks a chance to close out the upset at Madison Square Garden at home.

But Miami staved off elimination, forcing a deciding Game 5 back in Miami. Ewing led the way for New York with 22 points, but a buzzer-beater from Houston gave New York a 78-77 win, pushing the Knicks into the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Up next for New York? A date with the No. 4 seed Atlanta Hawks. But to the surprise of many, the Knicks swept their way to the Eastern Conference finals, getting 34 from Houston in Game 1 and 31 from Sprewell in Game 2 to take both games in Atlanta. With the series win, New York became the first No. 8 seed to reach the conference finals.

That meant another date with the Indiana Pacers, the team that bounced New York out of the playoffs the previous year. The Knicks again took Game 1, this time in Indianapolis, behind 19 points from Houston, but dropped Game 2. That second game was costly for another reason, as an Achilles’ tendon injury that had hampered Ewing for most of the season was revealed to be a partial tear, ending his playoff run.

But veteran Larry Johnson stepped up in Game 3 at Madison Square Garden, leading the way with a team-high 26 points. The final point of the night came at the charity stripe, as he drew a foul from Antonio Davis on a three-point attempt with seconds remaining in a 91-88 game. The three-pointer tied the game, and the ensuing foul shot gave New York a 92-91 win.

The teams split the next two games, giving New York a chance to close out the series at Madison Square Garden in Game 6. The Knicks did just that, led by 32 points from Houston and stiff defense on Reggie Miller, who was held to just eight points on 3-of-18 from the field, and New York punched their ticket to the Finals with a 90-82 win.

But the win was also costly, as Johnson suffered a sprained MCL in the game, which limited his effectiveness in the Finals.

The 1999 NBA Finals, revisited

The 1999 NBA Finals pitted wounded Knicks team against the Spurs, who had dropped just one game on their way to the series and were rested after sweeping Portland in the Western Conference finals.

As you might expect, it was not much of a series.

San Antonio took the first two games at home, behind a 33-13 effort from Duncan in Game 1 and a 25-15 effort from Duncan two nights later in Game 2. The Knicks fought back to cut San Antonio’s series lead to 2-1 with an 89-81 win in Game 3, behind 34 points from Houston, but that would be as close as New York got. San Antonio closed out the series, and their first title, with wins in Game 4 and Game 5.

The final game, decided by an Avery Johnson jump shot with under a minute remaining, was played two years to the day that San Antonio drafted Duncan.

Duncan was named MVP of the Finals.

There’s one article I love writing every year, and this is it. It takes time, research, holistic thinking, and a few energy drinks to get me there. I’ve juggled countless thought exercises, spoken with numerous people about their thoughts on the Phoenix Suns’ direction, and considered it all.

Who doesn’t love a good puzzle? That’s exactly what this piece is. It’s my chance to take a full look at the landscape of who the Phoenix Suns are right now, what options are in front of them, and how they can navigate the offseason as I try to piece together my blueprint for how I think they should operate.

And make no mistake, this is a complicated puzzle.

I’m sure somewhere along the way, my math is off. Maybe a contract number gets fuzzy. Maybe a roster-construction idea looks cleaner on paper than in reality. That’s part of the process. This isn’t what will happen. This is, more or less, what I hope will happen. What I want to happen.

This is the piece where I zoom out to look at the Suns holistically, then try to answer the questions we’ve been asking since the team was eliminated in the First Round on April 27. What should they do with the draft? What should they do in free agency? Which team options should they exercise, and which players should they let walk?

I’ll start with where I landed when the season ended. At that point, I kept coming back to continuity and development. I wondered if that would still be the direction I believed Phoenix should take once it was finally time to write this article. That was the initial thesis entering the offseason.

Now it’s time to find out if that thesis still holds up, or if working through every decision in front of the organization pushes me somewhere else. So welcome, my fellow readers. Let’s talk about how you fix the Suns.

The Starting Point

You can’t start building out theories on what the Phoenix Suns should do without a starting point, so let’s begin with the basics.

The salary cap this offseason sits at $165 million. The luxury tax line is $201 million. The first apron comes in at $209 million, and the second apron is $222 million.

Right now, Phoenix has 11 of its 15 roster spots filled, though a couple of those spots are occupied by players on team options. Their current payroll, including that dastardly $23.2 million in dead cap tied to Bradley Beal, Nassir Little, and E.J. Liddell transactions, sits at $184.7 million.

There will be no trading of DevinBooker as a part of this path. I believe that it is a valid conversation to have, and we have had it. I am pro-Book in Phoenix…at least for this offseason.

I contemplated moving off of Jalen Green. In my personal opinion, that is the way to go. He is pricey, duplicative of Booker positionally, and inconsistent as a player. But three things prevented me from pulling the trigger as a part of this plan. First, I truly believe the Suns will bring him back, as they want to see if his development can justify his salary. Second, while he might duplicate Booker’s position, he brings a unique skill set, as he can actually put pressure on the cylinder. Now, if only he could finish around the rim more.

And third? It’s hard to find a trade suitor for him. I played with the trade machine and simply couldn’t find any justifiable or likely candidates who would want his services while providing something that makes sense for Phoenix. He will be much more appealing next summer, when his contract becomes an expiring.

Therefore, Booker and Green return. Those are your high-level decisions relative to trades. Now, for the next steps.

Step 1: Pick up the options and structure Dillon Brooks wisely

The Phoenix Suns have two players with team options this offseason that they can exercise: Ryan Dunn and Jamaree Bouyea. If this were a team sitting comfortably under the cap and looking to upgrade the bench with some spending power in free agency, maybe there’s a conversation about declining one of those options. That isn’t where Phoenix is.

Given the financial tightrope they have to walk and the need to maximize every available asset on the roster, both of those options feel like easy decisions. You pick them up.

Then comes the more interesting conversation, Dillon Brooks.

The rumored extension floating around is as much as four years, $125 million. That breaks down to roughly $31.3 million annually. And as much as I value what Brooks brings to this team, that kind of deal would keep him under contract through the 2031-32 season. At this point, I don’t think anyone should be tied to this roster for that long.

Given where the franchise stands and the direction they’re trying to go, flexibility matters. Yes, they want to deepen it. Yes, they want to reinforce the culture. You don’t do that by locking yourself into paying a 35-year-old Dillon Brooks north of $30 million a season. That’s not good business, nor is it smart. Still, you want to reward the player responsible for assisting in defining your culture, and you want to do so in a way that allows you a flexible contract moving forward.

So, in my blueprint and in the scenario I’m building here, Phoenix signs Brooks to a three-year, $81.7 million contract. That lands at an average annual value of $27.2 million and has him under contract through the 2029-30 season. I’d backload the deal and attach a player option to the final year. That gives Brooks security, gives him flexibility later, and still gives the Suns options.

For now, the Suns remain at 11 of 15 roster spots filled, and the payroll stays at $184.7 million. No new players have been added, and no new money has come in. At this stage, we’re focused on securing the future with Brooks and exercising the team options for Dunn and Bouyea.

Step 2: Turn the draft into an opportunity to get younger and cheaper

Before the Phoenix Suns can start navigating restricted and unrestricted free agency, which doesn’t officially open until July 1, the NBA Draft comes first. Two rounds, the first on June 23, the second on June 24. This is Phoenix’s first opportunity to add a player, whether that ends up being somebody on the active roster or a two-way contract.

With the Suns picking 47th overall, and knowing Isaiah Livers no longer qualifies for a two-way deal, the most likely outcome is pretty straightforward. Phoenix drafts somebody at 47, probably Jaden Bradley out of the University of Arizona, and develops him in the G League. And honestly, I’m not opposed to that. That’s a solid place to develop a young point guard, and the Valley Suns could certainly use more distribution and facilitation. It’s the safe play. Probably the most logical play, too. Maybe it’s Bradley. Maybe it’s somebody else. The conservative move is using that pick on a two-way player and keeping the 15th roster spot open for flexibility.

But that’s no fun.

If we’ve learned anything about this front office, it’s that they aren’t afraid to move around in the draft. Two offseasons ago, Phoenix traded up to grab Oso Ighodaro. Last offseason, they used leftover assets from the Kevin Durant deal to move up and make the first pick of the second round for Rasheer Fleming.

So that’s the route I’m taking here. The Suns move up. And to do it, they make a deal with the Memphis Grizzlies. The trade? Phoenix sends Royce O’Neale to Memphis along with two second-round picks, including No. 47 in this year’s draft, and in return receives Taylor Hendricks and the 32nd overall pick.

Adding Taylor Hendricks gives Phoenix another three-and-D forward, and another player the team can continue to develop at only 22 years old. The 6’9” power forward was selected ninth overall in the 2023 NBA Draft out of the University of Central Florida and was later moved to the Memphis Grizzlies in the Jaren Jackson Jr. trade this past February, along with additional players and draft capital.

He didn’t see a ton of run in Memphis. Across his three-year career, he’s averaged 7.3 points and 4.1 rebounds on 45/35/71 splits. There’s some upside there for sure.

The bigger part of this deal is financial. Phoenix moves off Royce O’Neale and his $10.9 million salary for a player making $7.8 million. And another plus with Hendricks? He’s on an expiring contract.

Of course, the immediate question is: why would Memphis do it?

From my perspective, the Grizzlies are in the middle of stripping things down to the studs and reshaping the roster. Veteran presence still matters in that environment. Royce gives them a proven rotation wing and one of the better three-point shooters in the league, plus Phoenix is attaching another second-round pick to the deal.

That becomes a conversation you can talk yourself into. And Memphis already owns the third and 16th picks in the first round. A lot of early mock drafts have them looking at frontcourt players like Cameron Boozer from Duke University and Jayden Quaintance from the University of Kentucky. If that’s how their board falls, a contract like Hendricks becomes a lot easier to part with.

And for Phoenix, that creates an opportunity to add another young, switchable forward and save money in the process.

So step one of navigating the draft is complete. You’ve traded Royce O’Neale to acquire Taylor Hendricks, and in the process, you moved up 15 spots in the draft. Oh, and you saved $3.1 million in the process. Now what?

You draft Zuby Ejiofor out of St. John’s University and add another forward to the organization.

He’s 6’9”, 240 pounds, and he plays a highly fundamental game. He isn’t somebody you’re expecting to consistently knock down threes, especially after shooting 30.5% last season at St. John’s. What interests me more is the 16.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, and the motor that comes with it.

He’s productive in the paint. He brings physicality. He plays with attitude. And all of that feels aligned with who and what this Suns team is trying to become. At 22 years old, he’s not some raw teenage prospect. He’s older, more developed, and somebody who feels like a cleaner fit for what Phoenix is building.

The next question becomes contract structure. Do you place Zuby on a two-way deal, or do you use a standard roster spot? For this exercise, I’m going with the standard deal. That puts him around $1.4 million. Noah Penda, who went 32nd overall last season, landed around $1.3 million, and with the rookie minimum projecting around $1.4 million for the 2026-27 season, that’s the number I’m using here.

So that’s how we navigate the draft. You move off Royce and save $3.1 million. You move up 15 spots. You add two 22-year-old power forwards to the mix, and one of them comes on an expiring contract. So where does that leave things?

Pre-draft, Phoenix sat at $184.7 million with 11 players rostered. Post-draft, you’ve lowered payroll by $1.7 million and bumped the roster to 12 players.

And because you moved off Royce for a player on an expiring contract, the 2027-28 cap sheet starts looking cleaner, too. And, as we get ready to navigate restricted and unrestricted free agency, every dollar counts.

Step 3: Bring back your depth via free agency

This is where the challenge really begins. And this is where you can’t help feeling frustrated that the Phoenix Suns are carrying $23.2 million in dead cap this season. Up to this point, Phoenix sits $17.1 million below the luxury tax and $25.1 million below the first apron. That feels manageable on paper. Then you remember there are still three open roster spots and three players you’d ideally like to bring back. That’s when things get interesting in a hurry.

So what do they do? And how do they do it? You start by figuring out what actually matters most to Phoenix. Is avoiding the luxury tax the top priority, especially with repeater tax implications hanging out there? Or is this a team willing to cross that $201 million line if it means keeping continuity intact? And beyond that, how comfortable are they with going over the first apron, knowing the restrictions that come with it and how much harder it makes roster building?

Personally, I don’t think Phoenix is overly concerned with being above the luxury tax. At least I hope they aren’t. Mat Ishbia has shown he isn’t afraid to spend. Yes, this would be spending on a team you probably wouldn’t label a true contender today. That part is fair. At the same time, they clearly want to stay competitive. They clearly want to protect continuity. And if that means paying into the tax to make it happen, I believe the organization would be willing to do it.

And there’s one important caveat to always keep in mind. It’s about where you are on the final day of the NBA season. So in theory, the Suns can bring back Collin Gillespie, Jordan Goodwin, and Mark Williams, then buy themselves time. Time to evaluate. Time to see how the roster performs. Time to make decisions based on what the team actually looks like once the season starts. And for a front office trying to balance flexibility with continuity, that matters a lot.

And that’s the direction that I think this team will go. And honestly? I think it’s the right way to go. So let us begin with what bringing back Mark Williams looks like.

Bringing Mark Williams back gives Phoenix an important buffer as Khaman Maluach continues to develop. We know Mark’s injury history, and although he played a career-high 60 games this past season, his career average remains 41.5 games played per season. There’s a real chance he misses time this season, and if that happens, the door naturally opens for Maluach in year two. And that can work in Phoenix’s favor. If Maluach pops, if he looks ready and starts showing real growth, then you’ve put yourself in a position where Mark becomes more expendable and potentially somebody you can shop on the market come the trade deadline. If Maluach still looks raw, then you still have stability at the center spot whenever health allows.

The obvious question with Mark is price. What is he worth? What does his market actually look like? My guess is there won’t be a huge amount of interest. This year’s unrestricted free agent center market has plenty of options, and a lot of teams can find comparable production for cheaper or find somebody with a cleaner injury history. And maybe Phoenix sees it that way, too. Maybe they decide not to bring him back and go fishing in that pool.

For continuity purposes and for Maluach’s development, I think they keep him. And I think they do it on the qualifying offer.

Yes, Bobby Marks floated out $14 million annually as something Mark could potentially get on the open market. If another team wants to pay that, then you tip your cap, thank him for his time, and move on. You look at options on the unrestricted free agent market. That’s easy.

If that market doesn’t materialize, I bring him back at $9.6 million for this season, knowing he’d hit unrestricted free agency next summer. And by then, Phoenix should have a much clearer picture of what it actually has in Maluach. That makes the decision cleaner. That makes the timeline make more sense. And it gives the Suns another year of stability at a position where having it matters.

Jordan Goodwin is somebody the Suns should absolutely bring back. He’s part of the culture. Part of the identity. He’s gritty, he hustles, and he sets the tone every night he’s on the floor. He feels like the soul of this team. That’s not something you casually let walk out the door. At the same time, because of the apron restrictions, it may become a real possibility. And if that happens, it hurts.

Phoenix has Early Bird Rights on Goodwin, which gives them flexibility. They can structure a deal anywhere from roughly $4 million to $9 million annually. Then the question becomes whether Goodwin is willing to take a hometown discount or if he wants to test the market.

And honestly, that would make sense. He’s 27 years old. This could very well be his best chance to land a meaningful contract. There aren’t many teams with major spending power, which helps Phoenix a bit. Yes, another team could use part of a mid-level exception or the non-taxpayer mid-level to make a run at him, although those routes come with their own restrictions.

That’s why in this scenario I’m betting on continuity. I’m betting on fit. And I’m betting both sides find common ground. The number I land on is two years, $11.3 million. That feels fair for Goodwin. It rewards the role he’s carved out and keeps Phoenix intact. 

That number could rise if the Suns decide to move off Mark Williams and go searching for another center in unrestricted free agency. In this version of the offseason, they don’t. They keep Williams. They keep Goodwin. And they keep building around the identity they spent all season trying to establish.

Lastly, there’s Collin Gillespie. He showcased exactly what he can bring this season and earned himself a real raise. And he’s a fantastic story. Honestly, he’s the kind of story you want your organization connected to. A player you brought in, developed, watched grow from a two-way contract into a guaranteed deal, and now he’s positioned to cash in because of the work he put in.

Now he hits unrestricted free agency, and Phoenix has to pay him accordingly. For me, that number comes to three years at $32.4 million. Yes, that’s a sizable number for a backup point guard. I’m still doing it. He’s worth it. He fits what Phoenix is trying to build. He understands the system. He’s earned trust. He brings steadiness when he’s on the floor, and there’s real value in knowing exactly what you’re getting from that position every night.

Could another team offer more? Absolutely. And maybe one does. Much like Jordan Goodwin, there’s more financial flexibility here if Mark Williams walks and Phoenix reallocates those dollars. In this version of the offseason, I’m keeping the group together. 

And part of making that work is including a player option in year three. That gives Gillespie flexibility and gives him the chance to bet on himself if his progression continues. Which feels fair. Because if that growth keeps trending the way Phoenix hopes, he’ll have earned the right to cash in again.

So when restricted and unrestricted free agency wraps up, you’ve accomplished the mission. Three more players added. Three roster spots filled. Fifteen players under contract. Mark Williams comes back at $9.6 million, Jordan Goodwin returns for $5.5 million, and Collin Gillespie gets $10 million. That puts Phoenix at $25.1 million spent in free agency and brings the payroll right up to $208.1 million.

Now, if we’re being exact, and I know some of you absolutely will be, the final number lands at $208,116,977.

Boom. Under the first apron. Mic drop.

This keeps the Phoenix Suns under the first apron while filling every roster spot and maintaining continuity across the board. Your depth is fortified, and you have enough financial flexibility to keep options available if adjustments are needed later in the season.

I’ve avoided the daunting first apron, and that matters because crossing that line starts cutting into your flexibility in a real way. If you want to make trades, salary matching must be within 100%, and you can’t take back more money than you send out. You lose access to acquiring players via sign-and-trades. You also can’t sign a player waived during the regular season if his original salary was greater than the non-taxpayer mid-level exception. In this scenario, those restrictions stay off the table.

Phoenix still has some flexibility. A lot of that flexibility comes through Haywood Highsmith. The “Locksmith” is owed $3.8 million next season, although only $1 million of that is guaranteed. His deal doesn’t fully guarantee until January 10, 2027. By then, you should have a much better understanding of his role, what this team looks like, and what steps you may need to take to get under the first apron, if necessary.

The same applies to Jamaree Bouyea. His team option can be exercised now, and that salary also doesn’t become fully guaranteed until January 10, 2027.

So yes, this is a tightrope. And it’s a tightrope the Phoenix Suns are going to keep walking for a while because of the dead cap on the books, all the way through 2030 (thank you, Bradley Beal). They have to be careful. The Suns have to balance fiscal responsibility with competitiveness. That isn’t easy, but it is the right thing to do. It’s not flashy, it’s not sexy, but that is the path that will open more doors than it locks. Don’t let your short-term greed get in the way of your long-term greed.

This is my blueprint. Yes, Phoenix lands around $209 million in payroll in this scenario. And yes, being roughly $8 million over the luxury tax means that bill turns into something closer to $26 million once repeater tax penalties are factored in. That’s expensive, that’s the cost of doing business, and that’s the cost of carrying dead cap. That’s the cost of trying to stay competitive. That’s the cost of continuity.

And when I look at the roster I have created, I believe it works. You still have an open two-way slot, and I believe it’s competitive. I believe it preserves optionality if the organization decides it needs to pivot. And I believe it gives you a healthy mix of veterans, youth, and upside worth investing in.

That’s who Phoenix is right now. This isn’t a team polishing the edges of a championship contender. This is a team trying to strengthen the path it’s on. They are a team focused on development, leaning into continuity, trying to figure out if this next era of Suns basketball is actually sustainable. Because if it is, you can start making different decisions a year or two from now. You can get more aggressive, adjust the vision, and attack the next phase.

Currently, this is who the Suns are. And this is the path I’d take. I know it’s optimistic to believe that Williams would come in at the qualifying offer and that Gillespie would take a $32.4 million deal. Perhaps they don’t. Perhaps the Suns let Williams walk, sign an unrestricted free agent center on a veteran minimum deal, and reinvest those savings into Gillespie and Goodwin’s contracts. ‘Tis possible.

At the end of the day, there’s no perfect answer here. There probably never was. The Suns are navigating the consequences of past decisions while trying to build something healthier moving forward, which naturally makes every offseason choice a balancing act. 

That’s why I keep coming back to continuity and development. Let this group grow. Let the younger players keep earning opportunities. Let Jordan Ott continue shaping the identity Phoenix spent all last season trying to establish. Then evaluate from there. Allow health to be your friend, considering your three highest-paid players missed a combined 96 games last season. See what they can do from here, and for the love of AC Green’s celibacy, avoid three-guard lineups. Maybe a year from now, the vision looks clearer. Maybe the next pivot presents itself naturally. 

For now, the smartest move feels like patience, trust in the foundation, and giving this version of the Suns another real chance to prove what it can become.

Few moments in NBA history have generated more debate than the league’s decision to block Chris Paul from joining the Los Angeles Lakers in 2011.

More than a decade later, Paul is still reflecting on the emotional roller coaster that surrounded one of basketball’s biggest “what if” scenarios.

Appearing on “The Pat McAfee Show,” the future Hall of Fame point guard revisited the controversial scrapped trade that would have paired him with Kobe Bryant in Los Angeles before then-NBA commissioner David Stern stepped in and vetoed the deal.

“It was very wild to say the least,” Paul said. “I remember where I was, and me and Kobe had actually got on the phone and talked that night. And then yeah, it was basically like a little s–t storm from there.”

At the time, Paul’s New Orleans Hornets were owned by the NBA and operated by Stern after former owner George Shinn’s financial issues forced the league to take control of the franchise. Paul explained that once the lockout ended, he believed the trade was complete.

In an earlier interview with McAfee, Paul noted concerns from team owners after the league emerged from contentious collective bargaining negotiations may have been a significant turning point.

Paul was serving on the executive committee during those talks.

That is when everything changed.

“It was a crazy time, and just knowing the emotional roller coaster that it was at the time was, was really different. But I got the phone call basically that this trade ain’t happening no more.”

The fallout changed NBA history. Rather than joining Bryant, Paul was eventually traded across the hallway to the Clippers, where he helped launch the “Lob City” era alongside Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan.

While Paul built a lasting legacy with the Clippers, the thought of a Bryant-Paul backcourt remains one of the league’s most fascinating alternate realities. For Lakers fans, it’s still impossible not to wonder how many championships that partnership might have produced.

NBA greats LeBron James and Steve Nash sat down on The Mind the Game podcast to talk about Cooper Flagg and his former Duke teammate Kon Knueppel, and who had the most upside.

Not surprisingly, they both agreed on Flagg.

That’s no knock on Knueppel, who had an unbelievable rookie year, vastly exceeding expectations.

He played like he’s been in the league for a decade. It’s very rare to see a guy his age with that level of maturity and sophistication.

Our comparison is to Chris Mullin. Like Mullin, he is not overly athletic, but he lives and breathes the game, and is about as efficient as he can possibly be.

Flagg, though, is something else entirely.

Like Knueppel, he is way ahead of schedule. It took him a few weeks to settle in after the point guard experiment, but it all paid off. Flagg was doing things that, like Knueppel, are far beyond his age.

However, Flagg’s athleticism is a level or two above Knueppel’s. He dominated some amazing athletes this year, and he’s just 18. You may remember a video we linked to where he just completely frustrated Joel Embiid, who ended up just throwing his hands up – literally.

When Flagg fills out, he’s going to be impossible to stop.

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The Path, Part III: Maxing out on the Jays era? Exploring major C's changes originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Editor’s Note: As the Celtics begin an uncertain offseason, Insider Chris Forsberg is rolling out a three-part series called “The Path,” in which he breaks down three potential avenues for president of basketball operations Brad Stevens to take this summer. You can read Part I (minor tweaks)and Part II (the middle road) here.Today: the series finale.

Call us hopeless romantics. We love a fairy-tale ending. Maybe that’s the writer in us. When we ponder the Boston Celtics’ most endearing path forward, it almost always involves Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown overcoming the latest adversity together to return to the NBA mountaintop.

This story has already had plenty of twists and turns. The chapters have piled up. There were early successes and frustrating setbacks. The Jays finally reached the title stage in 2022, only to get stiff-armed by the veteran Warriors. A jarring overhaul to the supporting cast around the Jays helped the duo finally deliver that elusive Banner 18 in 2024.

Tatum’s torn Achilles stunted dreams of a repeat, and Brown’s magical 2025-26 campaign as the focal point of the team ended in bitter disappointment with a first-round playoff exit.

Which delivers our protagonists to their latest crossroads. The Celtics must plot a path forward, one in which a restrictive new collective bargaining agreement makes it unclear if two max-money superstars are a viable long-term luxury for any team. 

For Part III of our annual summer path series, we’re left to ponder maybe the most unsavory option: major changes to the foundation of the Celtics franchise.

Another disclaimer: Just because we are examining this pathway doesn’t mean we’re championing it. That said, what surprised us as we’ve gone about the exercise of pondering all the paths — from Small Tweaks to Medium Tweaks — is that, if the team feels that something more than minor changes are necessary to be a legitimate contender again, then a major overhaul might be the team’s best chance to get where it wants to go.

We say it often — especially after seasons end earlier than expected — but the Celtics’ brass has to examine all pathways. It’s front office malpractice not to.

Maybe, at the end of the day, they decide there is no surefire upgrade available and elect to march forward with the Jays. But they have to at least ponder the alternatives.

And so shall we. 

Mission statement

With goals of 1) Maximizing money allocation under a prohibitive and apron-filled collective bargaining agreement and 2) Extending the window for the next title run, the Celtics make the swallow-hard decision to trade one of their two superstars.

The ultimate goal: Create a team with one big-money centerpiece, then build a deep roster around them featuring a blend of mid-tier and minimum-salary players.

The path

• Trade Tatum or Brown.
• Remain under the tax for one more season, creating freedom to build a high-level supporting cast around the remaining centerpiece long term.

The Celtics had barely dispersed for the summer following their first-round demise before the Brown-for-Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors ignited.

Part of the reason we’ve pushed back on the idea of that potential swap is because it doesn’t solve the long-term money issue. You still have two players making max money and you are likely shortening your title window at a time when you can’t freely spend to stockpile around that duo.

Maybe it comes to pass that Antetokounmpo is far and away the best available player this summer, and the Celtics have to consider it if the team believes the core of this team has run its course. We simply believe this deal introduces too much unnecessary risk.

In our mind, the bigger conversation is whether you can start the process of getting younger and extending your window if you elect to move on from Tatum or Brown, all while remaining competitive and not sacrificing prime years of whatever player remains.

But trying to find a deal that brings back a combination of established and future talent, especially on the level of one of the Jays, is no easy task.

The wish list

Some half-baked trade ideas to get the brain rolling: 

1. A deal with the Clippers that brings back Kawhi Leonard and the No. 5 pick in this year’s NBA Draft.

The soon-to-be 35-year-old Leonard is entering the final season of his contract that will pay him $50.3 million next season — at least $7 million less than what Tatum ($58.5 million) and Brown ($57.1 million) will earn in 2026-27.

The Celtics still have pathways to remaining under the tax this season while adding a high draft pick who can infuse low-cost, high-upside talent and help extend Boston’s title window. The drama that tends to follow Leonard might be tough to embrace, but he finished one spot behind Brown in MVP voting this season while appearing in 65 games.

Imagn Iamges

2. A deal with the Pelicans for Dejounte Murray and Trey Murphy III.

The Celtics essentially split one of their max-money slots while bringing in a former All-Star in Murray, and a potential future All-Star in the offensive-minded Murphy III.

The other wrinkle here: The Celtics could take Murphy III into the Anfernee Simons traded player exception, potentially creating a valuable new TPE that could further aid the team in roster construction during the summer of 2027 when pesky repeater penalties are eliminated.

3. Deals involving Lauri Markkanen, Amen Thompson or Scottie Barnes.

Nothing you can drum up feels quite right. We’d call the Jazz about Markkanen, whose contract is slightly more digestible long term.

We’d dial up the Rockets to see if you can pry some of their young pieces, — especially Thompson — and take on salary filler.

We’d contact the Raptors about Barnes, if only because there are only so many players in their mid-20s making less-than-max money who can even be pried from their current team.

What it looks like

We suspect that, at the end of the day, none of these moves would be enough to make the Celtics break up their core. Our guess is that Boston would have to be overwhelmed by a collection of young talent and picks to even ponder moving one of the Jays.

But the ability to build a deeper roster with only one max-salary player is undeniably intriguing. Just look at the last teams playing this season.

The Knicks can pay five players north of $20 million because Jalen Brunson is on a sweetheart deal and only Karl-Anthony Towns makes max money.

The Thunder are steamrolling toward major financial decisions next year when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s contract rises to max money, but they can stomach at least one more season with as many as six players making $17+ million.

The Spurs are in great position with so many players on rookie deals and eventually can pivot off De’Aaron Fox’s money if resources are needed to pay the next deals for Victor Wembanyama and Co.

The new collective bargaining agreement made the math game tough. The Celtics got ahead of the curve in the summer of 2023 and were rewarded with Banner 18. Now they need to figure out if they can make the math work to give the Jays another shot at winning it all.

The two teams in the NBA Finals, the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs, are both looking to break their championship droughts.

The Spurs haven't hoisted the Larry O'Brien Trophy since 2014, and New York has waited even longer, last celebrating a title when the nation was enthralled by the Watergate scandal.

The Spurs dispatched the defending championOklahoma City Thunder by winning Game 7 on the road, and the Knicks have blitzed all challengers in the Eastern Conference and are currently on an 11-game winning streak.

All eyes will be on Spurs star Victor Wembanyama, the 22-year-old phenom, who has taken the basketball world by storm. But the Knicks, who have the No. 1 ranked offense and defense in the 2026 playoffs, have been absolutely dominant in their postseason run and are beating teams by 19.4 points per game, including series-clinching victories of 51, 30, and 37 points.

Here are the seven players who could have the biggest impact on the NBA Finals:

As the Spurs head into Game 1 of the NBA Finals, comparisons have been made between the Tim Duncan era Spurs and what shall be known as the Victor Wembanyama era Spurs.

Both Duncan and Wemby made their first run to the Finals as 22-year-olds. Both beat the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round and the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round. And like Duncan in 1999, Victor Wembanyama will tip off against the New York Knicks in his first Finals appearance.

But what about the rest of the team?

One player that resembles the Spurs dynasty of the early 2000s is Keldon Johnson. Johnson, the longest tenured member of the Spurs roster, received the Sixth Man of the Year award this season. The only other member of the Spurs to earn the honor was Manu Ginobili, back in 2008.

Before Ginobili was ever crowned Sixth Man, he served as a started for the Spurs.

Manu originally struggled with the change. As he stated, his ego had to be removed from the equation so that he could accept that the move was for the greater good of the team.

On Tuesday, the NBA held media press conferences with the Spurs and Knicks. During Keldon Johnson’s time at the podium, he was asked this questions:

Face of the franchise, 20 points per game until now. What’s the toughest part of switching from that role to the role you’re in with this team?

Coincidentally enough, his answer mirrored Ginobili’s:

“Honestly, I would say ego. Just being the guy and then you having to adjust. I feel like when you — there’s a point where you look in the mirror and you want to be a part of something special or you want to chase personal goals. Being here and being throughout this season and winning has been an ultimate reward.” He continued, “It just shows that everything was worth it. Obviously I went from being the guy to coming off the bench and being sixth man. I feel like winning is the most addictive thing in this league. This year is a testament to that, being able to win and contribute to us winning means more than anything that I’ve done in the past.”

Ego for the individual giving way to a selflessness for the greater good of the team. It worked for Manu and Timmy and Tony and Pop and all of the others who rejoiced in picking up a championship ring during those runs 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2014.

Johnson’s acceptance of his role has elevated the Spurs bench. Keldon was one of the seven players who scored in double figures this season. The only other player in double figs off the bench was Dylan Harper.

Devin Vassell, the second longest tenured Spur, had this to say about his relationship with Johnson and the chemistry they have as a team:

“I think that is one of the main reasons why we’re here, because we’ve been so locked in and on and off the court we’re all talking, we’re all together. But we know as soon as we get in between the lines, we’re ready to go.”

Julian Champagnie echoed Vassell’s comments about chemistry in his time with the media:

“Obviously, me, Keldon and Dev and Vic have all been together for about three years now. Then you add guys like HB, Foxy, Carter, Steph, Dyl, all those guys bring a light, good attitude to the locker room.”

Ultimately, the 2026 Spurs have learned what some teams never do — if you leave your ego at the door, trust in your teammates, and play to the best of your ability, you can accomplish great things. In this case, many pundits call them “unexpected” things. While fans and media didn’t think the Spurs could accelerate this quickly, the team knew. And they carried that confidence as their momentum built.

To that end, a lot of credit goes to Johnson. He arrived 54 days after the Spurs last playoff game, and has stuck through the longest playoff drought in Spurs history. He’s now reaping the benefits of patience, faith, and trust in the process.

But it is not just KJ who has bought in. Vassell played through those rough patches as well. This season, Harrison Barnes gave up a decade-long run as a starter, moving to the bench as the Spurs adjusted toward their playoff run. De’Aaron Fox, who arrived last season through a savvy trade, was the go-to for the Sacramento Kings. He understood his role was being altered as the Spurs were built around Victor Wembanyama.

Speaking of Victor Wembanyama, his buy in has been paramount to the success. As a cornerstone to the franchise, Wemby could have pushed for trades, coaches, and player combinations. When the buzz around Giannis Antetokounmpo was at its apex, the Spurs superstar was silent. When Gregg Popovich retired, Wemby trusted in Pop’s heir to steer the ship. There has never been a hint at negativity from behind the scenes seeping out into the open.

That may be the greatest comparison between these Spurs and their predecessors. The Spurs Culture is still in tact. The Spurs Way continues on. And the behind the scenes dynamics of the franchise belong to the team. What fans see is what they generate on the court.

What they produce now may be their sixth NBA title. Sixth to the franchise, but the first for the members of this roster. And if history repeats itself, it will be the first of many.

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As Victor Wembanyama goes, so go the San Antonio Spurs.

It is not a knock on either of them that they may still be tired from the Western Conference Finals. That seven-game series clearly took everything Wembanyama and San Antonio had.

These Victor Wembanyama picks expect a sluggish showing in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, though that does not mean Wembanyama will struggle in all regards on Wednesday, June 3.

Victor Wembanyama prop pick for Game 1

Victor Wembanyama best bet: Over 11.5 rebounds (-125 at bet365)

The New York Knicks look more like the Minnesota Timberwolves than the Oklahoma City Thunder. They are driven by a ball-centric guard while playing one rather traditional big man. While Rudy Gobert provides excellent rim protection, Karl-Anthony Towns’s underappreciated strong lower body may actually succeed better at keeping Victor Wembanyama away from the rim.

Amid relative offensive struggles in that second-round series, Wembanyama still cleared this modest rebounding prop in four of the five games he played genuine minutes in. (Let’s just ignore his stats from Game 4, when Wembanyama was ejected after playing 12 minutes for an egregious elbow to Naz Reid’s throat.)

The only game in which Wembanyama fell short of this prop was the clinching Game 6, when the San Antonio Spurs led by 13 at halftime and 26 by the end of the third quarter. Even Wemby’s 27 minutes did not require full effort. Otherwise, Wembanyama ruled the glass, averaging 15.5 rebounds per game.

Expect that version of Wembanyama early in this series. His legs are worn out from the Western Conference Finals, so his offensive aggression may lag. But even then, the Defensive Player of the Year can haul in a bounty of boards.

Victor Wembanyama same-game parlay

Wembanyama fell short of this points prop in three of those four notable games against the Timberwolves, not to mention in four of seven games against the Thunder. Amid understandable fatigue, this should be a low-scoring Game 1 from Wembanyama.

Doubting him to rack up blocks ties more to Karl-Anthony Towns’s offense than anything else. The New York Knicks should position Towns on the perimeter, both in a playmaking role and shooting 3-pointers, particularly as Towns has shot 48.9% from deep this postseason.

Wembanyama may be reluctant to stray from the paint, but every step toward the arc will lessen his blocks tally.

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

The Spurs took a different team-building route than the Knicks. While Leon Rose and the Knicks focused on trades and free agency to construct their core, San Antonio mostly became a contender again by maximizing its draft capital.

Ahead of the NBA Finals, The Post dissects how the Spurs took shape.

Victor Wembanyama

How he was acquired: Selected No. 1 overall in 2023.

How he’s helped them get here: The Spurs’ fortunes changed when they won the lottery and took Wembanyama, the 7-foot-4 phenom who has already become a face of the NBA and is averaging 20.9 points — along with 10.8 rebounds — in his first postseason.

De’Aaron Fox

How he was acquired: Traded by the Kings in February 2025 in a three-team deal that included Bulls star Zach LaVine and three first-rounders — two from the Spurs — going to Sacramento.

How he’s helped them get here: Fox became the star to complement Wembanyama, averaging 18.6 points and 6.2 assists while making the second All-Star Game of his career during the regular season.

Stephon Castle

How he was acquired: Drafted No. 4 overall in 2024.

How he’s helped them get here: The guard has emerged as a key piece of the Spurs’ young core, someone capable of scoring (19 games with 20-plus points during the regular season) and facilitating (ninth-most assists in the NBA during the regular season with 502).

Devin Vassell

How he was acquired: Taken No. 11 overall in 2020.

How he’s helped them get here: Vassell signing the largest deal in Spurs history — at the time — in 2023 (five years, $135 million) captures the two-way wing’s value as someone capable of averaging 13.9 points while also contributing to containing Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Julian Champagnie

How he was acquired: Signed a two-way deal in February 2023 after getting waived by the 76ers.

How he’s helped them get here: The former St. John’s star has hit 39.3 percent of his 3s in the playoffs and carved out a starting role despite being undrafted to start his career.

Dylan Harper

How he was acquired: Drafted No. 2 overall in 2025.

How he’s helped them get here: The guard from Rutgers earned votes for Rookie of the Year and Sixth Man of the Year before averaging 13.1 points per game during the postseason.

Keldon Johnson

How he was acquired: Selected No. 29 overall in 2019.

How he’s helped them get here: Johnson, the longest-tenured Spurs player and the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year this season, recorded the most bench points in a season in franchise history (1,081).

Luke Kornet

How he was acquired:Inked a four-year, $41 million deal in free agency last summer.

How he’s helped them get here: A former Knick, Kornet won a ring with the Celtics and became Wembanyama’s backup — averaging 6.1 points and 6.5 rebounds during the regular season.

Harrison Barnes

How he was acquired: Landed in San Antonio from the Kings as part of a three-team deal in July 2024.

How he’s helped them get here: Perhaps most known for helping the Warriors win the title in 2015, Barnes has been a needed source of experience on the bench.

Carter Bryant

How he was acquired: Drafted No. 14 overall in 2025.

How he’s helped them get here: Bryant’s postseason moment occurred when he leveled Gilgeous-Alexander in Game 6, but the small forward also flashed potential — including a career-best 17 points April 8 — and chipped in throughout the playoff run.

Kelly Olynyk

How he was acquired: Acquired from the Wizards in July in exchange for Blake Wesley, Malaki Branham and a second-rounder.

How he’s helped them get here: The 35-year-old averaged 8.6 minutes and 3.2 points per game, and logged more time when Wembanyama was injured. This will mark his second trip to the Finals — with the other in 2020 with the Heat.

Mason Plumlee

How he was acquired: Turned a 10-day contract into a deal for the rest of the season after getting waived by the Thunder in February.

How he’s helped them get here: Plumlee, 36, is one of the veterans in the final stage of their career stashed on the bench, appearing in 12 games for them across the regular season and playoffs.

Lindy Waters III

How he was acquired: Signed a one-year deal last summer worth nearly $2.5 million.

How he’s helped them get here: Waters gave San Antonio shooting depth despite limited minutes (7.1 per game) and production (2.4 points per game) during the regular season, including when he hit three 3s March 17.

Bismack Biyombo

How he was acquired: Turned two 10-day contracts in February 2025 into a deal for the remainder of last season before returning on a one-year pact.

How he’s helped them get here: On his seventh NBA team and in his 15th season, Biyombo appeared in 34 games for San Antonio across the regular season and playoffs as frontcourt depth.

Jordan McLaughlin

How he was acquired: Arrived as part of the Fox deal in February 2025.

How he’s helped them get here: McLaughlin averaged 2.0 points and 6.4 minutes for the Spurs in the regular season, but in Game 2 of the Thunder series, he logged seven minutes and hit a pair of 3s while filling guard minutes.

Good morning, BBN!

The NBA Finals tip off tonight, and like many Finals in the past, this one has plenty of former Cats looking to get a ring.

• San Antonio Spurs: De’Aaron Fox, Keldon Johnson
• New York Knicks: Karl-Anthony Towns

Obviously, SGA has been showing out for UK, coming off a championship last year and back-to-back MVP awards.

This year, there will be at least one Cat who wins their first ring.

Fox has been harboring an ankle injury, but he played a huge part in getting the Spurs past the Thunder in Game 7, while Keldon Johnson also had a big game to help the Spurs advance. They scored 15 points and 11 points, respectively.

Meanwhile, KAT has been elite for the Knicks this postseason, averaging 16.9 PPG, 10.6 RPG, and 5.9 APG on 57.2FG%/48.93P%. He’s a big reason the Knicks are there and have been dominating this postseason.

It should be a fun series! Which Cat will get their first ring?

Tweet of the Day

For all the basketball nerds out there, Milan is an elite shooter, everywhere.

Headlines

Entire Lineup from NCAA Women’s Golf Championship Run Returns to Kentucky for 2026-27 – UK Athletics

Let’s go!

Kentucky’s Season Ends in Extra-Inning Defeat – UK Athletics

Just tragic.

Randall Cobb Named to 2027 College Football Hall of Fame Ballot – UK Athletics

Awesome, hope he gets it, he deserves it!

A.J. Brown elated to join Patriots, ‘moving forward’ from Eagles – ESPN

Crazy move.

Caitlin Clark and Stephanie White say all is good while downplaying sideline spat video – NBC Sports

You have to say this for optics, but it’s getting concerning in Indiana.

How Knicks and Spurs were built: Why unique rosters of NBA Finalists might now be impossible to replicate – CBS Sports

Great read.

Jared Verse essential to Myles Garrett trade, Browns GM says – ESPN

The Browns still didn’t get enough for Garrett.

Josh Jacobs at practice Tuesday, Matt LaFleur calls it “business as usual” – NBC Sports

Very weird.

Aaron Donald return rumors are flying after Myles Garrett trade: Five signs ex-Rams star might unretire – CBS Sports

This would be insane.

Sources: Stephen Curry signs $400M deal with China’s Li-Ning – ESPN

Huge deal for Steph that gives him creative control.

If the Spurs want to win the NBA Finals, they'll have to buck this historical trend originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

In addition to having a 7-foot-4 alien who can shoot, pass, dribble and single-handedly stop elite offenses from getting to the rim, what makes the San Antonio Spurs’ run to the NBA Finals unique is they possess what most champions typically lack: youth.

When the NBA’s championship round tips off Wednesday night, the Spurs will be looking to become the youngest Finals winner in recent NBA history.

NBC News analyzed the average ages of NBA champions’ playoff rotations since 2016, and San Antonio would be the youngest team to win a title — out-young-ing last year’s Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Spurs rotation’s average age is 24.4, while their opponent, the New York Knicks, are coming in at a relatively ancient 28.8.

Compared with the overall average championship age of 27.8, San Antonio is 3.4 years younger, while the Knicks are 1.0 years older.

The Spurs aren’t just a relatively young team on the whole — their best players are also on the younger side.

San Antonio’s leading scorer in the postseason is center Victor Wembanyama, who is only 22 years old and in his third year in the league. Wembanyama would be the youngest leading scorer to lead his team to a Finals victory in recent history. (If he wins Finals MVP, he would join Magic Johnson and Kawhi Leonard as the youngest players to win it.)

The Spurs’ three leading scorers — Wembanyama, Stephon Castle and De’Aaron Fox — would also be tied with last year’s Thunder as the youngest top-scoring trio of the last 11 NBA Finals.

Compared with New York, San Antonio is led by neophytes. The Knicks’ leading scorer, Jalen Brunson, is 29 and in his eighth season in the NBA. New York’s top three scorers — Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby — also average 29, with none younger than 28.

The median age of leading champion scorers is 27, with Wembanyama coming in a clean five years younger.

At least through three playoff rounds, youth and inexperience haven’t been barriers for the Spurs. They’ve already beaten a team that made two straight conference finals, the Minnesota Timberwolves, as well as last year’s champion, Oklahoma City, en route to the Finals.

In fact, less playoff seasoning may even help San Antonio.

“The lack of experience is a strength of us,” Wembanyama told ESPN on Tuesday. “Because we could do impossible stuff because we don’t know it’s impossible.”

The NBA Finals haven’t even begun and already the fixation with the New York Knicks is exhausting.

Did you know this is their first trip to the Finals since 1999? Did you know they haven’t lost in more than a month? Did you know they have the most famous fans in the world? Did you know tickets to games at Madison Square Garden cost more than a car?

Stahhhhhp.

Fortunately for folks who aren’t Knicks fans, which is pretty much the rest of the country, New York’s opponents in these Finals are the San Antonio Spurs, who might just be the most down-to-earth team in the NBA.

The San Antonio Spurs are America's team in the NBA Finals

They’re small market and worth about half what the Knicks are. Their nickname does not bring instant recognition. Their arena does not have name recognition in their own state, let alone the whole world. Their most famous fans are nuns, not celebrities.

And while Victor Wembanyama is the undisputed future of the NBA, he’s an unassuming superstar.

Instead of hanging out with Kardashians, Wemby spent last off-season with monks. While not an actual alien, he is interested in outer space and can talk at length about it. He’s responsible for an uptick in reading in San Antonio, for goodness sake.

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The Spurs are what you want in a championship team.

The Knicks are … what New York wants in a championship team.

Knicks are a team only New Yorkers can love

Every sport has at least one team that everyone else loves to hate. The Dallas Cowboys in the NFL. The New York Yankees in Major League Baseball. Duke in men’s basketball.

It’s usually a byproduct of success, a toxic owner or an arrogant fan base. In the Knicks’ case, it’s a little bit of everything. Well, maybe not the success part. Not lately, at least. But the owner and the fan base more than make up for that.

He’s a big shot thanks to their big shots.

A Long Island rooted diehard Knicks fan living in the heart of Celtics territory is going viral for turning New York playoff wins into clever Billy Joel lyrics — and it might just be a good luck charm for the NBA Finals vs. the Spurs.

“When I decided to do it, they had won maybe five straight by that point,” 21-year-old Luke Wenner of Attleboro, Massachusetts, told The Post after the streak reached 11 straight.

“I was like, yeah, might as well see how it goes. Obviously, it’s worked out pretty well,” added Wenner, who has gotten praise from Mick Jagger’s son, Lucas.

The New Englander’s magnum opus came in homage to Madison Square Garden’s favorite with a “Piano Man” parody after Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals vs. Cleveland. Wenner energetically recapped when the Knicks erased a historic 22-point fourth-quarter deficit over the Cavaliers.

“It’s eight o’clock on a Tuesday, the regular Knicks shuffle in / They swiftly go down from their rustiness — and soon the comeback begins,” Wenner sang and played on piano. 

“The Cavs had their biggest lead of the day — and the Knicks are down 22, but Brunson swoops in and scores 15 real quick and the Cavs are crying boo hoo.”

Wenner — a devout Knicks, Islanders, Giants, and Mets fan because his dad is from Middle Island — followed in Game 2 with a takeoff of “Movin’ Out” AKA “(Anunoby’s Song),” and then “New York Knicks State of Mind” for Game 3. 

He changed “She’s Always a Woman” to “It’ll Always Be New York for Me” when the Knicks swept Cleveland in four, in a clip that was liked over 10,000 times.

“I’ll sit there, as I’m watching the games, I’ll either pick a song or two of Billy Joel’s to keep in mind,” said Wenner, who idolizes Hicksville’s hometown hero Joel.

“I’ll be reading the lyrics, and I’m like, ‘oh, this player’s name would work perfectly in this verse.'”

Wenner showed The Post his “For the Longest Time” rework he will release ahead of the team’s first finals appearance since 1999. 

“Maybe some had thought our hope was gone, but the true New Yorkers did stay strong,” it goes.

“And now the time’s come, let’s go and take home this one — we have been waiting for the longest time.”

The recent psychology and criminal justice grad began with about 70 followers after dropping the Game 1 jingle. He’s close to 3,000 in a matter of days since blue and orange nation became touched by his tunes.

“It’s just been so great seeing that a huge majority of the comments are very favorable, and they definitely love what I’ve been doing,” Wenner said. “It’s just been nuts.”

And, Wenner’s river of dreams is a long time coming after putting up with the folks around Beantown.

“I’ve definitely gotten a lot of flak throughout my whole school career, because, pretty much all of my teams have been pretty horrible,” lamented Wenner. 

He likened the Knicks’ underdog outlook to that of his G-Men when they faced the Patriots in Super Bowl XLII and again in Super Bowl XLVI.

“They didn’t give the Giants a chance. So, I think it’s possible,” said Wenner. 

“It would just mean the world to me, especially given that I can rub it in the faces of my fellow Celtics fans.”