It wasn't hard to spot the pair of viral Spurs fans, who've made their presence known at Frost Bank Center throughout San Antonio's playoff run, at Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals.
The female fans, who made waves online when they were seen on the broadcast for Games 3 and 4 of the Western Conference finals, stood out once again when they were spotted behind the Spurs’ bench.
One wore a bright body-con dress, and the other had on a plunging top and white capri pants while standing in a crowd of San Antonio fans, all wearing the same bright yellow shirt.
The team gave away shirts to fans in the arena — but the two women opted not to wear them.
“Can someone tell those chicks to wear their shirts! You know who you are,” one fan wrote on X.
The pair of viral Spurs fans returned to Frost Bank Center for Game 1 of the NBA Finals on June 3, 2026. X/@MarGOSFFL
“He said he takes back what he said about San Antonio women,” @bluebeari3 shared in an X post, referring to the Barkley’s remarks when he said that San Antonio is the home of “some big ol’ women” while on-air in 2014, along with other digs at San Antonio women over the years.
The ladies first captured the public’s attention when the were spotted sitting behind the Spurs bench during the Western Conference finals against the Thunder.
The pair of viral Spurs fans, (L) @juliejswan and (R) @bluebeari3, at Game 1 of the NBA Finals in San Antonio on June 3, 2026. Instagram/juliejswanThe pair of viral Spurs fans, (L) @bluebeari3 and (R) @juliejswan at Game 1 of the NBA Finals in San Antonio on June 3, 2026. TikTok/juliejswan
SAN ANTONIO, TX - JUNE 2: Mason Plumlee #45 of the San Antonio Spurs passes the ball during 2026 NBA Finals Practice and Media Availability on June 2, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE(Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
In Game 1 of the NBA Finals, New York basically out-toughed San Antonio late in the game to pull out a 105-95 win.
As we’ve seen during the rest of the playoffs, former Blue Devil Mason Plumlee rarely gets off the bench, and Wednesday was no exception, as he got another DNP.
In general, you could argue that this game was a great example of the value of experience.
The average age of the Knicks starters is about 29. The average age of San Antonio’s are closer to 22. The overall average age of the Knicks is 27.2; for the Spurs, it’s 25.2.
The Spurs, and particularly Victor Wembanyama, are the future of the league, but it may not happen this year. Wembanyama, for example, shot just 6-21 Wednesday night, and said bluntly that he had a bad game.
Game 2 is on Friday, and is again in San Antonio. If the Spurs lose twice at home, they’ll have a major problem.
He had just finished playing his first career NBA Finals game – an achievement that, when realized just four days prior, had brought him to tears – and he sat at the podium and calmly took questions.
The Spurs had lost, 105-95 Wednesday, June 3, and it wasn’t emotion Wembanyama was showing. This time, it was poise.
"Nothing," Wembanyama said after the game when asked if he was kicking himself over anything. "We’ve been down in a series before. Never in the Finals, obviously, but I'm not kicking myself about anything, really. I'm not worried in the slightest."
It was, by basically any significant metric, a flop.
The Spurs blew an eight-point lead in the fourth quarter, lost by 10 and ceded homecourt advantage. Historically, teams that lose Game 1 of the Finals have gone on to lose the series 69.6% of the time (24-55).
Wembanyama finished with 26 points, but he shot just 6-of-21 from the field. He committed six turnovers and forced shots down the stretch when Knicks centers Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson clamped him up on defense.
"I was bad tonight," Wembanyama said. "It's not more complicated than that."
Perhaps Wembanyama’s calm and measured approach is merely posturing. Perhaps he understands that the rest of the Spurs take his lead.
The more likely scenario is that Wembanyama, who has proven time and again this season to own competitive maturity well beyond his 22 years, understands that the Spurs can still win these NBA Finals.
How Wembanyama and his teammates respond to this Game 1 loss will merely be another opportunity for him to express his greatness.
Because that’s one of the indelible marks of the all-time greats, the ability to adjust and bounce back from defeats. The reality is Wembanyama is still learning, and how he comes responds in Game 2 will be indicative whether the Spurs can legitimately threaten the Knicks, who have won 12 consecutive playoff games in historic fashion.
Wembanyama did try to set the tone early; he was heavily involved in San Antonio’s actions in the first minutes of the game and appeared intent on establishing urgency. But the Knicks responded with physicality, using the extra heft that Towns and Robinson wield, to put their hands on him and body him every time he tried to establish position in the paint.
Wembanyama started to back out of the paint and settle for outside shots; he’d convert just four field goals in the paint. He never appeared comfortable, and some of his shots late in the game, as New York carried a lead midway through the fourth, were wild and off-target.
Victor Wembanyama hits the side of the backboard on the driving attempt, and shortly after, hits the top of the backboard on the corner 3 attempt pic.twitter.com/beBasVXUgo
Step one for Wembanyama in Game 2 should be to aggressively attack Towns, who is prone to falling into foul trouble, at the rim.
"It felt like he missed a few shots early," Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said after the game. "We got to get him moving in space and toward the rim, whether that’s on rolls or running in transition. But we need the pressure on the rim and the force in the paint. They did a good job of obviously being physical and showing crowds. We need to do a better job of establishing that early on, for sure."
San Antonio’s response to New York’s physicality manifested itself in other ways, too. The Knicks were able to scoop up timely offensive rebounds that led to debilitating second-chance points, a statistic the Knicks led, 23-14.
The Spurs, inside the final minute of the game, committed a pair of turnovers.
It’s why Wembanyama said, of Game 1, that he thought the Spurs "let that one go."
It’s also why, as Wembanyama has said previously this postseason following defeats, it’s all about adhering San Antonio’s system and identity.
"It’s almost not like I have anything to figure out," Wembanyama said. "It’s almost like I have to play normal – not even good. It’s, like, just doing the right things is enough. When we play bad, when I play bad, is when we shoot ourselves in the foot. This is why I’m not worried. We’re going to be so much better. I’m going to be so much better."
Warriors coach Steve Kerr shares a moment with Steph Curry (30) and Draymond Green (center) after Golden State bowed out of the play-in tournament against the Suns. NBAE via Getty Images
Those words struck a chord with Kerr, who signed a two-year contract extension with Golden State last month. Over the last decade, there’s so much that stands out about the league’s modern-day dynasty.
There are the four championships in eight years. Steph Curry’s unconscious scoring sprees. The Splash Brothers. Draymond Green’s lockdown defense. Shimmies. The “Night Night” celebrations. The joy.
But above all else, what makes the Warriors unique is their loyalty.
Kerr has coached Curry and Green for 12 years. Curry and Green have played together for 14 years. Before Klay Thompson left the Warriors in free agency in 2024, he, Curry and Green were the longest-tenured trio in the league.
It’s remarkable when you think about it.
In a league with constant turnover — where players don’t hesitate to undercut organizations by requesting trades and franchises deal personnel as though they were used furniture — the Warriors stand out.
It’s obvious that when Kerr was pondering whether he wanted to remain on the treadmill of marathon NBA seasons, under the scrutiny that accompanies fading dynasties, there were two beacons of light that guided him toward the more difficult option: Curry and Green.
The three of them are family.
They’ve been atop the league. They’ve been in its cellar. They’ve fought against each other. They’ve fought for one another.
Through it all, something was deeply understood: There’s a lot of love there.
Kerr and Curry have shown up at Green’s house and talked to him for hours when he has struggled. Green has put his body on the line for them. They’ve spent more time together than with their own families, including 152 postseason games since 2015, which is the equivalent of nearly two extra NBA seasons.
Green (23), Curry and Kerr have been in 152 postseason games together since 2015. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Kerr talks about Curry with awe. He describes Green as the best defender he has seen. When Kerr was unsure about his future, Green said he hoped he’d return. Curry added that all he wants is for him to be happy.
“He knows how I feel about him,” Curry told reporters in April. “That shouldn’t even need to be said.”
Green’s relationship with Kerr is more nuanced.
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They’ve had public outbursts. They’ve had screaming matches behind closed doors. The Warriors’ success was inextricably tied to Green’s fire and sometimes it raged, clashing with Kerr’s infamous intensity.
“There’s things he’s done that I could never forgive him for,” Green said of Kerr on his podcast, “The Draymond Green Show.” “And yet I will do anything for him.”
As for Curry and Green, they basically grew up together. They became winners together. They watched each other become fathers. Green’s job was to ignite passion, while Curry’s was to remain effortlessly unbothered. They became each other’s ultimate complements on the court.
Nowadays, it’s wild for a coach and players to have that kind of staying power together.
There are only two NBA coaches who have held their jobs for at least five years, Kerr and the Heat’s Erik Spoelstra.
As for Curry and Green, they’re the NBA’s longest-tenured active duo. They’ve played together longer than many of the most famous duos in NBA history, such as Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen (11 years) and Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10 years).
Kerr recently signed a two-year contract extension to stay with the Warriors. NBAE via Getty Images
Things are now greatly shifting for the Warriors.
For the first time in Green’s career, he was involved in trade rumors in February. He’s 36. Curry is 38. Since winning their last championship in 2022, they haven’t gotten past the second round of the playoffs.
But this much is sure: The bond between Kerr, Curry and Green runs deep. That was never more palpable than when they feared their days together were coming to an end.
After their season was derailed by Jimmy Butler suffering a torn ACL in January and Curry missing 27 straight games because of an ailing knee, their playoff hopes came down to a pair of play-in games.
In their do-or-die contest against the Clippers, Curry and Green showed their championship DNA, stunningly clawing their way back from a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit in a 126-121 win.
Curry had 35 points on 7-for-12 shooting from beyond the arc, including making a step-back 3-pointer with 50.4 seconds left and the score knotted at 117.
Curry had 35 points on 7-for-12 shooting from beyond the arc, including making a step-back 3-pointer with 50.4 seconds left and the score knotted at 117. NBAE via Getty Images
Green held Kawhi Leonard to 1-for-2 shooting in the fourth quarter, leaving the two-time NBA champion completely flummoxed. “It was hard to even get shots up,” Leonard said.
After a slog of a season, Kerr overflowed with pride at something that had been reawakened in some of the greatest competitors on the planet.
“For one night, we’re us,” he said. “We’re champions again.”
The magic was gone in the Warriors’ next play-in game, as their season flatlined in a 111-96 loss to the Suns.
After the final buzzer, Kerr put his arms around Curry and Green. He said a few words. And then the three men who had been through nearly a decade and a half of battles together shared a hug.
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“I don’t know what’s going to happen next,” Kerr told them. “But I love you guys to death.”
Weeks of uncertainty followed. Did Kerr want to return? Did the Warriors’ long-term goals clash with his win-now approach? Did we just witness the official end of one of the greatest dynasties in sports history?
But ultimately, Kerr decided to return for his 13th season with Curry and Green.
The Warriors haven’t been contenders for four years. Their goal post has shifted from championship or bust to trying to see how far they can take things together. If they’re all healthy, they believe no one would want to face them.
And they’re not wrong.
It’s hard to walk away from that. It’s difficult to close the door on such a stunning chapter.
But as Kerr pondered his options, his wife reminded him of the ultimate reason he decided not to walk away.
He wasn’t ready to say goodbye to Curry and Green.
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 16: Darius Garland #10 of the Los Angeles Clippers dribbles past Victor Wembanyama #1 and De'aaron Fox #4 of the San Antonio Spurs during the second half of a game at Intuit Dome on March 16, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Did you know that before De’Aaron Fox was traded to the San Antonio Spurs, Rich Paul had planned to push a trade to San Antonio involving Darius Garland? Neither did I. But even before Fox was interested in leaving Sacramento, the famed agent saw the need for a ball-handler in the Alamo City.
Rich Paul reveals he had Darius Garland lined up for a trade to the Spurs prior to the Fox trade, and that Fox had no problem with being the #2 behind Wemby:
"I remember a trade getting ready to take place and De'Aaron and I were talking about it, and we were talking about… pic.twitter.com/FbSTIaqQ1J
Rich Paul reveals Darius Garland was frustrated with Cleveland. Paul had been working up a trade to the Spurs. At the time, Fox had not been interested in leaving Sacramento.
Paul shared,
“I remember a trade getting ready to take place and De’Aaron and I were talking about it, and we were talking about different options where he could go etc, and obviously I had the Spurs kinda teed up.. At first it wasn’t De’Aaron, it was another guard that I represent that I was envisioning going there, because De’Aaron wasn’t wanting to be traded yet.. It was Darius Garland. He was flustered, he was frustrated and he wanted to get out.. and the Spurs before they got the 2nd pick, they needed a point guard. And I thought next to Wemby, with shooting and all that. And then things changed and he was fine. And then so now Mike Brown got fired.. and so in De’Aaron’s case when he finally got to the point to where ‘you know what it’s probably time’, and we’re having a conversation, one of the things we talked about was: OK if you get to the Spurs, are you OK being number 2? And (Fox) didn’t even flinch. ‘Absolutely, absolutely.'”
First of all, isn’t it amazing what goes on behind the scenes. An agent, looking out for his client, is wheeling and dealing to get him into the best position to succeed. Blows my mind, the chess that goes into putting together a formidable team. I also loved that Fox never had a problem playing just outside of Wemby’s spotlight. He’s said it publicly, but knowing that’s how he truly feels solidified that the trade worked out well for Fox and the Spurs.
What do you think, Pounders? Could Garland have made the same impact that Fox has made? There are similarities between the two for certain. But as we’ve seen, the dynamic of the team factors heavily into the success of the Spurs. As it stands, they have developed into a cohesive unit. Could Garland have blended seamlessly into this incarnation of the Spurs?
We’re in the NBA Finals with De’Aaron Fox, but have some fun with with the hypothetical.
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Jun 3, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) and guard Jalen Brunson (11) react in the first half during game one of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images | Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Game 1 of the NBA Finals saw the New York Knicks come back from trailing by as many as 14 in the second half to defeat the Spurs in San Antonio by a score of 105-95.
It was a big night for New York’s star guard Jalen Brunson, who scored 30 points in the victory, nearly half of which came in the fourth quarter. However, former Kentucky Wildcat Karl Anthony-Towns also came up big for the Knicks in the Game 1 win, securing a double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds to go along with 4 assists.
KAT had some key offensive rebounds for the Knicks in the win, and continued a solid postseason, where he is averaging nearly 17 points per game to go along with 10.6 rebounds, almost 6 assists, and almost 1.5 blocks per game.
The Knicks came into the Finals riding high off a sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals. Many wondered how they would respond after the long break with the Spurs-Thunder series going 7 games, but the Knicks pulled off a massive win in San Antonio to open this series.
Tweet of the Day
KAT:
"I just felt a calm and a peace that had to be come from the woman above (his mom). I felt like a kid. It was just fun out here. It felt like I was a kid getting ready to go play my Saturday AAU games and Sunday AAU games. In a way I felt like I was seeing her in the… pic.twitter.com/iGj4FwxL8C
There’s a fine line between pessimism and realism. The line between optimism and delusion is equally fine.
On a related note, people are annoying.
“Just be a fan!”
Sorry if I can’t turn my brain off. It just functions despite self-interest.
“The Houston Rockets are doomed!”
Yes, a team stacked with good players under 25 and one of the best collections of draft capital in the NBA is thoroughly hopeless because they’re not as good as two teams. Absolutely doomed to damnation, they are.
It’s a fine line. All you can do is operate on a case-by-case basis. For example, we don’t know what Fred VanVleet might look like in 2026-27 after returning from a torn ACL.
Unfortunately, realism feels more viable than delusion in this case.
Rockets’ Fred VanVleet returning from gruesome injury
One frustrating component of this situation is the lack of precedent. Every case of a player returning from an ACL tear before, say, 2005 or so, should be thrown out. Sports medicine has improved a lot, which is why LeBron James is still practically LeBron James at the age of 41.
Yet, nothing short of sorcery could completely mitigate the effects of an ACL tear. It remains a variable. If we’re looking for recent examples of full recoveries, the data set is limited.
Zach LaVine did it. He tore his ACL in 2017 and eventually came back better than ever. He’s not a good analog for VanVleet. LaVine was a raw athlete who facilitated his comeback by developing his overall craftiness and feel for the game. VanVleet is an already-underwhelming NBA athlete who’s got craft and feel to spare.
One could argue that makes him a strong candidate to return to form. One could also argue that he couldn’t spare any of the athleticism he already had. That said, LaVine’s burst and vertical leap weren’t diminished, so perhaps VanVleet can functionally be the same athlete he was before:
Although that’s arguably part of the problem.
There’s another difference between LaVine and VanVleet: Age. LaVine was 21 when he suffered his injury. VanVleet is 32. That also separates him from Jamal Murray, who successfully returned from an ACL tear at 24. Even if VanVleet’s ACL had remained intact, there was concern that he’d decline:
He sure looked to be when he was last in action.
Rockets need point guard solutions
VanVleet was not bad in 2024-25. That would be an overstatement. He was still the undisputed champion of high-volume assist-to-turnover ratio’ing. His pull-up three was still a weapon.
But, he was the worst version of himself to exist in some time. VanVleet averaged 14.1 points per game with a woeful 51.5 True Shooting % (TS%).
Per databallr, the Rockets were still +3.4 when he was on the floor. VanVleet has always been someone who just finds a way to make good things happen. A timely steal here, a smart pass there. He’s always defended the point of attack well, in addition to the aforementioned superpower of never turning the ball over.
The Rockets will (almost certainly) be adding a rotation-caliber point guard to the rotation. For this team, that alone is a positive. Still, they’d better not be counting on VanVleet as a surefire starter. Either they’re ready to give Reed Sheppard a longer leash, they’ve got an acquisition in mind (whether a starter or someone to bolster a platoon) or they’re wildly optimistic:
SAN ANTONIO, TX - JUNE 3: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks talks to the media during Game One of the 2026 NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs on June 3, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE(Photo by Sharon Chi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The consensus NBA Finals favorite, the mighty San Antonio Spurs, and all their backers ate humble pie on Wednesday…
…and a banged-up yet unstoppable Jalen Brunson served it to them.
Read this Bulletin while rejoicing in the fact that New York is just three games away from sporting 24-karat rings on their collective fingers.
Mike Brown says that Rick Brunson told him to "shut the hell up" when it came to complaining about the officiating tonight: pic.twitter.com/8YF8PXJO7i
“I didn’t think he was (limited). I’ve got to go back and watch the tape. He caught a lob. He was still a vertical threat. … And then defensively, I thought he was pretty good as well, trying to rebound, keeping those guys off the glass.”
On trusting Jalen Brunson late:
“We put the ball in his hands and said we are going to live and die with him. And he got it done for us, and that’s happened time after time after time.”
On Brunson’s second-half takeover:
“He’s a gamer, man. In the biggest moments, he shows up, and that’s what MVPs are supposed to do. He carried us home. We put the ball in his hands and said we are going to live and die with him. And he got it done for us, and that’s happened time after time after time. He got to his spots and he made plays.”
On learning through a tough win:
“We felt we didn’t play well, but it’s good to learn with a win.”
On Karl-Anthony Towns’ impact:
“He’s a problem. You put a small guy on him, he’s got a chance to offensive rebound. You put a big guy on him, he’s got a chance to pick-and-pop and go around guys. We have to just keep trying to move him around based on who is guarding him throughout the course of the ballgame, but he was huge for us with his double-double. He came up with some timely buckets for us. He’s a problem. You put a small guy on him, he’s got a chance to offensive rebound. You put a big guy on him, he’s got a chance to pick-and-pop and go around guys.”
On Landry Shamet’s play off the bench:
“Landry was huge off the bench. Not only [scoring, but] defensively he was huge for us.”
On OG Anunoby’s impact:
“OG got it going in the second half. He was huge for us in the second half.”
On Jalen Brunson’s injury scare nearly pushing him to sub Tyler Kolek in:
“I’m too emotional and you know, when I get caught up in injuries, so when he got hurt and he went out, ‘Jose, let’s go.’ And I was about to throw Tyler Kolek in the game, too. Jalen came back, tough as nails, and to me he didn’t seem like he had any effect afterwards. I haven’t talked to our medical people. He didn’t look like it was bothering him down the stretch, and so I think he’s OK.”
On the team’s resilience:
“These guys are resilient, man. They get better as the game goes along. They really try to pay attention to the details that we are throwing at them.”
On staying the course when trailing in Game 1:
“You know, we’re down double digits tonight, and we were also down double digits in Game 1 against Cleveland. And for our guys just to stay with it is huge. Because anything can happen in a 48-minute game, as long as you stay the course.”
On making transition defense adjustments on the fly:
“These guys are just fast, and we can’t buddy-run — you’ve got to sprint back, and you’ve got to shift to the ball. You’ve got to make the paint look crowded, and then you’ve got to get to their shooters, just because they are so good in transition.”
On the bench unit:
“We’ve gotten lifts from our bench at different times. All of those guys have had big moments for us throughout the course of these playoffs so far. For us, that’s something that we’ve wanted to establish during the course of the [regular season] for moments like these.”
On Rick Brunson calming the team:
“We were all bitching too much at the officials. Rick Brunson was great. He told me to shut the hell up – sorry Mom – and he told the rest of the team to be quiet and leave the officials alone. It was great of him because we were all kind of losing our minds, and I did it, the rest of the guys did it, and it helped us put our energy elsewhere – especially in the second half.”
On his minute-management philosophy:
“In terms of the minutes, it’s a philosophy I had. One of the many things I learned from Pop and Steve [Kerr]. Steve was really good at trying to play a lot of different guys. Not only that, a guy that hadn’t been in the rotation for a while, one game he might throw him out there as a starter. That kept guys engaged or on their toes, however you want to call it. Then at the end of the day, I’m not a medical person, but just from what medical people say, if you can kind of control the minutes during the regular season, it helps them during the postseason. From people telling me that, I believe it. That’s what I tried to do.”
On navigating adversity during the season:
“First of all, there’s always rocky moments during the course of the season. That’s what the season’s there for. I actually hoped there would be some big, rocky times or adverse times because you have to try to fight through them as an organization, not just as a team, but as an organization, to see if everybody can stay connected during those times. Getting to the Finals is not easy. If you can navigate through some of those adverse or tough times throughout the season, you’ll give yourself a chance when it really matters, which is the postseason.”
“Honestly, I just think our chemistry. Just knowing that we have each others’ back. There’s a lot of things Xs-and-Os-wise that we could’ve done better, but I think most importantly our togetherness was the biggest difference.”
On respecting the Spurs:
“They come ready to play more than any other team that we’ve faced. And so, we have the utmost respect for them. We know that we’ve got to be ready for Game 2. We just found a way to make big plays to end the game.”
On never leaving the clutch zone:
“I think it starts with my confidence. It comes with my work ethic. I think most importantly, knowing we’re on the road, and knowing my teammates have my back, I think that’s the biggest thing in an environment like this. The trust they have in me and the trust I have in them, it’s got us to this point. I mean, I’m very thankful for them every single night we go out there together.”
On closing out Game 1:
“I don’t want to say calmness, but I think we know what we have to do. I think we are a pretty together group. Be able to trust each other and still have each other’s back and know that we just have to keep chipping away, chipping away. It’s just a credit to the mentality that we have as a team.”
On sticking together through adversity:
“I was happy by how we stuck together. It wasn’t really our night. Wasn’t my night most of the night. But I liked how resilient we were tonight. We kept chipping away.”
On the team’s comfort late in games:
“I think we know what we have to do. I think we are a pretty together group. Be able to trust each other and still have each other’s back and know that we just have to keep chipping away, chipping away. It’s just a credit to the mentality that we have as a team. But we can’t just be satisfied with that. We have a long way to go and we have a lot of things to do to be better, but happy we came away with a win.”
On Josh Hart’s reliability:
“Whatever you need from him, he’s going to execute. That’s just who he is. He’s always been that way. I can’t explain it. He just has a knack for doing things like that, and in crucial times as well. It’s a credit to who he is as a player.”
On his injury status heading into Game 2:
“I’ll be alright.”
OG Anunoby
On his second-half explosion:
“My teammates were finding me and I was being aggressive and ready to shoot. Just shoot with confidence.”
This, then the postgame interview.
Never thought I’d become this huge a KAT fan.
Always been a great guy and a great player.
And yet feels like he’s gone through a very late-career maturation process through a tumultuous season.
“Today, our offense didn’t show up until late and our defense was there from the beginning, and that’s what saved us. If we can find a way to get the offense going and continue to improve our defense — not only just keep it where it was tonight, but improve on it — we’ll give ourselves a chance to win every night.”
On the collective concern after Brunson’s injury scare:
“You know, when we all saw him limp off, we were worried not only because he’s Jalen Brunson but more because he’s our brother and we are a family in our locker room. Just worried about his health. But when we were on the court and I saw him walking back out to the bench, it was a relief feeling just to know he’s safe. That was really at the end of the day all we care about it is his safety.”
On defending Victor Wembanyama:
“You’re just trying to make it difficult. He’s an amazing, a one of a kind player that this league has ever seen, so you just try to make it as difficult as possible for him.”
On sensing his mother’s presence:
“To be honest with y’all, and I don’t want to sound sugarcoating in any way… I don’t know what it was but I just felt a calming (presence) and a peace that had to be coming from the woman above. In a way, I felt like I was seeing her in the stands. It was fun and was really comforting. It felt like a certain presence that was here that was very comforting and very loving. I felt like I could have fun out here in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, which is the weirdest thing.”
On Brunson’s clutch skills:
“With the ball in his hands, I’m never surprised. I tell you, that last shot — I think it was a shoot-floater. That was nasty, I ain’t going to lie.”
On trusting his preparation:
“You just trust your work and you trust your decision-making, and I always say [I want to be] aggressive in play-making.”
Mitchell Robinson was asked if he enjoyed the physicality of tonight's game:
“My job is my job, and it remains the same: to be ready for whatever situation or moment you’re asked to step into, and that’s the only thing I think about. I’m not thinking about how it started, anything in the past. … We’ll do the whole reflection and look back thing when it’s all said and done. We are all focused on our job and how we can best help each other try to get a win.”
On maintaining perspective through highs and lows:
“I’m a believer that everything you go through … prepares you for where you’re ultimately headed in one way or another, even if it doesn’t line up perfectly. I’m really grateful for all the highs and lows I’ve been through personally. All I know right now is that I’m here. Like I said, I’m trying not to get too reflective, open up that can of worms of looking back on everything, quite yet. There’s [three] more wins between me and doing that, that I’m more worried about.”
On Jalen Brunson’s leadership:
“He’s our captain for a reason. He’s not afraid of the moment.”
On the team’s unselfish locker room:
“Truthfully, with this team — I’ve said it a number of times — we’ve got a group that truly roots for each other, wants each other to succeed. It’s special when you have a locker room where those ulterior motives bleed into your locker room. Look at our bench, different guys throughout the playoffs that have been inserted, have had to step up, play bigger roles in certain situations. There’s a lot of reasons on paper where it would look like you could get a little bitter about so-and-so is taking so-and-so’s minutes, whatever the case may be. Truthfully, this team, we have a special group where we all root for each other, know that job and role could look different for anybody any night.”
“I felt like a kid. It was just fun out here.”
Karl-Anthony Towns shares the sense of peace he felt going into Game 1 of the NBA Finals 🏀 pic.twitter.com/grbyAYdT4P
“Honestly, with KAT, I feel like when he’s locked in he’s not just doing the scoring, doing the assisting, but he’s setting the pick (on the pick) and roll, and he’s diving hard, and then defensively he’s bringing a physical presence. What he did for us was not just guard him at a high level, but he kept him from getting those second-chance opportunities, which I think is something Wemby does phenomenal. I feel like that’s huge. Taking away a first shot is big, but to take away that second one was big for us.”
On the late surge earning them a Game 1 victory:
“I think once we settled down and locked in as a team, we changed the game.”
On Knicks fans traveling to San Antonio:
“It’s not surprising at this point. We know they’re going to be there and gonna be loud, so shoutout Knicks nation.”
"It was good. Can't think about it too much. Now we got to go tomorrow, watch film, learn from the win. They're going to come out with a lot of energy, a sense of urgency, a sense of desperation and we got to do the same thing."
On his second-half energy after running up and down the court all evening:
“I had a lot of energy. I think I only played like seven minutes in the first half. I knew I had to come out, be aggressive. It was just come in and inject energy.”
On Jalen Brunson closing games:
“We’re extremely comfortable. We want him with the ball at the end. He’s one of those rare or few guys if you’re in a one or two possession game at the end, and if he has the ball, you’re extremely comfortable, extremely calm. I don’t want to give him too much credit, like I’m looking at him in awe or something. But we’re extremely comfortable with that. He had big shots, and he had big plays.”
On the team’s toughness:
“We’ve just got a lot of tough guys. A lot of guys that don’t quit. You know, everybody in this locker room has had adversity. They wouldn’t be here if they didn’t, and they wouldn’t be here if they didn’t make it through that adversity. So whenever we’re down, we don’t panic. We continue to play our brand of basketball, and you know, that’s always … that’s cool.”
In response to being asked about the quality of the Game 1 win, Mikal Bridges said:
On the Knicks’ approach to Game 2 after stealing home advantage:
“We take care of what’s in front of us. Another game Friday. Start zero-zero.”
On the team’s hunger:
“We’re going to keep fighting, no matter what. We all just were hungry and desperate. That’s all we’re going to be. Every single day. Every single game.”
“He definitely holds himself accountable. I would suspect he’ll learn a lot of things from tonight’s game and come out with a good approach in Game 2.”
On getting Wembanyama moving toward the rim:
“We got to get him moving in space and toward the rim, whether that’s on rolls or running in transition. But we need the pressure on the rim and the force in the paint.”
On losing the offensive rebounding battle:
“The offensive rebounds crushed us. Twenty-three second-chance points. We’re up one point, 93-94, 94-95, get them to miss. Brunson hits a 3, they go on an 11-0 run. Tough.”
On defending Jalen Brunson:
“He’s a tremendous player that’s skilled, picks his spots, knows his angles. Shoots contested shots without being sped up. He’s a phenomenal player and we just have to keep making him work. He had a phenomenal game. He got going and got a few in a row, but 30 points on 31 shots, is something you probably want to keep making him work for those points. Probably some of the other stuff that we can control, instead of him making or missing shots.”
On fatigue as a factor:
“I don’t think it was fatigue. I’m sure guys got tired at times. I don’t think anyone’s performance was based on fatigue, I think we just need to be sharper and execute better. And continue to work the game and not fight it at times and play the right way.”
"It's almost not like I have anything to figure out. It's almost like I have to play normal, not even good…"
–– Victor Wembanyama on what he has to do to beat the Knicks after losing Game 1pic.twitter.com/eSnojh1bxG
“It’s not like I have anything to figure out. It’s almost like I have to be normal, not even good… It’s like just doing the right things is enough… When we shoot ourselves in the foot, this is why I’m not worried. We’re going to be so much better, I’m going to be so much better.”
On adjusting his play after the loss:
“I agree with the coach. Every team guards differently, I’m gonna figure it out. I was bad tonight, it’s not more complicated than that. I think we let that one go.”
On defending Brunson better moving forward:
“He’s an elite player, and we don’t have many more chances. It’s a first-to-four series. So we’re going to have time to work on it.”
On being down in a series before:
“We’ve been down in a series before. I’m not kicking myself about anything, really. I’m not worried in the slightest.”
On a fan running onto the court for a selfie:
“I’ve never been in that situation. I didn’t know how to act. It really surprised me.”
Dylan Harper says that he does not feel like fatigue played an issue in the Spur's performance tonight:
"I feel both teams were fatigued.. I feel like they just executed a little bit better" pic.twitter.com/xz4kIHR93P
“We’re confident but also have a chip on our shoulder from this game we just lost. You never want to lose and going into this next game, we’re going to be even more hungrier and keep on proving.”
On fatigue impacting Game 1:
“I feel both teams were fatigued, really. I just feel like they executed better.”
Devin Vassell
On the need for better rebounding:
“We know we’ve got to control the boards. With this series, they like to crash the glass — KAT, OG, all them. Can’t just be one half where we’re crashing the glass. We’ve got to help Vic. We’ve got to help the bigs down there. That’s going to be a huge part of this series.”
“It’s really been terrible defense on the Knicks. Cause if you actually look at [Julian Champagnie’s] threes. Why is he wide open? There’s no reason to be leaving him wide open.”
On how the Knicks can beat the Spurs:
“The Spurs can’t guard the pick and roll. When [the Knicks] run the pick and roll with KAT they get something good everytime. We have to give KAT his flowers.”
"These guys are on the brink of doing something so so special" – Monica McNutt on the history and the statistics being on the Knicks' side as they take Game 1 in the NBA Finals. @NYKnicks | @McNuttMonica | #AlwaysKnickspic.twitter.com/Be2UhOxTid
On the 558th Sporticast episode, hosts Scott Soshnick and Eben Novy-Williams discuss some of the biggest sports business stories of the week, including a blockbuster sneaker deal. Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry announced a 10-year agreement with Chinese brand Li-Ning earlier this week.
Curry was a sneaker free agent for less than a year, after abruptly separating from Under Armour in November. As part of the new deal, his Curry Brand will expand under Li-Ning, with lifestyle and golf products expected in the coming years. The deal appears aimed at replicating something like what Nike built with Jordan Brand over the last three decades.
The hosts talk about the underlying deal motivations. Nearly 99% of Li-Ning’s revenue comes from China, and Curry Brand will provide a jumping off point for the company to increase sales in other parts of the world. The opposite is also true: Curry stands to make millions more in China by being associated with a domestic brand, especially now that Chinese consumers are increasingly choosing to avoid companies based in Europe and the Americas.
Next the hosts talk about the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs. It’s a dream matchup for the NBA, which gets to pit a young, generational talent (Victor Wembanyama) against the country’s largest market, whose main team hasn’t been to the Finals in nearly 30 years.
They close by talking about the World Cup and the vibes in America with about a week left until games kick off. They talk about how the six-week tournament is really two separate events. At the start, a barrage of group stage matches will produce a lot of matchups with limited interest, empty seats, and plenty of soccer fatigue. Then, once the knockout stages start, the tournament’s most important matches will be among the biggest sporting events ever held.
(You can subscribe to Sporticast through Apple, Spotify, or wherever else you get your podcasts.)
SAN ANTONIO, TX - JUNE 3: The New York Knicks bench celebrates during the game against the San Antonio Spurs during Game One of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 3, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Knicks stunned the NBA world (for better or worse) on Wednesday night, stealing Game 1 of the NBA Finals in San Antonio for the team’s first road win on the biggest stage since Game 2 back in 1994.
In an ugly, physical, defensive-focused game, the box score doesn’t look pretty, but we’ll try to grade the guys based on how they looked and their impact, rather than judging them by their efficiency, considering the stage.
Looking at the statline alone and knowing Brunson’s shortcomings defensively, you might have an eyebrow raised looking at this grade if you didn’t watch the game, but to fully contextualize things, you have to look at the bigger picture.
Harrison Barnes flopped to his knee in the first quarter, prompting him to head to the locker room. OAKAAK Luke Kornet stepped on his foot in the second quarter. He was in serious pain for much of the first half as he struggled with his shot and looked apprehensive at times. He started 1-for-8 and 6-for-20. He couldn’t buy a three. It wasn’t his night.
And then he just fried their faces off in the fourth quarter. 13 points on 5-for-9 shooting. Calming down the troops after surrendering a brutal 9-0 run in the final minutes with a clutch three with 1:50 to go. Making impossible shot after impossible shot.
He doesn’t get an A because he was a big part of the team’s offensive struggles in the first half, but he was fantastic. On a day where nobody seemed to be firing on all cylinders, he was the best player out there.
This was Mikal’s worst game since Game 5 against Atlanta. He looked apprehensive as he adjusted to the truly generational rim protection of Victor Wembanyama. For a guy who’s one of the best shooters in this series, he didn’t take a three. Because of the way the Spurs are structured, he also doesn’t have a clear defensive responsibility.
But he was a big part of silencing San Antonio’s offense with active hands and strong contests. He also sneakily was the catalyst behind the Knicks picking themselves off the mat after falling behind 94-95, subbing in for Landry Shamet with 2:16 to go and being on the court for the game-ending 11-0 run. He got the assist on Brunson’s go-ahead triple.
His first half was very mediocre. He got into foul trouble and was clogging up the offense because of ghost coverage, which he wasn’t able to shoot his way out of.
Yet, like he always does, he found a way to make an impact. 10 rebounds in 19 second-half minutes. +17. Three clutch steals in the fourth quarter. He was everywhere.
If he starts making open threes, the Spurs are in trouble.
It was a weird game for OG. He was, like Bridges, apprehensive early, but he got more aggressive in the second half. He wasn’t able to fully get his game off because of Wemby’s rim protection, but he nailed three clutch triples in the second half to give the offense life.
He made four straight clutch free throws that took the life out of the Spurs. He played formidable defense all game. It was a solid OG game, but one that he can improve upon.
What a fantastic game for the Big Bodega, who’s playing the best team basketball of his career.
He didn’t make his threes. He didn’t make a shot outside the restricted area. He once again failed to clear 20 points.
Didn’t matter. He successfully dragged Wemby out of the paint and drove right past him. He spearheaded the third-quarter comeback that made it a game. Maybe Chet Holmgren can take notes.
Shaq and Charles Barkley said KAT made it look easy driving on Wemby
But what elevates his performance above all the rest? His defense on the most unstoppable force in basketball. Wemby was uncomfortable with him all game, going just 2-for-12 with three turnovers with Towns guarding him. In a postseason where he’s played the best defense of his career, he just had his magnum opus.
When the Knicks were down 14 in the third quarter and needed a life raft, McBride was on the court, doing all the little things and making the right plays.
He played better than his stat line. He had two of the most emphatic plays of the game in that third quarter.
Alvarado had some moments in his NBA Finals debut, but there were some moments that stood out to me in a negative way.
At times, he took too long to get into the offense. This works when you have a 1A like Brunson, but a player like Alvarado needs to get into the offense sooner. He’s not a gifted scorer or shooter, so his value on that end comes from his playmaking. He didn’t do enough there.
The decision-making was also odd. He isolated on Wemby at the three-point line with 5 seconds on the shot clock. He was taking rough floaters. He sagged off Julian Champagnie late in the first half.
His offense wasn’t all bad, though. He had a nifty reverse layup to get around the long arms of Wembanyama and nailed a three late in the first half. Overall, pretty average.
Shamet had the worst plus-minus on the Knicks, but it didn’t reflect his level of play.
Offensively, he was the only player who was able to make a three. He hit one in the midst of the big 3Q run, he hit a go-ahead layup early in the fourth, and had the quick trigger that the team needed badly.
Why was he -11? He was on the court for that late Spurs sprint before being replaced by Bridges with 2 minutes to go.
How do you judge a man who played just 13 minutes and didn’t touch the ball a lot?
He missed a dunk, he yammed it on his old best friend, and he grabbed six rebounds. All with a broken hand.
He could do more, but he was good in his spurts. He had one fantastic defensive possession on Wembanyama to force a turnover and another tremendous seal to give Brunson space to hit a key layup. He’s a high-IQ player who will be vital to getting three more wins.
Clarkson played six minutes, and you didn’t notice him much. Not sure why he attempted a three as his only shot, but we’ll have to see if he can get back to what he’s thrived at in Game 2
(@bluebeari3) June 3, 2026
