Oh, Jalen Green. What are we going to do with you?
There are only two years left on your contract, but I feel like we barely know you. You surprised us with that injury. That was pretty sneaky. To be real, I can’t quite figure you out. Some plays, I’m shouting, “MVP.” Some plays, I’m shouting, “Why did you shoot that?” Sometimes I’m shouting, “Man, if only…”
If only Jalen could finish at the rim, he’d be an All-Star. If only Jalen could improve his playmaking, we’d have an open three instead of a turnover. If only, if only, if only. But it was only two seasons ago that Jalen Green was the leading scorer on one of the best young teams in the NBA. He led the Rockets in points, field goal attempts, and three-point attempts. On the Suns, he ranked third in all three categories, and that makes me wonder. Were the Rockets a better fit for Jalen Green?
The pre-KD Rockets were young and athletic, stacked with long, rangy defenders that were developing their offensive games, and they relied on Jalen to do what Jalen Green does best. Get up shots. Create off the dribble. Attack the paint. Jalen Green led the Rockets in FGAs every single season he played for them.
That’s not what the Suns want from Jalen, at least not on that volume. The Suns have too many shooters for Jalen to stop the ball and go to work. The Suns want ball movement and open threes. The Suns want Devin Booker to go to work, and Jalen Green to be able to work off of him. For many of the Suns players, that was a recipe for success. Dillon Brooks took advantage of the spacing by posting a career high in points. Yet Jalen had a bumpier road. Derailed by an injury at the start of the season, Jalen returned to the Suns tentatively, clearly struggling with the mental aspects of returning from the first significant injury in his career, which underscores an important aspect of Jalen Green that needs to be considered. Jalen Green is still a young player.
There’s room for growth in Jalen Green’s game. The offseason has just started, and Jalen Green is already putting in the work. As is evident from the videos going around on social media, Green is developing that midrange game. And there’s room for improvement there. Last season, he struggled to shoot in traffic, posting his lowest FG% on shots between 3 and 10 feet, and in the workout videos I’ve seen, that’s where he’s shooting it from.
But I can’t help but notice as he puts up shots from the elbow, that’s the same space Booker likes to shoot it. So while improving those shots will make Jalen Green a better scorer. It may not make him a better fit for the Suns.
That doesn’t mean that Jalen Green doesn’t fit in with his teammates. He’s positive and energetic even through his injury. The same was true for the Rockets. Jalen Green is a great guy. It’s not a chemistry issue.
It’s not a buy-in issue either. Jalen Green gives the effort and energy Matt Ishbia has demanded from the Phoenix Suns going forward. Defensively, he’s not locking anyone down, but in the play-in game against the Warriors, he showed just how disruptive he could be, posting three blocks and two steals. He shot it 20 times that game, going 8-of-14 from three and scoring 36 points. His best all-around game of the year. He led the Suns in FGAs that game.
Jalen came to the Suns, tacked onto the deal to make the salaries match. It’s like if you had a pot that you loved to cook with, but the lid broke. So now you gotta buy a whole new pot to replace the lid, but you like your old part. This new one’s just taking up space. What you really need is a pan.
This isn’t a knock on Jalen Green or a call to trade him. I don’t think there’s any question that the injury affected Jalen. On dunks this past season, he recorded a 64.6% field goal percentage. The year before in Houston he dunked it home 82.9% of the time. There’s plenty of reason to think he can put up the type of numbers he did in Houston with a healthy year.
But Houston traded him because he had plateaued. Can he add to the non-scoring related elements of his game, specifically his playmaking? Can Booker and the Suns coaching staff make adjustments to help unlock his scoring and improve his efficiency? As I mentioned earlier, he’s a young player with room for growth. But growth is not the same thing as change. Jalen Green will become a better Jalen Green. What the Suns need him to be is a different Jalen Green. And that might not be in the cards.
I do know the Suns have to decide if they want to re-sign him. Maybe they’ll have a better idea of whether Jalen Green fits what they want to do by the trade deadline. Some early-season success might improve his trade value. There are teams out there that need a primary scorer. The Suns already have one. They picked up Jalen because they had to get a lid for their pot, but if they really want to start cooking again, they don’t need a second pot; they need a new pan.
So Suns fans, do you think Jalen Green will be a part of the Suns’ long-term solution? Let me know in the comments.
DALLAS, TX - APRIL 29: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks poses for a photo with Kyrie Irving #11 and Dereck Lively II #2 during the 2026-26 Rookie of the Year Presentation on April 29, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, 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 Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Last week’s poll question was a simple one: does it matter to you if the next Dallas Mavericks head coach is hired before or after the NBA Draft? The response was rather overwhelming!
A whopping 87% of respondents want a coach hired before the draft. I suppose with the news that the Chicago Bulls are honing in on a head coach (my belief is that it’s Tiago Splitter), we end up looking like the last person at a school dance without a partner.
Marc Stein has reported some candidates Dallas is interested in: Minnesota’s Micah Nori, Houston’s Royal Ivey, Toronto’s Jama Mahlalela, Boston’s Tony Dobbins and former Hawks, Bucks and Blazers head coach Terry Stotts. The two college coaches were apparently not really seen as feasible and never went beyond an overture.
As a person that usually has a million strong opinions, I am not concerned by Dallas not having a coach yet. Cooper Flagg is the hard part and that’s done now. Who they hire next I have confidence in already because this front office has a track record I believe in. So if they hire someone in the next several days, great. If not, we’ll live.
The national polling question asked which NBA event fans were more focused on.
The results track with what I’d expect. Most fans really were locked in on the NBA Finals, and why not, it was a great series. I can’t believe I enjoyed that as much as I did. The other quarter of fans are very focused on the NBA Draft. That’s certainly the case here given the number of draft articles we’ve been pumping out. If you want to see what the odds are for given picks, head on over to our partner FanDuel, where you can see how the bettors think things are going to shake out. The Maverick spot at 9 has me worried; I just can’t help it.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - MAY 30: Jared McCain #3 of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives to the basket during the game against the San Antonio Spurs during Game Seven of the Western Conference Finals on May 30, 2026 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 Morgan Givens/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Jared McCain’s NBA career has had an odd start. The former Duke star was a leading candidate for Rookie of the Year last season when he had a knee injury in mid-December. He suffered a thumb injury this year, and Philadelphia had a deeper backcourt rotation as well, and he didn’t get that much time. Then, on February 4th, he was traded to Oklahoma City, and by the end of the season, emerged as a deadly weapon for the Thunder.
Maybe next year, we can see what he can do across a full season.
Now that he has some downtime, the Sacramento native and his OKC teammate, Jalen Williams, hit L.A. to take in Friday’s U.S.-Paraguay match in the World Cup. The U.S. rolled, of course, winning 4-1, so maybe they should ask the pair back for their next match as a good-luck charm.
Here are some more links about McCain and how well things have worked out for him in OKC so far.
A year ago was the Summer of Waiting for the Warriors as Jonathan Kuminga’s restricted free agency took over their offseason. The same situation won’t arise one year later.
“Well, for my personal summer vacation plans it’s very important,” Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy joked one month ago on May 15. “I don’t want to – I hope I don’t have to be dealing with roster construction to the end of September, but that was a unique situation.
“My guess is it probably won’t happen again in that regard. We have some things to figure out, though. Draft and then obviously Draymond [Green] has his player option, and we’ve got some unrestricted free agents that we’d like to get back. So a busy summer, as always, and then hopefully it ends up shorter than last year.”
Golden State’s busy offseason began once all parties could take a deep breath and not have any emotional decisions after losing in the NBA play-in tournament, including Steve Kerr’s ultimate choice of remaining the Warriors head coach. In terms of contracts and getting the ball rolling there, the offseason began Sunday.
Teams can start negotiating with their own free agents the day after the NBA Finals ends. The Warriors have four unrestricted free agents, three restricted free agents and three with player options. That leaves them with just six players currently under contract, and two of them will start the season rehabbing knee injuries.
Steph Curry is eligible for a contract extension on Aug. 29, which he has stated he wants, and Brandin Podziemski is rookie contract extension eligible to avoid restricted free agency next offseason. A rookie contract extension has to be signed by 3 p.m. PT the day before the 2026-27 regular season starts.
Free-agent negotiations with players not on your own teams begins June 30 at 3 p.m. PT ahead of the July 1 free agency moratorium and teams being able to officially sign free agents on July 6 at 9:01 a.m. PT. There’s business to be done before then, however, throughout the final two weeks of June.
The Warriors for the first time in years are going into the offseason under the luxury tax, with the NBA’s projected salary cap for the 2026-27 season being right around $165 million. The Warriors also should have the $15.1 non-taxpayer midlevel exception to use, but it’s unlikely they can use it and still have the flexibility to fill in their roster and stay under the tax. The NTMLE should be a strong asset to use at their disposal.
Shortly after the 2026 NBA Draft, the Warriors will have a much better idea of their roster and expenses. Golden State has three key players who have to decline or exercise their player options by June 29.
Now that the 2025-26 NBA season has concluded and the draft is one week away, here is a look at the Warriors’ offseason outlook.
NBA Draft
First Round:No. 11 Pick
Second Round: No. 54 Pick
Under Contract
Steph Curry: $62.6 million
Jimmy Butler:$56.9 million
Moses Moody: $12.5 million
Brandin Podziemski: $5.7 million
Gui Santos: $4.6 million
Will Richard: $2.2 million
Player Options
Draymond Green:$27.7 million
Al Horford: $6 million
De’Anthony Melton: $3.5 million
Unrestricted Free Agents
Kristaps Porzingis: Bird Rights
Gary Payton II: Bird Rights
Seth Curry: Non-Bird Rights
Charles Bassey: Non-Bird Rights
Restricted Free Agents
Pat Spencer: Bird Rights
Quinten Post: Early Bird Rights
Nate Williams: Non-Bird Rights
“Let’s see where we go when the trade deadline comes around and into the spring,” Dunleavy said regarding the state of the Warriors and his outlook for the 2026-27 season. “I think the last couple of years we can say we’ve added talent in a good way in February.
“Who knows where we’ll be come April, March, May. … But by the end of the year, if you have Steph Curry on your team, Steve Kerr is the coach and Jimmy Butler is back, in a seven-game playoff series, I don’t want to say we can’t beat anybody.”
Feb 16, 2026; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones forward Joshua Jefferson (5) drives past Houston Cougars guard Kingston Flemings (4) during the first half at James H. Hilton Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images | Reese Strickland-Imagn Images
The back end of the 2026 NBA Draft is going to be quite the adventure for the league, including the Dallas Mavericks. The conglomerate of players who could go between picks 15 and 45 is truly fascinating. One of the players who seems to firmly fit in that range is Iowa State forward Joshua Jefferson.
The basics
Joshua Jefferson (born November 21, 2003) was born and raised in Henderson, NV, just outside of Las Vegas. His father, Ben Jefferson, played football for the University of Maryland. As an offensive lineman, he went undrafted in the 1989 NFL Draft. Jefferson spent a few years bouncing around the NFL before eventually retiring in 1995. Joshua’s two brothers also played college football. Noah Jefferson played at USC and Florida Atlantic, while his other brother Cameron played for UNLV and Arkansas.
Choosing basketball was a good decision for Joshua, as he was the Southern Nevada Boys Athlete of the Year in 2022, as well as the MaxPreps Player of the Year. Jefferson helped lead his Liberty Patriots to their first ever state championship in 2022, defeating powerhouse Bishop Gorman 63-62 in overtime. Jefferson scored the last six points of regulation to force overtime. The win ended Gorman’s run of nine consecutive state championships in class 5A.
Joshua Jefferson’s 2025-26 season by the numbers | CBB Analytics
Jefferson spent a full four-year term in college, starting off at Saint Mary’s. Jefferson was a productive player for the Gaels, including averaging 10 points and nearly seven rebounds per game in 2023-24. However, after a season-ending leg injury, Jefferson decided to hit the transfer portal, where he signed with TJ Otzelberger and the Iowa State Cyclones. Jefferson blossomed as a player in Ames, as he averaged 17 points, over 7.5 boards and nearly five assists per contest. With his eligibility exhausted, Jefferson is off to the NBA draft.
The good
When you talk about unique players, Joshua Jefferson truly has a unique offensive game. There are very few forwards in college basketball who have the blend of scoring and passing skill that Jefferson does.
Jefferson was such an integral part of the Cyclones offensive attack, as without him on the floor, the lack of creation was evident. Tamin Lipsey did a nice job of running the show at point, but the real sauce that made Iowa State go was Jefferson’s ability to be a hub from inside the arc. When he was operating at the nail and attacking downhill, Iowa State was at its best.
The unique trait that teams hope they can maximize is the passing. Jefferson is without a doubt the best passer in this class of forwards. The vision is excellent, and the craftiness and creativity to find the correct windows is exceptional. He can use both his right and left hand to get the ball to teammates on time and on target. In an NBA setting, allowing him to play in the short roll in advantage situations will be elite offense.
i can't imagine joshua jefferson facing up and attacking set defenses in the NBA as often as he does in college and the passing chances won't be this challenging
i want my NBA role players overqualified and that's exactly the kind of offensive talent jefferson boasts pic.twitter.com/fXoca9BafQ
Jefferson does not have the athletic gift of speed or agility, but he is able to get to the rim and finish using a combination of size, feel and footwork. He goes to a little hook shot quite a bit, typically over his left shoulder but he is comfortable taking and making them with both hands. He’s not really ever going to be a “dump it down to him on the block” type, but if given the space to operate, he handles it well enough to get to where he wants to go.
Areas of concern
Jefferson shot it fine from three, as he’s been right around 35% from deep for the better part of three years now. However, he doesn’t always look willing to shoot them. For him to reach his potential in the NBA, having the three as a counter he believes in would go a long way.
Against top-of-the-line teams, Jefferson saw a bit of a drop in both efficiency and effectiveness. Some of that is to be expected, as the better teams figure to guard a bit better, but it was something to note. In fairness to him, teams LOADED up on him in conference play, daring anyone not named Milan Momcilovic to beat them from deep. Still, it’s worth noting.
Jefferson, as expected, tested like an average-to-slightly-below-average type of athlete at his position during the NBA Combine. In fairness to him, he’s coming off a tough ankle sprain he suffered in the NCAA Tournament, so perhaps he even tested worse due to that. Jefferson is not a slob or anything, he’s what I would consider passable as an athlete. He leverages his smarts and technique help him on the defensive end to compliment the size and movement skills he does have. But it isn’t a stretch to say that there will be some matchups that are tough for him to cover.
Fit with the Mavericks
There’d have to be some reshuffling of the forward room to make this fit. Namely, PJ Washington and Naji Marshall, two guys who figure to be featured heavily in trade discussions, would likely need to be moved to allow for a cheaper, cost controlled Jefferson. That said, if the front office is able to accomplish that, I think Joshua Jefferson would be a fantastic fit around Cooper Flagg and whoever they draft to compliment Kyrie Irving in the guard room. His IQ and playstyle would be a great ying to Cooper’s yang. Even if it requires moving on from a vet and moving up from pick 30, the Mavericks should try and pull it off.
NBA comparison
There’s some Collin Murray-Boyles here with Jefferson, which is ironic since Jefferson is the older player here. There’s a bit of extra seasoning to Jefferson’s game, largely seen in the passing and craft. Another good comparison is Kenrich Williams. Kenny Hustle was able to carve a career out for himself coming out of TCU, and Jefferson should be able to do the same, especially if the shot falls for him like it has for Williams at various times throughout his career. I think there’s real room for him to overachieve those if he hits his peak outcome.
“The San Antonio Spurs, alongside Friends of the Carver/IDEA and the David Robinson Fellowship Program, joined Habitat for Humanity of San Antonio on Friday, June 12, for a volunteer build day celebrating Habitat’s 50th anniversary. Nearly 250 volunteers participated in the effort, helping advance Habitat’s mission of creating affordable homeownership opportunities across the community. As part of the celebration, Spurs Sports & Entertainment and Friends of the Carver/IDEA announced a combined $100,000 commitment to Habitat’s 50th anniversary initiative, which aims to build more than 50 homes across San Antonio this year.”
Spurs legend David Robinson spent the morning landscaping, painting and beautifying three homes on San Antonio’s East Side.
“Habitat for Humanity has transformed lives in San Antonio for 50 years, and we’re honored to help celebrate that legacy,” said Patricia Mejia, Chief Impact and Inclusion Officer at SS&E. “Habitat’s commitment reflects our shared belief that strong communities are built through opportunity, partnership and people coming together to make a difference.”
Additionally, the Spurs provided 50 tickets to Game 5 of the NBA Finals to residents of the homes supported through the initiative.
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Having been coached by Brown for six seasons from 2016 to 2022, Warriors star Steph Curry congratulated the former Golden State assistant coach for leading the New York Knicks to their first NBA title since 1973.
“Couldn’t happen to a better guy! Congrats Mike B,” Curry posted on his Instagram story.
Stephen Curry congratulates Mike Brown on winning the NBA Finals:
“Couldn’t happen to a better guy! Congrats Mike B”
As a lead Warriors assistant coach under Steve Kerr, Brown won three championships in 2017, 2018 and 2022. Brown also notably stepped in for Kerr, who was sidelined due to a back injury, during Golden State’s 2017 title run and led the team to a perfect 11-0 record.
During his first season as New York’s head coach, Brown led the team to a 53-29 record during the regular season, which gave the team the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference heading into the 2026 NBA playoffs.
After trailing 2-1 in their first-round series against the Atlanta Hawks, the Knicks won each of their next 13 games, advancing to the Eastern Conference semifinals and sweeping the Philadelphia 76ers, sweeping the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals, and winning the first two games of the NBA Finals on the road against the San Antonio Spurs.
Brown’s championship with New York officially is his fifth, with his first title being with the Spurs as an assistant coach in 2003.
During the 2006-07 season as the Cavaliers head coach, Brown led a young LeBron James and Cleveland to the NBA Finals, but only to get swept by a more potent Spurs team led by coach Gregg Popovich and stars Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.
Almost two decades later, Brown got his redemption against the same team to earn his first championship as a head coach. The 56-year-old also previously was the head coach for the Los Angeles Lakers from 2011 to 2012 and for the Sacramento Kings from 2022 to 2024.
With such a strong team assembled in New York, led by star guard Jalen Brunson, along with the culture that has been set within its organization, Brown and the Knicks should be expected to be a title contender once again next season.
A Knicks fan holds a giant cutout of Knicks guard Jalen Brunson in midtown after the New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of the NBA Finals to win the series, in New York, on June 14, 2026. The Knicks won the NBA Championship for the first time since 1973, for the third time in franchise history. (Photo by kena betancur / AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images
Second day waking up as a fan of the reigning NBA champs.
Truth be told, it feels the same as it did yesterday, if not better.
Here’s the latest, including a brief and unexpected cameo from the man who built the house!
Tom Thibodeau’s full page ad in the New York Times thanks the entire Knicks organization and the fans.
“Watching you support our team, and seeing the Garden ignite with that incomparable Knicks energy, is something I will never forget.”
— Let’s Talk Knicks (LTK) (@LetsTalkKnicks_) June 11, 2025
Tom Thibodeau (via Taj Gibson)
On his reaction to the Knicks’ championship:
“Man, that’s how it goes. You may have some good things going for you, may have some things that don’t go right for you, but I’m just proud of the guys.”
Knicks president Leon Rose: "There aren't really words you can put into what these guys have done, the character they have, the fight they have, the grit they have, the never say die…Incredible, incredible the run they've been on
“The buy in. It was a contract that I had everybody sign opening dinner night and I still have it framed. Everybody’s signature from Mr. Dolan to Leon Rose, all the coaches, all the players, all the staff that was there that night signed it and basically it was about committing to sacrifice, having a competitive spirit, being connected, believing in each other in the process while holding everybody accountable — even myself. I’m not above the law, I’ve gotta be held accountable too.
I told everybody that night, if you’re not gonna abide by this, I’d have more respect for you to not sign it than to sign it and BS your way through the night and BS your way through this and everybody bought in from Day 1. And that speaks volumes to all of these guys as individuals and especially the leadership on this team, starting with Jalen Brunson.”
On Jalen Brunson’s contract sacrifice:
“He understands what winning is about. He took a pay cut that I wouldn’t take. Every time they would throw that number in front of me, I would say no, and I feel like I’m a great guy. He set the bar. That set the standard.
“You know, he comes and he probably takes a pay cut that I wouldn’t have taken. Every time they would’ve thrown that number in front of me, I would have said no — and I feel like I’m a good guy! He set the bar before he even stepped on the floor.”
On Jalen Brunson’s place in Knicks history:
“I love Pat[rick Ewing]. Pat’s up there. I hope Pat doesn’t kill me. He’s bigger than me. We’re both old and slow but because he’s got a longer reach, he might be able to kill me. But Brunson … he is him, man. When it comes to New York basketball, he is freaking him.”
On Leon Rose’s leadership:
“He’s been an absolute, no matter what happens going forward, I don’t care what happens going forward, he’s been an absolute joy to work with. His family’s been great. His wife, my wife, they get along fantastic. That synergy between me and him, our two wives, it helped the whole organization align horizontally and vertically. That’s what you have to have in these situations, especially when things get tough. He’s not going to waver.”
On assistant coach Chris Jent:
“There are a lot of jobs open out there. Chris Jent, my associate head coach, I’m surprised has not gotten an interview. He won the Summer League championship this past summer, he’s our offensive coordinator, associate head coach. He’s been around for a long time. Someone needs to give him an interview because he will help your team win at the highest level.”
“Words can’t describe it, but I’ll say I put a lot of time and effort into trying to be the best player I can be to try and help a team win. Just really thankful to have an organization, a coaching staff, my teammates, to have my back every single day. I think that means the most to me. And my family.”
On believing a title was possible after taking a pay cut:
“With a lot of hard work and effort, I knew it was achievable. But that was only a small portion of it. I think everyone bonding, coming together, having the mindset of just believing in each other, never giving up, no matter what the situation was, made this all possible. Yes, it may look like [the contract] had something to do with it, but it’s a credit to my teammates.”
On the challenge posed by the Spurs’ defense:
“I don’t think it took a toll on me mentally. Maybe a little bit physically, obviously, just because of the game and what they are trying to do. Mentally, I feel fresh. I feel like that’s where I thrive.”
On Leon Rose:
“I think he’s a great basketball mind. I also think he surrounds himself with good people. The way he’s been able to do this, especially here with all the scrutiny people do to him and everything — I just think the way he goes about his business is as good as anyone.”
On him not feeling real pressure after having experienced his father’s journey:
“No pressure. No pressure whatsoever. My dad being on eight or nine unguaranteed contracts throughout his career and not knowing when you’re going to get cut, when a team is going to move on from you, while your family is on the East Coast and you are wherever you are in the country. That’s pressure. Working out three times a day in the summertime and watching him push himself just to get a training camp deal, that’s pressure. I’m very fortunate to be in the position I am and I definitely think I worked pretty hard. So when the opportunity presented itself like it did today, I just trusted my work. … I’m just never afraid to fail.”
On his $113 million sacrifice:
“100% worth it. 100% worth it. I would… Even if we didn’t achieve this, I feel like being able to do that, grind, and go on a journey to try and achieve it, it would have been worth it as well. But this is definitely the cherry on top.”
On the Knicks’ identity:
“A team that’s never going to quit. We’re going to find a way. I feel like, over the years, we’ve had that mindset. But I think this year, we proved it. We actually truly believed it.”
On Mike Brown:
“He understands what it is to be a champion. He understands how to build a team, how to build habits that will put you in this position. And we’re so grateful, so thankful to have him at the top. He kept us even so many times. He’s brought the best out of us as people first, and, man, I’m so happy for him. He’s the reason why we’re (champions).”
On metting his father on the court after the final buzzer:
“I walked right to halfcourt, shook Mitch Johnson’s hand, and then turned around and my dad was there, and felt emotional from that point on.”
On becoming NBA champion and Finals MVP:
“It hasn’t sunk in. I honestly don’t know right now.”
On his message to Taylor Swift fans after Monica McNutt’s comments:
“I just want to say something to the Swifties. She’s a really good one, cut her some slack. It’s all good, I promise.”
“We conduct ourselves like family, and [Leon Rose] has always had that family mantra in everything he’s done. Doing that, I think that’s real. The connectivity, the unity this team represents every single night regardless of what the deficit is. … As a family, you never want to let your brothers down, and you never want to disappoint them. So, for us, it’s always about just being the best for each other and understanding that regardless of what happens in the world or what people say, we’re all we got and all we need. As a family, when you truly do believe in your family, you feel anything is possible.”
On Jalen Brunson playing through injury:
“That’s who Cap is — Cap always find a way to get back on the court and produce. That’s a testament to who he is, and just his story — never giving up, always have been the underdog, always been looked down upon. It always takes one person to believe in you. This organization believed in him, and we believed in him. We were going to do whatever it takes to get him to the next level.”
On Jalen Brunson’s journey:
“I see a man that’s grown up and took the challenge of being in the biggest market in the world, being with a team that hasn’t made it to the NBA Finals in 27 years and hasn’t won in [53] years, and knowing that he could do it. Shoutout to everybody who told him he couldn’t do it, because it gave him fuel for the fire. For him to welcome both of us here into this organization and trust that we were here for him, it means a lot. It means a lot to have a person like that who has been handed the keys to the city and was willing to have the door open for both of us to join.”
On Leon Rose:
“When you’re an agent, I think anyone who knows the sports agency business, it’s all about relationships. What Leon is one of the best in the world at is having genuine, loving relationships with people. I think because of that, you see the way our team acts, the way our team conducts itself. We conduct ourselves like family, and he’s always had that family mantra in everything he’s done. Doing that, I think that’s real. The connectivity, the unity this team represents every single night, regardless of what the deficit is.”
On the impossibility of carrying the Larry O’Brien Trophy in his duffel bag:
“How am I gonna do this? That s–t heavy. That’s why I workout! That’s why I workout!”
On where he’s putting the trophy:
“I’m putting this s–t next to the bed for when I’m getting it in.”
On his parents’ support:
“Shoutout to him and to my mom, too, because she had a lot of hours where they didn’t see me and trusted in me, and my pops was really putting it in at work and was trusting that we were going to make something special out of this.”
Josh Hart:
"Everybody wants to be the guy that scores the most, that puts the ball in the basket and that's not everybody's path. That wasn't my path and sometimes that's a tough pill to swallow but when you embrace that when you're a star in your role and you take pride in… pic.twitter.com/q8vsyZwZJF
On the five-pick talk after winning the championship:
“It’s an amazing feeling to be here. Forget those picks. Forget those picks, dawg! We’re here!”
On Jalen and Rick Brunson sharing the championship:
“Oh, man, it’s so cool. So cool to see that, because I’ve seen the hard work. I’ve seen their relationship. I’ve seen the work that they both put in to get to this point. … And to be able to do that with your dad, both played on the same team, that’s something they are going to remember for the rest of their lives.”
On sacrificing personal stats for winning:
“Everybody wants to be the guy that scores the most, that puts the ball in the basket, and that’s not everybody’s path. That wasn’t my path, and sometimes that’s a tough pill to swallow, but when you embrace that, when you’re a star in your role, and you take pride in doing the little things, that breeds winning basketball.”
On embracing his role in New York:
“For me, as embraced as I was in this city wearing this jersey, that sacrifice was easy. Some days it was tough, don’t get me wrong, but you sacrifice for moments like this.”
On winning the championship with the Knicks:
“Man, this is the best feeling, man. We worked so hard for this. I give glory to God. Everyone was doubted at some point. This team was doubted at some point. And all we focused on was the next game. All we focused on were those guys in the locker room, man.”
On the pressure of wearing a Knicks jersey:
“People don’t understand, you know, we don’t really talk about it, but the weight of that jersey, the expectations, the pressure of that jersey. And I guess today, right now, it’s the lightest I’ve ever felt. And all glory to God, man.”
THIS IS WHAT IT MEANS.
Mikal Bridges was overcome with emotion seconds after winning his first NBA Championship. pic.twitter.com/rmYeE55VyH
“Just grateful, just very grateful… But yeah, like f–k’em. You know all the times I’ve been struggling, and I got the fans on me. The thing about me is that I want to always be better. So you know, no matter how they feel, I always want to be better.”
On fan expectations for him in the future:
“Hope I’m still here, you know, continuing to keep that edge. Keep pushing me because if they strongly believe that we have a chance every year and they really strongly believe they need me to be better.”
On tough love from fans:
“I’m already thinking that, so I appreciate the tough love. I know some fans might be a little bit crazier than others, but the ones that truly care and want me to be better, don’t stop now, just keep pushing me.”
On handling criticism:
“I know sometimes I’ll struggle this and that, but just know I’m gonna keep working, and if they keep you know egging me on and talking a little s–t, that’s alright. I’m pretty tough, I’ll be alright.”
On criticism from Knicks fans:
“The times I’ve been struggling, the fans were on me — the thing is about me, I want to always be better. So whatever, how they feel, I always want to be better. They keep pushing me and if they strongly believe that we have a chance every year and if they strongly believe I have a chance to be better, I’m already thinking about that.”
On appreciating the Knicks’ faithful tough love:
“I appreciate the tough love. I know some fans might be a little bit crazier than others, but the ones that truly care, and want me to be better, don’t stop now. Just keep pushing me.”
"Before this photo was taken I jokingly told Mitchell I'll only post it *when* he wins that NBA title. He confidently responded that he'd do it.
“His mindset, his work ethic, his energy that he just brings. You know, he just brings joy, and you know, we need that. You know, when stuff gets rough, we have a little sit-down, talk, and he gets us back on track, like a leader, like a captain. To have him around, especially for the last four or five years, it’s been truly amazing. I mean, there’s really no words I can really put here, but he’s just, you know, he just does his thing.”
On catching another snake before the title-winning game:
“Yesterday, at the hotel, I caught a snake. Again. You know I caught a snake in the beginning of the playoffs when we played Atlanta. We won, and I caught one last night and we won today. I think it’s something about snakes.”
“New York Knicks! New York Knicks! We got the champions!”
Jordan Clarkson pulls up to support Jose Alvarado at the Knickerbocker Puerto Rican Day Parade
“I’m blessed. And a little drunk. Thank you guys so much, it means the world to me. Really. I’m a kid from Brooklyn. And the Knicks party f–kin’ did it.”
On winning an NBA championship:
“I really don’t know what to make of it yet. I can’t believe this really happened.”
On meeting Patrick Ewing:
“The craziest part is that Patrick Ewing knows who I am! I’m just a kid from Brooklyn and Patrick Ewing knows who I am!”
Tyler Kolek celebrates winning an NBA Championship with Deuce McBride, OG Anunoby, Jeremy Sochan, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mike Brown and Landry Shamet via Instagram Live https://t.co/SHjMjFr2Gepic.twitter.com/joOKLE8F9u
On Jalen Brunson’s decision to shake hands with the San Antonio Spurs players and coach before celebrating:
“Because he was raised right. But that’s his mom. That ain’t me.”
On his emotions right after winning the title:
“My heart is just in my sneaker, man. You can’t see it on the outside, but on the inside, I’m steaming inside.”
On Jalen Brunson exceeding expectations:
“I can’t imagine. I never thought he’d get to this level. I’d be lying to you if I said I thought he would be this good. I just wanted someone to come to New York, run a team, and hopefully have a chance to win a championship. And for him to be the guy to help me help the team, this is surreal.”
On his message to Mark Cuban:
“Tell Mark [Cuban], thank you!”
On the importance of being a father first:
“In ’99, it was a great run for us, but I would say now it’s more exciting for me as a father to see your son on the stage and performing.”
On his relationship with Jalen Brunson:
“The most important thing about a father is that you can’t be a fan. You’ve got to be a father. With my son and me, I’m his father. I’m not your friend, I’m not your buddy, I’m not a fan. He doesn’t cross that line, and I don’t cross that line.”
“I remember asking Jalen during his junior year of college if there was one word that he would use to encompass everything he's about,” Sandra Brunson said as she watched her son lead the New York Knicks to their first title in 53 years. “'Belief.'" https://t.co/Z2NXQ1vEwS
“All I can say is it’s about belief. I remember asking Jalen during his junior year of college if there was one word that he would use to encompass everything he’s about. He said, ‘Belief.’ As you get older you realize your natural ability can only take you so far. You need something else. You need belief. Because you can’t control everything.”
On the Knicks believing in Jalen:
“I remember saying to Jalen when they made the offer, ‘You can bet on yourself now. They believe in you.’ It makes such a difference when people really want you and believe in you.”
On New York needing a star and JB filling that gap:
“People in New York were always saying they needed a star. And I used to wonder, ‘How do you become a star?’ You have to give him a chance, right? A chance to actually become a star.”
On helping Jalen focus as a child:
“That was my way of giving him something else to focus on. Dad’s not here, so focus on what we can control. Now that he plays 80-something games a year I don’t know if he does it each game anymore. It probably doesn’t go with his decor in his home.”
The @nyknicks Franchise Dashboard · 1999 Finals → 2026 NBA Finals
“He gets the toughness from his dad. The way he just keeps coming at you. Rick was the same way. Obviously, Jalen was more of an offensive player. But they’re both tough. Just tough.”
On processing the championship:
“It’s really hard right now to put it into words. I’m processing the win, but I haven’t processed the championship yet.”
On the 1999 Finals run:
“Even though we didn’t win it, it was the greatest moment, because it’s the highest stage you can ever play on.”
On the 2026 championship:
“It’s hard to get here. Very hard. Being able to be a part of seeing the journey for these guys who you get to spend time with — to see their journey and process individually and collectively — it’s incredible. It’s incredible to be a part of a championship team in New York. It’s kind of hard to process right now.”
"Tim (Duncan) and David (Robinson) were having a party against us, (now) it's ours… In '99, I had tears of sorrow, today I have tears of joy."
– Patrick Ewing as the Knicks get revenge on the Spurs 27 years later 🗣
“It has been a long time coming. The last time we were here in ’99, I had tears of sorrow. Today I have tears of joy. It’s a dream come true. I’m doing great. I’m feeling so blessed.”
On finally achieving the goal:
“We have had this goal. Myself as a player, myself as part of the organization, we’ve had the dream of getting to this point and winning the championship, and we finally achieved it.”
On beating the Spurs this time:
“The last time we were here, Tim (Duncan) and David (Robinson) were having a party against us, but tonight it’s ours.”
On redemption from the 1999 loss:
“It definitely makes up for what happened in 1999. They got us back then, we got them now.”
On his 1999 Finals injury:
“If I hadn’t gotten hurt, who knows what that future would’ve been. But you know what? In ‘99 I cried because I wasn’t able to go out there and help my team. Tonight it’s tears of joy. So ‘99 we didn’t get it done, but these guys were able to get it done for us.”
“There’s a lot that goes into it. We didn’t deserve to win the games. There’s a lot of levels of execution. There can be rebounding. There can be end-of-game details. There can be starting the game where you get the lead and then you don’t sustain that. We weren’t ready to win an NBA championship. The better team won. We did a lot of good things, and we didn’t finish the job.”
On Victor Wembanyama’s growth:
“I think he’s stepped into every moment with the appropriate amount of fearlessness and also respect for the moment and being exactly who he is. He’s bringing his teammates and everybody else along with him. It’s been pretty fun to observe and be a part of.”
On Victor Wembanyama’s leadership:
“Victor Wembanyama’s leadership style has grown tremendously and has stepped into every moment with the appropriate amount of fearlessness and also respect for the moment.”
On what he wants the Spurs to learn from the loss:
“I hope it leaves them being hungrier than they’ve ever been and I hope it leaves them to be more motivated than we’ve ever been.”
On the Spurs’ season:
“We’ve been blood, sweat, and tears for nine months basically, it’s over. There’ll be plenty of time for reflection but on the surface level I don’t think anyone other than the people in that room expected us to be here.”
On his final words after yet another losing season:
“Appreciate y’all. See you… never.”
On the Spurs’ mistakes in the Finals:
“The margin for error is very thin. Our domination stints are absolute. We absolutely dominated for most of the series. But our errors, our mistakes are punished so hard that we can’t have ups and downs like this so much, you know? The ups are OK. The downs are the reason we lost.”
On waiting to return to the Finals:
“What I’m pissed about is, there’s probably a hundred games before we can be back in the Finals. I don’t know how to say it in English. But I’m going to have to hold that inside of me, slow down, wait and execute for a hundred games. It’s going to be all of it [shaping my mentality in the future]; who we are, what we’re made of, our experiences.”
On the lessons from the Finals loss:
“This has been a hell of a year in terms of experience. I don’t think we could have learned more and gained more experience in one playoff run and in one season, and personally in 18 months. This is the biggest lesson of my life, the biggest learning moment. I can’t tell you exactly what the lesson is. But we’re learning from that. I’m learning more than any other time in my life.”
“There was some good, some bad. There were a lot of possessions I want to take back and do differently. But that’s now how the ball bounced. Just got to keep moving on.”
De’Aaron Fox
On his shooting struggles:
“I got shots I’ve made in the past and sometimes you just don’t make them. Some felt good. Back rim, in and out. It is what it is. Obviously, I wish I made those shots, but that team is physical. They force you into taking jump shots and try to keep you out of the paint. But shots just didn’t go down for me.”
Harrison Barnes
On learning from the Finals loss:
“I think you have to look at it for the season it’s been. The pain of losing in the Finals, and ultimately you have to accept that. There’s no guarantee that this group will ever have the opportunity to achieve that. Some players in this room may be able to get back to the Finals, some players in this room may be able to win a championship. I think accepting what this moment has been, where we come to as a team, and hopefully as guys continue on in their careers — whether it’s five, 10, 15 years — they’ll use this as a reference point.”
“Seeing them storm the court on our home court… it’s tough, it’s tough. We know we’ll do everything we can to scratch, fight to back into this position and have a different outcome but right now it’s tough.”
On the Spurs’ mistakes:
“Obviously, in the finals, with everything being amplified, one mistake can cost you a game. I think we had a couple that cost us multiple.”
On Dylan Harper’s season-long unhappiness with his role:
“Tremendously proud…. I think we all knew he was talented. I don’t know if anybody knew he was this talented besides himself. He was upset with playing time and different roles that he was in, but when we needed him most, he stepped up, and we have a star in the making. I know that he is going to put so much work into the offseason, it’s not just offensively, defensively, he’s made a lot of plays. He’s grown so much, I mean, what, he’s 20-21 years old. The sky is the limit for him.”
Carlos Mendoza opens his pregame press conference by congratulating Mike Brown and the Knicks on winning the 2026 NBA Finals 💙🧡 pic.twitter.com/zwwuQ8gjT6
“It’s just special the way they came back, never gave up.”
Francisco Lindor
On the Knicks’ championship:
“It’s a great moment to be a New York sports fan. I’m proud of that group. All they talked about after they won last night is how they played for each other.”
On the Mets finding inspiration in the Knicks:
“Even the owner said it. We know what it’s like. We don’t need more inspiration, but something like that, seeing them win, of course it motivates us as players and is inspiring. Want to win here and when you have history being made in this city like they did, it gives you goose bumps and gets you excited for the ‘what ifs.’”
What does Tom Thibodeau think of this Knicks championship run?
Taj Gibson talks to @TheJaxShow and @DarthAmin about a recent conversation he had with Thibs about his former team
“I talked to Thibs yesterday, and the first thing we talked about was he didn’t have any kind of malice in his heart. He didn’t have any kind of hatred. He was so happy for the guys. He was just really so proud of the guys and what they accomplished.”
On Thibodeau’s humility:
“I was like, ‘Man, that’s just love. To have that humility and just knowing that you trained these players and have put so much into them, and know that they finally made that final leap to really take the top and go to the championship of New York City.’”
Cam'ron practicing his arguments about being a real New York Knicks fan before he lands back in New York pic.twitter.com/t4kBTRqoxI
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) June 14, 2026
Aaron Boone
On the Knicks’ championship:
“Just to see that team and the way they came together, the amazing run they went on in the postseason, that team will be immortalized. Just excited for them and excited for a lot of people in New York that it’s been a long time coming.”
On lessons from the Knicks’ run:
“It’s just a great example of a team that’s certainly faced more than their share of adversity and questions and all that. I think their mental toughness and championship mettle ended up winning the day and obviously getting them to the top of the mountain this year. Fun to see that. Because each one of those guys, to varying degrees, went through rough moments, getting beat on at different points for different reasons. And they all persevered through it. It’s not an easy thing to do. That’s why they’re champions.”
Baron Davis
On New York after the championship:
“So happy for my real NYC people. People who took care of me when I played and the people who do now. Salute. You deserve to be champions and included! You make NYC what it is! Thank you!”
RING RING: Spike Lee called Michael Jordan to let him know that the Knicks are World Champions 🗽🏆 pic.twitter.com/GIdhdDBH0O
“I can’t make that promise yet. I can’t promise. Thursday parade. That’s how we’re starting. That’s not how we’re ending.”
On the Knicks’ championship:
“For more than 50 years, New Yorkers have waited for this moment. Through near misses, heartbreak and a hope that every year could be our year, this city never stopped believing in the Knicks. And this team fulfilled that hope with grit, resilience and heart — just like the five boroughs itself. New Yorkers have cheered for our team from packed living rooms in the Bronx to watch parties in Brooklyn, from bars in Queens to Staten Island to Manhattan, and Madison Square Garden itself. Now it’s time for our city to celebrate together. Bing bong.”
SAN ANTONIO — Over the past two seasons, there has been no bigger lightning rod on the Knicks roster than Mikal Bridges.
He was an easy target for his inconsistency, but mostly because each of his performances was judged against the five first-round picks the Knicks used to get him from Brooklyn — picks that could have landed a superstar, such as Giannis Antetokounmpo.
But in the early hours of Sunday morning, Bridges wore a hat and shirt that declared him an NBA champion, taking sips of champagne after wiping away tears of joy. He was a vital piece of the Knicks’ first title team in 53 years, forever validating the trade that helped produce perhaps the most meaningful champion New York has ever seen.
“You talking about f–k them picks?” Bridges responded when asked about the constant criticism he’s received. “F–k ’em … I’m still here.”
If Leon Rose hadn’t traded for Bridges, he could’ve used those picks to acquire a greater talent. But it’s unlikely he would’ve found a better fit.
The chemistry was precise, reuniting Bridges — a two-time national champion at Villanova — with college teammates Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart, while bringing in a two-way talent who would sacrifice shots to contribute to a contender.
Mikal Bridges #25, getting a hug after the Knicks defeated the Spurs to win the NBA Championship. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Less than eight weeks ago, Bridges was set to be a scapegoat, following a scoreless effort against the Hawks in which he was benched and the Knicks moved two losses from a first-round exit. But Bridges won the fanbase back, becoming unrecognizably aggressive on both ends of the floor while shooting the lights out and shutting down a series of All-Star guards during their 13-game winning streak.
“The times I’ve been struggling, the fans were on me — the thing is about me, I want to always be better,” Bridges said. “So whatever, how they feel, I always want to be better. They keep pushing me and if they strongly believe that we have a chance every year and if they strongly believe I have a chance to be better, I’m already thinking about that.
“I appreciate the tough love. I know some fans might be a little bit crazier than others, but the ones that truly care, and want me to be better, don’t stop now. Just keep pushing me.
New York Knicks guard Mikal Bridges reacts after hitting a three-point shot in the first half at Frost Bank Center. Jason Szenes for The New York Post
“I know sometimes I’ll struggle, this and that, but just know I’m going to keep working. If they keep egging me on and talking a little s–t, I’m pretty tough, I’ll be all right.”
In Game 2 of the NBA Finals, Bridges carried the offense when Brunson struggled, recording 20 points, six rebounds and six assists in the road win. In the championship clincher, Bridges was the second-leading scorer (14 points on 5-for-10 shooting), adding four assists and a late-game block.
The verdict is in.
“F–k them picks,” teammate Ariel Hukporti said. “F–k ’em. Look what we got … We got him out of Brooklyn. Look at him now, you’re a champion.
EL SEGUNDO, CA - MAY 04: Darryn Peterson looks on during his workout on May 04, 2026 at Meyer Institute Of Sport in El Segundo, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It’s happening right now in the Utah Jazz front office. The front office is holding workouts with different players, reviewing notes from those workouts, discussing player rankings, and conducting background research. On top of that, they’re likely taking calls on the #2 pick from teams wanting to trade up, while also trying to figure out if there’s a way to move down if they want to get their guy one pick later.
Here’s my pitch for the guy I want the Jazz to take, Darryn Peterson.
He’s the most talented player in the draft, and that set of talents includes incredible shooting:
Whether it’s off the bounce or on the catch, he’s a deadeye with a lightning release. But it goes beyond simply off the bounce or on the catch, Peterson has incredible body control and balance. He can pull up like SGA or prime Harden in the midrange with impressive stopping power and then pulls up for a soft-touch jumper. That body control comes into play at every spot on the floor. He’s Steph-esque with his ability to shoot it at any time, from any spot, and decimate the opponent.
He’s a better passer than you think.
Yes, his 1.6:1.4 assist-to-turnover ratio has given the boxscore scouts ammo to claim he can’t make the plays necessary to win. He can make the corner pass, the pocket pass, the lob to the big, easy dumpoff. He consistently played within the offense and made the right play. The context of his passing is that the team wasn’t asking Peterson to constantly set up teammates, they were asking him to score. And if there’s one thing that Peterson can do at a spectacular level it’s score the ball. But don’t get it twisted, there is a part of Peterson’s game that will flourish with NBA spacing and NBA shooting around him, and that’s his passing. It would not be surprising to see him easily evolve into a 5+ assists per game player.
He’s a great defensive player and would also add defensive identity to the Jazz.
Peterson averaged 1.4 steals per game in 29 minutes. It’s something that gets mentioned with everything he does, but he did that while dealing with injuries and the cramping issues that have been well documented. That ability to create turnovers likely gets better when he’s fully healthy and could become an even bigger weapon. Peterson has a fantastic wingspan that will allow him to fill passing lanes and tip the ball away from loose handles. It’ll create easy offense for Utah on top of everything else he does.
Peterson gets to the line
Though he’s not as prolific as AJ Dybantsa getting to the line, manufacturing points at the line is definitely a part of his game. At 5.5 FTAs per game, Peterson is able to manufacture points that will make opponents wary of playing him too close. The issue there is Peterson’s needs just inches to get his shot off, so if the defender gives him space, he’s going to take advantage.
With the FanDuel odds putting AJ Dybantsa with the Wizards at #1, this is a very likely possibility for the Jazz.
Now it’s your turn. Sell me below who you think the Jazz should take at #2. If you want to talk AJ Dybantsa, that’s fine!
The 53-year wait was over. But there was still a bit of business to attend to before Jalen Brunson could begin to celebrate.
It was fitting. He finished the job the same way he conducted himself throughout the whole process.
With class. With humility. With champion identity.
Immediately after the final buzzer of the Knicks’ 94-90 Game 5 win over the Spurs on Saturday night at the Frost Bank Center, which secured their first championship since 1973, Brunson — as euphoria erupted around him — made his way from the bench over to Spurs coach Mitch Johnson to shake hands and exchange a few words. Brunson had not yet smiled or exhaled. Sportsmanship came first.
It wasn’t until Brunson’s dad, Rick, grabbed him by the shoulder that the weight of the moment hit him. That he fully grasped what he and the Knicks had just done.
“I turned around and my dad was there, and I felt emotional from that point on,” Brunson said. “Then I just remember Josh [Hart] talking into my ear, and him just saying, like, ‘We did it! We did it!’ And then I was emotional for a good, like, five, 10 minutes, and then the excitement started to kick in.”
That’s when the party truly kicked off.
It wouldn’t be long until the BAC levels rose. Until Ariel Hukporti made himself the MVP of the festivities. Until Jeremy Sochan’s shirt came off and stayed off. Until coach Mike Brown was barking, “Who let the dogs out?!”
Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) celebrates on the court with his teammates after becoming the 2026 NBA Finals Champions. Jason Szenes for the New York Post
By the time media got into the Knicks locker room, it immediately brought back memories of the mornings after frat parties in college — the wet and sticky floors, the empty bottles (Michelob Ultra beers, Moët & Chandon champagne and Patrón tequila were the main choices) and wafts of cigar smoke. Everyone was scattered around the bowels of the arena — between the locker room, the court, the interview rooms and the hallways in between.
The players and coaches with kids held them in their arms. The ones who didn’t held their drinks. Ben Stiller held something different — Brown’s whiteboard, given to him as a souvenir. Stiller grasped it tightly as if someone was going to try to steal it at any moment.
This was a team that was obsessively locked in the entire postseason. They would hardly even acknowledge their series leads or the unprecedented nature of their dominance. They repeated “0-0” as if they were hypnotized.
James Dolan celebrates with his team after becoming the 2026 NBA Finals Champions. Jason Szenes for the New York Post
“People don’t understand, we don’t really talk about it, the weight of that jersey, the expectations, the pressure of that jersey,” Hart said. “And, today, right now, it’s the lightest it’s ever felt.”
The rowdiest of the group were a few who almost never saw the court — Hukporti, Sochan, Mohamed Diawara and Pacôme Dadiet. They crashed the stars’ news conferences. They tried making half-court shots with the golden championship balls everyone was given. They playfully told their teammates it was enough family time and not enough party time.
When Mikal Bridges was speaking, Hukporti repeated “f–k them picks” a few times, a shot at all those who criticized the Knicks’ decision to send five first-rounders to the Nets to acquire Bridges.
“I got something to say,” Hukporti said. “You guys still listening? About them picks — we’re not leaving — man, we got him out of Brooklyn! Look at him now, you’re a champion! Look at him now. Everybody doubting your s–t. Ain’t take nobody from me. Hey, f–k them picks! F–k them picks!”
Jalen Brunson #11, with his dad Rick Brunson, after the Knicks defeated the Spurs to win the NBA Championship. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
OG Anunoby, the hero of Game 4, walked around with sunglasses glued to his head and a stoic demeanor stuck on his face. Karl-Anthony Towns, the one who carried the Larry O’Brien Trophy off of the court, called him “Mr. Aura.”
But Towns also shared a few more serious moments, reflecting on his late mother, who passed during the pandemic, and his father, who has made it a point to be there for every step of his journey.
“Shoutout to him and to my mom, too,” Towns said, “because she had a lot of hours where they didn’t see me and trusted in me, and my pops was really putting it in at work and was trusting that we were going to make something special out of this.”
Back on the court, Sochan had taken control of the Knicks’ social media team’s camera and was following Hart. The two bickered about Arsenal and Chelsea, like they did for countless hours in the locker room throughout the year. Eventually, Hart begged Sochan to “leave me alone.”
And it all ended the way it started — with Brunson showing his and this Knicks team’s character.
When he got to the podium, he rhetorically asked, “Do I be myself, or do I talk my s–t?”
Of course, he chose the former. The question came about Becky Hammon’s now-infamous claim that Brunson would never be good enough to be the best player on a title team. Brunson could have used the moment as an opportunity for long-awaited gloating.
“I didn’t respond to them then,” Brunson said, “and I’m damn sure not going to respond to them now.”
The celebrations were cathartic. But, true to this team’s identity, they let their play talk loudest.
For most people familiar with the Utah Jazz, the answer to who the Jazz will select with the No. 2 overall pick comes down to whoever the Washington Wizards don’t select: AJ Dybantsa or Darryn Peterson.
But one prominent NBA media figure seems dead set in his stance that the Jazz will select Duke big man Cameron Boozer. For Bill Simmons, it’s not if the Jazz take Boozer, it’s when.
“I would bet anything AJ (Dybantsa) is the first pick… and I think Boozer goes two,” Simmons said on “The Bill Simmons Podcast” on Saturday night.
This wasn’t the first time that Simmons expressed his confidence in the Jazz selecting Boozer. On a June 8 episode of his podcast, Simmons expressed his hunch that Boozer would end up in Utah.
“I think Danny (Ainge) is such a wildcard at second,” Simmons said. “He did it with (Jayson) Tatum, he did it with (Jaylen) Brown, he did it when he was going to take Durant, he over and over again looks at the high end talent guys and is able to project them. You would think it’s going to happen with Peterson, but I think there’s too many red flags. I think he’s going to stay away from Peterson. I could see him taking Boozer at two. That would be my minus-130 bet right now. I might be wrong, but I really think they’re gonna take Boozer, I do. I can’t explain it.”
Later on, Simmons explained that the Jazz’s front office knows the families of Dybantsa and Boozer incredibly well, know that the two like playing in Utah — something that should never be taken for granted — and that Peterson is too much of a wildcard to take a swing on.
J. Kyle Mann, an NBA draft analyst for The Ringer who was Simmons’ guest on the June 8 episode did not echo this sentiment.
“I think the Jazz will take Peterson. I’ve heard they like Peterson, I’ve heard Danny likes Peterson,” Mann said.
Boozer was the national player of the year in his lone collegiate season at Duke, averaging an insane freshman stat line of 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game. Boozer’s high IQ and rebounding are two of his biggest strengths, while his defense and perceived lower athletic ability leave some teams hesitant on drafting the former Blue Devil.
The NBA Draft will be held on June 23 at 8 ET in Brooklyn, N.Y.
DALLAS, TEXAS - JANUARY 24: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers is defended by Daniel Gafford #21 of the Dallas Mavericks during the first half at American Airlines Center on January 24, 2026 in Dallas, 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. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Lakers’ search for a center this summer is going to require them to find someone who can be the yin to Luka Dončić‘s yang as a pick-and-roll partner.
What better way to ensure a successful partnership than finding someone who already flourished alongside him?
While a trade with the Mavs may have once seemed unlikely, a complete rehaul of the front office and coaching staff almost certainly makes it more of a possibility moving forward. And a player they have been linked to, even in the aftermath of the Luka trade, has been Daniel Gafford.
The big man was a key piece of the Mavs’ run to the Finals and looked great alongside Luka. However, with the Mavs entering a new era led by Cooper Flagg, he could be one of the players the team looks to move on from.
In a recent article on his Substack, longtime NBA beat writer Marc Stein named Gafford as one of the veterans the Mavs are open to moving.
“Klay Thompson, P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford, as we speak, are the veterans that the Mavericks are seen as most open to trading … with Thompson drawing particular notice now that he’s entering the final season of his current contract valued at $17.5 million in 2026-27.”
One of the biggest selling points about Gafford is his contract. He’s set to make $17.2 million next season and is under contract through the 2028-29 season. That is a contract that is easy to find a trade package for that works financially.
On the flip side, perhaps the biggest downside for Gafford is his availability. He’s played just 57 and 55 games in the last two seasons. That said, he had three consecutive seasons of at least 70 games played just prior to that stretch.
If the Lakers are comfortable rolling the dice on his health, as they were with Marcus Smart last season, then a deal could be reached this summer. Pairing Dalton Knecht and Jarred Vanderbilt gets the Lakers into the range of matching salaries.
It would be a gamble for the Lakers to make a deal for Gafford, but it’s also a player who has had success with Luka. Is that enough to make them roll the dice and take the risk?
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 04: A view of the center court logo is seen prior to the game between the Denver Nuggets and the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on January 04, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Evan Bernstein/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We’ve tried to write this in our head more than a few times after last night, but each time we failed. Some times our thoughts were too negative. Other times too positive. So we took a different tack.
In the end, it is what it is and overall, there was an indisputable wonder to it all. New York erupted last night in ways we can’t ever remember. This city, so often under siege in the last quarter century, felt a collective relief. not a sigh but rather an extended, sustained joy. Much of it was the joy of youth, but it was more than that. The community pride that pulls New Yorkers of all ages, genders, races, ethnicity, origin through the tough days and nights was palpable. The civic religion of basketball, so deliriously described in The City Game about a past Knicks title, once again showed itself. It was grand.
Critics can and will say the fans of the Brooklyn Nets are left in the inevitably irrelevant lurch because this day is solely the property of the long-suffering New York Knicks fans. There is indeed a strong case for that. The Nets are at the NBA’s opposite pole from their neighbors. But at least in our mind, that’s secondary. Individual team and player fortunes rise and fall, sometimes inexplicably and at a moment’s notice. We know this. So do the more honest of the Knick fans. But the city goes on forever. We love New York and we love hoops so we’re happy for it and congratulate the Knicks and their fans.
And hope our time will come soon, just as it came for them, just as it came for the Liberty last year after 28 years of futility. Will the city react the same as it did last night should the Nets win? Almost certainly not. The Knicks have been part of the city for 80 years, the Nets 15. The Knicks play in midtown Manhattan, the center of the known universe, the Nets in Brooklyn, hip and hot but … It is what it is. Like we said.
Bottom line for the Brooklyn Nets in all of this is that they decided in June 2024 to go deep into a rebuild, hoping that by exchanging picks with the Rockets and adding picks from the Knicks, they’d be able to come away with top picks in two deep and potentially generational drafts in 2025 and 2026 and hedge their bets by acquiring other picks in the Mikal Bridges deal. They wound up with the eighth and sixth picks and some Knicks picks that aren’t looking so good in the short term. A lot of that was simply bad luck and we will soon see just how bad or good starting June 23.
If you’re wondering if there could be changes coming in the front office, we see no indications of that. Indeed, the recent decisions by ownership to extend and give raises to Jordi Fernandez and all nine assistants then promote capologist Makar Gevorkian to assistant GM are indications of confidence in decision-making. Could that change if the plan doesn’t work out? Of course. The rebuild can’t go on forever. But the watch words now are patience and the plan.
Now back to the weeds!
Will Mikel Brown be out of Nets range?
Increasingly, it looks like the top five picks of the NBA Draft are set even if the order isn’t. For weeks, maybe months, A.J. Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cam Boozer and Caleb Wilson were seen as the leading men of this play. The storyline may be up for debate, but not the cast of characters. Now, Mikel Brown Jr. once seen as part of a group of four or five minor characters, seems to be joining the top picks at No. 5. As Sean Farnham of ESPN said three days ago to M.J. Acosta…
"[Mikel Brown Jr.] has now moved his name up and the momentum is on his side."@SeanFarnham joins @MJAcostaTV to discuss the latest surrounding the fifth pick in the NBA draft 👀 pic.twitter.com/KWk8gobQL2
That of course is not good for the Nets who, the Lottery be damned, finished No. 6. The Nets seem quite enamored of Brown who they’ve reportedly seen twice already, once at home in Orlando, then again this week in Brooklyn. The 6’5” Louisville lead guard checks every Nets box from skills to character. Here’s what Rafael Barlowe told our Connor Long a couple of days ago when asked about the in-home visit.
“It’s a good sign of the interest level that the Nets have,” Barlowe said. “From what I understand, it was Jordi, it was Sean Marks, it was the assistant general manager, just trying to get a feel for the kid and the situation. From what I hear or what I heard, not only did he kill that interview, he’s killed every interview…”
Brown has something else as well: star quality. IF the Nets are going to catch the Knicks, they’ll need a lot of that.
Can the Nets jump to No. 5 by sending the Clippers some assets, presumably draft picks? Hard to tell right now. We don’t how much in love the Clipper front office is with the Florida native. Also, it’s hard to know how big a hammer Adam Silver will drop on Steve Ballmer et al regarding the Aspiration scandal. In short, the mega rich Ballmer (as compared to the super rich Joe Tsai) reportedly sent money to a company called Aspiration which in turn paid Kawhi Leonard eight figures for what sure looks like a no-show job. As we noted a couple of reports back, that could affect the Clippers thinking since historically the way the league punishes such transgressions is by docking the offending team future draft picks. A generation ago, Silver’s predecessor David Stern assessed the Timberwolves five years worth of first round picks along with fines, suspensions, etc.
Here’s some possibilities that could affect any discussions between Sean Marks and Lawrence Frank, the Clips GM:
Might the Clippers decide to resist trade offers for the fifth pick, understanding their cache of picks could be diluted by the league and so, hang on to what they got? That would limit the Nets ability to move up.
Might they decide to trade the fifth pick for future firsts to lessen the pain of future losses? With the Nets having the most draft assets in the NBA by far, could that provide an opportunity for Brooklyn?
Might they decide to use the fifth pick in a trade for a star, forgetting any semblance of an organic route contention, knowing how constrained that route will become? That would also eliminate the possibility of a trade and add a new player and new needs to the mix at the top of the Draft.
Complicating matters is that the league is unlikely to make any move before the first night of the draft on June 23 so the Clippers won’t have any intelligence on what’s going to happen. A big new New York law firm, Wachtell Lipton, has been investigating the scandal for months and although Silver said on June 6 that “We need to wrap this up,” he also indicated Wachtell wasn’t done yet. After he receives the report, of course, Silver will have to decide on punishments.
Adding to the uncertainty is that the Clippers have already dispatched some of their firsts in previous trades. The Clippers don’t have clear title to their own first rounder till 2029. If the commissioner pulls Clippers firsts starting in 2029, that’s a lot easier to deal with.
A far less complicated possibility is what Yossi Gozlan proposed in his Third Apron review of the Nets situation: a couple of potential salary dumps that might be appealing to the Clippers.
[T]hey could make that happen by taking on negative-value contracts like Bradley Beal ($5.6 million) and Isaiah Jackson ($7 million) while sending out a minor asset. The last time two teams next to each other in the middle of the lottery swapped picks was in 2023, when the Wizards gave the Pacers two second-round picks to move up from No. 8 to No. 7.
So what happens if the Nets can’t get their hands on Brown? We simply don’t know how they feel about that Acuff, Wagler or Flemings although in previous discussions three weeks ago, Ben Pfeiffer of Sportscasting suggested to Erik Slater that Nets had interest in Flemings. Of those four, we believe that only Acuff has been in. Flemings and Wagler were supposed to be in but scheduling issues intervened. Then, there’s the two big men the Nets paired off last Tuesday: Nate Ament and Karim Lopez. No one — at this point — believes either is likely to be taken as high as No. 6 but there’s always the possibility that the Nets move down or acquire a later first rounder.
‘F*ck them picks’
Josh Hart’s now famous analysis of the picks the Nets got for Mikal Bridges resonates Sunday. As we tweeted numerous times, any time a team makes a trade that leads to a championship, that team is the winner, period. There’s no counter argument and despite some (typical) inconsistent play by Bridges in the Finals, he will be sitting in a float no doubt with his fellow Villanovans Thursday.
All that said, where do all them f*uckin’ picks stand? Here’s how it started:
Nets traded Mikel Bridges and Keita Bates-Diop as well as the least favorable of Bucks, Magic, Pistons second round picks and the draft rights to Juan Pablo Vaulet.
Knicks traded Bojan Bogdanovic, Shake Milton and Mamadi Diakite to the Nets along with four unprotected first-round picks in 2025, 2027, 2029 and 2031 and the Bucks 1-4 protected pick in 2025, an unprotected first round swap in 2028 and the Nets 2025 second rounder which the Knicks had acquired.
So where do we stand now, two years after?
The Nets used two of the first round picks in 2025 to take Nolan Traore at No. 19 (the Bucks pick) and Ben Saraf (the Knicks pick) at No. 26. They traded the 2025 second rounder — No. 36 — to the Suns who sent back a 2026 Clippers second rounder which is currently the No. 43rd pick in this year’s draft and the Celtics 2030 second rounder. The Suns ultimately sent the pick to the Lakers who chose Adou Thiero.
The Nets sent Diakite and his partially guaranteed deal to the Grizzlies along with the draft rights to Nemanja Dangubic, acquiring Ziaire Williams and the Mavericks 2030 second rounder. They also sent Milton to the Lakers along with Dorian Finney-Smith for D’Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis and three Lakers second rounders 2027, 2030 and 2031. Russell’s contract was not renewed and Lewis was waived.
The Knicks sent the second round pick acquired from the Nets to the Pelicans as part of the package for Joe Alvarado. New York sent New Orleans another second plus cash considerations.
So what’s left?
Three unprotected Knicks firsts in 2027, 2029 and 2031, an unprotected first round swap in 2028 and number of seconds that are by-products of the trade, including the Clippers pick (No. 43) in this year’s draft plus two second round picks — the Celtics and Mavericks — in 2030. Also, there’s Ziaire Williams.
The Knicks picks will likely increase in value. New York was the fourth oldest team in the NBA last season. A dynasty seems unlikely, but who knows.
Draft Sleeper of the Week
For weeks, Sergio De Larrea has been linked to the Nets in more than one mock draft at No. 33, the first of their two second rounders. However, in recent weeks, we’ve seen the 6’7” Spanish point guard start to sneak into the first round. While Mexican Karim Lopez is generally seen as the top international prospect and a lottery pick, De Larrea is the top European this year in a less than stellar group. However, he has a lot of supporters…
NEWS: Valencia's Sergio de Larrea, a projected first round pick, is staying in the 2026 NBA Draft, a source tells DraftExpress.
The 6'7 Spanish PG, 20, averages 8.9 points, 3.3 assists in 18 minutes in the ACB for Euroleague Final Four participant Valencia, shooting 39% from 3. pic.twitter.com/2SfWB3TYpB
His draft status is somewhat uncertain in part because he is still playing for Valencia in the Spanish League. Per the Rookie Wire’s Cody Taylor, he’s unlikely to be available for any workouts until next weekend, days before the Draft, if then.
De Larrea is averaging 7.1 points, 2.8 assists and 2.2 rebounds while shooting 39.5% from 3-point range in 67 games across all league competitions. He has registered three 20-point games, including a season-high 23-point performance on Oct. 3.
The 6-foot-7 de Larrea helped Valencia advance to the ACB Finals on Sunday after sweeping Joventut Badalona 3-0 in their series. The group, which has homecourt advantage, will face Barcelona in the best-of-five championship, beginning on Thursday.
(That’s not necessarily a no-go for the Nets. They drafted Ben Saraf, a similarly sized European guard, last season without working him out. Saraf played in the German league finals after being drafted! Of course, Jordi Fernandez, with his Spanish basketball roots, is likely to have a good read on De Larrea.)
“I’m intrigued by De Larrea’s size and craftiness with the ball. However, his lack of athleticism and defensive limitations are concerns, at least to some degree. Regardless, he’s an interesting prospect who should generate plenty of draft interest.”
Offensively, 3-point shooting is De Larrea’s best strength right now, and that will hold value to NBA teams. De Larrea can hit threes both off of the dribble and in catch-and-shoot scenarios — I suspect the latter will be called upon more in his rookie season than creation off the dribble. Nevertheless, the ability to rise into a three off of the dribble — while not perfected — is still be a useful tool in De Larrea’s arsenal.
Some highlights from earlier this season in the Spanish League.
Should De Larrea wind up in Brooklyn, he’s likely to serve an apprenticeship on Long Island. Same with the No. 43 pick. The Nets have a lot of kids.
Final Note
So what’s the Nets and their fans’ best response to gloating by Knicks gloating about their first title in 53 years? Norman Oder, the critic and chronicler of Atlantic Yards, had the best suggestion we’ve seen…
The Nets might legitimately say: we promise it will take less time
When the New York Knicks beat San Antonio in game five on Saturday, it was the eighth unique NBA champion in the past eight seasons, dating back to the Toronto Raptors’ title in 2019. That’s 26.67% of the league that has won a title in less than a decade.
For fans of the Utah Jazz, there are two questions regarding this unique time in the NBA’s history: How long will the parity era last, and can the Jazz strike while the iron is hot?
During this eight-year stretch, five teams either won their first title or won their first title since pre-1979 — the Jazz’s first season in Utah. Those teams were the Raptors (2019), Bucks (2021), Nuggets (2023), Thunder (2025) and Knicks (2026). The Pacers were one game away from claiming their first championship in 2025.
In the last eight years, 43.3% of the NBA’s franchise’s have reached the finals and 60% of teams have made the conference finals. The closest the Utah Jazz got during that time was in 2021, when they lost in six games to the Los Angeles Clippers in the second round.
If all goes according to plan, the Jazz will be in the playoffs for the indefinite future. The Thunder and Spurs are the clear frontrunners for the West over the next few years, but both teams could look incredibly different in two years than they do now.
Because of current roster and salary construction in the NBA, it’s difficult to keep all key pieces of a team in tact for more than a few seasons at a time. It’s hard to predict what today’s best teams will look like even two seasons from now — which is what makes this era one of great parity. The current collective bargaining agreement that is in place for the NBA does not expire until the end of the 2029-30 season, so expect the next four years to be filled with as much parity as the rest of the decade.
So until this parity era comes to an end, can the Utah Jazz make the colorful list of teams that won in the 2020’s?
