Brunson, who finished with 45 points and was unanimously named NBA Finals MVP, was emotional in his postgame interview on ESPN.
Jalen Brunson drives to the basket for a layup in the fourth quarter of the Knicks’ Game 5 win over the Spurs to claim the NBA championship. NBAE via Getty Images
“I don’t know what I am feeling. I’m in awe. Whenever people counted us out, we came back and did something about it,” Brunson said.
The Spurs, once again, had the Knicks down double digits in Game 5 but New York pushed past them with a 29-18 fourth quarter to claim the franchise’s first championship in 53 years.
“My confidence comes from my work ethic,” the 29-year-old Brunson said. “All I can think of is all the hours in the summer, every summer since I ever can remember making this a reality. I’d just be alone in the gym.”
Brunson did not have an answer for what it meant to accomplish this goal with his father, Knicks assistant coach Rick Brunson.
ESPN’s Lisa Salters said the answer was obvious as tears streamed down Brunson’s face as a picture-in-picture showed Rick joyously celebrating.
“You can see it,” Brunson said, repeating Salters’ line.
May 4, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Tyler Kolek (13) celebrates his three point shot against the Philadelphia 76ers during the fourth quarter of game one of the eastern conference semifinal round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Five times, the San Antonio Spurs led by at least 12 points in the 2026 NBA Finals.
Four times, the New York Knicks said “I don’t think so.”
On Saturday, the Knicks rallied from down 16 to score a 94-90 victory over the Spurs and close out the Finals, 4-1. It’s New York’s first title since 1973.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, ALL OF THIS MEANS THAT FORMER MARQUETTE STAR AND 2023 BIG EAST PLAYER OF THE YEAR TYLER KOLEK IS AN NBA CHAMPION!
Did TK play in the Finals? Mind your business! All that matters is that he’s getting a ring and that’s awesome. Is it more or less awesome than noted Villanova guy Jalen Brunson putting up 45 points in the closeout game and dragging the Knicks across the finish line at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio on Saturday night? I’ll let you decide.
Stay tuned for Tyler Kolek At The Knicks Parade updates!
SAN ANTONIO, TX - JUNE 13: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs blocks the shot of Jose Alvarado #5 of the New York Knicks during the game during Game Five of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 13, 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
The New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs in Game Five of the NBA Finals to win their first NBA Championship since 1973. Despite building a 16-point lead, the Spurs allowed the Knicks to storm back in the fourth quarter in a 94-90 loss. It’s the first time in franchise history that San Antonio lost the Finals on its home court.
The Spurs’ offense struggled all game, but particularly in the fourth quarter. San Antonio scored just 18 points compared to the Knicks 29 points in the final frame. Neither team shot the ball particularly well from the field, but New York had the best player in the building in Jalen Brunson. The Knicks’ star guard had 45 points on 14-27 shooting from the field.
San Antonio’s starting backcourt was ice cold, as De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle combined for 13 points on 4-25 shooting from the field. They got a boost off the bench from Dylan Harper, who led the Spurs in scoring with 25 points in 31 minutes. Victor Wembanyama started the game on a roll, but couldn’t find his footing in the fourth quarter, finishing the game with 19 points, 14 rebounds, and 5 blocks on 7-19 shooting from the field.
In this young core’s first postseason, they took their run all the way to the NBA Finals. With one of the best players in the league in Wembanyama, a solid young supporting cast, and plenty of assets to work with, San Antonio could be fighting for a championship in the years to come.
Observations:
The game took on a familiar form. The Spurs got up big in the first quarter by playing elite defense and moving the ball well on offense. As the game went along, and the physicality of the Knicks started to set in, the Spurs got away from what made them successful. The ball movement stopped, and their defense couldn’t keep up with their lack of offense.
In the biggest game of the season, the Spurs needed more from their starting backcourt. Fox and Castle never found a rhythm. Neither of them got clean looks at the rim, and their shots completely abandoned them. To make matters worse, they didn’t get their teammates involved either. Fox finished the game with 5 assists, and Castle finished with 4.
Wembanyama is going to be the focus for a lot of people coming out of the loss. He was absent for a lot of the fourth quarter offensively, going 1-5 from the field during the final frame. Wembanyama didn’t get many clean looks at the hoop late as the Knicks sold out, leaving other Spurs open to make sure he didn’t have easy lanes to the basket. He passed out of a lot of shots late as he struggled to create his own shot.
Once again, San Antonio didn’t seem to have the advantage in front of their home crowd. The Spurs got BOOED when they took the floor. The post-game celebration was filled with Knicks fans. It seemed to play a factor for most of the series.
One player who donned the Silver and Black this season won a ring: Jeremy Sochan.
Mike Breen, ESPN’s lead broadcast voice for the NBA Finals and the longtime voice of the Knicks for MSG Network, got to make arguably the biggest call of his play-by-play career on Saturday night.
“It’s over! It’s over! Knick fans, this is not a dream!” Breen, a Yonkers native, said as the clock ticked down on the Knicks’ 94-90 win in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, a victory that gave them their first title since 1973. “Your long, long wait is ended. Go ahead and cry: after 53 years, the Knicks are finally NBA Champions once again!”
The 65-year-old, well-known for his iconic “Bang!” call to signify a big-shot shot, knew he’d have to keep his composure as the clock ticked to zero on a potential Knicks championship.
“The No. 1 thing for me is I’ve got a job to do, and I have to do a professional job,” Breen said on a media call ahead of the NBA Finals. “And with all the responsibilities that go into it, both prior and during the course of the series, that’s what I’m concentrating on now.
“As the series goes on every year, no matter who’s in it, you try and think of OK, how am I going to word this? How am I going to wrap up, summarize, what this means to the winning team, what it means to the losing team, and you wait ’til the series goes on before you really get into those thoughts.”
Knicks celebrate after defeating the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. AP Photo/Ross D. FranklinThe Post’s front page on June 14, 2026: “CHAMPS!”
“I do know what it would mean to the city and to the fans of the city,” he said. “It might be one of the great moments in the history of New York sports if they win because of what the fan base has gone through and how loyal they’ve been to the team.
Richard Jefferson, Tim Legler and Mike Breen pose for a photo before Game 5 between the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks NBAE via Getty Images
San Antonio Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama needs to be very careful about flagrant fouls in the NBA Finals. And in Game 5, he may have gotten away with one.
Midway through the third quarter Saturday, June 13, Wembanyama jumped to contest a 3-point attempt from Knicks All-Star Jalen Brunson. During Wembanyama’s closeout, he approached Brunson’s landing area, leading to Brunson landing on Wembanyama’s right foot.
Officials opted not to call a foul on Wembanyama, which normally would’ve induced a review to see if it constituted a reckless closeout.
Brunson was extremely upset with officials and ran over to argue. A closer look at the play, however, showed that Brunson kicked his leg out in a somewhat unnatural motion.
Wembanyama is currently sitting at 3 flagrant points, and any additional flagrant foul penalty — 1 or 2 — would trigger an automatic one-game suspension.
So, while it would seem Wembanyama may have skirted past a suspension, the NBA can still issue one retroactively, since it reviews prior games. If the NBA deems that the play indeed merited a reckless closeout and a flagrant foul, it can upgrade that play, which would result in the suspension.
The Spurs, of course, would need to hold on to win the game to extend the series, anyway.
San Antonio leads, 70-58, with 1:26 left to play in the third quarter.
It sure felt like Wembanyama committed a textbook flagrant foul in the third quarter of Game 5 for crowding Jalen Brunson’s landing spot on a made three-pointer, but the refs didn’t call it. The NBA can review and upgrade calls after the game, and if the league decides that this is indeed a flagrant, Wembanyama would miss a hypothetical Game 6.
This is the classic “Zaza Pachulia rule” — the league mandated that it’s a flagrant foul if a defender doesn’t give a jump shooter landing space after Pachulia injured Kawhi Leonard on a similar play in 2017.
The league already decided not to upgrade Wembanyama’s cheap shot on Brunson earlier in the series, and that sure felt like a flagrant, too. It would be a monumental bummer if Wembanyama missed a hypothetical Game 6 in Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, but the rules are the rules. I think the four flagrant points is far too few for a suspension in the deep playoff run, but that’s how the rules are written.
It will be fascinating to see if this play is upgraded. If it is, Wembanyama won’t be playing if there’s a Game 6 in the NBA Finals.
You'd be forgiven if you watch Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Saturday and think it's being played at Madison Square Garden; that's how big a presence Knicks fans are trying to make themselves known in San Antonio.
Basketball fans know Knicks fans travel well, but this is different. The Knicks are one win away from capturing their first championship in 53 years and fans want to be a part of it.
"Our fans have been fantastic all year. And during the playoffs, they’ve tried to show up and show out wherever we are," Knicks coach Mike Brown said before Game 5. "Not just in the arena, we see them walking around the area we’re staying in. We see them at the hotel. Just to know they are as enthused and rowdy as they are, it’s second to none.
"We love having our fans, we love having them in the building, we love having them around. Hopefully they’ll be able to cheer just as loud as they are at home, here tonight."
Knicks fans were loud early on. As the Spurs had their pregame workouts, fans in their seats were booing Victor Wembanyama as he took his shots.
When the hometown Spurs took the court for pregame shootaround, Knicks fans booed San Antonio's team mercilessly. And they cheered for the Knicks as they took the court.
How could this be? Well, Knicks fans bought nearly 50 percent of the tickets to Game 5. by fans in the NY/NJ area, According to Kyle Zorn of Tick Pick, fans from the New York and New Jersey area bought 45 percent of the tickets.
And of course, the Knicks fan celebs are in attendance.
Fat Joe, Ben Stiller, Timothee Chalamet are in San Antonio and there's likely going to be more as we sit and wait to see if the Knicks can undo 50 years without a title on Saturday night.
Ben Stiller, Timothée Chalamet and Fat Joe are all in San Antonio for Game 5 of the NBA Finals ⭐ pic.twitter.com/qp7ca48Gi2
Barkley, during the postgame of "Inside the NBA" after the Knicks' 107-106 victory, which gave New York a 3-1 series lead, called the Spurs the "dumbest basketball team in the history of civilization."
"That was some of the most mismanaged, stupid basketball," Barkley said. "When you blow a 29-point lead, the other team has to help you. The San Antonio Spurs helped the New York Knicks win this game by doing some of the stupid(est) stuff I've seen on a basketball court."
During the pregame show before Game 5, Barkley made it a point to say who he was directing his ire toward after he said a couple of NBA coaches had called him.
"When I said 'it was really dumb basketball' the other night, I was talking about the players," Barkley said. "I want to make it clear that I wasn't talking about Coach (Mitch Johnson)."
"When I said 'it was really dumb basketball' the other night, I was talking about the players.”
Johnson and his players were criticized for how they handled things in the second half, particularly their poor shot selection and lack of in-game awareness at the end.
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES - JUNE 10: OG Anunoby (8) of the New York Knicks and De'Aaron Fox (4) of San Antonio Spurs in action during the National Basketball Association (NBA) finals game between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs at the Madison Square Garden in New York, United States on June 10, 2026. (Photo by Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty Images) | Anadolu via Getty Images
The Knicks return to the Frost Bank Center to face the Spurs in Game Five of the NBA Finals. They’ve already won there twice—Games One and Two—and are coming off a 29-point comeback for the ages to win Game Four at home. Now, with the Spurs stunned by another blow-lead and heartbreaking loss, the Knicks are ready to close this series out and take home the Larry O’Brien. Meanwhile, Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs are playing for pride with their season on the line.
Should be a helluva game. Tip-off is 8:30 pm EST on ABC. This is your game thread. This is Pounding the Rock. Please don’t post large photos, GIFs, or links to illegal streams in the thread. Try not to lose your minds. And go Knicks!
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 10: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs shoots the ball over Josh Hart #3 of the New York Knicks during the third quarter in Game Four of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden on June 10, 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 Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to the Game Thread. Veterans of the Game Thread know how we do things around here, but for all you newbies we have a few rules. Our community guidelines apply and basically say be cool, no personal attacks, don’t troll and don’t swear too much. The rule against trolling also applies to members of this site that visit other fan sites.
It’s been a rough three days, folks. I just had to listen to this song like a hundred times [warning: foul language] and have long conversations with my cats about the unfairness of life [they’re excellent listeners]. I’ve had to limit my PTR time, since every time I go onto the site, I see fans trying to tear each other apart and saying that everyone should be fired, and wondering how mad they would have been if the Spurs didn’t even make it to the NBA Finals1. It’s just really hard to get to the edge of success and then slip on a banana peel and fall down the mountain. A wise man once said, “I refuse to carry the burden of hiding my emotions.” And that’s the trick, feel it, let it motivate you, but don’t let it overwhelm you. That’s where the Spurs are in tonight’s game, they have to acknowledge their historic collapse in Game 3, but also have to move forward by playing with poise for 48 minutes. I think this series has shown that the Spurs have more talent in the starting lineup, but the veteran focus of the Knicks can take advantage of every mistake. They know how to exploit the way the game is being called by the refs and Coach Mike Brown knows how to work the officials.
You have to give credit to the Knicks for what they did on Wednesday night as they fought all the way to the end, but you also have to recognize the the Spurs should have won the game. If the Silver and Black can make better decisions, they still have a chance to win tonight’s game, and if they win tonight, then they just have to win one more, and then win one more again. This team can do it if they play up to their abilities, and maybe have a few bounces go their way. THIS ISN’T OVER, DAMMIT!!
Luke Kornet is questionable tonight with an undisclosed illness, and while the team hasn’t played well whenever Wembanyama has to rest, he does have to rest sometimes, because his fatigue late in Game 4 was a big factor in the Knicks comeback surge. If Luke can’t go, you might see a lot of small ball with Carter Bryant, and a lot of Hack-a-Robinson when Wemby sits. Devin Vassell could have a breakout game with the home-ish2 crowd. Things could get ugly tonight, but if it ends in a win for the Silver and Black, it’ll be beautiful. GO SPURS GO!!
Answer: they probably wouldn’t be mad at all.
It’s been reported that about half of the tickets for this game were sold to fans from the New York metro area. That’s going to make for a very interesting atmosphere.
Game Prediction:
Chants of “refs you suck” erupt whenever a foul is called against either team, because both Spurs and Knicks fans hate refs, and there’s a bunch of both in the arena.
San Antonio Spurs vs New York Knicks, NBA Finals, Game 5 June 13, 2026 | 7:30 PM CT Streaming: ESPN TV: ABC Reminder: It is against site policy to post links to illegal streams in the comments.
A Knicks superfan on Long Island is celebrating the team’s historic NBA Finals run with a lavish, 10,000 LED light display that cost $5,000 and took 40 hours to install.
James Hentschel, who is known for his elaborate light displays outside his Deer Park home, has had the Knicks-themed blaze of blue and orange up since Game 1.
“If they win tonight, it’s not coming down for at least a week or two. If they don’t, it stays on until they win,” Hentschel, 48, told The Post on Saturday
Knicks superfan James Hentschel decked out his Long Island home for the NBA Finals. Courtesy James Hentschel
The contractor purchased the Govee curtain lights last year, and painstakingly installed them in the back and front of his house.
The lights are connected to an app, which enables him to change the scenes year-round for every celebration from Halloween and Christmas to the Fourth of July and his children’s birthday.
On Sunday, he will also be adding a light display for the UFC Freedom 250, which is being held on the South Lawn of the White House.
The lavish setup cost $5,000 and took 40 hours to install. Courtesy James Hentschel
Hentschel, who also commemorated the Knicks’ playoff run last year outside his house, said neighbors near and far drive by to marvel at the decorations.
“Cars just stop, take pictures, stop, take pictures … and videos,” he said.
His wife isn’t as excited about being in the limelight.
“She tolerates it, I would say. It’s not her favorite thing. But it occupies me and keeps me happy.”
Some Knicks fans who planned to go to San Antonio are going miss their chance to witness history in person.
Raucous and eager Knicks fans were set to take off on an American Airlines flight from LaGuardia Airport to Austin at 12:30 p.m. ET to potentially watch the Knicks clinch their first NBA Finals title in 53 years, but that will not happen anymore for at least some of them after a few delays, according to a Knicks fan account on X.
The flight, originally scheduled for 12:30, was delayed until 2:30 p.m., and then until 4, and then again for another hour, meaning fans would likely miss at least the start of the 8:30 p.m. opening tip for Game 5 at Frost Bank Center when factoring in the commute from Austin to San Antonio.
When your flight was supposed to leave from LGA at 12:30, then got delayed to 2:30, and now delayed to 4.
Which means not getting to San Antonio in time. Thanks @AmericanAir
New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby goes up for a shot as San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper jumps to defend during the fourth quarter of NBA Finals Game 4. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
At 3:11 p.m., the flight no longer had a flight crew, with Knick fan @EverythinKnicks even joking that Spurs fans must be controlling the air traffic control centers.
The same account later posted that the flight was delayed until 5 p.m. and that they didn’t end up going as they’d miss practically the entire game.
“Flight ended up getting delayed to 5,” they wrote. “So nobody was going to make it to the game in time. All the Knicks fans decided to not take the flight at that point because once they told us we needed to get off the plane due to the delays, there was no point of getting back on.”
Some on X felt sorry for @EverythinKnicks, but others thought the user’s decision to cut it so close was bound to backfire.
“Oh my god I’m so sorry. Please tell MSG. Maybe they can help in some way – Game 6? Parade route? Player meet and greet?” X user @willrocklin responded.
“Am I the only one who thinks it’s crazy to not leave a day in advance instead of the day of to ensure I get to the game? Like this is poor planning and I don’t feel bad at all,” @Maiers_Luke wrote
Fans watch the NY Knicks game 4 of the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs outside of Healthy Market on Wednesday, June 10, 2026 in New York City. Michael Nagle for NY Post
Toby Hyde, a Brooklyn resident, was supposed to board a 5:33 p.m. flight from John F. Kennedy Airport to San Antonio on Friday, but the storms sent him scrambling for a backup plan.
Even with potentially fewer members of Knicks faithful there, the Knicks can close out the Spurs in San Antonio in Game 5 Saturday night to win their first title since 1973.
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 12: Mikel Brown Jr. looks on during the game during the 2026 NBA Draft Combine on May 12, 2026 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Tamez/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Pure talent is rarely enough to guarantee NBA success. Roster construction, development, and team fit are just as vital to a highly touted player’s longevity in the pros.
With the 2026 NBA draft less than two weeks away, the Brooklyn Nets’ priority at No. 6 overall should be selecting the player who best fits the organization’s long-term vision, not necessarily the one with the highest raw consensus rating. Ultimately, talent and development go hand in hand.
There’s been a flurry of names linked to the Nets at No. 6 overall, from players like Michigan’s Aday Mara and Tennessee’s Nate Ament to the top guards such as Houston’s Kingston Flemings, Arkansas’ Darius Acuff Jr. and Illinois’ Keaton Wagler.
League sources tell NetsDaily the current favorite is Louisville’s Mikel Brown Jr. In 21 games (19 starts) last season, Brown Jr. averaged 18.2 points, 4.7 assists, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.2 steals while shooting 41.0% from the field and 34.4% from beyond the arc.
At 6’5” and 190lbs, MBJ. was limited to just 21 games last season after he dealt with lingering back issues. Despite that medical flag, sources indicate there are no long-term concerns regarding his back.
Evaluating a high-upside prospect with a medical history like Brown’s speaks directly to the delicate balance of the front office. And while Sean Marks commands league-wide respect for establishing a first-class organizational culture, front-office insiders point to a persistent flaw in his team-building calculus: When assessing Marks’ decade-long executive resume, one league source emphasized that while the veteran executive excels at identifying raw talent, he struggles to account for their roster fit.
In this year’s draft, his goal is to find a talented player who also fits with the Nets.
Several league sources have expressed how well Brown Jr. fits the Nets’ future and vision, adding that he firmly fits the mold of what Jordi Fernández looks for in his players, largely due to his playmaking ability and spot-up shooting, coupled with strong defensive traits.
According to James Barlowe of the NBA Big Board, the Nets visited with Brown Jr. and his family in Orlando, while also hosting him for a pre-draft visit at the HSS Training Center.
“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…
Sources: The Brooklyn Nets and the Milwaukee Bucks have recently both visited Mikel Brown Jr in Orlando to watch workouts and meet with the family.
Brown Jr is scheduled to visit the Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Clippers and Dallas Mavericks before the draft. pic.twitter.com/ey9KYTbHtT
However, the Nets may not be able to wait until the sixth overall pick to select the Louisville product. According to Sean Farham of ESPN, “[Mikel Brown Jr.] has now moved his name up and the momentum is on his side,” and could be in play for the Los Angeles Clippers at No. 5.
"[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
The good news is the Nets could look to leapfrog the Clippers. Word around inside circles is that multiple teams in the top-10 are looking to enter the top-four.
Brooklyn certainly has the ammunition to be one of those teams.
As ESPN’s Bobby Marks pointed out, the Nets have the most draft assets through 2033, including a whopping 14 first-round picks over that span. Obviously, it is highly unlikely that the organization will make even close to all of those picks, meaning they could be better used as trade chips.
If the Nets elect to make a move on draft night, the Bulls could emerge as a team worth watching. Chicago holds both the No. 4 and No. 15 selections and has reportedly explored the possibility of moving back from No. 4 in exchange for more immediate help, while also remaining a candidate to trade up from the middle of the first round.
Last year shouldn’t impact their approach to this year’s draft. Aside from Egor Dëmin, none of the 2025 first-rounders will be guaranteed minutes right away in their second season. Instead, they’ll have to earn it.
Aside from Dëmin, none of Brooklyn’s other four selections consistently delivered a high level of play. Nolan Traoré, Danny Wolf, Ben Saraf, and Drake Powell each had strong stretches at times but struggled to sustain the level of success Dëmin did.
In league circles, the futures of the Flatbush Five aren’t as particularly promising. One talent evaluator told ND that he had a late second-round grade on Saraf, but he never saw the appeal with Traoré. Ultimately, choosing to make all five of those selections last year put the organization in a rough situation as they look to play competitive basketball starting in 2026.
With the draft right around the corner, the Nets face a pivotal decision. Talent is crucial, but fit also matters just as much. Whoever the organization selects will need to not only possess upside, but also fit the vision of where this organization is trying to go.
Whichever way they go, it needs to be the right pick.
If Boston is considering trading Jaylen Brown — and multiple reports have said they are at least open to the idea — it almost certainly would be part of a deal to land Giannis Antetokounmpo. The idea being that Boston president Brad Stevens wants to force coach Joe Mazzulla to focus more on attacking the rim than shooting 3-pointers by giving him a star player who doesn't really shoot the 3.
"They don't want a mid-career player if they're trading Giannis. So from what I've heard, they are looking at Jaylen Brown in terms of flipping him to another team. I've been told possibly Atlanta. ... I've been told possibly New Orleans, who have young players."
Marc Stein at The Stein Line confirmed that the Hawks are interested in Brown, if he's available, as are the Portland Trail Blazers and Houston Rockets. Then he gets into the real challenge: Brown is set to make $57.1 million next season and has two fully guaranteed years beyond that for $126 million. Brown is worth the money, he is coming off an All-NBA season where he averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game. The problem is just making it work under the salary cap rules in a world where teams are scared of the tax aprons.
If the trade is Antetokounmpo to the Celtics for Brown, there will be at least three, and maybe four or more, teams involved in a very complex deal. And complex deals with a lot of moving parts are much harder to pull together.
Agent says “10-12" teams interested in LeBron
The most likely outcome of the LeBron James saga this summer is that he remains with the Lakers for a ninth season. However, maybe that idea is premature if you ask LeBron's agent, Rich Paul, who said on ESPN he has not spoken to LeBron about this, and that "10-12" teams expressed interest in the 41-year-old.
Despite rumors circulating, Rich Paul tells @PatMcAfeeshow that he hasn't had a conversation with LeBron James about next season, but has received calls from "about 10-12 teams" interested
"Believe nothing that's out there because I haven't had one conversation with him." pic.twitter.com/drtwegSNhC
I don't doubt that many teams may have expressed some level of interest in Paul. However, there are other factors that narrow down that list: How many of those teams does LeBron want to play for? How many of them can pay more than the minimum? Can that team compete for a title (or at least be a playoff threat)? Does it keep him close to home and his family in Los Angeles?
Put those parameters on the list, and you get the Lakers, maybe the Warriors (who might be able to use the $15 million mid-level exception), and... not much else.
Pelicans listen to Murphy offers
While teams have called for more than a year, every time another GM asked about Trey Murphy III's availability, the Pelicans essentially hung up the phone.
No more, reports NBA insider Marc Stein at The Stein Line. He adds that the Pistons and Pacers have expressed interest, but you can bet the line is longer than that — these playoffs have shown how much versatile two-way wings/forwards are critical to teams that want to advance in the playoffs.
Murphy is a solid wing defender who averaged 21.5 points and 5.7 rebounds per game, shooting 37.9% from 3-point range last season.
It's likely the asking price for Murphy will be steep, but for a Detroit team looking for a secondary shot creator to put next to Cade Cunningham, it might be worth it.
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 28: Austin Reaves #15 and Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers high five during the game against the Dallas Mavericks during a 2025-26 Emirates NBA Cup on November 28, 2025 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Offensively, there are few arguments against it. The pair showed they are a more-than-capable on that end of the floor and, in fact, are one of the most potent offensive duos in the league.
The questions largely rest on the other end of the floor. Neither player is a strong individual defender, which raises plenty of questions about whether the Lakers can contend for a title with them as the starting backcourt.
For whatever it’s worth, the Lakers are confident it’s not nearly as much of a concern. In a recent piece on The Athletic, Dan Woike reported that the Lakers feel the defensive issues are “overstated.”
Provided the Lakers address other needs on the wing and at the rim, defensive concerns about a Dončić-and-Reaves pairing are overstated, one team source said. Reaves was also one of the most important voices inside the Lakers’ locker room a season ago, his leadership developing year over year.
The easy reaction to this is that obviously the Lakers would feel this way. In their defense, there are some numbers that back it up. From Feb. 1 through the end of March, a span of 29 games, the Lakers ranked 12th in the league in defensive rating.
That came without the rest of the team necessarily optimized around them. There were few plus defenders on the roster last year, something the team can hopefully address this summer.
If anything, that stat is not just a credit to Reaves and Luka for contributing to a solid defense, but also a testament to the work of head coach JJ Redick this season.
There are going to be caveats with having Luka and Austin on a team together. The team will need to be great offensively, but that should be the easy part. In that same aforementioned span, LA was sixth in offensive rating.
Through an admittedly limited sample size, the Lakers showed they can hang on both ends of the floor with a Luka-Austin backcourt. Clearly, that is enough evidence for them to believe in this long term.
The hope now is that it can be extrapolated to an entire season or more.
pic.twitter.com/OQRgWcRotw
(@ShowCaseShabazz) 
