“Winning the Larry O’Brien is a childhood dream and having a real shot at it, having a chance, a tangible chance at winning it, realizing a dream, it’s a lifetime chance,” Wembanyama said to the NBC crew at the end of Game 7 against the OKC Thunder.

“You never know what’s going to happen again. The day we win it, it’s going to be an amazing day of realization of a dream. It’s almost like the meaning of my life.”

For the past 3 years I have watched almost all Victor Wembanyama’s games in a Spurs uniform. For the most part, and despite the gravity of last year’s DVT, a possibly career-ending condition, Victor’s ascension has matched my wildest dreams. I started to watch his games when he was just 15 and got a silver medal at the U16 Euro Championship with France. This was the beginning of a trend resembling a curse… “the eternal second”. Silver at U16 Euro, silver at U19 Worlds, silver at Paris 2024 Olympics. 

A curse?

In French sports lore, Raymond Poulidor, “The Cycling Legend Who Never Won” was also called the “Eternal Second”. Over a 17-year career, he finished on the podium of the Tour de France an incredible eight times, yet he never once wore the coveted yellow jersey. Despite missing the top step at the Tour, he was a great champion with 189 professional wins, but so often finishing second in major races.

Internally I started to develop a superstition, a fear, that Victor could become the next Poulidor.

This season a shift happened. Despite his calf injury in November, Victor’s ascension started to accelerate. My pre-season predictions for this team, a play-in at worst, and a 6^th seed in the stacked West at best, were blown apart entirely by the team’s run starting February 1^st.  But superstition is a hard thing to shake. With Vic’s obvious rise, I was tempted to write my thoughts, share some basketball analytics with Pounding The Rock, but I was also scared I would be wrong, that I was counting my chickens before they had hatched. So, I kept my thoughts for myself.

Pilgrimage to the Alamo

In February, I finally made the trip to San Antonio. Almost a “childhood dream” of mine. My first time in Texas. I absolutely loved the vibrancy of the city and its people. I was there for the 2026 Western Heritage Parade & Cattle Drive, watching in awe longhorn bulls ridden by local cowboys and cowgirls in San Antonio streets, singing along both TexMex-inspired music and the Scottish marching band. 

That morning, up early due to the jetlag, I also enjoyed a beautiful wander by the River Walk, all by myself, under a winter blue sky. Finally, 2 hours before tip-off, I made my way to the Frost Bank Center, checking numerous times that the ticket I had bought online 5 months before was still in my Ticketmaster app, that it wasn’t a scam and pinching myself that I would, finally, see the Championships banners hanging up in the rafters, see the Spurs homecourt, the Spurs players and Victor Wembanyama.

As I arrived early, I was almost first in line for the security check, and made my way to the main glass doors, upfront, where I could see the Spurs dancing squad warming up and rehearsing. When the doors finally opened, I made my way to section 101, row 9, and the seat closest to the tunnel!

Some players were on the court doing shooting drills with their respective trainer. DeAaron Fox was very impressive from the 3-point line, so fluid. Then Devin Vassell walked just past me, emerging from the tunnel, on his way to the Spurs bench. He is so much thinner in real life than I expected. His muscles are super lean, and he walks with a mix of regal demeanor and nonchalance. Quite the combination!

Finally, Vic arrived and started shooting free throws, a mere 10 meters from me, towering everything around him. Felix Wembanyama arrived too and sat courtside opposite to the bench players. 

This was the second game against the Mavs in 2 days. The Spurs had won in Dallas where both Vic and Cooper were sensational. Although this time was not Cooper Flagg’s best game, I was nonetheless impressed. Very competitive, fluid, good handles and a much better shooting stroke, especially from 3, than I anticipated. 

The star of the night, though, was our very “Stephan WOW Castle”, to qu0te Floyd. A 40-12-12 triple-double masterpiece. You had to be there to feel his energy. His will power. Absolutely incredible. The whole crowd was just pumped up, feeding off Steph’s energy.

Close Encounter Of The Third Kind – Wemby the Alien

During the game, Vic went to one of the gym bikes under the tunnel to keep warm, with Guillaume Alquier by his side. We exchanged a couple of words, in French, but he quickly stopped there and just smiled back, clenched his fist in appreciation of my mentioning of Nanterre, his youth club, but that was it. Vic is Vic. Always 100% focused during a game.

The San Antonio Spurs legacy

After the game, I went back to Downtown San Antonio, enjoyed a nighttime River Walk perambulation. The atmosphere was just so friendly. I was just on cloud nine.

Visiting San Antonio, attending a Spurs game had been a dream of mine for almost 30 years, since Timmy was drafted to play alongside my favorite – at the time – player, David Robinson. Growing up, I had posters of the Admiral covering the wall above my bed. Since then, French players had started to play for the Spurs: Tony Parker, Ian Mahinmi, Nando De Colo (all selected via draft picks) and of course Boris Diaw… making my passion for the Spurs even stronger, more personal. 

But nothing compares to what was coming. In my wildest dreams, I wanted Victor Wembanyama to join the Spurs. The 16^th of May 2023, I was in a meeting, with my cellphone next to me, waiting for the results of the lottery. First. Pick. San. Antonio. Spurs.

I knew then and there. I would have to visit San Antonio. Victor Wembanyama was about to join the best organization possible, not only on paper, but for him, as he is unique and needs to be free to grow and maximize his potential. 

The 2026 NBA Finals

It took only 3 years… And to quote Vic again “You never know what’s going to happen again. The day we win it, it’s going to be an amazing day of realization of a dream. It’s almost like the meaning of my life.” 

And for me, I had to make it happen. I had to visit San Antonio. That’s how you make your dreams come true. You control what is in your control. I planned it, saved some money, and did it.

And these young Spurs, they are going to the 2026 NBA Finals knowing that “You never know what’s going to happen again”, thus you never squander an opportunity in front of you.

I can now go back to my analytics, thinking about every match ups the Finals have to offer.

Vic and the Spurs have won the Western Conference Finals, he is the WCF MVP. 

He is on a path to realization.

The 2026 NBA Finals are set, and in their first return in 27 years, the Knicks seek to get revenge for their last appearance, a five-game loss in 1999 to the San Antonio Spurs. It won’t be the walk in the park the Eastern Conference was, so let’s break down the strategies and adjustments we’re likely to see and predict this year’s eventual champions.

Any series including San Antonio will center around the team's defense, and especially its anchor and star, Victor Wembanyama. The third-year player is living up to the most optimistic fans’ hype, leading his team to the Finals behind 23.2 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 4.4 stocks per game.

It’s his presence in the paint that fundamentally changes how teams approach their offense. Players are either too timid to attack the rim around his otherworldly length, or they test it to mixed results, with Wembanyama sometimes even baiting guys by pretending to not see a driver before quickly turning and swatting the ball into the eighth row.

New York has a built-in advantage with its ability to spread the floor with five shooters, but the Spurs will challenge that early by letting Wembanyama hover off Josh Hart. The Knicks have had to switch lineups or hope Hart connects on threes to punish this adjustment, and they’ll have to again.

Until then, Karl-Anthony Towns’ pinch-post creation and flex-action fun won’t be so effective. He’ll get lots of one-on-one opportunities and similar looks he got against Cleveland, and will have to take advantage that way. 

Of course, Jalen Brunson will be pivotal as the Knicks' captain and leader of their offense. His ability to kill teams from the mid-range and pulling up from three will need to be leveraged specifically against Wembanyama, so he has to actively work and cover ground vs. wait in the paint. 

Drop conservatively and Brunson can hurt you with his jumper, play more aggressive coverage and the Spurs get in rotation, Wembanyama gets fatigued. Expect lots of switching and random traps when Wembanyama isn’t guarding the action directly. 

The good news is Brunson will get opportunities to matchup hunt. San Antonio is stocked with positive defenders, but few perimeter standouts and some real targets for Brunson. 

De’Aaron Fox, Dylan Harper, Julian Champagnie and Carter Bryant will be tested in isolation. Stephon Castle likely gets the initial matchup and is the best defender Brunson’s had to face since Dyson Daniels, so how he fares will be crucial, especially if Wembanyama’s mucking up the off-ball stuff.

The other big edge for New York here is its wings. Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby outsize and out-talent San Antonio’s swingmen, each recording a 25+ point game against them this season, and both are playing exceptional offensive ball these Playoffs, so the Knicks will need them to aggressively attack mismatches and the paint.

One concern for the Knicks is getting enough out of their bench. The Spurs aren’t especially deep with their current rotation, but do boast the Sixth Man of the Year plus the explosive Harper.

Meanwhile, New York’s bench was quietly comatose for much of the Cleveland and Philadelphia series outside of Landry Shamet. The Knicks will need big performances out of him, Miles McBride and Mitchell Robinson (who appears to be playing through a broken pinky) to take advantage of the non-Wembanyama minutes.

Surprisingly the Spurs haven’t been dominant on either side of the glass this postseason, opening the door for the Knicks to win extra possessions here, especially from their wings and guards. Both teams are pretty careful with the ball, so the first to get sloppy with it will be fighting an uphill battle.

It’s not a big edge to bank on, but the Knicks should have the experience and fatigue factors in their corner here. San Antonio has played a couple full-length, physical series now while New York’s coasted, and frankly carried a “do or die” business-only attitude while the young Spurs look genuinely thrilled just to be here.

But those don’t impact the court like the actual basketball does, and San Antonio will need a strong plan of attack for its offense against this stifling New York playoff defense. The Spurs want to get Wembanyama going in the paint to open up their three-point shooters, and the Knicks will try to shut them down like they did their previous postseason foes.

It’s possible Anunoby gets the start on Wembanyama to try to make post positioning difficult, and put Towns on Castle so he can roam and clog the paint. Options to “hide” Brunson are scant, so it’ll likely be Champagnie or Castle if the Hart treatment isn’t working.

Bridges and Hart will likely get the Fox and Devin Vassell assignments. Bridges has been instrumental in shutting down opposing guard play, so if he can cut off many of Fox’s and Harper’s pick-and-rolls it would do wonders to muck up the Spurs offense.

The Knicks can win the series on this end by continually getting stops and getting out in transition, not allowing the Spurs defense to ever get set or get a rhythm. They’ve played with terrific pace thus far, but their opponent likes to go up-and-down too, so it may not be a big advantage like in past series.

Towns and Robinson will get their one-on-one opportunities to guard Wemby and will have to step up. He’s shown he can get muscled out of comfortable positions, but other guys have stepped up, so it will need to be a top-to-bottom effort.

All of San Antonio’s guards have strong creation ability and the shooters to space the floor for them, so they’ll need to be guarded closely and run off the line. They’re also incredibly effective at getting out in transition, so New York will need to control the ball, crash the offensive boards and, most importantly, convert its shots to avoid this.

The last two Spurs series were grind-it-out defensive battles, and this Finals falling into that pattern could be beneficial to them. But it’s hard to shake the feeling the Knicks will have a better chance as the series goes to six and seven games. It’s possible this all comes down to 2-3 close games, but San Antonio’s only 1-3 these playoffs in crunch time, though New York hasn’t had many convincing reps either.

After three grueling rounds, there isn’t much left to discover about either of these teams. We know what they want to do, we know the counters they might employ, we just don't know the ultimate result.

Prediction: Knicks in 6.

Given a day to reflect on how a potential repeat NBA championship got away, league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was still feeling the pain of a Game 7 loss.

His top-seeded Oklahoma City Thundersuffered a stunning 111-103 defeat at home in the Western Conference finals as the San Antonio Spurs advanced to face the New York Knicks for the title.

"I failed at my goal," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "I didn't achieve what I wanted to achieve. But I learn the most about myself and make the greatest amount of increases in my career when I fail and don't get what I want. I look at this no different."

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: “It was a failure. I failed at my goal. I didn't achieve what I wanted to achieve. But through those experiences, I learn the most about myself and make the greatest amount of increases in my career when I fail." pic.twitter.com/xoKTiavlei

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) May 31, 2026

Gilgeous-Alexander scored 35 points in the season-ending defeat, but the Spurs' defense on him was a key factor in his reduced efficiency in the series. His scoring average and shooting percentages in the series were considerably lower than they were in the regular season, when he won his second consecutive MVP award.

The Thunder, however, weren't completely at full strength during the series. Second-leading scorer Jalen Williams reinjured his hamstring in Game 2 and was limited to just 54 minutes the entire series. And semifinal round star Ajay Mitchell suffered a calf strain in Game 3 that ended his season.

Those losses, combined with the imposing presence of Spurs big man Victor Wembanyama, made things much more difficult for SGA and the Thunder to return to the Finals.

"I didn't get where I wanted to go this season. There's a reason for that," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "Now I have to look at that reason and try to make sure it never happens again."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander calls MVP season failure after loss to Spurs

Few owners in professional sports have generated more controversy with less winning than James Dolan.

In more than 25 years running the New York Knicks, he has fired coaches, feuded with legends, lost a sexual harassment verdict, banned lawyers with facial recognition software, ejected a beloved former player in front of a national audience and sued a rival franchise in a move the rest of the NBA largely viewed as bizarre.

Through it all, he has refused to sell, refused to step back and refused to stop inserting himself into decisions that have repeatedly damaged one of the most valuable franchises in sports.

Here's a look at his time with the team:

1994: The purchase

 Cablevision founder Charles Dolan bought out ITT’s half of Madison Square Garden and the Knicks for $650 million in 1997, the family had full control. His son James got the job of running the teams.

2000: Patrick Ewing gone

Patrick Ewing gave the franchise 15 years and never got a ring. When he requested a trade, the Knicks sent him to Seattle in a 12-player deal without a proper sendoff. He spent two decades outside before the current front office brought him back as a basketball ambassador.

2003: Isiah Thomas

Dolan hired Isiah Thomas, freshly fired by Indiana with no front office experience, as president of basketball operations.

2005-2006: Larry Brown

Thomas hired Hall of Fame coach Larry Brown on a five-year, $50 million deal, which was the richest coaching contract in NBA history. It fell apart quickly as Brown openly feuded with Stephon Marbury, the team went 23-59 and Brown was gone after one season.

2007: Sexual harassment verdict

Former Knicks executive Anucha Brown Sanders sued Thomas, MSG and Dolan, alleging Thomas called her a “bitch” and a “ho” and made unwanted advances. A jury believed her and awarded her a settlement worth approximately $11.6 million.

Then NBA Commissioner David Stern said that going to trial rather than settling “was not a model of intelligent management.”

Eight years later, on HBO, James Dolan said he still thought Brown made it up.

2008: End of the Thomas error

Four-plus seasons, zero playoff wins, one big sexual harassment settlement and Thomas was fired.

Dolan, however, shockingly re-hired Thomas to run the WNBA’s Liberty.

2011: Carmelo Anthony trade

Dolan pushed to acquire Carmelo Anthony from Denver in February, surrendering multiple players and draft picks in a deal widely criticized as too costly because Dolan was too eager not to miss out on another star. Donnie Walsh, who had built the Knicks for three years for that kind of big move, was let go in June after pulling off the deal the owner demanded.

2014-17: Phil Jackson

Dolan hired 11-time champion Phil Jackson as president on a five-year, $60 million deal, but it never worked out. Jackson tried to install the triangle offense in a league that had evolved past it. The Knicks missed the playoffs every season and Jackson clashed with Anthony

After giving up so much to bring him to the Garden, Carmelo was gone in 2017.

Feb. 8, 2017: Charles Oakley

One of the most beloved Knicks of all time, Charles Oakley was sitting courtside when security dragged him out of his seat, arrested him and banned him from the building. It was reportedly on Dolan’s direct orders. The franchise then issued a statement implying Oakley had a drinking problem. NBA Commissioner and legend Michael Jordan had to call Dolan to get the ban lifted.

Oakley sued and eight years later the case is on-going.

2017: The sidewalk incident

Before a game against the Bulls, a season ticket holder outside MSG yelled “Sell the team!” at Dolan. Rather than keep walking, Dolan turned around got in the man’s face and screamed at him,

He confirmed it to Deadspin, adding: “I did call him an a------ because he is an a------.”

2022: The lawyers

Dolan began using facial recognition technology to bar attorneys from MSG venues, which also include Radio City Music Hall, if their firms were suing the company. Thousands of lawyers at roughly 90 firms were affected. When the New York State attorney general warned the practice may violate anti-discrimination laws and the State Liquor Authority threatened to pull the Garden’s liquor license, Dolan went on live television and defiantly defended his decision. He also threatened to shut down liquor sales at Rangers games himself and then held up a picture of the SLA director that included his personal phone number and email address live on air for fans to flood him with complaints.

2023: War with the league

Dolan sued the Toronto Raptors for $10 million over an analytics staffer he claimed had stolen confidential files. Dolan simultaneously resigned from his league committee positions and wrote to commissioner Adam Silver that “the NBA neither needs nor wants my opinion,” accusing Silver of bias. The suit was quietly dropped in October 2025.

January 2024: The Weinstein lawsuit

Massage therapist Kellye Croft filed a federal lawsuit alleging Dolan sexually assaulted her in 2013 while his band, JD & The Straight Shot, toured with the Eagles, then arranged a meeting that led to Harvey Weinstein assaulting her. Dolan denied everything. A federal judge dismissed the case in September 2024 on technical grounds, without ruling on the underlying allegations.

2024: Thibodeau fired

The Knicks were in the middle of their best run in two decades. Thibodeau was fired anyway, over the reported objections of Jalen Brunson and Leon Rose. Dolan had reportedly sat in on player exit interviews during the process, which people around the league said they had never seen an owner do.

January 2026: Dolan speaks

Dolan broke a two-year media silence with a WFAN radio appearance and declared the Knicks “absolutely” had to reach the NBA Finals and should win it.

Hours later, the Knicks lost to the Detroit Pistons by 31 points.

Into the Finals

Maybe he's a prophet. Dolan’s firing of Thibodeau and hiring of Mike Brown has seemingly worked. The Knicks are in the NBA Finals and will face the San Antonio Spurs, looking for their first title since 1973.

Some fans say winning cures all, but other say 25 years of losing, embarrassment and controversy doesn’t wash off that easily. Dolan has said he has no plans to sell. Someone in the family, he said, will own the team. For now, the most controversial owner in New York City sports is one championship series win away from the most unlikely redemption story in New York history.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: James Dolan Knicks ownership has been feuds and 25 years of chaos

When the buzzer sounded on the Spurs’ 111-103 Western Conference finals Game 7 victory over the Thunder, a new king of the conference was crowned.

And the series, which was the first Western Conference finals to go seven games in eight years, showcased how far behind the Lakers and the rest of the conference teams are in competing against the Spurs and Thunder.

For the Lakers, the gap was already evident. 

They lost all four regular-season matchups to the Thunder with an average margin of defeat of 29.3 points per game. And in the playoffs, albeit without superstar guard Luka Doncic, they suffered a four-game sweep with an average margin of defeat of 16 points per game.

The Lakers went 1-3 against the Spurs during the regular season with an average margin of defeat of 13.8 in those matchups. The gap between the teams widened as the Spurs improved throughout the season. 

Those are the teams the Lakers will need to overcome if they’re going to compete in the West and contend for an NBA title.

What lessons can the Lakers learn from the Western Conference finals to help close the gap?

It starts with adding more depth to the roster. 

Many circumstances determine the success of a season for players and teams. 

Nothing should be taken away from the Spurs, who earned their spot in the NBA Finals for a matchup against the Knicks. 

The Thunder played without Jalen Williams, a 2025 All-NBA third-team honoree and All-Star, and Ajay Mitchell, Oklahoma City’s fourth-leading scorer during the regular season and second-leading scorer during the playoffs, for most of the Western Conference finals. 

Despite those absences, the Thunder pushed the series to seven games behind the strength of their depth. Even with Williams and Mitchell injured, OKC was competitive and trusted eight to nine players to consistently contribute in a deep playoff run. 

And that’s not even counting Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe, both of whom were in the Thunder’s rotation during their run to the 2025 NBA Finals.

The Spurs don’t have the same depth as the Thunder but still could go 10 or 11 deep regularly depending on the matchup.

Even with the context of Doncic being sidelined for all of the playoffs, the Lakers usually had seven or eight players who could be relied upon to contribute.

The Thunder and Spurs have their own unique advantages that’ve allowed them to be as deep as they are. 

Williams and Chet Holmgren are All-NBA players on the final seasons of their rookie-scale deals. 

Three of the Spurs’ top scorers during the playoffs (Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper) are also on rookie-scale contracts and will be for next season, too. 

One way for the Lakers to make progress closing the gap this offseason between them and the top conference teams is by adding quality depth to their roster. 

Rob Pelinka, Lakers president of basketball operations and general manager, addressed this need after his team’s season ended.

“If you look around the playoffs right now, depth is really important — athleticism and youth,” Pelinka said. “We have a lot of components of that on our roster, but we need to add to it.”

The athleticism and youth components were advantages the Spurs had, and took advantage of, against the Thunder. 

The Spurs averaged 10 more fast-break points than the Thunder during the Western Conference finals. 

Pace naturally slows during the playoffs, but being opportunistic with easier scoring opportunities was key for the Spurs.

Just as impressive, the Spurs held the Thunder to 7.2 fast-break points per game after OKC averaged 15 fast-break points in the second-round series against the Lakers, who averaged eight per game. 

Some of this goes back to the Spurs taking better care of the ball against the Thunder compared with the Lakers, which limited OKC’s transition opportunities. But the Spurs’ athleticism and youth made it easier for them to keep up with the Thunder.

These are the types of margins that gave the Spurs the edge over the Thunder.

And the same ones the Lakers need to improve on to have any shot of competing for a title in 2026-27.

The NBA will have a unique champion for the eighth straight year. The San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks are squaring off in a 2026 NBA Finals matchup no one could have seen coming. Before this stretch, the league had never had more than six consecutive unique champions, which happened from 1975-1980. No team has won multiple titles over the last eight years, and no team has even repeated as a conference champion since the 2019 Golden State Warriors.

Why is there so much parity in the NBA right now? It’s mostly a combination of salary cap changes and injuries. The Oklahoma City Thunder seemed primed for a dynasty when they won the championship a year ago, but the Spurs beat them in a fantastic Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals with their second and third best creators out in Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell.

The NBA is left with a rematch of the 1999 Finals, which the Spurs won in five games over New York. It’s going to be incredible watching Victor Wembanyama chase his first championship in Madison Square Garden against a Knicks fanbase desperate for their first championship since 1973. Let’s preview the series from both sides and make a championship pick.

The case for the Knicks

The Knicks just played the best 11-game stretch in league history — and somehow that’s not an exaggeration. This team is red hot right now, and they’re playing with full belief that they can deliver New York its first NBA championship since 1973.

The Spurs haven’t faced a true stretch five who can pull Wembanyama away from the basket on this playoff run. Enter Karl-Anthony Towns, the best three-point shooting center of all-time, who has suddenly been unlocked as the best version of himself over the last six weeks. Towns feels like the most important player in the series for New York. He’s a threat to score 25+ feet away from the basket, and that could potentially take Wemby away from defending the paint. The Spurs can try to stick Wembanyama on Josh Hart or another Knick, but that will create some problems for San Antonio, too.

It’s easy to discount Jalen Brunson, but he’s led his team to championships in high school and in college, and consistently rises to the occasion in the biggest moments. While the Spurs defended another mid-range shooter in Gilgeous-Alexander well in the West Finals, it’s worth noting that Brunson has a much higher three-point volume, taking 35.8 percent of his field goals from deep, compared to 22.6 for SGA. Brunson’s pull-up three ball will have to be a weapon in this series. The fact that he’s not much of a rim attacker means Wembanyama needs to come out higher on the floor when he’s not getting spaced out of the play by Towns. For as good as the Spurs’ defense is, Brunson has shown that he has so many counters to effectively get off his offense.

I’m fascinated to see how often and how effectively Anunoby defends Wembanyama. It feels like the best Wemby defenders are long and strong wings who are quick enough to neutralize him off the bounce, and Anunoby might be the best example of such a defender. Turning Wemby into a shooter is in the Knicks’ best interest, so if Anunoby and Mitchell Robinson can keep him out of deep post position, that’s a good start for a winning recipe.

The Knicks are also the much fresher team. While San Antonio just played a physically and emotionally draining 7-game series in the West, the Knicks have been chilling at home after consecutive sweeps. Sure the Knicks might be a little rusty at the start of Game 1, but that rest advantage will carry over through the remainder of the series.

It certainly feels like the Knicks have more offensive firepower than San Antonio. Brunson and Towns is an elite scoring duo, and Mikal Bridges and Anunoby can each carry the offense for a game or two themselves. De’Aaron Fox hasn’t been at his best for the Spurs basically the whole season, and asking Dylan Harper to immediately ascend to a true No. 2 option as a 20-year-old is a lot. The Knicks just have so much scoring punch in their eight-man rotation, and it’s conceivable that not even Wembanyama can slow them down.

Madison Square Garden is about to turn into one of the greatest environments in NBA Finals history. Knicks fans are craving a championship, and the team will be ready.

The case for the Spurs

It feels like Victor Wembanyama ascended to best player in the world status during the Western Conference Finals, which is a terrifying thought considering he’s only 22 years old and still has plenty of room to grow as a player. When he’s really locked in, Wemby looks like a 7’5 Kevin Durant capable of self-creating step-back threes while also being a dominant a rim runner and arguably the most impactful defender in NBA history.

How will the Knicks guard Wembanyama? It’s a question that could define the series. New York only has two 7-footers on the roster with Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson, but Robinson recently suffered a broken pinky that should linger into the Finals. New York can also use OG Anunoby to guard Wembanyama, and that might be their best matchup. For as long and strong as Anunoby is, Wemby is still going to be able to shoot over the top of him whenever he wants to. If the French superstar gets hot as a jump shooter or from floater range, the Spurs will immediately have an advantage New York can’t neuter. Even if Anunoby is effective for stretches, the Knicks will still need other defenders to soak up minutes against him, and their options are pretty limited.

Wemby’s impact is even bigger on defense, especially with so many good perimeter defenders in front of him. Stephon Castle did an outstanding job on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with Wemby lurking behind him, and that same duo will cause plenty of problems for Jalen Brunson. Like SGA, Brunson takes a lot of his shots from mid-range, which Wemby’s length can help evaporate. Brunson took 51% percent of his field goal attempts from mid-range this season, per Cleaning the Glass. The Spurs feel uniquely equipped to defend that kind of superstar shot profile.

The Spurs’ role players are also fully locked in right now. Julian Champagnie had a breakout conference finals series with multiple 20-point games and consistently good rebounding. Devin Vassell is playing the best ball of his career. Dylan Harper is already taking over playoff games at times at 20 years old. Luke Kornet is one of the league’s better backup centers, and could rebound from a tough matchup vs. the Thunder.

San Antonio’s defense will really be in the spotlight for this matchup. The Knicks’ offensive rating has jumped from 118.7 in the regular season to 123.3 in the playoffs, by far the best mark in the postseason. Meanwhile, San Antonio’s defensive rating has gone from 110.4 in the regular season (No. 3 overall) to 104.4 in the playoffs (second-best behind the Knicks). The Spurs’ defense feels built for the playoffs with more contact allowed on the perimeter and Wembanyama being almost adjustment-proof. If the Spurs can limit New York’s three-point attempts, Wemby can take care of the rest inside.

In what feels like a pretty even matchup, the tiebreaker should go to the team with the best player. That’s Wembanyama.

Prediction: Spurs in 7

This truly feels like a toss up to me, but I’m going with San Antonio in seven for a few reasons.

The Knicks’ romp through the East has been incredibly impressive, but they haven’t seen anything like the Spurs. The Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, and Cleveland Cavaliers are all two steps below San Antonio at least. I’m not sure if the Knicks’ hot three-point shooting is sustainable. Landry Shamet just shot 91.7 percent from three in the Eastern Conference Finals (not a typo). Is that really going to happen again? The Knicks have plenty of shooters on the floor at all times, but the windows disappear a lot quicker when someone like Wembanyama is closing out on you.

I was tempted to go Knicks in six here. New York clearly has a path to victory, and I wouldn’t be too surprised if they routed the Spurs the same way they’ve routed everyone else in their way on this playoff run.

If the Spurs can extend the series to seven, they will get the final game on their home floor. Weird things can happen in a Game 7, and I typically prefer the team with the best overall player. Wembanyama already slayed the biggest challenger in the league in his first playoff run. I think he’s ready to win a championship.

The family of a young San Antonio Spurs fan declared brain-dead after falling from a truck during a post-game celebration said they aren’t giving up hope yet as the teen is still “fighting for his life.”

Jose Luis Rodriguez III, known to loved ones as Joey, suffered a catastrophic head injury and has been in the hospital since Thursday’s accident following the Spurs’ Conference Finals win over the Oklahoma City Thunder to force a game seven.

“I believe in God, and I believe in miracles. I’m trying to hold on for my son, my daughter-in-law, and the rest of the family,” Rodriguez’s paternal grandmother told KSAT as she asked the city to pray for her grandson.

Rodriguez was declared brain dead by doctors after he landed on his head during wild celebrations following the Spurs’ win, which tied the Western Conference finals with the Thunder at 3-3.

The teenager was sitting on the passenger-side window of the vehicle when it hit the curb, and he fell and struck the sidewalk.

“He left blood all over the street,” Rodriguez’s aunt, Yvonne Hudson, told the San Antonio Express-News.

Initially, his parents hadn’t allowed him to take part in the honking celebration on San Antonio’s south side because of the “nonsense” happening on the streets, Hudson added.

But when Rodriguez said a friend’s parent would go with them, they agreed, although in the end, the teenager went solely with pals, Hudson said.

Friends took Rodriguez to a nearby clinic, where he had no pulse for eight minutes before he was transferred to a local trauma center due to the severity of his injuries.

Rodriguez’s family said he is “fighting for his life,” and they are holding out hopes for a recovery.

His grandmother said the teenager’s organs are still functioning despite his critical head injuries.

Hudson said when a family member touched the teen’s foot, his knee twitched, giving them hope, although doctors told them it was just a spinal reflex, not a sign of brain activity.

Police in San Antonio have urged fans to stay safe during celebrations for the playoffs, with rowdy rolling street parties becoming a daily occurrence.

The local tradition dates back to the Spurs’ 1999 NBA title run, and sees thousands of fans routinely fill the streets hanging outside of vehicles, parading on bikes, and even on horses.

“We encourage everyone celebrating to follow traffic laws, stay inside your vehicles, and follow directions from the officers who are there to keep everyone safe,” the San Antonio Police Department said in a statement.

The Spurs went on to complete the turnaround against the Thunder on Saturday, winning the Western Conference title — and setting up an NBA Finals showdown with the Knicks.

Ahead of the start of the finals on Wednesday, even Spurs star Dylan Harper used a news conference to urge fans to behave responsibly.

“I love y’all. Be safe out there in San Antonio,” he said. “I understand y’all are excited, but you got to be safe out there.”

As point guards coming out of a Kelvin Sampson-led program tend to do, Kingston Flemings, of the University of Houston, will come into the NBA with more than one trick in his bag. Playing under Sampson in his only year in the college game is perhaps another advantage he has over the bevy of attractive guard prospects invading the NBA in 2026.

Many recent mock drafts have Flemings going off the board at the seventh pick, to the Sacramento Kings. One recent mock, which should interest Dallas Mavericks fans, has Flemings falling all the way past Dallas at No. 9 to the Milwaukee Bucks at the 10th overall pick, with Dallas opting to trade the ninth pick and Kyrie Irving to the Charlotte Hornets for LaMelo Ball and the 14th and 18th overall picks. God, speculation is fun, isn’t it?

Flemings showed himself to be effective in the halfcourt, with an ability to dissect the opposing defense, but he’s also an elite downhill driver of the ball, creating space with both physicality and speed. Then there’s the shooting. Flemings shot nearly 39% from 3-point range for Houston as a freshman, but was much better off the catch than he was off the dribble.

The basics

Flemings was born in Newport News, Va., but was raised in San Antonio. He was named the Gatorade Texas Player of the Year during his senior season at Brennan High School, as well as a Naismith All-American. Despite all that, he wasn’t considered a certain one-and-done prospect entering his freshman season at Houston, but he soon proved to be one.

Among the most notable moments in his short college career was a 42-point explosion against Texas Tech, when he set a new high-scoring mark for a freshman at Houston. He shoots. He creates. He defends. You must if Sampson is going to trust you with the ball in your hands as a freshman, and Sampson did trust Flemings, to the tune of a 26% usage rate.

He creates his best offensive possessions when he gets into ball screens. He’s just a whiz at calculating advantageous matchups and executing as soon as the opportunity presents itself. His first step is lethal.

Strengths

That lethal first step is followed by a will to get to the bucket nearly unrivaled in the college game. He did slow down a bit in terms of efficiency at the rim as the season went along and the competition got tighter and tighter, but don’t discount his own explanation of part of his calculus when getting to the rim.

“We wanted to get the ball on the rim,” Flemings told NBA analyst Kevin O’Connor on a recent appearance on his Kevin O’Connor Show podcast. “Some of that is strategic when you have guys crashing. Some of it may have been a slight lack of focus, but part of it was also wanting to get the ball on the rim for those guys to go get it.”

Flemings actually moves the defense with his dribble, rather than simply trying to get past his man. You have to account for his speed at all times, and the advantages it creates can really fuel an NBA offense. It’s his elite athleticism that makes him special. Flemings jumps out of the gym with a 40.5-inch max vertical, and his sprint speed and agility in the lane separate him from the crowd.

Defensively, Flemings has a better foundation than almost every other freshman lead guard in the college game. He generates steals, pressures the ball, and plays with a high degree of competitiveness. The same cannot be said of all guards floating in the 7-10 range of NBA draft boards.

Concerns

Do his measurements from the NBA Draft Combine change his defensive ceiling in the NBA, though?

Flemings measures just 6-foot-2 and 1/2 without shoes, and his wingspan is just shy of 6-foot-4. He’s slight, at 183 pounds. Will he get pushed around in the NBA?

The question on his way to the rack in the NBA will be contact. The guards he’ll be facing are much bigger now. Will his physicality be enough on this level to make him as effective in getting to the bucket as he was in college?

He told O’Connor, to that end, that he was working hard on developing his floater and runner game in his time off after the college season. He realizes there are things he needs to work on, and above all else, this is a 19-year-old kid who hates losing.

Fit with the Mavericks

I’d be surprised if the Mavericks find themselves in a position where drafting Flemings is an option, but stranger things have happened. I believe he’d be a much better fit with the team than, say Darius Acuff Jr., and even a better fit than Mikel Brown Jr.

Flemings has a level of polish to his game at the tender age of 19 that few prospects possess. Thank Sampson and his rocket-launching legs for that. His live-dribble playmaking and his net-positive status on the defensive end would make him a near-perfect fit.

I also think he’s going to be able to inspire a little more confidence from 3-point range in the NBA than he did in college, which doesn’t mean his shooting was a problem with Houston. He just wasn’t a volume guy and he wasn’t that great shooting off the dribble.

“I’ve been working on getting to the same shot pocket [whether shooting off the dribble or off the catch],” Flemings told O’Connor. “I’m kind of shooting it wherever my dribble is [in film from college], so I’m working on getting to same shot pocket and getting more consistent.

“In the NBA, people want to shoot a lot more threes, so I’m going to shoot more threes. In college, we did what we needed to do to win.”

NBA comparison

In the recent conversation with O’Connor, Flemings listed Tyrese Maxey and De’Aaron Fox as two players he emulates. They’re not the biggest dudes either, but they have a nose for the bucket, and their 3-point shot has come along in the professional game, much like Flemings will look to do as more form the perimeter is asked of him starting next season.

Ajay Mitchell and Coby White may also come to mind. Even if he doesn’t become an elite lead guard, he could still be a microwave scoring engine like one of these guys.

It’s 10:59 p.m. Just about 24 hours since the final buzzer went off and the Spurs were crowned Western Conference Champions. Just under 24 hours ago Victor Wembanyama hoisted his WCF MVP trophy proclaiming this is just the first of many. Just under 24 hours since I sat in postgame press conferences and heard Mitch Johnson praise Luke Kornet’s block. Victor Wembanyama shared an emotional desire to talk to Pop. Both Dylan Harper and Julian Champagnie were wide-eyed, barely able to contain their excitement about playing their first NBA Finals in New York, the city where their love of basketball bloomed. And just before the night ended (at least ended at Paycom Arena), De’Aaron Fox gave a shout out to the NBA fans.

I was up for at least two hours talking about the Knicks/Spurs match up. My traveling companions were all taking in the Spurs victory, the team we’ve been writing about, many of us for years now. We discussed how the Knicks has a heavy duty line up. The physicality of Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson is going to be a challenge for Victor Wembanyama. We predicted how Stephon Castle will match up against Jalen Brunson. And we started planning trips to New York.

I spent most of today driving back from Oklahoma City. Got in just in time to cook dinner, read to the kid, and visit with my wife. And here I sit now, still taking in the reality that the San Antonio Spurs are heading to the 2026 NBA Finals.

I grew up in San Antonio and have been a lifelong Spurs fan. I, like many of you, remember seeing games at HemisFair Arena. Even more of us experienced the Spurs play at the Alamodome, that huge blue curtain cutting a football stadium in half to house the city’s lone major sports franchise. And still more have possibly visited the SBC Center, AT&T Center, or Frost Bank Center. They’re all the same arena adjacent to the Joe and Harry Freeman Coliseum, but the name has changed over the years.

I remember summers, watching the playoffs while home from college. Back then we had to get a pay-per-view box to watch blacked out Spurs games. (If you don’t know, ask your dad.) David Robinson was the star, but for a brief sliver of time while Dennis Rodman was on the team, his colorful hair and even more colorful personality pulled focus. The experiment didn’t work. Pretty soon the faces everyone associated with the Spurs were Robinson, Sean Elliott, and Avery Johnson. Not surprising they are the fourth, fifth, and sixth jerseys retired by the organization.

I left San Antonio after college and lived outside Texas until 2013, the year my daughter was born. So much of the Duncan/Parker/Ginobili Big Three Era took place while I was away. Since returning I have become a full-blown fan again. I even got my Midwestern wife on board. My daughter has embraced her fandom as well. Attending games has become part of our family’s tradition. 2014 was the perfect season to reignite my interest in basketball. I watched every single game of 2013-2014, soaking it up as the Spurs fought their way toward their fifth NBA title. I was hooked. My obsession with the hometown heroes eventually progressed until an outlet became available to me — Pounding the Rock. Nearly nine years and three-thousand articles later, I just received an email telling me where and when to pick up my NBA credentials for the Finals. Honestly, that is still sinking in for me. Not just that the Spurs are going to the Finals, but that I get to participate in the moment.

Over the next two weeks, I’ll be arriving early, staying late, packing, unpacking, flying, writing, rinsing and repeating. There is so much going on and it is all coming so quickly. I’m elated beyond words. Excited to be coving the team that has made such an imprint on me. Thrilled to share the experience, to write about the Finals.

How is this shaping up for you? Has it truly sunk in that the San Antonio Spurs are about to play in the NBA Finals? The team is looking to earn their sixth NBA title. For most of these young players, this postseason has been full of firsts. They have been labeled “inexperienced.” But each time some pundit counts them out, they rise to the moment and persevere. Time after time, they continue to prove they are ready.

Welcome to the NBA Finals, and Go Spurs Go!

“Four more to win.”

---

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Max Shulga’s season is tricky to give a definitive grade. He spent the vast bulk of the season with Maine and appeared in just 11 NBA games, playing a minuscule 3.3 minutes per outing. The 6-4 Ukranian guard was selected with pick number 57 by Boston and signed a two-way contract with the Maine Celtics.

Boston Celtics fans outside of Maine probably saw Shulga play the most in the Summer League last year. Shulga appeared in all five games for the Summer Celtics in Vegas; he had 5 points, a smidge under 5 assists, and 1.6 rebounds in 21 minutes per game. With Jordan Walsh and Baylor Scheierman on the team, Shulga deferred a fair bit, playing fairly conservatively, but should get a bigger opportunity this summer.

His debut Maine season was solid. He erupted for 35 points and 9 assists in Maine’s game at Iowa on Feb. 7, 2026. He showed versatility to score from behind the arc and get into lane and drive pass defenders to score with either hand. His shooting splits were just passable with 43% from the field and 73% from the line, and he will need to clear up the turnovers (3.2 per game) if he wants to find an NBA home long term.

Max is a fairly shifty combo guard but lacks elite NBA-level quickness. Max is not an elite athlete either, nor the greatest ball handler to run point, so this is where things get tricky.

Trophy decals are coming back to NBA Finals courts. Why did they ever leave? originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The NBA Finals are the biggest stage in basketball, and now the championship series will once again have courts that fit the occasion.

After decades of on-court decals, the NBA had a brief stint where a massive decal of the Larry O’Brien Trophy would sit beneath the home team’s logo at midcourt for Finals games. It served as a glaring reminder of what’s at stake in the Finals and helped the games stand out from other playoff matchups.

For the first time since 2009, the trophy decals will return to the court for the 2026 Finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs.

Here’s what to know about the history of the Finals decals:

When did the NBA start using on-court decals for the NBA Finals?

The NBA created individual logos for the Finals each year starting in 1986. The original template was in place for 10 years before the league updated the design in 1996. There have been several interactions since, and the NBA brought back a version of the iconic, scripted Finals font in 2022.

As for decals, the 1989 Finals between the Detroit Pistons and Los Angeles Lakers was the first to feature the finals wordmark on the court. The NBA kept that tradition in place through 2004.

When did the NBA Finals have trophy logo at halfcourt?

The 2005 NBA Finals between the Spurs and Detroit Pistons were the first to feature giant Larry O’Brien Trophy decals at halfcourt.

The league brought the decals back for the next four Finals, but they were last used in 2009 when the Lakers defeated the Orlando Magic.

What did the NBA do once it removed trophy decals at the Finals?

The NBA used smaller on-court decals of the Finals logo from 2010 to 2014.

Court changes mostly disappeared after that. The Cavaliers incorporated the trophy with two on-court decals during the 2017 NBA Finals. The 2020 NBA Finals also had a special halfcourt logo in the Orlando bubble when the Lakers beat the Miami Heat.

There were no decals of any kind during the 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 NBA Finals, except for those superimposed for TV viewers. 

Why did the NBA remove decals during the playoffs?

Player safety was the biggest factor when it came to removing on-court decals.

The NBA followed in the footsteps of the NCAA, which decided to remove decals and stickers from its courts in 2012 and mandated that all courts be “of a consistent surface.”

“There were a lot of considerations taken into account in making this decision, including player safety,” an NBA spokesman told The Cauldron in 2014. “We decided to remove the playoffs logo from the court for a variety of reasons, including cleaning up the playing surface.”

Will there be a halfcourt trophy logo for the 2026 NBA Finals?

The league brought halfcourt trophy logos back in 2023-24, but it wasn’t for the NBA Finals.

The inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament featured unique courts for all 30 teams. The courts all had various colors, a colorful stripe down the middle from baseline to baseline and a decal of the NBA Cup at midcourt.

The league also had a special blue-and-red court for the In-Season Tournament semifinals and championship game, which were held in Las Vegas.

The league did not, however, change its stance on courts for the 2024 NBA Finals. While the 2024-25 NBA In-Season Tournament also had unique courts for all 30 teams, the 2025 Finals did not have on-court trophy decals, either.

This year’s Finals decals will be painted at midcourt at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio and Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Throughout the regular season, previously unproven players stepped up in the absence of Jayson Tatum and the rest of the departed championship core. It was Neemias Queta stepping into the starting lineup for Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis and Luka Garza being a nightly Tommy Award candidate. It was Jordan Walsh becoming a bona fide 3-and-D threat, the nineteen-year-old rookie Hugo Gonzalez looking like a seasoned vet, and Baylor Scheierman putting it all together in Year 2.

Unfortunately in the playoffs, Joe Mazzulla went away from that depth and eventually back to them too late. And if we learned anything from Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals, it’s that depth not only matters in the regular season, but also through the pace and intensity of the postseason and as series go deep and teams’ gameplans start to take away superstars in Games 4, 5, and 6, role players become increasingly more important to clinch the late games of a long series.

CelticsBlog’s Ian Inangelo reminded me of The Grant Williams Game against the Bucks and The Kelly Olynyk Game to eliminate the Wizards as some of the greatest Game 7 performances in the franchise’s glittering history. Now, it was a well-rounded effort by the Spurs to take down the defending champs on the road in Oklahoma City. Victor Wembanyama was crowned the conference finals’ MVP, but let’s not forget the peripheral performances that ultimately tilted the deciding game. It was Julian Champagnie’s 6-of-10 from 3 and even a big momentum-shifting block from Luke Kornet that really turned the tide for San Antonio.

For the Thunder, they’re not there without Alex Caruso’s gutty defense or Isaiah Hartenstein’s physicality or Jared McCain’s sharpshooting paired with SGA’s MVP heroics.

It was just another reminder that for the Celtics to reach this mountaintop again, it won’t just be the efforts of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. They’ll get doubled. Opposing teams will scheme against their tendencies and most efficient spaces on the floor. It’ll be up to players #4, #5, #6, #7, and #8 to not only make up the difference, but push the team over the top.

Watching the playoffs without the Celtics, it’s impossible not to daydream about what a postseason run will look like this time next year. Realities blur and my mind’s AI starts Photoshopping Spurs and Thunder out and replacing them with Celtics. I’ll squint my eyes and see Scheierman defending Wemby just like Alex Caruso. When Jared McCain rips off a 14-point quarter, I’ll fantasize that that’s Ron Harper Jr. taking it to baby brother Dylan Harper. And tell me Garza couldn’t have a Luke Kornetesque impact in a big game.

With some financial flexibility this summer, the Celtics will no doubt look to make upgrades. The $27 million TPE and the non-taxpayer mid-level could be in play and if they’re utilized, those additions will come with high expectations. But for the Stay Ready Group, their goal is a little more vague: deliver the unexpected and deliver it when it matters most.

Can Wednesday come soon enough?

No, it seems it cannot.

Here’s the latest from Sunday’s practice at Tarrytown and elsewhere.

Q @SbondyNBA "Did Mitchell Robinson practice?

Mike Brown "He did some individual stuff

Q "Any update on availability Game 1?

MB "I didn't even ask…

Q "Do you know what hes wearing on his hand?"

MB "Theres something there…

But I can't tell you…

"I didn't even look"

🫣 pic.twitter.com/kMT2mxW7iC

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) June 1, 2026

Mike Brown

On Mitchell Robinson’s status during Sunday’s practice:

“I know there’s something there (on his hand), but I can’t… I can’t tell you what. I don’t know (if he’d be cleared for Game 1). I do know that the medical group has to tell me he can go out there for sure, okay.”

On having Knicks legends around the current team:

“It’s fantastic. It’s great to see. It’s great that Leon [Rose] and Mr. Dolan have these guys around. Obviously Pat [Ewing], he’s iconic, and then you have John Starks and Marbury and there’s just a plethora of other guys that you see come to our games, and we encourage that. I love it. And they always have a nugget or two that they can pass on to the guys that are actually playing now, and when you can hear it from different voices or different people, especially guys that played — cause I didn’t play, I was terrible — but from guys that played, it means a ton. So to see them be able to celebrate with us and the joy on their face, it’s priceless for sure.”

On wanting to beat the Spurs despite his San Antonio ties:

“They definitely want to beat me and I want to kick their ass. You love ’em and you can always love ’em before and after … I got ties to San Antonio and you appreciate the people, you appreciate the journey and all that other stuff. But at the end of the day, just like they want to beat you, you definitely want to beat them.”

On Gregg Popovich’s lasting impact:

“The job that he’s done, not only on the court with that team and the organization, but off the court too, is gonna be imprinted as long as the game of basketball exists. He still has a huge presence. He’ll always have a presence. His presence is very much felt all the time. I’ve got a lot of respect for the organization for a lot of different reasons. I worked there, having an opportunity to work there and being part of a championship there and my family being down there too reminds me of good times.”

On expecting Josh Hart to be guarded by bigger defenders and how he deals with it:

“Any time a team does that, like Cleveland — Cleveland put their big on Josh and Josh won us a game doing it. I’ll tell you Josh works very, very hard on his shooting and playmaking because he knows that he gets guarded by centers, and my message to Josh is, ‘Let it fly, let it fly, let it fly,’ because we believe in it. So we know that they’re probably going to come in and put their center on Josh, and if Wemby’s down the floor and that ball gets swung to Josh, first of all, he’s a great decision-maker. But secondly, if he’s open, his feet are set, we want him to let that thing fly.”

On the Spurs’ overall makeup entering the Finals:

“It’s going to be tough. They’re well-coached. They have an, obviously, tremendous player in Wemby. They’re quote-unquote young, to a certain degree, but they have some really good veterans on the team that kind of uplift the young guys and give the young guys a lot of guidance. So, they’ve got a nice mix of players on their team and they’re a team that comes out really aggressive and hits first, their crowd is into it and we’ve just have to go make sure we try to match or exceed their physicality to start the ballgame while leaning on our standards. The group has been resilient the whole year and we’ve got to keep sacrificing, we’ve got to keep playing with a competitive edge, we’ve got to stay connected, got to keep believing in each other and what we’re trying to do out on the floor and if somebody’s slipping in this area, that area, we’ve got to make sure that we help get them back on track by holding them accountable. So, all those things are going to come into play, playing a talented, well-coached team like the Spurs.”

On San Antonio’s blend of veterans and youth around Wembanyama:

“Having the mix that they have with Wemby is a nice recipe. If Fox is in, their backcourt — Fox is a veteran, seasoned player that has been in the playoffs before, been in a Game 7 now a couple of times, and been an All-Star, Clutch Player of the Year, a talented guy. … [Barnes] has been around a long time too, and he’s been on the big stage a few times. So they have a nice mix of veteran players and guys that are starting to get in their prime around Wemby. And I think when you have that, you have different messages that you can get from different guys all the time.”

On OG Anunoby’s defensive versatility helping with guarding Wembanyama:

“OG is extremely versatile, and the luxury of having a guy like that is, he’s long enough, athletic enough, strong enough to guard quick smaller guys. He’s obviously got the size and athleticism to guard big wings and then he’s got the strength and the length and the intelligence to guard bigger guys. So having a guy like that gives us a ton of versatility to be able to move him around, knowing that he can adapt-slash-adjust on the fly.”

On OG Anunoby still deserving First Team All-Defense:

“[The voters] were wrong. He should have been First Team All-Defense because of his versatility. And it’s shown throughout the course of the most important time during the year, which is the playoffs, and it will continue to show going into the Finals.”

"Now you say 'why is Rick Brunson on the floor?'"

Rick Brunson played 9.8 seconds in the 99 Finals

He almost got a rebound

It was the only game

The Knicks won pic.twitter.com/lwxmursiSb

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) June 1, 2026

Jalen Brunson

On the presence of Knicks legends during the current playoff run:

“It truly means a lot, when they’re on the sidelines or baselines, they made their presence known. They’re full of energy. That’s just who they are. They want the best for us, it’s a really cool sight to see. It’s an honor to play for this organization, the history that it has, to see the former players around all the time that makes it even more special.”

"Technically, that game didn't happen, so I don't think there's anything that we can learn from" 😂

Josh Hart was asked how much the Knicks can take from their NBA Cup experience against the Spurs this season: pic.twitter.com/GV4rFHpoZK

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) May 31, 2026

Josh Hart

On the Spurs’ supporting cast beyond Victor Wembanyama:

“They’re young, athletic, physical – they can do a little bit of everything, can shoot the ball, finish at the rim, defend at a high level. So, obviously, Wemby’s going to get a lot of attention in terms of game plan and media and that, but you can’t sleep on guys like De’Aaron (Fox) or (Stephon) Castle, (Dylan) Harper, (Julian) Champagnie because if you do that, it’s going to be a long series. So, we’ve got to give those guys the respect that they deserve and come out focused.”

On his approach to playing against Wembanyama:

“I go into the game and I play the game the way the game needs me to play. If that’s shooting and scoring, cool. If that’s rebounding and defending, cool. I don’t value what I do based on other people’s game plan or what the boxscore says. For me, it’s shoot the ball with confidence. Or be quick to make other plays — dribble handoff, stuff like that. If [Wembanyama] is down the floor, that’s my ability to get JB open looks, ‘Kal open looks, KAT open looks. It’s not different in terms of anything I’ve seen before. I’m comfortable making those plays.”

On being guarded by Wemby:

“That’s the only unanimous Defensive Player of the Year, so that’s a pretty good sign for me, right? That means I’m a pretty good basketball player.”

On the NBA Cup final against the Spurs:

“Technically, that game didn’t happen.”

Jeremy Sochan could be Knicks factor in NBA Finals with his Victor Wembanyama knowledge: Know quite a lot' https://t.co/YVtjREtPMJpic.twitter.com/aPwnQkPTnK

— New York Post (@nypost) June 1, 2026

Jeremy Sochan

On Victor Wembanyama’s main weakness:

“He’s one of the hardest workers I’ve ever seen, and he works on it all the time, but he gets tired. It’s natural, being that tall, he gets tired. With the team we have, I think it’s important to give him different looks and, not beat him up, but be very physical with him and make him run. And he’s gonna get tired and he’s gonna have to take some plays off, in my opinion.”

On helping the Knicks beat the Spurs by sharing intel from his stint in San Antonio:

“Whether I’m playing or not, it’s important to feed all the information I have, and I think I know quite a lot. I’m watching their games now, I’m seeing the old plays we [ran], when they go up to certain people and at what times, it’s pretty obvious to see. It’s gonna be interesting.”

On the Spurs’ quick evolution into title contenders:

“I think this year, when I was there in the summer, I think everyone kind of agreed on locking in and playing for each other and playing with energy and just learning and growing. Since I left, you can see they’ve just built on that momentum. You see where they’re at now.”

On his relationship with Wembanyama:

“That’s my brother. Me and him, I came into the league and then he got drafted, we just had a connection from the start, a natural one. On the court, off the court. He’s a guy that loves to do a lot of different things. He’s curious, he wants to grow, wants to learn and is pretty competitive with everything. It’s fun to be around him. We’d always do game night with his people and my people and just compete in different sorts of games. He’s a real one. Let’s be honest, I think he is the face of the league.”

Rasheed Wallace gave his take on the Knicks hiring Leon Rose via the @ZachGelb Show on 6/26/20

“I was with him (Dolan) for a while, this is just a brain fart right here”

“Dolan is taking on their (CAA) baggage” pic.twitter.com/GokjX7yd5N

— Alex B. (@KnicksCentral) May 31, 2026

Miles McBride

On honoring Knicks legends who never stopped supporting the team:

“They’ve been with us my whole five years here. It’s not just showing up when we’re winning — they’ve been with us through a lot. So shout out to them and obviously everything they did. So we just want to get the job done for them.”

On Victor Wembanyama posing a matchup challenge:

“He’s a special player. So, we just have to contain him as a team.”

On the Spurs’ identity entering the Finals:

“They’re a special team. Obviously, they have a Defensive Player of the Year – obviously, a great organization – and they’ve got a lot of great young guys. So, we’re just excited for this matchup.”

On Dylan Harper’s competitive makeup:

“I feel like he’s just a gamer. He’s one of those kids that just probably in the backyard [growing up playing all the time]. I know his family pretty well. So, just in the backyard, playing against his older brother. I have an older brother, so I feel like you just figure out how to score over bigger guys, older guys [that way], and you live for these moments.”

On how the Spurs pressure ballhandlers into Wembanyama:

“What I think they do a great job of is their guards putting a lot of pressure on the ballhandler, which is forcing them into Wemby. If you’re playing off the ball and not setting screens and allowing him to roam freely without being touched, it’s different if somebody’s screening you, and then you’re getting everything.”

Y'all might learn some new curse words this series pic.twitter.com/m3NlYNq6zt

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) June 1, 2026

Landry Shamet

On what it would mean to win with the Knicks and their legends watching:

“It’s special, and you see obviously what it means to them. And even only wearing a Knicks jersey for two years, I understand, too. There’s a real pride, you know? So I can’t imagine at that point. But we don’t take it lightly, and it adds to our collective fuel and camaraderie and how we feel. So it’s good to obviously celebrate this with them, but they know as well as we do that there’s more to do.”

On the plan to neutralize Wembanyama:

“Obviously, you’ve got to figure out how to get him out of the paint, how to run him, those little things I feel like OKC did a decent job at. But he’s a special player, so we just have to contain him as a team.”

The most 1999 thing about the previous NBA Finals between the Knicks and the Spurs might be that the Spurs were playing StarCraft against each other in between gameshttps://t.co/YkHrwoEzrX

— Velodus✨ (@velodus) May 31, 2026

Clyde Frazier

On seeing similarities between the 1973 team and this Knicks squad:

“I’m living vicariously, man, from especially the ’73 team. In ’73, we were injured most of the season, but towards the playoffs we started to get healthy. And like the Knicks now, we had that momentum. We actually kept getting better and better going into the playoffs. So they remind me of that right now.”

On Jalen Brunson’s impact entering the Finals:

“Well, he’s Mr. Clutch, you know? He makes all the big baskets. He’s dishing and swishing. He’s gotta improve his defense. That’s gonna be amplified the next round. They got some very good guards in San Antonio and in OKC. But other than that, man, he’s been magnificent.”

On Mike Brown’s work with the bench and overall roster:

“He’s gotta start getting kudos. He’s developed our bench, which Thibs was crucified for. So Brown has 10 guys that are thriving. No matter who he’s seemed to put in there, they’re producing. And that’s what you want in the playoffs. So we’re not relying on Towns and Brunson to do everything. Look at [Mikal] Bridges, they elevated his game. OG [Anunoby], too. And so it’s been incredible to watch.”

The biggest stage in basketball 🏆 pic.twitter.com/VMaAEHR3LW

— NBA (@NBA) June 1, 2026

John Starks

On believing the Knicks should have reached this stage last year:

“It’s not surprising me that they are at this point. I thought they should have been there last year. That was my feeling. They should have been there last year. So this is a new year, and now it’s time for it to happen.”

On returning to the Finals atmosphere since 1999:

“It feels good. It’s been a long time, man, since 1999, since we played for a championship. And to be able to get here and see this and be down here in a closeout game, it’s just a special moment. And I’m happy for those guys because they did it together.”

On Jalen Brunson’s leadership:

“Jalen’s been Jalen since he’s been here. He’s just been a true leader, a consummate pro. He guides the team in the direction that we needed to be guided in. So he understands he’s a winner. He’s a champion. So Jalen’s gonna do what Jalen does: He goes out there and wins us ball games, and he’s a very special player.”

On the physical toll of the Western Conference Finals:

“That might go seven, and even when they win — they lose, you know? They’re gonna be beat up, whoever survives that series. But in order to be the champion, you got to overcome adversity, you know? That’s what it’s about. So they can’t be saying they’re tired. That’s not going to be a factor. They’ll be ready if they get there.”

Draymond calls out the Knicks

“Just like Becky Hammon said, prove me wrong…You’re supposed to get out of the East. It’s the f*cking East!”

(h/t @NBA__Courtside ) pic.twitter.com/lP4yTusX11

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) May 31, 2026

Draymond Green

On downplaying the Knicks’ trip to the Finals and siding with Becky Hammon:

“I double down on this, just like Becky Hammon said, prove me wrong, prove me wrong, double down. Absolutely double down, getting out of the East has never been a sure fire to win a championship, what y’all talking about? You get out of the East, you’re supposed to get out of the East, it’s the fcking East. Of course you’re supposed to get out of the East. That don’t just mean you win a championship because you get out of the East, it’s the fcking East. Great, it’s the East, would have beat up Boston. You should get out the East. Happy for Mike Brown, by the way, but you should get out of the East.”

"When I got there they were getting back on track, redoing everything…What Leon & those guys did, to now be in the Finals, pretty cool, even just for the City

Just rooting for them now…Lot of guys I'm pretty close with. Just happy for them"

– Isaiah Hartenstein on the Knicks pic.twitter.com/2Egu3mZknG

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) May 31, 2026

Isaiah Hartenstein

On rooting for the Knicks after their Finals berth:

“I’m happy for them. I’d rather be playing against them, but I’m just rooting for them right now. There are a lot of guys I know (there). There are a lot of guys I’m pretty close with. So, I’m just happy for them.”

Kimmel: I like your football jersey. Supporting Ukrainian team?

Chef José Andrés: My beloved Spanish team, of course. But Ukraine is my team today. They didn’t make it to World Cup, but today they're fighting the biggest match — for freedom and democracy.

Kimmel: Yes, they are.… pic.twitter.com/pGJ63IBVrx

— Kate from Kharkiv (@BohuslavskaKate) May 31, 2026

If you were drafting a player solely on winning, Cam Boozer might be that player. In every competitive league that Boozer has been a part of, he’s been a winner. And not just a winner, but dominant. Don’t believe me, here’s a list of his accomplishments:

• High School (Christopher Columbus High School, FL): Won four consecutive Florida state championships and a national title.
• International (USA Basketball): Went an undefeated 13-0, securing gold medals at the 2023 FIBA U16 AmeriCup and 2024 FIBA U17 World Cup. He was named MVP for both tournaments.
• Nike EYBL: Won three Nike Peach Jam titles during his AAU circuit career.
• College (Duke): Captured the ACC regular-season title, the ACC Tournament MVP, and led the Duke Blue Devils to the Elite Eight. He led the country in double-doubles (22) while averaging 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game. All that while shooting 55.6% from the field and 39.1% from three.

If there’s one thing that Cam Boozer has done, it’s win basketball games, and if you are drafting Boozer, that’s exactly what you can expect him to do.

The only reason Boozer isn’t the clear-cut #1 pick in this draft is that it’s one of the top-heavy drafts in a long time. Boozer is going up against two of the most impressive on-ball prospects we’ve seen in some time in AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson. That said, there’s no reason that Boozer shouldn’t get considered by the Washington Wizards or the Utah Jazz at the #1 or #2 pick.

If you wanted a description of Cam Boozer’s game, it would be that he’s quite literally good at everything a big will be asked to do. Boozer can score from everywhere on the floor as a true three-level scorer. He’s an elite three-point shooter whether it’s off the bounce or the catch. That elite shooting forces defenders to run out to contest his shot, which leads to him driving and scoring. If the big is there on the drive, he can drop a floater with fantastic touch. His bread and butter typically comes in isolation with his back to the basket. He has an array of moves, whether it’s pure brute force backing down a mismatch, he’ll face up and knock down a pull-up jumper, or he’ll go with a wide array of spin moves leading to a variety of baby hooks.

He’s also a deft passer, whether passing within the offense, kicking out to shooters in the short roll, or passing to an open shooter out of the post. The thing his passing shows is an elite-level IQ, and it’s that IQ that gives you confidence that his game can translate to the NBA.

The only question marks about Boozer concern his defense and potential position. Boozer was not a good rim protector in college, and that weakness will only get worse in the league. That means that Boozer will be playing exclusively at the power forward. That’s not a big issue, but it does make roster construction around him vital to maximize everything he does. For example, Boozer’s back-to-the-basket game gets neutralized a bit if he’s on the floor with a non-stretch center. In college, where Boozer got blocked a surprising amount on post-ups, that will only get worse in the NBA, where he’ll face bigger, more athletic opposition. Now, that doesn’t mean he can’t figure things out, it’s just something to consider, and it means a good chunk of his game might be taken away. That said, Boozer can still do a lot with the ball, and a smart coach will find a lot of ways to use him. If he’s not backing people down in the post, he can just replace those post plays by getting the ball at the top of the key. He can hit cutters, pull up from three, or make his patented punishing drives to the basket.

As I mentioned before, the other element that raises some questions is his defense. Boozer can’t protect the rim, and he might also struggle on the perimeter in the NBA. Very rarely do you see multiple bigs on the floor that can’t handle and shoot. There will also be coaches that will challenge Boozer by forcing him to defend more agile 3s and 4s. It will be fascinating to see how Boozer handles those matchups. If he does well, then he’s the type of player that can contribute to championship-level basketball, maybe even be the leader of a championship team. If he can’t, then he becomes a liability come playoff time. A team deciding to make Boozer their franchise player is betting that Boozer can figure that element of his game out. And if there’s one thing we know about Boozer, he figures out how to win wherever he plays, there’s no reason to think he can’t do that in the NBA.

At FanDuel, Boozer is +1500 to go #1, but you never know if a GM makes a surprise decision and changes the entire layout of the draft. Could Utah make an unexpected move for Cam Boozer at #2? We’ll find out on June 23rd.

Whenever a new set of rules is adopted by a league, like the NBA’s new anti-tanking draft lottery, there will always be unintended consequences.

Now, when the system is as absurd as the one implemented by NBA commissioner Adam Silver, there’s going to be lots and lots of those types of ripple effects.

Last week, the league adopted a new draft lottery system that flattened odds overall and will punish teams for both being really bad and for being bad for a consecutive number of years. In doing that, it also brings play-in teams into the equation, increasing their odds of earning a top pick in the draft now.

For example, last year, the Hornets lost the second play-in game, landing in the 14th spot in the lottery. Subsequently, they had a 2.4% chance of moving into the top four and a 0.5% chance at the No. 1 pick. Under the new rules, which go into effect next season, the team in the 14th spot in the lottery now has a 2.7% chance at the first pick.

However, importantly, all 16 picks will be drawn now instead of just the top four with the remainder of the lottery sorted by record. So, a team could make the play-in, lose, and end up with a top pick in the draft all in the span of a couple of months.

By nature, those unintended consequences won’t be known until teams start operating under the new rules and find the loopholes. We’ve already started to see them as teams read the rules, most notably in that teams can not have top-five picks even if they own another team’s pick.

To provide another example, the Nets own the Nuggets’ 2032 first round pick. If Brooklyn picked in the top five in the 2030 and 2031 drafts but has things figured out while Denver stinks and would provide them another top-five pick, the Nets will not be allowed to pick in the top five even though it’s not their own pick.

Great work, Adam Silver.

More of these types of details will be found out moving forward, but an unintended result of all this could be the freedom with which picks are traded. If a team can so easily move into a top pick despite being a middling team, the calculation for making a deal changes.

No longer is a team that is going to be battling for the play-in trading a straightforward late-lottery pick. The odds and format will change things. Unless you’re a team with a clear direction, then second-guessing is going to come into play now.

And that could help the Lakers.

LA is not second-guessing about their future. They have a north star in Luka Dončić and a clear path to contention every year. They also have draft picks to trade and a roster that needs reshaping. There should be no hesitation on their end to go and find upgrades.

Teams might see the new lottery odds, realize how injuries could derail a season and decide to take the risk on a future Lakers pick. At the same time, if the other teams aren’t as willing to make those deals, then the picks could

If they enter the offseason with aggression and other teams enter with doubts of risking a potential top pick in the draft, could LA actually take advantage of those unintended consequences of the new lottery rules?

The inverse could also be true. Will Oklahoma City see the same value in having a host of draft picks if they can’t routinely make them top-five picks? The same goes for San Antonio.

And if the trade market is barren for draft picks, will those teams feel more eager to pull the trigger?

The Lakers find themselves at an interesting crossroads. The league just changed how the draft works, ahead of an offseason in which the Lakers have made it clear for years that they’ll have multiple draft picks to trade.

Is it a change that improves their ability to build a contender this summer? Or could there be other unintended consequences that shake things up?

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.