It is uncommon to begin counting down after the opening game of an NBA finals, but these are uncommon times in New York, and the Knicks have been counting since Richard Nixon was president, their coach, Mike Brown, was three years old, and their opponent, the San Antonio Spurs, played in the American Basketball Association as the Dallas Chaparrals. After the Knicks took Game 1 105-95, the anticipation in New York rose to yet another level.

Game 1 was not a good game, but it was a great game. The first quarter was ragged. So was the second. Neither team could shoot from distance – the Knicks shot 31% from three, the Spurs 26%. The Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama, the sport’s heir apparent, made his finals debut with six turnovers, 6-for-21 shooting from the field, defensively alive but never transcendent. Both Wembanyama and Jalen Brunson, the Knicks’ superb, always underestimated engine, took nine three-pointers. Each made two.

Related: NBA finals: brilliant Brunson leads surging Knicks to victory over Spurs in Game 1

In terms of beauty and efficiency, Game 1 was mud wrestling, but a game need not be artistic to be great. Its greatness was not in the artistry but in its suffocating weight, its messiness the byproduct of the maximum effort by both teams and the omnipresent stakes, the special pressures inherited by the players. The Knicks have not won the final game of an NBA season since 1973, and New York is waiting, waiting to finally burst, to blow the lid off the city. The countdown is not by game but seemingly by possession.

In 1994, when the New York Rangers played Vancouver in the Stanley Cup finals, desperate for that first championship since 1940, the energy was similar. Fifty-four years. A sizable number of the fan base wasn’t alive the last time the Rangers had won. The ones who had been were middle-aged or senior citizens, convinced as all beaten fan bases are, that they’ll never see victory in their lifetimes. The images from 1940 – still photography and film, black and white because color was not yet ubiquitous – seemed from another time, and it was. The United States – convinced Europe wasn’t their problem – had not yet entered World War II and adopted the phrase “America First” to emphasize the point.

And yet even though these Knicks last won when the world was in color, the years are nevertheless the years. The Rangers waited 54 years for their fans to exhale; the Knicks have been waiting for 53 years and counting. The resultant feeling in Game 1 was a palpable tension reserved for playoff overtime hockey. Or baseball.

It could be felt by the frenetic pace of the opening minutes, the mood swings of Knicks fans on the socials. The result was watching something other than basketball, where possessions aren’t perceived as valuable because there are so many trips in an average game, and until the final minutes, there is very little about basketball that feels urgent.

1973 was a long time ago, almost as long ago as 1940 was to Rangers fans in 1994. The great director and Knicks superfan Spike Lee was 16. While the cameras panned to their fans’ faces alternating between elation and indigestion, the Knicks played Game 1 with more confidence than their legions did watching it, which is appropriate, even though no Knicks team in history has played as well and been as dominant as this one. They have won six of their last 12 games by at least 20 points, four by 30 or more, and one by 51, but have not eased into their what could once be called – during happier times in the Bronx – their Inner Yankee, believing victory to be inevitable. The Knicks have not lost a basketball game since 23 April, when Atlanta beat them in Game 3 of the first round, the sky fell and it was time to fire everyone. They’ve played 12 games since then and won them all. On Wednesday night, the Spurs trailing 94-86, ripped off nine straight points, led by Wembanyama, took a 95-94 lead with 2:16 remaining – and did not score again. The inevitability of the Knicks was shown again, and they closed matters with an 11-0 run.

The Knicks’ inevitability – if it does indeed exist – was again embodied by Brunson, again the best player on the floor when it mattered. At one point, he had missed 15 of his first 22 shots. When it was time to take money off the table, he made five of his last nine. Brunson is the antithesis of his nervous fandom, not only unbothered by the tension but hungry for it, certain how the story will end.

In San Antonio, there is pressure but of a different sort. The Spurs last won a championship 12 years ago, and they have won five in the last 27 years. No one on the Riverwalk is hyperventilating during a third-quarter inbounds play.

San Antonio pressure is watching joyfully knowing that the future belongs to them, hoping that future begins now but comfortable in the knowledge that they have arrived early. That is the contrast of these finals, one team desperate to erase a half-century of pain, another barely scratching the surface of their potential. The basketball world watching the Spurs know this, too, for Wembanyama does not only threaten the NBA order, but the American sense of basketball self, knowing that every moment of his improvement lessens the nearly century-old grip America has had on international competition. The Olympics are coming. Los Angeles, 2028, and Wembanyama is guaranteeing something no one has ever seen before: Team USA entering an Olympics as an underdog. The Americans have lost, but never have they not been favored.

On this night, however, he was human, the baby giraffe of a man expected to do something unprecedented each time he touches the ball was muscled and uncomfortable, defended admirably and effectively by Karl-Anthony Towns. While Brunson closed – a fadeaway, an offensive tip to maintain possession that led to a crushing corner three as part of a 13-point fourth – it was Wemby who, with a one-point lead, recklessly drove the lane and missed, and then slipped and lost the ball at midcourt.

It was only Game 1, and there is plenty of basketball to be played, but maybe – even regardless of the outcome – these Knicks have done enough to signal to their fans that it’s finally OK to watch the rest of the series thinking like winners. The year 1973 was indeed a very long time ago, and for Knicks fans every game is going to feel like this until the long wait ends – chests tight, expecting dread, even as their charges twice erased double-digit deficits, responding to the Game 1 challenge as they have for the past six weeks – by playing like the best basketball team in the world.

• Howard Bryant is the author of 11 books, including The Heritage: Black Athletes, A Divided America, and the Politics of Patriotism and Kings and Pawns: Jackie Robinson and Paul Robeson in America.

The New York Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs 105-95 in Game 1 on the road, stealing home-court advantage from the Wemboys.

In yet another Burner Classic, Jalen Brunson’s clutch chops pushed the Knicks to victory on Wednesday, while Josh Hart’s Energizer Bunny tendencies and an inspired Karl-Anthony Towns did the rest to give the Knicks faithfulness what they deserved and waited for a damn 27 years.

The Spurs still had Victor Wembanyama, who finished with 26 points, 12 rebounds, and three blocks, but could only shoot 6-for-21 while committing six turnovers in a day to forget for the French.

For anyone monitoring the Finals from the betting side, FanDuel flipped the favorite to win the chip after New York’s Game 1 win, and is now listing the Knicks at -134 and the Spurs at +114 odds.

With one game in the books, here’s our ranking of every player eligible to play in the 2026 NBA Finals.

• 1. Victor Wembanyama, C, Spurs

Wembanyama remains the best player in the series, even after a Game 1 that looked more human than alien. The size alone is all he needs to be the best at a sport in which taller usually means better…

• 2. Jalen Brunson, PG, Knicks

…unless your surname is Brunson. JB is the reason this Knicks era stopped being a perennial exercise in nostalgia and turned New York into a Finals contender. Brunson needed 31 shots to get to his 30-point outing, but he still gave the Knicks enough to pull off another late-game comeback.

• 3. Karl-Anthony Towns, C, Knicks

Towns gives the Knicks size, spacing and secondary playmaking in a way we had not seen before CJ McCollum inspired him. KAT’s 18 points, 12 rebounds and four assists in Game 1 showed the full package.

• 4. OG Anunoby, F, Knicks

Anunoby is New York’s most important defensive wing and a supremely underrated offensive player. His 17 points and three made threes in Game 1 reinforced his two-way value.

• 5. Stephon Castle, G, Spurs

Castle has become San Antonio’s most important player outside of “veteran” De’Aaron Fox, while probably already more talented than the latter. His 17 points and eight rebounds in Game 1 fit his larger playoff rise in his first postseason run.

• 6. Mikal Bridges, F, Knicks

Bridges gives the Knicks durability, defense and secondary scoring. He does not need a huge box score to matter.

• 7. De’Aaron Fox, PG, Spurs

Fox gives San Antonio speed and a grown voice with creative chops—when healthy. His seven-point Game 1 was not enough, but his ceiling keeps him high in the list as long as he can stay on the court.

• 8. Devin Vassell, G/F, Spurs

Vassell is vital because San Antonio needs his spacing and wing defense. The Spurs need more than his 1-for-6 Game 1 shooting from deep.

• 9. Josh Hart, G/F, Knicks

I guess it’s easier to describe what Hart isn’t than what Hart is, isn’t it? Corny description: Hart is the Heart of the Knicks and its chaos engine. He had one of his greatest games—even scoring just three points—in Game 1, getting 15 rebounds, six assists and four steals.

• 10. Dylan Harper, G, Spurs

Harper already looks like a trusted bench scorer and he’s barely getting started in the L. His 16 points and eight rebounds in Game 1 made him San Antonio’s best reserve.

• 11. Miles McBride, G, Knicks

McBride gives the Knicks defense, shooting and low-mistake guard minutes on the best bargain deal you could imagine. His four assists and zero turnovers in Game 1 helped the effort.

• 12. Julian Champagnie, F, Spurs

Champagnie has become one of San Antonio’s steadiest role players and a maddening one for opponents because he can unload a flurry of three the minute you give him a millimeter. His 16 points, 10 rebounds, and five threes in Game 1 proved the point.

• 13. Mitchell Robinson, C, Knicks

Robinson gives New York rebounding, size and rim pressure behind Towns. His free throws remain terrifying, but his physicality matters and it looks like his hand isn’t impacting his play that much. Here’s hoping!

• 14. Landry Shamet, G, Knicks

Shamet has become a trusted shooting piece for New York and has enjoyed quite a renaissance this postseason. His 13 points and three threes in Game 1 were badly needed.

• 15. Keldon Johnson, F, Spurs

Johnson gives San Antonio bench scoring and strength and it’s not for nothing that he just got named the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year. The Spurs need more from him after a quiet Game 1 cameo.

• 16. Luke Kornet, C, Spurs

Kornet’s job is surviving non-Wembanyama minutes, and, while limited, he’s hellaciously tall to get close to doing it. His size and screening can still help in short stretches, but not much more than that.

• 17. Harrison Barnes, F, Spurs

Washed Barnes gives San Antonio some veteran composure and past Finals experience off the pine. His role is smaller now, but not meaningless, and sometimes it can even hurt you.

• 18. Jose Alvarado, PG, Knicks

GTA! Alvarado brings steady pressure, unlimited energy and saucy irritation to the Knicks and opposition in equal parts. His seven points in 11 minutes in Game 1 showed he can swing a short stint, which is how he’s usually used.

• 19. Jordan Clarkson, G, Knicks

Clarkson has had quite the rollercoaster season, but he can still score even though his role has narrowed. If the jumper is not falling, New York has cleaner options because his game goes in the negative quickly.

• 20. Carter Bryant, F, Spurs

Bryant has size, defensive tools, and long-term value. His current Finals role remains limited.

• 21. Ariel Hukporti, C, Knicks

Hukporti gives New York extra size if foul trouble hits. That matters more against Wembanyama, and given Robinson’s hand injury.

• 22. Mohamed Diawara, F, Knicks

Diawara is more future piece than Finals factor. The rotation is too tight for developmental minutes.

• 23. Kelly Olynyk, C, Spurs

Olynyk has playoff experience and offensive skill, but his current Spurs role is small.

• 24. Jordan McLaughlin, PG, Spurs

McLaughlin can lead possessions in an emergency, but San Antonio’s guard depth should keep him buried.

• 25. Jeremy Sochan, F, Knicks

Sochan’s role has been minimal since joining New York. The Finals are not the place to invent one, even less knowing he’s already bagged a ring no matter what.

• 26. Lindy Waters III, G, Spurs

Waters can shoot, but minutes are scarce. San Antonio’s perimeter rotation has simply left him out.

• 27. Tyler Kolek, PG, Knicks

Kolek did something in the regular season but has now turned into no more than an emergency ball handler.

• 28. Pacome Dadiet, G/F, Knicks

Dadiet remains a young developmental wing, and New York is surely not running a prospect showcase in the Finals.

• 29. Mason Plumlee, C, Spurs

Plumlee gives San Antonio emergency veteran size, that’s probably it.

• 30. Bismack Biyombo, C, Spurs

Biyombo brings depth, some interior insurance, and is the perfect Hack-a-Mitch partner.

Do the Spurs have the best player? Yes. Do the Knicks have the early win, the best team, and the best leader when it matters? You bet.

Let’s go Knicks!

When it comes to unrestricted free agents, the Lakers will have a hard time finding better players on the market than the ones from their own team.

With LeBron James coming off an expiring contract and Austin Reaves expected to decline his $14.9 million player option for 2026-27, the top unrestricted free agents expected to be on the market this offseason are the longest-tenured Lakers stars.

Add in Rui Hachimura, Luke Kennard and Jaxson Hayes and the Lakers have several unrestricted free agents who’ll draw interest from other teams.  

That’s before getting to Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart, both of whom have player options for next season. 

The Lakers have made it clear they aren’t satisfied with how the 2025-26 season went after falling short of their ultimate goal of competing for an NBA title. And they need roster upgrades to achieve the championship roster they’re looking to surround superstar guard Luka Doncic with going into the 2026-27 season.

Unrestricted free agency is one of the many tools to make those upgrades.

Top teams have signed unrestricted free agents in their quest for a championship — from role players such as Spurs big man Luke Kornet during the 2025 offseason to stars such as Knicks guard Jalen Brunson during the 2022 offseason.

Besides James and Reaves, there won’t be any realistic star-level players available for the Lakers to potentially land. 

But there are impactful ones. 

Which unrestricted free agents who weren’t already on their roster should the Lakers target this summer?

Robert Williams, Trail Blazers, center

2025-26 stats: 6.7 PPG, 7 RPG, 1.5 BPG, 1 APG, 17.1 MPG

One of the Lakers’ biggest offseason priorities should be acquiring a center — or multiple big men — who better fit alongside Doncic. 

A rim runner and lob threat who’s efficient with finishing at the basket. 

A shot blocker and rim protector. 

Someone who can make an impact on the offensive and defensive boards.

A center who’ll still make an impact with their energy and effort even if they’re not consistently getting touches offensively.

Williams checks many of these boxes as an ideal big man target for the Lakers.

The biggest concern is his availability after several injury-riddled seasons, primarily to his knees. 

Williams’ 59 regular-season games played for the Trail Blazers last season are his most since 2021-22 and the second most of his career (behind the 61 he played as a full-time starter for the Celtics in 2021-22) since being the No. 27 pick in the 2018 draft. 

And he’s averaged just 17.4 minutes in 85 games (four starts) over the last three regular seasons with the Trail Blazers — far from a workload expected of a starting center. 

But in a limited role and for the right salary, Williams could make an impact for the Lakers in the ways they need.

Mitchell Robinson, Knicks, center

2025-26 stats: 5.7 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 1.2 BPG, 19.6 MPG

Similar to Williams, Robinson comes with his own durability concerns. 

His 60 regular-season games played are his most since 2021-22, when he played a career-high 72 games including 62 starts.

He also played 59 games (58 starts) in 2022-23 before back-to-back injury-truncated seasons in 2023-24 (31 games played) and 2024-25 (17 games played).

But Robinson is a rebounding machine on both ends of the floor, a reliable rim protector and a strong finisher who remains a vertical threat near the basket. 

And he has more experience with a higher workload compared to Williams, averaging 24.5 minutes from 2019-24 before coming off the bench regularly the last two seasons (19 minutes per game).

Robinson, the Knicks’ second-round pick in 2018, may be difficult to pry from New York after his contributions to its postseason success over the last few years, including this dominant run to the NBA Finals against the Spurs.

Jordan Goodwin, Suns, guard

2025-26 stats: 8.7 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 2.2 APG, 1.5 SPG, 22.5 MPG

The Lakers know as well as any team the kind of impact Goodwin provides.

He was a key part of the Lakers’ rotation to close the 2024-25 season, showcasing his offensive rebounding talent, disruptive perimeter defense and improved 3-point shooting.

But the Lakers waived Goodwin last summer to make financial room to sign Smart, with Goodwin showing the improvements he made last season were here to stay. 

Goodwin’s in line to receive a more lucrative contract this offseason after making $2.3 million in 2025-26. 

Keon Ellis, Cavaliers, guard

2025-26 stats: 6.7 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 1.2 SPG, 20.5 MPG

Ellis wreaks havoc defensively, helping each team he’s played on create more turnovers when he’s on the court. 

He’s knocked down 40.7% of his 3s since entering the league in 2022, making him one of the better young 3-and-D guards in the league. 

Ellis would provide an athletic and quickness upgrade to the Lakers’ backcourt.

Honorable mention: Ayo Dosunmu (Timberwolves), Kelly Oubre and Quentin Grimes (76ers).

The Phoenix Suns already built one Finals team around Devin Booker back in 2021. Chris Paul was next to him in the backcourt, Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson on the wings, Deandre Ayton looked like a budding star, and Cam Johnson and Cam Payne brought the energy, shooting, and defense off the bench. They’re looking to build another.

That Suns team is a distant memory, and team building is drastically different from what it was five years ago when Phoenix was just two games from hoisting the franchise’s first Larry O’Brien trophy.

Game 1 of the NBA finals was a reminder of this reality. Whether Mat Ishbia and Brian Gregory’s plan is for Booker to be the team’s best player for the future or to pair him with someone better, Phoenix needs to start building like the Spurs and Knicks have. There is more to a team than its best players.

There OBVIOUSLY is no Victor Wembanyama (they already tried that with Bol Bol, haha) walking through the door, but both teams have created rosters around their best players not just by strong drafting, but with strong asset management, being financially responsible, and focusing on player development.

As New York continued to demonstrate to the league that they were a formidable opponent, back in 2023, the Knicks traded RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley for OG Anunoby. If New York had jumped on offers to send either of them to the Jazz more than a year earlier for Donovan Mitchell, it would’ve been much harder for them to acquire the all-defensive guard. Months before the trade, New York had the opportunity to extend Quickley before the season and did not. If they did, it would have changed the financials of the trade and made it harder to acquire Anunoby

Signings like Landry Shamet and Julian Champagnie have given both teams not only shooting, but also another player whom they can rely on off the bench that provides spacing for the team’s ball handlers. Development projects Keldon Johnson and Deuce McBride are examples of how San Antonio and New York can help non-lottery draft picks progress into key pieces. Johnson just won Sixth Man of the Year this season, and McBride shot over 40% from three this year.

This is not to say the Suns have not made drastic improvements since they traded Kevin Durant and bought out Bradley Beal. Collin Gillespie’s development is an example of how the team can develop young players into strong contributors. Dillon Brooks could be the team’s version of Anunoby with his defensive tenacity and improved scoring, but the Suns are nowhere near either of the NBA’s finalists, despite the fact that they went 4-2 against both of them in the regular season.

Down the stretch of the year, the team showed its lack of athleticism, depth, and offensive punch. They went 6-10 in their final ten games as they hobbled into the playoffs.

The West looks to be even better and deeper next season. Not only will the Thunder and Spurs both be back and be a year more experienced, the Rockets’ young players will be even better, Cooper Flagg will be a year better and even the Jazz, after years of being at the bottom of the standings, could be a formidable opponent next season after acquiring former Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr. and adding whoever they select with the second pick in this month’s draft.

Whether it’s acquiring more assets or staying patient, Phoenix can take a page out of San Antonio and New York’s playbooks on how to build an elite roster around its top-end talent.

They’re back.

It wasn’t hard to spot the pair of viral Spurs fans, who’ve made their presence known at Frost Bank Center throughout San Antonio’s playoff run, at Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals.

The female fans, who made waves online when they were seen on the broadcast for Games 3 and 4 of the Western Conference finals, stood out once again when they were spotted behind the Spurs’ bench.

One wore a bright body-con dress, and the other had on a plunging top and white capri pants while standing in a crowd of San Antonio fans, all wearing the same bright yellow shirt.

The team gave away shirts to fans in the arena — but the two women opted not to wear them.

“Can someone tell those chicks to wear their shirts! You know who you are,” one fan wrote on X.

The women, who go by @bluebeari3 and @juliejswan on their verified Instagram pages, say they are Spurs superfans.

They also met Charles Barkley, who’s in San Antonio for ESPN’s Finals coverage, as seen in photos of them with the NBA legend.

He said he takes back what he said about San Antonio women @_CharlesBarkley@BarkleyonTNT@spurspic.twitter.com/a31eYMYpzo

— Blue! (@bluebeari3) June 3, 2026

“He said he takes back what he said about San Antonio women,” @bluebeari3 shared in an X post, referring to the Barkley’s remarks when he said that San Antonio is the home of “some big ol’ women” while on-air in 2014, along with other digs at San Antonio women over the years.

The ladies first captured the public’s attention when the were spotted sitting behind the Spurs bench during the Western Conference finals against the Thunder.

The Knicks beat the Spurs 105-95 on Wednesday to take 1-0 series lead.

They have won 12 straight games and seven consecutive road games by double digits in this playoff run.

The viral Spurs fans did not say if they plan on attending Game 2 on Friday night in San Antonio.

In Game 1 of the NBA Finals, New York basically out-toughed San Antonio late in the game to pull out a 105-95 win.

As we’ve seen during the rest of the playoffs, former Blue Devil Mason Plumlee rarely gets off the bench, and Wednesday was no exception, as he got another DNP.

In general, you could argue that this game was a great example of the value of experience.

The average age of the Knicks starters is about 29. The average age of San Antonio’s are closer to 22. The overall average age of the Knicks is 27.2; for the Spurs, it’s 25.2.

The Spurs, and particularly Victor Wembanyama, are the future of the league, but it may not happen this year. Wembanyama, for example, shot just 6-21 Wednesday night, and said bluntly that he had a bad game.

Game 2 is on Friday, and is again in San Antonio. If the Spurs lose twice at home, they’ll have a major problem.

• Victor Wembanyama Makes Blunt Admission After Knicks Take Game 1 on Spurs’ Home Floor
• Spurs Collapse Late in Fourth Quarter, Drop Game 1 of NBA Finals to Knicks
• Devin Vassell calls out major issue Spurs must fix in Knicks series
• These Knicks once again proved they truly are different with Game 1 haymaker
• Spurs let game 1 slip away as Knicks rally for 105-95 finals win
• The Knicks’ Jalen Brunson can already do what the Spurs are still figuring out
• Mike Brown reveals Rick Brunson’s blunt message that calmed Knicks vs. Spurs
• Fan runs onto court, briefly stopping Game 1 of NBA Finals
• How Jalen Brunson overcame injury to will Knicks to win vs. Spurs with clutch 4th quarter
• Selfie-taking fan storms court in surreal NBA Finals Game 1 scene
• Victor Wembanyama came up short in disastrous NBA Finals Game 1 fourth quarter
• Josh Hart’s efforts help Knicks turn around Game 1 of the NBA Finals and beat the Spurs

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Victor Wembanyama, this time, was nonplussed.

He had just finished playing his first career NBA Finals game – an achievement that, when realized just four days prior, had brought him to tears – and he sat at the podium and calmly took questions.

The Spurs had lost, 105-95 Wednesday, June 3, and it wasn’t emotion Wembanyama was showing. This time, it was poise.

"Nothing," Wembanyama said after the game when asked if he was kicking himself over anything. "We’ve been down in a series before. Never in the Finals, obviously, but I'm not kicking myself about anything, really. I'm not worried in the slightest."

It was, by basically any significant metric, a flop.

The Spurs blew an eight-point lead in the fourth quarter, lost by 10 and ceded homecourt advantage. Historically, teams that lose Game 1 of the Finals have gone on to lose the series 69.6% of the time (24-55).

Wembanyama finished with 26 points, but he shot just 6-of-21 from the field. He committed six turnovers and forced shots down the stretch when Knicks centers Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson clamped him up on defense.

"I was bad tonight," Wembanyama said. "It's not more complicated than that."

Perhaps Wembanyama’s calm and measured approach is merely posturing. Perhaps he understands that the rest of the Spurs take his lead.

The more likely scenario is that Wembanyama, who has proven time and again this season to own competitive maturity well beyond his 22 years, understands that the Spurs can still win these NBA Finals.

How Wembanyama and his teammates respond to this Game 1 loss will merely be another opportunity for him to express his greatness.

Because that’s one of the indelible marks of the all-time greats, the ability to adjust and bounce back from defeats. The reality is Wembanyama is still learning, and how he comes responds in Game 2 will be indicative whether the Spurs can legitimately threaten the Knicks, who have won 12 consecutive playoff games in historic fashion.

Wembanyama did try to set the tone early; he was heavily involved in San Antonio’s actions in the first minutes of the game and appeared intent on establishing urgency. But the Knicks responded with physicality, using the extra heft that Towns and Robinson wield, to put their hands on him and body him every time he tried to establish position in the paint.

Wembanyama started to back out of the paint and settle for outside shots; he’d convert just four field goals in the paint. He never appeared comfortable, and some of his shots late in the game, as New York carried a lead midway through the fourth, were wild and off-target.

Victor Wembanyama hits the side of the backboard on the driving attempt, and shortly after, hits the top of the backboard on the corner 3 attempt pic.twitter.com/beBasVXUgo

— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) June 4, 2026

Step one for Wembanyama in Game 2 should be to aggressively attack Towns, who is prone to falling into foul trouble, at the rim.

"It felt like he missed a few shots early," Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said after the game. "We got to get him moving in space and toward the rim, whether that’s on rolls or running in transition. But we need the pressure on the rim and the force in the paint. They did a good job of obviously being physical and showing crowds. We need to do a better job of establishing that early on, for sure."

San Antonio’s response to New York’s physicality manifested itself in other ways, too. The Knicks were able to scoop up timely offensive rebounds that led to debilitating second-chance points, a statistic the Knicks led, 23-14.

The Spurs, inside the final minute of the game, committed a pair of turnovers.

It’s why Wembanyama said, of Game 1, that he thought the Spurs "let that one go."

It’s also why, as Wembanyama has said previously this postseason following defeats, it’s all about adhering San Antonio’s system and identity.

"It’s almost not like I have anything to figure out," Wembanyama said. "It’s almost like I have to play normal – not even good. It’s, like, just doing the right things is enough. When we play bad, when I play bad, is when we shoot ourselves in the foot. This is why I’m not worried. We’re going to be so much better. I’m going to be so much better."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Victor Wembanyama unfazed after Spurs blow NBA Finals Game 1 lead

When Steve Kerr was considering whether to return as Warriors’ head coach, his wife said something that deeply resonated with him.

“You might coach again someday,” Kerr recalled. “But you’ll never coach the Warriors again.”

Those words struck a chord with Kerr, who signed a two-year contract extension with Golden State last month. Over the last decade, there’s so much that stands out about the league’s modern-day dynasty. 

There are the four championships in eight years. Steph Curry’s unconscious scoring sprees. The Splash Brothers. Draymond Green’s lockdown defense. Shimmies. The “Night Night” celebrations. The joy. 

But above all else, what makes the Warriors unique is their loyalty. 

Kerr has coached Curry and Green for 12 years. Curry and Green have played together for 14 years. Before Klay Thompson left the Warriors in free agency in 2024, he, Curry and Green were the longest-tenured trio in the league. 

It’s remarkable when you think about it. 

In a league with constant turnover — where players don’t hesitate to undercut organizations by requesting trades and franchises deal personnel as though they were used furniture — the Warriors stand out. 

It’s obvious that when Kerr was pondering whether he wanted to remain on the treadmill of marathon NBA seasons, under the scrutiny that accompanies fading dynasties, there were two beacons of light that guided him toward the more difficult option: Curry and Green. 

The three of them are family. 

They’ve been atop the league. They’ve been in its cellar. They’ve fought against each other. They’ve fought for one another. 

Through it all, something was deeply understood: There’s a lot of love there. 

Kerr and Curry have shown up at Green’s house and talked to him for hours when he has struggled. Green has put his body on the line for them. They’ve spent more time together than with their own families, including 152 postseason games since 2015, which is the equivalent of nearly two extra NBA seasons. 

Kerr talks about Curry with awe. He describes Green as the best defender he has seen. When Kerr was unsure about his future, Green said he hoped he’d return. Curry added that all he wants is for him to be happy. 

“He knows how I feel about him,” Curry told reporters in April. “That shouldn’t even need to be said.”

Green’s relationship with Kerr is more nuanced.

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They’ve had public outbursts. They’ve had screaming matches behind closed doors. The Warriors’ success was inextricably tied to Green’s fire and sometimes it raged, clashing with Kerr’s infamous intensity. 

“There’s things he’s done that I could never forgive him for,” Green said of Kerr on his podcast, “The Draymond Green Show.” “And yet I will do anything for him.”

As for Curry and Green, they basically grew up together. They became winners together. They watched each other become fathers. Green’s job was to ignite passion, while Curry’s was to remain effortlessly unbothered. They became each other’s ultimate complements on the court.  

Nowadays, it’s wild for a coach and players to have that kind of staying power together. 

There are only two NBA coaches who have held their jobs for at least five years, Kerr and the Heat’s Erik Spoelstra. 

As for Curry and Green, they’re the NBA’s longest-tenured active duo. They’ve played together longer than many of the most famous duos in NBA history, such as Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen (11 years) and Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10 years).

Things are now greatly shifting for the Warriors.

For the first time in Green’s career, he was involved in trade rumors in February. He’s 36. Curry is 38. Since winning their last championship in 2022, they haven’t gotten past the second round of the playoffs.

But this much is sure: The bond between Kerr, Curry and Green runs deep. That was never more palpable than when they feared their days together were coming to an end. 

After their season was derailed by Jimmy Butler suffering a torn ACL in January and Curry missing 27 straight games because of an ailing knee, their playoff hopes came down to a pair of play-in games. 

In their do-or-die contest against the Clippers, Curry and Green showed their championship DNA, stunningly clawing their way back from a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit in a 126-121 win. 

Curry had 35 points on 7-for-12 shooting from beyond the arc, including making a step-back 3-pointer with 50.4 seconds left and the score knotted at 117. 

Green held Kawhi Leonard to 1-for-2 shooting in the fourth quarter, leaving the two-time NBA champion completely flummoxed. “It was hard to even get shots up,” Leonard said. 

After a slog of a season, Kerr overflowed with pride at something that had been reawakened in some of the greatest competitors on the planet. 

“For one night, we’re us,” he said. “We’re champions again.”

The magic was gone in the Warriors’ next play-in game, as their season flatlined in a 111-96 loss to the Suns. 

After the final buzzer, Kerr put his arms around Curry and Green. He said a few words. And then the three men who had been through nearly a decade and a half of battles together shared a hug. 

“I don’t know what’s going to happen next,” Kerr told them. “But I love you guys to death.”

Weeks of uncertainty followed. Did Kerr want to return? Did the Warriors’ long-term goals clash with his win-now approach? Did we just witness the official end of one of the greatest dynasties in sports history?

But ultimately, Kerr decided to return for his 13th season with Curry and Green. 

The Warriors haven’t been contenders for four years. Their goal post has shifted from championship or bust to trying to see how far they can take things together. If they’re all healthy, they believe no one would want to face them.

And they’re not wrong. 

It’s hard to walk away from that. It’s difficult to close the door on such a stunning chapter. 

But as Kerr pondered his options, his wife reminded him of the ultimate reason he decided not to walk away. 

He wasn’t ready to say goodbye to Curry and Green. 

Did you know that before De’Aaron Fox was traded to the San Antonio Spurs, Rich Paul had planned to push a trade to San Antonio involving Darius Garland? Neither did I. But even before Fox was interested in leaving Sacramento, the famed agent saw the need for a ball-handler in the Alamo City.

Rich Paul reveals he had Darius Garland lined up for a trade to the Spurs prior to the Fox trade, and that Fox had no problem with being the #2 behind Wemby:

"I remember a trade getting ready to take place and De'Aaron and I were talking about it, and we were talking about… pic.twitter.com/FbSTIaqQ1J

— Wemby Alien Era (@WembyAlienEra) June 3, 2026

Rich Paul reveals Darius Garland was frustrated with Cleveland. Paul had been working up a trade to the Spurs. At the time, Fox had not been interested in leaving Sacramento.

Paul shared,

“I remember a trade getting ready to take place and De’Aaron and I were talking about it, and we were talking about different options where he could go etc, and obviously I had the Spurs kinda teed up.. At first it wasn’t De’Aaron, it was another guard that I represent that I was envisioning going there, because De’Aaron wasn’t wanting to be traded yet.. It was Darius Garland. He was flustered, he was frustrated and he wanted to get out.. and the Spurs before they got the 2nd pick, they needed a point guard. And I thought next to Wemby, with shooting and all that. And then things changed and he was fine. And then so now Mike Brown got fired.. and so in De’Aaron’s case when he finally got to the point to where ‘you know what it’s probably time’, and we’re having a conversation, one of the things we talked about was: OK if you get to the Spurs, are you OK being number 2? And (Fox) didn’t even flinch. ‘Absolutely, absolutely.'”

First of all, isn’t it amazing what goes on behind the scenes. An agent, looking out for his client, is wheeling and dealing to get him into the best position to succeed. Blows my mind, the chess that goes into putting together a formidable team. I also loved that Fox never had a problem playing just outside of Wemby’s spotlight. He’s said it publicly, but knowing that’s how he truly feels solidified that the trade worked out well for Fox and the Spurs.

What do you think, Pounders? Could Garland have made the same impact that Fox has made? There are similarities between the two for certain. But as we’ve seen, the dynamic of the team factors heavily into the success of the Spurs. As it stands, they have developed into a cohesive unit. Could Garland have blended seamlessly into this incarnation of the Spurs?

We’re in the NBA Finals with De’Aaron Fox, but have some fun with with the hypothetical.

---

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Game 1 of the NBA Finals saw the New York Knicks come back from trailing by as many as 14 in the second half to defeat the Spurs in San Antonio by a score of 105-95.

It was a big night for New York’s star guard Jalen Brunson, who scored 30 points in the victory, nearly half of which came in the fourth quarter. However, former Kentucky Wildcat Karl Anthony-Towns also came up big for the Knicks in the Game 1 win, securing a double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds to go along with 4 assists.

KAT had some key offensive rebounds for the Knicks in the win, and continued a solid postseason, where he is averaging nearly 17 points per game to go along with 10.6 rebounds, almost 6 assists, and almost 1.5 blocks per game.

The Knicks came into the Finals riding high off a sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals. Many wondered how they would respond after the long break with the Spurs-Thunder series going 7 games, but the Knicks pulled off a massive win in San Antonio to open this series.

Tweet of the Day

KAT:

"I just felt a calm and a peace that had to be come from the woman above (his mom). I felt like a kid. It was just fun out here. It felt like I was a kid getting ready to go play my Saturday AAU games and Sunday AAU games. In a way I felt like I was seeing her in the… pic.twitter.com/iGj4FwxL8C

— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) June 4, 2026

This was awesome.

Headlines

Momcilovic changes national conversation around UK Basketball – Herald Leader

The addition has certainly changed how some national writers view the Wildcats.

The Momcilovic-Tyler Herro connection – Cats Pause

This is interesting.

Kentucky trending for Malachi Brown – KSR

This would be a big pickup for Will Stein.

Kentucky cracks preseason Top 25 rankings – SI

The Cats come in at 23.

Biggest takeaways from Game 1 of the NBA Finals – ESPN

KAT early, Brunson late has been a winning formula for the Knicks.

Russell Wilson confirms retirement from NFL – ESPN

The long-time QB is moving into broadcasting.

Adam Silver talks expansion, tanking, and Europe – Forbes

The NBA Commissioner touched on a number of topics.

Miami, Boston continue to be viewed as most likely landing spots for Giannis – Bleacher Report

There’s a good chance Giannis is playing for the Celtics or Heat next season.

Politicians rail against SEC, Big Ten in congressional hearing – Yahoo

The term “super league” was bounced around a lot.

Cristopher Sánchez sees scoreless innings streak come to an end – CBS Sports

Pretty impressive streak though.

There’s a fine line between pessimism and realism. The line between optimism and delusion is equally fine.

On a related note, people are annoying.

“Just be a fan!”

Sorry if I can’t turn my brain off. It just functions despite self-interest.

“The Houston Rockets are doomed!”

Yes, a team stacked with good players under 25 and one of the best collections of draft capital in the NBA is thoroughly hopeless because they’re not as good as two teams. Absolutely doomed to damnation, they are.

It’s a fine line. All you can do is operate on a case-by-case basis. For example, we don’t know what Fred VanVleet might look like in 2026-27 after returning from a torn ACL.

Unfortunately, realism feels more viable than delusion in this case.

Rockets’ Fred VanVleet returning from gruesome injury

One frustrating component of this situation is the lack of precedent. Every case of a player returning from an ACL tear before, say, 2005 or so, should be thrown out. Sports medicine has improved a lot, which is why LeBron James is still practically LeBron James at the age of 41.

Yet, nothing short of sorcery could completely mitigate the effects of an ACL tear. It remains a variable. If we’re looking for recent examples of full recoveries, the data set is limited.

Zach LaVine did it. He tore his ACL in 2017 and eventually came back better than ever. He’s not a good analog for VanVleet. LaVine was a raw athlete who facilitated his comeback by developing his overall craftiness and feel for the game. VanVleet is an already-underwhelming NBA athlete who’s got craft and feel to spare.

One could argue that makes him a strong candidate to return to form. One could also argue that he couldn’t spare any of the athleticism he already had. That said, LaVine’s burst and vertical leap weren’t diminished, so perhaps VanVleet can functionally be the same athlete he was before:

Although that’s arguably part of the problem.

There’s another difference between LaVine and VanVleet: Age. LaVine was 21 when he suffered his injury. VanVleet is 32. That also separates him from Jamal Murray, who successfully returned from an ACL tear at 24. Even if VanVleet’s ACL had remained intact, there was concern that he’d decline:

He sure looked to be when he was last in action.

Rockets need point guard solutions

VanVleet was not bad in 2024-25. That would be an overstatement. He was still the undisputed champion of high-volume assist-to-turnover ratio’ing. His pull-up three was still a weapon.

But, he was the worst version of himself to exist in some time. VanVleet averaged 14.1 points per game with a woeful 51.5 True Shooting % (TS%).

Per databallr, the Rockets were still +3.4 when he was on the floor. VanVleet has always been someone who just finds a way to make good things happen. A timely steal here, a smart pass there. He’s always defended the point of attack well, in addition to the aforementioned superpower of never turning the ball over.

The Rockets will (almost certainly) be adding a rotation-caliber point guard to the rotation. For this team, that alone is a positive. Still, they’d better not be counting on VanVleet as a surefire starter. Either they’re ready to give Reed Sheppard a longer leash, they’ve got an acquisition in mind (whether a starter or someone to bolster a platoon) or they’re wildly optimistic:

Some might even say delusional.

The consensus NBA Finals favorite, the mighty San Antonio Spurs, and all their backers ate humble pie on Wednesday…

…and a banged-up yet unstoppable Jalen Brunson served it to them.

Read this Bulletin while rejoicing in the fact that New York is just three games away from sporting 24-karat rings on their collective fingers.

Mike Brown says that Rick Brunson told him to "shut the hell up" when it came to complaining about the officiating tonight: pic.twitter.com/8YF8PXJO7i

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) June 4, 2026

Mike Brown

On Mitchell Robinson’s brief Game 1 performance:

“I didn’t think he was (limited). I’ve got to go back and watch the tape. He caught a lob. He was still a vertical threat. … And then defensively, I thought he was pretty good as well, trying to rebound, keeping those guys off the glass.”

On trusting Jalen Brunson late:

“We put the ball in his hands and said we are going to live and die with him. And he got it done for us, and that’s happened time after time after time.”

On Brunson’s second-half takeover:

“He’s a gamer, man. In the biggest moments, he shows up, and that’s what MVPs are supposed to do. He carried us home. We put the ball in his hands and said we are going to live and die with him. And he got it done for us, and that’s happened time after time after time. He got to his spots and he made plays.”

On learning through a tough win:

“We felt we didn’t play well, but it’s good to learn with a win.”

On Karl-Anthony Towns’ impact:

“He’s a problem. You put a small guy on him, he’s got a chance to offensive rebound. You put a big guy on him, he’s got a chance to pick-and-pop and go around guys. We have to just keep trying to move him around based on who is guarding him throughout the course of the ballgame, but he was huge for us with his double-double. He came up with some timely buckets for us. He’s a problem. You put a small guy on him, he’s got a chance to offensive rebound. You put a big guy on him, he’s got a chance to pick-and-pop and go around guys.”

On Landry Shamet’s play off the bench:

“Landry was huge off the bench. Not only [scoring, but] defensively he was huge for us.”

On OG Anunoby’s impact:

“OG got it going in the second half. He was huge for us in the second half.”

On Jalen Brunson’s injury scare nearly pushing him to sub Tyler Kolek in:

“I’m too emotional and you know, when I get caught up in injuries, so when he got hurt and he went out, ‘Jose, let’s go.’ And I was about to throw Tyler Kolek in the game, too. Jalen came back, tough as nails, and to me he didn’t seem like he had any effect afterwards. I haven’t talked to our medical people. He didn’t look like it was bothering him down the stretch, and so I think he’s OK.”

On the team’s resilience:

“These guys are resilient, man. They get better as the game goes along. They really try to pay attention to the details that we are throwing at them.”

On staying the course when trailing in Game 1:

“You know, we’re down double digits tonight, and we were also down double digits in Game 1 against Cleveland. And for our guys just to stay with it is huge. Because anything can happen in a 48-minute game, as long as you stay the course.”

On making transition defense adjustments on the fly:

“These guys are just fast, and we can’t buddy-run — you’ve got to sprint back, and you’ve got to shift to the ball. You’ve got to make the paint look crowded, and then you’ve got to get to their shooters, just because they are so good in transition.”

On the bench unit:

“We’ve gotten lifts from our bench at different times. All of those guys have had big moments for us throughout the course of these playoffs so far. For us, that’s something that we’ve wanted to establish during the course of the [regular season] for moments like these.”

On Rick Brunson calming the team:

“We were all bitching too much at the officials. Rick Brunson was great. He told me to shut the hell up – sorry Mom – and he told the rest of the team to be quiet and leave the officials alone. It was great of him because we were all kind of losing our minds, and I did it, the rest of the guys did it, and it helped us put our energy elsewhere – especially in the second half.”

On his minute-management philosophy:

“In terms of the minutes, it’s a philosophy I had. One of the many things I learned from Pop and Steve [Kerr]. Steve was really good at trying to play a lot of different guys. Not only that, a guy that hadn’t been in the rotation for a while, one game he might throw him out there as a starter. That kept guys engaged or on their toes, however you want to call it. Then at the end of the day, I’m not a medical person, but just from what medical people say, if you can kind of control the minutes during the regular season, it helps them during the postseason. From people telling me that, I believe it. That’s what I tried to do.”

On navigating adversity during the season:

“First of all, there’s always rocky moments during the course of the season. That’s what the season’s there for. I actually hoped there would be some big, rocky times or adverse times because you have to try to fight through them as an organization, not just as a team, but as an organization, to see if everybody can stay connected during those times. Getting to the Finals is not easy. If you can navigate through some of those adverse or tough times throughout the season, you’ll give yourself a chance when it really matters, which is the postseason.”

Zero satisfaction on this man’s face. pic.twitter.com/hLocPQlVQv

— KnicksMuse (@KnicksMuse) June 4, 2026

Jalen Brunson

On the key to the Game 1 comeback:

“Honestly, I just think our chemistry. Just knowing that we have each others’ back. There’s a lot of things Xs-and-Os-wise that we could’ve done better, but I think most importantly our togetherness was the biggest difference.”

On respecting the Spurs:

“They come ready to play more than any other team that we’ve faced. And so, we have the utmost respect for them. We know that we’ve got to be ready for Game 2. We just found a way to make big plays to end the game.”

On never leaving the clutch zone:

“I think it starts with my confidence. It comes with my work ethic. I think most importantly, knowing we’re on the road, and knowing my teammates have my back, I think that’s the biggest thing in an environment like this. The trust they have in me and the trust I have in them, it’s got us to this point. I mean, I’m very thankful for them every single night we go out there together.”

On closing out Game 1:

“I don’t want to say calmness, but I think we know what we have to do. I think we are a pretty together group. Be able to trust each other and still have each other’s back and know that we just have to keep chipping away, chipping away. It’s just a credit to the mentality that we have as a team.”

On sticking together through adversity:

“I was happy by how we stuck together. It wasn’t really our night. Wasn’t my night most of the night. But I liked how resilient we were tonight. We kept chipping away.”

On the team’s comfort late in games:

“I think we know what we have to do. I think we are a pretty together group. Be able to trust each other and still have each other’s back and know that we just have to keep chipping away, chipping away. It’s just a credit to the mentality that we have as a team. But we can’t just be satisfied with that. We have a long way to go and we have a lot of things to do to be better, but happy we came away with a win.”

On Josh Hart’s reliability:

“Whatever you need from him, he’s going to execute. That’s just who he is. He’s always been that way. I can’t explain it. He just has a knack for doing things like that, and in crucial times as well. It’s a credit to who he is as a player.”

On his injury status heading into Game 2:

“I’ll be alright.”

OG Anunoby

On his second-half explosion:

“My teammates were finding me and I was being aggressive and ready to shoot. Just shoot with confidence.”

This, then the postgame interview.

Never thought I’d become this huge a KAT fan.

Always been a great guy and a great player.

And yet feels like he’s gone through a very late-career maturation process through a tumultuous season.

And emerged the best version of himself. https://t.co/g0S3fIQdiQ

— Rit Holtzman (@BenRitholtzNBA) June 4, 2026

Karl-Anthony Towns

On the Knicks’ defense carrying the offense:

“Today, our offense didn’t show up until late and our defense was there from the beginning, and that’s what saved us. If we can find a way to get the offense going and continue to improve our defense — not only just keep it where it was tonight, but improve on it — we’ll give ourselves a chance to win every night.”

On the collective concern after Brunson’s injury scare:

“You know, when we all saw him limp off, we were worried not only because he’s Jalen Brunson but more because he’s our brother and we are a family in our locker room. Just worried about his health. But when we were on the court and I saw him walking back out to the bench, it was a relief feeling just to know he’s safe. That was really at the end of the day all we care about it is his safety.”

On defending Victor Wembanyama:

“You’re just trying to make it difficult. He’s an amazing, a one of a kind player that this league has ever seen, so you just try to make it as difficult as possible for him.”

On sensing his mother’s presence:

“To be honest with y’all, and I don’t want to sound sugarcoating in any way… I don’t know what it was but I just felt a calming (presence) and a peace that had to be coming from the woman above. In a way, I felt like I was seeing her in the stands. It was fun and was really comforting. It felt like a certain presence that was here that was very comforting and very loving. I felt like I could have fun out here in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, which is the weirdest thing.”

On Brunson’s clutch skills:

“With the ball in his hands, I’m never surprised. I tell you, that last shot — I think it was a shoot-floater. That was nasty, I ain’t going to lie.”

On trusting his preparation:

“You just trust your work and you trust your decision-making, and I always say [I want to be] aggressive in play-making.”

Mitchell Robinson was asked if he enjoyed the physicality of tonight's game:

"Oh yeah, for sure, definitely" pic.twitter.com/EswUjh8PH3

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) June 4, 2026

Mitchell Robinson

On playing in the NBA Finals with a broken finger:

“I’ve been here for eight years. There was no way I was going to miss this.”

On how he suffered the injury:

“I’m here to talk about basketball.”

"We've got to quit fouling and get back in transition"

Landry Shamet talks about what the Knicks can improve upon ahead of Game 2: pic.twitter.com/O6G3xVY2mL

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) June 4, 2026

Landry Shamet

On staying ready for his role:

“My job is my job, and it remains the same: to be ready for whatever situation or moment you’re asked to step into, and that’s the only thing I think about. I’m not thinking about how it started, anything in the past. … We’ll do the whole reflection and look back thing when it’s all said and done. We are all focused on our job and how we can best help each other try to get a win.”

On maintaining perspective through highs and lows:

“I’m a believer that everything you go through … prepares you for where you’re ultimately headed in one way or another, even if it doesn’t line up perfectly. I’m really grateful for all the highs and lows I’ve been through personally. All I know right now is that I’m here. Like I said, I’m trying not to get too reflective, open up that can of worms of looking back on everything, quite yet. There’s [three] more wins between me and doing that, that I’m more worried about.”

On Jalen Brunson’s leadership:

“He’s our captain for a reason. He’s not afraid of the moment.”

On the team’s unselfish locker room:

“Truthfully, with this team — I’ve said it a number of times — we’ve got a group that truly roots for each other, wants each other to succeed. It’s special when you have a locker room where those ulterior motives bleed into your locker room. Look at our bench, different guys throughout the playoffs that have been inserted, have had to step up, play bigger roles in certain situations. There’s a lot of reasons on paper where it would look like you could get a little bitter about so-and-so is taking so-and-so’s minutes, whatever the case may be. Truthfully, this team, we have a special group where we all root for each other, know that job and role could look different for anybody any night.”

“I felt like a kid. It was just fun out here.”

Karl-Anthony Towns shares the sense of peace he felt going into Game 1 of the NBA Finals 🏀 pic.twitter.com/grbyAYdT4P

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) June 4, 2026

Miles McBride

On Karl-Anthony Towns’ Game 1 performance:

“Honestly, with KAT, I feel like when he’s locked in he’s not just doing the scoring, doing the assisting, but he’s setting the pick (on the pick) and roll, and he’s diving hard, and then defensively he’s bringing a physical presence. What he did for us was not just guard him at a high level, but he kept him from getting those second-chance opportunities, which I think is something Wemby does phenomenal. I feel like that’s huge. Taking away a first shot is big, but to take away that second one was big for us.”

On the late surge earning them a Game 1 victory:

“I think once we settled down and locked in as a team, we changed the game.”

On Knicks fans traveling to San Antonio:

“It’s not surprising at this point. We know they’re going to be there and gonna be loud, so shoutout Knicks nation.”

"It was good. Can't think about it too much. Now we got to go tomorrow, watch film, learn from the win. They're going to come out with a lot of energy, a sense of urgency, a sense of desperation and we got to do the same thing."

– Josh Hart on the Knicks' Game 1 win pic.twitter.com/TE8VIx709r

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) June 4, 2026

Josh Hart

On his second-half energy after running up and down the court all evening:

“I had a lot of energy. I think I only played like seven minutes in the first half. I knew I had to come out, be aggressive. It was just come in and inject energy.”

On Jalen Brunson closing games:

“We’re extremely comfortable. We want him with the ball at the end. He’s one of those rare or few guys if you’re in a one or two possession game at the end, and if he has the ball, you’re extremely comfortable, extremely calm. I don’t want to give him too much credit, like I’m looking at him in awe or something. But we’re extremely comfortable with that. He had big shots, and he had big plays.”

On the team’s toughness:

“We’ve just got a lot of tough guys. A lot of guys that don’t quit. You know, everybody in this locker room has had adversity. They wouldn’t be here if they didn’t, and they wouldn’t be here if they didn’t make it through that adversity. So whenever we’re down, we don’t panic. We continue to play our brand of basketball, and you know, that’s always … that’s cool.”

In response to being asked about the quality of the Game 1 win, Mikal Bridges said:

"It was good, man, but, you know zero-zero, get ready for the next one" pic.twitter.com/kkqogZ1Elr

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) June 4, 2026

Mikal Bridges

On the Knicks’ approach to Game 2 after stealing home advantage:

“We take care of what’s in front of us. Another game Friday. Start zero-zero.”

On the team’s hunger:

“We’re going to keep fighting, no matter what. We all just were hungry and desperate. That’s all we’re going to be. Every single day. Every single game.”

MSG owner James Dolan reacts to Knicks’ NBA Finals chances: ‘We’re going to win’ https://t.co/O6N8XAJwMGpic.twitter.com/tX7J3j1BLX

— Page Six (@PageSix) June 3, 2026

James Dolan

On doubling down on his Knicks’ Finals take:

“I feel we’re going to win. I really think we’re going to win.”

Did anyone ask why Harper was benched for Fox in the 4th? Genuinely curious https://t.co/DiSQ0sOwzX

— Spotlight Dude (@SpursSpotlight) June 4, 2026

Mitch Johnson

On Wembanyama’s accountability:

“He definitely holds himself accountable. I would suspect he’ll learn a lot of things from tonight’s game and come out with a good approach in Game 2.”

On getting Wembanyama moving toward the rim:

“We got to get him moving in space and toward the rim, whether that’s on rolls or running in transition. But we need the pressure on the rim and the force in the paint.”

On losing the offensive rebounding battle:

“The offensive rebounds crushed us. Twenty-three second-chance points. We’re up one point, 93-94, 94-95, get them to miss. Brunson hits a 3, they go on an 11-0 run. Tough.”

On defending Jalen Brunson:

“He’s a tremendous player that’s skilled, picks his spots, knows his angles. Shoots contested shots without being sped up. He’s a phenomenal player and we just have to keep making him work. He had a phenomenal game. He got going and got a few in a row, but 30 points on 31 shots, is something you probably want to keep making him work for those points. Probably some of the other stuff that we can control, instead of him making or missing shots.”

On fatigue as a factor:

“I don’t think it was fatigue. I’m sure guys got tired at times. I don’t think anyone’s performance was based on fatigue, I think we just need to be sharper and execute better. And continue to work the game and not fight it at times and play the right way.”

"It's almost not like I have anything to figure out. It's almost like I have to play normal, not even good…"

–– Victor Wembanyama on what he has to do to beat the Knicks after losing Game 1pic.twitter.com/eSnojh1bxG

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) June 4, 2026

Victor Wembanyama

On Game 1 mistakes and how to fix them:

“It’s not like I have anything to figure out. It’s almost like I have to be normal, not even good… It’s like just doing the right things is enough… When we shoot ourselves in the foot, this is why I’m not worried. We’re going to be so much better, I’m going to be so much better.”

On adjusting his play after the loss:

“I agree with the coach. Every team guards differently, I’m gonna figure it out. I was bad tonight, it’s not more complicated than that. I think we let that one go.”

On defending Brunson better moving forward:

“He’s an elite player, and we don’t have many more chances. It’s a first-to-four series. So we’re going to have time to work on it.”

On being down in a series before:

“We’ve been down in a series before. I’m not kicking myself about anything, really. I’m not worried in the slightest.”

On a fan running onto the court for a selfie:

“I’ve never been in that situation. I didn’t know how to act. It really surprised me.”

Dylan Harper says that he does not feel like fatigue played an issue in the Spur's performance tonight:

"I feel both teams were fatigued.. I feel like they just executed a little bit better" pic.twitter.com/xz4kIHR93P

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) June 4, 2026

Dylan Harper

On the Spurs’ Game 2 mindset after falling 0-1:

“We’re confident but also have a chip on our shoulder from this game we just lost. You never want to lose and going into this next game, we’re going to be even more hungrier and keep on proving.”

On fatigue impacting Game 1:

“I feel both teams were fatigued, really. I just feel like they executed better.”

Devin Vassell

On the need for better rebounding:

“We know we’ve got to control the boards. With this series, they like to crash the glass — KAT, OG, all them. Can’t just be one half where we’re crashing the glass. We’ve got to help Vic. We’ve got to help the bigs down there. That’s going to be a huge part of this series.”

"Cause Wemby's not an aggressive player." 👀

—Charles Barkley on the KAT vs. Wemby matchup in Game 1 of the NBA Finals ✍️ pic.twitter.com/KLyMRV7rWY

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) June 4, 2026

Charles Barkley

On the Knicks’ poor first-half defense in Game 1:

“It’s really been terrible defense on the Knicks. Cause if you actually look at [Julian Champagnie’s] threes. Why is he wide open? There’s no reason to be leaving him wide open.”

On how the Knicks can beat the Spurs:

“The Spurs can’t guard the pick and roll. When [the Knicks] run the pick and roll with KAT they get something good everytime. We have to give KAT his flowers.”

"These guys are on the brink of doing something so so special" – Monica McNutt on the history and the statistics being on the Knicks' side as they take Game 1 in the NBA Finals. @NYKnicks | @McNuttMonica | #AlwaysKnickspic.twitter.com/Be2UhOxTid

— KNICKS ON MSG (@KnicksMSGN) June 4, 2026

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