With 1,054 regular-season games and 177 postseason contests, it takes a lot to leave Dwyane Wade feeling “shocked.”
And that’s exactly what the Knicks did Wednesday in Game 4 when they set an NBA Finals record by rallying from a 29-point deficit to stun the Spurs and grab a 3-1 series lead.
“I was just stunned and shocked like — amazed,” the Basketball Hall of Famer told Page Six in an exclusive interview Friday at the Tribeca Festival in New York City. “I know, I’ve been in the Finals a few times, I understand the even-keeled-ness that you need to have, I understand the ebb and flow of games, but down 29, to come back versus a team that seemed to be in control, the way they did with the city, you can feel the energy in the building from your TV, it was incredible. You feel good for the state, you feel good for the city. New York is coming back to life and the Knicks are a big part of it.”
(L-R) Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade attend the “Born Melo” Premiere during the 2026 Tribeca Festival at SVA Theater on June 12, 2026 in New York City. Getty Images for Tribeca Festival
Wade, 44, won three championships in his career — all with Miami — and understands the grind it takes to win a championship.
This Knicks team somewhat mirrors his 2006 Miami team that most counted out against the Mavericks before the rallied from a 2-0 series hole to win their first championship.
Wade earned MVP honors in that series for his brilliance.
These Knicks did the reverse of that Heat team by winning the first two games of this series, both on the road, putting the Spurs in a spot no team had recovered from in Finals history.
Wade wouldn’t make a prediction on whether the Knicks will win their first championship in 53 years now that they stand just one win away, but he noticed the effect the team is having on New York City.
“I don’t know,” he told Page Six of the Knicks’ chances to win the title. “I’m just a fan watching. I just want to see great basketball. Whoever wins deserves it, both these teams obviously deserve to win. The Knicks, we here in the city, the city is buzzing, it’s hot, not just because of the heat but because of what the Knicks are doing, they got to get that fourth one. If they go get it, the deserve it and they earned it.”
The Knicks celebrate after taking the lead Wednesday. Getty Images
Wade made his appearance Friday on the red carpet at the Tribeca Festival to support his friend and Knicks legend Carmelo Anthony, whose “Born Melo” documentary debuted.
The two became friends 23 years ago during the Final Four when Anthony led Syracuse to its only national title, while Wade’s Marquette team lost in the national semifinals.
Anthony claimed he helped the Knicks win Game 4 by mentioning how the offensive rebound would be there on the final possession before OG Anunoby tipped in the game-winning shot.
“It’s sweet,” Wade said of the friendship. “We connected then (during the Final Four) and he’s been my brother ever since. To be able go through the journey of life with someone and to always be there for each other away from the game of basketball and show up for each other, that’s all you can ask for.
“I’m excited to be here to support him and his family.”
Jalen Brunson and the Knicks will have a chance to close out the series on the road, having already won the first two games in the Frost Bank Center. The Spurs and the Knicks split the two games held in New York, giving the Knicks a 3-1 lead.
Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs will have to crawl back into the series after the team gave up a 29-point lead and lost Game 4 on Wednesday, June 10.
The Knicks are searching for their first NBA championship since winning its only two in 1970 and 1973, but have already provided their fan base with a lot to be excited about after reaching the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999.
Here’s what NBA experts think will happen in Game 5 of the series:
Knicks vs. Spurs Game 5 predictions
USA TODAY staff: Spurs will stand strong at home
The USA TODAY Sports staff is in agreement that the Spurs will force a Game 6 on Tuesday in Madison Square Garden. Here are the picks:
The website predicts the final score for Game 5 on Saturday has the Spurs winning 112-106. This prediction is based on each team's average outcome following 10,000 game simulations.
Knicks fans will be able to get $10 tickets for the watch party at Radio City Music Hall, can procure free tickets for the party in Plaza33 outside the Mecca, or skate over to Wollman Rink in Central Park for another free, but ticketed, event.
Knicks fans celebrate during a watch party inside Central Park during Game 4 of the NBA Finals on June 10, 2026, in New York. AP Photo/Heather Khalifa
Fans can reserve their tickets for any of the three events starting at 10 a.m. EST, according to MSG.
Fans have until 10 a.m. EST on Saturday to reserve their tickets for any of the three events.
Knicks alumni are expected to at the events.
The Plaza33 watch party permit Saturday has a maximum of 3,000 attendees and will take place inside an NYPD “frozen zone.”
Only ticketed fans will be permitted entry and will have to go through security checkpoints no later than 8:30 p.m., according to MSG.
The 3,000 permitted fans is about two thousand more fans than were approved for the ultimately scrapped Game 4 watch party, which was canceled by MSG after the city granted just 1,000 spots for the popular events.
Knicks owner James Dolan blamed Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch for failing to accommodate the masses in an interview on sports radio WFAN on Wednesday.
“They have never managed anything like this before and it’s like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches coming out the sides,” he said.
Knicks fans can get $10 tickets for the watch party at Radio City Music Hall as the team looks to clinch the NBA championship in San Antonio. Getty ImagesFans attend a Knicks watch party at SOB’s in the West Village during Game 4 of the NBA Finals. William C Lopez/NY Post
Dolan further claimed that Mayor Mamdani was “not a Knicks fan.”
MSG has complained that the limited capacity of the watch parties ices out ten of thousands of fans from celebrating the possible championship.
Previous watch parties did not require tickets or security screenings.
The first Finals watch party to be canceled was the celebration for Game 3, which was called off due to security concerns surrounding the attendance of President Donald Trump.
Some watch parties across the city have turned violent.
A 17-year-old boy was beaten into a coma by a deranged San Antonio fan shouting “Spurs in 7” at W 35th and 8th Avenue after the historic Game 4 comeback victory at MSG on Wednesday.
The oldest living New York Knick is keeping his cool during the team’s historic — and heart-stopping –championship run.
Hall of Famer Richie Guerin told The Post this week he doesn’t get butterflies seeing his former team on the brink of their first championship title since 1973.
“Not really. Because, you know, I’ve been there too many times before — to watch a team win a game by effort and lose a game by the other team’s effort,” said the 94-year-old Guerin, who played for the Knicks from 1956 to 1963.
Hall of Famer Richie Guerin, now 94, played for the Knicks from 1956 to 1963. NBAE via Getty Images
The Knicks legend, who made history as the first guard to score 2,000 points in an NBA season, had the foresight to predict the team would clinch Game 4.
“I think there’ll be a very good chance that the Knicks will win this game tonight and then go to San Antonio with a 3 to 1 lead and hopefully come away with a win,” Guerin said on Wednesday morning, before the Knicks later stunned the San Antonio Spurs with a history-making comeback after being down 29 points in the third quarter.
Guerin spent seven seasons playing for the Knicks, until he was traded to the St. Louis/Atlanta Hawks, where he played seven more years and also coached.
He had an impressive career average of 20 points per game, 11 games of 40 or more points, and several with 50 points. His career high of 57 points stood for more than 50 years until Bernard King broke it with 60 in 1984.
The Bronx native, who played for Iona College and served as an officer in the Marine Corps, was at Game 3 at Madison Square Garden on Monday with his daughter as a guest of the organization, which announced him on the jumbotron.
“It worked out very nice to have an enjoyable evening. Everything nice, but winning the game,” the six-time NBA All-Star said.
The Bronx native, who played for Iona College, was at Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden. AP
“Monday, it just happened that the other team did a little bit better down the stretch and was able to come away with the win, just like the Knicks were in the game in San Antonio … But sports is a funny thing and teams play differently from game to game.”
The father of four said the league was different in his day — and players had to make ends meet by getting other gigs in the off-season.
“We had to go out and get a job. We had a family. The players today in all sports, it’s a 12-month sport. They take a slight break and they come back,” he explained.
“I worked with a friend of mine who owned a plumbing business. And then I worked at the racetrack up in Yonkers.”
And because current ballplayers are playing more, they’re stronger on the court.
“Today’s athlete is a lot better and physically stronger than the athletes of the era that I played in, in any sport. They play a lot more games than we did in the off-season,” he said.
Guerin, left, said that in his day, NBA players had to get other jobs in the off-season. AP
He also called the Spurs’ 7′ 4″ powerhouse and now-New York archenemy Victor Wembanyama “a very strong, talented player,” but explained that in his era, a man from France would never play in the NBA.
“That’s the other part of the game today, where people are coming into the league from Europe,” he said.
The grandfather of eight said none of his grandkids play basketball — but he still gifted them with precious memorabilia from his storied career.
“I give things to my grandchildren or a friend, and I’m very happy and satisfied to do that,” he said.
“There’s a lot of people who sell it. And I’m not one of those types of people.”
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 28: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket against Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the second half at the TD Garden on October 28, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Nothing has happened on the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade front yet, but there are strong rumors that Boston may win the sweepstakes.
There are various reports of how the trade would be structured, with some saying it would be a three-way deal between Boston, Milwaukee, and Atlanta.
Other reports say Brad Stevens is trying to swing a deal that would get Giannis and possibly former Virginia star Trey Murphy.
This would mean splitting up former Duke star Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. They’ve been very successful, having won a championship in 2024, but in a trade that big, Boston would have to give one of them up, and it looks like they’re choosing to keep Tatum.
There are a lot of moving parts here, but several reports suggest it’s nearly a done deal, possibly with Milwaukee getting Brown and sending him on for some significant bundle of assets from another team.
If this happens – and obviously it hasn’t yet – Tatum will have an incredibly talented frontcourt teammate. As of now, they don’t really have a center, even though Giannis could cover some of that up.
However, a frontcourt of Tatum, Antetokounmpo, and Murphy would cause all kinds of problems for the rest of the league.
As noted, nothing is certain yet, but at least one observer said that Boston and Milwaukee have a handshake deal.
If it goes through, it’s going to shake up the NBA in a way that few trades ever do.
New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby has made extraordinary progress in NBA Finals MVP odds, pushing into second place behind his teammate, Jalen Brunson.
The latest NBA Finals MVP odds from DraftKings Sportsbook have Anunoby second at +210 to Brunson’s -115.
Key Takeaways
Anunoby was around +5,000 earlier in the series.
Current odds suggest he has a 32.3% chance of winning the award.
Victor Wembanyama claimed that “everyone knows” the Spurs will come back to win the series.
Brunson opened the series second in Finals MVP odds behind San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama. Brunson quickly climbed into the lead after the Knicks took a 2-0 series lead and remains on top of the board with his team up 3-1.
Anunoby, formerly an afterthought in the conversation, has closed from around +5,000 to his current line of +210. Using the implied probability of his odds, Anunoby has a 32.3% chance of winning the award, while Brunson still has a 53.5% chance.
The 28-year-old Anunoby put up 33 points in Game 4, which ended in a Finals-record 29-point comeback for the Knicks. He also blocked De’Aaron Fox’s shot with less than 15 seconds remaining, and then scored the game-winning bucket by tipping in a missed three from Brunson.
“He's been clutch. He's the guy that's actually brought [the Knicks] back from being down,” DraftKings Sportsbook director Johnny Avello said. “I think he's got a big shot to win MVP. I really do. We had him at 4-to-1 after the game the other night. Now he's down to +210, so they're loving him right now to win the MVP.”
Anunoby’s raw stats (23.8 points, four rebounds) aren’t as impressive as Brunson’s (29.5 points, five assists, 4.5 rebounds). However, he’s played excellent defense, produced clutch moments, and shot the ball incredibly efficiently, making 58% of his field goals and 55.6% of his three-pointers.
Finals MVP odds contenders
Wembanyama follows Brunson and Anunoby in NBA Finals MVP odds at +390.
On Friday, he boldly declared that “everyone knows” the Spurs are going to win the Finals. That would require them to become the second team to recover from a 3-1 deficit in the championship round, with the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers being the only team to have accomplished that feat.
Wemby on if the Spurs believe they can come back and win the Finals:
Bringing the Spurs back would almost assuredly guarantee that Wembanyama would win Finals MVP. Nobody on his team is shorter than +25,000 in odds, that player being Stephon Castle.
Knicks big man Karl-Anthony Towns sits between Wembanyama and Castle in odds at +4,000. He looked like the best player on his team in Games 1 and 2, although he was a relative no-show in Games 3 and 4.
Game 5 betting odds
DraftKings reported that Game 4 of the Finals was the sportsbook’s most-bet game in its history. Game 5 will see the series return to San Antonio, where the Knicks won the first two games of the series as underdogs.
Despite those results, and the Spurs trailing in the series 3-1, DraftKings has the home team as a 5.5-point favorite. That line rests between where it did in Games 1 and 2, for which they were 4.5- and 6.5-point favorites.
At DraftKings, 73% of bets and 68% of the handle in the spread market are backing the Knicks. Meanwhile, 59% of tickets and 82% of the money is also on the Knicks in the moneyline market, currently priced at -192 for the Spurs and +160 for the Knicks.
The San Antonio Spurs have slapped a ticket restriction on NBA Finals games in a pathetic bid to keep New York fans from flooding the Frost Bank Center.
Knicks faithful trying to get into tonight’s Game 5 contest – which could hand New York its first NBA title in 53 years – are being greeted with a warning from Ticketmaster.
“Frost Bank Center is located in San Antonio, Texas . Sales to this event will be restricted to customers residing within a 150-mile radius of Frost Bank Center,” the note reads.
The San Antonio Spurs are trying to prevent Knicks fans from attending Game 5. NBAE via Getty Images
“Residency will be based on credit card billing address. Orders by residents outside of a 150-mile radius of Frost Bank Center will be canceled without notice and refunds given. Please note there is a 4 seat ticket limit for transactions through the venue.”
The cheapest ticket to the game as of early Saturday was just over $1,000 while the most expensive seat for the potentially historic game clocked in at about $43,000.
Those who have already purchased a ticket may still be out of luck — with Ticketmaster stating that any out of towners with tickets will have them refunded and canceled without notice.
“The 150 mile radius restriction introduced during the Playoffs remains in place throughout the NBA Finals,” The Spurs told The Post. “This allows us to continue prioritizing local fans across San Antonio, Austin, and the surrounding communities.”
Basketball fans were incensed by the flagrant party foul.
“So the lifelong Spurs fan who moved somewhere else in our huge state is barred. The Knicks fan sensing history tonight can’t go. This is stupid,” radio host Mark Davis wrote on X.
Game 5 is being played at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio. NBAE via Getty Images
“That’s bulls–\t. Spurs are scared and know they’re going to lose so they resort to these tactics. Deal with it like adults,” X user Pebbles wrote.
“This can’t be real? Is this even legal,” author and New Jerseyan Phil Ruzzo wrote on X.
Even New York Gov. Kathy Hochul blew the whistle.
“Knicks fans finally get within one game of a championship and their reward is having their tickets canceled? Thousands of New Yorkers bought tickets, booked flights, and made plans in good faith. Ticketmaster and the Spurs should reverse this decision and let the fans who bought those seats keep them. Until then, on behalf of Knicks fans everywhere, I’m calling foul,” Hochul wrote in an X post.
The Spurs, making their last stand after the Knicks miracle Game 4, tried to encourage their deflated and regional fanbase with a statement on Friday to justify the mass of Knicks fans expected at the possibly decisive game.
The Post reported that nearly 50 percent of tickets had been purchased by fans from the New York/New Jersey area. Getty Images
“We’re excited about the energy and support our fans have brought throughout this Finals run and look forward to Game 5,” the org said.
“Tickets may be transferred or resold multiple time safer their initial purchase through a variety of channels,” the statement, reported by News 4 San Antonio continued. “That’s why the location of the original purchaser based on billing address does not always necessarily reflect who ultimately attends the game.”
“Throughout the season, Playoffs and Finals, we have encouraged Season Ticket Members to keep tickets in the hands of SPurs fans whenever possible,” the statement read.
However some on social media pointed out the residency restriction practice has been in place throughout the playoffs due to the Knicks fans domination of opponents’ home courts.
The Cleveland Cavaliers, who the Knicks swept in the Eastern Conference Finals, also tried and failed to maintain home court advantage — pulling notable Knick fan Fat Joe’s courtside seats at Rocket Arena for Game 4.
For most NBA teams, a uniform unveiling is a relatively simple affair. The team releases a few photos. Social media argues for 48 hours. Some people love them. Some people hate them. A few months later everyone has moved on and the jerseys just become part of the routine.
For the Minnesota Timberwolves, this past week’s unveiling felt different. Partially because the jerseys and logo had already leaked online days before the official reveal, taking some of the surprise out of the process. By the time the team officially pulled back the curtain, most Wolves fans had already spent the better part of a week debating fonts, trim packages, color schemes, and whether the black uniform was worthy of being mentioned in the same sentence as the legendary Black Trees jersey.
Even with the surprise element largely gone, however, one thing became immediately apparent once the dust settled. Wolves fans overwhelmingly seem to agree on one thing: These are a massive upgrade.
After nearly a decade of what many fans affectionately, or not so affectionately, referred to as the “sailor suit” era, Minnesota has finally returned to looking like the Minnesota Timberwolves again.
And honestly? It was overdue.
The uniforms the Wolves have worn since 2017 were never terrible. They were clean. They were perfectly acceptable NBA uniforms. The problem was that they never felt particularly Timberwolves. They felt like something generated by a focus group tasked with creating the safest possible basketball jersey.
They lacked personality. They lacked history. Most importantly, they lacked any meaningful connection to the eras that fans actually loved. The new look changes that.
What stands out immediately is how intentionally the organization blended together multiple chapters of franchise history rather than simply recreating one specific era. Instead of choosing between the original expansion-era identity, the Kevin Garnett years, or the modern look, Minnesota essentially took pieces from all three and built something that feels familiar without feeling like a pure throwback.
The original blue, green, and white color scheme is back. That alone feels significant. For longtime Wolves fans, those colors are synonymous with the franchise’s roots. Before the redesigns, before the multiple rebrands, before the highs and lows and playoff heartbreaks, those colors are where everything started.
There’s something comforting about seeing them return. At the same time, the Wolves didn’t simply copy and paste their 1989 uniforms. The jersey typography carries clear influences from the Kevin Garnett era. Not to the extreme degree of the late-90s and early-2000s uniforms, but enough to evoke that era without becoming a nostalgia act. The black uniform takes things a step further with the inclusion of the trees trim, perhaps the most iconic visual element in franchise history.
Meanwhile, the logo itself feels like an intentional bridge between generations. The howling wolf profile remains recognizable from the most recent logo iteration, but there’s also a noticeable callback to the original Wolves “Old Shep” identity. It’s almost as if someone took the current logo and ran it through an old-school filter, giving it just enough of that original expansion-era DNA without sacrificing modern design principles.
Too often teams either go completely retro or completely modern. Minnesota found a middle ground. The organization essentially looked at every era of Timberwolves basketball and asked a simple question: “What parts actually worked?” Then they built around those answers.
Of course, the next question immediately became which uniform fans liked best. The Canis Hoopus poll results were fairly decisive.
The blue uniform emerged as the clear favorite, and honestly, it’s not hard to understand why.
The royal blue jersey is gorgeous. It’s vibrant without being loud. The green wordmark and numbering pop beautifully against the blue backdrop. It immediately evokes the original road uniforms from 1989 while still feeling contemporary enough to fit today’s NBA aesthetic. Perhaps most importantly, it feels uniquely Timberwolves. You could glance at it from across an arena and instantly know which team is wearing it.
In an NBA increasingly filled with alternate uniforms, city editions, statement editions, and designs that sometimes seem determined to hide team identities entirely, there’s something refreshing about a uniform that unapologetically screams “Minnesota Timberwolves.”
The black uniform finished second in the voting, and this is where things become a little more complicated. Last year’s Black Trees throwbacks were one of the most anticipated uniform releases the franchise has had in years. Those jerseys occupy a unique place in Wolves history. For an entire generation of fans, they are the Timberwolves uniform.
Kevin Garnett wore them. The franchise experienced its greatest success wearing them. They’re iconic.
Which is exactly why this new black uniform faces an almost impossible challenge. It’s competing against perfection. The updated version isn’t bad. Far from it. But personally, I find myself agreeing with many fans who feel something is slightly off.
For me, it’s the addition of the blue accents. The original black Trees uniforms worked because they were remarkably clean. Black. White. Green. That’s it. Simple. Elegant. Timeless.
The new version introduces blue striping and blue outlining around the numbers and wordmark. It isn’t enough to ruin the look, but it does create a sense that the design is trying to add something extra to something that was already complete. It’s like remaking a classic movie. Even if the remake is good, you’re still inevitably comparing it to the original. That’s a battle most remakes lose.
The white uniform finished third, although that says more about the strength of the blue jersey than any weakness in the white version. In many ways it feels like a cousin of the throwback uniforms Minnesota wore during the franchise’s 35th anniversary celebration. Those jerseys were a little more faithful to the original home design, while this updated version incorporates some modern tweaks.
Personally, I have the white and blue uniforms nearly tied. They’re essentially mirror images of one another, and both succeed because they embrace the franchise’s original identity without becoming trapped by it.
Ultimately, ranking the three uniforms feels almost beside the point. The bigger takeaway is that Minnesota finally has a cohesive visual identity again. For years the franchise felt stuck between eras.
Not anymore.
While jerseys don’t win basketball games, they do matter. Sports are emotional. Fans connect to imagery. They connect to memories. They connect to eras. A great uniform becomes part of a team’s identity. It becomes part of the story.
When you think of Jordan, you picture the Bulls red.
When you think of the Showtime Lakers, you picture gold.
When Wolves fans think about Kevin Garnett, they think about the Trees.
Now Minnesota has an opportunity to create a new visual era, and the reality is that these uniforms will likely become associated with Anthony Edwards. These aren’t just the jerseys for next season. These are potentially the jerseys of Ant’s prime. The jerseys that will appear in highlight packages for years. The jerseys that will define the next chapter of Timberwolves basketball.
And who knows? Maybe someday they’ll become something even more significant. Maybe years from now we’ll look back at these uniforms the same way fans currently look back at the black Trees era. Maybe they’ll become synonymous with the greatest stretch of basketball the franchise has ever played. Maybe these are the uniforms Anthony Edwards is wearing when he finally brings the Larry O’Brien Trophy to Minnesota.
That remains to be seen.But for now, after years of looking like a team trapped in an identity crisis, the Timberwolves finally look like themselves again.
And that’s a pretty good place to start.
Speaking of the Larry O’Brien Trophy… Hopefully Karl-Anthony Towns will be hoisting it tonight! If you’re looking for one last bit of NBA betting action before the off-season begins, FanDuel Sportsbook has you covered for your Finals wager!
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 10: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs looks on during the game against the New York Knicks during Game Four of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 10, 2026 at Madison in New York, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE(Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Today is Game 5 of the 2026 NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs. New York leads the series 3-1 and the series heads back to San Antonio. Watch it at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC (WJLA-TV in the DMV). Yes, I know I posted this in the morning.
In this week’s SB Nation Reacts survey, you can definitely see that a clear majority of NBA fans nationwide who responded that they are following the NBA Finals more than the draft. But as Washington Wizards fans, we are definitely in that 26 percent minority. Same with Utah Jazz fans.
While we are in the minority, that doesn’t mean that we don’t care about the Finals. There will be a lot of money changing hands during the game. The odds are in favor of the Spurs extending this series to a Game 6 per FanDuel* and others.
Welcome to Inside the Suns, your weekly deep-down analysis of the current Phoenix Suns team. Each week, the Fantable — a round table of Bright Siders — gives their takes on the Suns’ latest issues and news.
Fantable Questions of the Week
Q1: A case can be made that the true potential for this Suns team is not known (mostly due to injuries), and making big roster changes this offseason could be a mistake. Do you agree?
GuarGuar: I agree we were so hurt during the season last year that it was hard to build a consistent system. There’s a case to be made that better health and continuity could bump us up to a top-5 seed and a potential second-round run in the playoffs. I do believe if we are healthier with this same group, we will be better than last year. I have faith in the rookies improving and a better on-court team chemistry.
Ashton: I have been leaning more and more into running it back as much as possible, but I understand the arguments for making major and minor shifts. Does anyone remember when basketball was fun? All you have to do is see the game. Not playing cap gymnastics and advanced math equations. If the owner wanted to burn a money hole in his pocket, so be it. I just want to watch the game as a fan!
But, now, I think frugality is the Suns’ best option. Stay under the repeater tax, and yes, the fans will probably not get the best product on the floor for next season. Let the MI build up for the 2028 season, where he can light his wallet on fire. I can wait.
OldAz: This sounds to me like “copium” for those that had hopes of a major makeover and then read John’s more realistic offseason article and have decided running it back is probably what will happen. On the other hand, it may very well be true. This entirely hinges on how Jalen Green and Booker finally mesh when both are playing 30 minutes a game.
We saw flashes of Green’s athleticism, and since he had no real injury concerns until last season, there is certainly reason to hope he will be more available next season, and it is certainly possible that a backcourt of Booker and Green provides a diverse enough offensive threat to take the focus off the other. It also may be more of the same from the last 3 seasons, where all the money spent on the backcourt (and extra rotation level guards on the roster) limits the options of getting longer, younger, and more athletic along the front court.
Rod: I agree to a certain point. No more wild swings at big names that could just as easily backfire as improve the team. The Suns just don’t have the assets to make a trade for a big-name player who doesn’t also come with some baggage (like Ja) or flaws of some sort that make them available at something of a bargain price. Keep the team mostly intact and give these guys at least half of the upcoming season to see how it all gels together this year before doing anything drastic.
Q2: There’s a lot of talk about the Suns possibly moving up in this year’s draft. If they do so, would you prefer they get a late 1st round pick or an early second-rounder?
GuarGuar: I know the early second would save some money compared to a late 1st but I really am indifferent as to what route they decide to take. I just hope we can continue our late draft magic and find another quality player in the back half of the draft. We don’t have many other avenues to improve the team.
Ashton: I was penning my comments on this question, and Kellan Olson dropped a very in-depth article over on Arizona Sports on this very topic. It turns out we agree, but he introduced points that I have not even considered. At the risk of plagiarizing, I wanted to highlight a few of his points that caught my attention.
Suns can now use cash considerations because they are under the second apron to package with the 47th pick. That is about $3.5 million left to move up into the 30th range of the draft.
What used to be a solid second-rounder pick is now a late first-rounder due to pre- and post-NIL. I particularly like this observation, as I have mentioned the same in comments.
Picks in the early thirties have a higher chance of success in recent years to pan out.
I can’t do the article justice with just those three bullet points, but I would avoid the guaranteed money involved with a first-round pick, so I clearly side with trading up into the second round. That, and I am not sure what it would take to get a first-round pick. Perhaps the 47th and Suns-owned 2029 second-round pick? That pick is going to be valuable.
OldAz: I am far from a draft expert, so I don’t know what the incremental difference is between a player in the mid 20’s and #47, but it sure feels like the odds of NBA prospects at any draft position making it are better correlated to the organization making the pick and developing the player than it does to their draft position.
I remain hopeful that the Suns are becoming an organization that makes better picks at all spots, and then is more successful in developing (and hopefully playing) those prospects. If this becomes true, then I am not sure it matters, but if BG sees someone he wants, then I just hope the “juice is worth the squeeze” and the cost to move up makes sense.
Rod: On most occasions, I’d say that the higher the pick, the better, but maybe not this year. With the financial constraints they have to work under, a high 2nd round pick (with a lower, non-guaranteed salary) could work out best. As indications are, the Suns aren’t planning any big roster changes this offseason, so I wouldn’t want to add another player for a guaranteed salary that might mostly just occupy bench and cap space.
If there’s someone on their radar who they’re really high on and believe won’t make it to the 2nd round but is likely to be there late in the 1st, then I’d be okay with it. So far, Gregory’s been good at moving up in the draft far enough to get a player he’s wanted. If the Suns move up again this year, I’ll be good with either a late 1st or an early second, though, as I believe that the front office has gotten pretty good at planning their strategies out in advance.
Q3: The NBA Summer League is less than a month away. Maluach and Fleming aren’t just likely to play, they’re likely going to the main guys on that team. Given that role, what would you like to see from each during those games?
GuarGuar: I’d like to see Fleming be the offensive star of the team and be aggressive. He’s the biggest key to our season next year, in my opinion. We desperately need him to make a leap. For Maluach, I’m hoping to see an improvement offensively and overall, him just looking way more comfortable. I’m excited to watch them both.
Ashton: Last I checked (NBA.com), the Summer League schedule wasn’t even released yet. Plus, we have no idea which team will be drafting whom in a couple of weeks. What I want to see is good player-versus-player matchups at the C and PF positions.
So does KM get to draw Flagg, or the top two centers in the 2026 draft in Aday Mara and Jayden Quaintance? Okay, that last one was more for the ASU fans on the board. I can’t even remember the last time he played.
Does Sheer get to play against Boozer, Nate Ament, or Yaxel Lendeborg? Granted, I am naming a lot of first-year rookies, but my point is that I want to see them grow and dominate competition (if not straight up posterize them.
But also keep in mind, dear readers, that Summer League really is more about stat hogging, guard play, and less about team play that gets the ball to the bigs.
OldAz: Don’t get hurt is like 7 or 8 of the top 10 things I would like to see from them. The others include not looking overwhelmed by the pace of play, dominating other players who are not yet at the NBA level, and showing so much in a game or two that they pull them and move on. I think both showed that they are close to NBA-ready last season, so I just don’t want them hurt by some wild kid trying to go nuts and make a roster.
Rod: What I most hope to see from both of them is aggressiveness, on both ends of the court, and some leadership. For Fleming, a little over 60% of his FGAs last season were 3s. I want to see more from him on offense than camping out at the three-point line to take those shots. 27.9% of his shots were within 3 feet of the basket, but I’m hoping that he’s working on developing something of a mid-range game too. If he can become more of an all-around threat offensively, I don’t see any way Ott can keep him on the bench for more than necessary rest breaks.
For Maluach, I just want to see him more confident and decisive on both ends of the court. Per 36 minutes, he was the team’s best shot blocker last season, and I want that reputation to grow. Part of that is knowing when to go for the block and when not to do so and keep your feet on the ground. If he can master that part of the game, opponents will start thinking twice about even challenging him. I’d love to see some progress from him offensively, too, but I’d be super happy to see him someday become the next Dikembe Mutombo, wagging his finger at guys who try to slip a shot by him at the rim.
As always, many thanks to our Fantable members for all their extra effort this week!
Suns Trivia/History
On June 13, 1993, the Suns were down 0-2 to the Chicago Bulls in the NBA Finals after losing Games 1 and 2 at home in America West Arena. The series moved to Chicago Stadium, where the Suns pulled off a 129-121 triple overtime win behind Dan Majerle’s team-high 28 points, a 24-point, 19-rebound game by Charles Barkley, and a 25-point, 9-assist night by Kevin Johnson. Johnson also set a Finals record by playing 62 minutes, and teammate Dan Majerle set a mark that still stands by playing 59 minutes without committing a personal foul. This was only the 2nd time in NBA history that a Finals game went into three overtimes, the first was played in 1976 by the Suns and Celtics in the Suns’ first trip to the NBA Finals.
On June 13, 2021, with a 125-118 win, the Suns completed a 4-0 sweep of the Denver Nuggets in their Western Conference Semifinals playoff series. It was their first playoff sweep since they swept the San Antonio Spurs 4-0 in the Western Conference Semis back in 2010. It was also only the third 7-game playoff series sweep in team history. (The Suns also had 4 more first-round series sweeps, but those were back when they were still best-of-five series.)
On June 17, 1992, the Suns traded Jeff Hornacek, Andrew Lang, and Tim Perry to the Philadelphia 76ers for Charles Barkley. As stated in one article following up on that trade, “The Suns didn’t actually acquire Barkley from the Sixers, they stole him.”
Important Future Dates
Mid-June (date TBD) – Teams can begin negotiating with their own free agents (following the Finals) June 23 – NBA Draft First Round, 8 ET (ABC/ESPN) June 24 – NBA Draft Second Round, 8 ET (ESPN) June 30 – Teams can begin negotiations with all free agents July 1 – Official start of the 2026-27 league year and moratorium period July 6 – Moratorium ends, official free agent contract signings can begin July 9-19 – NBA 2K Summer League 2026 in Las Vegas Late September (dates TBD) – NBA Training Camps open
There’s an angel looking out for the New York Knicks.
Beatrice Reilly-Jordon, a Staten Island widow and devoted Knicks fan, left a bit of her late husband’s ashes on an empty seat at Madison Square Garden — and her family believes his spirit has been lifting the Knicks as they strive for their first championship in 53 years.
“She sprinkled a little on an empty seat next to her at Madison Square Garden recently, so he could enjoy the game with her, watching from heaven,” the couple’s daughter Domonique told The Post.
Beatrice Reilly-Jordon and her late husband Dave Jordon were – and still are – the ultimate Knicks fans. Beatrice Jordon/Facebook
“He loved the Knicks so much and so does she. Like my mom says, he’s the angel on their shoulders.”
The family didn’t mention which game Dave’s ashes attended, but his powers from above seem to have worked their magic — the Knicks are one win away from sports immortality.
If the Knicks can close out the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 on Saturday in Texas, they will end their 53-year championship drought — and Beatrice believes Dave will be right there for every second of it, she told SIlive.com.
Dave Jordan, a US Army veteran who later worked in health care, died of cancer in 2022, three months before his 69th birthday. Ever since, Reilly-Jordon, 61, leaves a special chair open for Dave when she watches games on TV.
Dave Jordon had a special chair where he would cheer on his team from home. Matthew Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc./Facebook
“There’s my chair, because you know, you always need a chair when a person’s not here,” she told the outlet.
The empty seat is a painful reminder of loss, but also a symbol of a love story death could not erase.
“I’m sorry my husband won’t be here, but he’s still here. He’s in the Garden right now,” she added. “And he’s going to watch it with us.”
The Knicks weren’t just a favorite team for the couple. They were woven into the fabric of their marriage.
Nearly 40 years ago, when their romance was just beginning, MSG became the backdrop for countless memories.
“We started off going to Knicks games together,” she recalled to the Staten Island-based paper. “He said he never went to a Knicks game with anyone, did I want to go?
“And I said yes. It became our thing to go to the Garden.”
The couple began dating by going to Knicks games at Madison Square Garden. Beatrice Jordon/Facebook
Then came the devastating diagnosis that changed everything.
As Dave’s health deteriorated, Beatrice stood by his side through every agonizing moment, caring for the man she loved as his condition worsened.
“It was beyond awful,” she said. “I took care of him the whole time. Fed him. We were together for more than 34 years.”
When Dave died on Dec. 18, 2022, the grief was so overwhelming, she couldn’t even bring herself to watch the team they had loved together for decades, and the TV stayed off.
But over time, the family’s heartbreak turned into determination.
Fans at Madison Square Garden watch Game Four of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 10. NBAE via Getty Images
Surrounded by three daughters and an enormous extended family of siblings, cousins, nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Beatrice’s loved ones refused to let her give up something that had meant so much to both her and Dave, according to the outlet.
“My godbrothers said, ‘No, you have to. You know Dave wants you to go see the Knicks. You can’t stop doing what you normally do,” she said.
Eventually, the family bought her a ticket, recently sending her back to MSG for the first time since losing her husband.
What happened next became one of the most emotional moments of her life.
“At the game, I brought my husband’s ashes with me,” she told SILive. “And I was in section 224, and I sprinkled my husband, and I said, ‘Dave, you’re here with me.’”
As Knicks fans dream of a long-awaited championship, Beatrice has a message for everyone watching the 2026 Finals.
“He’s right on top of them — an angel on their shoulders — and they’re going to do it this year,” she said.
Derrick White reaches in to try to steal the ball from Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham during a game at TD Garden. | Winslow Townson-Imagn Images
Bill Sy: We’re less than a month away from the NBA Draft and the offseason. The rumor mill has been churning with trade targets like Peyton Watson and Trey Murphy III heading to Boston to Jaylen Brown being part of a Giannis Antetokounmpo deal. There hasn’t been any indication that the Celtics front office is ready for a big swing, but Brad Stevens could still make substantial changes to the championship core of the roster. If the Jays are untouchable, that could mean dealing Sam Hauser, Payton Pritchard, or even Derrick White. Unfortunately, White might be our biggest chip to play.
Nirav Barman: Derrick is currently the third highest paid player on the roster, taking in a whopping $30.3 million next season, but he’s been pivotal to Boston’s success since joining the team. The Celtics have been in the Finals twice since acquiring White, winning the championship in 2024, and were a Tatum ankle-sprain away from what could have been a third trip in 2023. Derrick has blossomed in Boston, and it becomes hard to see him anywhere else purely off of his relationship with the team and the city.
Bill Sy: Don’t get me wrong. I’m a huge DWhite guy and I’ll always be a huge DWhite guy. Despite his shooting struggles this season, I have no doubt that that was just a blip and he’ll make a big comeback next season. However, with two maxed Jays and roster that could use some rebalancing before the front office makes a big push in 2027, White’s salary slot could better be used elsewhere.
BOSTON, MA – MAY 2: Derrick White #9 of the Boston Celtics reacts during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during Round One Game Seven of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 2, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Nirav Barman: There’s no question that the Celtics are heading towards crunch time for this core given how hard it’s become to navigate the luxury tax and salary aprons. That being said, there are few players who are both available on the trade market, and possess the skill set which White does. Even if you’re looking to address another area of concern for the team in exchange for Derrick, it’s hard to see the team acquiring a player who provides the same value on a similar deal.
Bill Sy: For a minute, let’s put aside who’s available on the market and concentrate who’s already on the team. A big part of my confidence in even considering trading White was the development and performance of all the young wings in Boston’s bullpen: Hugo Gonzalez, Baylor Scheierman, Jordan Walsh, and Ron Harper Jr. Admittedly, you can’t play all those guys at the same time, but I think you can create Derrick’s contributions in the aggregate just as OKC did with Ajay Mitchell, Jared McCain, and Cason Wallace in replacing Jalen Williams.
Nirav Barman: I’m extremely excited to see what our group of young guys can do next season after what they just showed us, but I don’t think they’ve showed us enough to make White expendable just yet. As you said, their current skill sets need to be aggregated to make up for Derrick’s impact. When a game reaches clutch time, you need to have your best five players on the court, and those moments are where Derrick shines the most. JB and JT are guaranteed spots in a closing lineup. If we presume White is traded for a big man, that means there are two spots left between Pritchard and the wings. It’s hard for just one of those guys to fill that role and feel like we’re putting out a better lineup.
Bill Sy: Let’s zoom out a little bit. If we’re going to take Stevens at his word, he’s looking to add rim pressure this summer. Brown led the league in drives per game last season at 19.1. Payton Pritchard trailed behind at 11.9 and in his limited return, Tatum drove to the basket 10.9 times. White? 7.5.
Nirav Barman: It’s true that Derrick doesn’t quite play the way Stevens envisions for the future. However, he’s proven before that he can fit different systems. White fully embraced Mazzulla-ball after joining the Celtics, bumping his 3PA average up from 3.7 per game across 4.5 seasons in San Antonio to 7.0 per game across 4.5 seasons in Boston. There’s no reason why White can’t adjust his shot diet again if the team is looking to drive the ball more.
Bill Sy: The bigger question for me is whether White can be more of an alpha that can make the game a little easier for Brown and Tatum (think Holiday circa 2024) or if he’s the best supporting role player.
Nirav Barman: To your point, I wouldn’t call White an alpha. As great as he is, he doesn’t have the ability to take over games on a consistent basis. That being said, there are only so many slices of the pie available, and it already feels like the world has been trying to drive a wedge between Tatum and Brown because they’re both alphas. Having a high-level supporting role player like Derrick seems to me like the best path to success with the Jays as the foundation.
May 11, 2022; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Jrue Holiday (21) steals the ball from Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart (36) to end the game in the second half during game five of the second round for the 2022 NBA playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
Bill Sy: Unlike the Knicks, because we have two max players, we have to be really deliberate with roster construction. And don’t get me wrong. The thought of trading an All-Defense First Teamer from a team with championship aspirations seems silly, but I’m just wondering if we’re not in the same spot we were in with Marcus Smart. At the time, the approach was to surround the Jays with more senior, more proven veterans like Holiday and Porzingis. Now, I’m wondering if we go younger with the Jays in their prime. Could this be those crossroads?
Nirav Barman: It does feel like we’re reaching a point where we’re going to have to make some tough decisions again. The Celtics simply have to improve the roster to keep up with the rest of the top teams. I do think that there are paths to do that which don’t require trading Derrick, though – at least as of now. Boston has a $27.7M TPE from offloading Anfernee Simons, and while they’d have to include some assets to get a good player back, it gives the team a lot more flexibility to address areas of concern while keeping White and allowing the cream of the crop to rise to the top from the selection of young wings. (edited)
Bill Sy: Depending on a handful of team options, the Celtics are projected to enter free agency with a $180-185 million payroll and their first round pick is ticketed for $3 million. Stevens will have the $15 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception and that $27 million TPE at his disposal, but ultimately, they’re most likely going to try and duck under the luxury tax line at $201 million again to restart the repeater. So, in reality, they’ve got about $15-20 million in wiggle room. White’s $30 million slot might need to be in play.
Nirav Barman: Even while toeing the luxury tax line, Boston can’t let money override their on-court success. If the right deal comes around, I definitely think trading Derrick can and should be on the table – he’s well loved, but certainly not untouchable. If the expectation is that the young guys will fill in for him, though, it hasn’t quite gotten to that point yet. Until proven otherwise, which could happen by the trade deadline, Derrick gives the Celtics the best chance at staying competitive.
Bill Sy: I guess my thinking is that White’s $30 million and that $15-20 million are the best tools to makeover the roster. Here’s a very hypothetical trade: let’s say Stevens strikes a sign-and-trade deal with Danny Ainge with Walker Kessler going east and White joining Utah’s backcourt. Then, with the MLE, Coby White replaces Derrick White as Boston’s rim-pressuring point guard. Mazzulla would roll out a rotation of:
Coby White – Sam Hauser – Jaylen Brown – Jayson Tatum – Walker Kessler
Payton Pritchard – Baylor Scheierman – Hugo Gonzalez – Jordan Walsh – Neemias Queta
Ron Harper Jr. – 27th pick – Amari Williams – Luka Garza
Rebalancing the front court and back court with younger players sets them up for the immediate and long-term future.
Nirav Barman: I definitely see the appeal in a trade like that. As you pointed out earlier, Brad Stevens isn’t opposed to swapping a fan favorite for someone with clear potential that’s been stuck on a bad team. I’m sure he’ll be doing his due diligence, but I would find it difficult to make a deal predicated on a potential signing since it could create a bigger void if Boston gets outbid. As of now, the free agent market is pretty sparse for both the Celtics areas of need, PGs and Cs. If the Celtics are able to comfortably address one of those needs, then a Derrick trade could become more viable.
Bill Sy: I will admit after seeing OG Anunoby tip in the Jalen Brunson miss, the first thing I thought about was DWhite rebounding Smart’s miss and forcing a Game 7 against the Heat. Who would want to trade a guy like that?
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 09: Malachi Smith #18 of the Brooklyn Nets dribbles during the second half against the Indiana Pacers at Barclays Center on April 09, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jordan Bank/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Last June, Gonzaga fans had it easy. Whichever team won the NBA Finals, one former Bulldog was bringing home a ring: Andrew Nembhard and the Pacers on one side, Chet Holmgren and the OKC Thunder on the other. This year it all comes down to one guy: Kelly Olynyk, the Spurs’ lone Zag, going up against a Knicks roster with none. However the series ends, Olynyk gets to say he was part of it.
Five other former Bulldogs wrapped up seasons of their own well before the playoffs started, and each one tells a different story. One of the league’s most dependable big men fought through the toughest injury stretch of his career. Another strung together his best run in years before a foot injury ended things early. One had the best season of his career, full stop, even if the team around him couldn’t capitalize. A rookie went from undrafted to a franchise rookie assist record that had stood for three decades. And a guy who spent three years grinding through the G League finally got the call that stuck.
Domantas Sabonis played 19 games this season, after suiting up at least 70 times in each of his first three years in Sacramento. When he was out there he still looked like himself, averaging 15.8 points, 11.4 rebounds and 4.1 assists on 54.3% shooting. Finding him out there was the issue.
He missed the opener with a preseason hamstring strain, then strung together 11 games at 17.2 and 12.3 to start the year, capped by a season-high 34 points on 14-of-24 shooting at Minnesota on Nov. 15. The next night his left knee gave out, a partial meniscus tear initially written off as soreness. The Kings, already 6-21, played the next 27 games without him, covering all of December and half of January. He returned off the bench against Washington on Jan. 17, then held to a restricted-minutes plan the rest of the month while shooting 62.1%. His final game, Feb. 5 against Memphis, saw him put up 24 points and 15 rebounds in 24 minutes before Sacramento shut him down for surgery.
The Kings finished 22-60, and Sabonis has spent most of the last two years as the centerpiece of someone else’s trade idea, with the Hornets reportedly holding exploratory talks about a deal involving Miles Bridges, Josh Green and a first-round pick. Sabonis says he expects to be back at an “All-NBA level” next season. Where that season is played remains an open question.
Zach Collins | Chicago Bulls | 9.7 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 1.5 APG
A wrist fracture from the preseason finale kept Collins out until December, and once he got on the floor, the production looked like nothing he’d done before. Over 10 games he shot 57.8% from the field and 42.9% from three, both career-best marks by a wide margin, averaging 9.7 points and 5.6 rebounds in 18.4 minutes a night. The Bulls went 6-4 with him in the rotation.
The highlights came in bursts: 16 points on 6-of-7 shooting in a win at Charlotte on Dec. 13, a 3-of-3 night from deep at Cleveland a week later, and a 15-point, 19-minute cameo off the bench in a win over Philadelphia on Dec. 27 in which he missed just three shots all night. The next game, against Milwaukee, he logged a season-high 24 minutes and grabbed 10 rebounds, his only double-digit rebounding night of the year. He didn’t play again. A sprained right toe turned into season-ending surgery in February.
Collins finishes the year as an unrestricted free agent, his extension from San Antonio having carried him through last year’s midseason trade to Chicago and now run out. Ten games isn’t much to go on, but by efficiency it’s the best stretch of his career. Unfortunately, the run ended before he ever got a chance to build on it.
Andrew Nembhard | Indiana Pacers | 16.9 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 7.7 APG
With Tyrese Haliburton out for the year recovering from his heartbreaking mid-finals Achilles tear last season, Nembhard took over point guard duties and delivered a career year across the board – 16.9 points and 7.7 assists a game, both well clear of his previous bests, on 44.2% shooting and a career-high 36.1% from three. His shot attempts jumped from 8.3 a game to 13.2, and he started all 57 games he played.
The season opened with trouble. Three minutes into the opener against Oklahoma City, guarding Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, he strained his left shoulder and finished with four points in 17 minutes of a double-overtime loss, then missed close to two weeks. Once back, the highlights stacked up: 32 points on 11-of-20 shooting at Cleveland in late November, a 28-point, 12-assist game against Sacramento in a December win, and a season-high 19 assists in a March loss to the Lakers. January was his best month across the board, 48.9% from the field, 40 percent from three, 9.2 assists a night.
But none of it moved the win-loss column much. The Pacers finished 19-63, a year removed from the NBA Finals, and a back and neck issue ended Nembhard’s season early, costing him the final seven games.
Ryan Nembhard | Dallas Mavericks | 6.6 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 5.3 APG
Nembhard went undrafted in 2025, signed a two-way deal, and spent the first six weeks of the season in spot minutes before a real opportunity opened up. Over a 16-game stretch as a starter he looked like a keeper, peaking on Dec. 2 in Denver with 28 points on 12-of-14 shooting and 10 assists, then following it two nights later with 15 points and 13 assists against Miami.
His role shrank through January, still in the rotation but down to 16.5 minutes a night, and by February he’d been pushed out almost entirely, appearing in just two games before a bizarrely miscalculated stretch with the Texas Legends. The roster kept shifting around him and Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg (Anthony Davis dealt to Wizards at the trade deadline, Tyus Jones eventually waived), and on Feb. 28 the Mavericks converted him to a two-year standard contract with a team option for 2026-27.
March and April made the case for why. His minutes climbed back to nearly 30 a night, and the regular-season finale against Chicago was the exclamation point: 15 points, 9 rebounds and 23 assists in a 149-128 win, breaking Jason Kidd’s 31-year-old franchise rookie assist record by six.
The younger Nembhard spent a season doing what he’s always done: demolishing expectations and making all doubters look dumb for underestimating him.
Malachi Smith | Brooklyn Nets | 8.3 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 3.3 APG (15 games)
After winning WCC Sixth Man of the Year, Malachi Smith went undrafted from Gonzaga. He tthen spent three years working through four different G League affiliates: the Rip City Remix, the Wisconsin Herd, the Memphis Hustle, and finally the Long Island Nets, where he put up 14.4 points on better than 52% shooting this season. That got the attention of Brooklyn’s front office.
He signed two consecutive 10-day contracts in mid-March and made his case over the following nine games, shooting 51.1% from the field and an absolutely absurd 47.1% from three. The NBA run was highlighted by an 18-point night on 7-of-9 shooting against Sacramento on March 23. The Nets converted him to a two-year deal in early April, and his best game followed almost immediately: 19 points, eight rebounds and 10 assists against Milwaukee, a near triple-double in 43 minutes of action. He finished the season averaging 8.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists on 48.5/43.5/100 shooting splits.
One detail worth filing away: if you pull up Malachi’s ESPN player page right now, the photo is still him in a Gonzaga jersey. The NBA hasn’t gotten around to a real headshot yet, but the two-year contract’s already signed.
The Spokane to NBA pipeline shows no sign of slowing down for Gonzaga. The 2026-27 roster could feasibly already have three to four future NBA draftees already on the roster, which would be the biggest class the program has ever produced. Massamba Diop, a 7-foot-1 rim protector arriving via Arizona State, is close to a lock. Davis Fogle is a strong maybe after the kind of breakout freshman season that gets pro scouts circling. And if Izan Almansa clears the NCAA’s eligibility hurdles, a big year barreling through the new-look Pac-12 could put him back in the conversation after a near-miss draft process last year. Lots to look forward to once this roster finally, blissfully, reassuringly fills out.
Perhaps it was the pure exhilaration, the adrenaline running high after the Knicks completed the greatest comeback in Finals history.
Maybe it had to do with the reality that the Knicks are now one win away from ending a 53-year championship drought after decades of incompetence.
The euphoric — and even legally problematic at times — celebrations by Knicks fans from the average Joes to Hollywood A-Listers on Wednesday night and into early Thursday morning provided just a brief preview of the mayhem that may descend upon New York City on Saturday.
ew York Knicks Celebrations Outside Madison Square Garden. June 11, 2026, New York, USA: NY Knicks fans celebrate the win and get into altercations with the police post game 4 after their close game victory over the Spurs. Adem Wijewickrema/TheNEWS2 via ZUMA Press / SplashNews.com
For the first time since June 22, 1994, the Knicks take the court Saturday night in San Antonio for Game 5 of the NBA Finals needing just one win to claim their third championship.
The Knicks famously failed to do so in two attempts in 1994, losing Games 6 and 7 to the Rockets in heartbreakers.
This time around, thanks to their Game 4 heroics, they have three chances to win one game and wash away the memory of John Starks’ Game 7 to forget.
Should they knock off the Spurs, there surely will be a celebration for the ages.
Post-game celebrations outside Madison Square Garden have become a staple in recent years when the Knicks have been in the playoffs, but these Finals outbursts have felt different.
Fans did not leave Madison Square Garden for some time Wednesday night, showering in every last second from a once-in-a-lifetime win thanks to OG Anunoby’s heroics.
“Thank you OG!”
Knicks fans say thank you to OG Anunoby outside MSG after he scored the game winning basket. Presented by Tri State Cadillac #sponsoredpic.twitter.com/0yg1DJ8jIw
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) June 11, 2026
The celebrities, from Taylor Swift to Ben Stiller, showcased sheer joy throughout the night while watching courtside and then celebrating after the game.
Clips from outside MSG showed a fan on a bicycle being held in the air, with the fans below surely not feeling any pain while on such a sports high.
They chanted, “Thank you, OG” after his last-minute brilliance, including a block on De’Aaron Fox in the final 15 seconds that set the stage for his later heroics.
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) June 11, 2026
Fans ran through the streets as cars beeped their horns, not giving a damn about traffic after watching Jalen Brunson finally break through against a tough Spurs defense.
And to think this all happened after a third Finals win.
It’s been 15 years since the last championship by a Big Four New York City sports team — the Giants won Super Bowl 2012, while the Liberty won the WNBA title last year — and the city is waiting to erupt again.
If you give some Knicks fans truth serum, perhaps they would admit they’d rather the Knicks clinch at home in a potential Game 6 on Tuesday night.
Regardless of the venue, should the Knicks finish off the Spurs, Wednesday’s post-game festivities may seem like child’s play.
The City That Never Sleeps will host an all-night party, full of joy and bedlam, that rings out from Manhattan to Brooklyn to Staten Island to Queens and The Bronx.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - APRIL 04: Brayden Burries #5 of the Arizona Wildcats dribbles up the court against the Michigan Wolverines in the Final Four of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 04, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks are narrowing down their search for the No. 9 overall pick in the 2026 NBA draft.
There are only a handful of prospects the Mavericks can choose from, especially with eight teams selecting ahead of them. One player who has been linked to the Mavericks consistently throughout the pre-draft process is Arizona guard Brayden Burries, who was named a top fit for the Mavericks by Bleacher Report analyst Zach Buckley.
“After the rookie season Cooper Flagg just authored, prospects should be lining up at the chance to be one of his long-term running mates,” Buckley wrote. “The Mavs could give Burries that opportunity, but they could also provide the playmaking and scoring support he’ll need right away with Kyrie Irving still on the roster and seemingly in the plans.“
Burries could be the shooting guard of the future for the Mavs, who need someone alongside Irving that can shoot. Putting as many high-level shooters around Flagg should be the goal for the future, and Burries could be the start of that complementary group around their star player.
For every player like Burries, there is someone like Houston guard Kingston Flemings, who might not be exactly what the Mavs need going into the draft.
“A backcourt featuring Flemings and Kyrie Irving would be tiny and exploitable on defense, especially against bigger guard groups,” Buckley wrote.
“There’s also a worry about whether Flemings or Cooper Flagg could summon enough three-point volume for the other to have the breathing room they need. Flemings’ burst only really works in a properly spaced offense, and Dallas was dreadful from three last season (29th in makes, 26th in percentage).”
The Mavericks need to have Irving in mind when building their roster for next season, but he shouldn’t be the priority. That being said, the Mavs aren’t really in position to put a player like Flemings on the roster without adding other pieces to the mix.
If they believe Flemings can be their point guard of the future, they should take him, but it should come with a lot of patience.
Mavs Moneyball community, who are your favorite prospects with the No. 9 overall pick? And who do you want the Mavs to avoid? Let us know in the comments section below.
