The Knicks are four wins away from their first NBA title since 1973, but Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs stand in their way.
Wembanyama is one of the most physically gifted athletes to ever play in the NBA. At 7-foot-4, 235 pounds, Wembanyama is a two-way force, winning this season’s Defensive Player of the Year award while also averaging 25.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, 1.0 steal, and 3.1 blocks per game.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Wembanyama praised the Knicks and said he expects them to come out with a purpose in the series.
“It’s a great team of experienced guys who are not here by chance,” Wembanyama said. “They play with relentless effort over the years, and very different career paths for all of them. They’re right where they’re supposed to be, in my opinion, and all of them are going to be super hungry in their own way.”
Just 22 years old, Wembanyama has been a force for the Spurs during their playoff run, averaging 23.2 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks.
In five career regular season games against the Knicks, Wembanyama has averaged 30.4 points, 14.6 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks. That excludes a performance in the NBA Cup Championship where the Knicks limited him to 18 points and six rebounds.
He’ll obviously present quite the challenge for the Knicks on both sides of the floor, forcing the Knicks to stay within their gameplan to try to slow him down.
“Obviously, he’s a special talent and the NBA’s blessed to have him and to be able to showcase his talent to the world,” said Karl-Anthony Towns. “For us, we just have to have discipline in our gameplan and execute at a high level.”
“Watching him as a player, it’s pretty unbelievable,” said Jalen Brunson, “the things he’s able to do on both sides of the ball, people have never really seen before for a person at his size. It’s incredible to watch from a fan’s perspective.
“As an opposing player, he’s someone you constantly have to be on watch for. You just never know the things that he’s capable of doing. That’s why our game-planning and gameplay discipline and attention to details are so important, because he’s pretty incredible.”
While Wembanyama has led the way for San Antonio, he’s far from the only threat the Spurs possess. Five other San Antonio players are averaging double-digit points this postseason (Stephon Castle, De’Aaron Fox, Dylan Harper, Devin Vassell, Julian Champagnie), and the Knicks know they’re facing a very deep Spurs team that goes far beyond Wembanyama’s lengthy reach.
“They’re a very versatile team, very deep,” said OG Anunoby. “They have talent all over the court at all positions. They can all shoot, drive, do everything. They rebound really well too. If they’re getting the rebound, they can push, one-man fastbreak or really just push the pace. They speed the game up. They do a great job of doing that.”
Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals tips off in San Antonio on Wednesday night at 8:30 p.m.
Some celebs were too superstitious to talk to The Post about the Knicks — but these famous superfans let nothing stop them from showing love for New York City’s blue and orange.
Tracy Morgan
Tracy Morgan greets Jose Alvarado on the court at Madison Square Garden. NBAE via Getty Images
“30 Rock” alum Tracy Morgan says his favorite moment as a Knicks fan was the playoffs’ now-legendary Game 1 against the Cavs — but that could change “because we might win a championship and that’s going to be the greatest moment.” Even sitting on Celebrity Row, the Bed-Stuy native “felt like everybody in that arena, overjoyed. It was fire.” And even in low moments — like “last year when we lost to Indiana. I felt really bad for my team. I felt really bad for us fans” — Morgan has remained optimistic. “I bounced back. I just said, ‘There’s always next year.’ Now look where we are!” And his hope is totally unbridled right now: “I believe we’re going to take the championship because I don’t believe no team on the West Coast can handle us.”
Michael Imperioli
Michael Imperioli on the Knicks’ Celebrity Row. for the NY POST
“The Sopranos” star first fell in love with the Knicks while watching games in the nosebleeds with his father. Now he’s much closer to action — and calls Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals “the most electric game, of any sport, that I have ever attended.” In 2000, Imperioli even flew on the team plane with actor Chazz Palminteri to Detroit “to entice Grant Hill to play for NY.” While the attempt failed, it sparked a long relationship with the team and MSG. “The greatest celebrity perk in all of showbiz is being a part of that [MSG] family,” he said, adding that he had a “full circle” fan moment when he got to sit courtside with his dad.
Emmy Rossum
Knicks superfan Emmy Rossum owns a cap autographed by her all-time favorite player, John Starks. FilmMagic
“I grew up in the city. I honestly don’t remember ever not being a Knicks fan,” said the actress, whose favorite player of all time is John Starks. “I remember watching him growing up, his passion and intensity. I really identified with him as a kid in the ’90s. I recently found a journal entry from my childhood talking about his fire. I have an autographed ball cap from him I cherish. No one puts that cap in the wash!” Currently, her #1 is Jalen Brunson. “He’s the pulse of the team. Every time I’m there and see him in person, he’s so cool headed, he’s never in a rush, he’s got an elegance and he always delivers the goods,” Rossum said. Just don’t ask her how these next games are gonna go: “I’m too superstitious to make any predictions. LGK!”
Matthew Modine
Matthew Modine hugs it out with Josh Hart at MSG. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“When I moved to New York City in the late 1970s I became a New York sports fan. Knicks. Rangers. Giants. Yankees. I grew up in Utah, where there was no NBA, NHL, MLB or NFL teams. So it was a dream come true going to the Garden and seeing the Knicks,” the “Full Metal Jacket” and “Stranger Things” actor told The Post. “My favorite moment, no question, is LJ’s [Larry Johnson’s] 4-point play in Game 3 of the ’99 Eastern Conference finals. But it’s impossible to pick a favorite player. Currently, I adore Josh Hart. He’s shows up and plays with all his heart every game. When that dude smiles — he lights up the entire Garden. And Jalen Brunson understands leadership and leads by example. He’s a stud.”
Michael Rapaport
Michael Rapaport and Spike Lee at the Garden. WireImage
“Going to the Garden as a kid, watching the Knicks since 1979, was beyond special. We always sat in the blue or green sections, which weren’t close, but it was magical,” said the actor, who grew up on the Upper East Side. “I was born and raised a Knicks Fan. It’s in my blood. My favorite Knick ever is probably Charles Oakley — he represented everything that New York is at its core: hard working, tough and plays for the city. As for my favorite moment, it hasn’t happened yet. I’m waiting for a championship.” When Rapaport isn’t at the Garden, he has his own tradition at home: “I watch games quietly, which may surprise people. It’s very emotional.”
Benny Safdie
Director Benny Safdie has been a Knicks fan since he was a kid growing up in the city. Ben Safdie/ Instagram
“I am not exactly sure when I became a Knicks fan. It is something that sort of creeps up on you as a New Yorker. Especially growing up around the ’90s-era Knicks,” said “The Smashing Machine” director. “It becomes a part of you. And that’s what makes the heartbreak so intense [when they lose]. I feel like I can never be comfortable. Everyone has it out against the Knicks, and we have to fight that on top of everything else. I try to always believe, to always feel like it’s our year. But I never want to say that out loud. So, never mind.”
Josh Safdie
Josh Safdie (in red) cheered on the Knicks with Pete Davidson and Chris Rock. Getty Images
“A very nice person I know is a casual fan. I don’t fault her for it. Any fan of the Knicks is a friend of mine. In 2012, she called me about a pair of courtside tickets she had access to, asking if I wanted them for a Utah Jazz game,” the “Marty Supreme” director recalled. “She had no idea what happened the previous game vs the Nets: Jeremy Lin was inserted into the starting lineup and was about to cement what became Linsanity. I couldn’t wait for that game [against the Jazz] to begin. I lucked out. It was one of the greatest experiences ever as a Knicks fan. Sitting wood, I was a sixth man: I spared nothing and didn’t care what the referees thought, who I called out to using their first names. The Knicks felt it. Lin saw it, I know. Jared Jeffries rushed to me at the end of regulation and give me a huge hug. I was not normal. After the game, we went car yelling — where you yell at the cars as they leave the VIP ramp on 33rd.”
Susie Essman
Longtime Knicks fan Susie Essman sat on Celebrity Row with “Curb Your Enthusiasm” co-star Larry David. NBAE via Getty Images
“I became a fan In 1971 when I was in high school,” said the “Curb Your Enthusiasm” actress, who grew up in Mount Vernon. “My boyfriend was a fan. He turned me on to basketball and the Knicks, so I got to experience some glory years” — including the ’73 championship. “There were some tough years between now and then, but here we are and it’s glorious once more. My favorite player of all time is Walt Frazier. He was always the coolest person in the room. He still is,” Essman said. “I don’t have a favorite current player because I love how they play together as a team, from the starters to the bench, and the group dynamic is what makes them so special. I think they will win in six and the Garden will rock as only Madison Square Garden can with the greatest fans in the world.”
Chris Distefano
Comedians Sam Morril and Chris DiStefano at the Garden. NBAE via Getty Images
The comedian, a Queens native, remembers the first Knicks game that “sealed his fandom.” In 1993, his father took 9-year-old Distefano to see NY beat the Orlando Magic. He recalled his dad telling him, “‘And the Knicks covered the spread, Chrissy!! They covered the spread.’ I had no idea what that meant until my mother explained it to me during the divorce.” Despite some lean years, the John Starks superfan remained loyal. “I never left. I just cried through the pain as I do when I put on my Spanx.” Now he’s counting on Jalen Brunson and putting his “faith in Jesus Christ and Mr. James Dolan.” His prediction: “Knicks win in six. And I get arrested for streaking down 7th Avenue but happily take my orange-and-blue butt cheeks to Rikers.”
Steve Schrippa
Steve Schirippa told The Post: “Of all the things I get to do being a half-assed celebrity, my favorite thing in the world is going to Knicks games.” GC Images
“I’ve been a fan since I was 8,” said the Bensonhurt-born “The Sopranos” and “Blue Bloods” star. “I even played at the Garden [while at Brooklyn College]. That was 100 pounds ago. When I was in college and had a student card, I think the tickets were $6.” Nowadays, he’s not up in the cheap seats. “I got to sit next to Clyde [Frazier] the other night … Of all the things I get to do being a half-assed celebrity, my favorite thing in the world is going to Knicks games,” the “WillieBoy Eats the World” author said. “Brunson has turned the franchise around. His jersey will be in the rafters someday.”
Sam Morril
Sam Morill went all out with the Knicks gear. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
The comedian “fell in love with the ’90s Knicks” but that doesn’t mean they didn’t break his heart. In 1995, after Patrick Ewing’s missed finger roll against Indiana sent the Knicks packing, Morril said, it “hurt because I loved him so much. I wanted him to win. I was 11 and had to be carried out crying.” He calls the current squad “lovable.” He’s convinced the team is going all the way — “it’s time” — but to keep the winning juju going, he’s taking no chances: “I’m sick in the head. I have a Knicks candle I’ll light.”
Martha Stewart
Martha Stewart sat courtside at the Knicks game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on May 21. Getty Images
“I am so excited for the Knicks having been a fan since the 1970s when I used to go to game after game after game with my friends,” the Martha Stewart Living founder said. “I got to know Bill Bradley, Walt Frazier, and Patrick Ewing, and when I see them now at a Knicks game it’s so exciting. I’m so proud of the team.”
We asked fans around New York: What would a Knicks championship mean for them and the city? In a word: Everything.
Dear Knicks . . .
“It’d be incredible. This team’s been getting close the past couple years. They’ve got a great young core. When the Knicks are doing well and they’re winning championships, it also helps us at the Stadium, man. The fans are pumped up here at every game. We’re rooting for ’em. We’ve got their back.”
— Aaron Judge, captain of the Yankees
“If the Knicks win, that means that my father is looking down on them and saying, ‘Yes, go, go, go.’ He passed away just before Mother’s Day. He was watching the finals. He was like, ‘Oh, my boys are going to do it,’ but he couldn’t see them do it. And thank God that they have swept everybody. This is amazing. And I’m so excited to actually be able to say, ‘This is for my dad.’ Go Knicks. You got an angel on your side.”
— Shukura Gardner-Petrus
“When you grow up in the streets of New York in the late ‘50s, rooting for the Knicks in the ’60s and getting that championship, it was awesome those two years of championship basketball. And now we get a chance once again. And there’s no doubt in my mind — don’t worry about Jalen Brunson being Second Team. He’s the best player in pro basketball this year. And OG, don’t worry about being Second Team Defense. You’re the best defensive player in the league. Go Knicks!”
— Rick Pitino, St. John’s basketball coach
“For my students here at Nesaquake, it’s a daily master class in resilience. It proves to these kids that if you put your head down, do the dirty work and play for the guy next to you, you can conquer the world.”
— Dan McCabe, principal of Nesaquake Middle School
Outside Madison Square Garden Knicks fans celebrate winning game 4 of the Eastern conference finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Aristide Economopoulos for NY Post
“It’s special. We’re all pulling for them. We’re watching every play, every game, every time we can. The whole city, the Mets, everybody’s behind you guys. Keep it rolling. Four more. It’ll be something special for all of us here in New York.”
— Carlos Mendoza, Mets manager
“2026 has been the year for New York City basketball. We had the LIU men’s basketball team win the NEC championship and make it to March Madness. And now the Knicks are only four wins away from an NBA championship. It was only a few years ago where no one would have ever thought this was possible for either one of these teams. What this Knicks run shows is that in the greatest city in the world, New York City, anything is possible. Fins up and best of luck bringing a championship home to New York.”
— David Pochapin
“A championship for the Knicks in the city would mean absolutely everything. A basketball championship in New York would be monumental for the city and bring fans together from all walks of life. Not to mention the maniacal fans of New York City and the way they’ve been craving for a championship for years it seems like this is our most favorable year to win it as well and I think everyone can feel that. For me personally, winning in the city is next to my child being born. It’s an experience that I’ll never forget, and one that I will cherish for the rest of my life – the memories and experiences you get from that are second to none, and I know the fans understand that and the players are craving for that feeling to share those memories with their family.”
— Victor Cruz, Giants Super Bowl champion
“1973 in New York City. Watergate. The Vietnam War. We were a divided city. But the Knicks brought us together with their championship against the Lakers of [Wilt] Chamberlain and [Jerry] West. Oh, it was Willis Reed and Walt ‘Clyde’ Frazier. And now once again I’m reminded, as we’re on the cusp of another NBA championship, this is what’s bringing the city together. The suburbs, the urban area, where you could get together real Knick fans over the years. Real Knick fans who disagree on everything but come together for the good of a city that’s polarized, in which it’s negative, it’s divided. And the Knicks are bringing us all together, hopefully through the Canyon of Heroes, a championship parade where you’ll see the most unlikely people cheering the world champion Knicks together on the steps of City Hall.”
— Curtis Sliwa, founder of the Guardian Angels
Tattoo artist Val inks a Knicks logo on fan
Craig Stevens. Robert Miller for NY Post
“I think New York would be on the map like they wanted to be with the Knicks. For real. I think New York is definitely going to be wilding out, and I’m pretty sure if they made it this far, they’re going to make it all the way.”
— Emily Colon
“I am the pastor of the Church of St. Francis of Assisi. It’s exactly one-half block away from Madison Square Garden. I’ve been a Knicks fan for over 50 years. I was there when it happened, when they won the championship in 1973. The Knicks will win the championship this year when they beat their opponent next week. This is a great joy for New York City. Let’s go Knicks.”
— Father Brian Jordan
“A New York Knicks victory is like Joey Chestnut winning on the 4th of July. You know everything is right in the world.”
— George Shea
utside Madison Square Garden Knicks fans celebrate winning game 4 of the Eastern conference finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Aristide Economopoulos for NY Post
“What would a Knicks championship mean to me? I’ve been waiting for this moment all my life. New York City needs this, man. Fifty-three years since 1973. No, we need this. We need this”
— Gil Vazquez
“Not IF the Knicks win the championship — WHEN they win the championship. This place is going to be on fire. Tri-state area. Oh my goodness. Let me tell you something. The mecca of basketball is New York. And the greatest fans, sports fans in the world, come from New York and they deserve this. So I’m so proud of the Knicks. I can tell you Willis Reed, Dave DeBusschere, Earl ‘The Pearl’ Monroe. Once you win a championship in New York, you’re never forgotten.”
— Jayson Williams, former Nets player
“It would mean the world to me, honestly. There’s a blue and orange that needs to get it right ’cause the Mets, you know, I’m also a Mets fan. But they’re gonna do it, I believe it.”
— Joshua Lopez
“Growing up a Knicks fan my whole life, every birthday was a new Knicks jersey. Do it for me, do it for Carmelo [Anthony], do it for [Patrick] Ewing, do it for those guys. We don’t want any more jerseys, we want a trophy!”
— Louie Selvaggio
“It would mean everything to me. We’ve been waiting for this for more than 50 years. We probably have to write new legislation to rename laundromats because of how he’s been washing these teams.”
— Mayor Zohran Mamdani
“This will be the single biggest licensed event in the history of New York. And more importantly, it will bring the whole city together unlike any other win than any team in New York’s history.”
— Mitchell Modell, former CEO of Modell’s Sporting Goods
“Everything. It’s the one franchise since the ’70s that has not won anything. Giants had it. Rangers had it in the ’90s. They haven’t won since the ’70s. This is probably the one fandom team that does not split in New York City. You have the Brooklyn Nets and everything, but it’s the one fandom that never splits anybody. We have Rangers, we have Islanders, we have Jets, we have Giants. Giants won championships. Rangers won championships in the ’90s. If you’re from New York and you’re an original New Yorker, the Knicks are your team. And I’m 37 years old and never seen one. You see the crowd out here. You see how they react. It’s amazing.”
— Nicholas Ramos
Knicks fans celebrate winning the eastern conference championship against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Getty Images
“If the New York Knicks win the championship this year, that’ll be the greatest thing I’ve ever witnessed in my lifetime. It’d be amazing. I feel like the whole city will go wild, including me. I might crowd surf. There are a lot of things that I might attempt to do if the New York Knicks win a championship. That’s for certain.”
— Nisaun White, a server at Roberta’s in Penn Station
“Have you been outside? Everybody’s polite for no reason. Everybody’s smiling. Republicans are celebrating with Democrats. Ultra-conservatives are celebrating with ultra-lefties. The New York Post, of all people, asked me about my opinion.”
— Public Advocate Jumaane Williams
“It is a great time to be a Knicks fan. In 1999, we were in the finals, but we didn’t go all the way, unfortunately. You got to go back all the way to 1973 where the Knicks went all the way and won the NBA championship. This is our time. History is with us. We’re going to take that championship and bring the cup home to New York City and all of New York. Let’s go Knicks. Let’s do it. It’s been waiting a long time. We’re all Knicks fans. We can’t wait for them to beat San Antonio over the head.”
— Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine
“I’m really excited for them. I’ve had the fortune of getting to know a couple of their guys over the last couple of years. To see the level they’re playing at right now is really fun to witness. The run — what, they’ve won, 11, 12 games in a row in dominant fashion? The West is going to be tough but I feel like they have a special, special thing going on and hopefully they can bring one home.”
— Aaron Boone, Yankees manager
“So, let’s pray for the Knicks. Let’s pray for the players, their managers, and all the fans just for these next couple of days to be united as one and, yeah, just whatever happens, give glory to God. So, we ask you to send your blessing upon the Knicks in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
— Father Steven McClernon, Beach Catholic in Long Beach
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry gestures after scoring during a game against the Clippers on April 15 at Intuit Dome. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)
The four-time NBA champion has spent his entire playing career with the Golden State Warriors and is under contract through the end of next season.
He has been playing without a shoe deal, however, since parting ways with Under Armour in November.
That won’t be the case when Curry starts his 18th NBA season in the fall. The man who holds the NBA record for most career three-pointers announced on Monday that his Curry Brand is teaming with Chinese sportswear and athletic equipment company Li-Ning for a partnership that is “bigger than a shoe deal” and “bigger than a signature series.”
“This is the partnership of a lifetime. The future of Curry Brand is with Li-Ning,” Curry wrote in a post announcing the deal on his Thirty Ink site. “I couldn’t be more proud to build a long-term vision with Li-Ning that will fuel Curry Brand for years to come and unlock the full potential of this company on a global scale.”
ESPN reports that the deal is for 10 years. Terms were not released.
Curry signed with Nike for the first four seasons of his career before switching to Under Armour in 2013. After announcing his sneaker free agency early in the 2025-26 season, Curry wore shoes from a variety of companies during warmups and games. In April, Curry auctioned off more than 70 pairs of those shoes through Sotheby’s, raising more than $1.7 million for his charitable foundation.
While many of his shoe choices had special significance — like when he honored Kobe and Gianna Bryant by warming up in Nike Kobe 6 Protro “Mambacita” sneakers — Curry also was doing his due diligence as a businessman.
“Throughout my sneaker free agency, I was impressed by the quality, comfort and performance of Li-Ning’s shoes,” Curry said. “It was during that time playing in Dwyane Wade and Jimmy Butler’s sneakers, that I knew that Li-Ning could be the right partner that can deliver on the innovation and design that I want Curry Brand to stand for.”
The Li-Ning company was founded by Li Ning — the Chinese gymnast who won six medals, including three gold, during the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics — in 1990. A handful of NBA players have signed with the company, starting with then-Cleveland Cavaliers guard Damon Jones in 2006 and also including former Clippers guard Baron Davis and future Hall of Famers Wade and Shaquille O’Neal.
In addition to Curry’s Golden State teammate Butler, other current NBA stars signed with Li-Ning include Atlanta’s C.J. McCollum and Washington’s D’Angelo Russell.
According to Curry, Li-Ning will open Curry Brand stores in the United States and China.
“We’ll be proudly building Curry Brand into a future leading company that will leave its mark in Basketball, in Golf and across the lifestyle space,” Curry wrote.
“We’ll aim to create game-changing products, launch elevated platforms and bring storytelling that will inspire young boys and girls around the globe. My hope is for young athletes to find the same purpose, joy and drive through sports that I’ve long enjoyed throughout this journey.”
The San Antonio Spurs have a rather extraordinary championship pedigree despite being a relatively young NBA franchise.
Since their inaugural season in 1967-68 (then as the Dallas Chaparrals before moving to San Antonio in 1973-74), the Spurs have won five championships — all in a 15-year window between 1999-2014. The run was overseen by head coach Gregg Popovich, who remains the team’s president of basketball operations.
The first title, which came during the lockout-shortened season, was in '99 against the Knicks, who have returned to the NBA Finals for the first time in 27 years to face the Spurs again this season.
With the NBA Finals beginning Wednesday, June 3, here's a look at the Spurs' championship history:
When was the last time the Spurs won a championship?
In 2014, San Antonio won the championship by beating Miami in four out of five games.
The Spurs won the final three games by at least 17 points, effectively ending the Miami career of LeBron James (who returned to Cleveland in the middle of his record run of eight consecutive NBA Finals appearances).
Kawhi Leonard was named MVP of the series after averaging 17.8 points per game with 6.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.2 blocks. Parker, Duncan and Ginobili also averaged double figures in scoring for the series.
When was the last time the Spurs were in the NBA Finals?
It was also in 2014. After the championship nucleus of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili retired, the Spurs went through a playoff drought of six seasons from 2019-25.
San Antonio returned to the postseason this year behind superstar Victor Wembanyama, who immediately led the team to the NBA Finals during his playoff debut in his third season.
How many championships do the Spurs have?
Five, and here's the breakdown:
1999: 4-1 over the New York Knicks; MVP: Tim Duncan
2003: 4-2 over the New Jersey Nets; MVP: Tim Duncan
2005: 4-3 over the Detroit Pistons; MVP: Tim Duncan
2007: 4-0 over the Cleveland Cavaliers; MVP: Tony Parker
2014: 4-1 over the Miami Heat; MVP: Kawhi Leonard
San Antonio Spurs NBA Finals history
The Spurs are 5-1 in the NBA Finals. The only loss came in 2013 when they fell 4-3 to the Miami Heat, which staved off elimination in a Game 6 win by forcing overtime with a 3-pointer by Ray Allen with 5.2 seconds left.
1999 NBA Finals: Knicks vs Spurs
In their first meeting 27 years ago, the Spurs won the championship in five games over the Knicks.
San Antonio, which had an NBA-best 37-13 record in a 50-game regular season shortened by a lockout, entered as the favorite over New York, which barely made the playoffs as the East's eighth seed with a 27-23 record.
San Antonio marched to the NBA Finals with an 11-1 record, defeating Minnesota 3-1, the Los Angeles Lakers 4-0 and the Portland Trail Blazers 4-0.
New York had a tougher road, escaping with a 3-2 first-round win over Miami on a clutch jumper by Allan Houston, and then advancing past Atlanta 4-0 and Indiana 4-2.
The Spurs opened the NBA Finals with consecutive double-digit victories at the Alamodome. The Knicks won 89-91 in Game 3 at Madison Square Garden.
The Spurs closed it out with two wins in a row. Duncan scored 31 points in a 78-77 clinching victory in Game 5.
Knicks vs Spurs head-to-head history, record
The Knicks are 2-1 against the Spurs this season, including a 124-113 victory to win the NBA Cup on Dec. 16 in Las Vegas.
San Antonio won 134-132 at home on Dec. 31 behind 36 points by Julian Champagnie. In Madison Square Garden on March 1, New York won 114-89 with 25 points from Mikal Bridges and 24 from Jalen Brunson (snapping an 11-game winning streak for the Spurs).
In regular-season meetings, there have been 107 games between the Knicks and Spurs, who lead the series 60-47.
Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals arrives Wednesday night with rare historical weight, as the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks meet in a rematch 27 years after their 1999 showdown.
A team that missed the playoffs last season, the Spurs are powered by youth and a generational superstar in Victor Wembanyama. San Antonio is without question ahead of schedule as further evidenced by their preseason odds (+6600). Should they go on and win the NBA title, the Spurs will be the largest preseason underdogs to reach and win the NBA Finals in the last 40 years.
One reason for the long odds was the injury-plagued season Wembanyama endured in 2024-25. The other was the Spurs’ overall lack of playoff experience. Wemby though has been healthy and being new to the postseason has not been a problem for the young Spurs. Although Harrison Barnes has dressed for 71 postseason games, no other Spurs’ player had played in more than 7 prior to this magical run including Wembanyama, Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper, Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, Julian Champagnie,and Carter Bryant each of whom had never played in a single postseason game prior to the start of the 2026 playoffs.
Leon Rose did a brilliant job building this Knicks’ roster from scratch. It began in earnest with the free agent signing of Brunson a handful of years ago. He followed that home run with trades for Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges.Rose raised eyebrows with a coaching change after last season’s trip to the Conference Finals replacing Tom Thibodeau with Mike Brown but the results are obvious.
After falling to Indiana in last year’s Eastern Conference Final, the expectations for the Knicks were much greater entering this season. Needless to say, Jalen Brunson and New York met the moment. The Knicks take the court riding an historic 11‑game win streak. Their only two losses were way back in the first round and were each by a single point. New York has recorded a +271 point differential in the playoffs thus far which is the highest scoring margin in NBA history heading into the NBA Finals. Their average margin of victory is 23.8 points.
Keys to Game 1 revolve around Wembanyama. Who gets the primary assignment to try and slow him down? Anunoby has done a serviceable job at times in the past on the unicorn, but he cannot be expected to handle the 7’4” Frenchman by himself. Wembanyama’s rim protection, floor spacing, and matchup‑breaking versatility must be on display in each game if the Spurs are to overcome the experience and depth of the Knicks. The Spurs do play defense and need to do so in order to keep Brunson from dictating pace. Rebounding and three‑point shooting also loom large—New York held a +7.3 rebounding edge and +5.3 made threes per game in their regular‑season meetings with San Antonio.
Lets take a closer look at tonight’s matchup and take into consideration lineups, injuries, and other factors affecting the line and total.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game Details and How to Watch Game 1 Live: Knicks vs. Spurs
Date: Wednesday, June 3, 2026
Time: 8:30PM EST
Site: Frost Bank Center
City: San Antonio, TX
Network/Streaming: ABC
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Important stats and trends: Knicks vs. Spurs – Game 1
The Knicks are 36-11 on the road this season
The Spurs are 35-15 at home this season
The Spurs are 57-42-2 ATS this season
The Knicks are 54-42-1 ATS this season
The OVER has cashed in 46 of the Knicks’ 97 games this season (46-51)
The OVER has cashed in 47 of the Spurs’ 101 games this season (47-54)
Jalen Brunson was 4-22 (18.2%) from 3-point range in the East Final
Josh Hart has averaged 10 rebounds in his last 4 road games
Mikal Bridges shot 57.4% from the field (31-54) in the East Final
De’Aaron Fox averaged 6.2 assists per game in the West Final
Julian Champagnie averaged 7.8 attempts from beyond the arc last round and made 2.5 per game
Dylan Harper averaged 12 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and just 1.7 turnovers per game in the West Final
Rotoworld Best Bet
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Wednesday’s Game 1 between the Knicks and the Spurs:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Spurs on the Moneyline
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Spread
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total UNDER 218.5
Player Props:
Dylan Harper 11+ Points (-111) – cashed the last 2 games and in 9 of the last 13
Karl-Anthony Towns 4+ Assists (-162) – cashed twice in the East Final and in all 4 games in the Second Round
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The 2026 NBA Finals get going on Wednesday night, and three members of the New York Knicks will look to make some history beyond leading the franchise to its first NBA title since 1973.
Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges were also teammates at the college level, sharing the court for two seasons at Villanova University. All three were members of the 2016 squad that won the school's second national title in men's basketball, and Brunson and Bridges were teammates on the 2018 championship-winning team.
With a series win over the Spurs, the "Nova Knicks" would become the fifth set of teammates to have won NCAA and NBA titles. Let's look at the first four and their production in their first NBA Finals appearances together.
The Knicks' Mikal Bridges, Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart could become the fifth set of teammates to win NCAA (Villanova) and NBA championships together.
Derek Anderson & Antoine Walker (Kentucky, Heat) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar & Lucius Allen (UCLA, Bucks) John Havlicek & Larry… pic.twitter.com/kYXuJKvgGc
Bill Russell and K.C. Jones (University of San Francisco, Boston Celtics)
Russell accomplished a feat that has not been done since: he ended his collegiate career having won back-to-back national titles with the Dons in 1955 and 1956, then went on to win an NBA title as a rookie in 1957. Jones could have been a member of that 1956-57 Celtics squad, but he served two years in the Army before entering the NBA as a rookie during the 1958-59 campaign.
Boston won the 1959 NBA Finals in a four-game sweep of the Minneapolis Lakers, with Russell averaging a staggering 29.5 rebounds per game. The Celtics center also averaged 9.3 points and 5.3 assists, and at the time, the NBA did not record steals or blocked shots. As for Jones, he only appeared in two of the four games.
The 1959 title would be the first of eight straight titles the Celtics would win, with Russell and Jones on each squad.
John Havlicek and Larry Siegfried (The Ohio State University, Boston Celtics)
Havlicek and Siegfried were part of the Ohio State team that won the school's first (and, to this point, only) national title in 1960. They could have won two straight, but a loss to an Oscar Robertson-led Cincinnati squad in the 1961 title game ended the Buckeyes' quest for a repeat.
Siegfried, the third overall pick of the Cincinnati Royals in the 1961 draft, would not make his NBA debut until 1963, as he began his pro career with the ABA's Cleveland Pipers. He would reunite with Havlicek, who had just won a title in Boston as a rookie, and the Celtics would win it all again in 1964.
While Siegfried's role on that team was limited, as he appeared in just four postseason games, Havlicek was a second-team All-NBA selection who averaged 15.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game in 10 appearances. As teammates, they would go on to win four more NBA titles in Boston.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Lucius Allen (UCLA, Milwaukee Bucks)
After winning three national titles at UCLA, Abdul-Jabbar would win his first NBA title in his second season as a member of the Milwaukee Bucks. Also on that 1970-71 team was Allen, a teammate of Abdul-Jabbar's on the 1967 and 1968 title-winning teams at UCLA.
While Kareem took on a starring role for that Bucks squad, winning league and Finals Most Valuable Player honors, Allen was the sixth man. Abdul-Jabbar recorded averages of 27.0 points, 18.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists in the four-game sweep of the Baltimore Bullets. As for Allen, he accounted for 7.5 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 22.0 minutes per game.
Derek Anderson and Antoine Walker (University of Kentucky, Miami Heat)
While Anderson stuck around Lexington for another season after he and Walker were part of the "Untouchables" squad that won Kentucky's sixth national title in men's basketball, Walker left early to become the sixth overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft. They would rejoin forces in Miami for the 2005-06 campaign and were part of the team that won the Heat franchise's first NBA title that season.
Walker started all six games of Miami's 4-2 win over the Dallas Mavericks, averaging 13.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.7 three-pointers in 36.5 minutes. As for Anderson, his role was limited during the postseason, with the veteran wing not appearing in any of the six NBA Finals games.
The 2026 NBA Playoffs have been nothing short of exciting, delivering upsets, overtime thrillers, and Game 7s that have left fans on the edge of their seats. Now only two teams remain. Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks take on Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs this Wednesday, June 3, in Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals. Tip-off is at 8:30 PM ET on ABC. See below for more information on how to watch the 2026 NBA Finals.
2026 NBA Finals Preview - New York Knicks vs San Antonio Spurs:
In his first season as head coach, Mike Brown led New York to the Eastern Conference Finals, where the Knicks lost to the Indiana Pacers in six games. The expectation for year two has been clear since the start: finals or bust.
And Brown has delivered. For the first time since 1999, the New York Knicks are in the NBA Finals.
“He was put in a tough situation with a lot of expectations,” said Knicks guard Josh Hart. “But he’s handled that unbelievably. He’s coaching us in his way, his style. He’s taking input from everybody. His ability to lead us to adapt to things has been great. That’s just the kind of person he is.”
New York finished the regular season with a 53-29 record, third in the Eastern Conference.
The Knicks defeated the Atlanta Hawks in six games in the first round, before sweeping the Philadelphia 76ers in the Conference Semifinals, and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals.
The Knicks have won 11 straight games since April 25.
Their fans are hungry and hopeful. Can the Knicks bring New York City its first NBA championship since 1973?
After missing the playoffs for the last six seasons, the Spurs finished second in the Western Conference with a 62-20 record.
San Antonio defeated Portland in five games in the first round, and then eliminated the Minnesota Timberwolves in six games in the semifinals, before taking down the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder in seven games in the Western Conference Finals.
The Spurs' success has been powered by Wembanyama, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year and Western Conference Finals MVP. Wembanyama has averaged 23.2 ppg, 10.8 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks for San Antonio in the postseason.
"He has such a vision, in my opinion, of who he wants to be as a person and a player," said Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson of Wembanyama. "The commitment and investment he puts in that vision is like nothing I've ever seen before."
But will it be enough to lead the Spurs to their first NBA title since 2014?
The Los Angeles Lakers have made another addition to the business operations side of their front office.
Yao Williams II has been named vice president and head of global partnerships, the team announced in a statement on Tuesday, June 2. He will lead the Lakers' global partnerships team in his role, which includes partnership sales, business solutions and partnership activation. The Lakers also pointed to Williams' "proven track record of securing both domestic and international large-scale deals while leading high-performing sales teams."
"I couldn't be more excited to have Yao Williams join the Lakers business and lead our global partnership team," Lakers president of business ops Lon Rosen said in the statement. "Yao is an engaging leader with an appetite for innovation that will help drive performance and deliver best-in-class experiences for Lakers partners."
Williams' previous stops include the NBA and Manchester City throughout his two decades of experience in global sales and brand partnerships in sports and entertainment. He was most recently at Elevate Sports Ventures, where he co-led global partnerships.
Williams is the latest hire of the Lakers' ongoing revamp of the front office since owner Mark Walter bought the team for a record $10 billion last year. On the basketball operations side, the Lakers most recently hired Rohan Ramadas as assistant general manager of strategy and data systems. According to Rob Pelinka's comments in his exit interview after the Lakers were eliminated from the playoffs, they're expected to hire another assistant GM to lead scouting and player development before the NBA Draft on June 23.
The idea of LeBron James wearing a Golden State Warriors jersey has lingered around the NBA for years. Now, one prominent Bay Area insider believes the possibility is more realistic than ever.
Speaking about James’ uncertain future with the Los Angeles Lakers, The San Francisco Standard’s Tim Kawakami recently suggested the Warriors should be viewed as a legitimate contender if the four-time NBA champion reaches free agency.
Insider shares latest on LeBron James joining the Warriors. James is considered a “live option” AP
“I think the Warriors would be a very live option,” Kawakami said. “Check that: I think the process has already started and the Warriors are a live option.”
The comments come as questions continue to swirl around James’ future after completing his 23rd NBA season.
Kawakami added a return to the Lakers remains the most straightforward outcome, but also pointed to the possibility of both sides reassessing their partnership, particularly as Los Angeles continues building around Luka Doncic and a younger timeline.
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) dribbles the basketball against Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
If that happens, Golden State could emerge as a serious landing spot.
The Warriors have long been connected to James. The franchise explored a trade for him before the 2024 deadline, and James has developed strong relationships with Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and head coach Steve Kerr through years of competition and international play.
The biggest hurdle remains financial. According to Kawakami, Golden State could offer James only the non-taxpayer mid-level exception worth approximately $15.1 million. That would require a dramatic pay cut from one of the highest-paid players in league history.
Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors and head coach Steve Kerr Getty Images
Still, the basketball fit is easy to imagine.
A core featuring Curry, James, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler would instantly become one of the most recognizable groups in the NBA. For a Warriors team searching for one final championship window during Curry’s career, adding James could represent the ultimate all-in move.
Whether it remains speculation or develops into something more, Kawakami’s comments have reignited one of basketball’s most fascinating possibilities.
Knicks center Mitchell Robinson's status for Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Spurs is still a bit of a mystery.
SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley reported last week that Robinson, who had surgery last week, will "push to play" when the Finals start.
Robinson arrived at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio on Tuesday without a brace or splint on his finger/hand ahead of practice.
Speaking shortly after, head coach Mike Brown said that Robinson did individual work at practice on Monday and that he would speak with the medical staff about the plan for Tuesday.
At practice a bit later, Robinson had a wrap/brace on as he handled the ball with both his right and left hand and took shots.
The team then listed him as questionable in the official injury report with a fractured right 5th Metacarpal.
Robinson has been a crucial part of the Knicks' playoff run.
In the Eastern Conference Finals against the Cavaliers, Robinson provided key minutes, impacting the game with his signature defense and rebounding prowess. In the clinching Game 4, Robinson scored eight points on 4-of-6 shooting, grabbed 10 rebounds, and was a plus-14 on the court in his 18 minutes of play.
One thing that has hampered Robinson and the Knicks this postseason is when opposing teams have used the "hack-a-Mitch" strategy to send him to the free-throw line.
Robinson went just 2-for-14 from the line against the Cavs after going 6-for-16 against the 76ers in the second round and 5-for-13 against the Hawks in the first round.
"I know that Robinson will push to play. Just in having conversations with people over the last couple of hours," Begley reported last Thursday. "He will want to play; it's ultimately up to the Knicks' medical staff. A player's opinion does matter in these things and so he's going to want to be out there."
With the Knicks facing the Spurs, Robinson could be the physical, tall center to help match up with Victor Wembanyama.
Robinson, who will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, averaged 5.7 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks across 60 games this season. The 60 games were the most Robinson has played in a season since he played 59 games in 2022-23.
The Phoenix Suns have numerous decisions ahead of them this upcoming offseason, including multiple restricted free agents, unrestricted free agents, and players with trade value. The following series will examine those decisions as our writing team presents both a point and a counterpoint for each.
Why do you love the Phoenix Suns? When discussing the future of Devin Booker, this question becomes more than a conversation topic at Majerle’s.
For many of us, our sports fandoms were not chosen, but inherited. We sat, week after week, next to our fathers on the couch and rooted alongside them. In doing so, we gained our own emotional attachment, not just to the team but also to our childhood. That inexorable link can last a lifetime.
My own father didn’t care much for basketball. It was baseball and hockey on the TV in our house growing up. I sat next to him as the Red Wings won the Cup in 2008 and cheered with him. I remember sitting in his bedroom watching Jim Joyce blow the call on the last out of Armando Galarraga’s perfect game for the Tigers.
But when it came to basketball, I was a free agent. I didn’t watch until I was already in High School, and there was no reason to choose the Pistons in the 2010s. But one team had recently picked a young shooting guard born in my home state of Michigan. Thus, Devin Booker became my gateway drug into the Phoenix Suns.
Today, I am as loyal an acolyte as any. Until the day he was traded, I delusionally defended the Ayton pick to my friends. When the Suns made the finals in 2021, I had people all over the country texting me because the one thing that everyone knew about me was that I loved this team.
But what about you? Year in and year out, you come back. Why?
By definition, it can’t be that you are addicted to the feeling of seeing your team win an NBA championship. It has to be something else. That something else is more important now than ever.
The Phoenix Suns are at a crossroads. Devin Booker is a Tier-2 kind of star. Some players, like Wemby, you might be willing to build a team around without a true second superstar. Booker just isn’t that guy.
So, what do the Suns do?
Option A: Use what little draft capital the Suns have to build what team they can around Devin Booker, while combatting the total lack of cap due to the Bradley Beal stretched contract.
Option B: Accept that the Suns are not winning a title with Devin Booker and trade him for assets that can make the foundation of the next great Suns team.
Both options are rather unpalatable. If you go with Option A, you are likely dooming yourself to years of the Play-In and first-round exits. If you go with Option B, you know that you are dooming yourself to years of handing over high draft picks to other teams while the Suns wallow in disappointment.
Neither option feels great, but neither option brings the Suns a title either. So, what are the benefits of trading Devin Booker now?
Booker’s value will never be higher
This is, I think, the most urgent point. We are still years away from Book being a distressed asset. He is coming off of a season where the Suns overperformed with him at the wheel. It is likely that, around the league, Devin Booker has regained some of the value that he likely lost under Frank Vogel and Mike Budenholzer. There are teams out there that do have their number one star that could look over at Devin Booker and think, “There’s our missing piece.”
The clock on that is running out, though. Booker turns 30 in October and already looks like he might be a step slower than he used to be. Soon, he will reach a point where some of those random lower-body injuries are more likely to recur. If Booker sustains one major injury, the Suns will have nothing significant to trade and will become the most pitiable franchise in the NBA.
Right now, the Suns have a guy with an All-Star floor and an NBA Finals ceiling. Every year that they wait to trade Devin Booker, both of those lower a little bit more. That is a problem. Every little bit of value that Devin Booker loses could mean fewer draft picks or young players coming back in a trade. Given the recent NBA Draft Lottery reform, Booker is already going to net the Suns less in a trade than he would have two weeks ago. Teams are surely going to be less willing to part with their draft picks now.
Booker is getting harder to trade
Devin Booker is being paid like one of the best players in basketball. He will make fifty-seven million dollars this season. In the final year of his contract, he will make almost $69 million dollars at age 33, depending on what the league cap number is at that time. Regardless, he will account for 36% of your cap in 2029-30.
The teams most likely to trade for Book are the teams closest to winning. Those teams are also the teams most likely to be at, over, or close to the second apron.
Currently, only the Cleveland Cavaliers are over the second apron. Go back one season, and there were three teams. Go back another, and there were five. Every year, teams fear the second apron more and more. It melts a team’s financial and roster flexibility. The second apron currently sits at around $207 million. Is a team going to be willing to pay over a quarter of that for a second star in his thirties?
Surely, one team will be willing. Every year, there is a team that feels like they are so close that they are willing to trade away key pieces and flexibility for the final player that they think will bring them over the top. This past season, the Cleveland Cavaliers were the prime example of that, trading for James Harden.
My point, though, is that the first and second aprons, and the rules surrounding them, make trades for high-salary players complicated. Many teams would have to gut their cores to bring in a guy making as much as Devin Booker does. If they have also traded away draft capital and are hard-capped or close to it, how will they build around Booker and their other star?
If Booker were Giannis, this wouldn’t be an issue. True, 1A superstars are worth every penny and loss of flexibility. Booker just isn’t that. As his salary continues to rise alongside his age, Booker is becoming less tradable by the season.
What are the Suns really accomplishing by keeping him?
In my opinion, this is the best argument. If you are willing to sit and just watch enjoyable basketball for the next few years and are content as long as the Suns win more than they lose, then you should go and sit on the other side of the fence.
But if you really want to see the Suns win a title and force their way out of the mess that they have built, you should want Devin Booker to be traded.
Until the Suns are free of the Bradley Beal shackles and have some draft capital back, they are playing at a severe disadvantage compared to the rest of the NBA. 13% of the Suns’ salary cap is already dead next season, being paid to Bradley Beal and Nassir Little to be anywhere but Phoenix. Meanwhile, their first pick that doesn’t have a “least favorable of X, Y, and Z teams” qualifier on it doesn’t come until 2032, two years after the end of Booker’s contract in 2030.
The Suns are set up for years of disappointment either way. They can do it now, while there is already the sunk cost of Bradley Beal and no draft capital, or they can do it later when Devin Booker is either in his mid-thirties or on a different team, and there is still no draft capital. The only difference between the two options is whether or not the Suns give themselves some tools to rebuild with along the way.
It’s time
Look, I want to see the Larry O’Brien trophy in the Valley of the Sun. This franchise and this city deserve it. Arizona sports is a hellscape that some are born into and others enter willingly, but it is a hellscape either way. The Coyotes are gone, the Cardinals always disappoint, and the D-Backs are forced to play in the same division as the Dodgers, which are apparently run by Mr. Monopoly Moneybags.
But none of that matters, because Phoenix is a basketball city. The Suns will always be Phoenix’s first love. I don’t want the Suns to trade the franchise’s greatest player because I’m some black-pilled doomer. I want the Suns to trade him because I wholeheartedly believe that doing so will bring the Suns closer to a title than they currently are.
I don’t watch sports for seasons that end barely over .500. I watch because I want to see my team reach the mountaintop. I watch because I know when they do, it will be the end of the great, long journey that it took to get there. When the Suns do win the title, it won’t be in spite of the fact that they traded Booker. On the contrary, all future Suns teams will be built on the back of the legacy Booker will leave behind in Phoenix. Just like recent Suns teams are built on the backs of Nash, Barkley, Stoudemire, Westphal, Adams, and so many more.
Booker will be one more in the line of greats that Phoenix Suns fans have watched on the road to glory.
The end of Booker’s time in Phoenix doesn’t mean the end of his legacy. But trading him now for pieces that can build the next great Suns team can enhance his legacy even more. His value on the trade market can be his last great gift to this organization.
Devin Booker was my entry point into Suns fandom, but even so, I believe it is time to let him go.
Mitchell Robinson had just a black bandaid on his broken right pinky Tuesday when he arrived to Frost Bank Center in San Antonio to practice on the eve of Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
When practice began he had a thin protective black sleeve on his right hand.
Mitchell Robinson at Knicks practice Tuesday. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Robinson underwent surgery after breaking the pinky and is hoping to play in Game 1, although it’s uncertain where he will suit up for Wednesday’s game and beyond.
The Post’s Stefan Bondy previously reported that Robinson had fractured his fifth metacarpal, which is the bone that connects the pinky to the wrist.
It’s unknown how he suffered the injury, although Brown clarified that Robinson did not suffer the injury in a game nor during a practice.
He completed individual work each of the last two days at Knicks practice, and wore a protective brace on his right hand.
“I’m just waiting on the medical staff,” Brown said Monday. “He just did individual work today. I’m waiting on the medical staff to let me know what the next step is.”
Robinson’s size and rebound prowess is needed against Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama, especially since Karl-Anthony Towns can run into foul trouble.
Mitchell Robinson on Tuesday in San Antonio. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
He is averaging 5.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 0.6 blocks across 13 playoff games this year, leaving marks on games on the boards although teams have successfully employed hack-a-Mitch strategies.
Robinson missed Game 2 against the 76ers in the second round.
While he has not commented on the injury, he did post a message to Instagram on Saturday.
“I can’t thank you guys enough for the love and support most of you bring especially at a time like this in my life,” Robinson wrote. “It makes everything in fighting for 100x easier to deal with.
“The ones that want to see me down and hurt all I gotta say for you is f–k you. And last the ones that say they love and care about me but can’t be there for me when I need them but I’m always there to when they need me god get you.”
The Houston Rockets head coach Rick Adelman (2nd from left) stands along the sidelines with players during the first quarter of the NBA Western Conference First Round Playoff game against the Utah Jazz at the EnergySolutions Arena Thursday, April 24, 2008, in Salt Lake City. ( James Nielsen / Chronicle ) (Photo by James Nielsen/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)
The basketball community is in mourning, following the news of former Rockets coach Rick Adelman’s passing on Monday. Adelman was 79 years old.
The cause of death has not been disclosed or announced by Adelman’s family. In total, Adelman coached for five different teams: the Portland Trail Blazers, Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings, Houston Rockets and Minnesota Timberwolves.
Adelman ranks tenth all-time in wins, with 1,042 victories in 23 years of coaching. Only four coaches have coached longer than Adelman and posted a better win percentage than Adelman’s 58.2 winning clip. He’s also one of just 11 coaches in league history to nab 1,000 victories and posted eleven 50-win seasons, while making the playoffs in 16 of his 23 seasons as a coach.
On the Rockets front, Adelman was hired in 2007 by Daryl Morey, who was a first-time front office executive, at the time. Adelman coached the Rockets for four seasons and the Rockets never had a losing season under Adelman’s tenure, despite dealing with injuries to both Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming throughout his reign in Houston.
The Rockets earned the fifth seed in each of Adelman’s first two seasons in Houston, going 55-27 in 2007-08 and 53-29 in 2008-09. Adelman’s second season was quite memorable, as Houston won 22 consecutive games, which still ranks as the fourth-longest win streak in NBA history.
That Rockets team also took the eventual champion Los Angeles Lakers to seven games in the Western Conference Semifinals — the only such team that can make that claim among the Lakers’ opponents during their path to the championship. Adelman ranks as the fourth-winningest coach in the history of the Rockets franchise, behind Mike D’Antoni, Kevin McHale and Ime Udoka, boasting a 58.8 percent winning clip.
Adelman also ranks fourth in Rockets victories, with 193, tying McHale. In addition, he ranks third in franchise history in games coached, with 328 games.
There’s no such thing as a guaranteed win in the world of sports — unless you’re Knicks forward Jeremy Sochan. The fifth-year NBA player finds himself in rare company entering the 2026 NBA Finals, because it quite literally doesn’t matter who wins, he’s getting a ring anyway. It’s something we saw in 2020 with Dion Waiters in the Lakers/Heat final, and now it’s happening once more.
This is happening because Jeremy Sochan began the 2025-26 season with the San Antonio Spurs where he played 28 games, averaging 4.1 points per game in 12.8 minutes. It was clear that the former top-10 pick didn’t figure into the Spurs’ long-term plans, especially in a post-Wemby world — so in February, he reached a mutual agreement with the team to be waived.
Sochan wasn’t looking for a team for very long. Two days later, after he cleared waivers, the Knicks signed him to add to the team’s depth for their playoff run. This meant that he was part of both the Spurs and Knicks in 2025-26, and now Sochan will get a ring regardless, now that they’re meeting in the NBA Finals.
It’s only the fourth time in NBA history that a player has been guaranteed a ring before the first game of the NBA Finals. Heres the history of those games:
Anderson Varejão (2016-17): Began the season with the Cavaliers and was traded to the Blazers, where he was waived. Signed with the Golden State Warriors. NBA Finals were Cavaliers vs. Warriors, with Cleveland winning. Varejão declined his championship ring.
Dion Waiters (2019-20): Began the season with the Heat and was traded to the Grizzlies, where he was waived. Signed with the Los Angeles Lakers. NBA Finals were Heat vs. Lakers, with Los Angeles winning and Waiters getting a ring.
Torrey Craig (2020-21): Began the season with the Bucks. Was traded to the Phoenix Suns for cash considerations. The NBA Finals were Bucks vs. Suns, with Milwaukee winning and Craig getting a ring.
The lesson in all this: Maybe if you really want an NBA ring, you shouldn’t bust your butt to form an unstoppable team — but instead be an utterly dispensable role player who gets waived or traded for cash. Then you might be lucky enough to bounce between two teams and guarantee yourself a ring!
Kurt Helin
Raphielle Johnson
