OKLAHOMA CITY — Julian Champagnie is headed home to play in the NBA Finals in New York City — and it's hard for him to get his head around it.
A kid born in Brooklyn who played his high school ball at Bishop Loughlin Memorial in the city, who honed his style and found toughness on playgrounds around the city, then went to college at St. John's, is a key reason the San Antonio Spurs are headed to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2014.
"That's every kid's dream. That's every kid's dream," Champagnie said, shaking his head in disbelief when asked about playing in the Finals at Madison Square Garden. "I remember my first time actually playing in the Garden. I was at St. John's, and I was just like in awe of just how much greatness has gone through there, and what that means for a kid from the city. Being that now we got to go play against [the Knicks] for a championship, that's personal."
San Antonio gets that opportunity in part because Champagnie stepped up when his team needed him. In Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals, Champagnie knocked down six 3-pointers — the only other players to hit six 3-pointers in a conference finals are the Splash Brothers Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson — and finished with 20 points.
Julian Champagnie (20 PTS, 6-10 3PM) played a HUGE part in the @spurs' Game 7 win tonight!
He joins Klay Thompson (2016) and Stephen Curry (2x) as the only players in NBA history to knock down 6+ 3PM in a Conference Finals Game 7 pic.twitter.com/zoWkyAmR3p
"Julian's amazing. He deserves everything that he gets," Victor Wembanyama said. "And he's the type of guy that makes you want to die for him on the court, because he gives so much effort, and he's got such an amazing story."
Champagnie’s journey
That story sounds like a fairy tale now, but Champagnie's journey to get here was anything but.
Three years ago, Champagnie wondered if he was even going to get another chance in the NBA.
On Feb. 14, 2023, the Philadelphia 76ers waived Champagnie from his two-way NBA contract. Why? The 76ers never told him. However, his exit created a two-way contract spot for Mac McClung, who not-so-coincidentally was about to represent the 76ers in the All-Star Saturday Night Dunk Contest.
"Back then, being what, like 22 I think I was [21, actually], I thought it was over. I ain't gonna lie to you," Champagnie said. "I was always told how small the window is to kind of push and get your foot in the league and stay there and make a career for yourself. So getting opportunity only in the G League, and then getting waived with no warning, no nothing, explanation or anything. It was tough. It was tough for a 22-year-old kid who was just thinking I was gonna chase my dreams and telling myself, 'You could do this.'
"Obviously, I had no clue where I was gonna end up. My agent told me, like, it could be anywhere. Obviously ended up being in San Antonio. I put my head down and said, 'Make it work.' Like whatever they give you, make it work, whatever they need you to do, make it work. And just find, find that spot."
Finding that spot meant becoming a much better defender.
When Champagnie got to San Antonio, it was Hall of Famer Gregg Popovich himself who sat him down and told him in language we cannot repeat here that his defense needed to get better if he wanted to play.
"In short, and TV-friendly [language], he told me that I have a niche, which is being able to shoot, but it's gonna be useless if I can't play defense," Champagnie told NBC Sports back before the playoffs started. "So that was kind of the message, he pushed to me and told me to play harder, put more effort into that end of the floor. Be more physical and be more nasty. That was the word he used, nasty."
There was no instant success — Champagnie wasn't sure this stop would work out any better than the last one.
"Absolutely not," Champagnie laughed. "Man, when I first got here, I had no clue. I was going through a bunch of workouts, and I'm like, 'Man, I don't know if I'm gonna be able to do this.' Like, this is a whole different step from college…
"I took it personal. I said, 'All right, well, if I want to play, I got a guard.' That's what Pop told me. So that's kind of how I took it, but I didn't think that it would pay off, honestly. Truly, at first, I was like, I don't know."
But Champagnie got better and better on the defensive end, to the point where he is now a plus NBA defender. He found his niche.
"I feel like the best thing about me, I try to just fit in where I can, and I think that's what I did when I got here, and it's been treating me good so far," Champagnie said from the podium after Game 7. "I can't complain about it, you know. I love my teammates, love the coaching staff, love everybody at the organization. It's a great place to be — there's no better place that I could be, honestly and truly."
Going home
He may love San Antonio, but Champagnie is excited to go home and play in a building he reveres, in front of the family he loves.
"I get to play in front of a lot of my family," Champagnie said. "My family hasn't come to no games yet, I've been keeping it strictly basketball right now. And when the Knicks made the championship, I tell them, 'Well, if we get this done, you guys can come to everything if you want to.'...
"It's up the block. I passed by there so many times, I played in there so many times, so being able to go back there and compete for a championship, there's just no better feeling."
Well, the one better feeling might be winning that championship — and he's now a starter and a critical part of a team that could do just that.
TORONTO, ON- APRIL 7 - The Toronto Raptors bench players dance to their seats as the Toronto Raptors play the Miami Heat at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. April 7, 2026. Steve Russell/Toronto Star (Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images) | Toronto Star via Getty Images
Although the heartbreaking loss in game 7 was a sad way to end the season, it’s hard to find a Raptors fan that isn’t full of hope for next season. Already they outperformed in almost every metric, they clinched the playoffs (a feat that hasn’t been achieved since 2022) and phenomenal performances from the younger players on the roster has made everyone wonder what we could be in another year or two.
Some players come into the league and are incredible immediately, but teams are built around the guys who come in and work hard and do their job on the court. You need superstars, but you also need a deep bench that can contribute and win the minutes where they are on the court.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at the bench, their year, and one thing we’d like them to work on over the summer that will take them to the next level as a contributor to this team.
While the numbers aren’t overwhelming, it’s undeniable that he’s played a big role on the team this year. Throughout the year, many fans drew comparisons with Kyle Lowry (maybe a tad prematurely, but I like the confidence). His “Dawg” mentality, the effort on both ends of the court, and his willingness to do any job have all raised his stock.
While there weren’t clear trends over the course of the season, as a starter, there’s significant jumps in virtually every stat: 11.5 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 7.5 apg, 39.6% FG.
His biggest assets are currently his gritty defence, facilitation for everyone else on the court, and (when he’s hot) long range shooting. He is undeniably a passionate and intense player, but that’s everything that you want in a competitor.
Where he could improve is developing a floater. He’s done a lot to get big men lobs and easy shots underneath, but at times, he doesn’t have the gravity to keep paint protectors on himself when he dives into the paint before distributing. If he can consistently score on push shots and floaters, that should open up more space for rollers and cutters with far less resistance because the defence will have to commit to one or the other.
"EIGHT SECONDS! EIGHT SECONDS!"
Jamal Shead’s reaction to forcing a late-game 8-second violation in Game 4 vs. Cleveland is EVERYTHING.
Toronto seeks a 3-2 lead tonight at 7:30pm/et on ESPN 🔥
Despite being only 6’7”, his strength and athleticism allows him to play much bigger than he is. He spent minutes playing as a center, bringing us some of the most exciting, rim-rocking dunks of the season. It also allowed him to defend centers much larger than him and hold his own. In the playoffs, he brought us exciting, fearless rim protection that will only get better as he ages.
One of the most obvious skills he demonstrated throughout the season was his ability to read rebounds. Averaging almost as many offensive as defensive rebounds per game, he offered Toronto a myriad of second chance opportunities through sheer will. He has the intensity and the mindset to be a difference maker which he has already been doing in his first NBA season.
Offensively, he was able to be a lob threat, operate in screen and roll actions, and later on, developed a midrange game that allowed him to capitalize if defenses slacked off of him.
He’s already earning well-deserved accolades including the nod to attend the NBA Rising Stars game and received an All-Rookie Second Team selection.
Where he could improve is shooting. It’s hard to ask someone to be everything, but teams like the Spurs and the Nuggets that are able to run pick and pop actions capitalize on a center that can score from anywhere on the floor. Two thirds of his shots this season came from within a few feet of the basket. If he can extend that, even to the edges of the paint, that can create more options for everyone on the court.
Sometimes people expect a sophomore slump. Some people might even try to frame this season as a slump since across the board, he averaged fewer points, assists, and rebounds than last season. If you look further, you’ll see jumps in shooting efficiency. His FG% jumped over 4% to 44.6%, and he shot 40.9% from long range, a 6% increase from the previous season.
With the health of Ingram and more bodies on the court, he touched the ball a lot less. A learning curve that not everyone would master, he struggled early on in October and November, but by April, he was averaging 10/4/2 and shooting 50% from the field in that calendar month.
While the numbers might not be overwhelming, all we should see is the leaps he made throughout the season, his effort and development in getting better and responding to tough games, and the aspect of how his game is developing. He has shown the ability to score from all over the floor, with potential to be a consistent, talented 3-level scorer.
What I would love to see from him this summer is just getting shots up. The only way to build consistency and confidence is to continue to work on the craft, and if he can put April numbers up all season long, he could be one of the most valuable bench players on the team.
This season: 6.0 points || 1.9 rebounds || 0.7 assists
Going from starting every night and playing 30 minutes per game to a single start and 14 minutes per game would be jarring for any player. For Gradey, this has been a tough year. The overall health of the team, new lineups, and early struggles saw him pushed deeper down the bench as the season progressed. Ultimately though, how he responds to this season will be the biggest determiner of his future on the team and in the league.
We’ve seen flashes of his ability as a shooter, but the shadow of Jamison Battle is looming. He wasn’t able to do much of what we’d expect and the lack of minutes meant that he wasn’t able to work out any of his issues on the court. In the past he’s struggled but a stint in the G-League and some opportunity to just shoot the ball helped him get into rhythm.
It’s not time to sell stock in him yet though. He belongs in the league. He had his first career double-double this season, which will be a silver lining he will have to focus on.
What he needs to work on this summer is his long range shooting. What earned Battle minutes over him consistently was when Gradey got his chance, he wasn’t able to convert. He needs to touch the floor and knock down those floor-spacing shots. His defence could also use some help, which would help him stay on the floor longer to work out some of his shooting yips.
Being behind Lopez and Portis in Milwaukee, he never had the opportunity to show what he was truly capable of in his first two seasons. San Antonio was ushering in the Wemby era, so they didn’t have room for him either.
Lucky for Toronto. Mamu has exceeded expectations consistently.
His physicality and strength allowed him to be a presence in the paint at both ends of the court. His long range shooting provided Toronto with some floor-spacing that they don’t have with Poeltl. He came out night after night and kept up with some of the best bigs in the league and held his own.
The biggest question is if he will be back. Mamu has a player option next year to the tune of 2.8 million, but it wouldn’t be surprising if he opted out in search of more money with the work he put in this year.
The one thing he could work on is decision making. At certain junctures throughout the season, the intensity of a game would lead him to force shots, often through multiple defenders and come up empty. While it didn’t always cost them the game, ultimately every possession matters and I’m sure the Raptors would like to have some of them back. Passing out or developing more of an ability to draw fouls in the paint would all be beneficial for him and (hopefully) Toronto next year.
Those numbers will not jump off the page at you. In fact, saying he logged solid playing minutes in a series-clinching game wouldn’t be the conclusion you would draw. And yet, here he is.
He didn’t get a ton of opportunities throughout the course of the season, but when he did, his shooting felt more like a guarantee than a question. One of his most thrilling games was a 20 point performance in which he remained perfect from the field (7 for 7) followed up by a 14-point (5 for 5) night in game two of the playoffs.
He definitely earned his place on the team and the opportunity to prove himself further. His long-range shooting can be a crucial piece of the Raptors’ offence and when he is run off the line, he’s shown a solid mid-range game as well.
Defence should be the focus of his offseason. He committed a fair amount of personal fouls, often by trailing his mark. He would be a target for the other team at times which might send him to the bench if he’s giving up more than he’s getting offensively. Adding more defensive tools to his toolchest could help him stay on the floor to make the big shots when needed.
While there’s plenty of future potential, Mogbo, Hepburn, and Martin are probably not ready yet. They’ve all shown flashes, but the jump to the NBA is a challenging one, and these guys have their work cut out for them. I’d imagine any and all of them will probably spend next year working on their game in the G-league.
Temple has been the resident veteran and while he doesn’t log many minutes, Toronto has kept him around for a reason. A steadying voice with encouragement and wisdom. It’s unclear if he’ll be back next year or that will fall to a guy like Ingram, but his presence has been an asset. He’s always on the bench pointing and coaching everyone on how to grow.
Trayce Jackson-Davis was underwhelming. I would be surprised if Toronto picks up the option as he gradually fell out of the lineup altogether outside of garbage time.
Lawson has had probably the best season out of the deep bench, earning his way to a standard NBA contract. While the future is uncertain, the growth he has shown over the course of the season and his ability to pick himself back up after being passed over by multiple teams shows his unwavering effort. He keeps showing up, doing what he needs to do, and hoping it will continue to earn him a spot on the roster. Obviously Toronto has faith in him, or he wouldn’t be on the court in an elimination game. Hopefully he’s back next year.
While we have a couple months, free agency, the draft, summer league, and a whole bunch of possible changes, what Toronto is building is encouraging. There is a lot of young talent with a lot of heart on this team that has what it takes to contribute on this team in the coming years. Hopefully a couple months of work can help bring them to the next level.
Rutgers never got the chance to see Dylan Harper play in the tournament but it turns out that he is pretty good in that format.
The former Rutgers star is off to the NBA Finals after the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals on Saturday night.
Harper played 27 minutes in this game finishing with 12 points and seven rebounds on 5-for-8 from the field. He averaged 14.7 points per game in the conference semifinals against the Minnesota Timberwolves. In Game 1 of the WCF, he made an immediate impact with 24 points, six rebounds, and seven steals in a double-overtime win.
Harper averaged 12 points in 26.3 minutes per game, proving to be a key component off the bench. Now, the New Jersey native will get a chance to face the New York Knicks, and fellow Garden State star Karl-Anthony Towns, in the NBA Finals.
New Jersey is the place where Harper made his name at Don Bosco High School. A career that featured over 1,600 points came to an end with a 19-game winning streak and a state championship.
Harper committed to Rutgers, joining Ace Bailey, in what was a historic recruiting class. The team did not live up to the hype as it went 15-17 and missed the NCAA Tournament.
Harper dominated its way to a state championship in high school and is now a key rotation piece for a Spurs team that is returning to the NBA Finals.
So, Rutgers fans, how did this team miss the tournament two years ago?
That is a question that you will have to live with, especially with the current state of the team. Nonetheless, Rutgers will be represented in this year’s NBA Finals and that is not something that can be said every year.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 12: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets is defended by Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks during a preseason game at Fiserv Forum on October 12, 2022 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Bucks are expected to be at the center of the trade universe with Giannis Antetokounmpo possibly looking to move on from Milwaukee. While speculation about his future is rampant, the Bucks do—believe it or not—have the option to keep The Greek Freak if he wants to give it another go and try to win a championship. In order for Giannis to stay, though, the Bucks likely need to prove that they can compete for a title, so changes will have to be made from this year’s team.
To that end, CBS Sports contributor Sam Quinn listed the Bucks as a potential destination for Mavericks point guard Kyrie Irving, who could also be on his way out of the Lone Star State this summer: “The widespread presumption is that Milwaukee will ultimately trade Giannis Antetokounmpo, but they could technically go the other way. They have three first-round picks to trade, including no. 10 overall this year. Maybe an aggressive push for Irving compels Antetokounmpo to extend,” Quinn wrote.
Pros to trading for Irving
The hardest part of winning a championship is getting a superstar who can lead you there. The Bucks already have that taken care of with Antetokounmpo on the roster, but the team needs more to get back into the postseason conversation. Adding Irving and pairing him with Giannis gives the Bucks a great chance to return to relevancy in the Eastern Conference.
If the Bucks could find a way to trade for Irving without giving up the no. 10 overall pick, that would be the ideal scenario. They could send future first-round picks—they control their own from 2031 to 2033—and matching salary, which would likely include Kyle Kuzma and Bobby Portis, in order to make it happen. While that deal sacrifices some of Milwaukee’s future draft capital, it allows them to add a rookie and a win-now point guard who can elevate everybody’s game on the court.
Cons to trading For Irving
Irving is coming off a torn ACL and did not play with the Mavericks this past season. He is well into his 30s and nearing the twilight of his career, having just turned 34. That’s a year older than Damian Lillard was when Milwaukee traded for him in 2023. While he is a talented player, it’s hard to imagine the Bucks going from a 32-50 squad to a surefire title contender just by acquiring him. Irving can only do so much by coming on board. On top of that, would they be willing to trade future picks that could help them when Antetokounmpo has either left or is in his late 30s just to get another short-term solution in Irving?
The cost-benefit analysis the Bucks have to do is tricky, but if they’re willing do what it takes to keep Giannis, this could accomplish that.
NEW YORK - JUNE 25: Patrick Ewing #33 of the New York Knicks battles David Robinson #50 of the San Antonio Spurs for the opening tip-off in Game Five of the 1999 NBA Finals on June 25, 1999 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges 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 1999 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
On Leon Rose and James Dolan building the Knicks into a Finals team:
“Leon and his staff have done a freakin’ fantastic, fantastic job. I can even take it a step further — it doesn’t happen if Mr. Dolan wants to keep his hands in his pocket and not allow Leon to go do his work.”
On Jay Wright’s influence on the Villanova players and how it benefits the Knicks:
“Man, you can tell Coach Wright has instilled a lot of great qualities in all of these guys. They’re selfless. They all have a competitive spirit. They’re all about the right stuff, and they’re great human beings to be around. So I’m sure it wasn’t just Coach Wright who helped raise them, but to be able to play for him and have that continue at the highest level while competing for championships in college definitely made my job easier. When you have guys like that and those guys are the leaders of your team, we were talking about all of them, and then it rubs off on everybody else, and it just makes for a fantastic environment to be a part of.”
On maintaining composure and connectivity during scoring runs:
“There are maybe times when you’re open during those runs and somebody misses you and you can’t get pissed, because if you get pissed, now your emotions and your energy are someplace else or focused on something else as opposed to what you need to do defensively and all that other stuff.”
On the unpredictability of momentum in games:
“Anything and everything out of the ordinary can happen [during runs], and you gotta rely on those intangibles to make sure you stay locked in.”
“Anytime you’re playing NBA basketball, it’s difficult to win. For us, it’s been a process. When [my] trade happened, obviously things happened quick and success came pretty quick, but it was not the success that we envisioned. I’m glad that this year, we’re seeing ourselves start to mature and round out what the vision was from day one.”
On extending scoring runs during the playoffs:
“It’s great when you can kinda have those moments in the game where everything’s clicking, and I think what’s great about us and what this run has shown is that when we get on those runs, we continue to extend those runs for a long period of time. So our ability to stay focused and stay in that zone has helped us tremendously in this playoff, and it’s a lot of the reason why we’re sitting here in this chair today talking about NBA Finals.”
On trusting the full roster entering the Finals amid the Mitch concerns:
“Whatever the picture ends up being, us having those trials and tribulations for the last two years where things weren’t looking good — just like at the end of December with the 2-9, 11-game stretch. It shows that we have resilience and we’ll go out there and we trust everyone in this locker room. And if this playoff run has shown anything, I feel, to the fans and the media, one through 15 can go out there, put a Knicks jersey on and get the job done. And we truly believe in that. So this is a situation that we’ve garnered enough experience and enough trust in each other that whatever the picture ends up being when we step on that court Wednesday, we feel comfortable.”
the bootleg knicks shirt sellers made it to citi field and i had to cop 🔥 better than anything fanatics ever made pic.twitter.com/WgE18MUNu1
On Jay Wright’s emphasis on always having the right attitude at Villanova:
“One thing he always [stressed], it’s plastered on every wall, every shirt, the inside of our jerseys, everything, was attitude. Controlling your attitude. I don’t really say that as much as I used to, but I think my kind of twist on it is being able to control what you can control. Controlling your attitude, controlling your effort, those are the things you can control, and that’s something he said every day. That’s how we ended huddles, that’s how we started games, practices. It’s kind of what his motto was, and once we believed in it, everything became easier.”
the footage of the knicks in the lockerroom after making the finals i have tears in my eyes pic.twitter.com/xyp2VTSu0w
— sports live tweeter yadira (@jonmoxIeys) May 31, 2026
Jose Alvarado
On his plans for the parade if the Knicks win the title:
“If we win, I’m gonna be drunk for eight days. I’m gonna let y’all know right now.”
On never expecting to play for the Knicks:
“Nah, nah, I didn’t really think of that. I didn’t think none of this. I didn’t think I was going to be playing for the Knicks.”
Mitchell Robinson and Luke Kornet juggling, playing golf and hitting wiffle balls as Knicks teammates in 2019.
On thanking supporters after his injury came to light:
“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. It makes everything I’m fighting for 100x easier to deal with.”
On his haters:
“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 when they need me god will get you.”
Kyrie "The Knicks making the Finals is OD…Knicks fans gonna go bonkers man. Its gonna be one of those ones…They done made it to the NBA Finals, done earned their ticket…I'm excited to watch them too…Mike Brown leading the helm, Jalen Brunson great PG…great pieces around him" pic.twitter.com/UVmelSX9Fk
On the Knicks reaching the NBA Finals and their fanbase bringing da ruckus:
“The Knicks making the Finals is OD… a lot of those Knicks fans in New York are gonna go bonkers, man. It’s gonna be one of those ones. You just gotta gear up for it if you’re on the East Coast, man. They done made it to the NBA Finals, they done earned their ticket, they did everything that they could in the regular season to prepare.”
"I wanna win so bad. It's like my life depends on it."
“Winning the Larry O’Brien [trophy], it’s a childhood dream, and having a real shot at it, having a chance, tangible chance at winning it, realizing a dream, you know — it’s a chance. It’s a lifetime chance. You never know when it’s gonna happen again. The day we win it, speaking for myself, it’s gonna be an amazing day of realization of the dream. It’s hard to put into words. It’s almost like the meaning of my life. I want to win so bad. It’s like my life depends on it.”
On realizing a childhood dream after reaching the Finals:
“Realizing that some part of a childhood dream is going to come true. Even though I’m still hungry for one more, this feeling is — I can’t explain it. It’s so powerful.”
"That's every kid's dream"
Julian Champagnie, who was born in New York City and played college basketball at St. John's, on playing in the NBA Finals at MSG: pic.twitter.com/UHJhjhJl57
On thinking his NBA career might be over after being waived:
“I thought it was over. I ain’t gonna lie to you. We’re always told how small the window is to get into the league, stay there, and make a career for yourself. Getting waived with no warning, no nothing, explanation or anything, it was tough. It was tough for a 23-year-old kid trying to go out there and chase my dreams, telling myself, ‘You can do this.’”
On landing in San Antonio and finding his role:
“My agent told me it could be anywhere. Obviously, it ended up being San Antonio. I put my head down and decided to make it work… And find that spot on the team. Just fit in where I can. It’s been treating me good so far.”
On gratitude toward the Spurs organization:
“I love my teammates, I love the coaching staff, and everybody in the organization. It’s a great place to be, and there’s no better place that I could be in. Big, big shout out to the San Antonio Spurs taking an opportunity for a kid from Brooklyn.”
On returning to Madison Square Garden for the Finals:
“That’s every kid’s dream, that’s every kid’s dream. I remember my first time actually playing in The Garden, I was at St. John’s, and I was just like in awe of how much greatness has gone through there and what that means to a kid from the city. Being that now we get to go play them for a championship? That’s personal, that’s personal. I get to go home. Obviously, to see family. I get to play in front of a lot of my family. My family hasn’t come to no games yet, I’ve been keeping it strictly basketball right now. When the Knicks made the championship, I tell them, I said, ‘When we get this done, you guys can come to every game if you want to, so what.’ It’s up the block, I’ve passed by there so many times, I’ve played there so many times. Being able to go back there and compete for a championship? There’s no better feeling, no better feeling.”
On not being worried about Knicks fans traveling:
“I don’t think we’re too worried about the fans. Obviously, me being from New York, I know how they get. So there’s a little bit of that in me. I don’t think we’re too worried about their fans. We have great fans down in San Antonio. I’m 100 percent sure that the same way Knicks fans will travel, San Antonio fans will travel. So I’m not too worried about fans and stuff like that, we’re gonna make sure it gets done.”
"I've been to so many Knicks playoff games, Knicks games – I live 25, 30 minutes from the arena. I know there's going to be a whole lot of tickets I'll be asked for."
Dylan Harper on growing up a Knicks fan and now facing them in the NBA Finals: pic.twitter.com/XzlJJTTsrf
On playing the Knicks in the NBA Finals at The Garden:
“It’s going to be a fun one. I think they kind of got us in the [NBA] Cup, like you said, got us when we went there. We pulled out a close one at home. I think for us it comes down to doubling down on what we’re good at… I feel like it’s a great matchup. For me, my dream has been always to play in The Garden in the NBA Finals and I get to do that my first year. I’m not gonna take nothing for granted.”
On the Finals matchup against New York feeling like a dream come true:
“I’ve been to so many Knicks playoff games, Knicks games. I live 25-30 minutes from the arena. I know there’s going to be a whole lot of tickets I’ll be asked for, but my phone’s going to be off for that. It’s a dream come true, it’s a blessing. It’s kind of where I’ve always wanted to play at for the Finals. I think that if you would have told this last year, I would have told you you’re crazy. I think that you kind of go through what you go through to get to moments like this. I’ve kind of just been steadying, just wanting wants best for me.”
“It’s always been a basketball town. This is why I fell in love with basketball, and I’m certain a lot of Knicks fans, too. There’s just something about the team aspect of the sport. Five players working together. The whole is better than the sum of its parts — I’ve always loved that phrase. And this Knicks team is exactly that. And there’s just something special about that building, whether you’re there watching or you’re watching at home. There’s an electricity to that place that’s just truly amazing. … And I think this particular Knicks team, because there were so many years of darkness, that to feel this way about a team, knowing that they have a legitimate shot of winning a championship, these fans have been just so hungry for so many years and stayed loyal despite that, they just feel like they’re being rewarded. The electricity in the city about them and the vibe in the city about ’em is crazy. It’s incredible the joy that the Knicks fans have. And the fact that all three games on the road that they clinched, in Atlanta, in Philadelphia, in Cleveland, the thousands of Knicks fans at each of those games, shows you how much they care and how long they’ve waited for a team like this to root for.”
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 10: Cameron Boozer looks on during during the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery on May 10, 2026 at Navy Pier in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Tamez/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
One of our favorite things about the NBA Draft is the skullduggery, machinations, and positively Machiavellian manipulation that goes on as people try to up or downgrade prospects in order to get the guy they really want.
Whisper campaigns get started about a prospect who supposedly had a bad attitude during a workout, or rumors that he’s not really that athletic, or maybe that he’s just overrated.
It happens just about every year.
So what’s going on with Cameron Boozer?
That’s hard to tell.
We do know that Oklahoma City would apparently like to bundle their #12 and #17 picks, and perhaps some of their future draft picks, to move up to get Boozer.
So far, the general consensus is that BYU’s AJ Dybantsa has to go first to Washington, and that Kansas’s Darryn Peterson should go second to Utah, with Boozer most likely going to Memphis at #3 and UNC’s Caleb Wilson to Chicago at #4.
Well, slow it down there, buckaroo. It may not happen that way at all.
Jonathon Givony, who has excellent contacts in the NBA, and who talks to a lot of people who are really enamored with analytics, says most front offices really feel like Boozer should go #1. Here’s what he said about the former Duke star:
“If you talk to the analytics people in NBA front offices, who have a lot of influence, 100% of them have Cam Boozer at number one at the top of their draft model. That’s not just because of what he did in college, where he was the most productive player in college basketball… but also dating back to what he did in high school, as well as at the FIBA level. Cam Boozer has been the best player in every setting that he’s competed on since he was 14 years old. And that goes a long way for the analytics models.
“I like [the Jokic] comp just because of the passing ability. That’s really what separates Cam Boozer, is his feel for the game, he’s absolutely exceptional. Defensively, off the ball, he’s elite, he’s a great rebounder, and even though he’s not a great athlete, he’s just first to every loose ball, his processing speed and reaction time… We saw Duke use him as a point guard at times… Teams that are drafting him at 1 and 2 are giving him a very hard look in this draft, even though that might not be the public sentiment.”
One of the nicer side effects if that comes to pass is that would probably bump Dybantsa down to #2. He’s made it clear that he likes the state of Utah, and his family now lives there, so for him, that would work out perfectly.
Of course, if it looks like Boozer is going first, that would put a lot more pressure on the Thunder to come up with a sufficiently seductive trade package to get Washington to agree. However, OKC has two first-round picks this year, as discussed, and a total of about 10, counting future drafts. They also have 12 second-round picks to work with.
So if they decide Boozer is worth it, they have draft capital to burn.
It will be a rematch of the 1999 NBA Finals, where the Spurs beat the Knicks 4-1. It was the Spurs' first championship and New York’s last finals appearance.
Wembanyama led the way with 20+ points in each of the seven games against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
It will be the Western Conference Finals MVP’s first trip to the NBA playoffs, following a season in which the projection of his career was in jeopardy after being diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis, a condition that involves blood clots.
It will also be Jalen Brunson's first finals appearance. Brunson averaged 26 points and 6.8 assists for the Knicks this season.
The Spurs and the Knicks played a two-game series during the regular season, with each team winning a game.
Here's who has the edge in the NBA Finals series:
Backcourt
The Knicks will have the advantage in the backcourt because of Jalen Brunson until proven otherwise. The Spurs’ backcourt, led by Stephon Castle and veteran De'Aaron Fox, did show they have the defensive mindset and scheme to stop a player of Brunson’s caliber, after leaving Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the back-to-back league MVP, frustrated at times during the Western Conference Finals.
Edge: Knicks
Frontcourt
Victor Wembanyama presents a problem for any team in the league because of his length and playmaking ability. The Western Conference Final MVP has averaged 23.2 points and 10.8 rebounds in 17 games during this postseason.
Karl Anthony-Towns leads a talented backcourt for the Knicks that will have the opportunity to cause problems for Wemby and the Spurs. KAT has averaged 16.9 points, 10.6 rebounds and 5.9 assists for New York in the 14 postseason games.
Edge: Spurs
Bench
The Knicks have several complementary players coming off the bench. Josh Hart is a versatile rotation player in the frontcourt who has displayed the ability to play with physicality on defense and serve as a solid rebounder. Mitchell Robinson has a broken finger but still expects to play in the finals. He serves as another quality reserve off the bench that can serve as a rim protector and rebounder for the Knicks' interior defense.
Keldon Johnson is the primary reserve for San Antonio, serving as a versatile wing when his number is called. Dylan Harper may only be a rookie, but he has really stepped up when needed for the Spurs in the postseason. He's proven he can score and be a playmaker for his team when he has the ball in his hands.
Edge: Knicks
Coaching
Knicks coach Mike Brown has the advantage in finals experience. Brown led LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers to the NBA finals against the Spurs in 2007. He also spent time as an assistant coach for two championship teams. He won three titles under Steve Kerr with the Golden State Warriors and another in 2003 under Gregg Popovich with the Spurs. It will be the first finals appearance for Mitch Johnson as a head coach.
Edge: Knicks
X-Factors
It’s hard to ignore what impact Robinson can have on the Knicks when he is healthy. Robinson has great size and a defensive presence that could prove to be valuable. He can control the paint and secure offensive rebounds, which may prove to be helpful when the Spurs have Wemby on the floor. Julian Champagnie's supplementary scoring has proven to be important during the postseason. He played a key role in the Spurs' Game 7 victory over the Thunder with 20 points and six rebounds.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 16: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks drives against Dylan Harper #2 of the San Antonio Spurs in the first quarter of the championship game of the Emirates NBA Cup at T-Mobile Arena on December 16, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 Steve Marcus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s here.
After sweeping the Cleveland Cavaliers in an uncompetitive Eastern Conference Finals, the Knicks have reached a place they have not been in 27 years. A long journey has resulted in entire generations of Knicks fans being able to experience something new.
But it certainly won’t be easy. A seven-game war out west for the right to play the ‘Bockers concluded on Saturday night in OKC, and the 2026 NBA Finals are set.
It’s the No. 3-seeded New York Knicks (53-29) against the No. 2-seeded San Antonio Spurs (62-20) for the right to raise the Larry O’Brien Trophy in a rematch of both the 1999 NBA Finals and the NBA Cup. Is there anything better?
Season Recap
You know how the Knicks’ season has gone. After all, you’re reading this on a Knicks site, but just to sum it up.
After firing Tom Thibodeau, engaging in a long coaching search, and keying in on Mike Brown, the Knicks mostly ran back the same team, albeit with new faces Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele, while drafting Mo Diawara. It was supposed to be a deeper, offensive powerhouse, and, for the most part, it was. The Knicks started 23-9 and even got some hardware along the way, beating the Spurs in the NBA Cup Final in December. Everything was coming up New York as 2025 turned into 2026.
And then everything fell apart. Starting with a New Year’s Eve collapse in San Antonio, the Knicks lost nine of their next 11 games, capped off by a terrible effort on Martin Luther King Jr. Day at MSG against the tanking Mavs. The sky was falling, we had podcasters saying he couldn’t wait to blow up this core, we had loud calls for Mike Brown’s job, the defense was abhorrently bad, and the season was in a tailspin.
Then, they mollywhopped the Nets by 54 and everything calmed down. After going from 23-9 to 25-18, the Knicks won 28 of their final 39 games, powered by the NBA’s second-best defense over the final 2.5 months of the season. They swapped the disappointing Yabusele for Jose Alvarado and finished the season strong.
After struggling through three games with the feisty Hawks, something clicked in the heads of every coach and player on the roster. The last 11 games have seen a level of dominance so historic that they’ve broken every single point differential record imaginable. They obliterated the Hawks in the final three games, swept and demoralized the worn-down Sixers, and then broke the Cavaliers after a 22-point Game 1 comeback en route to a sweep to advance to their first NBA Finals in 27 years.
After taking a decent step forward in 2024-25 in Year 2 of the Victor Wembanyama, nobody could’ve expected the Spurs getting this good, this fast. Some lottery luck allowed them to grab Rutgers guard Dylan Harper No. 2 overall, while also adding Carter Bryant at the back of the lottery. Aside from those two, all they did was add big man depth in Kelly Olynyk and Luke Kornet, which was apparently enough to improve by 28 games.
San Antonio made a big statement early in the season, managing to be the first to derail the defending champion’s early quest at 70 wins by beating them four times in five meetings, while advancing to the NBA Cup Final in mid-December before falling to the Knicks. They spent much of the second half of the season chasing down the Thunder for the best record in basketball, finishing 30-4 in their last 34 games, but fell short due to just how hot OKC finished the season.
They endured some growing pains in a surprisingly competitive series against Portland that ultimately was only extended to five games because of a Wemby concussion. Additionally, this young group battled to six games by a banged-up Timberwolves team without Donte DiVincenzo and with a laboring Anthony Edwards. In a seven-game battle with the 64-win Thunder, they rallied back down 2-1 and 3-2 to win the series on the road.
The first time these two teams met wasn’t initially on the schedule, but when they both won their way to the NBA Cup Final in mid-December, a third meeting was added to the calendar in Las Vegas.
The circumstances surrounding the matchup deserve an asterisk. Victor Wembanyama was on a minutes restriction and came off the bench. Despite that, the two teams were even for much of the first three quarters, despite San Antonio often going on runs to stretch it to a 7-8 point lead before a counter by the Knicks.
Everything changed in the fourth, when Jordan Clarkson and Tyler Kolek went ballistic to punch the Spurs in the mouth and secure the NBA Cup trophy. OG Anunoby had 28, Jalen Brunson had 25, and Kolek/Clarkson combined for 29, while Wembanyama had just 17 in 25 minutes, being routinely bullied on the boards by Mitchell Robinson.
The second meeting looked like it would go in the Knicks’ favor for three quarters. 45 points in the first quarter and a 19-point advantage late in the first half had NYK rolling, but Wembanyama and company slowly chipped away until the 7’5” alien left with a knee injury in the fourth, trailing by 11.
How would the Spurs respond without their best player? Well, the December-January Knicks didn’t play a lick of defense, and Julian Champagnie capitalized by nailing a career-high 11 threes in a stunning comeback victory on New Year’s Eve in what would ultimately begin the three-week stretch from hell that rocked the boat as much as any stretch in recent memory.
Brunson had 29, Deuce McBride and Clarkson both had 20, but injuries to Josh Hart and Robinson thinned the team’s frontcourt, allowing for Wemby to score 31 in 23 minutes while Fox and Champagnie combined for 52 of their own.
By early March, the Spurs were an absolute wagon. They went 11-0 in February and were in the midst of a 30-4 run to end the season. But when they went to Madison Square Garden for a nationally televised matinee, they were blown out of the building. After the first eight minutes, the Spurs led 19-7. The Knicks closed the quarter on a 15-2 run and never trailed again, blitzing a healthy San Antonio squad by 25 points.
Mikal Bridges had his best performance of the second half of the season, scoring 25 and being a +21. Brunson added 24, while Mo Diawara splashed four threes in 15 impactful minutes. Wembanyama had 25-13 on 8-for-17 shooting. Outside of him and Devin Vassell, nobody had much of an impact.
Playoff History
1999 NBA Finals: Spurs win 4-1
This is a rematch of the last time the Knicks were in the NBA Finals, and the two franchises have been completely different since. San Antonio used this series as a springboard to a 20-year dynasty under Gregg Popovich, while it was the last gasp of the Patrick Ewing era and the second-to-last deep playoff run before 20 years of mediocrity.
The Knicks were never winning this one. As the No. 8 seed in a strike-shortened season, the Knicks were a ragtag group who stunned the world on their way here, but any chance they had to knock off the youthful Spurs vanished when Ewing tore his Achilles in the Eastern Conference Finals. As such, Latrell Sprewell and Allan Houston were a solid 90% of the offense.
San Antonio won Games 1 and 2 at home by 12 and 13 points in low-scoring, gritty affairs. The Knicks failed to score 80 in either. 23-year-old Tim Duncan scored 33 and 25 in two games in which his team scored less than 90 points. That’s a baby goat.
The Knicks took Game 3 at Madison Square Garden in what is currently the most recent Finals victory by the franchise. Houston scored 34 in an 89-80 victory. That momentum was short-lived, as the Admiral and the Big Fundamental carried the Spurs to a seven-point win in Game 4.
While it was academic at that point, the Knicks nearly stole Game 5 in the Alamodome. They led by eight in the second quarter and spent the fourth quarter going back and forth. Avery Johnson splashed a mid-range jumper for the lead in the final minute for San Antonio, and Sprewell, who had 35 in a terrific game where nobody else had it, missed two different go-ahead shots from inside the arc to clinch the title for the Spurs.
Trends: Knicks since 1/20: 118.5 ORtg (6th), 108.2 DRtg (2nd), +10.3 net rating (3rd) Spurs since 2/1: 30-4, 122.2 ORtg (1st), 109 DRtg (3rd), +12.2 net rating (1st)
Coaching Breakdown
Mike Brown (NYK): Season with team: 1st Season as head coach: 12th Career teams coached: CLE, LAL, SAC, NYK Career record: 507-333 (.604) Career playoff record: 54-42 (.563) Best finish: 2007 Cavaliers (Finals appearance)
Mike Brown is entering the postseason as the head coach of a third different team. He’s never won a game past the Eastern Conference Finals, but he’s certainly experienced deep playoff runs as an assistant under Gregg Popovich from 2001-03 and an assistant under Steve Kerr from 2017-22, winning four championships as an assistant coach.
Brown’s philosophy is a stylistic change from former head coach Tom Thibodeau, in that he prioritizes ball movement, spacing, and a drive-and-kick to open shooters (which he calls “sprays”). He was mostly unsuccessful in increasing the Knicks’ pace, showing that the team’s slow play is rooted in the way their captain operates in the offense, rather than the scheme. His biggest success has been increasing three-point attempts, but those have slowly decreased as the season has gone on.
Defensively, Brown has been flexible in his scheme. While Thibodeau always required a true rim protector on the floor, Brown has been more willing to mix up lineups in certain areas. After starting the season with a scheme that funneled the ball towards the middle of the floor into the help, Brown switched the scheme to look to send the ball towards the sidelines after the Knicks endured a month-plus stretch of abhorrent defense, powered by other teams driving and kicking to open shooters.
Mitch Johnson (SA): Season with team: 2nd Season as head coach: 2nd Career teams coached: SA Career record: 94-65 (.591) Career playoff record: 12-6 (.666) Best finish: 2026 Spurs (Finals and counting)
Coaching wasn’t at the forefront for Johnson for much of his life, as he spent a full four years as a starter at Stanford before going on to play in the D-League and overseas, but he got his start as an intern at Seattle University in 2011 before coaching AAU and later landing a full-time assistant role at the University of Portland in 2015.
One year later, he was in the Spurs’ organization as an assistant for their D-League affiliate in Austin. Three years after that, he was on Gregg Popovich’s staff for a fading contender. While Becky Hammon and (briefly) Tim Duncan were considered initial heirs to Coach Pop’s throne after a Hall of Fame career, it was Johnson who emerged after Wembanyama was drafted and the two developed a close relationship.
Early in the 2024-25 season, Popovich was sidelined indefinitely with a health issue, and even though it was considered interim at the time, Johnson unceremoniously took the reins in early November 2024 as the new head coach. Since then, through good team building and some fortunate lottery bounces, he’s led San Antonio into a new golden age with exciting young guard play and a future GOAT candidate in the middle.
Projected Rotations
Knicks: Jalen Brunson Mikal Bridges Josh Hart OG Anunoby Karl-Anthony Towns – Jose Alvarado Deuce McBride Landry Shamet Jordan Clarkson Mitchell Robinson
Situational: Mo Diawara, Ariel Hukporti, Jeremy Sochan, Tyler Kolek
Spurs: De’Aaron Fox Stephon Castle Julian Champagnie Devin Vassell Victor Wembanyama – Dylan Harper Keldon Johnson Carter Bryant Harrison Barnes Luke Kornet
Situational: Jordan McLaughlin, Kelly Olynyk
Injury Report
For the Knicks, it’s about Mitchell Robinson and his broken pinky finger. Specifically, he broke his fifth metacarpal, an injury that usually sidelines players for several weeks. Robinson, himself, missed the 2021 playoffs with a very similar injury. As of Saturday, he still plans to play when the NBA Finals begin on Wednesday, but he’ll surely be wearing a brace. Hey, at least the free throws can’t get any worse?
For the Spurs, their injury report was clean heading into Game 7, but we need to monitor the status of De’Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper as the series goes on. Fox missed Games 1 and 2 with an ankle injury, and his effectiveness was so-so across the rest of the series. Harper suffered a minor hamstring injury in Game 2 and played in a slightly limited role off the bench for the next five games, albeit with Fox back in the lineup, making his role smaller.
Broadcast Schedule
Game 1: Wed, June 3, 8:30 pm (ABC) Game 2: Fri, June 5, 8:30 pm (ABC) Game 3: Mon, June 8, 8:30 pm (ABC) Game 4: Wed, June 10, 8:30 pm (ABC) Game 5*: Sat, June 13, 8:30 pm (ABC) Game 6*: Tue, June 16, 8:30 pm (ABC) Game 7*: Fri, June 19, 8:30 pm (ABC)
A young NBA fan suffered catastrophic head injuries after falling from a moving vehicle while celebrating a San Antonio Spurs playoff win.
The unidentified boy, 17, is in critical condition and brain-dead following the incident which took place during the celebrations after the Spurs’ game six victory over Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday, News 4 San Antonio reported.
A young fan was seriously injured Saturday night after celebrating San Antonio’s thrilling win over Oklahoma City in the NBA Western Conference finals. San Antonio Express-News via Getty ImagesSpurs fans celebrate a win while honking along SW Military Drive in San Antonio. San Antonio Express-News via Getty Images
The teen was celebrating the win, which sent the Western Conference to a seventh deciding game, when he fell off the vehicle and hit his head, according to relatives.
He was rushed to an ER before being transported to another local hospital due to the severity of his injuries.
The teenager is brain dead and is not expected to survive, a police source told the San Antonio Express News.
The exact circumstances behind Thursday’s incident remain under investigation.
“The San Antonio Police Department extends our sympathy to the family, friends and loved ones affected by this tragic and preventable incident,” the SAPD said in a statement.
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama, center, walks over to Spurs fans as he holds his MVP trophy after the win. AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez
“This serves as an important reminder that public safety is a shared responsibility. We encourage everyone celebrating to follow traffic laws, stay inside of your vehicles and follow directions from the officers who are there to keep everyone safe,” the statement continued.
May 30, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Julian Champagnie (30) and teammates celebrate with the Oscar Robertson trophy after defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder in game seven of the western conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
I’m not saying I knew this series would go to a Game 7. But when our fearless leader, J.R. Wilco, asked me to quit submitting “The Adventures of Wembanyama and Grogu” fan fiction graphic novels to publish because this is primarily a Spurs community site, I begrudgingly and enthusiastically volunteered to sign up for Game 7 highlights.
And boy, were there highlights to be had! Victor Wembanyama scored a team-high 22 points along with 7 rebounds while Julian Champagnie uncorked 20 points on 6 – 10 shooting from downtown. It was truly a team effort as all five starters scored in the double digits, and Dylan Harper and Keldon Johnson got in on the action off the bench, scoring 12 and 11, respectively.
Emotional players play emotionally. If anyone thought Wembanyama wouldn’t come out angry, aggressive, angrily aggressively angry, then what team have you been watching? Sure, he almost fouled out of the game, but we can’t blame that on emotions. Blame it on the eternal battle between the two neighboring states’ powerhouse gas stations: Love’s and Buc-ees. One’s a nice, convenient gas station whenever you need one and the other is a roadside Texas-wrapped beef jerky haven, brisket brimming, peanut brittle laden, coven of kolaches, disguised as a refueling station. If Darth Vader loved clean restrooms and mascot beavers, he’d probably have a Buc-ees set up every 0.00000000000000324 parsecs on the Death Star. And Buc-ees would have a billboard anchored to every other asteroid floating through space: “Just 100 more light years until the next Buc-ees!”
The beaver won this round. But it’s going to be a bloody battle for years to come.
This, like it’s been all season, is a Julian Champagnie appreciation post. He showed up for every single game (literally) this season for the Spurs and put in a very agrarian consistency that was often appreciated but sometimes overlooked. It’s no surprise then to see that when the moment shined brightest, Champagnie did not shy away and helped his team punch their ticket to the big dance.
Julian Champagnie (20 PTS, 6-10 3PM) played a HUGE part in the @spurs' Game 7 win tonight!
He joins Klay Thompson (2016) and Stephen Curry (2x) as the only players in NBA history to knock down 6+ 3PM in a Conference Finals Game 7 🚨 pic.twitter.com/zoWkyAmR3p
99.99% sure Mitch Johnson decided to slow roll the number two overall pick throughout his rookie season just to unleash him in the Western Conference Finals. Haven’t seen a rookie with this level of maturity to his game since Stephon Castle, which was like ages ago—last season to be exact. Do I sound giddy? My family, friends, and group chats have anticipated my giddiness by preempting any celebration on my part with, “at least you don’t live in San Antonio anymore so we don’t have to watch for your name to come up on the local news for all the wrong reasons.”
De’Aaron Fox’s game is so smooth. Even on a balky ankle, he is able to glide anywhere on the court and get his own shot or set up his teammates. Friends and strangers alike on the internet are already declaring the Spurs will trade Fox next season, and I say to that don’t talk to me about salaries, cap space, and roster construction. I’m just a lowly pretend caveman lawyer (RIP Phil Hartman) who’s unfamiliar with your fancy lingo and advanced analytics or whatever internet speed faster than dial-up is these days. All I know is, Fox has been everything and more ever since he became a Spur.
Two-way point guards who can find their own shot, be a team’s closer when needed, run a professional NBA offense, all while sacrificing their own stats do not come along so often—just like opportunities to win an NBA title, these things are rare for a reason.
Fox serving up floaters and fond, familiar flashbacks of Tony Parker floating in the lane for a floater. Here’s hoping 3 full days of rest will get that ankle right so we can see number 4 at full strength for the Finals.
Keldon Johnson’s one-man run in the fourth quarter to help sustain the Spurs’ lead gave me endless joy. A lot of chatter (understandably so) surrounded KJ’s play in this series on the heels of his Sixth Man award. Let’s not forget that these awards are regular season awards, and that it’s a long season. The Sixth Man embodies team before self, instant energy off the bench, reliability, depth for support, and leadership when the team needs it most.
When the Thunder threatened and showed why you cannot count the defending champs out, Johnson rolled right in and showed up for his team.
I mean dude only played 6 minutes in this game, but he had one emphatic block so shocking that it made the Salesian Sisters question whether they were watching Luke Kornet or The Gospel According to Luke.
If you missed the game because you were too busy wreaking (good, clean, fun) havoc in downtown San Antonio, here are the full-game highlights:
Next up, the Spurs host their first NBA Finals game since 2014! They are playing against none other than the New York Knickerbockers, who are in their first NBA Finals since 1999—against none other than our Spurs. Catch Game 1 on Wednesday, June 3, 2026.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - MAY 30: Dylan Harper #2 of the San Antonio Spurs battles for the ball against Jared McCain #3 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the third quarter in Game Seven of the NBA Western Conference Finals at Paycom Center on May 30, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Jared McCain and the Oklahoma City Thunder lost Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals to Mason Plumlee and the San Antonio Spurs Saturday night, 111-103.
McCain scored 12 points for the Thunder but Plumlee did not get in the game.
However, Plumlee is now the last member of the Brotherhood who may get a ring this year. San Antonio will play the New York Knicks in the Finals, and while we felt pretty certain earlier that the winner of the Western Conference Finals would be a heavy favorite, New York is playing very well. And don’t overlook this: the Spurs are the youngest team ever to get to the Finals.
The Knicks, by contrast, are a much more experienced team. Josh Hart is 31, Karl-Anthony Towns is 30, Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges are 29, while Mitchell Robinson, OG Anunoby and Jose Alvarado are 28.
But as we saw in this series, Victor Wembanyama is the future. He can still be shoved around, but at 7-4 and 235, he’s quite thin and can still be bullied.
This should be another very compelling series. Hopefully, Plumlee gets a ring when it’s over, which would give him permanent bragging rights over brothers Miles and Marshall. All three won national championships at Duke, but only Mason has a chance of winning an NBA championship.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - MAY 19: Julian Champagnie #30 of the San Antonio Spurs talks to the media on May 19, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photos by Jim Poorten/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
After last night’s Game 7 victory in Oklahoma City, Julian Champagnie reminisced about honking and driving with the fans after the Spurs elimintaed the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round of playoffs.
“Yeah, I mean, my wife had told me she was like, ‘you know, they honk,’ I mean, they honk, she’s like, ‘they honk downtown,’ I might as well go see it. I want to go see it earlier when we won, but I figured, let’s win a series, and then I can go down there and kind of just see what’s going on, but it was great. The energy is crazy. I’m, I’m, I’m a little pissed at me, not over there right now, and see what’s going on, because I’m in downtown right now too. But energy is great, and I love the fans. We love you guys to them, right? We love you guys. We don’t go this far without you guys. We’re looking forward to seeing you guys in the finals in San Antonio and in New York, but yeah, we don’t get this far out, you guys. Shout out to y’all too. Y’all have just as much of a part in this as we do.”
De’Aaron Fox also had some kind words for the fans.
“Probably one of the most loyal fan bases that you’ll ever be around in any sport. And me being from Texas, I’ve actually gone to a Finals game in San Antonio when they played Miami, I’m seeing that the crowd can be like seeing how loud it can get. It’s just we’re continueing to get better every day and we’re bring a championship back to San Antonio.”
The Spurs, who really enjoy spending time with each other, branched out in their gratitude, The fans weren’t the only ones called out for their support. Victor Wembanyama shared some admiration Gregg Popovich, who visited the locker room after the Game 3 loss and spoke to the team.
Dylan Harper also shared gratitude for Pop. El Jefe spoke directly to the rookie guard and Harper credits him with getting refocued for his Game 6 output. He scored 18 points, with 6 rebounds and four assists. In the closeout, he scored 12 points including a clutch 3-pointer that helped the Spurs secure the win.
Spurs will host the New York Knicks on Wednesday in their first Finals appearance in a dozen years. The Spurs/Knicks Finals harkens back to 1999, when the two met and the Spurs won their first NBA Championship. Coincidentally, that 1999 series was the last time the Knicks made it all the way to the NBA Finals.
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May 10, 2026; Chicago, IL, USA; Mark Tatum the NBA Deputy Commissioner and Washington Wizard (left) guard John Wall pose for photos after Wizards won the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery at Navy Pier. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images | David Banks-Imagn Images
Well, after years of faffing about, the NBA has finally implemented a major overhaul of the draft designed to discourage tanking.
It is quite complex, and yet, in some ways, quite simple-minded.
The gist is that the highest odds for the number one pick will no longer be held by the team with the worst record.
Instead, the teams with the fourth through tenth worst records in the draft will have the highest odds of getting the first pick.
Teams will not be allowed to land the number one pick in back-to-back years (this has happened twice in NBA history, not counting the 2017 draft in which the C’s traded their number one pick to the Sixers, giving them back-to-back number one picks).
Teams will not be allowed to have top five picks in three consecutive years.
The odds have also been significantly flattened overall.
Finally, the bottom three teams will have two lottery balls, the fourth through tenth teams will have three lottery balls, and the eleventh through sixteenth teams will have one ball each.
I am not a fan of making the lottery this complex, but if the league is going to go into this, I think they need to actually make it more complex.
I don’t like flat odds for the number one pick running from positions four to ten. I don’t like that drop off from tenth to eleventh. This is an area where the league certainly has the ability to add a gradient rather than a drop off.
Now, I’ll grant you, this reform package had to be sold to team owners, who are, I suspect, short of attention span for a lot of these things, so adding a smoother gradient by increasing the number of lottery balls was possibly a non-starter because it would take too long to explain (in fact, I think the lottery rules already take too long to explain, but, hey, in for a penny, in for a pound).
In my scheme, you wouldn’t have a setup with 21 balls for 4-10, 6 balls for 1-3, and 6 balls for 11-16 (total 33 balls). You’d do the setup the same way it’s done now, with balls numbered 1-14 and four number combinations that are mapped out to percentages that scale more smoothly.
I think it’s rather problematic that the tenth worst team has a better chance of landing the top pick than the third worst team.
That brings us to the oddly named ‘relegation zone.’
Frankly, it’s unnecessary.
If the three worst teams are given equal odds of getting the top pick as the teams that finish fourth through tenth in the lottery ranking, there is already no incentive to tank!
Mind you, I don’t think that the lottery odds should be flat from one to ten, but if that’s how the NBA is going to play it, then it makes no sense to pretend that teams are still going to try to be awful in search of more lottery balls.
All you’re doing now is punishing extremely bad teams.
Now granted, extremely bad teams tend to squander their picks, so maybe this isn’t such a big deal, but it seems rather silly that a bad team with the third worst record in the league is going to get robbed of a lottery ball because they weren’t good enough to finish fourth.
The NBA is basically just running an experiment at this point, though. The new lottery rules are only approved until the 2029 season, so we’re going to get three bites at this apple to see how it tastes.
Mazzulla wins Coach of the Year
Honestly, this seemed a foregone conclusion after the C’s got bounced in the first round.
It had too much humor mixed with chagrin to be anything other than a “consummation devoutly to be wish’d,” It was the perfect epitaph — or coffin lid, perhaps — for a season that began in gloom and ended the same way.
Of course, Mazzulla was going to win an award that he publicly scoffed at rather than pilot the C’s into the later rounds of the playoffs.
Did he deserve it?
Well, that depends. If you’re the kind of person who thinks that Jaylen Brown only had a Second Team All-NBA season, then you’re dang right Mazzulla deserved a Coach of the Year nod.
If you rate Brown and the C’s supporting cast higher, then I think you can make arguments for other coaches, but the league’s media in general seem to think rather poorly of the talent on the C’s team, and that makes their regular season achievements look more and more like brilliant coaching, and less like the expected performance of great players.
But that’s not the real question.
The real question isn’t whether Mazzulla deserves it, it’s whether the award should be given to a single individual.
I tend to think that Mazzulla is right, and that it should be a staff award.
Why?
Because, for example, Mazzulla isn’t single-handedly responsible for the marked improvement of Neemias Queta, and the marked improvement of Queta was a major factor in the C’s overachieving regular season.
SACRAMENTO, CA – JANUARY 1: Head Coach Joe Mazzulla of the Boston Celtics coaches Neemias Queta #88 during the game against the Sacramento Kings on January 1, 2026 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
I mean, I think Mazzulla sets a tone, and he’s very good at getting players to buy into their roles—and the flexibility and sacrifice that those roles occasionally require—but he’s not working with Neemias day in and day out to make him a better player.
It’s the rest of Mazzulla’s staff that helped these guys become better players, players that Mazzulla can put his trust in.
The league has given Mazzulla an award for being smart enough to trust these guys, and it’s given Stevens an award for assembling the roster, and both of them have been awarded for assembling the coaching staff, but what about the coaching staff itself?
I mean, if a big part of the awards for Executive of the Year and Coach of the Year hinge on the work of the coaching staff, then they should be recognized as well.
Throughout basketball, coaching staffs have grown in size and importance. We’ve come a long way from the days where Red used to roam the sidelines by himself.
Boston, MA – December 19: Boston Celtics assistant coach Tony Dobbins, head coach Joe Mazzulla, and assistant coach Sam Cassell react to a technical foul call on Mazzulla in the fourth quarter. (Photo by Andrew Burke-Stevenson/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
It’s time, I think, to dispense with the cult of the ‘romantic genius’ in coaching, to stop looking at coaches as ‘auteurs,’ and to start looking at the position as an essentially collaborative one.
Yes, head coaches need to have the last word and the loudest voice at the table; they need to have the confidence to lead and they need to be decisive.
But these days, there is so much going on with analysis, with player development, and with game prep, that the NBA really should acknowledge that the achievements of a team that are currently attributed to the coach should be attributed to coach and staff.
In any case, Mazzulla’s response to winning the award is exactly what you would like to see.
It shows that he’s deeply aware of the work that his staff puts in, and the dividends that work has paid out.
Ultimately, the NBA might follow Joe’s suggestion, but given how long it took them to reform a lottery system that’s been abused for decades, I’m not holding my breath.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - MAY 30: Victor Wembanyama #1 and Kelly Olynyk #8 of the San Antonio Spurs talk after the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game Seven of the NBA Western Conference Finals on May 30, 2026 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
No matter what the outcome from this Western Conference Finals was going to be, a proven seven-foot big man from the Gonzaga Bulldogs program was going to end up on the winning side of this all-time Western Conference Finals series. A matchup between the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Chet Holmgren and the San Antonio Spurs’ Kelly Olynyk. How cool is that?
Yes, Olynyk doesn’t show up in the box score compared to the much younger, much more influential Holmgren in the future basketball landscape. His impact won’t appear to the naked eye, but his San Antonio teammates in the locker room and during a huddle in a hostile road environment understand what he brings to the table. An experienced journeyman who has been around the block throughout his 13-year NBA career.
Olynyk has now reached the biggest NBA stage for the second time. His first chance at a ring fell short as a member of the Miami Heat against the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2020 COVID-version of the NBA Finals.
With his No. 13 jersey hanging in the rafters of the McCarthey Athletic Center, Olynyk was the early start of a proud Canadian-American citizen turned Gonzaga success story. Impactful players like Kevin Pangos, the Nembhard brothers, were paved a path by the 2013 consensus First Team All-American.
Our neighborhood friends from the North always have guys, and coach Mark Few’s rotating staff over the years are continuously aware of it because of Olynyk.
2x Finals appearance for the Canadian/Raptor legend Kelly Olynyk. 🇨🇦
As for Holmgren, his chance at a title repeat has failed. Oklahoma City doesn’t play a fun form of entertaining basketball with all the flopping, understood. But Holmgren also didn’t put together a full stretch of physical and energetic defensive stances against the now face of the league, Victor Wembanyama. Holmgren’s presence was nearly non-existent in the Game 7 loss at home in the PayCom Center. Thunder’s Isaiah Hartenstein was more of the primary ask to be the potential ‘stopper’ for Wembanyama throughout this entire Western Conference Finals.
Holmgren, only 24 years old with already 226 games under his belt, is still on track to be the most accomplished talent to have ties to Spokane, Washington. Even more than the firstborn and raised poster child, John Stockton, who never could reach the mountain top with the Utah Jazz.
Kelly Olynyk really showed up to Game 1 of Spurs vs Blazers in ankle socks 😭💀
All I ask from Olynyk in the NBA Finals… Please, no more ankle socks. It’s a strange basketball attire decision, especially on that worldwide platform. All love, of course.
Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on X @a_cravalho
OKLAHOMA CITY — Poise. Maturity. Answering the opponents runs by knocking down big shots, or getting a key block. Digging deep when tested and finding a new level of performance and execution. Doing it all in the highest stakes game in a hostile environment.
That's what veteran teams do, what tested teams do. What champions do.
Except, in Game 7 on Saturday night, it wasn't the champion Thunder, it was the young and untested Spurs who did all those things in the Western Conference Finals. They kept their heads about them, at least until the final buzzer, when Wembanyama could be seen in tears. "This feeling, I can't explain it," Wembanyama said. "It's so powerful."
It’s Wembanyama, Spurs world
Early in the season, when the Thunder started 24-1, how this season was going to play out felt inevitable. It was going to be Thunder dynasty talk.
By Christmas, the Spurs had punctured that narrative and started to build one of their own.
San Antonio got to this moment — and to the NBA Finals — faster than anyone projected — even themselves.
At media day prior to the start of training camp, Wembanyama talked about making the playoffs as a top-six seed and avoiding the play-in tournament. There wasn't one "ah-ha" moment where San Antonio suddenly realized they could be this great or contend, Wembanyama said, they just focused on building good habits and stacked those one on top of the other. That's what built the confidence, the belief.
It also helped that the Spurs have a tight-knit and mature locker room. The off-court connectivity carried over to the hardwood.
Spurs coach Mitch Johnson had been downplaying the idea of Oklahoma City's championship experience mattering since before this Western Conference Finals started. He said his team has the experience that matters.
"Experience, a lot of times, is used in the form of 'best use' or the lack thereof when you need it the most. And people don't talk about as much the habits, the character, the togetherness, the competitive response..." Johnson said. "And this team has now been pretty damn consistent for a long time...
"I don't know who has as much experience as we do this year in the season of 2025-26."
Full Spurs team effort
Wembanyama was good in this game — 22 points, seven rebounds — and with that was named the Western Conference Finals MVP.
But he wasn't elite in Game 7 (Shai Gilgous-Alexander was the best player on the court). What the Spurs and Wembanyama had was poise and depth as a team. Julian Champagnie made six 3-pointers, some of them back-breaking for the Thunder. Stephon Castle continued his ascent and scored 16. Dylan Harper was making everyone forget he is a rookie, scoring a dozen off the bench.
It wasn't just the kids in San Antonio. One of the veterans on this team, Luke Kornet, was forced into action in the fourth quarter when Wembanyama picked up his fifth foul of the night. Then Kornet went out and made maybe the play of the game.
"I think, in a way, it probably saved me from myself... in terms of he probably needed a break," Johnson said of Wembanyama's foul trouble. "I probably wouldn't have given him one if I didn't have to because of the fouls. And, obviously, playing Monday morning quarterback, Luke was awesome, so it feels good now."
It felt good to Wemby, who was emotional on the podium.
"There's just so many big-time plays, so many guys stepping up," an emotional Wembanyama said. "Oh my god, it's an unreal chance [to play in the Finals]. My life is amazing, and being with these guys, living these things with these guys that I love so, so, so much. It's amazing."
That buzz from winning the Western Conference Finals will wear off, but the Spurs have gained all the experience they needed to reach and win the NBA Finals, showing off their poise and maturity along the way.
Anyone who doubts the Spurs are ready for that bigger stage has not been paying attention the past two weeks. This team has all the poise, maturity, and most importantly, talent it needs.
