Category: NBA

SAN ANTONIO — OG Anunoby is having a moment, birthed from a moment that will outlive us all. The national recognition is long overdue for the Knicks’ best two-way player, who could soon be named the NBA Finals MVP.

But Jalen Brunson remains the leader in the clubhouse for the award, uniquely built to crush whatever will the Spurs have left, looking to lead the Knicks to their first title in 53 years, eight years after leaving San Antonio with his second national championship.

“I think the one thing that stays constant is I’ve always told myself, and always been taught by my parents, ‘Never be afraid to fail,’” Brunson said Friday at Frost Bank Center. “You put yourself in those positions in the summertime when you’re envisioning what’s going on the court, when you’re by yourself on the court …

“When those opportunities come about, you’re not afraid of the moment because you worked hard enough to where if you do fail, you’re going to learn anyway. You put the confidence you have in everything you do when the lights aren’t on, when no one’s watching.”

Brunson is 48 minutes from forever, coming off a brilliant effort in the record-setting 29-point Game 4 comeback, when he had 36 points, seven assists, five rebounds and three steals, including a key 3-pointer over Victor Wembanyama — bringing the Knicks within one with 2:21 remaining — and the go-ahead shot to put the Knicks in front for the first time with 1:22 left.

Brunson has played the hero multiple times this series — scoring 13 fourth-quarter points in Game 1, then recording a steal in between his game-tying and game-winning shots in Game 2 — but he has been uncharacteristically inefficient, struggling with the speed and physicality of a defense hellbent on bumping and blitzing him at every opportunity.

Through three games, Brunson scored 82 points on 81 shots, had as many turnovers as assists (13) and recorded a minus-13 rating. In Game 4, he looked most comfortable, getting space, and getting to his spots, shooting 12-for-25 and becoming the first Knick to record three 30-point games in a single NBA Finals.

“Whenever you win or lose a game, that night, you’re going to think about it, think about the things you’ve done well or what you did wrong, [but] I’ve always told myself when you wake up the next day, it’s time to turn the page,” Brunson said. “Yes, we won [Game 4], but we still have a lot of work to do. We have a lot to learn. We didn’t play our best basketball. We still have a lot to revisit to make sure that we don’t really put ourselves in that position again.

“We still have to continue to have the belief that we’ve had.”

Since Brunson’s 40-point masterpiece in the first round in Detroit last year — capped with his series-ending 3-pointer in the final seconds — the Knicks haven’t needed his heroics in clinching opportunities. 

They beat the Celtics by 38 to finish last year’s second-round upset. This postseason run has seen the Knicks win by 51 in Atlanta, by 30 in Philadelphia and by 37 in Cleveland. 

Each game of the NBA Finals has been decided in the final minute.

Enter Captain Clutch, the former second-round pick, the supposedly undersized and overpaid free-agent signing, who has become the city’s most beloved athlete — and has one more hill to climb.

“I think I’ve been able to understand what a unique opportunity this is,” Brunson said. “When you’re doing the things that help you prepare for a game, prepare for moments, put yourself in routines that you’ve done your whole career, your whole life, when it comes game time, you’re ready to go because you put yourself, you put your mind in a position to be ready.”

Jayson Tatum is enjoying watching “good basketball” during his offseason.

The Celtics superstar watched the Knicks’ “pretty special” comeback win in Game 4 of the NBA Finals – but he’s not directly supporting either team.

Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum on watching the Knicks in the NBA Finals:

"I'm not rooting for anybody, I'm also not rooting against anybody. I think it does help that I've won a championships already, so helps me sleep a little better at night." pic.twitter.com/7l0A2VnMRK

— Front Office Sports News (@FOS_News_) June 11, 2026

“I’m not rooting for anybody, I’m also not rooting against anybody,” Tatum told Front Office Sports Thursday about the series, which the Knicks now lead 3-1.

After trailing by 29 points on Wednesday, New York staged a historic rally to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, capped off by OG Anunoby’s tip-in with one second left in regulation.

The Knicks have been a thorn in Tatum’s side recently, as New York eliminated his Celtics in a thrilling six-game Eastern Conference Semifinals last season.

The series also carried heartbreak for the six-time All-Star, who suffered a torn right Achilles tendon in Game 4, ending his season and keeping him out for a significant portion of the 2025-26 campaign.

The 28-year-old, who returned for 16 regular-season games this season, said his prior success makes watching the Finals an easier pill to swallow.

Tatum helped lead the Celtics to the franchise’s NBA record 18th championship against the Mavericks in 2024.

“I think it does help that I’ve won a championship already,” Tatum added. “So it helps me sleep a little better at night. I just enjoy watching good basketball games.”

A calf injury kept Tatum out of the Celtics’ Game 7 matchup against the Sixers, which Boston lost 109-100 – which denied him an opportunity for an Eastern Conference Semifinals rematch against New York.

SAN ANTONIO — Mike Brown has never won a championship as a head coach. Before this spring, he hadn’t won a playoff series in the role since 2012.

But he has been part of two dynasties, collecting one ring with Tim Duncan’s Spurs, three with Stephen Curry’s Warriors and the memories of the supporting casts that helped immortalize those stars.

“I’ve been fortunate, blessed, lucky to be a part of some good coaching staffs and be with some great coaches, Steve Kerr, Gregg Popovich, they were guys that went deep into their bench,” Brown said earlier in the postseason. “You keep guys engaged by doing that, and you do develop not just a bench but the team, as well, because guys get used to playing with other guys … 

“I’ve seen it work in the past, and that’s kind of what I thought I wanted to do here.”

Brown’s trust in his reserves ranks among the most significant changes from his predecessor, Tom Thibodeau. 

But who will the Knicks coach be able to count on in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, with a chance to win the team’s first title since 1973?

Mitchell Robinson went 1-for-5 on shots at the rim in Game 4 and is shooting 30.8 percent on free throws. Landry Shamet has followed the best eight-game 3-point shooting stretch (67.6 percent) in postseason history by making 1-of-11 shots in the past two games. Jordan Clarkson had 10 points in Game 3, but has two points in the other three games combined. Miles McBride’s “Deuuuuuuce” chants continue to end with disappointment, as he’s shot 4-for-20, with 2.8 points per game, in the series.

“I’m always going to stay confident, knowing I can impact the game in a lot of different ways,” McBride said Friday. “I’m going to make shots. I’m never worried about that. … Anybody is capable of it, 1 through 15 on this team. We’re pushing each other to be better. That’s how our team has been. We’re motivators. We want to uplift everybody. I think having a team like that, you can do a lot of great things.”

Jose Alvarado was the latest example, recording eight points, three assists and two rebounds in the final 10 minutes of their miraculous Game 4 win.

But who will Brown turn to next?

“This bench is deep and he trusts everybody,” Alvarado said. “Some days it’s my day, some days it’s somebody else’s day. … These are the times and moments you wait for.”

SAN ANTONIO — Shaquille O’Neal won four championships and an MVP Award over his 19 seasons in the NBA, and has since studied it closely as an analyst. 

So whom would he select if he were a general manager and could choose any player — past or present — with the No. 1 pick? 

“Me,” O’Neal told The Post. 

Excluding himself? 

“I’d probably go with [LeBron James] because Bron — and I know this is a Kobe [Bryant] comparison — Bron had it when he came in,” O’Neal told The Post. “It took Kobe two or three years to get it. Bron had it when he came in, so I’d probably go with Bron.”

You know who else has it too? 

Victor Wembanyama, who has reached the NBA Finals in his third season, faster than many of the all-time greats, including James, Bryant and Michael Jordan. 

This postseason Wembanyama has seemingly quieted any talk about who’s the next face of the league, if he hasn’t already snatched that ceremonial title from James, who has held it for two decades. 

Or has he?

“You have to take it,” O’Neal told The Post. “If he wins a championship, yes. If [Jalen] Brunson wins a championship, it’ll be Brunson. Face of the league ain’t something you pass on. You’ve got to go take it.”

After blowing a 29-point lead to the Knicks in a 107-106 loss in Game 4 of the NBA Finals, the Spurs trail the series, 3-1. 

Wembanyama is averaging 27.8 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 3.2 blocks over the past four games. Brunson is averaging 29.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, five assists and two steals. 

Brunson has skyrocketed into the national consciousness this postseason after barely being a blip on the radar. 

Knicks coach Mike Brown hopes the world will now see what New York has known. 

“He definitely has not — or did not — get the attention that he deserved during the regular season,” Brown said. “I think he’s a top-three MVP candidate. And when it comes down to those things, his name wasn’t mentioned much.”

Meanwhile, Wembanyama won Defensive Player of the Year and finished third in MVP voting. 

Regardless of whether this is Wembanyama’s time to claim the league’s ultimate throne, there’s no doubt that the 22-year-old will become an all-time great if he stays healthy. 

He was the most highly touted prospect since James entered the league in 2003, and he has already blown past his expectations. He’s able to patrol the paint with his size and agility, while also being able to shoot from anywhere on the court. He’s unlike anyone the league has seen. 

He’s an alien. 

So, how would he have matched up against The Big Aristotle?

“Oh, stop it,” O’Neal told The Post, flashing a smile. “Let’s talk desserts. He’s too light in the cakes for me. Stop it. But I’m not known for defense, so he probably would’ve scored a few points also. There’s no guarding me one-on-one, so you can’t ask me that question. He’s a great player. This is his time now. This is not about me.”

O’Neal has been closely watching the NBA Finals as an analyst for ABC/ESPN, alongside Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson. 

He finds this series particularly exciting because there’s so much emphasis on the teams’ big men. 

“I love [Wembanyama] and I love KAT [Karl-Anthony Towns], so for me this is really good,” O’Neal told The Post. “Two big men battling it out. Let the best big man win. Usually in the Finals it’s all about guards. But these Finals are about two big men, so I have an affinity, a love, for both of them. So whoever wins, I’m happy for them both.”

Towns has turned heads for his great defense on Wembanyama, especially in Game 1 and the first half of Game 2. He has made a huge impact on both ends of the court for the Knicks, who are one win away from their first championship since 1973. 

As for Wembanyama, he has astounded the world with his greatness during his first postseason run, such as when he had a 41-point, 24-rebound and 3-block performance to stun the Thunder in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals. 

But he has also shown his inexperience at times, such as when he threw the ball off of Stephon Castle’s back with 12.7 seconds left in the Spurs’ 105-104 loss in Game 2 of the Finals.

Now comes his biggest test yet. 

The Spurs are against the wall. After being on the wrong side of the biggest comeback in Finals history in Game 4, Wembanyama said the Spurs will either wave the white flag or come together stronger than ever. 

Apparently, he now has his answer. 

“Everybody thinks, everybody knows, we’re going to do it,” Wembanyama said at Spurs practice Friday. 

Regardless of the outcome of the Finals, Wembanyama has undoubtedly lived up to the hype. He carried the Spurs past the reigning champion Thunder in the Western Conference finals, outplaying two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. And he has been a force in his debut on the championship stage. 

But, according to O’Neal, when it comes to becoming the next face of the league, nothing is promised. 

O’Neal would still choose James to build a team around. 

And who’s next in line is far from predetermined.

SAN ANTONIO — It’s right there. 

It’s right freakin’ there. 

The Knicks’ first championship since 1973 — and only third in franchise history — is right there. Etching their place in New York legend is right there. Glory is right there. 

The Knicks just have to reach out and grab it. 

They carry their 3-1 NBA Finals lead into Game 5 at the Frost Bank Center for Game 5 on Saturday, just one step away from immortality. 

“The biggest thing is everybody has to stay present,” coach Mike Brown said on Friday. “You have to be present. You can’t think about the outcome. It’s about the process, the next play, the next play, the next play. 

“Sometimes you can think about the process, and it not work out. But when you’re playing against other great teams especially, that’s how you have to take it because anybody’s mind can start wandering when you think about the outcome.” 

The Knicks this postseason have bludgeoned their opponents in closeout games. Between Game 6 against the Hawks in the first round, Game 4 against the 76ers in the second round and Game 4 against the Cavaliers in the conference finals, the Knicks won by a combined 118 points. 

“I’ve said this multiple times, the hardest game to win is the one that ends someone’s season,” Karl-Anthony Towns said. “So we’ve got to be our best version tomorrow.” 

Despite Towns’ sentiment, the Knicks have made closeout games look like their easiest, not their hardest games. By the end of the first three rounds, they completely sucked the soul out of their opponents and left them with little will to keep competing. They left no doubt. 

There is one characteristic that has given them that ability. 

“Their level of maturity,” Brown said. “Obviously, we have some veteran guys on the team. But you can be a veteran and still have a little bit of immaturity about you, as we all know. From top to bottom, this group is pretty mature. That rubs off on the rest of the group. It makes my job easier. 

“We’ve been preaching all year that it’s about the next possession, the next possession, the next possession. We understand any time you try to play a closeout game, the level of desperation for your opponents increases, the level of desperation for the fans of your opponents is increased. You have to bring your best effort.”

That sense of desperation should be natural to the Spurs, who are trying to save their title hopes. But, when up 3-1 in the series, it would be natural for the Knicks to not have that same level of desperation, particularly after such an emotional, thrilling and historic comeback win in Game 4. 

“I think whenever you win or lose a game, that night you’re going to think about it, think about the things you’ve done well or what you did wrong,” Jalen Brunson said. “I’ve always told myself when you wake up the next day, it’s time to turn the page. Yes, we won, but we still have a lot of work to do. We have a lot to learn. We didn’t play our best basketball. We still have a lot to revisit to make sure that we don’t really put ourselves in that position again. 

“But honestly, we still have to continue to have the belief that we’ve had. It’s really important from that aspect.”

Playing with desperation first emerged when they trailed 2-1 in the first round. It carried them throughout their 13-game winning streak. 

The Spurs, at least publicly, are steadfast that they have not yet lost their confidence like the Knicks’ previous three opponents did. Victor Wembanyama said “everybody” on the team knows they will — not can — come back in the series. Stephon Castle expects to make history. 

And this series hasn’t exactly been straightforward — the Knicks have trailed by double-digits all four games and by as much as 29 in Game 4. All of the first four games of the series have been within four points in the final minute of regulation, the first time that’s happened in the Finals since 1973, when the Knicks beat the Lakers. 

The series has been closer than perhaps the 3-1 lead indicates. 

“We spoke about it multiple times,” Towns said. “We’ve got to approach every game like it’s 0-0. We’ve got to have that kind of desperation that it is to win Game 1 of a playoff series. We’ve got to go in there with the understanding of no comfortability, just really be desperate, execute at a high level. Gameplan discipline has to be at a high level.”

Elation awaits on the other side of desperation. 

SAN ANTONIO — By the time he checked his phone Wednesday night, OG Anunoby had too many text messages to count. 

His game-winning tip-in with 1.2 seconds left created a massive celebration inside Madison Square Garden and went viral immediately.

Among those who reached out were several former teammates with the Raptors. Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal Named June 11 “OG Anunoby Appreciation Day.”

“It’s really cool,” Anunoby said on Friday inside Frost Bank Arena, as the Knicks prepared for Saturday night’s Game 5. “Just everyone has been telling me how much it means, and obviously I can see how much it means. It’s just really cool to be a part of it, and I’m very grateful.”

The shot, which capped an NBA Finals-record comeback for the Knicks from 29 points down in the third quarter, is already being talked about as one of the great moments in New York sports history.

It’s up there with the David Tyree’s helmet catch in Super Bowl XLII, Don Larsen’s perfect game in the World Series, Rangers captain Mark Messier making good on his prediction in the 1994 Eastern Conference finals with a hat trick, and the Mets’ 1986 World Series comeback in Game 6, among others. 

“I tried to explain it to him, but you know OG barely gives you any reaction,” Karl-Anthony Towns said jokingly. “So I don’t know if he’s understanding it or not. Like you said, it’s a great moment. It’s one of the best sports moments in New York history. But we’ve got to solidify it with one more win.”

Towns called Anunoby’s flying tip-in, the “Right Hand of God,” after Game 4. On Friday, a reporter showed Anunoby a photo of his play next to the original “Hand of God,” Diego Maradona’s controversial goal in the 1986 World Cup quarterfinals for Argentina in which he used his left hand to score.

The referees didn’t see him using his hand, and afterwards, Maradona said it was “a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the Hand of God.”

“I mean, it’s iconic,” Anunoby said. 

This isn’t Anunoby’s first trip to the Finals. Seven years ago, he got there with the Raptors, but was unable to play due to an emergency appendectomy. He’s making an impact this time on the court. 

In four games against the Spurs, he is averaging 23.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and shooting an absurd 55.6 percent from 3-point range.

In Game 4, he poured in 33 points and shot 7-of-9 from 3-point range, keying the stunning comeback. If the Knicks win the series, he is a leading candidate to be the series MVP. 

“You can’t spell God without OG,” Towns joked. 

The Knicks’ epic Game 4 comeback did monster viewership numbers for ABC.

Wednesday’s thriller against the Spurs averaged 20.9 million viewers, making it the most-watched NBA Finals Game 4 since 1998 — when Michael Jordan’s Bulls took on the Jazz with Karl Malone and John Stockton —  and the most-watched Game 4 ever on ABC, according to numbers released by Nielsen on Friday.

And it hasn’t been just a one-game thing.

Through four games, the Knicks-Spurs series is averaging 19.6 million viewers, up 116 percent from last year and good for the most-watched NBA Finals since 1998 and the largest Finals audience ever on ABC/ESPN.

Game 4 was also a hit online. 

The NBA is calling the contest “the most-viral NBA game ever on social media” by reportedly “generating 3 billion views and counting.”

The latest numbers come after Monday’s Game 3 broadcast between the Knicks and the Spurs became the most-watched NBA Finals Game 3 in nearly three decades with 23.8 million people tuning in, and peaking at 26.3 million late in the fourth quarter.

Games 1 and 2 were the same story, having at the time been the most-watched NBA Finals games since Games 6 and 7 of the Raptors-Warriors Finals in 2019 when Kawhi Leonard led Toronto to the title against a injury-riddled Golden State team. 

The viewership surge is being driven by the rare combination of the Knicks’ first Finals appearance since 1999, a starving, massive New York market, Victor Wembanyama’s arrival on basketball’s biggest stage and multiple dramatic finishes.

With the Knicks one win away from their first NBA title since 1973, the league could be staring at an even bigger number Saturday night in San Antonio.

SAN ANTONIO — Victor Wembanyama claims to be unaffected. 

After the Knicks’ miraculous 107-106 Game 4 win over the Spurs Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden, video went viral on social media of a fan successfully throwing an egg at Wembanyama’s head as he walked into the team hotel. 

After being hit, Wembanyama stopped for a second and looked back before continuing to walk inside. 

“I didn’t really think much of it,” Wembanyama said on Friday. “I just saw that one video of the eggs. I didn’t see any other one. It’s OK. I don’t dislike it. Obviously it’s not good at all. But it doesn’t bother me.” 

Fans — or instigators — surrounded the Ritz-Carlton hotel, where the Spurs were staying, and heckled them as they returned from one of the most memorable games in NBA Finals history. 

Other video showed things being thrown at the Spurs’ team bus as they left MSG. 

Knicks fans throwing items at Victor Wembanyama as the Spurs arrive back at the team hotel.pic.twitter.com/sDLBLmzsck

— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) June 11, 2026

“We did hear some things, yeah,” Wembanyama said. “I have no idea. I think it was a bottle because it was, like, water on the bus. I didn’t see anything.” 

Wembanyama has emerged as a Knicks villain during these Finals, particularly for a few dirty plays throughout the series. 

In Game 3, he got away with shoving Jalen Brunson down to the ground by his head area — it was not called a foul in the moment and the NBA opted against retroactively ruling it a flagrant. 

Then in Game 4, though, Wembanyama was given a flagrant for elbowing Karl-Anthony Towns in the face. The Knicks trailed by 29 in the third quarter at the time — their largest deficit of the night — and the moment sort of sparked their historic comeback. 

Throughout Games 3 and 4 at MSG, “F–k you Wemby” chants constantly rang around the arena. 

And, with the Knicks up 3-1 in the series, their fans are expected to show out in full force on Saturday for Game 5 at the Frost Bank Arena. 

A 17-year-old boy is in stable condition after he was beaten into a coma near Madison Square Garden after Game 4 of the NBA Finals Wednesday, June 10, according to the New York Police Department.

After the New York Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs, 107-106, in the biggest comeback in NBA Finals history, the crowd outside Madison Square Garden in New York turned unruly, refused to disperse and injured multiple police officers, the NYPD told USA TODAY Sports.

But the most serious incident that occurred near the arena involved the 17-year-old boy, according to the NYPD. At about 11:45 p.m., the boy was approached by a group of unidentified individuals and a verbal dispute ensued about the Knicks’ game, the NYPD told USA TODAY Sports.

The dispute escalated into a physical confrontation, leading to the victim being punched and kicked and causing the victim to suffer a seizure and subsequently go into a coma, according to the NYPD.

Unidentified individuals left the scene and there has been no arrest. But the NYPD has released a photo of the suspect.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 17-year-old beaten into coma near MSG after Knicks win in NBA Finals

So it begins.

Marc Stein released an article today on The Stein Line surrounding the most recent trade talks across the league. Give that a read for all the details, but Stein did have some news regarding the Detroit Pistons.

It’s no secret that this Pistons front office has connections to Trey Murphy III. Remember, Trajan Langdon traded up for Trey back in 2021 when he was General Manager of the New Orleans Pelicans. It’s also no secret that the Pelicans front office, specifically their Senior VP of Basketball Operations Troy Weaver, was responsible for drafting multiple of Detroit’s young players.

If there’s ever a match made in heaven, this seems to be it.

Stein reported:

This is the first time their (Pelicans) new front office regime headed by Joe Dumars has been truly willing to field offers for Murphy. … Two teams known to have expressed interest in the 25-year-old sharpshooter, I’m told, are Detroit and Indiana.

If Stein’s reporting this, you know Detroit’s interest in TMIII must be real.

He also went on to say that Detroit and Minnesota are known teams with interest in Kyrie Irving. Yet, with Masai Ujiri newly at the head of the Mavericks front office, he has expressed excitement about keeping Irving in Dallas.

We’re about a week and a half away from the NBA Draft and two-and-a-half weeks away from the start of free agency. Things are starting to ramp up and Detroit has the capital to entice New Orleans to make a deal like this if Trajan wants to take a swing.

I enjoyed how Stein ended his piece:

That’s two shooters by the way, for those of you scoring at home, who have been connected to the Pistons in this piece. After a 60-win season that end in the second round of the playoffs, Detroit clearly know what it needs.

Thank goodness, Marc.

Go Stones.

In today’s Dub Hub:

• Yaxel Lendeborg says it would be “amazing” to play with Steph Curry following his pre-draft workout with the Warriors.
• Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor has the Warriors selecting Tennessee forward Nate Ament in his latest NBA mock draft.
• Victor Wembanyama remains confident as the Spurs stare down a 3-1 NBA Finals deficit against the Knicks.

Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg worked out for the Golden State Warriors on Thursday as part of the team’s pre-draft process. Following the workout, Lendeborg spoke with reporters and was asked what it would be like to play alongside Warriors superstar Steph Curry if Golden State were to select him later this month.

As expected, the projected lottery pick didn’t hide his excitement.

“Man, that would be amazing. He provides so much gravity on the court that it really makes it super easy for other guys to score.”

Yaxel Lendeborg on what it would be like to play with Steph if he gets drafted to the Warriors pic.twitter.com/54Ep5euMZz

— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) June 11, 2026

It’s easy to understand why the idea appeals to Lendeborg. Curry’s constant movement and ability to draw multiple defenders have created countless easy opportunities for teammates throughout his career. For a versatile forward like Lendeborg, who thrives as a connective piece on both ends of the floor, those extra pockets of space could help elevate his game even further at the next level.

Meanwhile, the Warriors, who currently hold the No. 11 overall pick in this year’s NBA Draft, remain focused on balancing competing in the present with building for the future. Because of this, the 23-year-old Lendeborg has emerged as one of the prospects most frequently connected to Golden State in recent mock drafts.

Lendeborg’s NBA-ready skill set makes him one of the more intriguing options in this draft, and if his comments on Thursday are any indication, the opportunity to play alongside Curry on the Warriors is one he would gladly embrace.

For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Friday, June 12th:

Warriors News:

Plug and play? NBA draft prospect Yaxel Lendeborg already can see Warriors fit | NBC Sports Bay Area

Already, Lendeborg can see his fit on the Warriors and how he would make an impact from Day 1 if they were to take him with the No. 11 pick. His answer wasn’t about himself. More so, it was about how he can help everybody else. 

“I would say, like five assists a game maybe to start off,” Lendeborg said Thursday after his Warriors workout. “A lot of defense, fastbreak opportunities for me. Depending on if I’m here or anywhere else, my role will be a lot different. But if I was here, I’ll be more like a secondary ball-handler. Whenever Steph [Curry] is taken out of the game, I’ll be there to assist, maybe provide a little more offense or instant offense.”

NBA Mock Draft 8.0: The latest projections for all 60 picks, including a new landing spot for Cameron Boozer | Yahoo Sports

Players who can handle, shoot off the dribble, and stand at 6-10 don’t grow on trees. This physical foundation kept Ament in lottery consideration even after a dreadful start to his freshman season when he struggled to score efficiently and make an impact defensively. But over the second half of the year for Tennessee, he flipped a switch and shots began to fall. He averaged 23.8 points over a six-game stretch in January and February that reminded everyone why he was a top recruit in the country. Then he dealt with an ankle injury that ruined his momentum entering March and severely struggled during the tournament. Steve Kerr re-signed for a two-year deal and would probably rather have a pro-ready player, but maybe Ament will be the young guy who exceeds expectations and turns into a star.

Draymond Green explains why he calls Jonathan Kuminga his biggest draft miss

Draymond Green talks about his biggest draft miss:

"I would say my biggest miss, I'll take it as a miss because it didn't work, but I still think this guy has the potential to become a star in this league, I was super on the train of drafting Jonathan Kuminga. I still don't… pic.twitter.com/MXiFJDf6Wl

— Chef (@CurryForGame) June 10, 2026

NBA News:

Wembanyama issued flagrant, one point away from suspension | ESPN

Having now collected three flagrant foul points this postseason, Wembanyama is only one point away from an automatic suspension. He committed the latest transgression, a flagrant foul 1, with 9:27 left in the third quarter of Game 4 when he elbowed Karl-Anthony Towns in the chin as the two were tied up near the 3-point line.

Victor Wembanyama confident in the Spurs heading into Game 5: ‘Everybody knows we’re gonna do it’

Wemby and the Spurs feel confident about coming back from down 3-1 👀 pic.twitter.com/Zz8o1Plk98

— ESPN (@espn) June 12, 2026

In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:

Warriors ‘legitimately interested’ in adding LeBron James to their veteran core, per report

Whether this latest report ultimately leads anywhere remains to be seen. But if Golden State is indeed entering the final chapter of Curry’s championship window, there may be no more fascinating way to end it than by pairing Curry with the very player who once stood as the dynasty’s greatest rival.

A post to end the week:

Carmelo Anthony thinks Jalen Brunson deserves Finals MVP over OG Anunoby 👀

“Let’s just be honest about this. If OG win it, it be like Andre Iguodala’s at Golden State.”

(via @7PMinBrooklyn / h/t @ClutchPoints ) pic.twitter.com/xGB5laMxXv

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 12, 2026

Follow @unstoppablebaby on X for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.