The San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks begin their highly anticipated 2026 NBA Finals matchup with Game 1 on Wednesday at Frost Bank Center, and Warriors star Draymond Green has made his pick.
The four-time NBA champion predicted who will take home the Larry O’Brien Trophy on the latest episode of “The Draymond Green Show,” and his answer might surprise some — though his reasoning is pretty sound.
“I’m also going to go with the New York Knicks to win this series,” Green declared. “This is a series that can go either way. I think this series can go either way. I think, ultimately, the New York Knicks are more primed and ready right now than the Spurs. Spurs still ain’t been through nothing.”
The Spurs, of course, are just over a decade removed from their most recent NBA title, while the Knicks have experienced plenty of heartbreak over their 53-year championship drought. It’s this hardened mindset that Green believes finally will push Jalen Brunson and Co. over the hill.
But even if that’s the case, he knows the experience gained by an already-lethal Spurs team will keep the young squad in contention for years to come.
“Now granted … these series, they age you fast, right?” Green continued. “So [the Spurs] aren’t your typical young team anymore because these series, you go through s–t in these series, and they age you fast. However, the Knicks, they got to be feeling it. They got to feel good about it and they got to go steal Game 1. And like I said, I also think they win this series.”
We’ll see if Green’s prediction proves true in this best-of-seven series.
For a couple of New York Knicks, Game 1 of the NBA Finals in San Antonio isn’t just a work trip – it’s a homecoming.
Jordan Clarkson and Kevin McCullar Jr. both attended Wagner High School in San Antonio, just a ten-minute drive from where they’ll be tipping off against their hometown team tonight.
It comes with a lot of memories – and Clarkson, who attended Wagner from 2006-2010 and grew up during a dominant, four-title era for the Spurs, remembers it well.
“The energy is always amazing,” Clarkson told reporters about growing up during that era during a media availability on Tuesday. “My stepmom worked at the Westin so I would see the parades through the hotel balconies and stuff. I would sneak around there and…take pictures and run up on players for autographs. I was definitely that kid.”
That hasn’t slowed him down, however, when playing against his hometown team: he’s averaged 20 points per game when playing the Spurs across his career.
He’s been a strong presence off the bench for New York this season, averaging 8.6 points per game during this regular season and 15.3 points per game across his 12-year NBA career. Back at Wagner, he led the Thunderbirds to back-to-back state semifinal appearances and was named the San Antonio high school player of the year his senior season.
McCullar Jr. made his own mark on the Wagner Thunderbirds years after Clarkson left, leading them to the 6A state title game as a sophomore in 2017. He’s been earning some more playing time for the Knicks this season, moving up the depth chart after a strong stint while Josh Hart was out with an injury. He’s averaged 2.2 points for the Knicks since being drafted in 2024.
Clarkson, McCullar Jr. and the Knicks will open the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs in San Antonio tonight, tipping off at 8:30 eastern.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - MAY 30: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs celebrates after defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder to win 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
With 6:32 remaining in the 4th quarter of last Saturday’s Game Seven matchup between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs, San Antonio backup center Luke Kornet chased down the Thunder’s Isiah Hartenstein and blocked what looked to be an easy dunk which would have cut the Spurs’ lead to 4 at 97-93. It was reminiscent of LeBron James’ block against Andre Iguodala in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals.
Kornet’s block potentially saved the game for the Spurs and will go down as one of the NBA Playoffs’ more iconic defensive plays, particularly if the Spurs go on to win their sixth championship against the New York Knicks.
But there was another defensive play only a few minutes later that I can’t quite wrap my head around. I’m not sure anyone can.
With 4:53 left and the Spurs up 102-93, Spurs rookie Dylan Harper drove into the lane, lost his footing, and lost the ball. OKC’s Cason Wallace and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dove on top of Harper, as did the Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama. OKC’s Jared McCain saw the scrum, correctly anticipated the pending OKC possession, and ran toward the opposite corner. Gilgeous-Alexander secured the ball while Wembanyama was on one knee just outside the restricted area of the Spurs’ basket. And here’s where it gets crazy.
Wembanyama got to his feet and sprinted alongside Gilgeous-Alexander towards half court. For the handful of you that have never watched Wembanyama play, he runs with his fists high and close to his chest and bobs his head back and forth. It’s reminiscent of a little kid trying to show his parents how fast he can run with new shoes on. It’s 100% effort with complete disregard for picking up women or getting a cool Ray-Ban endorsement. And it’s part of what makes him so unique.
Wembanyama is officially listed as 7’4”, which is only true in a world where Kevin Durant is actually 6’9”. With shoes on, which is typically required to participate in an NBA game, Wembanyama is probably closer to 7’7”, so running stride for stride with the two-time league MVP is a feat in and of itself. But now let’s get even crazier.
Both players reached half court at the same time, where Gilgeous Alexander spotted McCain wide open on the left wing at the three-point line and fired a pass to him. McCain took a big sidestep to position himself almost along the baseline in the corner and launched his shot. And this is where things get stupid crazy.
Wembanyama covered 28 feet in just over a second and a half, taking only five steps from half court after Gilgeous-Alexander passed the ball to McCain. Just inside the free throw line extended, he launched off his left foot and fully extended his right arm. He jumped almost 14 feet through the air and came within an untrimmed fingernail of blocking McCain’s shot. The shot rimmed out, Julian Champagnie secured the rebound and Wembanyama walked back toward halfcourt with his left arm and clinched fist high in the air, triumphantly. The Spurs went on to win the game and the series.
During these playoffs, Wembanyama has wowed NBA fans with jaw-dropping play after jaw-dropping play. Logo threes, backward dunks, insane blocks, he’s done it all. But it’s plays that will never be memorialized in a stat book that has to be scariest for the rest of the league. His block attempt went largely unnoticed, particularly considering the things he’s done that have made a bigger splash this spring. Reggie Miller applauded Wembanyama’s “nice job to get that Kornet contest,” but there wasn’t much after that. And that’s why this is all so crazy, so early, so far ahead of someone else’s schedule.
Victor Wembanyama is an alien, not of this world. He’s a monster in the woods. He’s Tiger at Augusta in ‘97. He’s Tyson in Brooklyn in ’86. He’s Kurt Cobain in Seattle in ‘91. He’s all those things wrapped and stretched like the rubber band man into one inconceivable presence of wise beyond his years philosophical thought and never before seen athletic brilliance.
In 2018, Kurt Cobain’s mom, Wendy O’Conner talked about the first time Kurt played Smells Like Teen Spirit for her.
“I sat on the edge of it, and I could remember that like it happened just a few minutes ago. The hair on my arms stood up, and I got this heaviness in my chest. I said, ‘Oh my god Kurt, how are you going to handle this?’ He said, ‘What?’ I said, ‘This is going to change everything.”
Wembanyama is doing the same thing — he’s changing everything we knew about the game of basketball. Everything is different now since Wembanyama got here. And we’re all so lucky that we get to watch.
Mixing metaphors when writing a story is often frowned upon, it’s too confusing. But how else can you even begin to try and describe what we’re witnessing right now? There are the viral dunks and blocks and elbows but there are also the plays that are never recorded as a stat happening several times in a game, plays that when you rewind and watch again, you can’t believe what you are seeing.
Wembanyama is the alien that has arrived. He’s the monster in the woods preparing to destroy your city. He exudes “Hello, world and Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth”, with every tear he sheds when a goal is met; every time a long-held grudge is avenged.
And now the Finals are about to start for Wembanyama and the Spurs. Here we are now. Entertain us.
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 1: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs and Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks goes up for the rebound during the game on March 1, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
For the eighth straight season, a new NBA champion will be crowned this June. The New York Knicks have won eleven straight games after falling to 2-1 against the Hawks in Round 1 while the San Antonio Spurs have won two hard fought series vs. the Timberwolves and the defending champs.
Who raises the Larry O’Brien and looking ahead, what do the Celtics have to do to take down the champs next June?
Rich Jensen: I have the Spurs in six messy games.
The C’s best path to beat the Spurs is continued growth and perhaps the addition of one or two veteran players. I don’t think it’s sensible, as fans, to put the Spurs up on a pedestal. The C’s are nothing to sneeze at, and will hit the next season with the league’s best one-two punch.
Grant Burfeind: Spurs in 7, partly because Adam Silver didn’t script Wemby in the Finals just to leave all that Game 6 MSG ticket money on the table. Have you SEEN what those seats cost? The league may send this series to seven out of fiscal responsibility alone.
Now, for the actual basketball reason: San Antonio has the best player in the series, and he happens to be the hardest player in the league to solve. The Knicks are deeper, older, more physical and built to make this series feel like a nightly dental procedure. Brunson has the ability to steal games, no doubt. KAT pulling Wembanyama away from the rim could swing stretches. OG and Hart will make every possession for the Spurs feel like trying to move a couch through a narrow hallway. But Wemby changes the math on both ends. Scratch that, Wemby is a new form of math altogether. He can erase the paint, rush shooters who think they’re open and still be the offensive hub San Antonio needs late. Add in Fox’s burst, Harper’s poise and Castle’s defense, and I think the Spurs survive just enough rock fights to win the series.
For the Celtics, beating either team next year starts with accepting what this Finals is showing them: the margins around stars have to be sturdier. Since the West is so loaded that it’s hard to predict who comes out next year, New York is probably the cleaner measuring stick. To beat the Knicks, Boston needs size, rebounding and enough functional strength to survive without bleeding extra possessions. If San Antonio is the matchup, they need multiple frontcourt bodies to bother Wemby, enough shooting to punish his help instincts and more consistent rim pressure so the offense doesn’t turn into five guys politely waiting behind the arc. The Celtics don’t need to adopt an entirely new identity, but they do need to get healthier, bigger and a little less dependent on shot variance if they want to be the last team standing in June.
Ian Inangelo: I think the Spurs are winning the Finals in 6 games over the Knicks.
I think the key to the Celtics beating them next year is doing something similar to what they did this season. Let Victor Wembanyama beat you from three-point range and slow down everyone else. Boston would need a big who can play defense on the perimeter and I think a Robert Williams reunion would be the key. He played pretty solid defense on Wemby during Portland’s first round series this year and I think he could be a solid option for this team.
Bill Sy: Spurs in 5 because TL;DR, but ultimately, I trust Castle and Wemby controlling Brunson and KAT. And if the path to Banner 19 goes through New York and San Antonio next season, the biggest question mark right now is obviously at center, but I’m not totally convinced that’s an area of need for Stevens to address this offseason. Conventional wisdom says that you have to upgrade Neemias Queta after he got wrecked by a hobbled Joel Embiid. However, I just don’t see a major swing the front office can make at the 5. Instead, they’ll put a premium at point guard — preferably someone that can also stay in front of Fox and Brunson — and again lean in on their depth, particularly on the perimeter with their wings.
Nirav Barman: I have the Spurs winning in 6 games. I think they’re deep and talented enough to really push this Knicks team despite not having as much experience. As long as they’re not too tired, they should be able to handle things.
San Antonio’s defense is excellent, even beyond the 7’4″ freak of nature on their roster. The Spurs were able to minimize the reigning 2x MVP, and contain the rest of the reigning champs’s offense too. If they can limit their turnovers, they have a good chance of snuffing out the Knicks as well. KAT’s ability to stretch the floor may be a more effective way to get Wemby out of the paint than Chet and Jaylin Williams, but it’s likely that Mitch Johnson will plan for that, and have a switch heavy defense that keeps Wemby close to the paint.
The Knicks might have more reliable offensive threats, but they also have less of them, and have had a looong break between games. Maybe that means they’ll just be more rested, but I would imagine a 7+ day period without a game could take a team out of rhythm. I think Brunson has proven his ability to show up in big games, as has OG Anunoby who should hopefully be fully healthy now. If the rest of the roster keeps up their level of play that helped them take care of the Sixers and Cavs in quick fashion, then I think this will be a very interesting series, but I don’t see New York’s defense being effective enough to win the overall matchup.
If the Celtics end up having to go through the Knicks next year, they’re going to have to become much better at containing Brunson at the point of attack, and defending pick-and-rolls when Brunson is forced to defer. Additionally, they’ll need to find a way to consistently open up the paint for themselves to get better looks at the rim, likely by upgrading their big men.
If the Celtics are going up against the Spurs, they’ll need some prayers on their side. Having a large, switchable team would go a long way, so the Jays are a great start. Hugo and Jordan becoming offensive threats would become critical, as would having a mobile two-way big (which doesn’t come around all that often.) On top of that, they’ll need their role players to capitalize on any and all open looks. The Jays need consistent, reliable support when the defense is focusing on them. I think you have to say that the Spurs are the better team, and considering how much younger and cheaper their roster is, that’s a scary thought. I do think that the Celtics can keep every game competitive, though – I just don’t see them winning a 7-game series without some significant improvements.
Jake Issenberg: It pains me to say it: Knicks in 7. The way to beat the Spurs is by bombing away from outside the paint. The Knicks have been scorching hot from three all playoffs and employ big, quick trigger shooters across the roster. Something that Chet Holmgren, and the rest of the OKC Thunder shooters are not. Towns is a skeleton key on offense in this specific matchup. KAT’s ability to either pull Wemby out of the paint or punish the Spurs on the offensive glass if Wemby is roaming off Josh Hart is going to be what tips the series in favour of the Knicks. The Thunder are not an elite rebounding team and were able to punish the spurs on the offensive glass at times. Between KAT, Mitchell Robinson, and Josh Hart, the Knicks have the personnel to mash the Spurs on that specific margin. On the other end, I think OG Anunoby is one of the only perimeter players in the league capable of giving Wemby trouble. I’m picking the Knicks in 7, so I wouldn’t be surprised if the Spurs win the NBA Championship, however, I think the matchup favours the Knicks.
How do the Celtics reach the mountain top if it’s the Knicks and Spurs who stand in their way? Priority number one is upgrading the front court. Whether that’s Giannis, Robert Williams, or Jock Landale, the group needs to get more talented and more versatile. Next, Joe Mazzulla, the reigning coach of the year, needs to level up as a playoff coach, starting with updating the team’s offensive approach. The team has become too rigid. Dominating the margins is important and clearly drives winning, but there’s something missing when the Celtics get out of the 82 game season and into the paradigm of a 7 game series.
Jeff Clark: I’ll go with Spurs in 6. These things typically boil down to who has the most transcendent player with the perfect pieces around him. The Knicks have Brunson and KAT and some great defensive wings, but that strikes me as a very-good team, not a great one. The Spurs, on the other hand, have Wemby and a young, but very talented supporting cast around him. One might assume that it is a year early for them, but I don’t get the sense that the lights will shine too bright for them. After all, the biggest test was the Thunder and they were able to defeat them. I think the Spurs win their first title of the Wemby era, and frankly I’m a little concerned about what that means for every other team going forward, including the Celtics.
Robby Fletcher: I have the Spurs in 6, specifically coming back from 2-1 to win the series.
The Knicks are getting a third straight opponent coming off a 7-game series which is an obvious advantage, but the Spurs have the end-all No. 1 player in this matchup, and plenty of defenders on the perimeter to make life difficult for Brunson and company.
How does Boston win that matchup? With improved paint defense and better perimeter shotmaking, although if we’re being honest, is there really an answer to stopping Wemby? Probably not, but if you’re killing them from deep, that at least opens the door for dragging Wemby a little farther away from the paint.
Bobby Manning: I’m going Spurs in 7 despite going back-and-forth in my head. If Victor Wembanyama is playing like himself, the Knicks, and maybe nobody at this point, have an answer for his defensive impact. Never mind what he’s producing the other way. Between that, Mitchell Robinson’s injury and defensive questions for NY, I give San Antonio a slight, but not definitive edge. The Spurs also have to handle Brunson and Towns’ offensive attack, OG Anunoby’s defensive versatility and the Knicks’ more consistent bench. What I know for sure is that this could be the series for the ages, and despite how agonizing of a decision it’ll become, one of many reasons why I believe the Celtics need Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Ryan Paice: I think the Spurs win in 6 or 7, and while I expect a hard fought series, I think Wemby’s defense is generational and the Spurs have the perimeter depth to slow Brunson down. While KAT is a tough matchup for Wemby, I don’t think it’ll be enough for the Knicks to win. New York has yet to face a real challenger this postseason, and I think running into the roadblock that is the Spurs will trip them up pretty badly. Meanwhile, the Spurs are battle-tested and young enough to recover from a seven game series against the reigning champs.
For the Celtics to beat the Spurs next year, I think we’ll need an upgrade at the center position that can stretch Wemby out to the perimeter and bang for buckets down low. Obviously, that’s a tall order. Unicorns don’t grow on trees. But having a center like Queta will only allow Wemby to play off of him and patrol the paint, which is exactly the opposite of how to beat San Antonio. Without a center upgrade, I don’t see the C’s beating the Spurs at all. But that alone might not be enough. Boston also needs to add a couple steady hands, like Al Horford and Jrue Holiday were for the team in 2024. Their impact in the championship run was huge and the Jays need steady hands around them to keep the gears turning when they start to grind. So, for the Celtics to beat the Spurs next year, we’ll need a near-impossible center upgrade and to add a couple vets who complement the Jays stylistically and mentally. Realistically, it could be another year or two of roster building before something like that happens. But if anyone can make it happen, it’d be Brad Stevens, so I remain hopeful.
For the past few days, Knicks and Spurs fans have had to dream up hypotheticals and play out the most important series of the season in their heads. But tonight, we finally get to see the teams take the court and throw all of that out the window. But before they do, with the NBA Finals just hours away, let’s take a final look at who the experts are picking to win the title.
On ESPN.com, 10 of the 13 writers picked the Spurs to win. Bobby Marks picked them to win in five games, and everybody else who had the Spurs winning picked them to do so in six or seven games. Ramona Shelburne, Justin Tinsley, and Ohm Youngmisuk were the three who picked the Knicks to come out on top, predicting the Knicks to win in seven games, six games, and seven games, respectively.
Over on Sports Illustrated, three of their five writers picked the Spurs. Chris Mannix picked the Spurs to win in six games, “maybe five,” citing the Spurs’ backcourt defense and Victor Wembanyama’s dominance. Meanwhile, Blake Silverman and Dan Lyons picked the Western Conference representatives in six games due to Mitchell Robinson’s injury concern and their belief that Wembanyama will ultimately be the best player in the series.
The Athletic bucked some of the aforementioned trend, though, with the most popular outcome being Knicks in six. Of their 26 votes, said result got 10 votes, with Spurs in seven and Spurs in six getting five votes each, and Knicks in seven getting three votes.
Lorenzo Reyes of USA Today Sports picked the Knicks in seven games largely due to the Knicks’ experience and additional rest advantage, while Prince J. Grimes picked the Spurs in seven games, raising questions surrounding whether the Knicks really are a dominant team, or whether the strength of their Eastern Conference opponents — or lack thereof — played a role in their road to the Finals.
As you can see, while the experts are slightly leaning towards the Spurs, there really isn’t a foregone conclusion. If anything, the only consensus is that the series should be close and could easily go the full seven games. The books, on the other hand, seem to disagree. The Spurs came out as pretty heavy favorites after they advanced to the Finals and currently sit at -188 odds over on FanDuel, while the Knicks sit at +158, which equates to about a 38.76% chance.
While Knicks fans may feel like their team is getting slighted, it may play to the Knicks’ advantage. Every time the Knicks have been eliminated in the postseason during the Jalen Brunson era, it has been to a lower seed. Not that the team needs any extra motivation, but seeing and/or hearing about them being counted out may further feed into their focus on playing with a level of desperation.
Recently, AJ Dybantsa was on the “Gilbert Arenas Show,” a podcast with the former Wizards star. Contrary to previous rumblings that he preferred to stay in Utah because he went to Brigham Young, Dybantsa answered questions about him as a potential Wizards player, including which number he would want to wear.
If they draft me, I do need 3, Trae [Young]. If they draft me. We’re going to see in like five weeks.
AJ Dybantsa says Trae Young will have to give up No. 3 if he’s drafted by the Wizards 😅
“If they draft me, I do need 3, Trae. If they draft me. We’re gonna see in like 5 weeks”
Young wears No. 3 for the Wizards, though he previously wore No. 11 for most of his career. The No. 11 is retired by the Wizards in honor of Elvin Hayes, so this appears to be a taller task for Dybantsa. After all, if Young gets traded to the Wizards and doesn’t demand No. 11, then Dybantsa probably should be more coy about that.
All of that said, jersey numbers are a very small part on why a player should or shouldn’t be acquired. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - MAY 28: Victor Wembanyama #1 and Stephon Castle #5 of the San Antonio Spurs on the court during game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game Six of the NBA Western Conference Finals on May 28, 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 Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The San Antonio Spurs have once again emerged as a force to be reckoned with, reaching the 2026 NBA Finals after six years without a playoff berth and nine years without a series win. A storied franchise that had previously never missed the playoffs in back-to-back years has come out of their worst stretch in team history with one of the youngest rosters to ever reach the Finals.
While their Finals opposition, the New York Knicks, have successfully relied on major trades and the absolute bargain that was the free-agent signing of Jalen Brunson, the Spurs are nearly the polar opposite. Aside from last season’s De’Aaron Fox trade, their core pieces have come through the draft.
The NBA Draft lottery has repeatedly broken the Spurs’ way
It’s hard for the rest of the league not to be envious looking at San Antonio’s last three first-round picks:
2023: Victor Wembanyama, No. 1 overall
2024: Stephon Castle, No. 4 overall
2025: Dylan Harper, No. 2 overall
Wemby by himself is franchise changing, and he’s on his way to being one of the greats. Castle and Harper already look like ideal guards to pair him with for years to come.
Famously (and, for conspiratorial-minded NBA fans, suspiciously), moving up in the lottery has been a rite of passage for the Spurs. Every time the Spurs have had top eight odds, they’ve moved up, including for Tim Duncan and David Robinson at No. 1 overall. The Spurs rose two spots to win the Wemby sweepstakes, improved their position by one for Castle, and vaulted six places to the No. 2 pick off a 34-48 season to get Harper. Not a bad consolation for narrowly losing out on Cooper Flagg.
File this stretch away in the history books, because this trio may be the last of its kind.
NBA Draft lottery reform makes it impossible to replicate the Spurs
In a supposed effort to curb tanking/reduce the number of G-League players getting significant minutes in March and April, the NBA sought major reform to its draft lottery. Last week, they approved something so convoluted that it makes the salary cap rules seem easy to comprehend.
Among the many changes set for the 2027 through 2029 drafts, no team is allowed to have the number one overall pick in back-to-back years, nor can it pick in the top five in three consecutive years. Had this been implemented sooner, Harper would’ve never been a Spur.
These restrictions will apply only to each team’s own pick without regard to whether that pick has been retained by the team or traded to (and thus held by) another team.
The Memphis Grizzlies, who themselves are picking third overall in this month’s draft, hold the most favorable of the 2027 first-round pick from the Utah Jazz, Minnesota Timberwolves, or Cleveland Cavaliers, as part of the Jaren Jackson Jr trade. Utah picks second this year and picked fifth last year, so if the Jazz end up in the lottery again next season, the pick is ineligible to be higher than sixth. Memphis, of course, was the lone team to vote against the reform.
In effect, the NBA could end up punishing teams, whether they’re “tanking” or not, who’ve acquired potentially high-value draft picks through trades.
It’s not just high lottery picks that have made the Spurs a powerhouse again
Sixth Man of the Year winner Keldon Johnson, rookie Carter Bryant, and starting forward Devin Vassell were also first-rounders, but those three were respectively picked 29th, 14th, and 11th overall. Johnson and Vassell endured the back-to-back 60-loss seasons, as did other starting forward Julian Champagnie, who was claimed off waivers when the Philadelphia 76ers desperately needed to open up a roster space so that Mac McClung could be in the dunk contest. Champagnie is one of their top three-point shooters and hasn’t missed a game in over two years.
Backup center Luke Kornet was San Antonio’s major free agent signing at just over $10 million/year, and while he may not be having a particularly strong postseason, his block on Isaiah Hartenstein in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals symbolically slammed Oklahoma City’s championship repeat shut. De’Aaron Fox has not been at his best in the playoffs and has otherwise been dealing with an ankle sprain, but the former Kings star has proven to be a stabilizing force at point guard. Stephon Castle’s early turnover issues against the Thunder as the primary ball-handler (20 TOs in Games 1-2) significantly subsided after Fox returned in Game 3, after which he had just 12 TOs combined.
The Spurs are well coached, seemingly unflappable, and the roster is poised to get better with more experience and veterans like Kelly Olynyk and Harrison Barnes eventually off the books. It also helps a hell of a lot when the ping pong balls bounce your way and you can land franchise cornerstones at three positions. Starting next year, the new rules will see to it that no team can even have a shot at the same good fortune as San Antonio.
After four NBA titles, two MVP awards, the all-time 3-pointers made record and 12 All-Star appearances, it might seem like Steph Curry doesn’t have many more accolades to attain.
However, with his new reported 10-year, $400 million partnership with Li-Ning, Curry is proving he isn’t ready to slow down a bit.
Draymond Green is plenty excited for his long-time Warriors teammate, and recently explained what went into Curry’s decision to sign with the shoe company.
“Well, number one, Li-Ning is one of the fastest growing shoe brands in the world,” Green said on “The Draymond Green Show”. “Number two, the opportunity for him to grow Curry brand globally, the market in China, life after basketball for him. This deal checks all of those boxes and I’m happy as hell for him. I think this is groundbreaking.”
In November 2025, Curry and Under Armour ended their partnership that had been ongoing since 2013 – before the future Hall of Fame shooter had achieved any of the honors listed above.
“To sign a $400 million plus sneaker deal, allegedly, at 38 years old is unheard of,” Green said. “Which just lets you know the weight that the name Steph Curry carries, which lets you know that the presence that Steph Curry has, who he is, what he is, what he stands for, that they’re willing to sign this a 10-year deal.”
Green also mentioned the fact that the 17-year veteran likely has “two or three more years” left in the NBA, something that stands out given the length of the contract.
“Amazing, absolutely insane,” Green added. “So, shout out to 30. Incredible. Another one. Incredible to see, man. Congratulations, brother. Job well done.”
The deal will also give Curry the freedom to sign male and female athletes, will feature a golf line and also will introduce “Curry Brand” retail stores in the United States and China.
SAN ANTONIO — When news broke that Knicks reserve center Mitchell Robinson fractured a finger — it turned out to be his hand — and had surgery to repair it, there were understandable doubts he would be able to get healthy enough for Game 1. This is the kind of injury that usually takes more than a month to heal.
This is not a surprise. Robinson had been pushing to return to play but remains officially "questionable" for Game 1, a status unlikely to change until the hour before tip-off. However, he practiced with the team on Tuesday with just a wrap on his hand, and the expectation has been that if he could play, he would.
New York needs Robinson and his physicality to help defend Victor Wembanyama, an assignment he will draw for much of the series. In the Knicks' NBA Cup Finals victory over the Spurs back in December, Robinson had 10 offensive rebounds and was a force on both ends of the floor.
Robinson suffered the hand injury at home, not during Game 4 against the Cavaliers or at the Knicks' practice facility (it is still not clear exactly what caused it). Robinson fractured his fifth metacarpal, which is the bone that connects the little finger to the wrist.
Because it's a hand injury, it can be wrapped and padded to protect it on the court. How that impacts his ability to catch a pass or pull down a contested rebound remains to be seen.
Knicks center Mitchell Robinson is expected to be available for Wednesday’s Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals against the Spurs after having hand surgery for a broken right hand, according to ESPN.
The 7-foot Robinson — who sustained a fracture of the fifth metacarpal, as first reported by The Post’s Stefan Bondy — was a full participant in practice Tuesday.
New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson prepares to shoot during practice at media day during the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas, on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST
Robinson wore a sleeve on his right hand and appeared to be moving well while shooting.
Although it is unclear exactly how Mitchell was injured, ESPN reported that it occurred at his home during New York’s off week following a four-game sweep of the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals.
New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson puts up a shot during practice at media day during the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas, on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST
The Knicks had nine days off before Game 1 of the NBA Finals Wednesday night in San Antonio.
The 28-year-old big man has been a reliable backup for starter Karl-Anthony Towns.
Robinson shared that he was “fighting to get back on track” with his mental health and taking a break from social media amid the Knicks’ playoff run.
The first NBA Finals game in New York in 27 years is set to have a presidential guest.
President Trump is planning to attend Game 3 of the Knicks-Spurs series on June 8 at Madison Square Garden, sources told The Post, although there’s always the chance plans change.
MSG performed security walkthroughs in preparation for his potential visit, according to the sources.
US President Donald Trump speaks during a “Rose Garden Club” dinner in honor of Police Week at the White House in Washington, DC, on May 11, 2026. AFP via Getty Images
New York City mayor and diehard Knicks fan Zohran Mamdani also plans to attend Game 3, although he is not expected to sit alongside the president, according to sources.
The White House did not immediately respond to comment.
The New York native also planned to attend Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals, but the Knicks secured their first Finals berth since 1999 by sweeping the Cavaliers in four games.
The New York Knicks hold the Eastern Conference Championship trophy after Game 4 in the Eastern Conference finals NBA basketball playoffs series against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Cleveland, Monday, May 25, 2026. AP Photo/Tim Phillis
“I was invited to. I was going to go on Wednesday [Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals], but they closed it out very quickly. They’re great, and Jim Dolan’s a great guy — he’s, as you know, owns and in charge of Madison Square Garden. He’s having a good year,” Trump told The Post’s Emily Goodin on May 27.
“Boy, what a team! They win all their games. They really have some great players. I think I’ll be going to one of the games, yeah. I was invited by numerous people, and Jim, and I think it’s great. Great to see it. The Knicks have really, they’ve really suffered for years and they’re doing right now very well.”
Donald Trump at a Knicks game in 2014 alongside Bill O’Reilly. Anthony J. Causi for NY Post
President Trump has attended various high-profile sporting events throughout his two terms, including the Eagles’ 2025 Super Bowl win over the Chiefs in New Orleans and the 2025 men’s US Open finals in Queens.
Our computer's NBA picks for Game 1 on Wednesday, June 3 are calling for a trio of San Antonio players to top their point totals tonight, led by Julian Champagnie.
Knicks vs Spurs computer picks for Game 1
Knicks
Spurs
Hart u1.5 threes +140
Champagnie o9.5 points -125
Towns u4.5 assists -155
Fox o15.5 points +100
Anunoby u5.5 rebounds +102
Castle o16.5 points -102
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Knicks Game 1 computer picks
Josh Hart Under 1.5 threes (+140)
Projection: 1.33 threes
Our computer's lone five-star play of the night is Josh Hart to fall short of his 3-point line at plus-odds, with a +24.98% EV edge.
The New York Knicks SG has missed the Over in six of his last 10, and he plays in a system that's been the seventh-least aggressive when it comes to 3-point attempts across the last 25 games.
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Karl-Anthony Towns Under 4.5 assists (-155)
Projection: 3.75 assists
Karl-Anthony Towns' assists have risen steadily since the playoffs started, as he's hit the Over in eight of his last 10. But our computer believes now is the time to sell on the Knicks big man.
Towns has gone Under in two of his last three, and the Knicks have played at the slowest tempo in the NBA over the last 25 games.
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OG Anunoby Under 5.5 rebounds (+102)
Projection: 5.37 rebounds
OG Anunoby has gone below this line in four of his last six games, and there's an 8.37% EV edge associated with backing the Under again here.
The San Antonio Spurs have been a tough team to rebound against all year, ranking eighth in opponent boards per game.
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Spurs Game 1 computer picks
Julian Champagnie Over 9.5 points (-125)
Projection: 11.77 points
Julian Champagnie has beaten this line in six of his last eight overall, and our computer is calling for him to go Over again by more than a full basket.
Our system sees the 3-ball as the key to success for Champagnie.
"This year when they are on their home court, the opposing team's starting PFs have averaged 47.7% on threes (2nd-highest in the NBA) against the Knicks, labeling this as a positive matchup."
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De'Aaron Fox Over 15.5 points (+100)
Projection: 16.55 points
De'Aaron Fox was playing hurt and was most neutralized by the Oklahoma City Thunder, going below his points prop in all five games he played in the Western Conference Finals. But our system has identified multiple angles that suggest Fox can bounce back.
"Offensive rebounds preserve possession and spark further opportunities for scoring and assists, and the Spurs rank 4th-best in in the league with 13.1 offensive boards per game over the last 10 games.. This year, opposing starting PGs have attempted 4.3 free throws per game (6th-highest in the league) against the Knicks, making it fairly effortless to get to the free-throw line."
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Stephon Castle Over 16.5 points (-102)
Projection: 17.67 points
Another Spurs points prop, another four-star Over play for our computer. This one comes out to a 15.65% EV edge.
Stephon Castle should make it rain on the Knicks from downtown tonight.
"The matchup against the Knicks is a positive one for three-pointers; the opposing team's starting SGs have posted the highest 3-point rate in the NBA this year (44.7%)."
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How to watch Knicks vs Spurs Game 1
Location
Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, TX
Date
Wednesday, June 3, 2026
Tip-off
8:30 p.m. ET
TV
ABC
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
The New York Knickerbockers are the hottest thing in pro sports and will have even more sizzle if they go all the way and win the NBA title.
No matter what happens, the Knicks are delivering pots of gold to the MSG coffers while making Garden owner Jim Dolan happier than a convention of larks warbling "Who's Sorry Now?"
Believe it or not Dolan's sometimes sunny disposition matters to the fair citizens of Rangerville who crave an ice winner like their MSG cousins on the hardwood floor.
Two things are going to happen as a result of the Knicks' bonanza:
THE GOOD THING: Dolan should figure: "Now that I got my Knicks on track; I should be able to put all of the Garden'$ resources behind the Blueshirts. And if Drury and Sullivan don't get me results, they go and I'll get the best replacements money can buy."
THE BAD THING: The Knicks have been enjoying a ton of positive headlines and should get a ton more going forward and next season as well. Dolan knows that the Rangers will sell out even with 20 skating cockroaches stickhandling in blue uniforms.
With that in his crafty mind, Jimmy might just decide not to waste his emotion and pride on his Blueshirts and allow them to lose their way into the NHL sunset.
However, The Maven is convinced that Dolan will do the Good Thing, knowing that it'll take a couple of seasons before the franchise is rebuilt.
Hey! Look how long it took for his basketeers to get good. Not exactly overnight. More like over-century!
The wait is over. The 2026 NBA Finals tip off tonight as the San Antonio Spurs host the New York Knicks in Game 1.
With tip-off set for 8:30 p.m. ET at Frost Bank Center and the Spurs listed as 5.5-point favorites, our Covers experts break down their favorite NBA picks and predictions for Wednesday, June 3.
The New York Knicks' burly point guard can also clean the glass and unlike the opening three rounds, Brunson faces a smaller San Antonio Spurs squad.
Beyond 7-foot skyscraper Victor Wembanyama and a few backup bigs, the Spurs’ main rotation doesn’t go beyond 6-foot-7, and that gives smaller guards a fighting chance on the boards (take Wemby out and San Antonio drops to an average height of 6-foot-6.1 – fourth shortest).
Brunson was an active rebounder in three meetings with San Antonio this season, snatching four rebounds in each of those outings while averaging more than seven rebounding chances per game.
Jason Logan's expert pick: Jalen Brunson Over 2.5 threes
Price: +135 at bet365
With Victor Wembanyama lurking in the key, the Knicks need to stretch a Spurs defense that doesn’t have much length beyond Wemby. That means smaller defenders and cleaner looks for Brunson.
Projections lean toward a trio of triples from Brunson, with an underdog game script giving Over 2.5 threes a shot in the arm at plus-money.
Douglas Farmer's expert pick: Victor Wembanyama Over 11.5 rebounds
Price: -125 at bet365
Amid relative offensive struggles in that second-round series, Victor Wembanyama still cleared this modest rebounding prop in four of the five games he played genuine minutes in. (Let’s just ignore his stats from Game 4, when Wembanyama was ejected after playing 12 minutes for an egregious elbow to Naz Reid’s throat.)
The only game in which Wembanyama fell short of this prop was the clinching Game 6, when the San Antonio Spurs led by 13 at halftime and 26 by the end of the third quarter. Even Wemby’s 27 minutes did not require full effort. Otherwise, Wembanyama ruled the glass, averaging 15.5 rebounds per game.
Douglas Farmer's expert pick: De'Aaron Fox Over 1.5 steals
Price: +160 at bet365
This is as much a bet on how often Jalen Brunson will handle the ball as it is on De’Aaron Fox’s quick hands. Fox should be Brunson’s primary defender more often than not — allowing Stephon Castle to match up with a bigger wing — and when facing such a ball-dominant point guard, the steal opportunities will be bountiful.
Fox cleared this prop twice in the final three games of the Western Conference Finals, again facing a ball-dominant guard in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Betting on Fox’s steals prop makes most sense early in the series — as is the case with any Spurs — as it may take a game or two for New York to adjust to this unique, Wembanyama-supported defense. San Antonio’s perimeter defenders can be aggressive, knowing the quality of rim protection awaiting behind them.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Many people around the league, from agents to executives, continue to believe that Antetokounmpo will end up in Miami when this saga finally comes to an end.
Pat Riley has made it clear Miami is big game hunting this summer. The Heat trade package for Antetokounmpo would be based around Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and up to three first-round picks, including this season's No. 13. That comes close to what the Bucks seek — a blue-chip young player and picks — and is same offer the Heat had on the table in February when talks got fairly serious (although league sources told NBC Sports at the time they weren't sure the Bucks were genuinely looking for a trade then, it was more guageing the market).
Milwaukee may be treating Miami as the deal it has in its back pocket while looking for a better one. Antetokounmpo will have a say in this, and it's fair to ask if he's paired with Bam Adebayo, but there is not much else around them, is that much better than the Bucks situation? But landing in South Beach still seems the most likely outcome.
Golden State Warriors
This is not happening. The one thing that is clear so far in the Antetokounmpo sweepstakes is that the two-time MVP wants to stay in the East, and with that, the Warriors seem to be pulling back from the more aggressive stance they took at the trade deadline. From Jake Fischer at Bleacher Report.
"I'm not looking at Golden State really as a Giannis team either. I have been told that Giannis isn't exactly enamored with moving to the Western Conference in general, let alone going and being second fiddle to Stephen Curry."
Boston Celtics
This is a team that draws a lot of speculation, even though there doesn't seem to be a lot of heat coming from this fire, just a lot of smoke. As longtime Celtics reporter Steve Bulpett reported, there have been no direct talks between Boston and Milwaukee.
So why all the Boston rumors? Because people continue to LOVE the idea of splitting up Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, even if they won a title together. Also, after Boston was upset in the first round of the playoffs, Brown made comments that raised eyebrows while coach Joe Mazzulla talked about needing to put more pressure on the rim. Some people want to connect the dots.
The challenge is putting together a trade that actually works for everyone. It will involve at least three and probably more teams, as Amick and Nehm note at The Athletic. The third team is needed because how much the Bucks want 29-year-old Brown — a true star but one at his peak, not the young heart of a rebuild — is up for debate.
So while there is no doubting the ability of Boston’s All-NBA forward coming off a career year, he might not fit [Milwaukee's] timeline or, as rival executives have indicated, their desire to land that top-tier young player in this deal. Still, a multi-team deal in which Brown headed elsewhere could serve them very well in terms of other players and assets.
It may come down to this: Would Antetokounmpo push hard to make this happen? He wants to compete for a ring and him with Jayson Tatum would be that. If Antetokounmpo does push, what is Boston's true interest level?
Portland Trail Blazers (and the rest of the West)
This is not happening.
Multiple reports note that Antetokounmpo does not want to go West (and he has leverage with just one guaranteed year left on his contract, he can walk one year in). What Antetokounmpo wants is to contend, and Portland was a play-in team last season. League sources told NBC Sports the Trail Blazers rumors are more performative than reality, something by and for new owner Tom Dundon, showing fans how he cares about winning — "See how hard we are trying! Look what a good owner I will be!"
Antetokounmpo not going West means not only are Portland and Golden State out, but so are potential real suitors in Minnesota and Houston. I'd say the same about Oklahoma City, but its interest was always speculation from the outside by people seeking attention, not grounded in reality. OKC was never going in on Antetokounmpo.
Knicks
Spurs
