Garrett and James have spent years building a relationship rooted in their common ties to Cleveland. One brought the city their first championship in 52 years, the other became the face of the Browns.
Rams defensive end Myles Garrett talks to reporters at a press conference at the team’s practice facility on June 2026. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Their connection eventually extended beyond admiration. Garrett joined Rich Paul’s Klutch Sports Group, and purchased a minority ownership stake in the Cavaliers franchise.
Garrett even trained alongside James during the offseason and leaned on him for advice when his frustrations with the Browns boiled over in the winter of 2025, ultimately leading to Garrett demanding a trade out of Cleveland.
LeBron even tweeted congratulating Garrett for breaking the NFL’s single-season sack record last season.
“He’s been a positive force in my life,” Garrett said during his introductory press conference at the Rams practice facility on Tuesday. “Giving me advice when he can. Always helping trying to work through different situations early on in my career.”
But then, unsolicited Garrett may have made his recruiting pitch to LeBron to return to the Lakers for next season.
LeBron James stands on the court in the closing minutes of the Lakers’ Game 4 home loss to the Thunder on May 11, 2026 in the second round of the NBA playoffs. AP
“We’ll see how long LBJ is around here,” Garrett said with a smile. “I’m not sure what his future looks like, but if he wants to stay around for a couple more years, I know they’ll accept him with open arms.”
LeBron’s future remains one of the NBA’s biggest unanswered questions. He is officially a free agent and soon will be able to sign with any team he chooses. He could also opt for retirement or run it back with the Lakers. All possibilities are on the table.
But Garrett’s message was clear as day. He waived his no-trade clause and came to L.A. to chase championships, and now that he’s in the same city as his longtime mentor, he would be happy to share the city’s sports spotlight with The King for a few more years.
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More than a decade later, Paul is still reflecting on the emotional roller coaster that surrounded one of basketball’s biggest “what if” scenarios.
Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets (L) passes the ball as Derek Fisher of Los Angeles Lakers defends. EPA
Appearing on “The Pat McAfee Show,” the future Hall of Fame point guard revisited the controversial scrapped trade that would have paired him with Kobe Bryant in Los Angeles before then-NBA commissioner David Stern stepped in and vetoed the deal.
“It was very wild to say the least,” Paul said. “I remember where I was, and me and Kobe had actually got on the phone and talked that night. And then yeah, it was basically like a little s–t storm from there.”
NBA commissioner David Stern takes a question from a reporter during a news conference AP
At the time, Paul’s New Orleans Hornets were owned by the NBA and operated by Stern after former owner George Shinn’s financial issues forced the league to take control of the franchise. Paul explained that once the lockout ended, he believed the trade was complete.
In an earlier interview with McAfee, Paul noted concerns from team owners after the league emerged from contentious collective bargaining negotiations may have been a significant turning point.
Paul was serving on the executive committee during those talks.
Chris Paul revisits the NBA’s vetoed Lakers deal and the Kobe partnership that never happened. REUTERS
That is when everything changed.
“It was a crazy time, and just knowing the emotional roller coaster that it was at the time was, was really different. But I got the phone call basically that this trade ain’t happening no more.”
The fallout changed NBA history. Rather than joining Bryant, Paul was eventually traded across the hallway to the Clippers, where he helped launch the “Lob City” era alongside Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan.
While Paul built a lasting legacy with the Clippers, the thought of a Bryant-Paul backcourt remains one of the league’s most fascinating alternate realities. For Lakers fans, it’s still impossible not to wonder how many championships that partnership might have produced.
DALLAS, TX - JANUARY 29: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks drives to the basket as Kon Knueppel #7 of the Charlotte Hornets plays defense during the game on January 29, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, 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 (Photo by Cooper Neill/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
NBA greats LeBron James and Steve Nash sat down on The Mind the Game podcast to talk about Cooper Flagg and his former Duke teammate Kon Knueppel, and who had the most upside.
That’s no knock on Knueppel, who had an unbelievable rookie year, vastly exceeding expectations.
He played like he’s been in the league for a decade. It’s very rare to see a guy his age with that level of maturity and sophistication.
Our comparison is to Chris Mullin. Like Mullin, he is not overly athletic, but he lives and breathes the game, and is about as efficient as he can possibly be.
Flagg, though, is something else entirely.
Like Knueppel, he is way ahead of schedule. It took him a few weeks to settle in after the point guard experiment, but it all paid off. Flagg was doing things that, like Knueppel, are far beyond his age.
However, Flagg’s athleticism is a level or two above Knueppel’s. He dominated some amazing athletes this year, and he’s just 18. You may remember a video we linked to where he just completely frustrated Joel Embiid, who ended up just throwing his hands up – literally.
When Flagg fills out, he’s going to be impossible to stop.
Editor’s Note: As the Celtics begin an uncertain offseason, Insider Chris Forsberg is rolling out a three-part series called “The Path,” in which he breaks down three potential avenues for president of basketball operations Brad Stevens to take this summer. You can read Part I (minor tweaks)and Part II (the middle road) here.Today: the series finale.
Call us hopeless romantics. We love a fairy-tale ending. Maybe that’s the writer in us. When we ponder the Boston Celtics’ most endearing path forward, it almost always involves Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown overcoming the latest adversity together to return to the NBA mountaintop.
This story has already had plenty of twists and turns. The chapters have piled up. There were early successes and frustrating setbacks. The Jays finally reached the title stage in 2022, only to get stiff-armed by the veteran Warriors. A jarring overhaul to the supporting cast around the Jays helped the duo finally deliver that elusive Banner 18 in 2024.
Tatum’s torn Achilles stunted dreams of a repeat, and Brown’s magical 2025-26 campaign as the focal point of the team ended in bitter disappointment with a first-round playoff exit.
Which delivers our protagonists to their latest crossroads. The Celtics must plot a path forward, one in which a restrictive new collective bargaining agreement makes it unclear if two max-money superstars are a viable long-term luxury for any team.
For Part III of our annual summer path series, we’re left to ponder maybe the most unsavory option: major changes to the foundation of the Celtics franchise.
Another disclaimer: Just because we are examining this pathway doesn’t mean we’re championing it. That said, what surprised us as we’ve gone about the exercise of pondering all the paths — from Small Tweaks to Medium Tweaks — is that, if the team feels that something more than minor changes are necessary to be a legitimate contender again, then a major overhaul might be the team’s best chance to get where it wants to go.
We say it often — especially after seasons end earlier than expected — but the Celtics’ brass has to examine all pathways. It’s front office malpractice not to.
Maybe, at the end of the day, they decide there is no surefire upgrade available and elect to march forward with the Jays. But they have to at least ponder the alternatives.
And so shall we.
Mission statement
With goals of 1) Maximizing money allocation under a prohibitive and apron-filled collective bargaining agreement and 2) Extending the window for the next title run, the Celtics make the swallow-hard decision to trade one of their two superstars.
The ultimate goal: Create a team with one big-money centerpiece, then build a deep roster around them featuring a blend of mid-tier and minimum-salary players.
The path
Trade Tatum or Brown.
Remain under the tax for one more season, creating freedom to build a high-level supporting cast around the remaining centerpiece long term.
Part of the reason we’ve pushed back on the idea of that potential swap is because it doesn’t solve the long-term money issue. You still have two players making max money and you are likely shortening your title window at a time when you can’t freely spend to stockpile around that duo.
Maybe it comes to pass that Antetokounmpo is far and away the best available player this summer, and the Celtics have to consider it if the team believes the core of this team has run its course. We simply believe this deal introduces too much unnecessary risk.
In our mind, the bigger conversation is whether you can start the process of getting younger and extending your window if you elect to move on from Tatum or Brown, all while remaining competitive and not sacrificing prime years of whatever player remains.
But trying to find a deal that brings back a combination of established and future talent, especially on the level of one of the Jays, is no easy task.
The wish list
Some half-baked trade ideas to get the brain rolling:
1. A deal with the Clippers that brings back Kawhi Leonard and the No. 5 pick in this year’s NBA Draft.
The soon-to-be 35-year-old Leonard is entering the final season of his contract that will pay him $50.3 million next season — at least $7 million less than what Tatum ($58.5 million) and Brown ($57.1 million) will earn in 2026-27.
The Celtics still have pathways to remaining under the tax this season while adding a high draft pick who can infuse low-cost, high-upside talent and help extend Boston’s title window. The drama that tends to follow Leonard might be tough to embrace, but he finished one spot behind Brown in MVP voting this season while appearing in 65 games.
Imagn Iamges
The Celtics actually could trim salary by including Brown or Tatum in a deal for Kawhi Leonard.
2. A deal with the Pelicans for Dejounte Murray and Trey Murphy III.
The Celtics essentially split one of their max-money slots while bringing in a former All-Star in Murray, and a potential future All-Star in the offensive-minded Murphy III.
The other wrinkle here: The Celtics could take Murphy III into the Anfernee Simons traded player exception, potentially creating a valuable new TPE that could further aid the team in roster construction during the summer of 2027 when pesky repeater penalties are eliminated.
3. Deals involving Lauri Markkanen, Amen Thompson or Scottie Barnes.
Nothing you can drum up feels quite right. We’d call the Jazz about Markkanen, whose contract is slightly more digestible long term.
We’d dial up the Rockets to see if you can pry some of their young pieces, — especially Thompson — and take on salary filler.
We’d contact the Raptors about Barnes, if only because there are only so many players in their mid-20s making less-than-max money who can even be pried from their current team.
What it looks like
We suspect that, at the end of the day, none of these moves would be enough to make the Celtics break up their core. Our guess is that Boston would have to be overwhelmed by a collection of young talent and picks to even ponder moving one of the Jays.
But the ability to build a deeper roster with only one max-salary player is undeniably intriguing. Just look at the last teams playing this season.
The Knicks can pay five players north of $20 million because Jalen Brunson is on a sweetheart deal and only Karl-Anthony Towns makes max money.
The Thunder are steamrolling toward major financial decisions next year when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s contract rises to max money, but they can stomach at least one more season with as many as six players making $17+ million.
The Spurs are in great position with so many players on rookie deals and eventually can pivot off De’Aaron Fox’s money if resources are needed to pay the next deals for Victor Wembanyama and Co.
The new collective bargaining agreement made the math game tough. The Celtics got ahead of the curve in the summer of 2023 and were rewarded with Banner 18. Now they need to figure out if they can make the math work to give the Jays another shot at winning it all.
The Spurs haven't hoisted the Larry O'Brien Trophy since 2014, and New York has waited even longer, last celebrating a title when the nation was enthralled by the Watergate scandal.
All eyes will be on Spurs star Victor Wembanyama, the 22-year-old phenom, who has taken the basketball world by storm. But the Knicks, who have the No. 1 ranked offense and defense in the 2026 playoffs, have been absolutely dominant in their postseason run and are beating teams by 19.4 points per game, including series-clinching victories of 51, 30, and 37 points.
Here are the seven players who could have the biggest impact on the NBA Finals:
2026 Playoffs: 23.2 ppg, 10.8 rpg, 3.5 bpg, 2.7 apg
Before long, Wembanyama will be heading up lists as the best player in the entire league, but for now, he will have to be option No. 1 for the best player that will be the difference between the Spurs winning and losing this season. Wembanyama can score at all three levels, and his defense can erase any mistake his teammates allow, and that will be imperative, especially with the Knicks, who can easily go to their inside game when the outside shot is not falling.
When Brunson is on his game, he is an absolute problem, and there is no one on the Spurs who can handle him if he gets going. Whenever he is on the floor, Brunson will be the smallest player, so San Antonio can negate his effectiveness by making him work on the defense end, something the Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers and Cleveland Cavaliers failed to do, and that's why those teams are sitting at home.
Once Towns became the focus point of the offense, New York never looked back. That is not saying he needs to lead the team in scoring, but his passing ability and overall presence have sparked the Knicks' suddenly potent fast-break game. Towns can also cause issues if San Antonio decides to be bold and have Wembanyama guard Towns.
The one player who has stepped up big time in New York's impressive playoff run is Anunoby. He has dealt with a hamstring injury earlier in the postseason, but his availability is key. He is a reliable third scoring option, and his defense can be the catalyst for stopping the Spurs' litany of quick guards who want nothing more than to create posters featuring helpless defenders.
Speaking of poster creators, Castle has upped his game even from his impressive Rookie of the Year campaign. Castle's game is at its best when he is under control, and at times in the seven-game triumph against the Thunder, turning it over 26 times to go with 53 assists. He is more than capable of turning on the scoring load, especially when or if Wembanyama is on the bench.
Fox's ankle, which has sidelined him for numerous playoff games, has been an issue. Even though Wembanyama is the offensive linchpin, Fox is no slouch and has averaged 20 or more points in six different seasons and can take over a game if he needs to. If he gets his transition game going on a consistent basis, it might be game over for the Knicks.
The enigma that is Josh Hart could be most interesting in the NBA Finals. He will simply do the dirty work and do things that don't show up in the stat sheet; he is an excellent rebounder for his height and can make life a living hell for scorers with his defense. If you leave him open, he has made teams pay, as he did in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Cavaliers, scoring 26 points and hitting five three-pointers.
Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs hoist the The Oscar Robertson Trophy with his teammates after defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Seven of the NBA Western Conference Finals at Paycom Center on May 30, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
The Spurs took a different team-building route than the Knicks. While Leon Rose and the Knicks focused on trades and free agency to construct their core, San Antonio mostly became a contender again by maximizing its draft capital.
Ahead of the NBA Finals, The Post dissects how the Spurs took shape.
Victor Wembanyama
How he was acquired: Selected No. 1 overall in 2023.
How he’s helped them get here: The Spurs’ fortunes changed when they won the lottery and took Wembanyama, the 7-foot-4 phenom who has already become a face of the NBA and is averaging 20.9 points — along with 10.8 rebounds — in his first postseason.
Victor Wembanyama is pictured during the Spurs’ March 1 game against the Knicks. Jason Szenes for the NY Post
De’Aaron Fox
How he was acquired: Traded by the Kings in February 2025 in a three-team deal that included Bulls star Zach LaVine and three first-rounders — two from the Spurs — going to Sacramento.
How he’s helped them get here: Fox became the star to complement Wembanyama, averaging 18.6 points and 6.2 assists while making the second All-Star Game of his career during the regular season.
Stephon Castle
How he was acquired: Drafted No. 4 overall in 2024.
How he’s helped them get here: The guard has emerged as a key piece of the Spurs’ young core, someone capable of scoring (19 games with 20-plus points during the regular season) and facilitating (ninth-most assists in the NBA during the regular season with 502).
Devin Vassell
How he was acquired: Taken No. 11 overall in 2020.
How he’s helped them get here: Vassell signing the largest deal in Spurs history — at the time — in 2023 (five years, $135 million) captures the two-way wing’s value as someone capable of averaging 13.9 points while also contributing to containing Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Julian Champagnie
How he was acquired: Signed a two-way deal in February 2023 after getting waived by the 76ers.
How he’s helped them get here: The former St. John’s star has hit 39.3 percent of his 3s in the playoffs and carved out a starting role despite being undrafted to start his career.
Dylan Harper #2 of the San Antonio Spurs looks on during 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. NBAE via Getty Images
Dylan Harper
How he was acquired: Drafted No. 2 overall in 2025.
How he’s helped them get here: The guard from Rutgers earned votes for Rookie of the Year and Sixth Man of the Year before averaging 13.1 points per game during the postseason.
Keldon Johnson
How he was acquired: Selected No. 29 overall in 2019.
How he’s helped them get here: Johnson, the longest-tenured Spurs player and the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year this season, recorded the most bench points in a season in franchise history (1,081).
Keldon Johnson #3 of the San Antonio Spurs celebrates during 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. NBAE via Getty Images
How he’s helped them get here: A former Knick, Kornet won a ring with the Celtics and became Wembanyama’s backup — averaging 6.1 points and 6.5 rebounds during the regular season.
Harrison Barnes
How he was acquired: Landed in San Antonio from the Kings as part of a three-team deal in July 2024.
How he’s helped them get here: Perhaps most known for helping the Warriors win the title in 2015, Barnes has been a needed source of experience on the bench.
Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs is awarded the Earvin “Magic” Johnson Trophy for Western Conference Finals Most Valuable Player. NBAE via Getty Images
Carter Bryant
How he was acquired: Drafted No. 14 overall in 2025.
How he’s helped them get here: Bryant’s postseason moment occurred when he leveled Gilgeous-Alexander in Game 6, but the small forward also flashed potential — including a career-best 17 points April 8 — and chipped in throughout the playoff run.
Kelly Olynyk
How he was acquired: Acquired from the Wizards in July in exchange for Blake Wesley, Malaki Branham and a second-rounder.
How he’s helped them get here: The 35-year-old averaged 8.6 minutes and 3.2 points per game, and logged more time when Wembanyama was injured. This will mark his second trip to the Finals — with the other in 2020 with the Heat.
Mason Plumlee
How he was acquired: Turned a 10-day contract into a deal for the rest of the season after getting waived by the Thunder in February.
How he’s helped them get here: Plumlee, 36, is one of the veterans in the final stage of their career stashed on the bench, appearing in 12 games for them across the regular season and playoffs.
Lindy Waters III
How he was acquired: Signed a one-year deal last summer worth nearly $2.5 million.
How he’s helped them get here: Waters gave San Antonio shooting depth despite limited minutes (7.1 per game) and production (2.4 points per game) during the regular season, including when he hit three 3s March 17.
Getty Images
Bismack Biyombo
How he was acquired: Turned two 10-day contracts in February 2025 into a deal for the remainder of last season before returning on a one-year pact.
How he’s helped them get here: On his seventh NBA team and in his 15th season, Biyombo appeared in 34 games for San Antonio across the regular season and playoffs as frontcourt depth.
Jordan McLaughlin
How he was acquired: Arrived as part of the Fox deal in February 2025.
How he’s helped them get here: McLaughlin averaged 2.0 points and 6.4 minutes for the Spurs in the regular season, but in Game 2 of the Thunder series, he logged seven minutes and hit a pair of 3s while filling guard minutes.
San Antonio TX, - May 5, 2025: Manu Ginobili, Greg Popovich, Tim Duncan and Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs attends press conference on May 5 2025 at Victory Capital 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 2025 NBAE (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
As the Spurs head into Game 1 of the NBA Finals, comparisons have been made between the Tim Duncan era Spurs and what shall be known as the Victor Wembanyama era Spurs.
Both Duncan and Wemby made their first run to the Finals as 22-year-olds. Both beat the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round and the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round. And like Duncan in 1999, Victor Wembanyama will tip off against the New York Knicks in his first Finals appearance.
But what about the rest of the team?
One player that resembles the Spurs dynasty of the early 2000s is Keldon Johnson. Johnson, the longest tenured member of the Spurs roster, received the Sixth Man of the Year award this season. The only other member of the Spurs to earn the honor was Manu Ginobili, back in 2008.
Before Ginobili was ever crowned Sixth Man, he served as a started for the Spurs.
Manu originally struggled with the change. As he stated, his ego had to be removed from the equation so that he could accept that the move was for the greater good of the team.
On Tuesday, the NBA held media press conferences with the Spurs and Knicks. During Keldon Johnson’s time at the podium, he was asked this questions:
Face of the franchise, 20 points per game until now. What’s the toughest part of switching from that role to the role you’re in with this team?
Coincidentally enough, his answer mirrored Ginobili’s:
“Honestly, I would say ego. Just being the guy and then you having to adjust. I feel like when you — there’s a point where you look in the mirror and you want to be a part of something special or you want to chase personal goals. Being here and being throughout this season and winning has been an ultimate reward.” He continued, “It just shows that everything was worth it. Obviously I went from being the guy to coming off the bench and being sixth man. I feel like winning is the most addictive thing in this league. This year is a testament to that, being able to win and contribute to us winning means more than anything that I’ve done in the past.”
Ego for the individual giving way to a selflessness for the greater good of the team. It worked for Manu and Timmy and Tony and Pop and all of the others who rejoiced in picking up a championship ring during those runs 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2014.
Johnson’s acceptance of his role has elevated the Spurs bench. Keldon was one of the seven players who scored in double figures this season. The only other player in double figs off the bench was Dylan Harper.
Devin Vassell, the second longest tenured Spur, had this to say about his relationship with Johnson and the chemistry they have as a team:
“I think that is one of the main reasons why we’re here, because we’ve been so locked in and on and off the court we’re all talking, we’re all together. But we know as soon as we get in between the lines, we’re ready to go.”
Julian Champagnie echoed Vassell’s comments about chemistry in his time with the media:
“Obviously, me, Keldon and Dev and Vic have all been together for about three years now. Then you add guys like HB, Foxy, Carter, Steph, Dyl, all those guys bring a light, good attitude to the locker room.”
Ultimately, the 2026 Spurs have learned what some teams never do — if you leave your ego at the door, trust in your teammates, and play to the best of your ability, you can accomplish great things. In this case, many pundits call them “unexpected” things. While fans and media didn’t think the Spurs could accelerate this quickly, the team knew. And they carried that confidence as their momentum built.
To that end, a lot of credit goes to Johnson. He arrived 54 days after the Spurs last playoff game, and has stuck through the longest playoff drought in Spurs history. He’s now reaping the benefits of patience, faith, and trust in the process.
But it is not just KJ who has bought in. Vassell played through those rough patches as well. This season, Harrison Barnes gave up a decade-long run as a starter, moving to the bench as the Spurs adjusted toward their playoff run. De’Aaron Fox, who arrived last season through a savvy trade, was the go-to for the Sacramento Kings. He understood his role was being altered as the Spurs were built around Victor Wembanyama.
Speaking of Victor Wembanyama, his buy in has been paramount to the success. As a cornerstone to the franchise, Wemby could have pushed for trades, coaches, and player combinations. When the buzz around Giannis Antetokounmpo was at its apex, the Spurs superstar was silent. When Gregg Popovich retired, Wemby trusted in Pop’s heir to steer the ship. There has never been a hint at negativity from behind the scenes seeping out into the open.
That may be the greatest comparison between these Spurs and their predecessors. The Spurs Culture is still in tact. The Spurs Way continues on. And the behind the scenes dynamics of the franchise belong to the team. What fans see is what they generate on the court.
What they produce now may be their sixth NBA title. Sixth to the franchise, but the first for the members of this roster. And if history repeats itself, it will be the first of many.
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As Victor Wembanyama goes, so go the San Antonio Spurs.
It is not a knock on either of them that they may still be tired from the Western Conference Finals. That seven-game series clearly took everything Wembanyama and San Antonio had.
These Victor Wembanyama picks expect a sluggish showing in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, though that does not mean Wembanyama will struggle in all regards on Wednesday, June 3.
Victor Wembanyama prop pick for Game 1
Victor Wembanyama best bet: Over 11.5 rebounds (-125 at bet365)
The New York Knicks look more like the Minnesota Timberwolves than the Oklahoma City Thunder. They are driven by a ball-centric guard while playing one rather traditional big man. While Rudy Gobert provides excellent rim protection, Karl-Anthony Towns’s underappreciated strong lower body may actually succeed better at keeping Victor Wembanyama away from the rim.
Amid relative offensive struggles in that second-round series, 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.
Expect that version of Wembanyama early in this series. His legs are worn out from the Western Conference Finals, so his offensive aggression may lag. But even then, the Defensive Player of the Year can haul in a bounty of boards.
Victor Wembanyama same-game parlay
Wembanyama fell short of this points prop in three of those four notable games against the Timberwolves, not to mention in four of seven games against the Thunder. Amid understandable fatigue, this should be a low-scoring Game 1 from Wembanyama.
Doubting him to rack up blocks ties more to Karl-Anthony Towns’s offense than anything else. The New York Knicks should position Towns on the perimeter, both in a playmaking role and shooting 3-pointers, particularly as Towns has shot 48.9% from deep this postseason.
Wembanyama may be reluctant to stray from the paint, but every step toward the arc will lessen his blocks tally.
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SAN ANTONIO, TX - DECEMBER 31: De'Aaron Fox #4 of the San Antonio Spurs is fouled by Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks in the second half at Frost Bank Center on December 31, 2025 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning, BBN!
The NBA Finals tip off tonight, and like many Finals in the past, this one has plenty of former Cats looking to get a ring.
San Antonio Spurs: De’Aaron Fox, Keldon Johnson
New York Knicks: Karl-Anthony Towns
Obviously, SGA has been showing out for UK, coming off a championship last year and back-to-back MVP awards.
This year, there will be at least one Cat who wins their first ring.
Fox has been harboring an ankle injury, but he played a huge part in getting the Spurs past the Thunder in Game 7, while Keldon Johnson also had a big game to help the Spurs advance. They scored 15 points and 11 points, respectively.
Meanwhile, KAT has been elite for the Knicks this postseason, averaging 16.9 PPG, 10.6 RPG, and 5.9 APG on 57.2FG%/48.93P%. He’s a big reason the Knicks are there and have been dominating this postseason.
It should be a fun series! Which Cat will get their first ring?
Tweet of the Day
Kentucky got a good one.
Milan Momcilovic was 1 of 2 players in the country to shoot 50% from the field, 45% on three-pointers, and 85% on free throws this season.
In addition to having a 7-foot-4 alien who can shoot, pass, dribble and single-handedly stop elite offenses from getting to the rim, what makes the San Antonio Spurs’ run to the NBA Finals unique is they possess what most champions typically lack: youth.
When the NBA’s championship round tips off Wednesday night, the Spurs will be looking to become the youngest Finals winner in recent NBA history.
NBC News analyzed the average ages of NBA champions’ playoff rotations since 2016, and San Antonio would be the youngest team to win a title — out-young-ing last year’s Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Spurs rotation’s average age is 24.4, while their opponent, the New York Knicks, are coming in at a relatively ancient 28.8.
Compared with the overall average championship age of 27.8, San Antonio is 3.4 years younger, while the Knicks are 1.0 years older.
The Spurs aren’t just a relatively young team on the whole — their best players are also on the younger side.
San Antonio’s leading scorer in the postseason is center Victor Wembanyama, who is only 22 years old and in his third year in the league. Wembanyama would be the youngest leading scorer to lead his team to a Finals victory in recent history. (If he wins Finals MVP, he would join Magic Johnson and Kawhi Leonard as the youngest players to win it.)
The Spurs’ three leading scorers — Wembanyama, Stephon Castle and De’Aaron Fox — would also be tied with last year’s Thunder as the youngest top-scoring trio of the last 11 NBA Finals.
Compared with New York, San Antonio is led by neophytes. The Knicks’ leading scorer, Jalen Brunson, is 29 and in his eighth season in the NBA. New York’s top three scorers — Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby — also average 29, with none younger than 28.
The median age of leading champion scorers is 27, with Wembanyama coming in a clean five years younger.
At least through three playoff rounds, youth and inexperience haven’t been barriers for the Spurs. They’ve already beaten a team that made two straight conference finals, the Minnesota Timberwolves, as well as last year’s champion, Oklahoma City, en route to the Finals.
In fact, less playoff seasoning may even help San Antonio.
“The lack of experience is a strength of us,” Wembanyama told ESPN on Tuesday. “Because we could do impossible stuff because we don’t know it’s impossible.”
Did you know this is their first trip to the Finals since 1999? Did you know they haven’t lost in more than a month? Did you know they have the most famous fans in the world? Did you know tickets to games at Madison Square Garden cost more than a car?
Stahhhhhp.
Fortunately for folks who aren’t Knicks fans, which is pretty much the rest of the country, New York’s opponents in these Finals are the San Antonio Spurs, who might just be the most down-to-earth team in the NBA.
The San Antonio Spurs are America's team in the NBA Finals
They’re small market and worth about half what the Knicks are. Their nickname does not bring instant recognition. Their arena does not have name recognition in their own state, let alone the whole world. Their most famous fans are nuns, not celebrities.
Instead of hanging out with Kardashians, Wemby spent last off-season with monks. While not an actual alien, he is interested in outer space and can talk at length about it. He’s responsible for an uptick in reading in San Antonio, for goodness sake.
The Spurs are what you want in a championship team.
The Knicks are … what New York wants in a championship team.
Knicks are a team only New Yorkers can love
Every sport has at least one team that everyone else loves to hate. The Dallas Cowboys in the NFL. The New York Yankees in Major League Baseball. Duke in men’s basketball.
It’s usually a byproduct of success, a toxic owner or an arrogant fan base. In the Knicks’ case, it’s a little bit of everything. Well, maybe not the success part. Not lately, at least. But the owner and the fan base more than make up for that.
Longtime Knicks owner James Dolan is easily the worst owner in the NBA. With Dan Snyder having sold the Washington Commanders, he can make a case for worst owner in all of sports.
He’s picked fights with superfan Spike Lee and Knicks legend Charles Oakley. He provided cover for Isiah Thomas after he was the subject of a sexual harassment lawsuit. Dolan treated his WNBA team like something he found on the bottom of his shoe.
Dolan also has reportedly used surveillance technology to track those who are critical of him and ban them from Madison Square Garden in retaliation. Even Knicks fans hate the man.
As for those fans, they’re brash, they’re loud and, let’s be honest, they’re a little arrogant. And that’s just Timothée Chalamet! New Yorkers see New York as the center of the universe and don’t have much use for anything outside the five boroughs.
Maybe New Jersey.
Maybe.
That kind of smugness is as annoying as a pebble in a shoe to people who aren’t from New York. Since we can’t take our irritation out on the city itself, its teams become the proxy. The Knicks, the Yankees, the Mets, the Rangers — whoever they’re playing becomes everybody else’s second-favorite team.
(Yes, I know I left out the Giants and the Jets. They’re too pathetic to hate.)
And if it’s the post-season? The loathing ratchets up to another level.
San Antonio Spurs are easy to root for
Which brings us back to San Antonio.
The Spurs are an incredibly likeable team on their own. This is the franchise of David Robinson, Tim Duncan and Gregg Popovich. This is the franchise that showed it really is possible for people from all corners of the world to work together. This is the franchise that has Wemby, who is revolutionizing the game in real time while also being an utterly decent human.
San Antonio’s bandwagon would need extra room regardless of who they were facing in the Finals. That they’re playing the Knicks makes them America’s Team.
C'mon Spurs. Do the rest of the country a solid. The last thing anyone needs is to give New York another reason to brag about itself.
Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.
A Long Island rooted diehard Knicks fan living in the heart of Celtics territory is going viral for turning New York playoff wins into clever Billy Joel lyrics — and it might just be a good luck charm for the NBA Finals vs. the Spurs.
“When I decided to do it, they had won maybe five straight by that point,” 21-year-old Luke Wenner of Attleboro, Massachusetts, told The Post after the streak reached 11 straight.
Diehard Knicks fan Luke Wenner has gone viral for his Billy Joel style game recaps.
“I was like, yeah, might as well see how it goes. Obviously, it’s worked out pretty well,” added Wenner, who has gotten praise from Mick Jagger’s son, Lucas.
“It’s eight o’clock on a Tuesday, the regular Knicks shuffle in / They swiftly go down from their rustiness — and soon the comeback begins,” Wenner sang and played on piano.
He changed “She’s Always a Woman” to “It’ll Always Be New York for Me” when the Knicks swept Cleveland in four, in a clip that was liked over 10,000 times.
The Knicks haven’t lost since Wenner started his songs. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
“I’ll sit there, as I’m watching the games, I’ll either pick a song or two of Billy Joel’s to keep in mind,” said Wenner, who idolizes Hicksville’s hometown hero Joel.
“I’ll be reading the lyrics, and I’m like, ‘oh, this player’s name would work perfectly in this verse.'”
Wenner showed The Post his “For the Longest Time” rework he will release ahead of the team’s first finals appearance since 1999.
“Maybe some had thought our hope was gone, but the true New Yorkers did stay strong,” it goes.
Wenner grew up a massive Billy Joel fan. Getty Images
“And now the time’s come, let’s go and take home this one — we have been waiting for the longest time.”
The recent psychology and criminal justice grad began with about 70 followers after dropping the Game 1 jingle. He’s close to 3,000 in a matter of days since blue and orange nation became touched by his tunes.
“It’s just been so great seeing that a huge majority of the comments are very favorable, and they definitely love what I’ve been doing,” Wenner said. “It’s just been nuts.”
Wenner has become an overnight sensation for his Billy Joel Knicks videos.
And, Wenner’s river of dreams is a long time coming after putting up with the folks around Beantown.
“I’ve definitely gotten a lot of flak throughout my whole school career, because, pretty much all of my teams have been pretty horrible,” lamented Wenner.
He likened the Knicks’ underdog outlook to that of his G-Men when they faced the Patriots in Super Bowl XLII and again in Super Bowl XLVI.
Wenner is hopeful that Jalen Brunson and the Knicks will win it all this time. Getty Images
“They didn’t give the Giants a chance. So, I think it’s possible,” said Wenner.
“It would just mean the world to me, especially given that I can rub it in the faces of my fellow Celtics fans.”
Leon Rose and the Knicks focused on trades and free agency to construct their core, San Antonio mostly became a contender again by maximizing its draft capital, leading to a rematch of the 1999 NBA Finals, won by the Spurs.
The Post dissects how the Knicks took shape.
Jalen Brunson
When he arrived: 2022
How he was acquired: Inked a four-year, $104 million deal in free agency that seemed like a reach but has since become a bargain.
Jalen Brunson gives directions during the Knicks’ practice at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio on June 2, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
The superstar who left money on the table with his extension two years ago. Brunson has single-handedly shifted the reputation of the Knicks, turned them into a contender and etched a place on their Mount Rushmore, averaging 26.3 points per game while unlocking another tier of that production on the postseason stage.
Karl-Anthony Towns
When he arrived: 2024
How he was acquired: A connection years in the making, the Edison, N.J., native arrived via trade in exchange for a package headlined by Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo.
How he’s helped them get here: Towns, who grew up a Knicks fan, is one of the best shooting centers of all time and was pegged as the missing piece, the superstar to complement Brunson. The six-time All-Star has averaged 22.2 points and 12.3 rebounds per game across his two seasons with the Knicks, and his point-center role this postseason ignited the offense.
Karl-Anthony Towns takes part in a shooting drill at Knicks practice in San Antonio on June 2. 2026. Jason Szenes for New York Post
OG Anunoby
When he arrived: 2023
How he was acquired: When the first domino in a series of Leon Rose trades fell, Anunoby (and Precious Achiuwa) arrived in exchange for RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley.
How he’s helped them get here: Known for his defensive skills, Anunoby has added a dynamic scoring ability since coming to the Knicks — and has averaged 19.7 points per game during this playoff run. He’s an unassuming two-way star who typically draws the most difficult matchup, keeps getting snubbed from All-Defensive First Team honors and makes the most expensive contract in Knicks history ($212.5 million) worth every penny.
OG Anunoby (right) and Mitchell Robinson participate in the Knicks’ practice on June 2 in San Antonio. Jason Szenes for New New York Post
Josh Hart
When he arrived: 2023
How he was acquired: Ahead of the trade deadline in 2023, Hart landed from the Trail Blazers for a package that included Cam Reddish.
How he’s helped them get here: Hart’s career with the Knicks has been defined by adjusting on the fly and fitting into a variety of roles.
He has started and has come off the bench. He’s demanded defensive matchups and taken over games offensively. His friendship with Brunson and Mikal Bridges from their days at Villanova — and his personality — make every press conference a must-see too.
Mikal Bridges
When he arrived: 2024
How he was acquired: Via a blockbuster that sent five first-round picks back to the Nets.
How he’s helped them get here: Bridges, known for his durability and defense, could never quite escape the price that Rose paid to land him and the price the Knicks paid to keep him (a $150 million extension) last summer. It led to a polarizing relationship with fans, especially when he’d get benched.
But the Knicks’ 11-game winning streak has perhaps altered his image for good, with Bridges averaging 16.6 points per game on a sizzling 62.6 percent shooting.
Mikal Bridges catches a pass during a speed shooting drill on June 2 in San Antonio. Jason Szenes for New York Post
Miles McBride
When he arrived: 2021
How he was acquired: In the second round after the Knicks traded down to No. 36 on draft night.
How he’s helped them get here: McBride’s three-year, $13 million extension in 2023 was an absolute bargain, as he has embraced his role coming off the bench and providing a spark. He can rip off 3-pointers in bunches (career-best 41.3 percent on 6.6 attempts per game during the regular season) and has answered questions about whether he could make it at this level with his 6-foot-2 frame.
Mitchell Robinson
When he arrived: 2018
How he was acquired: Drafted in the second round in 2018 at No. 36 overall.
How he’s helped them get here: The oft-injured Robinson is the longest-tenured Knick and has seen it all. He ceded the center position to Towns while still being their best offensive rebounder and interior defender.
His most encouraging stat this year? Robinson’s 73 games between the regular season and playoffs, the most of his career and proof of a season-long load management plan working.
Landry Shamet
When he arrived: 2024
How he was acquired: The Knicks signed Shamet two weeks before training camp began in 2024, and he re-signed with them last summer on a non-guaranteed contract.
How he’s helped them get here: Who knows what would’ve happened if Shamet’s 3-pointer didn’t bounce in and help force overtime in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals? The 29-year-old overcame a pair of shoulder injuries the past two seasons and regained his lost spot in the rotation this year before becoming a forever name because of that shot.
Jordan Clarkson
When he arrived: 2025
How he was acquired: After agreeing to a buyout with the Jazz, Clarkson signed with the Knicks on a veteran minimum deal.
How he’s helped them get here: It hasn’t been the smoothest of seasons for the former Sixth Man of the Year, as he fell out of Mike Brown’s rotation before recovering a spot late in the year thanks to a commitment to defense.
Jordan Clarkson talks with reporters after Knicks practice in San Antonio on June 2. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
But he assisted the Knicks by signing for the minimum in exchange for a chance at a title. He averaged a career-worst 8.6 points per game during the regular season but has turned back the clock on occasion.
Jose Alvarado
When he arrived: 2026
How he was acquired: The Brooklyn native arrived from the Pelicans ahead of the trade deadline, in exchange for Dalen Terry and two second-round picks, to boost the Knicks’ guard depth.
How he’s helped them get here: This was a homecoming made in basketball paradise. Alvarado is the energizer off the bench capable of thriving in the spotlight of the Garden, someone who can hit 3s — like he did eight times against the 76ers in February — or frustrate opponents to the point of turnovers.
Ariel Hukporti
When he arrived: 2024
How he was acquired: The Knicks landed the rights to Hukporti — the No. 58 overall pick by the Mavericks — on draft day in 2024.
How he’s helped them get here: As the Knicks’ third center, Hukporti has been thrust into critical moments when one or both of Towns and Robinson were out — or when Hack-a-Mitch returned. A Dec. 7 win, when Hukporti earned the team’s Defensive Player of the Game against a tough Magic team, served as a tangible sign of his value, too.
Tyler Kolek
When he arrived: 2024
How he was acquired: The Knicks moved up to No. 34 to take Kolek in exchange for three second-rounders.
How he’s helped them get here: Kolek quickly became a fan favorite as he competed for backup point guard minutes, delivering memorable performances in the NBA Cup final comeback and on Christmas Day to help save the Knicks. He has fallen out of the rotation since but has two more years of team control remaining to snag a role.
Mohamed Diawara
When he arrived: 2025′
How he was acquired: The Knicks took him with the 51st overall pick in 2025.
How he’s helped them get here: The Knicks don’t win their Dec. 29 game against the Pelicans without Diawara, who collected a career-best 18 points, and he adds wing depth with his rangy length and athleticism. He won’t log meaningful minutes in the Finals unless something goes terribly wrong, but Diawara — on an expiring deal — flashed enough potential to become an intriguing offseason decision.
Jeremy Sochan
When he arrived: 2026
How he was acquired: Sochan, the No. 9 pick in 2022, signed with the Knicks in February after getting waived by the Spurs.
How he’s helped them get here: Signed as bench depth, Sochan struggled to carve out a role in Brown’s rotation. But when Robinson missed Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, the Knicks needed him to log 55 seconds of meaningful time with both Towns and Hukporti in foul trouble. He’s a break-in-case-of-emergency option.
Pacôme Dadiet
When he arrived: 2024
How he was acquired: Dadiet was drafted No. 25 overall, joining the Knicks as an 18-year-old forward from France.
How he’s helped them get here: Dadiet remains a G-League player (23.1 points, 4.8 rebounds per game for Westchester this year) logging NBA minutes during garbage time, but on a team filled with expensive veterans, he has two seasons remaining — if the Knicks pick up the final option — to become an inexpensive rotation piece.
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Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Rockets fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Hey, everyone. Sorry for the delay on this one. School is finishing up this week, so I’ve been busy grading, and cleaning my classeroom, and wrapping things up administratively. It’s no excuse, but it’s why I’m a little behind right now.
Anyway, we asked you last week, if the Rockets were to trade for a star, which one of the guys they are currently being linked to would you most want them to trade for? Your options were Kyrie Irving, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jaylen Brown, Donovan Mitchell, or Kawhi Leonard. Here’s what you said:
And by a landslide, the Jaylen Browns have it. I think that’s a prudent choice. He’d obviously fit right in with Ime Udoka, and is arguably the best roster fit in my opinion. I doubt that the Rockets do anything, though. My guess is that they run it back. I don’t think that’s the right move, but if they did trade for one of these available stars, Brown would be my choice as well.
Thanks for voting. We’ll be back soon with more Reacts.
Across an NBA Finals, it’s often the matchups within the matchups that determine the victor.
And, interestingly, both the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs feature players they can leverage in specific matchups to gain minor advantages in a game-by-game basis.
Slowing Wembanyama will be a team effort, but expect Anunoby to be the primary defender on him, at least early in the series. Though he gives up eight inches in height, Anunoby, a second-team All-Defensive selection, owns the wingspan and strength to prevent Wembanyama from getting comfortable in the paint.
Anunoby, who is 6-foot-7, actually outweighs Wembanyama by five pounds, per their official playing weights. Anunoby doesn’t shy away from contact and uses his 7-foot-2 wingspan to contest jumpers. Obviously, Wembanyama’s reach makes him a nightmare to stop, so the key will be for Anunoby — and others — to keep their leverage and use their arms and forearms to prevent Wembanyama from getting deep into the paint. The best bet for the Knicks is to try to force Wembanyama to be more of a perimeter player because when he gets going down low, he’s singular.
“He’s pretty unique,” Anunoby said Tuesday, June 2 when asked about guarding Wembanyama. “There’s little things, maybe like guarding a (Nikola) Jokić, or (Kristaps) Porziņģis or Joel (Embiid), but he’s different, like you said. He’s taller. But, yeah, just being aware of where he’s at all over the floor. He can do everything. He’s super talented. Just trying to make it as difficult as possible.”
That said, Anunoby will not be the only defender on Wembanyama. At some point, presumably, Karl-Anthony Towns will have to guard Wembanyama. Prone to spells of foul trouble, Towns will need to stay disciplined to not commit the cheap fouls that could force him out of the game.
Knicks help defense against the Spurs pick-and-roll with Wembanyama as the screener
San Antonio found massive success in the Western Conference finals with an action it ran over and over against the Thunder.
Essentially, the Spurs asked ball-handlers De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle to initiate pick-and-rolls with Wembanyama as the screener. After setting the pick, Wembanyama rolled hard to the basket, which created multiple options out of the same action; Fox or Castle could use the space from the screen to attack or pull up for jumpers, they could feed Wembanyama in the paint for slashing looks at the rim, or the ball would swing to open shooters in the corners or the wings.
Wembanyama’s gravity sucks in extra defenders, which forces those players to face a decision: either they leave their shooters to help on Wembanyama, or they sit tight with their man, leaving the paint more exposed.
If that help does come on Wembanyama, San Antonio’s shooters will need to capitalize on those looks but expect the Knicks, who had plenty of time to scout the Spurs, to anticipate this action.
Josh Hart spacing the floor vs. Wembanyama
In previous matchups earlier this season, the Spurs had Wembanyama on Josh Hart as his primary assignment. This is by design; on defense, San Antonio wants Wembanyama to hover near the paint as much as possible. So while it would seemingly make sense for Wembanyama to guard Towns, a 7-footer, Towns’ ability to stretch the floor with his shooting range would inherently draw Wembanyama away from the basket, which would then allow the space for Knicks guards and wings — Brunson, Anunoby, Mikal Bridges — to attack the paint.
Therefore, if San Antonio looks to put Wembanyama on Hart once more, Hart could provide massive value if he’s able to knock down some 3s early in the series, forcing the Spurs to guard him.
At times, the Cavaliers left Hart wide open and let him shoot. And though Hart is shooting just 30.3% from 3 these playoffs, he did erupt in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals, going 5-of-11 from deep.
San Antonio’s effort to get Karl-Anthony Towns into foul trouble
As mentioned above, Towns is a high-intensity player on both ends, though he sometimes falls into foul trouble. Usually, it’s the careless fouls that create problems. And when Towns is off the floor for lengthy stretches, the Knicks aren’t nearly as potent.
While Towns is a decent rim protector, San Antonio should make a concerted effort to use his energy against him and try to draw contact through intentional drives to the rim.
Stephon Castle on Jalen Brunson
Similar to defending Wembanyama, defending Brunson will be a team effort. But if there’s one player who has had success against him, it’s second-year guard Stephon Castle.
He should draw the primary assignment on Brunson, and Castle’s lateral speed and athleticism should make it difficult for Brunson (6-foot-2, 190 pounds) to carve spaces in the lane. Castle (6-foot-6, 215 pounds), however, cannot rely simply on his size and strength, because Brunson is superb at head fakes and knows how to put defenders in compromising positions.
Jalen Brunson when guarded by Stephon Castle in his career:
“I think what’s worked for me is trying to be physical with him,” Castle said Tuesday. “He’s obviously shorter than me, but he’s a very physical guard, he gets to his spots well. Uses deception well, has great footwork. Trying to be as disciplined as I can, crowd his space, but not give him the angles that he's looking for.
“At this point he has seen pretty much every coverage, been guarded all kinds of ways. Just trying to impose my will and use my physicality to my advantage.”
Imagn Iamges
