The NBA has largely accomplished what it set out to do. With the implementation of the tax aprons, building long-term, sustainable success has become increasingly difficult. If the league’s goal was to reduce dynasties, mission accomplished. Once the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks finish the 2026 NBA Finals, the league will crown its eighth different champion in eight seasons.

Teams across the NBA are feeling the effects. Front offices are constantly searching for ways to shed salary and navigate the increasingly restrictive rules attached to the tax aprons. Business decisions are being analyzed more than ever, as the wiggle room has tightened.

The Denver Nuggets, despite winning a championship in 2023, are no exception.

A quick glance at Denver’s 2026-27 cap sheet tells the story. They’re top-heavy, as Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray alone account for $109.1 million in salary. Add another $32 million for Aaron Gordon, and it’s easy to see why Denver is rumored to be looking for financial flexibility. The Nuggets currently sit $4.8 million over the 2026-27 first apron and only $2.6 million below the second apron.

For a franchise trying to maximize its championship window while a three-time MVP is still in his prime, difficult decisions are unavoidable. And those decisions aren’t going to involve the stars. They’re going to involve the middle class of the roster. One player who stands out is Christian Braun, who enters the first season of a five-year, $125 million extension next year. Yikes. My guess is that if Denver could revisit that negotiation today, it might look a little different.

The other contract that jumps off the page belongs to former Phoenix Suns wing Cameron Johnson. Johnson is set to make $23.1 million next season, accounting for roughly 14% of Denver’s cap sheet. And when a team is searching for ways to create breathing room, those are the kinds of contracts that inevitably enter the conversation.

We know Cameron Johnson well here in the Valley. He was the unexpected 11th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, a selection that caught plenty of people off guard at the time. But he was the best shooter in that draft, and he has continued to prove it throughout his seven years in the NBA, shooting 39.6% from beyond the arc.

He helped the Phoenix Suns reach the 2021 NBA Finals. The following season, when the Suns won a franchise record 64 games, Johnson finished third in Sixth Man of the Year voting after averaging 12.5 points off the bench while shooting 42.5% from three.

So yes, there is familiarity here. There is history here. And rumors are that the Nuggets are expected to shop Johnson this offseason as they look to reduce their tax bill and do what they can to get below the first apron.

That’s where the question and thought exercise begins. Should the Suns pursue him? Is bringing Cameron Johnson back to Phoenix something the Suns should explore? 

Because if they do, they are adding payroll rather than subtracting it. Denver’s goal in moving Johnson would be to save money. It isn’t to bring back another expensive rotation player or replace him with a comparable shooting threat at the same price. Why would they? Johnson makes $23.1 million this season, and he’s on an expiring contract. If Denver is trying to create financial breathing room, taking back the same amount of money defeats the purpose.

So there’s plenty to consider with this potential roster decision. Let’s look at it holistically, weighing the pros and the cons. Let’s discuss whether a Cameron Johnson reunion actually makes sense for Phoenix.

The Trade

The mock trade I’ve seen circulating would send Grayson Allen to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for Cameron Johnson. The Nuggets would also include the 26th overall pick in this year’s draft, while the Phoenix Suns would send back the 47th overall selection.

There is one wrinkle, however. Because Denver has already traded away its 2027 first-round pick, the Stepien Rule comes into play. That means the Nuggets cannot simply trade the 26th pick outright before the draft. Instead, Denver would make the selection at No. 26 and then complete the transaction afterward, effectively making this a draft-night trade.

That’s an important distinction, but it doesn’t change the framework of the deal. The Suns would still be acquiring Johnson and moving up 21 spots in the draft, while Denver would gain financial relief ($4.9 million) and add Allen’s shooting to its roster.

The Case for Acquiring Cam Johnson

Where do you start when contemplating a Cameron Johnson reunion? I think you start by removing nostalgia from the equation. This isn’t about bringing back a familiar face because he was part of a memorable run. This is about evaluating a player through the lens of productivity and roster construction.

Adding Cameron Johnson would immediately give the Phoenix Suns a better option at the power forward spot and provide a legitimate floor spacer. One of Phoenix’s biggest challenges last season was size at the four. While Johnson isn’t the ideal solution at 6’8”, he’s still an improvement over what the Suns rolled out for much of last season. Phoenix started Royce O’Neale, who stands 6’6”, in 67 games. What you are doing is getting bigger and longer. And you’re adding one of the league’s better shooters to the rotation. 

Now, I wouldn’t sit here and tell you Johnson is some massive defensive upgrade. He’s not. But the gap isn’t nearly as significant as some might assume. Last season, O’Neale posted a 115.1 defensive rating while Johnson came in at 114.7. So you’re not suddenly transforming the defense by making this move.

The other factor you have to consider is the viability of the trade itself. Because Denver’s motivation is an important factor in the equation. The Nuggets are trying to get off money, and they’re motivated to do so. That means any realistic trade discussion has to begin with that understanding.

They’re not looking to take back comparable salary if they can avoid it: they’re looking for relief. So before deciding whether Johnson is worth pursuing, we have to look at what the actual cost would be.

And that’s where things get interesting. When a team wants to get off a contract, it usually has to attach some kind of asset. That’s an important part of this conversation from the Suns’ perspective. If Phoenix could swap its second-round pick and receive Cameron Johnson along with Denver’s 26th overall pick, that becomes one of the strongest arguments in favor of making the deal.

Because it’s not only about Johnson. It’s about opportunity. Adding the 26th pick gives Phoenix another chance to bring in a young player and continue building through development. 

No, the 26th pick isn’t likely to produce a future Hall of Famer. But there’s a very real chance you find a quality rotational player. History tells us as much. Bones Hyland was selected 26th overall by the Denver Nuggets in 2021, Payton Pritchard went 26th overall to the Boston Celtics in 2020, and our old buddy Landry Shamet was the 26th pick in 2018 by the Philadelphia 76ers. If you’re looking for the gold standard, it’s probably Vlade Divac, who was selected 26th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in 1989.

Again, nobody is saying the Suns would be drafting the next Hall of Famer. That’s not the point. The point is that acquiring Johnson and a first-round pick creates value. You get a proven NBA rotation player who addresses a current need, and you get another developmental asset at a time when draft capital remains one of the most valuable commodities in the league. From Phoenix’s perspective, that’s a win.

And Denver could view it as a win as well. The Nuggets would save roughly $4.9 million in payroll, easing some of the pressure on their cap sheet and moving them just under the first apron. That’s what makes the framework interesting. It’s one of those rare trades where both sides can make a legitimate argument that they improved their position.

The final reason this trade makes sense is the contract itself. Cameron Johnson is on an expiring deal. Meanwhile, Grayson Allen has two years remaining on his contract, with the final season carrying a $19.4 million player option.

From a business perspective, there’s logic here. You acquire a first-round pick and inject another young player into your development pipeline. You add a player who can realistically replicate much of the shooting you’re sending out the door. You gain additional size on the wing. And perhaps most importantly, you create future financial flexibility. That’s valuable, especially for a team trying to balance competitiveness with long-term roster construction.

Johnson is a proven shooter. He’s familiar with Phoenix. He fits the style of basketball the Suns are trying to play. And because his contract expires after next season, you’re not making a long-term commitment that could limit future options. That’s a meaningful distinction. If things work, you can always explore bringing him back. If they don’t, the contract comes off the books, and you regain flexibility.

When you combine that with the potential addition of Denver’s 26th overall pick, the framework starts making a lot of sense from Phoenix’s perspective. You’re getting younger, you’re getting bigger, and you’re maintaining shooting. And you’re improving your long-term financial outlook.

That’s why, if Denver is willing to entertain a deal built around that framework, it’s one that the Suns should seriously consider.

The Case for Not Acquiring Cam Johnson

When you look at the Phoenix Suns’ offseason goals, the first question is simple. What are they prioritizing?

Are they trying to get below the luxury tax and reset their repeater tax status? Are they comfortable paying the tax but determined to stay below the first apron? Or are they willing to cross the first apron as long as they avoid the second? Those are important questions when evaluating a potential trade for Cameron Johnson.

Because in this scenario, Phoenix is taking on more money than it’s sending out. For a team that still has to navigate new deals for Collin Gillespie, Jordan Goodwin, and Mark Williams, that has merit. Every move has to be viewed within the context of the larger plan.

That’s why I keep coming back to the hierarchy of decisions. Where does Cameron Johnson rank on that list? You could easily argue that of those four players, Johnson is the least essential to what Phoenix is trying to accomplish. 

He’s also the most expensive. Yes, the contract expires after next season, which certainly helps. But an expiring contract doesn’t magically erase the financial implications of carrying a $23.1 million salary. Especially for a team already carrying $23.2 million in dead cap. That’s the reality Phoenix is dealing with. You can’t simply start adding $20+ million contracts because the player fits a need. Every dollar has to be accounted for and every decision has to fit into a broader strategy.

That’s what makes the Cameron Johnson conversation so interesting. You can argue that the basketball fit makes sense. The financial fit is where things become much more complicated. And until the Suns decide exactly where they stand on the luxury tax, the first apron, and the second apron, it’s difficult to know whether a move like this is realistic or simply an intriguing idea on paper.

And speaking of strategy, where exactly does Cameron Johnson fit? Grayson Allen, the player you’d be sending out in this deal, is a bench player. An expensive bench player, sure, but a bench player nonetheless. Acquiring Cameron Johnson would likely mean inserting him directly into the starting lineup at power forward. Is that the right move?

Once again, the answer comes back to philosophy. What is the guiding principle for the Phoenix Suns entering next season? If development is truly at the core of what they’re trying to accomplish, then you have to consider what this move means for Rasheer Fleming. Fleming is sitting there with an opportunity to earn a starting role. If you bring in Johnson, are you once again limiting that opportunity? Are you reducing his exposure and slowing the learning process? Or is the plan to continue developing him in a reserve role while Johnson handles the bulk of the minutes?

That’s the question. And for me, the answer is pretty straightforward. I’d rather see Fleming out there. I’d rather see him making mistakes, learning on the fly, and gaining valuable experience than watching the Suns invest significant resources into a one-year rental of Cameron Johnson.

That’s not a knock on Johnson. He’s a good player. He fits. He helps. But if Phoenix is serious about development, then development has to win these tiebreakers. At some point, you have to give young players the runway to prove what they are. If the Suns truly believe Fleming is part of their future, I’d rather spend next season finding out exactly what they have in him.

You could make the argument that swapping Cameron Johnson for Grayson Allen makes the Suns younger. Technically, you’d be right. But only by 146 days. That’s it. Johnson is 30 years old. Allen is 30 years old. The age difference is practically nonexistent. Honestly, I was surprised when I looked it up.

The other piece of this conversation is the draft pick. If Denver includes the 26th overall selection, that player is coming in on a guaranteed contract. Compare that to the Suns staying at No. 47, where the most likely outcome is selecting a player, signing him to a two-way deal, and allowing him to develop in the G League.

There’s a financial difference there. Based on the current rookie scale, the 26th pick would sign a four-year deal worth roughly $16.3 million, with approximately $3.2 million hitting the books next season. So when you run the numbers, the equation starts to look very different. Phoenix would be sending out roughly $18.1 million in salary and taking back $26.3 million. That’s an increase of $8.2 million before we even explore Gillespie, Goodwin, or Williams.

For a team carrying $23.2 million in dead cap while trying to navigate the luxury tax and apron restrictions, every dollar matters. That’s why, despite the appeal of adding Johnson and a first-round pick, I keep coming back to the same conclusion. It’s not a basketball decision. It’s a math decision. And right now, the math doesn’t work. Not for a franchise in the Suns’ current position.

Maybe if the cap sheet looked different. Maybe if the dead money wasn’t sitting there. Maybe if the organization had more financial flexibility to absorb additional salary. But that’s not where Phoenix is today. At this point in the organization’s timeline, taking on an additional $8.2 million in payroll simply isn’t the smartest use of resources. No matter how intriguing the trade may look on paper.

I find this trade fascinating. There’s a legitimate case to be made on both sides. If you’re focused on improving the roster today, adding Cameron Johnson and moving up to the 26th pick feels like a smart piece of business. You get bigger, maintain shooting, add a first-round prospect, and create some future flexibility with Johnson’s expiring contract. There’s real value there.

At the same time, if your focus is continuity, development, and the preservation of financial flexibility, the argument against the trade is just as compelling. The added salary complicates an already delicate cap situation, potentially impacts opportunities for younger players like Rasheer Fleming, and forces Phoenix to make even tougher decisions elsewhere on the roster.

That’s what makes this such a great offseason thought exercise. There isn’t an obvious right answer. There’s simply a choice between two different paths, each with its own benefits and consequences. I can see the appeal of both. The question is which direction you would take. Would you make the move and bring Cameron Johnson back to the Valley, or would you stay the course and continue investing in the group already in place?

Courtside chair Taylor Swift sat in for Cavs-Knicks game is up for auction originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The courtside seats in Cleveland will soon have a blank space.

The chair Taylor Swift sat in during Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks has been listed for auction.

According to the listing on The Realist, the opening bid was $100 and, after 38 bids as of Sunday, was listed at $6,000. The auction is set to end June 14, per the listing.

“As one of the most recognized and influential artists of her generation, the occupant of this chair has earned worldwide acclaim through a career defined by commercial success, critical recognition, and multiple Grammy Award victories,” the bidding description reads. “Her attendance reflects the cultural reach of the NBA Playoffs and the significance of the Eastern Conference Finals as one of the most visible events in sports.”

Swift attended the game on May 23 at Rocket Arena with her fiancée, Travis Kelce, the Kansas City Chiefs star and an Ohio native. The chair Kelce sat in is also up for auction at, as of Sunday, $525 after 30 bids.

But it was a cruel summer for the Cavaliers, who lost the game the couple attended 121-108 en route to getting swept in the series – meaning those courtside seats won’t be needed any time soon.  

The chair features a Cavaliers logo, arm rests and a cup holder. The listing says an authenticator was on site to witness Swift’s use of the chair during the game, and the item features a Gold OVD.

“This chair serves as a tangible artifact from a nationally celebrated postseason event,” the listing reads.” “Its connection to one of the world’s most recognizable entertainers adds a distinctive layer of provenance to an item tied directly to the atmosphere and excitement of the 2026 Eastern Conference Finals, further reflecting the Cavaliers’ position at the intersection of sports and pop culture.”

Other seats used by celebrities in the series are also being auctioned. The chair that actor and Knicks fan Ben Stiller sat in during the Knicks’ Game 4 series clincher is listed, as of Sunday, at $385 after 17 bids. Timothée Chalamet’s seat for that game is listed for $106 after 16 bids — and bidders can make it a set by also adding the chair used by Chalamet’s girlfriend Kylie Jenner, which is up to $280 after 21 bids.

“Throughout the 2026 postseason, Chalamet emerged as one of the most visible celebrity supporters of New York basketball,” the listing reads. “Whether attending games at Madison Square Garden or traveling to road playoff matchups, his presence became closely associated with the team’s deepest playoff run in nearly three decades. Television broadcasts, social media coverage, and national headlines regularly featured Chalamet among the faces of a fan base experiencing a long-awaited return to championship contention.”

The Knicks return to Madison Square Garden on Monday for the team’s first NBA Finals home game in 27 years. Holding a 2-0 series lead over the San Antonio Spurs, the team is two wins away from its first championship since 1973. Tickets to the games are at record highs, with the lowest asking prices on the secondary market at five figures.

Celebrity row at the Garden will be full of A-listers. Regulars like Spike Lee, Stiller, Chalamet, Jenner and Tracy Morgan are expected to attend. President Donald Trump will be in the building. Maybe Swift, a New York resident, will even show up.

How much would those chairs sell for?

He has Knicks fans believing they can go all the way — to heaven.

A Long Island bishop who used to play college hoops is using his beloved Knicks and their biblical 13-game postseason winning streak to get New Yorkers closer to God.

“Like Peter, James, and John were called from fishing nets, I was called from basketball nets,” Bishop John Barres of the Diocese of Rockville Centre told The Post near the altar of St. Agnes Cathedral.

“New York Knicks, 2026, we’re so grateful to you,” he said, “For the wonderful way you’ve turned Madison Square Garden again to just a magical place, and brought so many New Yorkers together.” 

The former point guard for Princeton University’s JV team in the late 1970s had his spiritual outlook shaped by both his play and the two-time title-winning Knicks of the era — especially “unselfishness” from fellow Tiger forward Bill Bradley. 

“They formed me in so many ways,” Barres said of watching the 1970 and 1973 NBA champs as a boy.

There are few more jovial than Barres that half a century of agony in the garden may finally end with the Knicks currently up 2-0 over the Spurs in the NBA Finals. 

Barres is exemplifying their long-awaited title run by teaching Long Island’s 1,000 newly confirmed Catholics and others to “step up” their starting roles as “humble, compassionate” lights of Christ. 

“I use the example of Jalen Brunson stepping up with his three pointers — his management of the floor, the wonderful way he passes, the wonderful way he drives to the basket, the wonderful way he reads the other team,” he said.

“I’m mesmerized by Jalen — just watching him, his unselfishness, and just how he does what he does.”

Westchester-born Barres, who, like Brunson, wore No. 11, has remained deeply rooted in Catholicism’s connection to sports — especially at the youth level on LI — ever since his playing days. 

He even hands out priest cards showing him making a layup at the Ivy League school’s Jadwin Gym.

“I think the Holy Spirit prepared me humanly through the basketball experience,” the Bishop said.

The cards also show a dunk-on-the-devil message, “holiness and mission GO FOR IT!” which takes inspiration from a motto by Pope John Paul II, a talented athletic skier himself.

Barres too has been a major advocate for athletics being connector to faith — he even wrote a “ya gotta believe!” letter about the 1969 Mets — and once helped a young man land a role with Hofstra-turned-Villanova’s legendary coach, Jay Wright.

His Excellency is particularly fond of Wright’s excellent “Nova Knicks” in former NCAA champion Wildcats Brunson, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges, a trio Barres has also exemplified.

“The way they have such a wonderful team chemistry is a great metaphor for the Holy Spirit’s chemistry in the mission of the church in every continent,” Barres said.

He added that it’s no mystery of faith why Pope Leo XIV, a 1977 grad of the same Catholic school, wrote a letter on sports having tremendous value for the human spirit ahead of the Winter Olympics. 

Now the Knicks are even coming up in conversation on diocesan work calls, Barres admitted.

He is mulling over new ways to homilize Mike Brown’s Eastern Conference champs after seeing the energy they’ve created in NY.

“It’s on people’s minds…All the things they model to us about true leadership — unselfish leadership for the common good,” he said.

“In some beautiful and mysterious way, this was meant to be, and it’s giving a lift to New Yorkers and Knicks fans…I wouldn’t be surprised this weekend if we see [jerseys and t-shirts at mass].”

Barres has one message to the squad ahead of their return to New York for Game 3 Monday night.

“God bless you all…Go Knicks.”

CHICAGO (AP) — Stacey King, who played on three consecutive NBA championship teams with the Chicago Bulls from 1991-93 before returning to the organization as an Emmy-winning broadcaster, has died. He was 59.

The Bulls announced that King died Sunday and said they were notified by a family member. No other details were immediately available.

“Stacey King was a cherished member of the Bulls family and one of the truly unique personalities in our organization’s history,” Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said in a statement. “His connection to Chicago, the Bulls and our fans spanned more than three decades — first as a player and later as the unmistakable voice that helped bring Bulls basketball into the homes of generations of fans. We will miss him deeply and remember the joy, energy, humor, candor and passion he brought to our organization, our broadcasts and our fans every day. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones.”

King began his NBA playing career with the Bulls, who selected the 6-foot-11 forward/center out of Oklahoma with the sixth overall pick in the 1989 draft. He averaged 6.6 points and 3.3 rebounds over his five seasons with the Bulls.

He played a total of eight seasons in the NBA during a career that also included stops in Minnesota, Miami, Boston and Dallas. King posted career averages of 6.4 points and 3.3 rebounds.

As a broadcaster, King endeared himself to a new generation of Bulls supporters. He spent more than two decades as a commentator on Bulls games.

“Stacey loved being a Bull,” Bulls president and CEO Michael Reinsdorf said in a statement. “You could feel it in everything he did — the way he played, the way he called games and the way he connected with our fans. He had a unique gift for bringing people together and making every game feel personal. He brought an energy and love for the game that came through in every broadcast, helping fans feel connected to our team. Whether it was through a broadcast, a conversation or a photo with a fan, Stacey made people feel seen and valued.

“We were fortunate to know him not only as a player and broadcaster, but as a friend. Stacey genuinely cared about people, and he made our organization better. We will miss him dearly, and his impact, memory and legacy will remain a part of the Chicago Bulls forever.”

King delighted fans with his memorable calls and nicknames. His enthusiasm was apparent every time the Bulls hit a big shot.

“We enjoy what we do,” King said last month on his “Gimme the Hot Sauce” podcast, a reference to a comment he'd frequently make after big plays. “It's a fun job. It never seems like work for me. Every night, I go to work, win, lose or draw, I'm having fun.”

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Stacey King, a big man during the first Bulls three-peat in the early 1990s who became a beloved game analyst for the team’s television broadcasts, died Sunday, the team announced.

He was 59. A cause of death was not disclosed.

“Stacey King was a cherished member of the Bulls family and one of the truly unique personalities in our organization’s history,” owner Jerry Reinsdorf said in a statement.

“His connection to Chicago, the Bulls and our fans spanned more than three decades — first as a player and later as the unmistakable voice that helped bring Bulls basketball into the homes of generations of fans. We will miss him deeply and remember the joy, energy, humor, candor and passion he brought to our organization, broadcasts and our fans every day. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones.”

The Bulls selected King with the No. 6 overall pick in the 1989 NBA Draft out of Oklahoma — where he was a consensus All-American as a senior — and he was a key reserve in Chicago for four-plus seasons, winning three straight NBA championships from 1991-93 during the first half of the Michael Jordan dynasty.

He averaged 6.6 points and 3.3 rebounds in 344 regular-season games with the Bulls, and 4.4 points and 2.2 rebounds in 60 playoff games.

King was traded to the Timberwolves for Luc Longley in February 1994 and later played for the Heat, Celtics and Mavericks.

After a brief coaching career, King went into broadcasting in 2006 and joined the Bulls booth in 2007.

Some of his signature phrases included “Gimme the hot sauce!” and “Sriracha!”

“Stacey loved being a Bull. You could feel it in everything he did — the way he played, the way he called games and the way he connected with our fans,” Reinsdorf’s son Michael, the team’s president and CEO, said in a statement.

“He had a unique gift for bringing people together and making every game feel personal. He brought an energy and love for the game that came through in every broadcast, helping fans feel connected to our team. Whether it was through a broadcast, a conversation or a photo with a fan, Stacey made people feel seen and valued.”

After taking the first two games of the 2026 NBA Finals in San Antonio, the Knicks head home to Madison Square Garden for the next two games with a chance to secure a sweep, which would cap off one of the greatest winning steaks in NBA postseason history. 

And while the Knicks, currently on a 13-game winning streak, aren’t allowing themselves to get caught up in all of the outside buzz and excitement leading into the game, they know it will be special to be back in front of their home fans and give them a taste of the NBA Finals at The Garden in Monday night's Game 3.

“I think it’s really cool -- 27 years since the last Finals here in this building,” said Jalen Brunson. “I know our fan base is really excited, as they should be. But as a team, us inside that locker room, we have more work to do. 

“In my mind, there’s nothing really to celebrate yet. There’s still a lot of work to be done.”

“I expect our fans to come out and do what they do every game, just come and support us at the highest level,” said Karl-Anthony Towns. “It’s always great when you get to come out and play the game of basketball at its highest level, to be able to lace the shoes up, be able to put the jersey on, and be able to see our fans see Finals basketball after all of this time is going to be really, really special.”

Asked if he’s been able to look around the city and take in what the Knicks have accomplished, Brunson’s answer was very direct.

“Not until it’s over,” he said.

Forward Josh Hart, who has 21 rebounds and 10 assists through the first two games, said he knows the Garden is “going to be rocking” and that “the energy is going to be electric,” but he does wish being able to see the game in person was a bit more accessible for the fans, given the astronomical ticket prices just to get into the arena. 

“I kind of wish the ticket prices weren’t as crazy as they are,” Hart said. “I feel like a lot of people have been waiting for this moment for a very long time and unfortunately aren’t able to get into the building, when the cheapest ticket is $7,000-8,000. 

“That’s ridiculous, but it should still be rocking. Just wish those were a little cheaper.”

Heading into Game 3, several Knicks touched on the importance of executing in the fourth quarter, as San Antonio erased a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit in Game 2 before a costly Victor Wembanyama turnover helped the Knicks earn the win. 

“I feel like we played a little slower,” said Hart. “Transitionally, it wasn’t as crisp as it was in the first three quarters. I think if we focus on that and rebounding, we’ll be good.”

As Brunson said, the Knicks have not yet achieved their ultimate goal of bringing the city their first NBA title since 1973.

But if they can win two more games, this Knicks team would go down in history, and for players like Brunson, being part of the team that brought a title back to New York would be an unforgettable achievement.

“I’m so thankful and so honored to put New York across my chest,” the point guard said. “I wouldn’t trade that feeling for anything in the world”

Three-time NBA champion and beloved broadcaster Stacey King has died, the Chicago Bulls announced Sunday, June 7.

King was 59 years old.

In a statement on social media, Bulls' owner Jerry Reinsdorf said "Stacey King was a cherished member of the Bulls family and one of the truly unique personalities in our organization’s history. His connection to Chicago, the Bulls and our fans spanned more than three decades – first as a player and later as the unmistakable voice that helped bring Bulls basketball into the homes of generations of fans. We will miss him deeply and remember the joy, energy, humor, candor, and passion he brought to our organization, our broadcasts, and our fans every day. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones."

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King was the sixth pick in the 1989 draft out of Oklahoma. His connection to the city of Chicago is undeniable as he was not only beloved as a player but as the team's color commentator for nearly 20 years.

A Philly hoops legend is taking on a major role for his hometown team.

The Sixers will reportedly promote Jameer Nelson to executive vice president of basketball operations, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.

Nelson was one of four candidates reportedly on Bob Myers’ short list to replace Daryl Morey before the franchise decided to hire Cleveland Cavaliers GM Mike Gansey. Nelson, who previously served as the team’s assistant general manager, was reportedly the only internal candidate under consideration.

Nelson is one of the most decorated local players in history. The Chester native attended Chester High before heading to Hawk Hill to play for St. Joe’s. Nelson had one of the finest college careers of any Big 5 player. A fantastic four-year run culminated in a magical 2003-04 season in which the Hawks went 27-0 during the regular season, finishing as the No. 1 team in the country. After a disappointing early exit in the A-10 Tournament, St. Joe’s made it all the way to the Elite Eight, losing a 64-62 heartbreaker to Oklahoma State. Nelson was named the Wooden Award winner as college basketball’s top player among a slew of accolades.

The 6-foot guard was selected 20th overall by the Denver Nuggets in 2004, but was immediately traded to the Magic. Nelson then spent the next decade in Orlando and was named an All-Star in 2008-09. All told, he spent 14 years in the NBA playing for the Magic, Nuggets, Dallas Mavericks, Boston Celtics, New Orleans Pelicans and Detroit Pistons before retiring in 2018.

Not long after his playing career ended, he was tapped by the Sixers to be the assistant general manager of the Delaware Blue Coats, the team’s G League affiliate, in 2020. He was promoted to GM in 2023-24 and was promoted again this past season as assistant general manager of the Sixers. All indications were Nelson was well-thought of within the organization and would’ve held a big role moving forward, even if he wasn’t named president of basketball operations.

The announcement of Nelson’s expected promotion also coincided with the news of Elton Brand’s fate. Charania has reported that Brand will not return as Sixers GM, and will work in a new role with Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment. Charania added that Brand chose not to interview for the president of basketball ops position and has been supporting the team’s draft preparation.

In Myers, Gansey and Nelson, the Sixers have a triumvirate of former high-level basketball players leading things — a stark departure from the analytics-driven Daryl Morey. We’ll see if it’s a recipe for success.

“You’re gonna have a dude. You have to have a 1A dude. And they’re missing that.He too small.

“I have a philosophy: If your best player is small, you’re not winning. John Stockton, Allen Iverson, Steve Nash, you can go down the list… Steph Curry is the only—he’s in a different class.” — Becky Hammon (Dec. 2023)

Sometimes, revisionist history sucks. Sometimes, revisionist history is facts.

And these days, having just wrapped up the first week of the sixth month in the Gregorian calendar, facts tell you Mrs. Hammon—or at the very least her take on New York Knicks point guard, captain, and franchise player Jalen Brunson—sucks.

I’m not here to retell the whole Brunson story once more—from Rick, to Mark Cuban by way of Dallas, to the Eastern Conference Finals MVP award and the current NBA Finals 2-0 lead.

We’re past that. Way past that.

See, life’s a thing of highs and lows. Brunson, in the eyes of any and every New Yorker and Knickerbocker fan, is a franchise savior. But past miseries surely played in the big-headed’s favor.

By the time Brunson arrived in Manhattan, thanks both to his connection to the Knicks organization—one that started nearly 25 years earlier—and a rekindled relationship in the summer of 2022, New York had gone through their fair share of wretchedness.

Seven trips to the playoffs in the prior 23 years, starting in 2000 and following a five-game NBA Finals loss to the San Antonio Spurs in 1999. 19 postseason wins to 33 losses. 771 regular-season wins to 1,073 losses. Six seasons above .500 to 17 with a losing record.

In the four seasons under Brunson’s guidance at the point, the Knicks have won 61.2% of their regular-season games, advanced to the conference semis twice, made the conference finals two more times and, in this the fourth year of the JB Era, finally clinched the long-chased NBA Finals berth.

Only the 94-98 Knicks and the 71-74 Knicks have put together better runs than the current Knicks. Only the latter won one title. The 2026 Knicks could match that following Brunson’s four-year run in town.

All of the above to get to the point of the article before it’s too late and I found myself having written more words about stuff unrelated to it than the actual thing.

Where does Brunson rank among New York’s all-time guards?

It’s inevitable to fall for the sugar rush these Knicks are giving us, considering Brunson the one and only man in history to save the franchise from relocating out of utter dysfunction, and crown him King Knicks Guard. Hell, even FanDuelstill considers JB the favorite candidate to end up winning the NBA Finals MVP at +115 over the actual, leading MVP candidate in everybody’s mind and boxscores, Karl-Anthony Towns at +165.

Even if the Knicks end up bottling this thing and losing the Finals in hellaciously historic and astonishing fashion (spoiler: not happening), Brunson has already secured his place as one of the bona fide Knicks greats. Do a quick search, and you’ll find a million boards. Here’s one from KD’s platform, just to make the post fancier.

As things stand, there is no debate in placing at least two or three names above Brunson in the all-time leaderboard—it is obvious that nobody is touching Patrick Ewing or Clyde for starters. Keywords: As things stand.

In a matter of days, likely no later than Wednesday night, Brunson will write his name in golden letters in the history books of the New York Knicks organization.

How many players can actually say that? Not a lot. How many of them played an important role at the guard positions for the Knickerbockers while at it? Fewer, if not just a handful.

There are plenty of ways to cut straight to the chase and get rid of plenty of no-names, as great as some of them might have been. Quickest pathway? Knicks’ retired numbers, a graveyard where Brunson’s No. 11 is already destined.

That’s it, that’s the list (with the omission of coach Holzman’s No. 613).

Within that list, Frazier, Dick Barnett, Dirk McGuire, and Earl Monroe played guard throughout their careers.

No. 1 — Walt “Clyde” Frazier

Frazier spent 10 seasons with the Knicks, made seven All-Star teams, earned seven All-Defensive First Team selections, won two NBA championships for New York and ultimately made the Hall of Fame. Not only that, but he even had a game worth replaying forever in his Game 7 performance in the 1970 NBA Finals, when he put up an extraordinary 36-point, 19-assist, seven-rebound performance to send the Los Angeles Lakers packing. No debate here.

No. 2 — Earl “The Pearl” Monroe

Monroe is probably where the debate starts, as silly as that sounds. For now (now meaning before Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Finals), The Pearl remains ahead. Monroe came to New York already established as one of the league’s great guards, and he simply took his game further in Manhattan, helping the Knicks win their 1973 title. He made four All-Star teams in his career, earned a place in the Hall of Fame, and started his career by being named the 1968 Rookie of the Year. That said, he didn’t rack up trophies as Clyde did, with no real personal awards in his resume.

No. 3 — Jalen “Captain Clutch” Brunson

Consider this placement just a stopgap toward greater heights, fellas. Brunson has already led the Knicks to the NBA Finals, he’s won multiple playoff series as the franchise’s No. 1 player and offensive engine, and once and for all put an end to the long and nonsensical drought at the point guard position in New York. Yes, Brunson is not really a man for awards outside of new-era crafted titles such as Cluth Player of the Year and all this flashy stuff, but he’s already earned three All-NBA call-ups and has won something no other lead guard in NYC ever did: the NBA Cup (lol). Anyway. Two more wins this month, and I’m moving JB up to No. 2, with all due respect to the elders and path-pavers.

No. 4 and 5 — Dick Barnett & Dick McGuire

McGuire, at the very least, belongs in the conversation, having made five All-Star teams as a Knick and later joining the Hall of Fame.

The same goes for Barnett, who was more of a taker than a giver and a legit shooter more than he ever was a passer. Even then, he was a guard and he makes the top-5 cut. An All-Star nod and two titles in his resume (he only played four games in the 1973 run, though) and his near-17 PPG only second to Willis Reed’s 24 in the 1970 playoffs, are more than enough.

The Rest — Mark Jackson, Michael Ray Richardson, Derek Harper, Charlie Ward, Stephon Marbury

Action Jackson won Rookie of the Year with the Knicks in 1988, made the All-Star team in 1989, and led the league in assists later in his career. Sugar Ray made three All-Star teams with New York and led the NBA in assists and steals in 1979-80. Harper helped steady the 1990s Knicks and started on the 1994 NBA Finals team. C-Ward won the 1994 Heisman Trophy before becoming a long-term Knicks starter and part of the 1999 Finals team. Starbury stole my heart from the get-go. That’s it, that’s the reasoning there—always remember the tough days.

Where do you rank Jalen Brunson among all-time Knicks guards? Is he already a top-3 all-time Knicks, no positions considered? Let us know in the comments section below!

In 1919, eight members of the Chicago White Sox attended a series of meetings and plans were hatched to throw the World Series in favor of the Cincinnati Reds.

The fix was far from the first in baseball. At the time, America’s pastime was in its infancy and the notion of ‘integrity of the game’ was also in its infancy. Gamblers and players routinely fraternized, and the occasional fix was more or less accepted — maybe not always with good grace, but without a great deal of protest.

Then the World Series was fixed.

The response was not particularly swift. White Sox owner Charles Comiskey and the rest of the league’s owners spent most of 1920 trying to bury the story, but when a grand jury was convened to investigate the conduct of the Series in the context of laws against gambling in general, it became hard to keep a lid on what actually happened. In September of that year, Eddie Cicotte confessed and the scandal exploded onto the front page.

Ultimately, Kennesaw Mountain Landis, the first commissioner of a U.S. professional sport, instituted lifetime bans against the eight players who sat in on meetings to throw the Series. Landis’ ban was based on players knowing about the fix, so even guys that arguably didn’t participate in the fix like Shoeless Joe Jackson were banned for life.

Fast forward to the 1980s in the NBA and maybe Gloria was right…

In the 1981-82 season, that prince of an owner, Donald Sterling, publicly suggested that his team should lose games to secure a top pick. He was fined a record $10,000 by David Stern, but there were no further consequences — not even when Sterling allowed the team’s active roster to fall as low as eight players that season.

Two years later, the Houston Rockets decided to sit their starters in order to secure the top pick in the pre-lottery draft. Their reward? One of the best centers ever to play the game, Hakeem Olajuwon. Granted it took a decade for that to pay off with a pair of championships, but the Rockets definitely benefited from playing to lose.

Also competing for the bottom of the draft that season? The Chicago Bulls. They got Michael Jordan with the third pick, and the rest, for them, is history as well.

In 1996-97 multiple teams, the Celtics included, tanked for a chance to pick Tim Duncan, in the NBA’s relatively new lottery arrangement which gave the worst teams better odds at getting a top pick.

In the 2010s, Sam Hinkie made tanking a publicly declared priority for the Philadelphia 76ers, with the team deliberately stripping itself of competent players in order to secure multiple top draft picks (picks which Hinkie wasted, for the most part, but that’s another story for another day).

Tanking has become as accepted an affront to the integrity of basketball as gambling once was in baseball.

There is no material difference between the players throwing games for monetary gain and GMs throwing seasons in order to secure high draft picks.

None.

In both cases, the individuals involved are deliberately doing less than their best in order to lose.

It’s true that the NBA has finally done something to minimize the most egregious forms of tanking, but this new system, with its dramatic rise in odds for 4-10 finishers has basically created a huge disincentive for teams that are ‘on the bubble.’ Teams sitting in the gap between the 10^th place in the lottery standings and the 19^th place teams that are assured playoff spots have little incentive to push for a better record and every incentive to play for a worse one.

If you finish in 11^th place, you get one lottery ball. If you finish in 10^th place, you get three.

All this new approach has done is change the way teams will choose to tank and how they’ll pursue it. Changing the goal from ‘being the worst team in the league’ to ‘being bad enough to get three lottery balls’ doesn’t change the fact that the team’s management is still trying to lose.

Sure, the optics might be a bit better, but tanking is still cheating. It’s still a violation of trust.

What can be done?

Sadly, not much. Gambling-influenced play typically comes out due to criminal investigations, where law enforcement agencies have both the power to seize communications and the authority to threaten real consequences against individuals complicit in these schemes.

Recall that it was a criminal investigation that brought the Black Sox scandal to light.

With a matter like tanking, there aren’t any laws being broken.

And in any event, tanking is often done with a nod and a wink. The NBA might have the power to compel teams to turn over emails and other correspondence, but these aren’t likely to feature an owner and a GM chatting about how they’re going to aim for a top pick in the lottery.

When tanking is egregious, as what happened with the Pacers and the Jazz this season, the league’s response is, basically, a slap on the wrist.

Yes, under the new lottery arrangement, the league has the ability to impose more severe punishment for conduct perceived as tanking, and this is a good first step.

However, like locked screen doors that only stop honest burglars, penalties for obvious acts of tanking only affect the stupidest teams. Any team can get around these penalties by cooking up plausible-sounding reasons for trading away good players (‘saving on cap costs’), and for resting starters (‘injury recovery’).

In order for tanking to stop, the collective attitude of fans — which is ultimately what drives league policy — needs to change. As long as we pretend that tanking is anything but cheating, it’s going to continue.

The game we’re promised is one where both teams are playing to win. We didn’t sign up for Gloria’s murky realm where some teams are playing to lose, because if they lose they win.

As long as we believe that trying to win is optional, as long as we’re content to see teams trying to lose, we will be complicit in the active undermining of the integrity of the game.

Who knew the Knicks had it in them?

I’m going to wrap up this column by noting that we might have another ‘fo-fo-fo’ in the making.

Yeah, this means that Jamie Dolan might get to hoist a Finals trophy, and it means that I got my “Spurs in six” prediction quite wrong, but in the end, I’m fine with it.

I don’t particularly care for the Knicks, but I’m sick and tired of the notion that the Western Conference is head-and-shoulders better than the East. It’s such an accepted narrative, that I’d be happy to see the East’s third seed spank the West’s second seed, even if it means having to deal with Knicks fans acting like this isn’t the team’s first championship since 1973.

With the C’s out of the playoffs, I’ve been in favor of maximum chaos, and the Knicks winning a title is about the maximumest chaos that we can get short of human sacrifice and dogs and cats living together.

Courtside chair Taylor Swift sat in for Cavs-Knicks game is up for auction originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The courtside seats in Cleveland will soon have a blank space.

The chair Taylor Swift sat in during Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks has been listed for auction.

According to the listing on The Realist, the opening bid was $100 and, after 38 bids as of Sunday, was listed at $6,000. The auction is set to end June 14, per the listing.

“As one of the most recognized and influential artists of her generation, the occupant of this chair has earned worldwide acclaim through a career defined by commercial success, critical recognition, and multiple Grammy Award victories,” the bidding description reads. “Her attendance reflects the cultural reach of the NBA Playoffs and the significance of the Eastern Conference Finals as one of the most visible events in sports.”

Swift attended the game on May 23 at Rocket Arena with her fiancée, Travis Kelce, the Kansas City Chiefs star and an Ohio native. The chair Kelce sat in is also up for auction at, as of Sunday, $525 after 30 bids.

But it was a cruel summer for the Cavaliers, who lost the game the couple attended 121-108 en route to getting swept in the series – meaning those courtside seats won’t be needed any time soon.  

The chair features a Cavaliers logo, arm rests and a cup holder. The listing says an authenticator was on site to witness Swift’s use of the chair during the game, and the item features a Gold OVD.

“This chair serves as a tangible artifact from a nationally celebrated postseason event,” the listing reads.” “Its connection to one of the world’s most recognizable entertainers adds a distinctive layer of provenance to an item tied directly to the atmosphere and excitement of the 2026 Eastern Conference Finals, further reflecting the Cavaliers’ position at the intersection of sports and pop culture.”

Other seats used by celebrities in the series are also being auctioned. The chair that actor and Knicks fan Ben Stiller sat in during the Knicks’ Game 4 series clincher is listed, as of Sunday, at $385 after 17 bids. Timothée Chalamet’s seat for that game is listed for $106 after 16 bids — and bidders can make it a set by also adding the chair used by Chalamet’s girlfriend Kylie Jenner, which is up to $280 after 21 bids.

“Throughout the 2026 postseason, Chalamet emerged as one of the most visible celebrity supporters of New York basketball,” the listing reads. “Whether attending games at Madison Square Garden or traveling to road playoff matchups, his presence became closely associated with the team’s deepest playoff run in nearly three decades. Television broadcasts, social media coverage, and national headlines regularly featured Chalamet among the faces of a fan base experiencing a long-awaited return to championship contention.”

The Knicks return to Madison Square Garden on Monday for the team’s first NBA Finals home game in 27 years. Holding a 2-0 series lead over the San Antonio Spurs, the team is two wins away from its first championship since 1973. Tickets to the games are at record highs, with the lowest asking prices on the secondary market at five figures.

Celebrity row at the Garden will be full of A-listers. Regulars like Spike Lee, Stiller, Chalamet, Jenner and Tracy Morgan are expected to attend. President Donald Trump will be in the building. Maybe Swift, a New York resident, will even show up.

How much would those chairs sell for?

Jerry Stackhouse reveals best lesson Steve Kerr taught him as Warriors assistant originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Jerry Stackhouse won’t be returning as a Warriors assistant for the 2026-27 NBA season, but he gained some valuable knowledge while coaching under Steve Kerr for the last two years.

On a recent episode of FanDuel TV’s “Run It Back,” Stackhouse shared a key lesson from Kerr that he will take into the rest of his coaching career, specifically referencing when Golden State was without injured stars Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler this past season.

“With Steve, it was all about, you know, he wants those guys’ joy. His messaging was always on point,” Stackhouse explained. “I think with guys, from the standpoint of when we lost Steph and we were down, I think he still found a way to find positives in what was happening and using it as growth moments and growth opportunities. And I think for us, we saw our younger guys get better, probably guys that we weren’t counting on going into the season.

“And then when Jimmy went down and when Steph went down, then it was like, okay, this is this an opportunity for you guys to step up. I thought Gui Santos took a really big step for, like I said, a guy that wasn’t even really penciled in, but once he got his opportunity — I think he’s going to provide a lot of depth for the Warriors this year because of that. …

“I saw how how Steve, you know, he wants conversation. He wants to make sure that you understand — even the coaching staff — just constantly confirming with everybody to make sure that you know where you stand and and you know what we’re trying to get accomplished.”

The short-handed Warriors, missing their two best players for an extended stretch, limped through the back end of the regular season before their eventual loss in the NBA play-in tournament.

But as Stackhouse mentioned, there were still some positives that came out of that difficult period — specifically Santos’ emergence as a solid rotation piece. After the 2026 NBA All-Star break, the 23-year-old averaged 15.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 31.3 minutes across 24 games (including 21 starts).

That experience could be invaluable for someone like Santos once the Warriors — hopefully — get healthy next season, as the team attempts to make one last deep playoff run.

And if Santos contributes significantly, like Stackhouse believes, Kerr certainly would deserve credit for helping develop the former No. 55 overall pick.

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Mitchell Robinson no longer has a technical foul from Game 2 of the 2026 NBA Finals on his ledger.

The NBA on Saturday rescinded the tech given to the Knicks center during the second quarter of their 105-104 win over the Spurs in San Antonio on Friday after the league reviewed the play.

Robinson and 7-foot-4 Spurs star Victor Wembanyama were fighting for position when Wembanyama pushed Robinson, who pushed him back, though the contact didn’t seem egregious.

Yet Robinson was called for a tech with 4:56 left in the first half and then was subbed out of the game for Karl-Anthony Towns.

It could have impacted the game as Wembanyama made the technical free throw the Spurs were awarded, but the Knicks escaped with the win and lead the series 2-0 entering Monday’s Game 3 at Madison Square Garden.

It was Robinson who defended Wembanyama as the Frenchman attempted a game-winning jumper that missed.

“I know we needed stops and I had picked up a few fouls on him,” Robinson said. “I think, what, three, like early on? So in my mind, I was just like, defend without fouling. So that was kind of like how it went. Just great contest, and just kind of how it went.”

Robinson finished Game 2 with seven points, three rebounds, one block and one steal in 14 minutes. He was 3-for-6 from the free-throw line as the Spurs intentionally put him on the line a few times.

The eighth-year Knick fractured the fifth metacarpal in his right hand, reportedly at home, and had surgery ahead of the Finals. He’s been wearing a wrap around his right hand.