Category: Basketball

The Knicks are going nowhere! 

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that the viral blue and orange 34th Street subway entrance will be kept as is through the end of next year’s NBA season “to keep the celebration going” after the Knicks’ historic Finals win. 

The Madison Square Garden station was repainted in the Knicks’ iconic blue and orange scheme June 1 to honor the New York team’s first finals appearance since 1999. 

Fans flocked to the station for the perfect photo op, with many telling The Post that the remodel should be permanent. 

Hochul appeared to hear the public’s pleas, and Wednesday announced that the station’s decorations will remain through the end of the 2026-2027 NBA season — when the Knicks will defend their coveted title. 

“As we prepare to immortalize this Knicks team in the Canyon of Heroes tomorrow, it is fitting that we preserve this iconic subway entrance into next season to keep the celebrations going. The subway and the Knicks are two of New York’s most cherished institutions and now fans headed to the Garden to see the reigning champions will receive an orange and blue welcome to every game,” Hochul said. 

Oscar-winning director and Knicks megafan Spike Lee flanked Hochul as she made the declaration. Both were decked out in Knicks gear. 

“Nothing but orange and blue skies all around us,” Lee said. 

“New York City will be Fun City again,” he added. 

MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber teased that preserving the themed entrance will boost the “mojo” that led the Knicks to victory. 

The MTA will also run a specially designated “K train” for the Knicks’ ticker-tape parade Thursday. 

The “K train” will start operations at 7 a.m. with stops stretching from 168th Street to the World Trade Center. 

Thursday’s ticker-tape parade will process down the famed Canyon of Heroes — and is projected to be the city’s largest parade ever. Festivities officially kick off in downtown Manhattan at 10 a.m., but access points will open at least four hours earlier.

New York’s first ticker-tape parade was held for the dedication of the Statue of Liberty in 1886.

Teddy Roosevelt and Nelson Mandela were similarly honored, as were Queen Elizabeth II and Pope John Paul II, Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart, soldiers, astronauts and Olympians, the Yankees, Mets, Giants, Rangers, Liberty, Gotham FC and so many more.

Finally, after 210 official ticker-tape parades, the Knicks get their turn to enter the Canyon of Heroes.

Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns and the rest of one of the most beloved teams in New York City history will be honored with the franchise’s first-ever parade Thursday morning (10 a.m.) in lower Manhattan, celebrating the Knicks’ first NBA championship in 53 years.

The parade will begin at Battery Park and travel up Broadway to City Hall, where the Knicks will be presented with a ceremonial key to the city.

The 1970 title team was honored at Gracie Mansion. The 1973 champs were joined by roughly 2,000 fans at a celebration at City Hall. But millions are expected to partake in this long-awaited event that will rank among the largest celebrations in the city’s history, featuring (temporary) blue and orange signs declaring “Champions Way,” 2,500 pounds of confetti and the largest police presence (more than 10,000 officers) ever assigned to a planned event.

“From a playoff run that left New Yorkers breathless to a tip-in that will be talked about for decades, the Knicks have earned a hero’s welcome,” Mayor Zohran Mamdani said in a statement Wednesday. “We have dreamed of this moment for generations. This Thursday, our city will rise to the occasion.”

The party hasn’t stopped since the Knicks stormed the court in San Antonio, returning from their champagne-soaked celebration Sunday to begin a whirlwind tour throughout the city.

The starters (Brunson, Towns, OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart) visited “Good Morning America” and the “Today” show, with coach Mike Brown and the rest of the team joining them on “The Tonight Show.” Brooklyn native Jose Alvarado, joined by teammate Jordan Clarkson, rode shirtless in the Puerto Rican Day Parade in his native borough.

Now, they will ride on floats that felt like a fantasy to fans who suffered through the heartbreak of the 1990s, the embarrassment of the 2000s, the false hope and face-plants of the 2010s, and the climb under Tom Thibodeau. They will come together as one, as they did at watch parties throughout the city, and while taking over arenas in Atlanta, Philadelphia, Cleveland and San Antonio, witnessing perhaps the most meaningful and unifying championship run the city has ever seen.

“Not only for the alumni, but for the fans, this was healing happening in real time,” Towns said on “Good Morning America.” “This is really a once-in-a-lifetime event you’re watching in New York sports history. They haven’t seen a win in [53] years. You’re talking about a whole generation that’s passed being told about the stories of how great the Knicks are, but not actually seeing that trophy be raised by a Knicks player … now you get to see it with your own eyes that the Knicks are, again, world champions.”

Walt Frazier and Patrick Ewing, among other team alumni, will ride in the parade. Mitchell Robinson will ride in one of his custom trucks. Mike Breen, the Knicks’ longtime broadcaster, will emcee the ceremony at City Hall.

And the festivities will conclude there, with Alicia Keys singing “Empire State of Mind”:

“Let’s hear it for New York, New York, New York.”

After finishing the regular season fourth in the NBA with a record of 53-29 and getting swept in the second round of the NBA Playoffs by the Oklahoma City Thunder, Luka Dončić admits last season was “bad,” and also revealed what kind of help he needs this offseason.

Essentially Sports, reported that Dončić appeared in two different interviews within the last week. The first was with Drafteados, revealing what kind of help he needs the Lakers to give him. The other was with Marca Jorge Quiroga, where he revealed why last season was not considered a success.

Both interviews were performed in Spanish.

When it comes down to how Dončić would like Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka to construct the roster next season, Dončić admitted the team needs more shooters and a big man to help him run the pick-and-roll.

“If I have shooters, they won’t double me as much and it helps me out. I think I always need shooters around me because I usually get double-teamed a lot, so I think I need shooters,” Dončić said to Drafteados. “And some centers who can jump high and block shots.”

The request to have more shooters and a big man around him makes sense for the six-time All-Star, as he has a wide range of success running the pick-and-roll during his eight-year career.

Defenses are forced to either play under the rim or off of it as Dončić’s playing style forces them to send multiple defenders under the rim, giving Dončić the chance to pass the ball to an open shooter or give him the opportunity to lob the ball up to a big man.

As a member of the Dallas Mavericks during the 2023-2024 season, Dončić led them all the way to the NBA Finals.

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Dallas ended up dropping the series 4-1, giving Boston its 18th championship.

The pick-and-roll played a vital part in the Mavericks success that year as Dončić had the highest frequency in the playoffs that season, running the play at 40.2%, while his teammate Kyrie Irving ranked behind him at a frequency of 28.3%.

When it came down to why Dončić considered last season a disappointment, it was simply because they didn’t win a championship.

“Whenever you don’t win, it’s a bad season,” Dončić told Marca, declining to soften the assessment even with the injury as a built-in excuse. “So if you don’t win, it’s not a good one.”

For Dončić, winning is everything. He went on to tell Marca that a roster is judged on banners, not seeding.

The New York Police Department said it will deploy more than 10,000 officers for the New York Knicks' championship parade on Thursday, June 18.

The police made the announcement on social media on Wednesday, June 17, saying that the number of police officers involved in the parade will be "the largest number assigned to any planned event."

Several security measures will be in place, including K9 units and drones.

The Knicks won their first championship in 53 years on Saturday, June 13 when they beat the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 in Game 5. They went 4-1 in the series and won 15 of their last 16 games. Jalen Brunson was named Finals MVP after notching 45 points in the championship-winning matchup.

Game 5 was in San Antonio, but NYPD arrested 63 people back home as the Big Apple celebrated the Knicks' landmark victory.

Washington Wizards guard Trae Young is expected to decline his $48.97 million player option for the 2026-27 season, ESPN’s Marc Spears reported Wednesday.

The four-time All-Star guard will now become an unrestricted free agent on Monday. Spears reported that Young loves the team in D.C. and that Washington remains the “front runner,” which aligns with Jake Fischer’s report that “the expectation remains that Young will find a new, longer-term agreement with the Wizards.”

Young is eligible to sign a four-year, $212.9 million contract in free agency. If he re-signs with the Wizards, that maximum contract jumps to five years at $288 million.

Young, 27, was acquired by Washington in a January trade that sent CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert to the Atlanta Hawks. The nine-year veteran averaged 15.2 points and 6.2 assists while shooting 59.5% from the field across five appearances with the Wizards last season.

Young missed 67 games due to several injuries, most notably a quad contusion and an MCL sprain that forced him to miss nearly two months following the trade. Back irritation and another quad contusion caused Young to miss the team’s final 15 contests.

Michael Winger revealed on the Ryen Russillo Show that Washington’s front office ranked Young as the top 2026 free agent. Rather than wait for Young to decline his player option and test free agency, the Wizards used their abundance of cap space to acquire him via trade.

“We had two avenues to add proven talent: draft and free agency. You look at the free agent prospects in the 2026 offseason, and we had a ton of cap space. At the time, we were scheduled to have $85 million in room,” Winger said. “It was our opinion that Trae Young was the best free agent on the board … We got into friendly, professional conversations with the Hawks that escalated quickly, and we ended up trading for Trae Young.” 

Wizards general manager Will Dawkins applauded Young’s court vision and said the organization acquired him to serve as the team’s floor general.

“You just see the playmaking, the scoring, the presence that he has for naturally moving and sharing the ball,” Dawkins said in March.

Dawkins praised Young’s desire to be in Washington — a feeling Young shared on a recent appearance on “The Pivot” podcast.

“I wanted to go [to Washington],” Young said. “It’s not like [Atlanta] just shipped me to Washington. Because that wasn’t the case.”

If he re-signs, Young projects as Washington’s starting point guard alongside Anthony Davis and Alex Sarr. That leaves openings in the team’s starting unit for two of the following players: Kyshawn George, Bilal Coulibaly, Tre Johnson and whoever Washington selects with the No. 1 pick.

With the NBA Draft now under a week away, that means that information is starting to leak and teams are starting to hone in on who they want to select on June 23.

One of the names that’s been garnering a lot of attention is one that’s near and dear to Illini fans’s hearts, Keaton Wagler.

NBA insiders, journalists and media professionals alike have been putting out reports of all shapes and sizes about Wagler while trying to predict where he may end up.

And it doesn’t seem like the kid from Shawnee, Kansas, is shying away from the spotlight either, as he even made a recent appearance on ESPN’s SportsCenter.

Let’s take a look at all the buzz surrounding Keaton Wagler before the NBA Draft.

Keaton Wagler on SportsCenter

On June 22, Wagler joined SportsCenter for an interview about his college basketball journey and what he’s bringing to the next level.

And yes, later in the show he did dispel the rumors that he can’t dunk.

Wagler connected to the Los Angeles Clippers

Top-five Keaton?

According to The Ringer’s NBA insider Zach Lowe, the Los Angeles Clippers have been connected with drafting Wagler with their No. 5 selection.

Should this happen, he would be the highest selected Illinois player since Deron Williams went third overall to the Utah Jazz in 2003.

Wagler cancels workouts with team past No. 5

Kevin O’Connor, NBA insider for Yahoo Sports, reported that both Keaton Wagler dropped out of a workout with the Brooklyn Nets, who currently hold the No. 6 pick.

Whether this means that Wagler has high hopes of being selected by a team with a top-four pick, the Clippers have already promised to take him if he’s available or if it means absolutely nothing, it’s an interesting piece of information nonetheless.

O’Connor mentioned both Wagler and guard Kingston Flemings, who according to reports across social media competed against one another in a workout in Los Angeles.

Chicago Bulls tied to making a move for Wagler?

According to ClutchPoints and their NBA insider Brett Siegel, the Chicago Bulls just might be interested in trading up for the former Illini.

It wouldn’t be the first time in recent memory that they drafted a guard out of Illinois, as the Bulls drafted Ayo Dosunmu in the second round of the 2021 NBA Draft.

The suspense and buzz will almost certainly continue to build up around the former Illini as we get closer to drsft night.

And when the time comes, Keaton Wagler will hear his name called in Brooklyn, New York, walk across the stage, shake commissioner Adam Silver’s hand and his NBA dreams will become a reality.

The Knicks have won an NBA championship for the first time in 53 years, and on Thursday, their accomplishment will be celebrated with a parade through the Canyon of Heroes. 

Despite this being the Knicks' third championship in franchise history, this will be the first ticker-tape parade to honor the team, so expect a massive turnout in lower Manhattan. 

The festivities are set to begin at 10 a.m., but parade-goers should try and arrive earlier. If you're not going to the parade, SNY will have all the coverage live from the event. 

What channel is SNY?

Check your TV or streaming provider's website or channel finder to find your local listings.

How can I stream the parade?

The way to stream SNY programming is via the MLB App or MLB.tv.

In order to stream in SNY’s regional territory, you will need to have SNY as part of your TV package (cable or streaming), or you can now purchase an in-market SNY subscription package via MLB or Amazon. Both ways will allow fans to watch the Knicks parade on their computer, tablet or mobile phone.

You can also stream coverage of the Knicks parade on SNY's YouTube page. 

SNY will have live coverage of the Knicks' ticker-tape parade through NYC's Canyon of Heroes and City Hall Ceremony, and feature NBA Insider Ian Begley.

Knicks parade route

The Knicks' ticker-tape parade will start near Bowling Green and travel north along Broadway to City Hall. 

With so many attendees expected, the city will be screening everyone who is looking to go. Here are other facts attendees need to know about the Knicks championship parade, courtesy of the City of New York website:

• Pens will open at 6 a.m.
• No bags allowed.
• Other prohibited items: 
  • Glass or metal water bottles NOTE: plastic water bottles will be allowed  
  • Bats/batons 
  • Bicycles or scooters 
  • Chairs
  • Coolers 
  • Drones 
  • Backpacks 
  • Pets 
  • Strollers 
  • Umbrellas 
  • Weapons

Individuals who work in office buildings along routes will be allowed entry into those buildings with proper building identification.

Individuals who live in the area will be able to access their residences with proper identification.  

As for the City Hall ceremony, this event is for ticket holders only and will be screened. No bags and the same listed items above will be prohibited. 

Everything you need to know for the Knicks Championship Parade is at https://t.co/kQYUmyatbS. pic.twitter.com/joE14rTpiX

— City of New York (@nycgov) June 17, 2026

One thing that hasn’t been talked about at all during this offseason is any of wing Tyon Grant-Foster’s offseason workouts with NBA franchises.

The reason for that is he wasn’t cleared by the NBA’s fitness-to-play panel. That has now been authorized by the NBA, per DraftExpress’ Jonathan Givony. Grant-Foster has had to jump through a lot of hoops in his career, starting with going into cardiac arrest twice.

The first was in November of 2021 in the DePaul Blue Demons’ season opener, and the second was months later in 2022 during an offseason pickup game back in his hometown of Kansas City, Missouri. The now 26-year-old had two heart surgeries, had a defibrillator implanted, and was forced to be away from basketball for 18 months.

Grant-Foster also had to gain eligibility from the NCAA to suit up for coach Mark Few’s program in the Pacific Northwest before the start of the 2025-26 season. Those court cases put a lot of stress on his life at the time.

He’s late to the offseason workout game with NBA franchises. The 2026 NBA Draft is right around the corner on June 23 through June 24 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, but Grant-Foster wasn’t going to hear his name called anyway.

The other departing veterans from the Gonzaga Bulldogs, forward Graham Ike and wing Jalen Warley, will also most likely go undrafted and presumably start their professional basketball careers on the G League route. Grant-Foster looks to be following a similar path.

Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on X @a_cravalho

Free agency won’t start until June 30th, but as soon as the Finals ended, teams have been able to negotiate with their own free agents. It’s an exclusive window that, on paper, allows incumbent franchises the opportunity to lock up guys they want to keep around before they get on the market.

In some years, the period is extremely important, as a team might have key pieces whose contracts expire. It’s not the case for the Spurs this offseason. In fact, it wouldn’t be a major shock if they don’t actually bring anyone back.

Let’s take a look at San Antonio’s free agents, how they performed in the regular season, and whether it seems likely that they’ll return.

Harrison Barnes | Unrestricted free agent

2025/26 stats: 9.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 39 percent from beyond the arc

Barnes was a starter for part of the season, and he looked like a solid placeholder. He didn’t make many mistakes, could play without the ball, and hit enough threes that the fact that opponents often left him open or parked their centers on him wasn’t a major problem. He ended the season as a bench piece, and the numbers suggest that he could be a solid backup who does a little bit of everything without compromising the team in any way. But the splits show a different picture.

The veteran forward started the season well before going ice-cold from beyond the arc and not being able to get to the bucket after closeouts. Just as the Spurs were finding their identity as a young, athletic team that applied rim pressure, Barnes looked like he had aged five years in a month. He lost his starting spot, and while he regained his touch from deep eventually, he never seemed like a dangerous weapon. Combine his lack of offensive presence with middling defense, and it’s no surprise he fell out of the rotation as the playoffs progressed.

Likelihood of returning: Medium

Barnes didn’t play in a few playoff games and got negligible minutes in others. He’s still just 34 and a good enough shooter to potentially get an offer with guaranteed playing time from someone else. There are two reasons why the Spurs might try to keep him.

First, he has been incredibly generous with the San Antonio community, with multiple donations and appearances in charitable events, which means he has the character the franchise has always coveted. And second, replacing a still useful player won’t be easy with the tools the front office will have available to them.

If he takes a pay cut and is fine with limited but consistent minutes in the regular season, a compromise seems possible.

Kelly Olynyk | Unrestricted free agent

2025/26 stats: 3.2 points, 1.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists on 8.6 minutes a game.

There was a moment in the summer, right after Olynyk was acquired in exchange for Malaki Branham and Blake Wesley, when there were reasons to be optimistic about his addition. The veteran big man had clear weaknesses, mainly as a rim protector, but his passing and decent outside shooting made him a good match to share the floor with Jeremy Sochan.

As Sochan lost favor with the coaching staff, however, it was unclear how Olynyk fit. He wasn’t nimble enough to be a power forward next to Wembanyama or Kornet, and as a sole big man, his lack of athleticism made him a sieve on defense.

In the end, Olynyk played under 10 minutes a game and suited up for just 42 games. The Spurs didn’t use his expiring contract at the trade deadline, and now he’ll enter unrestricted free agency with a very limited market.

Likelihood of returning: Low

The Spurs were smart to kick the tires on a big man with a skill set the others lacked, but it became clear Olynyk didn’t fit their guard-oriented, rim-pressure-heavy attack and had a bad year as a shooter, which was the weapon that might have kept him useful. At age 35, his NBA career might be over unless some team wants a good locker room guy to fill their roster. It seems unlikely that the team will be San Antonio.

Jordan McLaughlin | Unrestricted free agent

2025/26 stats: 2 points, 0.9 assists, 42 percent three-point shooting on 6.4 minutes a game.

McLaughlin was a throw-in in the De’Aaron Fox trade who somehow managed to make a big enough impact in his short time with the franchise in 2024/25 to earn a fully guaranteed minimum deal with the team the following offseason. With a crowded backcourt, San Antonio seemed comfortable bringing in a journeyman who would not cause issues if he didn’t get minutes and who, in case of emergency, could handle the ball, guard with intensity, and shoot the three when open.

In that tiny role, he delivered. The Spurs didn’t rely on him heavily at all, but when he was on the floor, he did what was expected of him.

Likelihood of returning: Medium

The Spurs will need a guard with McLaughlin’s profile, so why not just bring the veteran back? At age 30, he’s likely a finished product and might regress, but since he’ll only play in the regular season when someone else is hurt, or the game is out of reach, it won’t matter.

At the same time, maybe bringing in a more dynamic, multipositional option could be a smarter move. Plus, maybe there’s actually someone willing to play McLaughlin, which is something the Spurs can’t promise to do.

Lindy Waters III | Unrestricted free agent

2025/26 stats: 2.4 points, 0.7 rebounds, 34 percent on three-pointers in 6.4 minutes a game.

Can you really be disappointed with a guy on a partially guaranteed minimum contract that stuck around? If it’s possible, Lindy Waters III would fit the bill. Waters arrived as a shooting specialist, and while he was rarely on the court for long enough to develop a rhythm, he shot a career-low from beyond the arc. Considering shooting is his one NBA skill, it’s safe to say he wasn’t good even for the small role the Spurs had in mind for him.

Likelihood of returning: Low

Small-ish wings who can shoot decently are not hard to find in the NBA. Unless Waters was more important in the locker room than anyone has reported, it seems unlikely he’ll get another chance with the Spurs.

Mason Plumlee | Unrestricted free agent

2025/26 stats (only with Spurs): 0.8 points, 2.2 rebounds, 0.6 assists in just six games.

Plumlee arrived late in the season to occupy the roster spot left vacant after Sochan was waived. He took a while to get into shape and ended up playing just 47 total minutes wearing Silver and Black in the regular season. The most memorable moment in his stint with the Spurs was probably a hard foul on Jared McCain, as Mitch Johnson preferred to go small rather than play Plumlee when the team needed a backup center.

Likelihood of returning: Low

Plumlee, 36, has been declining for a while and might be done as an NBA player. It’s hard to come up with any scenario in which a return to San Antonio makes sense.

Bismack Biyombo | Unrestricted free agent

2025/26 stats: 0.9 points, one rebound, 0.3 stocks in 5.6 minutes a game.

Biyombo sat in free agency for the better part of the last year before the Spurs added him when Victor Wembanyama was out. They played him 19 minutes a game and, unsurprisingly, he wasn’t good, as the agility and athleticism that made him a solid defensive center with decent finishing ability had disappeared by then.

This year, he was even worse, but the difference is that he didn’t actually play much and was mostly around to provide veteran leadership.

Likelihood of returning: Medium (but should be low)

Biyombo shouldn’t be in the NBA at this point. He can’t move well enough to defend the pick and roll, and his shot-blocking is gone. He was never a good offensive player, but his lack of range and horrendous free-throw shooting make him a liability. There are no basketball reasons for him to be on the Spurs next season.

That said, the Spurs will need to fill out the bottom of their roster with players who have no expectations to get playing time and who seem like good locker room presences. Wembanyama appears to like Biyombo, so he might get a spot. If it happens, hopefully, there will be quality depth ahead of him, because he should only see the floor in garbage time.

The rumors were there the entire postseason run.

Now that the Knicks are the NBA champions, Ben Stiller can confirm it — he is, in fact, making a documentary about the team.

The Hollywood actor, producer and director ended all the speculation during an appearance on Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart’s “Roommates Show” on Wednesday.

Stiller, an avid Knicks fan, said the “dream project” will be made with A24 for HBO and has the “full cooperation” of the NBA and MSG.

But the multipart doc will go deeper than just the 2026 NBA Finals run, Stiller said.

The confirmation from Stiller comes after Page Six reported last week that Stiller was indeed making a Knicks program for HBO.

“It’s kind of gonna be about all eras of the Knicks,” Stiller said on the show. “And this team, obviously, there’s a culmination here of something that has been going on for a long time. So, it’s super exciting. And it’s great to have all this access to your team, which is great. And we’re probably going to be shooting a little bit more during next season.”

He said the program, which does not have a set number of episodes yet, all came together recently, and it will be worked on over the next year. A release date is not yet clear. Stiller said that owner James Dolan gave the green light and access for the project.

Stiller took to X to share the news on his personal account.

“Couldn’t be more excited to make this doc with @a24 and @hbo about the NY KNICKS!!!!!!” he wrote.

Stiller, a fixture on Celebrity Row at Madison Square Garden and courtside on the road, was seen filming the Knicks’ playoff run from his phone, and he shared some of the snippets to social media as New York won its first NBA title in 53 years.

Stiller added that the project still does not have a title, but at the very least, it is happening.

It appears that a return of LeBron James to the Los Angeles Lakers is likely this offseason, but according to reports from ESPN Senior Writer Marc J. Spears, it appears a former Los Angeles hero and teammate of James could be coming with him and reuniting.

Spears said on ESPN’s NBA Today that he’s heard reports that James will be reuniting with the Lakers and it appears likely that Kevin Love will be joining forces with him.

“I’m hearing that he is likely coming back,” Spears said. “… And also I’m hearing that one of his old teammates from Cleveland, Kevin Love, could likely be joining the Lakers too.”

Spears doubled down on his reporting that he could see the two reuniting due to the close friendship they have from when they were teammates in Cleveland from 2014 to 2018.

When James and Love played together, the two were part of a big three in Cleveland that featured Kyrie Irving.

The trio went to four NBA Finals together and brought the Cavaliers their first title in franchise history in 2016, when they infamously overcame a 3-1 series deficit against the Golden State Warriors.

Before Love was appearing in the NBA Finals with the Cavaliers and the Miami Heat [2023], he was a local hero in Los Angeles.

Born in Santa Monica and attending college at UCLA in 2008, Los Angeles has always been home for Love.

Love played only one year with UCLA before he was selected with the fifth overall pick of the NBA Draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves.

During his freshman year at UCLA, he was crowned the Pac-10 Player of the Year when he averaged 17.5 points, 10.6 rebounds per game, and had 23 double-doubles.

Love was joined by former MVP and 9-time All-Star, Russell Westbrook, who led the Bruins to their third straight Final Four of the NCAA March Madness tournament. The Bruins’ hopes for a National Title came to an end following a 78-63 loss to Memphis.

The Warriors may not know who will be available when they’re on the clock next week, but general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. made one thing clear Wednesday: Golden State believes it is in a strong position to add an impact player with the No. 11 overall pick.

Speaking during his annual pre-draft media availability, Dunleavy repeatedly praised the depth of the 2026 NBA Draft and expressed confidence that the Warriors can find a player capable of contributing immediately.

“I think we’ll get a really good player at 11,” Dunleavy said. “This is a really good draft to be in, especially at 11.”

Those comments are particularly notable given several prospects linked to Golden State in recent mock drafts, including Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg.

Lendeborg, 24, appears to check many of the boxes Dunleavy outlined Wednesday. The former Michigan star led the Wolverines to a national championship while averaging 14.9 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.2 blocks per game. A consensus All-American, he has been praised for his versatility, defensive toughness and ability to impact winning.

Dunleavy specifically pushed back against concerns surrounding older prospects, noting that NIL and the transfer portal have fundamentally changed how teams evaluate draft age.

“We’re just in a different age where there’s more older guys that have stayed in the draft,” Dunleavy said. “Teams are much more open to drafting older players.”

That could benefit prospects like Lendeborg, who spent time at Arizona Western and UAB before transferring to Michigan. Despite being one of the oldest lottery candidates, some scouts view him as a late bloomer after he didn’t begin playing organized basketball until age 15.

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That said, Dunleavy pointed toward the need to get younger with team leaders Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green all over the age of 35. Curry and Butler both missed over half the season due to injury

“Yeah, I mean, we obviously would prefer to get younger.” he said.

Dunleavy also emphasized that the Warriors are looking beyond positional fit.

“Frankly, we need everything,” he said. “We’ll take whoever we feel is the best player.”

That philosophy aligns with a prospect such as Lendeborg, whose combination of rebounding, passing and defensive versatility. Evan Webeck of the California Post compared him to NBA veteran OG Anunoby.

The Warriors also hold the No. 54 pick and have found success drafting late-round contributors in recent years. But the focus remains on No. 11, the franchise’s highest draft selection since Jonathan Kuminga was taken seventh overall in 2021.

While Dunleavy reiterated that “everything is on the table” regarding trades, his comments strongly suggested Golden State expects to leave draft night with at least one new young piece.

“I feel pretty confident that we will draft a player,” Dunleavy said.

And if the Warriors are serious about finding someone who can help immediately while still fitting their long-term plans, prospects like Lendeborg may be exactly what they’re looking for.

After the Knicks won their first championship in 53 years, immediately came talk of a potential repeat.

Bringing back such a deep and capable team to “run it back” certainly won’t be easy.

In an appearance on WFAN’s “The Carton Show” on Wednesday, Knicks owner James Dolan made one promise on how he will go about building his team going forward.

“There’s certain things in the NBA that you’d have to be suicidal to do. One of them is the second apron. Cannot go into the second apron,” Dolan said. “I’ll write as big of a check as possible, but I can’t write a check that goes into the second apron.”

The second apron is around $222 million, and the Knicks have some things to think about in terms of who might come back if they want to avoid the harsh roster-building penalties that come with breaking the threshold.

Eight players are under contract for next season, but there are three free agents — Mitchell Robinson, Landry Shamet and Mohamed Diawara — that they must make decisions on if they want to keep the same team next season.

Alongside the players under contract, the Knicks have the 24th pick in the NBA draft, and Jose Alvarado has a $4.5 million player option.

Those 10 players alone would bring the spending to $209 million.

Should the team have 10 guys on the books, and if they want to bring all three of their free agents back, it will be very difficult for them to remain under the second apron.

If Dolan is as committed as he sounds to remaining under the second apron, he and team president Leon Rose might struggle to fit all of his present players into the picture.

One of the most important parts of this year’s squad was the bench, and keeping it the same in hopes of winning a second consecutive Larry O’Brien Trophy will cost the Knicks.

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After a 53-year drought, the New York Knicks turned the city blue and orange — bringing home the NBA Championship Trophy for the first time since 1973.

As the hometown paper of New York, we’re celebrating the newly crowned kings of the city by changing our name, in print and across digital — for one day only — to the Knick York Post.

In our 52-page championship parade day special we look back at how the Knicks made it to this special moment, interview team owner James Dolan, dissect the biggest 4 seconds in the last 53 years of Knicks basketball — and so much more.

Chock full of in-depth reporting, exclusive columns and NBA nostalgia, today’s Knick York Post will be one for the history books.

You’ll want an edition of the paper whether or not you’re one of the many thousands expected at the parade — which kicks off at 10 a.m. from Battery Park, and ends about a mile north at City Hall, where players will be awarded keys to the city.

Can’t make it to your local bodega in time to grab a copy? Don’t fret, we have it, and more, for all the fellow Knicks fanatics.

“Knick York Post” Parade Day limited edition paper

A true piece of New York history, the June 18 cover reads “Knick York Post” in our unmistakable, bold font, with blue and orange lettering honoring the championship winning team.

With this full-edition print issue, you get the full-weight newspaper in its entirety, so you won’t miss out on the player interviews and exclusive photos throughout the inside.

A piece of Knicks and New York Post history you’ll never want to forget, this paper is the perfect time capsule of true New York spirit.

Copies of the issue, framed covers, tees and more

Are you really feeling the Knicks fever? We had a feeling. So we’re offering a beautiful 26.25-inch by 16.25-inch double-image frame featuring the full front and back covers, as well as a wood or acrylic plaque featuring our cover in all its “Knick York” glory.

Grab the complete original copy of the Knick York Post’s Parade Day paper while supplies last, because with an edition this iconic, there’s no doubt they’re going to go fast.

If you’re looking to wear your pride outside, grab our limited-edition, made-to-order “Knick York Post” T-shirt in our iconic “New York Post” font.

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If you want the latest news, opinions and exclusive insights, subscribe to Sports+ for unlimited access to Knicks coverage. Subscribers also can sign up for the exclusive, in-depth weekly Inside the Knicks newsletter.

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New York Knicks owner James Dolan says his team will become the first NBA champions to visit Donald Trump at the White House.

“We just did receive an invitation from the White House, which we accepted,” Dolan said during an appearance on WFAN New York on Wednesday. “We still have to figure out the details … but yes, of course. Look, I invited the president to come down for [last week’s Game 3 of the NBA finals]. He is a friend. I’ve known him for 30 years and I’m very proud to bring the team to the White House.”

Related: Donald Trump given hostile reception as New York crowd boos and jeers president at NBA finals

The visit may not go down well with large sections of the Knicks fanbase. The president was greeted with boos and jeers when he appeared on the jumbotron at Madison Square Garden at the start of Game 3. The reception was unsurprising: NBA fans skew liberal and the Knicks play in a city that firmly backed Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.

It is also questionable how many of the Knicks players will attend. Forward Josh Hart celebrated Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election by calling Trump a “dumbass” on social media. Other players may be more supportive: center Mitchell Robinson is a registered Republican and called Trump’s visit to MSG “cool, I guess”.

Last season’s NBA champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, did not visit the White House due to a “timing issue”.

Title-winning teams in major US sports have traditionally received invitations from the president to visit the White House after their victories. Such visits have become politically fraught during Trump’s two terms in power.

The last NBA champions to visit the White House were the Boston Celtics in 2024, during Biden’s presidency.

The Golden State Warriors chose not to visit Trump’s White House after their 2017 title – he later said he had withdrawn their invitation – and they were not invited after their 2018 championship.The Warriors had visited while Barack Obama was in office, and made the trip under Biden’s administration after their 2022 title.

The 2019 champion Toronto Raptors did not visit while Trump was in office, with players ruling out a trip before an invitation had been offered, and the 2020 Los Angeles Lakers skipped their visit to Biden’s White House because of pandemic health and safety protocols.