Category: Basketball

It’s crazy to think Jeremy Sochan is about to receive an NBA championship ring regardless of how the Finals play out, despite likely never seeing the floor in the series. Waived by the Spurs midway through the season and later signed by the Knicks, Sochan has been used sparingly by New York. Yet thanks to a bizarre twist of timing, he’ll walk away with championship jewelry no matter which team ultimately raises the Larry O’Brien Trophy.

The Knicks and Spurs might be the last two franchises you’d expect to share a long history together.

Sure, they famously met in the 1999 NBA Finals, when the eighth-seeded Knicks shocked the basketball world by fighting their way through the Eastern Conference before running into Tim Duncan and David Robinson. But outside of those five games, the two franchises have spent most of the last three decades living in completely different worlds.

One spent years collecting Hall of Famers, championships, and 50-win seasons like they were participation trophies. The other spent much of that same period trying to figure out how to stop stepping on rakes.

And despite spending most of the last 30 years in completely different basketball universes, 40 players have somehow ended up playing for both teams. Some were stars. Some were fan favorites. Some were role players who quietly carved out long NBA careers.

The Headliners

David Lee is probably the biggest Knicks success story on the list. Before becoming an All-Star, Lee was one of the few reasons to watch some truly dreadful Knicks teams in the late 2000s. Across 368 games in New York, he averaged 13 points and nearly 10 rebounds while becoming one of the league’s best double-double machines. By the time he landed in San Antonio late in his career, he wasn’t the same player, but he still gave the Spurs a reliable veteran big man who shot 59 percent from the floor during the 2016-17 season.

Kurt Thomas is another obvious one.

Knicks fans still love Kurt Thomas. The man played 569 games in New York, averaged 10.6 points and 7.5 rebounds, and spent most nights looking like he’d happily fight an entire opposing frontcourt by himself if necessary. He later became one of Gregg Popovich’s favorite veteran role players and spent parts of four seasons with the Spurs.

Rod Strickland also stands out.

Many younger fans probably associate him more with Washington, but Strickland started his career with the Knicks before eventually averaging over 14 points per game during two productive seasons in San Antonio. Few point guards from that era could get into the paint whenever they wanted quite like Rod.

Then there’s Trent Tucker.

Most Knicks fans know him because the NBA literally created a rule named after him. Tucker spent eight seasons in New York before eventually becoming part of San Antonio’s first championship team in 1999. That’s a pretty unique NBA résumé.

The Players Who Thrived in Both Places

Charles Smith averaged over 11 points per game in New York and later posted similar production for the Spurs. Maurice Cheeks, long before becoming one of the league’s most respected coaches, spent time with both organizations and remained a steady floor general everywhere he went. J.R. Reid quietly put together nearly 350 combined games between the two teams.

Wait, He Played for Them Too?

Then there are the names that make you stop and do a double take. Tracy McGrady, arguably the biggest name on the entire list, somehow played for both franchises and accomplished virtually nothing with either. Doc Rivers and Antonio McDyess are here too, although McDyess probably deserves an asterisk after averaging 12.3 points and 12 rebounds during New York’s brief but memorable 2001 playoff run. Then you have Charlie Ward, Steve Novak, Nazr Mohammed, Beno Udrih, Roger Mason, Doug McDermott, and Luke Kornet. Some were fan favorites. Some were valuable role players. Some probably had you saying, “Wait, he played for the Spurs too?”

The deeper you go, the stranger the list gets.

Eventually you find yourself staring at names like Billy McGill, Mo Layton, Howard Fisley and Len Chappell. What makes the list interesting isn’t necessarily the star power. It’s how many different eras of Knicks basketball are represented.

You’ve got players from the late 1960s sharing a list with members of the 1999 Finals team, the Melo era, the lean years, and now the Jalen Brunson era.

Some arrived in New York after learning how to win in San Antonio. Others left New York and found themselves playing meaningful basketball for championship contenders. A handful barely unpacked before moving on.

But every one of them became a small part of both franchises’ histories. And considering how dramatically different those histories have been over the last 30 years, that’s actually pretty remarkable.

Every Player to Play for Both the Knicks and Spurs

• Willie Anderson
• Anthony Bowie
• Shannon Brown
• Jackie Butler
• Anthony Carter
• Len Chappell
• Maurice Cheeks
• Terry Cummings
• Mamadi Diakite
• Howard Fisley
• Sidney Green
• DerMarr Johnson
• Luke Kornet
• Mo Layton
• David Lee
• Brad Lohaus
• Roger Mason
• Doug McDermott
• Antonio McDyess
• Billy McGill
• Tracy McGrady
• Nazr Mohammed
• Pete Myers
• Steve Novak
• J.R. Reid
• Doc Rivers
• Malik Rose
• Charles Smith
• Jeremy Sochan
• Felton Spencer
• Rod Strickland
• Kurt Thomas
• Trent Tucker
• Ime Udoka
• Beno Udrih
• Charlie Ward
• James White
• Monty Williams
• Ray Williams
• David Wingate

The Knicks are giving their fans one of the greatest rides of their lives.

But even in an unforgettable season, it is difficult to remember everything that’s happened over more than seven months of play.

These are some of the top moments from the Knicks’ best season this century:

Knicks hire Mike Brown

The decision to fire Tom Thibodeau — fresh off the Knicks’ first conference finals appearance in 25 years — was controversial. More questions arose when the Knicks whiffed on multiple targets under contract (Jason Kidd, Ime Udoka, Chris Finch, Billy Donovan, Quin Snyder). Then came the announcement of the replacement, Mike Brown, who had won four rings as an assistant, but had been fired four times as a head coach. If you were underwhelmed, you weren’t alone.

Opening night

In a season-opening matchup billed as a potential conference finals preview, the Knicks used a 14-0 fourth-quarter run to power past the Cavaliers for a 119-111 win at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 22. “We won the game and we had some good moments, but we don’t feel like we’re anywhere near what we’re capable of,” Karl-Anthony Towns said. “That’s what makes it exciting. Everybody has expectations.”

The first Landry Shamet game

Six months before “The Bounce,” fans at the Garden were chanting “Lan-dry Sha-met,” as the veteran came off the bench to score 30 of his career-high 36 points in the second half of a 140-132 NBA Cup win over the Heat on Nov. 14. With Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby sidelined by injuries, Towns scored 39 points, Jordan Clarkson added 24 and Josh Hart recorded a triple-double.

Knicks win NBA Cup

Brunson was named the NBA Cup MVP, but the 124-113 title game victory over the Spurs in Las Vegas on Dec. 16 wouldn’t have been possible without a unique late-game lineup, featuring Clarkson (15 points), Tyler Kolek (14 points, five rebounds, five assists) and Mitchell Robinson (15 rebounds). “Don’t it look good when it says Knicks champions on the shirt?” Towns said.

Knicks hammer Nets by 54 points to turn the season the season around

Brown had challenged his team to “Lock in and do your f—ing job.” Brunson asked his teammates to “care” more. The Knicks had lost four straight — including double-digit defeats to Sacramento and Dallas — and nine of their previous 11 games before embarrassing Brooklyn in a 120-66 blowout at the Garden on Jan. 21. This marked the largest margin of victory in franchise history and the beginning of an eight-game winning streak.

Knicks beat Denver is 2OT for eighth straight win

The Knicks looked like contenders again in a potential NBA Finals preview, defeating the Nuggets 134-127 in double overtime at the Garden on Feb. 4 to earn their eighth straight win. While three-time MVP Nikola Jokic struggled with his shot down the stretch, Brunson took over late, finishing with 42 points, nine assists and eight rebounds.

Jose Alvarado arrives

The New York City native’s trade from New Orleans put the final touch on a team that’s ceiling was easier to see during his debut in the Knicks’ 111-89 win in Boston on Super Bowl Sunday. Alvarado was as advertised, a sub-6-foot nuisance who brought instant energy off the bench, frustrating Jaylen Brown, and finishing with 12 points, two steals and six deflections in 25 minutes.

The comeback kings

The Knicks returned from the All-Star break and suffered their third blowout loss to the Pistons of the season. Two days later at the Garden, they fought back from an 18-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat Kevin Durant and the Rockets 108-106 as Brunson — who had two points at halftime — went 4-for-4 in the fourth quarter, hitting the game-tying and go-ahead jumpers.

Road warriors

The Knicks began the final week of the regular season with a much-needed reminder of their toughness on the road. Following five straight losses against teams with a winning record, the Knicks rode another clutch Brunson performance to a 108-105 win in Atlanta — which had won 18 of its previous 20 games and hadn’t lost at home in two months — after CJ McCollum’s game-tying heave from half court was ruled to have been released after the buzzer.

Hart test

In Jayson Tatum’s much-anticipated return to the arena where he suffered a torn Achilles, Hart stole the show, making the Celtics pay for repeatedly leaving him open. Hart scored 15 of his game-high 26 points in the fourth quarter, leading the Knicks to a 112-106 win over the Eastern Conference favorites, just over a week before the playoffs began.

First round (Knicks 4, Hawks 2)

After Brunson dribbled into a double-team and threw away the final possession of Game 3, the Knicks were on the verge of crisis, having suffered their second straight one-point loss. Then, Brown began running the offense through Towns, and everything began to click as the Knicks won the final three games of the series by 96 points, including a historic 51-point blowout in the Game 6 clincher in Atlanta.

Eastern Conference semifinals (Knicks 4, 76ers 0)

Instead of a rematch with the Celtics, the Knicks got another swing at Joel Embiid. A 39-point win in Game 1 set the tone for their first playoff sweep in 26 years. Despite losing Anunoby to a hamstring injury in Game 2, the Knicks kept dominating both ends of the floor and enjoyed their fans’ surreal road invasion in Philadelphia, capping the series by tying an NBA postseason record with 25 3-pointers in a Game 4 blowout.

Eastern Conference finals (Knicks 4, Cavaliers 0)

Playing for the first time in nine days, the Knicks finally cooled off in Game 1 of the conference finals and fell behind by 22 points with less than eight minutes left before Brunson led the greatest postseason comeback in franchise history. Hart played the hero in Game 2 and the Knicks closed it out with a 37-point win in Cleveland, celebrating the team’s first conference championship in 27 years.

It was June 1999. Jennifer Lopez sat at No. 1 on the Billboard chart with her debut single. StarWars: EpisodeI had been in theaters for a month and Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me was topping the box office.

The first season of TheSopranos had wrapped that spring and a New Jersey mobster with panic attacks was suddenly the most talked-about character on television.

Jalen Brunson was 3 years old and Madison Square Garden was buzzing. The New York Knicks were in the NBA Finals.

The San Antonio Spurs won the series in 1999; the Knicks haven’t been back until now.

Twenty-seven years later, the same two teams return to the NBA Finals in a completely different world.

Here are 10 things that did not exist the last time the Knicks made the NBA Finals:

The iPhone

Apple did not release the first iPhone until June 2007. In 1999, the cool phone was the Motorola StarTAC, the slim flip phone that fit in your pocket. Down on Wall Street, the shiny new toy was the BlackBerry, which had just launched that January as a two-way pager.

Neither had a camera. So nobody was snapping selfies at the Garden back in 1999.

Victor Wembanyama

The Spurs superstar was not born yet and the NBA had no idea what was coming. The tallest player in the league that June was 7-foot-7 Gheorghe Muresan, a Romanian center whose career was ending due to back problems and whose other claim to fame was a cameo in an Eminem video. The idea of a 7-foot-4 player who handles the ball, shoots 3s, blocks shots and switches onto guards was science fiction.

Social Media

No Facebook, no Twitter, no Instagram, no TikTok. If you wanted to scream about a Patrick Ewing dunk or a blown call, you had to yell at whoever was in the room and wait until you got to work or school the next morning to get everybody’s take.

Streaming

Netflix was a website that mailed you DVDs in little red envelopes. YouTube didn’t exist. Neither did Spotify. The 1999 Finals played on NBC, and if you missed it, you missed it. Maybe you caught the highlights on SportsCenter at 11.

Las Vegas Golden Knights, Aces and Raiders

Las Vegas was known in sports for boxing and betting in 1999, not being a sports town. The Vegas Golden Knights, the city's first major professional franchise, is in its third Stanley Cup Final, so it's hard to remember that they didn't exist before 2017. The Raiders left Oakland in 2020 and headed to Vegas. The Aces moved from San Antonio in 2018 and won the city's first major league title in 2022.

DVR

If you weren’t home for tipoff in 1999, you set the VCR and prayed the tape didn’t run out before the fourth quarter. TiVo had launched that March, but almost nobody had it.

Alexa

Nobody was asking a tube on the kitchen counter to play the Knicks pregame show. Amazon’s Echo didn’t arrive until November 2014. In 1999, if you wanted to listen to Mike Breen call the game on WFAN, you turned up the boombox or the kitchen-counter clock radio.

Modern video games

Gaming in 1999 meant you and your buddies on a couch passing the PlayStation controller back and forth. There was no Twitch, no online multiplayer on consoles, no streaming, no voice chat. Players in NBA Live 99 looked like floating heads on geometric bodies and NBA 2K didn’t launch until that November.

DoorDash and UberEats

Hosting a watch party for the Knicks games in 1999 meant actually having to call and talk to a person at the local pizza place to place an order. You had to scrape up the cash to pay and tip the delivery guys, too. DoorDash launched in 2013 and UberEats the year after. The closest thing you had to a delivery app in 1999 was a stack of delivery menus in your kitchen draw.

Legal sports betting

In 1999, if you wanted action on Game 1, you either had to drive to Atlantic City, fly to Las Vegas or know a guy. The Supreme Court didn’t strike down the federal sports betting ban until May 2018. There were no apps. No same-game parlays. No prop bets on Allan Houston’s first quarter rebound total.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Knicks vs. Spurs NBA Finals 1999 vs. 2026: What has changed

PLANO, Texas (AP) — The Dallas Stars are planning to move north, out of downtown and to the suburb of Plano in five years after the lease is up at the NHL team's current home arena.

Stars officials announced Tuesday the signing of a nonbinding letter of intent to build a new hockey-specific arena and entertainment district about 20 miles north of the downtown American Airlines Center, which they have shared with the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks since it opened in 2001.

The leases at the AAC for both teams expire in 2031. The two franchises have been in a legal dispute about their partnership agreement and management of the building.

The Stars made their intentions known a day after the Mavericks said they have a preliminary agreement on a site for their own new arena about 10 miles north of downtown, but still within the Dallas city limits. The NBA's team deal is for 104 acres on the former site of Valley View Mall, which was demolished three years ago.

A new arena for the Stars is expected to be part of a large-scale redevelopment project at The Shops at Willow Bend, where the last enclosed mall built in Texas is set for demolition.

The Stars submitted their letter of intent to the city of Plano, which placed it on the City Council agenda for consideration at its next meeting Monday. The letter includes plans for the mixed-used development project as well as design and construction of the arena.

“This project would present a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our franchise,” Stars owner Tom Gaglardi said in a statement. “We eagerly await the vote by the Plano City Council and look forward to continuing the conversation to be part of the redevelopment of The Shops at Willow Bend.”

That mall on about 90 acres opened in 2001, and there are open restaurants and parking garages in the area. The new arena would anchor the redevelopment that could include sports, entertainment, retail, dining and public gathering spaces.

The NHL franchise was known as the North Stars before moving south from Minnesota and beginning play in Dallas for the 1993-94 season. The Stars in 1999 became the first of hockey's Sun Belt teams to win a Stanley Cup title.

The Stars won that championship while still playing at Reunion Arena, a building they also shared with the Mavericks after moving to Dallas. That downtown arena, which was fully demolished in 2009, is about a mile from the AAC.

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL

In today’s Dub Hub:

• Steph Curry signs a 10-year, $400 million deal with Chinese shoe company Li-Ning, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.
• Warriors continue to hold pre-draft workouts on Tuesday.
• Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future is reportedly expected to be resolved “over the next few weeks” prior to the NBA Draft, according to NBA insider Marc Stein.

Steph Curry officially announced his new partnership with Chinese shoe company Li-Ning on Monday, calling it the “partnership of a lifetime.” According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Curry’s agreement with Li-Ning is a 10-year deal, worth over $400 million, officially beginning a new chapter after previously spending the past 12 years with Under Armour.

Landmark: Golden State star Stephen Curry's 10-year endorsement deal with Li-Ning is worth over $400 million, industry sources tell ESPN. Curry had similar financial commitments from other brands, including at least one more lucrative offer, but chose Li-Ning to power Curry… https://t.co/4xp0gy5vJB

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 2, 2026

While Li-Ning may not be as familiar to casual NBA fans as brands like Nike or Adidas, the company has quietly built a strong reputation within basketball circles over the years. The brand has found its most prominent success recently through Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade and his “Way of Wade” signature line. Li-Ning’s basketball roster also includes current NBA players such as Fred VanVleet, CJ McCollum, D’Angelo Russell, and Curry’s Golden State Warriors teammate, Jimmy Butler.

The partnership of a lifetime. pic.twitter.com/PtnTakEf4a

— Stephen Curry (@StephenCurry30) June 1, 2026

During Curry’s sneaker free agency throughout the 2025-26 season, he was frequently seen testing multiple brands on the court, including several Li-Ning models. YouTube basketball shoe reviewer Foot Doctor Zach recently discussed Curry’s decision to sign with Li-Ning, breaking down what may have gone into the big decision.

However, the most intriguing part of the partnership may be the length of the deal itself. A 10-year commitment at this stage of Curry’s career suggests he may be thinking beyond simply what shoes he will wear over the next few NBA seasons. Given the long-term success of Wade’s signature line well after his retirement, Curry could be viewing Li-Ning as an opportunity to continue expanding Curry Brand globally, long after his playing career eventually comes to an end.

For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Tuesday, June 2nd:

Warriors News:

Sources: Stephen Curry signs $400M deal with China’s Li-Ning | ESPN

Curry opted for Li-Ning over other pitches from American and foreign companies despite similar financial commitments, including at least one brand that offered more, sources said. One factor in Curry’s ultimate decision was his comfort while testing the shoes of two Li-Ning signature athletes: Jimmy Butler, his fellow Warriors teammate, and Dwyane Wade.

Li-Ning plans to build Curry Brand stores in the United States and in China. Curry’s agent, Jeff Austin, finalized negotiations in recent days.

Max Kellerman draws wild Steph Curry-Chet Holmgren parallel after Spurs-Thunder | NBC Sports Bay Area

“What Wemby did to Chet, in a way, is what LeBron did to Steph, in [Game 6 of the 2016 Finals]” Kellerman said, referencing a viral moment in which James blocked Curry’s shot and appeared to stare him down afterward. “[James] blocked the shot and screamed on [Curry] and Steph…had his head hung. There was something in that moment where it was like…no, you’ve got to respond, you can’t let someone scream on you like that.”

Warriors conduct multiple pre-draft workouts on Tuesday

The following players will conduct pre-draft workouts with the Warriors on Tuesday, 6/2:

Donovan Atwell (G) — Texas Tech
Quadir Copeland (G) — NC State
Josh Dix (G) — Creighton
RJ Godfrey (F/C) — Clemson
Ugonna Onyenso (C) — Virginia
Oziyah Sellers (G) — St. John’s

— Warriors PR (@WarriorsPR) June 2, 2026

NBA News:

Monday Best: The NBA’s latest trade chatter | The Stein Line

The above backstory has only increased league curiosity about the Magic’s appetite to join the team widely perceived to be a leading contender in the Giannis Trade Sweepstakes — Orlando’s fellow Floridians on South Beach — in the chase for No. 34. More and more, with sources saying Miami and Portland are already in pursuit, Antetokounmpo’s future is increasingly expected to be resolved over the next few weeks in conjunction with NBA Draft proceedings.

First look at the NBA Finals court in San Antonio

SOUND UP 🔊 Larry is back on the court and the stage is set for Game 1 of the NBA Finals! 🏆 https://t.co/H4dRGO2suYpic.twitter.com/c7LiwOCuyi

— NBA (@NBA) June 1, 2026

In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:

Former Warriors coach Rick Adelman dies at 79

The basketball lifer spent two seasons at the helm for the Warriors, coaching them to a 36-46 record in 1995-96, and a 30-52 record in 1996-97, before being fired. While those records aren’t very good, they were better than before he took over, as the Dubs went 26-56 the season before hiring Adelman.

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

Stephen Curry’s “landmark” sneaker deal finally has a dollar figure.

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Curry has agreed to a 10-year endorsement contract with Chinese sportswear giant Li-Ning worth more than $400 million. The landmark agreement will serve as the foundation for the next phase of Curry Brand, expanding the venture far beyond basketball shoes.

But according to the same report, it wasn’t Curry’s biggest offer.

Industry sources told ESPN that Curry received similar financial commitments from multiple companies and even turned down at least one offer that was more lucrative than Li-Ning’s proposal.

Ultimately, he chose the brand he believed offered the best long-term vision for growing his business empire.

The deal includes basketball footwear and apparel, athleisure lifestyle products, a dedicated golf line, and the ability for Curry to sign both male and female athletes under the Curry Brand umbrella.

Li-Ning is also planning to open Curry Brand retail stores in both the United States and China, giving the four-time NBA champion a global platform that extends well beyond the court.

Curry’s decision ends a highly publicized recruitment process that began after he mutually parted ways with Under Armour in November following a 13-year partnership.

While Curry publicly expressed gratitude toward Under Armour, industry insiders reported growing frustration with what was viewed as underinvestment from a company facing declining valuation.

Following the split, Curry became one of the most coveted free agents in the sneaker industry. He generated buzz throughout the 2025-26 season by rotating through shoes from multiple brands, including a notable appearance in Nike Kobe 6 “Mambacita” sneakers during a Warriors road trip to San Antonio.

According to Charania, comfort played a major role in Curry’s final decision. He spent time testing signature models from fellow Warriors teammate Jimmy Butler and NBA legend Dwyane Wade, both of whom are prominent Li-Ning athletes.

Now, with more than $400 million committed over the next decade, Curry is betting that Li-Ning can help transform Curry Brand from a successful signature line into a global sports and lifestyle powerhouse.

Before Tuesday afternoon’s media day kicked off, one name was glaringly omitted from the media availability list. As some had suspected, Mitchell Robinson wasn’t going to be fielding questions from reporters. That isn’t necessarily indicative of anything, and shouldn’t be categorized as good, or bad news. But Robinson, and the Knicks, knowing just how many eyes, and questions would be on his recently injured pinky, made the call to keep him away from the media. Still, Knicks fans couldn’t have felt particularly great about seeing the longest tenured player on the team-one that should be a major factor this series-be absent from the sheet.

Mitchell Robinson is not speaking to the media on NBA Finals Media Day pic.twitter.com/wxCyL6QH8K

— Stefan Bondy (@SbondyNBA) June 2, 2026

Shams Charania of ESPN also reported the latest on the injury, saying that he’d need to wear a pretty sizable brace in order to play. He also added, “I’m told that Mitchell Robinson fully plans, is resolute, on playing Game 1 on Wednesday night against the Spurs. The Knicks still must clear him for that game. What he has is a broken pinky, but even more specifically, damage to his fifth metacarpal.”

The latest on status of key Knicks center Mitchell Robinson for Game 1 of the Finals in San Antonio for NBA Today: pic.twitter.com/bNLKaFP1Ut

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 2, 2026

Charania also spoke about the mysterious nature of the injury. “How did this all happen during the next off week? That is the question,” Charania said. “The details are murky. What I can say, what I do know, is that Mitchell Robinson hurt himself at his own home, and so it’s an ill-opportune time for an injury, of course.”

Mitchell Robinson with protection on his hand looks real comfortable with the ball. pic.twitter.com/sk4zsz05cX

— Stefan Bondy (@SbondyNBA) June 2, 2026

Some concerns were eased though when videos of Robinson on the court started to circulate. As seen in the video clips above, Robinson is seen with a relatively minimal tape job, and is seen dribbling the ball, and even giving out firm handshakes with his right hand.

Mitchell Robinson not really dunking pic.twitter.com/Qz4U3GKjLt

— Jared Schwartz (@jschwartz115) June 2, 2026

That being said, Robinson doesn’t seem to really be dunking the ball above, which is and of itself, doesn’t mean much, because why would he do it, even if he could. But as Charania mentioned, he still isn’t even cleared technically. And while Knicks fans likely expect him to play, Mike Brown also noted that he still isn’t certain of how Robinson will be listed on the injury report prior to tomorrow night’s game.

Mike Brown said he’s not sure how NYK will list Mitchell Robinson on injury report for Game 1. Brown said he’s going to talk to NYK medical staff to find out what Robinson can do in practice today. Robinson has done individual work in practice since hand injury. No contact yet.

— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) June 2, 2026

In what has turned into a puzzling injury with all kinds of unexpected twist, and turns, the only things we truly know, are that he did injure it at home, will need a brace, and wants to play.

But if he plays, how much he plays, and how effective he will be can only be left up to speculation for the time being.

Globe What an intriguing NBA Finals, with two pretty evenly matched teams seeking a return to greatness

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The Post’s Steve Serby spoke with Knicks owner James Dolan on Friday. They discussed myriad topics, including how much the Knicks mean to the city, how this team was built and if he’s allowed himself yet to dream of the Canyon of Heroes.

Q: Do you feel that this team represents New York … New York City?

A: It represents the people of New York City, yes. Absolutely. That’s New Yorkers, right? They’re tough, they’re gritty, they’re full of personality. But they’re also high-character individuals. You have a good sense of right and wrong and what’s fair and what’s not, and if you cross it with ’em, you’re gonna get a New York hello. That’s New Yorkers, right? We’re not subtle, but we’re very straightforward. New Yorkers, they love effort. They don’t just love winners, they love effort … sincere effort. And if there’s nothing else you’re getting from the Knicks, you’re getting sincere effort. And so, I do think they represent New York.

Q: Your general thoughts about the Spurs and Thunder (the Spurs hadn’t yet beaten the Thunder in the Western Conference Finals).

A: I’m happy it’s going seven games. Because I think we’re gonna be ready. I’m very optimistic.

I think we’re going to win. Either team, I think we’re going to win.

So bring ’em on!

I’m excited for New York. The Knicks right now are providing something to New York that we don’t have, that we need: some optimism, some enthusiasm. Everybody, regardless of your political persuasion, everybody’s a Knicks fan, if you haven’t noticed.

Q: How would you sum up why you believe this team will win the championship?

A: Because they’re a team. Because they have heart, and they have that X factor in heart. And we’ve seen it all season long, but we’ve really seen it in the playoffs, and in talking to them, they’re gonna be almost impossible to beat. Because they have that heart, and you’re never gonna get them to quit. They will never quit. That’s how winners win.

Q: You sound like Joe Namath guaranteeing a Super Bowl.

A: I ain’t guaranteeing nuthin’ (laugh).

But I believe!

Q: What compelled you to issue your NBA Finals-or-Bust proclamation in January?

A: That’s why I don’t do a lot of interviews — I’m usually very frank (smile). I did not go into the interview thinking, “Oh I’m gonna say this.” But it was on my mind, and I knew that the rest of the organization knew it too — we all knew it. We knew it from the moment that we said goodbye to Thibs (Tom Thibodeau) and we hired Mike (Brown), that we were gonna be in a hot spot because we just made the conference finals. We didn’t win, but you don’t make a change unless you’re expecting to do better. We didn’t change ’cause we wanted it to be worse! To me, it was a little obvious, so I just said it because it was obvious.

Q: What convinced you that Mike Brown was the right man for this job?

A: Leon (Rose) convinced me (laugh). When we knew we were gonna make the change, we didn’t tell the players about making a change. We first had talked to all the players and I was there, and then sat down with Leon, and we talked about what it is we want in a coach. ’Cause we knew we had a good coach in Thibs. We weren’t just going for a change, right? There was something we wanted, and we laid it out, really on paper, what we were looking for in a coach. I would say the No. 1 quality was collaborative, that was a big piece … somebody who strategically could avail himself of all the minds around him and put it together, particularly at game time, between halves, that was a big thing. And we were looking for flexibility. So we laid out all these sort of characteristics that we were looking for, and then I set Leon loose. And he interviewed a lot of different guys, and he came back with Mike, and I’m like, “OK.” Leon did all the work. I just blessed it.

Q: Your thoughts on Wemby (Victor Wembanyama)?

A: He’s obviously a great player. They’re a young team. They certainly look to me like they’re gonna be in the picture for years to come. But then again, so do we.

Q: Do you allow yourself to dream about Jim Dolan on a Canyon of Heroes float?

A: I’d rather get through the first two games. If we are able to at least take one in one of the away games, then I think you can dream about that. But look, if we don’t win — I think we will — but if by some chance we don’t, we will be back next year. So, at some point or another, I hope to be going down the Canyon of Heroes, yes.

Q: What do you like best about the way the Knicks are playing?

A: Their willingness to sacrifice has been just off the charts. They’re all like this, whatever it takes to win, and don’t worry about me, I’ll do whatever it takes. That’s a sacrifice. We played some opponents who haven’t actually had that kind of a commitment. I’m not gonna name names, but you probably know who they are. I think that’s what sets this team apart, and it’s probably what I like most about them right now.

Q: What makes Jalen Brunson great?

A: (Laugh) Well, at first I would have said, and I don’t think you can say this anymore, is how underestimated he was. I don’t think people are underestimating him anymore. They were underestimating him to now they’re double-teaming him, now he’s moving the ball around, and how focused he is — don’t get too high, don’t get too low, that’s a big part of Jalen. He is probably the most focused Knick we have.

Q: Would you compare his leadership style to (Mark) Messier’s?

A: Mark was much more overt. A little more demonstrative in his leadership style. But very much, Mark led the team. And Jalen very much leads the team. Different styles, but same effect leadership-wise. Everybody keys off of Jalen, and that was the same thing true with Mark. Mark used to yell at everybody (laugh). Jalen does it in his own style too, much quieter. But still quite effective.

Q: Why was it important to trade for KAT (Karl-Anthony Towns)?

A: First off, we had Isaiah (Hartenstein) before KAT, and we lost Isaiah because the rules did not allow us to hang onto him. By the CBA etcetera, we were only allowed to offer him X amount of money. Other teams were allowed to offer him more. Probably should try and correct that in the next CBA with KAT. Our first preference would have been to keep going with Isaiah. So once we lost Isaiah, we knew we needed a big man, we needed a center, a focal point there. I knew KAT from before, I actually know him for about four or five years. I knew that he liked New York, he wanted to come. I was thrilled because to have an option like KAT was heaven-sent.

Q: Do you like the way he’s become a facilitator?

A: I love the way … he has grown so much in this last year. He’s very much a team player. He’s made personal sacrifices in order to make this work. He’s willing to listen, he’ll change. He’ll do most anything that the coach asked him to do.

Q: What convinced you that Leon Rose was the right man to bring your Knicks back?

A: I obviously have been doing this for a while before Leon showed up, and it was much more about just getting convinced that no matter if you get the most brilliant strategist in the world, you have to have talent in order to win. And so I thought about the guy who would be best in bringing talent to New York, and Leon’s name was at the very top of the list.

Q: What have you observed about him as an executive that is so impressive to you?

A: The way he deals with the whole organization is different. He almost has an agent’s mentality about it. He’s very collaborative. He’s very big on creating a feeling of family inside of the team. It starts with him and Wes (William Wesley) who do that. When he took the job, I think he thought long and hard about how he wanted to do it. I think this is how he wanted to do it.

Q: What have you learned about OG (Anunoby)?

A: Leon loved OG’s game. So when he came and I got to know OG and watched him play, I loved his game too. The thing about OG, he’s another guy who’ll do whatever you ask him to do. But the thing about him is that he still is significantly underestimated — he only made second-team defense. That was like ridiculous. I don’t think we know how good OG can be. We’ve seen flashes of things with him where he’s an incredible player. His game is not overly demonstrative, it’s not flashy, etcetera, but man, he can shut a guy down, but he can also hit the 3, he can drive the basket. … He doesn’t make a big deal out of it, doesn’t ask anybody to make a big deal out it. He’ll sit a little bit off to the side and be a part of the team and not say, “Hey, I can do this so I should do it.” That’s not him. When they assign him to guard somebody, that guy’s not gonna have his best game, that’s for sure.

Q: Does Josh Hart remind you of John Starks in any way?

A: (Laugh) Yeah … a lot personality-wise, I think so. Their effect on the team is really quite similar from those days. John would come into a game and light the team up just like Josh comes into the game and he lights the team up. He’ll come out of nowhere and get that rebound, and John was the same way, and for some reason it just energizes the rest of the team.

Q; How difficult was it for you to part with five first-round picks for Mikal Bridges?

A: It took a little thought (smile). Look, that’s the NBA. The idea was that Mikal was a building block for the team we wanted, which is the team we have on the floor now. We didn’t think we’d be in a lottery — we don’t expect to be in a lottery for quite some time. So, they weren’t quite as valuable … and Mikal is another player who I think we’re starting to understand just how impactful he could be. The thing about the whole team — I’m sure you see this — is you look at other teams in the NBA and there’s like one or two players who are the key players on the team, and when you see the other teams defend against those teams, they’re keying on them.

The problem with the Knicks is: Go ahead, pick one. Who are you gonna key on, right? Jalen? No problem … KAT’s right there. With the depth of the team, and the ability of any of those players to take over a game, and becomes a big problem for the opponent.

Q: When did you start handing out basketballs to fans after games?

A: I did it for a while before anybody figured it out. For years, I’ve come down after the game, sometimes we lose, sometimes we win, and I see the crowd out there, and I wanted to connect. So I decided, well, that was the best way to do it — just stop down there, and say hello for 30 seconds, give a kid a ball.

Q: Does it hearten you that Patrick Ewing has praised you for making the alumni feel a part of this run?

A: I’m sure glad they feel that way. It’s been intentional. This year, more than any other year, we’re all feeling a little like family. I’m really happy Patrick feels that ’cause he’s like our most important alumnus.

Q: Why do the Knicks mean so much to New York City?

A: They always have too. I’ve been a Knicks fan forever, right, going all the way back to the Frazier-Bradley-Reed Knicks. The town has always loved this basketball team. Part of it is definitely the franchise itself, that is the Knicks and it’s ingrained in the city a little like the Yankees. But the other part of I think is that these teams, like this team, when they have some personality, they’re very likeable. And when you meet them actually, they are likeable. It’s not a facade. And basically what you see is kinda who they are. And I think that really resonates with New Yorkers who like genuine people.

Q: What is Knicks Fever like when you walk around the city?

A: I don’t walk around the city (laugh), at least not so that I can be recognized. Much harder for my players. It’s everywhere. It’s incredible — it’s everywhere. You go to your dentist — they’re “Ah, Knicks!” Whenever I do go around the city and people know I’m there, they just are really excited.

Q: How heartbreaking was it losing Patrick after that magical ride in 1999 (to the Finals after making the playoff as an 8 seed)?

A: Losing is tough, even when it’s the championship in the Finals. Losing … losing sucks. And you don’t ever really get used to it, but you learn how to handle it. You can sense it coming when things are turning bad. You can also sense when things are going well. … That game against Cleveland, where we came back from 22 points, I was like, “They’ll have to play perfectly in order to do this.” And they did. I was amazed, and sorta felt like it was like an out-of-body experience (laugh).

Q: You lost in five to the Spurs in 1999.

A: I don’t try and remember the losses. There’s only one loss that sticks in my head, and I’ve never been able to shake it. It was against the Buffalo Sabres in the playoffs, and were up, I think, by two goals in the third period, and it slipped away. And of course you know who stole it from us was this young player on Buffalo named Chris Drury (laugh). I’ll never forget coming home from that game and just feeling so devastated.

Q: There was no Knick loss that left you devastated like that?

A: Not like that.

Q: When Larry Johnson hit that four-point play in the ’99 conference finals against the Pacers, was that the loudest you heard the Garden?

A: Actually, Game 2 of the Cleveland series was incredibly loud. That Cleveland game might be the loudest I’ve heard the Garden.

Q: What do you recall about the ’94 Knicks?

A: ITT was the managing partner of the team, so I was still pretty much on the sideline, rooting but not part of the organization.

Q: That team was tough.

A: I remember (Charles) Oakley and (Anthony) Mason, and yes, they were brutal, a little like Detroit was, very, very physical.

Q: Do you remember Game 7 of the 1970 Finals, the first Knicks championship, when Willis limped out of the tunnel?

A: My dad (Charles Dolan) at that time was running Manhattan Cable TV, and had gotten the games for the cable customers, and along with the rights we got four seats, in the press box. We used to go to all the games. I think it was Marty Glickman who was the guy who was calling the game (on Manhattan Cable Television). Marty Glickman used to come over to the house all the time. My brothers brought me, we used to drive in, we parked the car at Woodhaven, and take the D train in from Woodhaven.

Q: Who was your favorite Knick growing up?

A: Oh, Clyde.

Q: Did you play guard in the schoolyard?

A: Yeah … everybody loved Clyde. I also loved Dick Barnett. Dick Barnett had that shot that sorta originated from the back of his ear, it was a jump shot, but then he kicked his feet back when it was in the air. I used to go to those games with my brothers. That was an amazing team.

Q: What does this Knicks run mean to you personally?

A: I have not sat down with myself and gone over that yet because I’m afraid I’ll start crying (smile).

Q: What would your message be to the Knicks fans about these Finals, and this team?

A: They don’t need any encouragement, duh (laugh). I guess I’d tell them thank you … thank you for all the support over the years, and thank you for making this so special, and I hope we deliver for you.