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 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.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 7: Mitchell Robinson #23 of the New York Knicks grabs a rebound over Clint Capela #15 of the Atlanta Hawks during the second half at Madison Square Garden on December 7, 2022 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images) | Getty Images
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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.
BOSTON, MA - MARCH 16: The sneakers worn by Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics before the game against the Phoenix Suns on March 16, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
After a 27-year drought, the New York Knicks are back in the NBA Finals and against a familiar opponent — the San Antonio Spurs.
In their last trip to the championship series, the Knicks lost in five games to the Spurs, who began their run of five titles in 15 years.
Postseason success has been a more agonizing story for the Knicks, who made the playoffs only seven times in the 22 seasons following their 1999 Finals defeat.
They have since made the postseason in four consecutive years. They made the Eastern Conference Finals the past two seasons, breaking through to the title round this year with a sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
With the NBA Finals beginning Wednesday, June 3, here's a look at the Spurs' championship history:
When was the last time the Knicks won a championship?
In 1973, the Knicks defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 4-1 in a series that featured Hall of Famers Jerry Lucas, Willis Reed, Bill Bradley, Dave DeBusschere, Walt Frazier, Earl Monroe, Phil Jackson, Dick Barnett, Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West and
Gail Goodrich.
After the Lakers won 115-112 in Game 1, the Knicks captured the championship with four consecutive victories, closing out the series with a 102-93 road victory in Inglewood, California (the last NBA game played by legendary Wilt Chamberlain).
How many championships do the Knicks have?
Two titles for a franchise that began playing with the 1946-47 season (in the Basketball Association of America; joining the NBA when it was formed in 1949).
1970: 4-3 over the Los Angeles Lakers; MVP: Willis Reed
1973: 4-1 over the Los Angeles Lakers; MVP: Willis Reed
When was the last time the Knicks were in the NBA Finals?
The most recent appearance was in 1999, a 4-1 loss to the San Antonio Spurs.
New York Knicks NBA Finals history
This will mark the Knicks' ninth trip to the NBA Finals. The Knicks' six championship round appearances that ended without a title:
1999: Lost 4-1 to the San Antonio Spurs; MVP: Tim Duncan
1994: Lost 4-3 to the Houston Rockets; MVP: Hakeem Olajuwon
1972: Lost 4-1 to the Los Angeles Lakers; MVP: Wilt Chamberlain
1953: Lost 4-1 to the Minneapolis Lakers
1952: Lost 4-3 to the Minneapolis Lakers
1951: Lost 4-3 to the Rochester Royals
1999 NBA Finals: Knicks vs Spurs
In their first NBA Finals meeting 27 years ago, the Spurs won the championship in five games over the Knicks.
San Antonio, which had an NBA-best 37-13 record in a 50-game regular season shortened by a lockout, entered as the favorite over New York, which barely made the playoffs as the East's eighth seed with a 27-23 record.
San Antonio marched to the NBA Finals with an 11-1 record, defeating Minnesota 3-1, the Los Angeles Lakers 4-0 and the Portland Trail Blazers 4-0.
New York had a tougher road, escaping with a 3-2 first-round win over Miami on a clutch jumper by Allan Houston, and then advancing past Atlanta 4-0 and Indiana 4-2.
The Spurs opened the NBA Finals with consecutive double-digit victories at the Alamodome. The Knicks won 89-91 in Game 3 at Madison Square Garden.
The Spurs closed it out with two wins in a row. Duncan scored 31 points in a 78-77 clinching victory in Game 5.
Knicks vs Spurs head-to-head history, record
The Knicks are 2-1 against the Spurs this season, including a 124-113 victory to win the NBA Cup on Dec. 16 in Las Vegas.
San Antonio won 134-132 at home on Dec. 31 behind 36 points by Julian Champagnie. In Madison Square Garden on March 1, New York won 114-89 with 25 points from Mikal Bridges and 24 from Jalen Brunson (snapping an 11-game winning streak for the Spurs).
In regular-season meetings, there have been 107 games between the Knicks and Spurs, who lead the series 60-47.
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - MARCH 20: Allen Graves #22 of the Santa Clara Broncos shoots the ball against Brandon Garrison #10 of the Kentucky Wildcats during the first half in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Enterprise Center on March 20, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With the NBA draft just 3 weeks away, it was finally time to do our first mock draft with the draft order fully set.
We sat down on Monday night and drafted all 30 spots, mixing some realistic (and unrealistic) trades to spice it up. Here’s the whole thing if you want to watch the shenanigans.
Without further ado, here is version 3.0 of the Mavericks Moneyball mock draft.
1. Washington Wizards – Darryn Peterson (G, Kansas)
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 22: Darryn Peterson #22 of the Kansas Jayhawks reacts after the game against the St. John's Red Storm in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Viejas Arena at San Diego State University on March 22, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
While this pick would be shocking on draft night, I do not believe AJ Dybantsa is the locked-in first overall pick. Peterson would bring a dynamic skillset next to Trae Young, and could help to propel winning faster than Dybansta.
2. Utah Jazz – AJ Dybantsa (F, BYU)
No player is more of a dream fit than Dybantsa to the Jazz. There have been rumors about a potential trade-up to make this pairing happen, but here they are able to draft the sensational scorer 2nd overall.
3. Memphis Grizzlies – Cameron Boozer (F/C, Duke)
No surprises here; Boozer is the most analytically dominant player in this draft, going to the moat analytically slanted team in the NBA.
While we floated a possible trade scenario involving OKC, I heavily doubt the Grizzlies would trade this pick under any circumstances.
4. Chicago Bulls – Caleb Wilson (F, North Carolina)
The Bulls are one of the most rudderless teams in the league, but Caleb Wilson could change that. He immediately could become the compass that points this organization out of the darkness.
5. Los Angeles Clippers – Keaton Wagler (G, Illinois)
The first of the guard prospects leaves the board at 5, giving the Clippers a running-mate for Darius Garland.\
6. Brooklyn Nets Mikel Brown Jr. (G, Louisville)
CLEMSON, SOUTH CAROLINA – FEBRUARY 28: Mikel Brown Jr. #0 of the Louisville Cardinals looks to pass the ball as Jestin Porter #1 of the Clemson Tigers defends him during the second half at Littlejohn Coliseum on February 28, 2026 in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Katie DeVaney/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Brooklyn Nets desperately need upside, and no guard in this class has higher upside than Brown Jr. He would immediately become their franchise cornerstone, and could rectify the lackluster 2025 draft-class.
7. Sacramento Kings – Darius Acuff (G, Arkansas)
While there has been Kingston Flemings buzz for the Kings, I cannot imagine them passing on Acuff.
8. Atlanta Hawks – Aday Mara (C, Michigan)
After the Kristaps Porzingis trade the Hawks opened up a large need at center. Mara adds dominant size, rebounding, and sneaky playmaking that fills the Hawks biggest need.
HOUSTON, TEXAS – MARCH 26: Kingston Flemings #4 of the Houston Cougars dribbles against the Illinois Fighting Illini during the second half in the Sweet Sixteen of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Toyota Center on March 26, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Flemings at 9 feels like a dream, and lessens the pain of the Mavericks falling to 9. Flemings would bring a much needed injection of speed and playmaking to a guard room that desperately needs it, and would be the perfect running-mate long term next to Cooper Flagg.
10. Milwaukee Bucks – Nate Ament (F, Tennesee)
With the inevitable trade of Giannis Antetokounmpo looming, the Bucks swing for upside in Ament.
11. San Antonio Spurs (via Warriors) – Yaxel Lendeborg (F, Michigan)
The first trade of the mock has the Spurs jumping up 9 spots for Lendeborg. The Michigan forward would bring much needed size for the Spurs on the wing, and could help contribute to winning right away.
12. Oklahoma City Thunder – Brayden Burries (G, Arizona)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 04: Brayden Burries #5 of the Arizona Wildcats looks on against the Michigan Wolverines in the Final Four of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 04, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A pick that will frustrate Mavericks fans, as Burries is a perfect fit for the Thunder, and would only strengthen their hard-nosed, defensive identity.
13. Miami Heat – Cameron Carr (G,F Baylor)
If you want freaky measurables and supreme athleticism, look no further than Cam Carr. The Baylor guard would bring much need excitement to a dull Miami team.
14. Charlotte Hornets – Jayden Quaintance (C, Kentucky)
The Hornets desperately need more size on the interior, and while Quanintance does have real injury concerns, his upside on the defensive end is tremendous.
15. Chicago Bulls – Hannes Steinbach (C, Washington)
Paring Caleb Wilson with a center with shooting chops is a match made in heaven and would give the Bulls their front-line of the future.
16. Memphis Grizzlies – LaBaron Philon Jr. (G, Alabama)
With Ja Morant’s departure feeling inevitable, the Grizzlies scoop up Philon who fell in this mock. Philon is a top 10 player on my big board, giving the Grizzlies great value at 16.
17. Dallas Mavericks (via OKC) – Allen Graves (F, Santa Clara)
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI – MARCH 20: Allen Graves #22 of the Santa Clara Broncos celebrates a basket against the Kentucky Wildcats during the second half in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Enterprise Center on March 20, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Perhaps the most divisive moment on Monday night’s stream was selecting Allen Graves over Morez Johnson Jr. While I understand the sentiment, Graves is a perfect modern-day NBA wing, and fits perfectly next to Cooper Flagg. The cost of moving up was P.J. Washington, who Graves would effectively replace in the Mavericks rotation.
The first crazy trade of the stream happened at 18, as our stand-in GM’s agreed on a Rudy Gobert to the Hornets trade, with the Timberwolves getting pick 18. Okorie would finally give the Wolves another great ball handler to pair with Anthony Edwards.
19. Toronto Raptors – Bennet Stirtz (G, Iowa)
The Raptors are in desperate need of another scoring option, and Stirtz would provide immediate 3-level scoring that the Raptors desperately need.
20. Golden State Warriors (via SAS) – Morez Johnson Jr. (F, Michigan)
The Warriors trade back 9 spots and end up with a player that many have top 15. Johnson Jr. would provide an immediate spark while giving the Warriors a player for the post Steph Curry era.
21. Detroit Pistons – Isaiah Evans (G, Duke)
The Pistons could despertely use more floor spacing, and Evans provides that in spades while not effecting their defensive mentality.
22. Philadelphia 76ers – Dailyn Swain (F, Texas)
Swain fell a bit in this mock, but makes perfect sense for the 76ers who could use more slashing and self creation on the wing.
23. Atlanta Hawks – Christian Anderson (G, Texas Tech)
After taking Aday Mara at 8 in this mock, the Hawks fill their other big need by adding Anderson who brings exciting shooting and creation as a guard to replace CJ Mccolum.
24. New York Knicks – Chris Cenac Jr. (C, Houston)
With Mitchell Robinson’s future in question, the Knicks could search for a replacement. Cenac is raw, but has tremendous upside and potential, and won’t have to contribute right away.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – MARCH 21: Joshua Jefferson #2 of the Iowa State Cyclones shoots a free throw during the second half against the Lipscomb Bisons in the first round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Fiserv Forum on March 21, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Another trade! This time sending Daniel Gafford for the 25th pick, selecting Joshua Jefferson. Jefferson is a unique and well rounded forward with real defensive upside who could also become a small ball center.
26. Denver Nuggets – Luigi Suigo (C, Italy)
The Nuggets have been without a player that could spell Nikola Jokic for years. Suigo is incredibly raw, but his 7’4 frame could prove intriguing for a league that features Victor Wembanyama.
27. Boston Celtics – Henri Veesaar (C, North Carolina)
The Celtics tried in vain to solve their center woes at the trade deadline last season, and will be looking to upgrade the position again. Veesaar bring a large frame and shooting upside that could be tantalizing for the Celtics.
The Nets received this pick by absorbing Julius Randle’s contract in the aforementioned Rudy Gobert trade. The Nets need to swing on upside, and Peat has some of the highest in this class.
29. Cleveland Cavaliers – Karim Lopez (F, New Zealand)
The Cavaliers are in desperate need for a wing, and Lopez could step in and help right away. Lopez is raw but very talented, multiple things the Cavaliers need.
30. Dallas Mavericks – Meleek Thomas (G, Arkansas)
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 25: Meleek Thomas #1 of the Arkansas Razorbacks shoots the ball during the Sweet Sixteen Practice Day at SAP Center on March 25, 2026 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The 4th and final pick for the Mavericks in this mock draft is one that seeks to address the lack of shooting. Thomas is an elite shooter who can play both guard spots, and could fit next to Kingston Flemings.
The Knicks are four wins away from their first NBA title since 1973, but Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs stand in their way.
Wembanyama is one of the most physically gifted athletes to ever play in the NBA. At 7-foot-4, 235 pounds, Wembanyama is a two-way force, winning this season’s Defensive Player of the Year award while also averaging 25.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, 1.0 steal, and 3.1 blocks per game.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Wembanyama praised the Knicks and said he expects them to come out with a purpose in the series.
“It’s a great team of experienced guys who are not here by chance,” Wembanyama said. “They play with relentless effort over the years, and very different career paths for all of them. They’re right where they’re supposed to be, in my opinion, and all of them are going to be super hungry in their own way.”
Just 22 years old, Wembanyama has been a force for the Spurs during their playoff run, averaging 23.2 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks.
In five career regular season games against the Knicks, Wembanyama has averaged 30.4 points, 14.6 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks. That excludes a performance in the NBA Cup Championship where the Knicks limited him to 18 points and six rebounds.
He’ll obviously present quite the challenge for the Knicks on both sides of the floor, forcing the Knicks to stay within their gameplan to try to slow him down.
“Obviously, he’s a special talent and the NBA’s blessed to have him and to be able to showcase his talent to the world,” said Karl-Anthony Towns. “For us, we just have to have discipline in our gameplan and execute at a high level.”
“Watching him as a player, it’s pretty unbelievable,” said Jalen Brunson, “the things he’s able to do on both sides of the ball, people have never really seen before for a person at his size. It’s incredible to watch from a fan’s perspective.
“As an opposing player, he’s someone you constantly have to be on watch for. You just never know the things that he’s capable of doing. That’s why our game-planning and gameplay discipline and attention to details are so important, because he’s pretty incredible.”
While Wembanyama has led the way for San Antonio, he’s far from the only threat the Spurs possess. Five other San Antonio players are averaging double-digit points this postseason (Stephon Castle, De’Aaron Fox, Dylan Harper, Devin Vassell, Julian Champagnie), and the Knicks know they’re facing a very deep Spurs team that goes far beyond Wembanyama’s lengthy reach.
“They’re a very versatile team, very deep,” said OG Anunoby. “They have talent all over the court at all positions. They can all shoot, drive, do everything. They rebound really well too. If they’re getting the rebound, they can push, one-man fastbreak or really just push the pace. They speed the game up. They do a great job of doing that.”
Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals tips off in San Antonio on Wednesday night at 8:30 p.m.
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry gestures after scoring during a game against the Clippers on April 15 at Intuit Dome. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)
The four-time NBA champion has spent his entire playing career with the Golden State Warriors and is under contract through the end of next season.
He has been playing without a shoe deal, however, since parting ways with Under Armour in November.
That won’t be the case when Curry starts his 18th NBA season in the fall. The man who holds the NBA record for most career three-pointers announced on Monday that his Curry Brand is teaming with Chinese sportswear and athletic equipment company Li-Ning for a partnership that is “bigger than a shoe deal” and “bigger than a signature series.”
“This is the partnership of a lifetime. The future of Curry Brand is with Li-Ning,” Curry wrote in a post announcing the deal on his Thirty Ink site. “I couldn’t be more proud to build a long-term vision with Li-Ning that will fuel Curry Brand for years to come and unlock the full potential of this company on a global scale.”
ESPN reports that the deal is for 10 years. Terms were not released.
Curry signed with Nike for the first four seasons of his career before switching to Under Armour in 2013. After announcing his sneaker free agency early in the 2025-26 season, Curry wore shoes from a variety of companies during warmups and games. In April, Curry auctioned off more than 70 pairs of those shoes through Sotheby’s, raising more than $1.7 million for his charitable foundation.
While many of his shoe choices had special significance — like when he honored Kobe and Gianna Bryant by warming up in Nike Kobe 6 Protro “Mambacita” sneakers — Curry also was doing his due diligence as a businessman.
“Throughout my sneaker free agency, I was impressed by the quality, comfort and performance of Li-Ning’s shoes,” Curry said. “It was during that time playing in Dwyane Wade and Jimmy Butler’s sneakers, that I knew that Li-Ning could be the right partner that can deliver on the innovation and design that I want Curry Brand to stand for.”
The Li-Ning company was founded by Li Ning — the Chinese gymnast who won six medals, including three gold, during the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics — in 1990. A handful of NBA players have signed with the company, starting with then-Cleveland Cavaliers guard Damon Jones in 2006 and also including former Clippers guard Baron Davis and future Hall of Famers Wade and Shaquille O’Neal.
In addition to Curry’s Golden State teammate Butler, other current NBA stars signed with Li-Ning include Atlanta’s C.J. McCollum and Washington’s D’Angelo Russell.
According to Curry, Li-Ning will open Curry Brand stores in the United States and China.
“We’ll be proudly building Curry Brand into a future leading company that will leave its mark in Basketball, in Golf and across the lifestyle space,” Curry wrote.
“We’ll aim to create game-changing products, launch elevated platforms and bring storytelling that will inspire young boys and girls around the globe. My hope is for young athletes to find the same purpose, joy and drive through sports that I’ve long enjoyed throughout this journey.”
The San Antonio Spurs have a rather extraordinary championship pedigree despite being a relatively young NBA franchise.
Since their inaugural season in 1967-68 (then as the Dallas Chaparrals before moving to San Antonio in 1973-74), the Spurs have won five championships — all in a 15-year window between 1999-2014. The run was overseen by head coach Gregg Popovich, who remains the team’s president of basketball operations.
The first title, which came during the lockout-shortened season, was in '99 against the Knicks, who have returned to the NBA Finals for the first time in 27 years to face the Spurs again this season.
With the NBA Finals beginning Wednesday, June 3, here's a look at the Spurs' championship history:
When was the last time the Spurs won a championship?
In 2014, San Antonio won the championship by beating Miami in four out of five games.
The Spurs won the final three games by at least 17 points, effectively ending the Miami career of LeBron James (who returned to Cleveland in the middle of his record run of eight consecutive NBA Finals appearances).
Kawhi Leonard was named MVP of the series after averaging 17.8 points per game with 6.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.2 blocks. Parker, Duncan and Ginobili also averaged double figures in scoring for the series.
When was the last time the Spurs were in the NBA Finals?
It was also in 2014. After the championship nucleus of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili retired, the Spurs went through a playoff drought of six seasons from 2019-25.
San Antonio returned to the postseason this year behind superstar Victor Wembanyama, who immediately led the team to the NBA Finals during his playoff debut in his third season.
How many championships do the Spurs have?
Five, and here's the breakdown:
1999: 4-1 over the New York Knicks; MVP: Tim Duncan
2003: 4-2 over the New Jersey Nets; MVP: Tim Duncan
2005: 4-3 over the Detroit Pistons; MVP: Tim Duncan
2007: 4-0 over the Cleveland Cavaliers; MVP: Tony Parker
2014: 4-1 over the Miami Heat; MVP: Kawhi Leonard
San Antonio Spurs NBA Finals history
The Spurs are 5-1 in the NBA Finals. The only loss came in 2013 when they fell 4-3 to the Miami Heat, which staved off elimination in a Game 6 win by forcing overtime with a 3-pointer by Ray Allen with 5.2 seconds left.
1999 NBA Finals: Knicks vs Spurs
In their first meeting 27 years ago, the Spurs won the championship in five games over the Knicks.
San Antonio, which had an NBA-best 37-13 record in a 50-game regular season shortened by a lockout, entered as the favorite over New York, which barely made the playoffs as the East's eighth seed with a 27-23 record.
San Antonio marched to the NBA Finals with an 11-1 record, defeating Minnesota 3-1, the Los Angeles Lakers 4-0 and the Portland Trail Blazers 4-0.
New York had a tougher road, escaping with a 3-2 first-round win over Miami on a clutch jumper by Allan Houston, and then advancing past Atlanta 4-0 and Indiana 4-2.
The Spurs opened the NBA Finals with consecutive double-digit victories at the Alamodome. The Knicks won 89-91 in Game 3 at Madison Square Garden.
The Spurs closed it out with two wins in a row. Duncan scored 31 points in a 78-77 clinching victory in Game 5.
Knicks vs Spurs head-to-head history, record
The Knicks are 2-1 against the Spurs this season, including a 124-113 victory to win the NBA Cup on Dec. 16 in Las Vegas.
San Antonio won 134-132 at home on Dec. 31 behind 36 points by Julian Champagnie. In Madison Square Garden on March 1, New York won 114-89 with 25 points from Mikal Bridges and 24 from Jalen Brunson (snapping an 11-game winning streak for the Spurs).
In regular-season meetings, there have been 107 games between the Knicks and Spurs, who lead the series 60-47.
Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals arrives Wednesday night with rare historical weight, as the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks meet in a rematch 27 years after their 1999 showdown.
A team that missed the playoffs last season, the Spurs are powered by youth and a generational superstar in Victor Wembanyama. San Antonio is without question ahead of schedule as further evidenced by their preseason odds (+6600). Should they go on and win the NBA title, the Spurs will be the largest preseason underdogs to reach and win the NBA Finals in the last 40 years.
One reason for the long odds was the injury-plagued season Wembanyama endured in 2024-25. The other was the Spurs’ overall lack of playoff experience. Wemby though has been healthy and being new to the postseason has not been a problem for the young Spurs. Although Harrison Barnes has dressed for 71 postseason games, no other Spurs’ player had played in more than 7 prior to this magical run including Wembanyama, Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper, Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, Julian Champagnie,and Carter Bryant each of whom had never played in a single postseason game prior to the start of the 2026 playoffs.
Leon Rose did a brilliant job building this Knicks’ roster from scratch. It began in earnest with the free agent signing of Brunson a handful of years ago. He followed that home run with trades for Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges.Rose raised eyebrows with a coaching change after last season’s trip to the Conference Finals replacing Tom Thibodeau with Mike Brown but the results are obvious.
After falling to Indiana in last year’s Eastern Conference Final, the expectations for the Knicks were much greater entering this season. Needless to say, Jalen Brunson and New York met the moment. The Knicks take the court riding an historic 11‑game win streak. Their only two losses were way back in the first round and were each by a single point. New York has recorded a +271 point differential in the playoffs thus far which is the highest scoring margin in NBA history heading into the NBA Finals. Their average margin of victory is 23.8 points.
Keys to Game 1 revolve around Wembanyama. Who gets the primary assignment to try and slow him down? Anunoby has done a serviceable job at times in the past on the unicorn, but he cannot be expected to handle the 7’4” Frenchman by himself. Wembanyama’s rim protection, floor spacing, and matchup‑breaking versatility must be on display in each game if the Spurs are to overcome the experience and depth of the Knicks. The Spurs do play defense and need to do so in order to keep Brunson from dictating pace. Rebounding and three‑point shooting also loom large—New York held a +7.3 rebounding edge and +5.3 made threes per game in their regular‑season meetings with San Antonio.
Lets take a closer look at tonight’s matchup and take into consideration lineups, injuries, and other factors affecting the line and total.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game Details and How to Watch Game 1 Live: Knicks vs. Spurs
Date: Wednesday, June 3, 2026
Time: 8:30PM EST
Site: Frost Bank Center
City: San Antonio, TX
Network/Streaming: ABC
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Important stats and trends: Knicks vs. Spurs – Game 1
The Knicks are 36-11 on the road this season
The Spurs are 35-15 at home this season
The Spurs are 57-42-2 ATS this season
The Knicks are 54-42-1 ATS this season
The OVER has cashed in 46 of the Knicks’ 97 games this season (46-51)
The OVER has cashed in 47 of the Spurs’ 101 games this season (47-54)
Jalen Brunson was 4-22 (18.2%) from 3-point range in the East Final
Josh Hart has averaged 10 rebounds in his last 4 road games
Mikal Bridges shot 57.4% from the field (31-54) in the East Final
De’Aaron Fox averaged 6.2 assists per game in the West Final
Julian Champagnie averaged 7.8 attempts from beyond the arc last round and made 2.5 per game
Dylan Harper averaged 12 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and just 1.7 turnovers per game in the West Final
Rotoworld Best Bet
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Wednesday’s Game 1 between the Knicks and the Spurs:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Spurs on the Moneyline
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Spread
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total UNDER 218.5
Player Props:
Dylan Harper 11+ Points (-111) – cashed the last 2 games and in 9 of the last 13
Karl-Anthony Towns 4+ Assists (-162) – cashed twice in the East Final and in all 4 games in the Second Round
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The 2026 NBA Finals get going on Wednesday night, and three members of the New York Knicks will look to make some history beyond leading the franchise to its first NBA title since 1973.
Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges were also teammates at the college level, sharing the court for two seasons at Villanova University. All three were members of the 2016 squad that won the school's second national title in men's basketball, and Brunson and Bridges were teammates on the 2018 championship-winning team.
With a series win over the Spurs, the "Nova Knicks" would become the fifth set of teammates to have won NCAA and NBA titles. Let's look at the first four and their production in their first NBA Finals appearances together.
The Knicks' Mikal Bridges, Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart could become the fifth set of teammates to win NCAA (Villanova) and NBA championships together.
Derek Anderson & Antoine Walker (Kentucky, Heat) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar & Lucius Allen (UCLA, Bucks) John Havlicek & Larry… pic.twitter.com/kYXuJKvgGc
Bill Russell and K.C. Jones (University of San Francisco, Boston Celtics)
Russell accomplished a feat that has not been done since: he ended his collegiate career having won back-to-back national titles with the Dons in 1955 and 1956, then went on to win an NBA title as a rookie in 1957. Jones could have been a member of that 1956-57 Celtics squad, but he served two years in the Army before entering the NBA as a rookie during the 1958-59 campaign.
Boston won the 1959 NBA Finals in a four-game sweep of the Minneapolis Lakers, with Russell averaging a staggering 29.5 rebounds per game. The Celtics center also averaged 9.3 points and 5.3 assists, and at the time, the NBA did not record steals or blocked shots. As for Jones, he only appeared in two of the four games.
The 1959 title would be the first of eight straight titles the Celtics would win, with Russell and Jones on each squad.
John Havlicek and Larry Siegfried (The Ohio State University, Boston Celtics)
Havlicek and Siegfried were part of the Ohio State team that won the school's first (and, to this point, only) national title in 1960. They could have won two straight, but a loss to an Oscar Robertson-led Cincinnati squad in the 1961 title game ended the Buckeyes' quest for a repeat.
Siegfried, the third overall pick of the Cincinnati Royals in the 1961 draft, would not make his NBA debut until 1963, as he began his pro career with the ABA's Cleveland Pipers. He would reunite with Havlicek, who had just won a title in Boston as a rookie, and the Celtics would win it all again in 1964.
While Siegfried's role on that team was limited, as he appeared in just four postseason games, Havlicek was a second-team All-NBA selection who averaged 15.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game in 10 appearances. As teammates, they would go on to win four more NBA titles in Boston.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Lucius Allen (UCLA, Milwaukee Bucks)
After winning three national titles at UCLA, Abdul-Jabbar would win his first NBA title in his second season as a member of the Milwaukee Bucks. Also on that 1970-71 team was Allen, a teammate of Abdul-Jabbar's on the 1967 and 1968 title-winning teams at UCLA.
While Kareem took on a starring role for that Bucks squad, winning league and Finals Most Valuable Player honors, Allen was the sixth man. Abdul-Jabbar recorded averages of 27.0 points, 18.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists in the four-game sweep of the Baltimore Bullets. As for Allen, he accounted for 7.5 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 22.0 minutes per game.
Derek Anderson and Antoine Walker (University of Kentucky, Miami Heat)
While Anderson stuck around Lexington for another season after he and Walker were part of the "Untouchables" squad that won Kentucky's sixth national title in men's basketball, Walker left early to become the sixth overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft. They would rejoin forces in Miami for the 2005-06 campaign and were part of the team that won the Heat franchise's first NBA title that season.
Walker started all six games of Miami's 4-2 win over the Dallas Mavericks, averaging 13.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.7 three-pointers in 36.5 minutes. As for Anderson, his role was limited during the postseason, with the veteran wing not appearing in any of the six NBA Finals games.
The 2026 NBA Playoffs have been nothing short of exciting, delivering upsets, overtime thrillers, and Game 7s that have left fans on the edge of their seats. Now only two teams remain. Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks take on Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs this Wednesday, June 3, in Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals. Tip-off is at 8:30 PM ET on ABC. See below for more information on how to watch the 2026 NBA Finals.
2026 NBA Finals Preview - New York Knicks vs San Antonio Spurs:
In his first season as head coach, Mike Brown led New York to the Eastern Conference Finals, where the Knicks lost to the Indiana Pacers in six games. The expectation for year two has been clear since the start: finals or bust.
And Brown has delivered. For the first time since 1999, the New York Knicks are in the NBA Finals.
“He was put in a tough situation with a lot of expectations,” said Knicks guard Josh Hart. “But he’s handled that unbelievably. He’s coaching us in his way, his style. He’s taking input from everybody. His ability to lead us to adapt to things has been great. That’s just the kind of person he is.”
New York finished the regular season with a 53-29 record, third in the Eastern Conference.
The Knicks defeated the Atlanta Hawks in six games in the first round, before sweeping the Philadelphia 76ers in the Conference Semifinals, and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals.
The Knicks have won 11 straight games since April 25.
Their fans are hungry and hopeful. Can the Knicks bring New York City its first NBA championship since 1973?
After missing the playoffs for the last six seasons, the Spurs finished second in the Western Conference with a 62-20 record.
San Antonio defeated Portland in five games in the first round, and then eliminated the Minnesota Timberwolves in six games in the semifinals, before taking down the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder in seven games in the Western Conference Finals.
The Spurs' success has been powered by Wembanyama, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year and Western Conference Finals MVP. Wembanyama has averaged 23.2 ppg, 10.8 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks for San Antonio in the postseason.
"He has such a vision, in my opinion, of who he wants to be as a person and a player," said Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson of Wembanyama. "The commitment and investment he puts in that vision is like nothing I've ever seen before."
But will it be enough to lead the Spurs to their first NBA title since 2014?
The Los Angeles Lakers have made another addition to the business operations side of their front office.
Yao Williams II has been named vice president and head of global partnerships, the team announced in a statement on Tuesday, June 2. He will lead the Lakers' global partnerships team in his role, which includes partnership sales, business solutions and partnership activation. The Lakers also pointed to Williams' "proven track record of securing both domestic and international large-scale deals while leading high-performing sales teams."
"I couldn't be more excited to have Yao Williams join the Lakers business and lead our global partnership team," Lakers president of business ops Lon Rosen said in the statement. "Yao is an engaging leader with an appetite for innovation that will help drive performance and deliver best-in-class experiences for Lakers partners."
Williams' previous stops include the NBA and Manchester City throughout his two decades of experience in global sales and brand partnerships in sports and entertainment. He was most recently at Elevate Sports Ventures, where he co-led global partnerships.
Williams is the latest hire of the Lakers' ongoing revamp of the front office since owner Mark Walter bought the team for a record $10 billion last year. On the basketball operations side, the Lakers most recently hired Rohan Ramadas as assistant general manager of strategy and data systems. According to Rob Pelinka's comments in his exit interview after the Lakers were eliminated from the playoffs, they're expected to hire another assistant GM to lead scouting and player development before the NBA Draft on June 23.
Knicks center Mitchell Robinson's status for Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Spurs is still a bit of a mystery.
SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley reported last week that Robinson, who had surgery last week, will "push to play" when the Finals start.
Robinson arrived at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio on Tuesday without a brace or splint on his finger/hand ahead of practice.
Speaking shortly after, head coach Mike Brown said that Robinson did individual work at practice on Monday and that he would speak with the medical staff about the plan for Tuesday.
At practice a bit later, Robinson had a wrap/brace on as he handled the ball with both his right and left hand and took shots.
The team then listed him as questionable in the official injury report with a fractured right 5th Metacarpal.
Robinson has been a crucial part of the Knicks' playoff run.
In the Eastern Conference Finals against the Cavaliers, Robinson provided key minutes, impacting the game with his signature defense and rebounding prowess. In the clinching Game 4, Robinson scored eight points on 4-of-6 shooting, grabbed 10 rebounds, and was a plus-14 on the court in his 18 minutes of play.
One thing that has hampered Robinson and the Knicks this postseason is when opposing teams have used the "hack-a-Mitch" strategy to send him to the free-throw line.
Robinson went just 2-for-14 from the line against the Cavs after going 6-for-16 against the 76ers in the second round and 5-for-13 against the Hawks in the first round.
"I know that Robinson will push to play. Just in having conversations with people over the last couple of hours," Begley reported last Thursday. "He will want to play; it's ultimately up to the Knicks' medical staff. A player's opinion does matter in these things and so he's going to want to be out there."
With the Knicks facing the Spurs, Robinson could be the physical, tall center to help match up with Victor Wembanyama.
Robinson, who will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, averaged 5.7 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks across 60 games this season. The 60 games were the most Robinson has played in a season since he played 59 games in 2022-23.
The Phoenix Suns have numerous decisions ahead of them this upcoming offseason, including multiple restricted free agents, unrestricted free agents, and players with trade value. The following series will examine those decisions as our writing team presents both a point and a counterpoint for each.
Why do you love the Phoenix Suns? When discussing the future of Devin Booker, this question becomes more than a conversation topic at Majerle’s.
For many of us, our sports fandoms were not chosen, but inherited. We sat, week after week, next to our fathers on the couch and rooted alongside them. In doing so, we gained our own emotional attachment, not just to the team but also to our childhood. That inexorable link can last a lifetime.
My own father didn’t care much for basketball. It was baseball and hockey on the TV in our house growing up. I sat next to him as the Red Wings won the Cup in 2008 and cheered with him. I remember sitting in his bedroom watching Jim Joyce blow the call on the last out of Armando Galarraga’s perfect game for the Tigers.
But when it came to basketball, I was a free agent. I didn’t watch until I was already in High School, and there was no reason to choose the Pistons in the 2010s. But one team had recently picked a young shooting guard born in my home state of Michigan. Thus, Devin Booker became my gateway drug into the Phoenix Suns.
Today, I am as loyal an acolyte as any. Until the day he was traded, I delusionally defended the Ayton pick to my friends. When the Suns made the finals in 2021, I had people all over the country texting me because the one thing that everyone knew about me was that I loved this team.
But what about you? Year in and year out, you come back. Why?
By definition, it can’t be that you are addicted to the feeling of seeing your team win an NBA championship. It has to be something else. That something else is more important now than ever.
The Phoenix Suns are at a crossroads. Devin Booker is a Tier-2 kind of star. Some players, like Wemby, you might be willing to build a team around without a true second superstar. Booker just isn’t that guy.
So, what do the Suns do?
Option A: Use what little draft capital the Suns have to build what team they can around Devin Booker, while combatting the total lack of cap due to the Bradley Beal stretched contract.
Option B: Accept that the Suns are not winning a title with Devin Booker and trade him for assets that can make the foundation of the next great Suns team.
Both options are rather unpalatable. If you go with Option A, you are likely dooming yourself to years of the Play-In and first-round exits. If you go with Option B, you know that you are dooming yourself to years of handing over high draft picks to other teams while the Suns wallow in disappointment.
Neither option feels great, but neither option brings the Suns a title either. So, what are the benefits of trading Devin Booker now?
Booker’s value will never be higher
This is, I think, the most urgent point. We are still years away from Book being a distressed asset. He is coming off of a season where the Suns overperformed with him at the wheel. It is likely that, around the league, Devin Booker has regained some of the value that he likely lost under Frank Vogel and Mike Budenholzer. There are teams out there that do have their number one star that could look over at Devin Booker and think, “There’s our missing piece.”
The clock on that is running out, though. Booker turns 30 in October and already looks like he might be a step slower than he used to be. Soon, he will reach a point where some of those random lower-body injuries are more likely to recur. If Booker sustains one major injury, the Suns will have nothing significant to trade and will become the most pitiable franchise in the NBA.
Right now, the Suns have a guy with an All-Star floor and an NBA Finals ceiling. Every year that they wait to trade Devin Booker, both of those lower a little bit more. That is a problem. Every little bit of value that Devin Booker loses could mean fewer draft picks or young players coming back in a trade. Given the recent NBA Draft Lottery reform, Booker is already going to net the Suns less in a trade than he would have two weeks ago. Teams are surely going to be less willing to part with their draft picks now.
Booker is getting harder to trade
Devin Booker is being paid like one of the best players in basketball. He will make fifty-seven million dollars this season. In the final year of his contract, he will make almost $69 million dollars at age 33, depending on what the league cap number is at that time. Regardless, he will account for 36% of your cap in 2029-30.
The teams most likely to trade for Book are the teams closest to winning. Those teams are also the teams most likely to be at, over, or close to the second apron.
Currently, only the Cleveland Cavaliers are over the second apron. Go back one season, and there were three teams. Go back another, and there were five. Every year, teams fear the second apron more and more. It melts a team’s financial and roster flexibility. The second apron currently sits at around $207 million. Is a team going to be willing to pay over a quarter of that for a second star in his thirties?
Surely, one team will be willing. Every year, there is a team that feels like they are so close that they are willing to trade away key pieces and flexibility for the final player that they think will bring them over the top. This past season, the Cleveland Cavaliers were the prime example of that, trading for James Harden.
My point, though, is that the first and second aprons, and the rules surrounding them, make trades for high-salary players complicated. Many teams would have to gut their cores to bring in a guy making as much as Devin Booker does. If they have also traded away draft capital and are hard-capped or close to it, how will they build around Booker and their other star?
If Booker were Giannis, this wouldn’t be an issue. True, 1A superstars are worth every penny and loss of flexibility. Booker just isn’t that. As his salary continues to rise alongside his age, Booker is becoming less tradable by the season.
What are the Suns really accomplishing by keeping him?
In my opinion, this is the best argument. If you are willing to sit and just watch enjoyable basketball for the next few years and are content as long as the Suns win more than they lose, then you should go and sit on the other side of the fence.
But if you really want to see the Suns win a title and force their way out of the mess that they have built, you should want Devin Booker to be traded.
Until the Suns are free of the Bradley Beal shackles and have some draft capital back, they are playing at a severe disadvantage compared to the rest of the NBA. 13% of the Suns’ salary cap is already dead next season, being paid to Bradley Beal and Nassir Little to be anywhere but Phoenix. Meanwhile, their first pick that doesn’t have a “least favorable of X, Y, and Z teams” qualifier on it doesn’t come until 2032, two years after the end of Booker’s contract in 2030.
The Suns are set up for years of disappointment either way. They can do it now, while there is already the sunk cost of Bradley Beal and no draft capital, or they can do it later when Devin Booker is either in his mid-thirties or on a different team, and there is still no draft capital. The only difference between the two options is whether or not the Suns give themselves some tools to rebuild with along the way.
It’s time
Look, I want to see the Larry O’Brien trophy in the Valley of the Sun. This franchise and this city deserve it. Arizona sports is a hellscape that some are born into and others enter willingly, but it is a hellscape either way. The Coyotes are gone, the Cardinals always disappoint, and the D-Backs are forced to play in the same division as the Dodgers, which are apparently run by Mr. Monopoly Moneybags.
But none of that matters, because Phoenix is a basketball city. The Suns will always be Phoenix’s first love. I don’t want the Suns to trade the franchise’s greatest player because I’m some black-pilled doomer. I want the Suns to trade him because I wholeheartedly believe that doing so will bring the Suns closer to a title than they currently are.
I don’t watch sports for seasons that end barely over .500. I watch because I want to see my team reach the mountaintop. I watch because I know when they do, it will be the end of the great, long journey that it took to get there. When the Suns do win the title, it won’t be in spite of the fact that they traded Booker. On the contrary, all future Suns teams will be built on the back of the legacy Booker will leave behind in Phoenix. Just like recent Suns teams are built on the backs of Nash, Barkley, Stoudemire, Westphal, Adams, and so many more.
Booker will be one more in the line of greats that Phoenix Suns fans have watched on the road to glory.
The end of Booker’s time in Phoenix doesn’t mean the end of his legacy. But trading him now for pieces that can build the next great Suns team can enhance his legacy even more. His value on the trade market can be his last great gift to this organization.
Devin Booker was my entry point into Suns fandom, but even so, I believe it is time to let him go.
The Houston Rockets head coach Rick Adelman (2nd from left) stands along the sidelines with players during the first quarter of the NBA Western Conference First Round Playoff game against the Utah Jazz at the EnergySolutions Arena Thursday, April 24, 2008, in Salt Lake City. ( James Nielsen / Chronicle ) (Photo by James Nielsen/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)
The basketball community is in mourning, following the news of former Rockets coach Rick Adelman’s passing on Monday. Adelman was 79 years old.
The cause of death has not been disclosed or announced by Adelman’s family. In total, Adelman coached for five different teams: the Portland Trail Blazers, Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings, Houston Rockets and Minnesota Timberwolves.
Adelman ranks tenth all-time in wins, with 1,042 victories in 23 years of coaching. Only four coaches have coached longer than Adelman and posted a better win percentage than Adelman’s 58.2 winning clip. He’s also one of just 11 coaches in league history to nab 1,000 victories and posted eleven 50-win seasons, while making the playoffs in 16 of his 23 seasons as a coach.
On the Rockets front, Adelman was hired in 2007 by Daryl Morey, who was a first-time front office executive, at the time. Adelman coached the Rockets for four seasons and the Rockets never had a losing season under Adelman’s tenure, despite dealing with injuries to both Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming throughout his reign in Houston.
The Rockets earned the fifth seed in each of Adelman’s first two seasons in Houston, going 55-27 in 2007-08 and 53-29 in 2008-09. Adelman’s second season was quite memorable, as Houston won 22 consecutive games, which still ranks as the fourth-longest win streak in NBA history.
That Rockets team also took the eventual champion Los Angeles Lakers to seven games in the Western Conference Semifinals — the only such team that can make that claim among the Lakers’ opponents during their path to the championship. Adelman ranks as the fourth-winningest coach in the history of the Rockets franchise, behind Mike D’Antoni, Kevin McHale and Ime Udoka, boasting a 58.8 percent winning clip.
Adelman also ranks fourth in Rockets victories, with 193, tying McHale. In addition, he ranks third in franchise history in games coached, with 328 games.
Kurt Helin
Raphielle Johnson
