New York Knicks guard Josh Hart knocks the ball away from San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama in the first half at Frost Bank Center.
SAN ANTONIO — Victor Wembanyama looked ready to take the crown.
The first unanimous Defensive Player of the Year became the unanimous Western Conference Finals MVP after ousting back-to-back MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the reigning champion Thunder in Game 7 in Oklahoma City.
Wembanyama, 22, was widely hailed as the best player in the world.
But through his first two games in the NBA Finals, he hasn’t even been the best big man.
Victor Wembanyama has looked human through two games in the NBA Finals. Jason Szenes for the New York Post
Despite respectable numbers (27.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.5 blocks), Wembanyama has struggled to find easy looks against Karl-Anthony Towns, while shooting 40.5 percent from the field and 26.7 percent on 3-pointers.
On the other end, Towns (19.5 points, 12.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 55.6 percent shooting, 42.9 percent on 3-pointers) has repeatedly dragged the Spurs star away from the rim and blown past him off the dribble.
“It’s very different from [the] previous series,” Wembanyama said after the 105-104 loss in Game 2. “It’s bringing us into difficult areas because they’re good players. [Towns is] a good player.
“We need to put ourselves in better [positions]. We’re digging ourselves a hole. That’s been the theme so far.”
In Game 2, the 7-foot-4 phenom led an incredible fourth-quarter comeback and scored 22 of his 29 points in the second half, but he finished with two misses in the final 30 seconds — including the potential game-winner before the buzzer — and an inexcusable turnover and foul that set Jalen Brunson up for the go-ahead free throw with 9.5 seconds remaining.
“That’s the most frustrating thing, to throw it away after putting in all this work,” said Wembanyama, who admitted to feeling “blurry” in the final minute. “Am I going to regret it? Yes, of course. Am I going to use that to fuel me and to fuel us next game? Absolutely.”
New York Knicks guard Josh Hart knocks the ball away from San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama in the first half at Frost Bank Center during Game 2. Jason Szenes for The New York Post
Wembanyama’s chance for redemption comes Monday in the most anticipated game at Madison Square Garden this century.
He needs a win to avoid the death sentence of a 3-0 series deficit, which no team has recovered from in NBA history.
The 1995 Magic were the last team to lose the first two games of the NBA Finals at home, led by a generational 23-year-old center who would eventually earn four rings and three Finals MVP awards.
But before Shaquille O’Neal claimed the crown, he would endure the embarrassment of a sweep against Hakeem Olajuwon and the Rockets on the sport’s biggest stage.
“I mean, here we are,” Wembanyama said. “We can’t change the past now. We’re already focused on Game 3.”
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - MAY 5: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Round Two Game One of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 5, 2026 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
In case you hadn’t heard, LeBron James is set to become an unrestricted free agent in less than a month.
While the Lakers have repeatedly said that they’d welcome him back with open arms, there’s no guarantee that he’s in LA next year. Or on the Lakers, at least.
If this turns out to be LeBron’s final year in the NBA, he might want to conduct his farewell tour elsewhere. It depends on how serious he is about contending for a championship next year. (There’s a clear choice for him if that’s his top priority.)
Money will also be a major determining factor. Only a handful of teams can offer him anywhere close to a max contract, and teams over the first apron can’t acquire players via sign-and-trade. That will limit his realistic free-agent options outside L.A.
With that in mind, let’s break down how he could widen his potential landing spots at each step down the salary ladder, using spending-power projections from Spotrac’s Keith Smith as our guide.
Max contract
Options: Lakers, Bulls, Nets
As of now, only three teams are projected to have anywhere near enough cap space to offer LeBron a max contract in free agency: the Lakers, Chicago Bulls and Brooklyn Nets.
LeBron could earn up to $57.75 million in 2026-27 if the salary cap lands at $165 million, although he isn’t likely to find any team willing to shell out that kind of money for him, not even the Lakers.
The Bulls and Nets are in the early stages of a rebuild, so they likely wouldn’t hold much appeal to a 41-year-old James who’s firmly in win-now territory. If James isn’t willing to take a massive pay cut from the $52.6 million that he earned this past season, re-signing with the Lakers would be his best bet… provided that they’re open to paying him that much.
Below-max contract
Options: Pistons, Hawks
Both the Pistons and Hawks can operate as cap-space teams this offseason, although neither is necessarily likely to.
The Pistons could have nearly $27 million in cap space, but that would require renouncing their free-agent rights to Jalen Duren, Tobias Harris and Kevin Huerter, among others. Unless Duren’s miserable playoff run scares them off from re-signing him (unlikely), they figure to operate as an over-the-cap team, per Hunter Patterson of The Athletic.
The Hawks are in a similar boat. They could operate as a cap-space team, but that would mean declining their $24.3 million team option on Jonathan Kuminga and renouncing their rights to both him and CJ McCollum. Instead, they likewise figure to operate as an over-the-cap team, which would likely limit them to the $15 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception.
Most of these teams are in some stage of rebuilding, although the Utah Jazz and Washington Wizards are both poised to take a major leap forward. The Jazz acquired Jaren Jackson Jr. at the trade deadline and landed the No. 2 overall pick in this year’s draft, while the Wizards traded for both Trae Young and Anthony Davis ahead of the deadline and landed the No. 1 overall pick.
Would LeBron want to team back up with Davis and mentor AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson or Cameron Boozer in the nation’s capital? Might he think the Jazz have the antidote to Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs with their trio of 7-footers in JJJ, Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler (provided they re-sign him in restricted free agency)?
But why try to beat Wemby when he could simply join him instead?
The Spurs still have Wemby, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper on rookie-scale contracts next year, which gives them far more flexibility than a typical Finals team boasts. The Thunder are still lurking as a real threat to them — James heading to San Antonio wouldn’t quite be on the same level as Kevin Durant joining the Golden State Warriors in 2016 — but the Spurs would be clear championship favorites nonetheless.
Any team that operates under the cap this offseason will also have the $9.4 million room mid-level exception at its disposal. The Lakers, Bulls and Nets are all but guaranteed to have it, while the Hawks and Pistons could either have the room MLE or one of the other MLEs depending on what else they do in free agency.
It’s hard to imagine LeBron would be willing to settle for a $9.4 million salary, though, especially if these teams also have cap space to spend on him. The non-taxpayer MLE is likely his floor unless he’s looking to maximize his championship chances by taking a fraction of his actual on-court worth.
Some of these teams might have access to the full non-taxpayer MLE depending on what else they do this offseason, although using it would hard-cap them at the $209 million first apron. Spending the smaller $6.1 million taxpayer MLE would hard-cap them at the second apron.
If LeBron truly doesn’t care about money — after all, the man is a billionaire — being willing to take the taxpayer MLE would expand his free-agent options.
Might he want to join Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Derrick White in Boston? Could he form a Klutch Sports superteam in Philly with Tyrese Maxey? Would he want a Team USA reunion with Anthony Edwards in Minnesota or Kevin Durant in Houston? Or would he consider joining Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green in Golden State?
But if he’s willing to settle for $6.1 million…
Minimum deal
Options: Any team
A veteran-minimum contract for someone with 10-plus years of NBA experience is projected to be worth nearly $3.9 million in 2026-27. (If it’s a one-year deal, it’d only count as $2.45 million on a team’s books.) That’s not too far off from the taxpayer MLE, particularly for someone as wealthy as LeBron.
If he’s willing to take a minimum deal, he can sign with any team in the NBA, even those over the second apron. That’s his cleanest path back to Cleveland or his chance to play for the New York Knicks. He could also opt to team with Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray in Denver if he went that route.
If LeBron is willing to take a minimum deal, he’d effectively under cut everything that NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is trying to do to increase parity throughout the league.
This is by far the funniest possible outcome.
Sign-and-trades
Options: Any team below the first apron
If LeBron wants more than the non-taxpayer MLE but wants to land on a team other than the Lakers, he could always pursue a sign-and-trade.
Teams over the first apron cannot acquire players via sign-and-trade, so that would still limit his options to the teams with the non-tax MLE at their disposal. This would also allow the Lakers to recoup something for LeBron rather than losing him for nothing in free agency.
The Cavs would have a ton of work to do to get under the first apron, but would the Lakers be interested in taking back Jarrett Allen? Would Keldon Johnson or Luke Kornet appeal to them? What about Daniel Gafford or Dereck Lively II?
A sign-and-trade might be the Lakers’ best-case scenario. They can only hope that LeBron isn’t willing to settle for less than $20 million, which would force other teams to find creative ways to pony up.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - APRIL 13: The San Antonio Spurs honor Bill Schoening for his retirement during the game against the Toronto Raptors on April 13, 2025 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Bill Schoening, Jacob Tobey and Jeph Duarte: surely you’ve heard all their names before and know what they all have in common: the San Antonio Spurs! Bill is the former “voice of the Spurs” and was their radio announcer for 24 amazing years before retiring last summer, Jacob just finished his second season as the Spurs broadcast’s play-by-play announcer, and of course, Jeph is one of our own here at Pounding the Rock, who presents us with some good reading and thoughts for conversation to look forward to every morning.
But there’s something else they all have in common: they’re all musically inclined, and next Thursday, Bill Schoening & Friends will be performing live at Sam’s Burger Joint near downtown San Antonio to celebrate his latest EP Collaborations songwriting release. Bill will be sharing Spurs stories from his more than 2,000 called games. He will be joined by Jacob and Jeph! What more can you ask for than to watch the radio, TV and Pounding the Rock voices of the Spurs all in one place?
There will be Spurs swag giveaways and door prizes celebrating the Spurs historic 2025-2026 season.
If you’re interested, you can click here to purchase tickets. Ticket count is limited to 8 tickets per party, and while reservation of a booth can be reserved for an extra cost, a general admission ticket is still required to see the show, and seating is otherwise limited and on a first come, first serve basis, so be ready to stand. Below is the information for the event. Will you be there?
Bill Schoening & Friends
Featuring: Bill Schoening, Jeph Duarte, Jacob Tobey
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 30: The sneakers worn by Kelly Oubre Jr. #9 of the Philadelphia 76ers against the Boston Celtics during Round One Game Six of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 30, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Stephon Castle had his head turned back toward Victor Wembanyama as if he was ready to catch an outlet pass from the big man and push the ball up the court before Wembanyama threw the ball off Castle’s back in the final seconds of Game 2 of the NBA Finals.
A new video angle shows what Wembanyama was seeing Friday night after he grabbed the defensive rebound of Jalen Brunson’s missed shot with the score tied at 104-104 and 11.8 seconds remaining.
With the Spurs foregoing their timeout, Wembanyama took a step, a dribble and another step before passing to Castle.
By that time, Castle had turned his head forward and was running up court past the Spurs bench and near the scorer’s table under the assumption that Wembanyama was going to dribble across midcourt.
Victor Wembanyama’s errant pass and foul cost the Spurs in their NBA Finals Game 2 loss to the Knicks. Jason Szenes for The New York Post
Brunson’s eyes were locked on Wembanyama and he read the miscommunication perfectly, jumping forward to grab the loose ball before Castle even knew what hit him. Literally.
Brunson corralled the ball on the sideline just as Wembanyama caught up to the pass and bumped Brunson to the ground for a foul with 9.5 seconds to go.
“I threw that one away,” Wembanyama said. “I messed up. It’s like the body reacts quicker than the mind. We needed to win that game. This game was ours. But at this point it’s done. Am I going to regret it? Yes, of course.
“Am I going to use that to fuel me and fuel us to the next game? Absolutely.”
Victor Wembanyama fouls Jalen Brunson late in the fourth quarter of Game 2. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Castle’s first instinct as Wembanyama corralled the rebound was to get skinny, a slowed-down version of the video shows.
“I didn’t see him throw it to me,” Castle said. “I see Vic has the ball, tie game. I was just trying to give Vic space.”
SAN ANTONIO, TX - JUNE 5: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks dribbles the ball during the game against the San Antonio Spurs during Game Two of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 5, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
You don’t want to make declarative statements midway through a series.
The job is nowhere near finished, even if history and all logic suggests that a team who’s had the most dominant 13-game winning streak in the history of basketball won’t suddenly go 1-4 with three remaining games at home.
Knicks fans have waited 53 years for this, they can wait another week or two to fully celebrate.
You always look for defining plays, stretches, or sequences to describe a series. Not everyone is going to be tuned into these games, and future generations will only have highlights to go off of. So naturally, we look for compelling moments and stories to tell the story to future generations to come.
What will it be for this series? That’s not entirely set in stone, but the final minute of Game 2 showed you everything you need to know about why the Knicks are in firm control of the NBA Finals, heading into potentially the greatest atmosphere in sports history at the World’s Most Famous Arena on Monday.
To set the stage, the Knicks led by 14 points with just over six minutes to go. They were one point away from the game being mathematically over, by Knicks standards. Since the 2023 playoffs, the Knicks are 124-1 when they lead by 15+ points in the second half, the best record in basketball. The one loss… we don’t have to talk about.
But hitting the 14-point glass ceiling couldn’t protect them. The Spurs went on a remarkable 14-0 run that put the vice grip on the Knicks’ offense, scoring on 9 of 10 possessions. At one point, they even held a two-point lead on a go-ahead and-1 layup by Victor Wembanyama.
The comeback was complete. The crowd was alive. The Knicks and their fans were stunned. In almost every other circumstance, the Spurs win that game.
But they didn’t, and that’s why we’re here. Experience matters.
The Knicks have lived through this game before. Multiple times.
Game 5 against the Sixers in 2024.
Game 3 against the Pacers in 2024.
Game 6 against the Pistons in 2025.
Game 1 against the Pacers in 2025.
Game 2 against the Hawks less than two months ago.
They know what it’s like to be in the shoes of a favorite who’s bottling a big lead in a potential series-defining game. They’ve won some, they’ve lost some.
They also know what it’s like to be the Spurs in that spot. The way it felt to come up short on brilliant late rallies in Game 6 against Miami in 2023 and Game 3 earlier this year. To have your heart ripped out at the last second.
They also have the experience of getting the job done in the Spurs’ shoes. Games 1 and 2 in Boston, Game 3 in Indiana. They’re battle-tested for any experience you throw them into.
Meanwhile, for San Antonio, how much experience do they have at this stage? Outside of De’Aaron Fox and Harrison Barnes, pretty much nothing.
They overcame big first-half deficits in a weird series against Portland. They overcame 0-1 and 1-2 deficits against Minnesota. They outexecuted OKC in two clutch games to open and close that thrilling Western Conference Finals. But in terms of clutch situations, they didn’t have nearly enough experience there.
It took the Knicks several dozen games of playing every single type of series, matchup, and game against a multitude of opponents for them to gain the composure they currently have. Young teams like the Spurs rarely have that fortitude.
Every generational talent has to go through adversity. LeBron didn’t make the Finals until 2007 and was swept. Michael Jordan paid his dues against the Celtics and Bad Boys Pistons before breaking through in 1991. Shaq ran into Hakeem in 1995. Even when Kobe Bryant and Magic Johnson lifted the Larry O’Brien Trophy in their early 20s, they did it with a tremendous veteran co-star.
Back to the game itself, the 2025 Clutch Player of the Year finally snapped out of whatever had been tormenting him by casually nailing a Dirk fadeaway to tie the game back up at 104. The Spurs came back down and Wemby threw up a brick on a long two on the baseline.
Back with the ball, Brunson once again tried to isolate on the unanimous Defensive Player of the Year… and missed. With 14 seconds left, the Spurs had the ball. The game was in their hands.
Wembanyama looked off Stephon Castle initially, leading to the second-year guard believing the 7’5” behemoth was going to call his own number as he did in Oklahoma City. Instead, he felt the basketball hit off his back, resulting in an instant blooper of a turnover that resulted in Brunson going to the line for free throws (the only time in the second half by the entire team, excluding Anunoby’s, which needed to be overturned by replay, btw). Oh yeah, did I mention that Mitch Johnson elected not to call a timeout?
Brunson only went 1-for-2, meaning the Spurs would have eight seconds to make one shot and tie the series up. Fox, who was in a real groove in the second half, got the inbound and drove, but instead of shooting, he kicked it to Wemby.
It could’ve been as easy as a Fox mid-range with the 7’5” French native crashing the glass for a putback at the buzzer, but instead, Wembanyama pulled up from the elbow and missed again. The hubris, the inexperience, the lack of late-game awareness.
All of it had the Spurs staring down the barrel of a 0-2 deficit going on the road. They walked into the locker room not only dejected, but laboring. Fox, Castle, and Dylan Harper all got banged up in the fourth quarter. Wemby has been visibly gassed all series long after playing a career-high 120 minutes over his last three games.
The biggest obstacle for the Spurs might not even be the deficit and the circumstances; it might be their body clocks. You can have all the youth in the world, but when you’re heading into your 103rd game of the season, you need to have the callouses to survive.
Harper and Castle are one or two years removed from playing 35 games a year in college. All the other important players, even if they are conditioned to 82-game seasons, have never experienced a deep playoff run. When the best-case scenario now has you playing 4-5 more physical games while suffering from a conditioning, experience, and fatigue disadvantage, that’s not a good sign.
You know who it is a good sign for? The Knicks. Good thing we’re all Knicks fans, right?
Jun 5, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) dribbles the ball against the San Antonio Spurs in the second half during game two of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images | Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
I don’t particularly care for people who say, “I’ll be honest with you,” after I’ve had an hour-long conversation with them about their family, work, or the car they’re trying to sell me. So you were lying this whole time? You don’t have two kids, and this car has NO WHEELS? But that being said, I’ll be honest with you: I was fully expecting the San Antonio Spurs to win Game 2 so that on the heels of the overreactions from Game 1, I was hoping to careen in the complete opposite direction and declare this Spurs team the greatest team to ever walk the Earth if that final shot from Victor Wembanyama went through the hoop.
But. We’re here, and I’m committed to the bit. Let’s panic some more.
10. Even the Knicks alums outnumbered the Spurs alum. I saw the great George Gervin sitting behind the great David Robinson, and I saw my personal G.O.A.T. Manu Ginóbili stop by the Inside the NBA booth. But then I also noticed former Knicks players in attendance like Walt Frazier Jr., Patrick Ewing, Allan Houston, and Billy Baldwin. Sure, Billy Baldwin wasn’t a Knick, but there’s so many Baldwin brothers that you can’t tell me that at least one of them suited up for the team at one point or another. And yes, I know (as the graphic below illustrates), apparently there were other notable Spurs alums like Tim Duncan and Danny Green in attendance, but we’re overreacting remember? So facts and evidence or any reasonable arguments have no place here.
9. The average price of gas in the United States is $4.22 per gallon. This particular overreaction is related to basketball because as number 10 above suggests, even millionaire celebrities and former professional athletes are flocking down to San Antonio because the cost of living is so high in New York.
“I threw that one away. I messed up … Am I going to regret it? Yes, of course. Am I gonna use that to fuel me and to fuel us next game? Absolutely.”
Yes, Victor Wembanyama, we hope you do use that to fuel you and fuel your team for the next game. But I suggest a rewards card, coupons, or something because gas prices are more insane than that almost comeback down 14 points with about 6 minutes remaining.
8. Luke Kornet has too many jobs on this team. Let’s list them out: official pregame salsa dancer, grab any and every single rebound that ever existed, did exist, will exist, and might exist (yes, even theoretical rebounds) whenever his feet touches the floor, block every shot in his orbit, beyond his orbit, even ones in black holes (yes, we expect him to defy physics and reach into a super compact astronomical body where even light cannot escape—but he better come back out with a block or a steal). And he’s supposed to do all of this in 5 – 7 minutes per game. Got it? Good. Do it again!
7. The NBA needs more father/assistant coaches of players getting into on-court ruckuses with opposing team players. I’m not saying there’s not enough distractions during a Finals game, but given the entertainment value and to help cope with big losses, I feel like we could use more drama during these games. There’s a certain uncle I remember from the Spurs’ past who would might be suited for such a kerfuffle between relatives adjacent to their family members who happen to be professional athletes and other professional athletes.
6. The nuns are back in. I would like to apologize for what I said about not needing the nuns after Game 1. Our boys are down 0-2. At this point, we need more nuns, more monks, more Jedi, whatever divine intervention or universal power that will will this team back to the victory column. Baby Yoda (Grogu) is only 53 years old? So that means he’s too young to have allied himself with an NBA team yet. Let’s play the celebrity card against the Knickerbockers and recruit Pedro Pascal (who grew up in San Antonio!) to influence Grogu to swear allegiance to the Spurs before those evil Sith Lords from Madison Square Garden sink their claws into him.
I’m waaay past shock, panic, and anger. I’m at the bargaining stage where if “The Force” can get the Spurs two wins on the road in NYC then sign me up for a lifetime of dressing in robes and living in mud huts in the swamp. I mean, I’ve been to Florida—I can handle it.
5. The Spurs are not spoiled enough.
We’re kind of like spoiled kids,” he said. “For some of us, it’s our first season and we’re already in the Finals. We don’t fully realize it yet. And to me, the team that appreciates the position we’re in the most will be the one that wins.”
Three straight lottery picks that are panning out so far? Boring. Five titles in six finals trips that span over a consistent-never-miss-the-playoffs, multi-decade benchmark of excellence? Wake me up when we win ten titles in row. Wembanyama is wrong here. We need to be more spoiled. It’s not enough if the other fan bases become extremely annoyed with us, it needs to extend to other sports like football, fútbol (soccer, for you domestic heathens), cricket, and other species like dolphins, crickets, and penguins. They all need to be annoyed at how much winning the Spurs are obtaining.
4. Playoff scars are too gruesome. Yeah sure, the Oklahoma Thunder (the latest version) went through it in 2024 when they lost to the Dallas Mavericks before breaking through last year. But the Mavericks made it to the Finals that year with a young team! And they (checks notes) lost to the Boston Celtics (the latest version), who had their own long list of heart-breaking playoff losses. For every young team that magically made it to the Finals or close to getting to the finals on their first run with a specific squad and superstar (e.g., Thunder, Mavericks, Pacers, these Spurs), there was another team with their own playoff scars that were either more experienced or had better injury luck (like the New York Knicks).
It happens, but I don’t want it happen. It’s mentally taxing. Instead of playoff scars, can we just get playoff “boo boos,” orange slices, and maybe a birria taco? Are we still at the bargaining stage? In exchange for two wins on the road in NYC for the Spurs, can we send all the birria tacos to Manhattan AND I’ll move to Florida?
3. Victor Wembanyama might need contacts, goggles, LASIK, or is still suffering from that concussion from round 1.
“I’m still very blurry, and that’s the whole problem. I need to have more poise, more control over the game.”
Blurry? Sir, what do you need because I know people who know people who can get you giant sports goggles so big that it would make Horace Grant blush. I mean Wembanyama did shoot 52% from the field, which was a marked improvement from Game 1’s 29% field goal percentage. So I guess when he meant “blurry” he was talking about poise and control over the game, the very thing he elaborated on in the second sentence of that quote. No one said reading comprehension was important outside of the SATs anyway. That would be insane.
2. The Spurs are too mature for their age. Speaking of insanity, that late turnover by Wembanyama was complete bonkers. What made it more crazy for me was how quickly Wembanyama accepted responsibility, apologized, and also how calmly Stephon Castle dapped him in the chest and (presumably) told him it’s OK, or to presumably tell him that it was actually his fault. It matters whose fault it is because it was a huge blunder, but it also didn’t matter because the game wasn’t over, and they almost won it anyway. ALMOST BEING THE OPERATIVE WORD. But. You get what I’m saying.
I mean what, I’m supposed to believe that with about 10 seconds left in Game 2 of the NBA freakin’ Finals that a 22 year old and a 21 year old handled that big of a turnover during the most crucial part of the most important game they’ve ever played (so far) in their professional lives with the maturity of Van Halen and David Lee Roth reuniting after decades of animosity?
Where’s the yelling? Where’s the blame game? Where is that photo of LeBron James with two arms outstretched as he incredulously gawks at J.R. Smith during the 2018 Finals?
If the actual players on the floor are more poised and calm even in the face of mistakes, why couldn’t us fans be as zen? Because that’s what we do: we’re freaking out, man.
1. Desperate times call for desperate mentalities.
“It’s not the first to win two … We just have to come out with a mentality of just being more desperate.”
OK so I really like this quote not because Dylan Harper said it but because Dylan Harper said it as convincingly as his play on the court has been. The fans seem pretty desperate. I’m told no car horns were honked throughout the burrows of San Antonio. At least Spurs-related honking. There’s always honking on 1604 because it’s more of a mosh pit for cars than a major highway.
At least the players are saying the quiet part out loud. They have to be desperate because us couch riders are already there.
“Sick,” McCollum wrote on X early Saturday. “Knicks have been a different team since this moment.”
McCollum taunted the Madison Square Garden crowd with big shots and gestures as the Hawks stole Game 2 of their series against the Knicks. Then he hit the game-winner in Game 3 in Atlanta to give the Hawks a 2-1 series edge.
Karl-Anthony Towns dunks during the Knicks’ Game 2 win. Jason Szenes for The New York Post
The Knicks haven’t lost since, winning three straight to close out the Hawks, sweeping the 76ers and Cavaliers, and taking a 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals with back-to-back wins in San Antonio.
McCollum faded in the final three games of the Knicks-Hawks series. Josh Hart, his former Trail Blazers teammate, took the main assignment of defending McCollum, whose averages dipped to 11.3 points on 39.5 percent shooting from the floor over three straight losses.
McCollum had been bargaining to join the likes of Michael Jordan, Reggie Miller, P.J. Brown and Trae Young as Knicks’ playoff tormentors.
The Knicks are now two wins away from winning the NBA Finals. Charles Wenzelberg / New York PostCJ McCollum of the Atlanta Hawks fights for the ball during the game against the New York Knicks during Round 1 Game 6 of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 30, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NBAE via Getty Images
The Knicks’ last possession of their most recent loss ended with a turnover by Jalen Brunson. In the Finals, Brunson has shaken off two poor shooting games to become the first player since at least 1971 to score the final go-ahead points in the last two minutes of back-to-back games, per ESPN.
De’Aaron Fox tried to get in Brunson’s head late in Game 2 with a face-to-face staredown after committing a foul along the sideline, but Brunson didn’t take the bait. His father, Knicks assistant coach Rick Brunson, wasn’t having it.
For all the trade and free agency rumors flying around, this simple truth remains: Giannis Antetokounmpo is the first domino that has to fall. Before LeBron James chooses to stay or go in Los Angeles, before Ja Morant finds a new home, before any other major moves, Antetokounmpo will have to be traded (or, not traded, if you're still a Bucks fan holding out hope... and good luck to you if you are).
Where do things stand with Antetokounmpo? Here are the latest reports.
Oklahoma City is not interested in an Antetokounmpo trade. Not for Chet Holmgren, not for anyone.
As much as fans looked at Holmgren against Victor Wembanyama and thought the Thunder needed to do something dramatic, that's a short-sighted and outsider's view. Antetokounmpo is seven years older than Holmgren, hasn't been able to stay healthy long enough for a playoff run in years, and would be even more expensive than Holmgren on a team about to get hit hard by the tax aprons. Plus, you think the Thunder want to take the ball out of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's hands?
OKC believes — I would argue rightfully — that if Jalen Williams (All-NBA a season before) and/or Ajay Mitchell had been healthy, they would be playing the Knicks in the Finals right now. The Thunder have decisions to make about Isaiah Hartenstein, Lu Dort and Kenrich Williams this summer, but Antetokounmpo is not part of the plans.
Giannis concerned about Miami roster
Miami is the frontrunner to land Antetokounmpo, but kind of by default. OKC is out. Cleveland is not interested. The Knicks are two wins from an NBA championship, they are not blowing up this roster. While people speculate about a Jaylen Brown trade to bring Antetokounmpo to Boston, there's no evidence that there is any fire there.
But Antetokounmpo has his concerns about Miami and what the roster would look like after a trade, something Sam Amick of The Athletic talked about on the Dan Patrick Show. "The noise is tied to Miami, but there's also some intel, discussion, kind of understanding, that Giannis has questions about what that Miami roster would look like on the other side of a deal. You don't want to gut your roster and go to the place you're excited to be in and then have a hard time contending for a championship."
A Heat trade for Antetokounmpo likely involves a combination of Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel'el Ware and multiple first-round draft picks. That would leave Antetokounmpo, Bam Adebayo, Andrew Wiggins, and maybe Norman Powell if they can re-sign him. Is that roster any kind of a threat to New York, Boston, a healthy Indiana, or even Cleveland?
The problem is, if Antetokounmpo wants out of Milwaukee, he may have to trust Pat Riley and the Miami front office to build out a contender — and that's not a bad bet, it's one of the best front offices in the league. But it's not walking into a contender on Day 1.
Antetokounmpo's problem is that what he really wants may not be available.
Jun 5, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) shoots the ball over New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) in the second half during game two of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images | Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Coming off a tough Game 1 loss in this NBA Finals, the Spurs looked to even the series in Game 2 versus the New York Knicks. The Spurs started hot, outscoring the Knicks 34-25 in the first quarter. However, their offense turned ice cold. They had their worst statistical shooting quarter of the season, and got outscored 31-18 by New York. Facing a four-point deficit, the Spurs came out flat in the third quarter and got outscored again. This time, they were outscored 28-23 and faced a nine-point deficit heading into the final frame. In the early part of the fourth quarter, the Knicks managed to build a 14-point lead with over five minutes remaining. The Spurs countered with a 14-0 run and tied a game that was slipping away.
The last couple of minutes were back-and-forth buckets, but with one minute remaining, Victor Wembanyama took the lead with an and-one layup. The Spurs were now up by two, but Jalen Brunson countered with a tough midrange jumper over Devin Vassell. After the Spurs’ timeout, Wemby missed a midrange jumper, and the Knicks called timeout. Brunson missed a jumper on the other end, and Wemby got the rebound. Unfortunately, Wemby took a dribble and threw the ball to Stephon Castle, whose back was turned. Brunson got the steal and was fouled by Wemby. After splitting the free throws, the Spurs had one last chance to cement their comeback. The final play was a De’Aaron Fox and Wemby pick and pop, which resulted in a missed midrange jumper. The Spurs ultimately lost 105-104, and now face a 0-2 deficit for the first time since 2018.
Victor Wembanyama led the way with 29 points (11-21 FG), nine rebounds, four blocks, two steals, and two assists. After a lackluster Game 1, Wemby struggled in the first half of Game 2. After halftime, he dropped 12 points in the third and had key buckets in the fourth. The key was aggression and not settling for contested jumpshots. As for several times this season, youth and inexperience would leak out. It unfortunately happened late in the game for Wemby. That turnover, immediate foul, and missed game-winner will haunt him unless he and the Spurs can find a way to win this series.
Downhill jam! Wemby catches the dump off pass from Keldon Johnson, and he jumps in for a one-handed slam!
De’Aaron Fox dropped 20 points (8-12 FG), five assists, three rebounds, one steal, and a block. After a forgettable Game 1, Fox bounced back in Game 2. He shot 66% from the field and got others involved with his playmaking. His 20 points are also the most he’s scored in a playoff game since Game 6 vs Minnesota (May 15th). Hopefully, this lights a fire for his next two performances in New York.
D3’AARON! Fox drains the rainbow three in the first quarter!
Dylan Harper dropped 15 points (6-12 FG), six rebounds, three assists, and a steal. It has been said multiple times during this postseason, but Dylan is playing like a seasoned veteran. The way he finds a way into the paint with his handles and finishing ability has to make Spurs fans excited for what’s in store for his career. He was also huge during the 14-0 run. He already became the youngest player in NBA history with double-digit points in a Finals game, and he just broke the record for most points scored in a single postseason by a rookie.
NASTY! Dylan crosses over Landry Shamet and detonates at the rim with a two-handed slam!
Stephon Castle dropped 14 points, four rebounds, four assists, and a steal. Steph was tremendous on defense, especially when guarding Brunson. However, he was struggling on the offensive end. He shot 35% from the field and had some key turnovers. During the 14-0 run, Steph was on the bench. Presumably, he looked hurt before he was subbed out, but came back in late to guard Brunson. The 21-year-old will have to stay poised on both ends in a loud Madison Square Garden crowd.
ST3PH! Castle knocks down the corner trey early in the second quarter!
Devin Vassell dropped 14 points (3-7 3PT, 3-3 FT), nine rebounds, five assists, and a block. Dev had a nice bounce-back game by shooting 42% from three-point land. He had the same amount of rebounds as Wemby and got into his playmaking bag. Dev has played like a playoff riser this entire postseason, and he will look to provide the x-factor cushion for Games 3 and 4.
D3V! Dev gets the Spurs on the board first with an open three from the top of the key!
For the first time in franchise history, the Spurs face a 0-2 deficit in the Finals. Even though the way this team fumbled at the end, you have to be encouraged by the way they battled back after being down 14 with around five minutes left. They looked dead in the water, they were getting outplayed, and still they managed to take a two-point lead with under a minute left. Even though it looks bleak, this series is not over yet. Even though it is not an elimination game, Game 3 is a do-or-die game for this young team. On Monday night, Spurs fans will see what this team is made of.
Finally, here are the full game highlights.
The Spurs have their work cut out for them as they travel on the road to Madison Square Garden, down 0-2. Game 3 is this Monday at 7:30 P.M. (CST) on ABC.
It was a tough day at Murrayfield in the URC semi-final as Glasgow threw away an 18-point lead to lose to the Bulls. Here's what some of the pundits had to say...
Former Warriors flanker John Barclay: Glasgow ripped the Bulls to shreds in the first 30 minutes. They were scrambling. In the second half, Glasgow threw the same pictures at them, but they defended so much better. It's problem-solving.
Huge credit to the Bulls, for problem solving on the hoof. But Franco Smith will be desperately disappointed.
At 21-3 up, they shouldn't lose that game.
Ex-Scotland back-row Johnnie Beattie: I'm struggling to figure out if it was a vastly-improved second-half by the Bulls, which it probably was, or whether Glasgow just fell away entirely.
When Glasgow were on their game, they shredded them. In the second period, when they dropped off by 10-15%, the Bulls were easily allowed back into the game.
They didn't have to do much. Handre Pollard missed nine points from the tee.
Lots of questions for Glasgow, and their season comes to an end with a damp squib. They had the game in their hands and they've let it slip.
Former Glasgow scrum-half Colin Gregor: You've got to credit the Bulls. They were ripped to pieces in the opening 25 minuts but they didn't panic, they backed themselves.
They showed the quality they have, the physicality their game brings. The scrum creaked, the Bulls showed more dominance.
The pressure was too great and the Bulls had enough to get through. The Warriors couldn't get in position to fire the final shot.
Ex-Springbok Jean de Villiers: We always knew the Bulls would be good enough to win this game and second-half they got it right. Strategically, really good.
Glasgow didn't score a single point in the second half. Defensively, the Bulls were much better. It was a well deserved win, although they made it difficult for themselves at times.
Former South Africa legend Schalk Burger: What a turnaround. The Bulls were in real trouble, but all of a sudden Glasgow get Cummings sent off, and what a difference that made.
Glasgow had pretty much no 22-metre entries in that second half. The Bulls got width on the ball, had such nice rhythm, kept it simple.
It was heads-up rugby. The Glasgow defence couldn't set. The physicality of the Bulls was so dominant.
The term most frequently used to describe Knicks fans is “long-suffering.”
One Chicago sports talk radio host has a new suggestion.
“I think Knicks fans are the most obnoxious fans in American sports,” Laurence Holmes declared to co-host Matt Spiegel on their 104.3 The Score afternoon show on Friday.
It’s a rich take coming from Chicago, a city whose NBA team caused the Knicks fan so much pain in the 1990s.
.@LaurenceWHolmes: "I think Knicks fans are the most obnoxious fans in American sports."@MattSpiegs: "I don't believe that's true."
Holmes: "Your nomination?"
Spiegs: "The St. Louis Cardinals."
Holmes: "The St. Louis Cardinals actually have some jewelry of recent vintage." pic.twitter.com/UDkTAgndnQ
Knicks fans outside MSG celebrate the Game 2 victory in the NBA Finals. Aristide Economopoulos for NY PostKnicks fans get excited in NYC during NBA Finals Game 2. Lone Pine Press for NY Post
Of course, the Bulls haven’t been back to the NBA Finals since the last of Michael Jordan’s six titles in 1998 and are in the thick of irrelevancy, so they are doing some suffering of their own.
Spiegel immediately disagreed with Holmes.
“Wow, I don’t believe that’s true,” he said.
Spiegel suggested MLB’s Cardinals for the title of “most obnoxious,” which makes sense given the Cubs-Cardinals rivalry.
“The St. Louis Cardinals actually have some jewelry of recent vintage that backs some of their piety,” Holmes said. “But, Knicks fans, y’all ain’t won nothing since the Ford administration.”
Holmes said “good” when told that the Knicks had more losses than any NBA team in the 21st Century entering the 2021 season.
“I’m hoping for four more,” he added.
The Knicks are now two wins away from winning the NBA Finals. Michael Nagle for NY Post
Perhaps sensing that he was making headlines – like this one – in New York, Holmes said, “I cannot wait for this to be played on WFAN when they lose in six (games).”
The whole cast of the program then broke into what sounded like Joe Beningo imitations, mentioning how their program once borrowed WFAN studios for some reason.
Finally, the show’s producer mentioned the Cowboys, who certainly would be a popular choice in a poll of the most-obnoxious fan given their moniker of “America’s Team” and their Bulls-esque drought of no championships since 1995. Yankees fans might place ahead of Knicks fans, too.
Jeremy Lin and Carmelo Anthony appear to be inching closer to a resolution.
In an exclusive interview with The Post, Lin said his team and Anthony’s are in talks to “clear the air” with a podcast appearance, with one important caveat.
“I know our teams are in contact,” Lin said after being invited by Anthony to appear on his podcast. “My desire is still the same. I’d like to have a private conversation before having a public recorded conversation. That’s my goal right now — to be able to have that private conversation. Would love, of course, to go on the podcast and talk about those things. And talk about things publicly afterward.”
Carmelo Anthony talks before the State Farm 3-Point Contest as a part of State Farm All-Star Saturday on Saturday, February 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. NBAE via Getty Images
Lin added that he wasn’t sure exactly what the issues were with Anthony, or whether it was related to how they played together.
“I can guess [what the issues are], but I don’t think it would do Melo justice for me to guess what I think he might mean,” Lin continued.
Anthony had said he wanted Lin to come on the podcast to “come speak the truth.”
“Let’s have a conversation, let’s clear the air on a lot of bulls–t that’s out there, please,” Anthony continued. “And I love what you’re doing right now, man.”
Jeremy Lin speaks onstage during TAAF Heritage Month Summit and Celebration on May 14, 2026 in New York City. Getty Images for The Asian Ameri
“I do think a private conversation would go a long way in terms of being able to work through, talk through, go back and hash things out about how things ended,” Lin added. “I think that would be super healthy, so I think that would be amazing. You can sense and tell that there’s not that hostility or ill will. Or not rooting for the other person. It’s just something that we can go back and have that discussion about.”
Lin’s exit from the Knicks was a bit controversial, as he ignited New York for a few weeks during the 2011-12 season while Anthony was out with a groin injury before the Knicks season fell apart, leading to a first-round playoff exit.
Lin departed from the Knicks in free agency when he signed the infamous “poison pill” three-year $25 million contract with the Rockets, which was backloaded to be worth $15 million in year three.
At the time, Anthony called the contract “ridiculous.”
According to authorities, an officer was punched while trying to stop a fan who refused to leave the area. The woman jumped a barricade and ran into a restricted area.
Nearly 7,000 fans showed up to the World's Most Famous Arena to celebrate New York's 105-104 victory, bringing them two wins closer to their first championship since 1973. But authorities said 26 of those fans left the area in handcuffs, as 17 people were arrested and charged and nine others were issued criminal court summonses for disorderly conduct and released.
Karely Reyes, 29, was charged with assault, resisting arrest and obstruction of government administration for the incident with the police officer.
“A victory celebration shouldn’t end with blood pouring down a police officer’s face,” Police Benevolent Association President Pat Hendry said in a statement. “Our sister was just doing her job, trying to keep everyone safe in the pandemonium following the Knicks Game 2 win when an individual jumped over a barrier and punched her in the face hard enough to leave a bloody gash.”
“This is completely unacceptable and cannot be tolerated,” Hendry added. “We will be in court to make sure this individual faces the consequences she deserves.”
The NYPD had more than 1,000 officers on patrol at the MSG watch party.
Game 3 is Monday, June 8 at Madison Square Garden, and security will be on high alert once again as President Donald Trump is expected to attend.
A superfan who works as a nail technician paid homage to New York’s basketball team by painting its players on her nails — and the results are All-Star adorable.
The talented tech, who goes by Tamami, painstakingly drew the faces of Jalen Brunson, Jordan Clarkson and Karl-Anthony Towns with polish — down to even the details of their facial hair — on one hand.
The talented tech drew the faces of Jalen Brunson, Jordan Clarkson and Karl-Anthony Towns with polish on one hand. Instagram/tamaminails
Then, she painted each of their jerseys — home white, blue away and black alternates — on the same fingers of her other hand, so when she placed her two hands together, their entire bodies were formed.
During Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Friday, she posted her impressive artwork on Instagram — and it won the hearts of fellow Knicks fans — who rushed to the comments section, calling them “iconic.”
“You slayed these,” one gushed.
“THESE ARE EVERYTHING,” another added.
Even a Knicks hater shared her admiration of the nail art, saying:
“Ok these are TOO good! Sincerely, a Celtics fan!”
