Players from the Knicks and Spurs denounced the fights between fans of their teams during Game 3 of the Finals.
“We can’t forget it’s a game,” Victor Wembanyama said Tuesday. “We’re just playing a game out there. I am all for passion, but to the respect of each other. It’s unacceptable.”
Multiple videos went viral of fans clashing at a Bryant Park watch party during the Knicks’ 115-111 loss to the Spurs on Monday night at Madison Square Garden.
Dozens of enraged Knicks fans surrounded a Spurs fan on the streets and tore apart his Victor Wembanyama jersey from his back after Monday night’s loss in Game 3 of the NBA Finals. X / @NICHETONOTABLE
More than 20 people were arrested for offenses including assault on a police officer, assault, criminal possession of a weapon, menacing, resisting arrest and obstructing governmental administration.
Multiple videos went viral of fans clashing at a Bryant Park watch party during the Knicks’ 115-111 loss to the Spurs on Monday night at Madison Square Garden.
“The game is built off of respect and passion,” Karl-Anthony Towns said. “We want everyone to respect each other. We want everyone to enjoy basketball at its purest state. It’s the NBA Finals. There’s no better place to watch basketball. Leave the physicality to everyone on the court.”
Watch parties in other locations, including Bryant Park, were organized in its place.
The Bryant Park party turned chaotic, though.
Getty Images
Even some of the most famous fans were critical of it.
“Being a Knicks fan doesn’t mean being disrespectful to Spurs fans in any way,” Ben Stiller posted on X. “We get caught up during the games but we gotta show respect to our fellow humans.”
Game 1 led the way, averaging 16.93 million viewers on ABC and peaking at 19.63 million.
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) is double-teamed by San Antonio Spurs forward Julian Champagnie (30) and San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell (24) during the second quarter of NBA Finals Game 2. Jason Szenes for the New York Post
Two days later, Game 2 followed suit, hitting 19.42 million people in the 11:15 p.m. ET quarter-hour and averaging 16.63 million viewers throughout the contest.
ESPN shared that Game 2’s thriller, a Knicks 105-104 win, was the most-watched program “across all of television” on Friday.
Viewership marks are based on Nielsen’s final same-day ratings.
The Game 1 numbers are up 90 percent from last year’s series between the Thunder and Pacers, which drew 8.91 million viewers. It is also up 3 percent from that Finals’ Game 7 viewership.
Game 2 was up 88 percent on last year’s series and marked the most-watched Game 2 since the 2018 NBA Finals between the Warriors and Cavaliers.
If the trend continues, the NBA could be in for a huge ratings boost for the entirety of the Finals.
New York Knicks fans stood in long lines and gathered in Central Park to watch the Game 3 of the NBA finals. ZUMAPRESS.com
The four Warriors-Cleveland Cavaliers Finals during the 2010s are the only other series to draw more than 16 million viewers in Games 1 and 2.
Compared to other sports, Game 1’s mark of 19.63 million outpaced the first five games of the 2025 World Series between the Dodgers and Blue Jays.
It also bests any MLB World Series Game 1 since the Chicago-Cleveland series in 2016.
A handful of Knicks fans gathered outside Madison Square Garden on Tuesday to burn cleansing sage, hoping to purge whatever bad energy was left behind from Monday’s loss to the San Antonio Spurs in Game 3 of the NBA Finals.
Maybe it’s working, because New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced on X.com Tuesday evening that a watch party for Game 4 is back on outside MSG.
"We have approved a ticketed MSG watch party for Game 4. More details soon," Mamdani said. "As we prepare to watch together, let me be clear: this is a historic, joyful moment for our city. We will not allow it to be disrupted by violence. Be safe, take care, and celebrate responsibly."
ESPN’s Shams Charania had already reported Trump will not attend, citing “scheduling conflicts and obligations."
Madison Square Garden Sports in a statement, though, said it has been told "that the NYPD will once again implement the same 'frozen zone' restrictions for Game 4," even with Trump not attending.
"The complete closing of areas around MSG is going to affect not only the celebration but also all the small businesses that rely on Garden fans for their livelihood," MSG said.
Trump became the first sitting president in history to attend an NBA Finals game when he showed up at MSG on Monday at the invitation of Knicks owner James Dolan. He was booed when shown on the Jumbotron during the national anthem. His presence also forced the cancellation of the outdoor watch party outside MSG and triggered a security perimeter that had fans waiting two hours or more to get inside.
The Knicks had won 13 straight games before the Spurs snapped the streak, 115-111, and fans wasted no time blaming Trump on social media.
With the president staying away, New York City approved a permit for a ticketed watch party at Plaza 33 outside MSG on Wednesday night. Watch parties will also be held at Wollman Rink in Central Park and the Brooklyn Bowl.
It's been a while since New York has been in this position: The team coming off a playoff loss and having to adjust. It's the first time since April 23rd, 13 wins ago.
That's the Knicks reality after San Antonio came into Madison Square Garden and took Game 3 behind 32 points from Victor Wembanyama, making it a 2-1 series.
"We have a veteran group. Nobody is 'panicking' or anything like that," Knicks coach Mike Brown said. "Everybody is disappointed that we didn't go out and execute and play to what we feel our standard is. That's not taking anything away from San Antonio, but we feel like we can play a lot better than what we did."
"We learned from film today, and we'll be better tomorrow," is how Josh Hart put it.
The Spurs made some key adjustments in Game 3, both on offense — relentlessly attacking the rim even when the Knicks packed the paint — and defensively, where Victor Wembanyama spent more time on Josh Hart (even when he hit 3-pointers) and around the basket than matched up on Karl-Anthony Towns. What do the Knicks do now in a critical Game 4? Here are three things to look for on Wednesday night.
More Karl-Anthony Towns
Jalen Brunson rightfully drew praise for scoring 32 points in Game 3, a dozen of those in the fourth quarter. However, he wasn't efficient getting there — he was 11-of-25 shooting in Game 3, and that was better than he has been in these Finals. Brunson is shooting 37% from the floor through three games with as many turnovers as assists — and the Knicks are -13 for the series when he is on the court (they are +31 with Towns on through three). This is not a knock on Brunson, in the previous two rounds the Spurs turned Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Anthony Edwards into inefficient scorers (compared to their regular-season selves).
The Thunder and Timberwolves didn't have the depth to overcome that. New York is supposed to, but when Brunson came out in the second half of Game 3 overdribbling and trying to hunt mismatches — of which there are no great ones, there is no James Harden to target on the Spurs — it took the Knicks out of their flow. Brown talked about it after the game. The Spurs are doing a lot more cross-matching of wings and guards on Towns, rather than Wemby, that was a change that seemed to throw the Knicks off balance. New York needs more Karl-Anthony Towns — like the guy we saw in the first two games of the series. The Knicks wins. His quiet 11 points in Game 3 are not enough (and Towns remains scoreless in the fourth quarter for the Finals). There were actions the Knicks ran in the first two games that got Towns touches near the basket, those seemed to go away in Game 3 and need to return for Game 4.
"It's extremely important that he's getting touches, that he's involved, not just in the fourth quarter, but obviously throughout the ballgame," Knicks coach Mike Brown said.
Protect the paint
San Antonio took 40 of its 84 shot attempts in Game 3 either at or within a few feet of the rim. That included drives from Stephon Castle and more alley-oops to Wembanyama.
It was a change from the first two games of the series, when the Knicks controlled the paint.
"I'm sure we're going to change some things and switch up some schemes to protect the paint because obviously, like you said, those guys are very dynamic when they touch the paint. Obviously, Wemby, when he rolls, he brings in a crowd," Josh Hart said.
Part of that is physicality, but the bottom line is in a series with two elite defenses, the team that gets more easy buckets is going to get the win.
Spray the ball
One number from Game 3 told the story: New York had 18 assists on 40 made baskets (45% of their buckets). In the first two games of this series, the Knicks assisted on 64.5% of their baskets, nearly two-thirds.
"We've got to pick up the ball movement, for sure," Towns said of adjustments for Game 4. "We have what, 13 games in a row, 50 days of film to show what it looks like when we're at our best. So we've got good film. We'll get back to our fundamentals, what makes us great, what made us great, and get back to work."
Brown's term is to spray the ball — have a guard or Towns get the ball in the paint then, if the defense collapses, kick out to shooters. On Tuesday, Brown talked about his players making quicker decisions to move the ball, noting that there was too much isolation and too much holding on to the ball, which let the defense reset.
That's easier said than done against the long, athletic defenders of the Spurs, but the Knicks need to get those defenders in rotation and keep moving the ball until a good shot opens up. Taking contested ones against Wembanyama is generally a bad idea.
Following their nail-biting loss in Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Monday night, Knicks fans gathered outside of Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, June 9, to cleanse the arena with sage.
President Donald Trump, a New York City native, made an appearance at Madison Square Garden on Monday for Game 3. Fans who were in attendance were forced to arrive at the area about two hours before the start of the game and had to wait in long, TSA-style security lines.
Once inside, Trump was greeted with a chorus of loud boos when he was shown on the large video screens during the national anthem. The president was saluting and smiled slightly as the boos grew. Once the feed showed Knicks players, the cheering returned.
After their 111-115 loss to the San Antonio Spurs, which snapped a 13-game win streak, Knicks fans accused Trump of placing a “curse” on the team, prompting a “cleanse” to try to change the Knicks’ fortunes ahead of a potentially series-altering Game 4 on Wednesday, June 10.
See video of the cleanse
Kazeem Famuyide, an Emmy award-winning host of several podcasts, including the Knicks podcast, Big Apple Buckets, called on Knicks fans to join him outside of the arena for a cleanse on Tuesday.
"All Knicks fans meet in front of MSG at 1:30 PM and bring your sage," he wrote on X. “We gotta clean this bih out before Wednesday."
Following that initial post, Famuyide followed up with a video, several hours later, showing him and his friends holding sage outside of Madison Square Garden.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Trump is not expected to attend Game 4 due to “scheduling conflicts and obligations.”
USA TODAY’s Mark Giannotto and Lorenzo Reyes contributed to this report.
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 08: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs shoots a three point basket over Mitchell Robinson #23 of the New York Knicks during the third quarter in Game Three of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden on June 08, 2026 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 Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Heading into a highly anticipated Finals matchup between a hot Knicks team and a young and upcoming Spurs team, Mitchell Robinson was consistently brought up as someone who could have a big impact even in limited minutes. In the past, he’s dominated games, even series, with his elite offensive rebounding and game-changing defense. And he’s also had success slowing down Victor Wembanyama. Through three games, though, he’s been anything but a game changer.
In game one, the reserve big man had some solid minutes, scoring two points and grabbing six rebounds in 13 minutes. But since then, he’s not only been neutralized, but his presence has seemingly been detrimental to the team. He has yet to have a single game where he’s had a positive plus-minus, he’s grabbed just six offensive rebounds, has just one steal, and one block, and he’s done all that despite spending some of his minutes playing against Spurs backup, Luke Kornet, someone who many believed Robinson could, and would dominate.
Unfortunately for the Knicks, though, it’s only gotten worse as the series has gone on. His game two, despite being bad, wasn’t disastrous. He was a -10 in 14 minutes, but made three of his six free throws, scored two baskets, and was more active defensively. Last night, though, Robinson looked very bad.
It’s hard to tell if it’s the hand, the overwhelming crowd, the moment, or just a lack of concentration, but it was clear from the beginning that Robinson just wasn’t where he needed to be. With about two minutes left in the first quarter, when the aforementioned Kornet sets a screen for De’Aaron Fox, he is caught flat-footed with his arms down, allowing Fox to take a very easy two-dribble pull-up jump shot. Making this play confusing is the fact that Kornet isn’t even rolling or popping. After setting a screen, he stands there for a good second or two, making Robinson’s decision to continue dropping questionable if not downright bad.
Just seconds later, Kornet gets the ball at the top of the key, which initiates a Dylan Harper cut off of him. Robinson, instead of reading this and dropping back, watches Landry Shamet get blown up the Kornet screen, which leads to a highlight dunk for the Spurs rookie. Why is Robinson playing up on Kornet like he is Karl-Anthony Towns? Nobody knows.
But it doesn’t stop there. He had a play later on in the game where he just accepts being screened by Keldon Johnson on a delayed transition play in the third quarter. This leads to an open Wembanyama, who then drops off a pass to Johnson for a layup. There’s another play on a failed lob play where Wembanyama can’t finish the alley-oop, but comes down with it. Robinson is right there, but does little to impact the attempt. For much of the series, Robinson has failed to do the things he’s known for. He hasn’t matched the physicality, the energy, or attention to detail that the Spurs, and the stage that is the Finals calls for. And that’s a big problem for him and the Knicks.
Even in short spurts and limited minutes, Robinson’s ability to be an elite backup center and be a disruptor was supposed to be one of the key strengths for the Knicks. His doing so would give the Knicks 48 uninterrupted minutes of elite center play against one of the best bigs in the league. Instead, they’ve gotten a confusingly uninspired performance that is inexplicable for the biggest games of his life.
The Knicks are still the favorites with -180 odds to win it all on FanDuel, but last night’s loss closed the gap substantially. If New York wants to get back to their winning ways and keep the Spurs from making those odds uncomfortably close, matching San Antonio’s physicality, activity, and energy will be pivotal, and Robinson getting his head in the game would go a long way in helping them do so.
It wasn’t just the Spurs star’s stats that increased in San Antonio’s 115-111 win, but his physicality also rose sharply.
But in seeing that physical play, ex-NBAer Lou Williams went as far as to say on FanDuel TV’s “Run It Back” on Tuesday that Wembanyama was “dirty.”
Victor Wembanyama in Game 3 of the NBA Finals. NBAE via Getty Images
“Give credit where it’s due. Wemby’s starting to do a lot of dirty s–t,” Williams, the three-time Sixth Man of the Year, said.
Chandler Parsons said Wembanyama, who scored 32 points in Game 3 but made headlines for his shove of Knicks star Jalen Brunson, needs to find the right balance in his game.
“I’d rather him do this than flopping and foul baiting.” Parsons said. “He’s got to be careful, though. This type of stuff will get you tossed from a game, and then your team has zero chance.”
"Give credit where it's due. Wemby's starting to do a lot of dirty sh*t." – Lou Williams
"Y'all called him skinny and weak for 2.5 years." – Michelle Beadle
"I'd rather him do this than flopping and foul baiting." – Chandler Parsons
Many have pointed to the one play in particular when Wembanyama was guarding Brunson late in the first quarter and the San Antonio big man threw Brunson to the floor.
The referees did not call a foul live and did not review the play. During the postgame interviews, Brunson remained coy about what happened.
The Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama (1) shoves Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) in the back of the head during Game 3 of the NBA Finals on June 8, 2026. ABC
“I’m nowhere near Trae Young level, though,” he said of the former Hawks star who tormented the Knicks during the 2021 playoffs.
The Spurs dictated the physicality of Game 3 as a whole. The perimeter guards in Stephon Castle and De’Aaron Fox made it hard for Brunson and the Knicks to have freedom on the outside.
The Spurs were also able to shut down Karl-Anthony Towns (11 points on 4-for-10 shooting) for the first time in the series.
But still, even with the 7-foot-4 Defensive Player of the Year, the Spurs were out-rebounded (46 to 37) and conceded more points in the paint (46 to 44). But that did not hurt them in Game 3 because the guards played so well.
Jalen Brunson in Game 3 of the NBA Finals AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin
If the Spurs want to knot the series at two games apiece on Wednesday night, that could be an area of improvement. But for the Knicks, consistent play will be key.
The now all-important Game 4 tips off at 8:30 p.m. ET.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 16: Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors dribbles past Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the third quarter of an NBA basketball game at Chase Center on November 16, 2023 in San Francisco, California. 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 Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We’re exactly two weeks away from Day 1 of the 2026 NBA Draft which, yes, is now a two-day event. A lot can change between now and then, including the Golden State Warriors attaching their first-round pick to a few other assets to land a big fish before free agency begins. But the most likely scenario is that when Adam Silver calls out the No. 11 pick on draft night, it still has the Warriors’ name attached to it, and is a player that Mike Dunleavy Jr. and Steve Kerr are excited about adding to the rotation.
One of my favorite things to do during draft season is look back on prior picks, so I can calibrate my own expectations. Of course, it’s hard to compare picks year over year — sometimes teams opt for a raw project that they hope can develop down the road, while other times they choose a player they anticipate contributing right away (such as Yaxel Lendeborg, who our Ricky O’Donnell has the Dubs selecting in his latest mock draft).
So here, to help you get a feel for what the Warriors can strive for, are the last 20 No. 11 picks in the draft.
2025: Cedric Coward (Grizzlies)
It’s also hard to compare draft picks because team situations vary so much. The Grizzlies, who swung a draft day trade for Coward, were hit by an absurd amount of injuries this year, and it opened up the door for their first-round pick to play a lot. Coward took advantage, averaging 13.6 points and 5.9 rebounds per game, and making the All-Rookie first team. Only time will tell if he’s a quality starter going forward, or if it’s an Eric Paschall situation.
2024: Matas Buzelis (Bulls)
Safe to say the Warriors would be thrilled to get a Buzelis. In his rookie season he made the All-Rookie team and earned Rookie of the Year votes, while playing well enough to help a team with playoff aspirations. And he followed it up with a sophomore leap that makes him look like he could be a player Chicago builds around for the future.
2023: Jett Howard (Magic)
Suffice to say, you can’t expect to hit a home run with every pick outside of the top 10 (or inside it, for that matter). So far, that’s been the case for the Magic with Howard. He hasn’t been a bust, but only plays a modest bench role — in his third season this year, he averaged career highs in minutes (12.6) and points (5.5).
2022: Ousmane Dieng (Thunder)
Some of the draft serve as a reminder as to how good of a player is drafted at No. 11. And some serve as a reminder as to how good of a player is available at No. 11. Dieng was unable to become a key part of OKC’s rotation during his time with the team, though he played well after a midseason trade to the Bucks this year. But most notably, the two players drafted immediately after Dieng were Jalen Williams and Jalen Duren, All-Stars who are core players on two of the best teams in the NBA.
2021: James Bouknight (Hornets)
The 2021 draft wasn’t great for the Warriors … they took Jonathan Kuminga No. 7 (one spot ahead of Franz Wagner), and Moses Moody No. 14 (two spots ahead of Alperen Şengün, and three spots ahead of Trey Murphy III). But suffice to say, it went a bit worse for the Hornets, who used their lottery pick on Bouknight. He played in just 79 games over three years (while also having legal issues) before being cut, and didn’t catch on anywhere but the G League. He now plays in Mexico.
2020: Devin Vassell (Spurs)
If the 2021 draft wasn’t great for the Warriors, the 2020 one was even worse. The infamous Covid draft saw the Dubs take James Wiseman with the second overall pick, right before LaMelo Ball. A lot of strong players fell to lower draft positions, including Vassell, who is currently a starter on a Spurs team that’s in the NBA Finals. Vassell was a quality role player as a rookie, and a player to build around by his third year.
2019: Cameron Johnson (Suns)
Johnson isn’t a spectacular player, but he’s a high-quality role player, and that’s a nice (but realistic) get at No. 11. He averaged 8.8 points as a rookie, and has averaged 12.8 for his career, peaking at 18.8 during the 2024-25 season. He’s a career 39.6% shooter from deep, and it’s safe to say Golden State would love to find that in the draft. To me, Johnson feels like the prototypical No. 11 pick. There are plenty of players drafted in this slot that are worse, but you’d still be pretty disappointed to get one of them. You aim for this level of production, and hope that you strike gold with a star. Speaking of which…
2018: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Clippers)
I probably don’t need to inform you all as to who SGA is. His rookie version would help the Dubs tremendously — he averaged 10.8 points, 3.3 assists, and 1.2 steals, while making the All-Rookie team — but what he blossomed into is the real story. I’ve long maintained that the Warriors quest for two timelines is absurd and unrealistic, but that could all change if the Dubs draft a player who will go on to win back-to-back MVPs, average 30+ points in four consecutive seasons, and lead a young team to a championship. They should do that. That’s my official stance.
Side note: SGA was part of a draft day trade that saw the Hornets trade him to the Clippers for the No. 12 pick (Miles Bridges) and two second-rounders. After his rookie year, the Clippers traded him to the Thunder, along with Danilo Gallinari, two first-round pick swaps, and five first-round draft picks, for Paul George. I can only imagine what the Charlotte and LA fanbases (and ownerships) feel every time they play the Thunder.
2017: Malik Monk (Hornets)
Monk is another player who feels very much like a No. 11 pick. You hope you get something better, you’re disappointed if you get something worse, and you expect to get something in his galaxy. He’s a high-quality role player who can help any team, and that was true from his rookie season.
2016: Domantas Sabonis (Thunder)
Yet another No. 11 pick with ties to Paul George (who sadly was drafted 10th, not 11th). Before the Thunder traded George for a No. 11 pick entering his second season, they traded a No. 11 pick entering his second season for George. Needless to say, the Dubs would be thrilled if they landed Sabonis at No. 11 this year. He was a contributor from Day 1, starting in 66 games as a rookie, and averaging double figures as a sophomore. By year four he was an All-Star who averaged a double-double. Now he’s a three-time All-Star and a three-time rebounding champ.
2015: Myles Turner (Pacers)
Turner is far from the best player on this list, but he’s still someone the Warriors would be very excited to land at No. 11. He averaged 10.3 points and 5.5 rebounds as a rookie, while starting 30 games, playing strong defense, and making the All-Rookie team. He’s averaged double figures every year of his career, is a decent shooter from distance, and has led the league in blocks twice, while drawing All-Defense and All-Star consideration a few times. If the Dubs end up with a player of Turner’s caliber, they’ll get someone who can help them win games immediately, while being a core part of the next era of Golden State hoops.
2014: Doug McDermott (Bulls)
McDermott should be proud of the career he’s put together, but he’s still an example of a player Golden State will really want to avoid, especially since they’ll likely be shopping for players on the older side. McDermott was a four-year college player and the reigning college Player of the Year when he entered the draft, but his lack of athleticism never allowed him to thrive in the NBA. He averaged just 3.0 points as a rookie, and has spent his career mostly playing sporadic minutes for bad teams. Again, it’s a career he should be proud of: despite many draft pundits saying he wouldn’t be able to survive in the NBA, he’s put together a 12-year career, made a lot of money, and scored more than 6,000 career points. Those are things to be proud of, but things the Warriors will be hoping to avoid.
2013: Michael Carter-Williams (76ers)
This is a fun hypothetical: how would you feel if the Dubs drafted Carter-Williams? As a rookie, MCW averaged 16.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and 1.9 steals, while winning Rookie of the Year. That sure would help Golden State this season! It was also far and away the best year of his career, and by his fourth year he was down to 6.6 points, and would never average double digits again. It was a weird career, and a reminder that the Warriors could end up with a player who helps them in the short term but not the long term … or vice versa.
2012: Meyers Leonard (Blazers)
Leonard is a player who put together a pretty solid career, but would still be a disappointment if the Warriors drafted his 2026 equivalent. He contributed a little bit as a rookie, but only averaged 17.5 minutes on a bad Blazers team, and barely played as a sophomore. Eventually he became a decent contributor, but never anything special. He’s not a bust, but you hope to do better.
2011: Klay Thompson (Warriors)
Do we need to say anything about Klay? It goes without saying that the Dubs would be ecstatic at the opportunity to draft their future Hall of Famer again. Klay contributed right away for Golden State, averaging 12.5 points as a rookie, while shooting 41.4% from three-point range and making the All-Rookie team. In his fourth year he was an All-Star, and All-NBA selection, and a champion. It’s fairly obvious that if the Warriors draft one of the best players in franchise history this year, they’ll be happy.
2010: Cole Aldrich (Thunder)
Aldrich is the type of player the Warriors will be hoping to avoid in the draft. He was drafted onto a contending team and couldn’t crack the rotation, as he appeared in just 18 games as a rookie, and scored a mere 18 points. It wasn’t until his fifth year where he started to become a rotation player, and even then it was in a limited capacity. This won’t help Golden State with their short term or long term goals.
2009: Terrence Williams (Nets)
Four picks after the Dubs selected Steph Curry, the Nets grabbed Williams, who only played four seasons in the Association. Williams was decent as a rookie, which Golden State is certainly on the hunt for, but he never developed after his first year.
2008: Jerryd Bayless (Blazers)
Another player who had a lengthy career, but still is a player the Warriors will be hoping to do better than. Bayless played 11 seasons in the NBA, though he started just 99 games and often filled out the bench for mediocre teams. He’s a valuable player to have, but someone you’d rather sign to the mid-level exception, rather than draft with a lottery pick.
2007: Acie Law (Hawks)
Ahh, Law, who had two stints on the Warriors and catches a stray from Curry once a year due to Don Nelson’s propensity for playing him over the future MVP. He only had a four-year career, and probably would not have helped this version of the Warriors as a rookie, or at any point in his career.
2006: JJ Redick (Magic)
I try not to admit this in public, but once upon a time I was a huge Duke fan, and an even huger Redick fan. Those things haven’t aged incredibly well, but my desire for the Warriors to use the No. 9 pick on Redick instead of Patrick O’Bryant looks pretty smart in hindsight. It took Redick a little bit of time to really find his groove in the pros — he averaged double figures 10 straight seasons — but even as a youngster with moderate stats, he was a contributor for a good Magic team. Like many on this list, Redick is the type of player that the Warriors are probably expecting to get, but hoping to do better than.
So there’s 20 years worth of No. 11 picks. The conclusion, as always? Just draft Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or Klay Thompson, obviously.
It’s becoming more apparent by the week — by the day? — that Giannis Antetokounmpo will be on the move this offseason.
Months of speculation about Antetokounmpo’s future in Milwaukee have led to this point, with Antetokounmpo set to enter the second-to-last year of his contract. And if Antetokounmpo is indeed preferring to play elsewhere, the Bucks may opt to move him if they sense he has no interest in signing a long-term extension with the franchise.
Bucks co-owner Jimmy Haslam said recently that he expects resolution in the matter prior to the NBA draft, which is scheduled for June 23.
Here’s a ranking of the five best landing spots for Giannis Antetokounmpo, based on fit:
Is this a case where Cleveland would be willing to part with Evan Mobley? It seems that would be required for this deal to work, and the Cavaliers have given every indication that they want to run this group back after reaching the Eastern Conference finals.
On paper, this would present an interesting — if not forced? — pairing of stars at different points in their careers. Antetokounmpo, Donovan Mitchell and James Harden are each talented scorers. All do best when the ball is in their hands, and adding Antetokounmpo would require each to sacrifice parts of their games to make it work.
That said, it’s clear the Cavs need to tweak parts of their roster, as the Knicks blew past them in the conference finals, and Antetokounmpo certainly is a dangerous player. It might take some time, however, for it to all jell.
This was a bit of a surprise addition to the list of suitors, given that Antetokounmpo reportedly wants to play out East. The Trail Blazers were a surprise this season under interim coach Tiago Splitter, who embraced his team’s youth and athleticism.
While turnovers were an issue, Portland looked to play quickly, and Deni Avdija blossomed into a first-time All-Star. The big question here is whether Antetokounmpo would really sign a long-term extension with the franchise. If the Trail Blazers get any indication that he’s not interested in that, it doesn’t make sense for Portland — which would still be significantly behind contenders in the West like the Spurs, Thunder, Nuggets, Timberwolves, Lakers and Rockets — to take a two-year flier on Antetokounmpo.
There’s also the matter of new owner Tom Dundon, whose first few months at the helm have been marked by cost-cutting measures.
Interestingly, assuming both would remain in Portland with any trade, this deal would reunite Antetokounmpo with Damian Lillard and Jrue Holiday, a pair of guards he called teammates with the Bucks for multiple seasons.
For years under Joe Mazzulla, the Celtics have opted to roll out an offense in which all five starters can space and shoot the ball. That changed this season when Boston traded away Kristaps Porziņģis and let Al Horford walk in free agency. And while Neemias Queta provided value as a rim-running big who could protect the rim, Antetokounmpo is not an accurate perimeter shooter.
Another area where this is something of an awkward fit is pace. Antetokounmpo is the premier fast break player in the NBA. With his size, strength and agility, no one in the league is better at scooping up boards and then going coast-to-coast. The Celtics, however, are far more deliberate in the half-court. Boston ranked dead last in pace this season, generating just 95.58 possessions per 48 minutes.
And while Antetokounmpo can create offense in the half-court, it’s his ability to run the floor that makes him special. The positive is that, with shooters all over the floor around him, Antetokounmpo would likely see his assists numbers climb.
This is one based on familiarity. The Magic named Spurs assistant Sean Sweeney as their next head coach after firing Jamahl Mosley. And Sweeney is intimately familiar with Antetokounmpo, after Sweeney spent four seasons in Milwaukee (from 2014-18) as an assistant coach, most of that under then-coach Jason Kidd.
Sweeney was credited with helping elevate Antetokounmpo as an offensive force and a perennial All-Star; Sweeney’s first season in Milwaukee was Antetokounmpo’s second in the NBA, and Antetokounmpo’s first two All-Star selections came in Sweeney’s final two seasons with the Bucks.
The Magic struggled at times to incorporate a cohesive offense with both Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, given that both often required to be on the ball to shine. By swapping one of them with Antetokounmpo, that should allow the remaining player to play a little more freely, given that Antetokounmpo has a very different skill set from both.
The big concern here, however, is shooting. Orlando struggled significantly from the perimeter, and Antetokounmpo only deepens that issue. Either way, if it is indeed the Magic, Sweeney will know exactly what to do with Antetokounmpo.
This is a pair that would seemingly satisfy all parties, assuming Milwaukee does have an interest in Miami’s assets. For one, this is reportedly Antetokounmpo’s preferred destination. For another, Antetokounmpo’s agent, Alex Saratsis, is also Heat captain Bam Adebayo’s agent. Presumably, the two would be in lockstep for their vision about what the pairing could look like on the floor.
The Heat also embraced pace this season, leading the league in the stat, at 104.22 possessions per 48 minutes. Antetokounmpo would give Miami the premier downhill threat in the NBA to work with.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, one of the league’s top basketball minds, would suddenly be coaching his best player since he had LeBron James and Dwyane Wade in their primes. Miami, much like Orlando, would be suited to add a perimeter shooter or two to fill out the roster.
And Antetokounmpo, who reportedly wants to be on the East Coast (given its proximity to Greece) and in a city with a vibrant community, would seemingly have no issue signing an extension with the Heat.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MARCH 29: Yaxel Lendeborg #23, Aday Mara #15, and L.J. Cason #2 of the Michigan Wolverines react on the bench against the Tennessee Volunteers during the second half in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 29, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The 2026 NBA Draft is just two weeks away, and the Golden State Warriors continue to explore their options with the No. 11 overall pick. As draft boards begin to crystallize, several prospects have emerged as popular selections for Golden State in recent mock drafts.
Here’s a roundup of who various draft experts believe the Warriors will take:
The most common names linked to the Warriors come from NCAA national champion Michigan, with both small forward Yaxel Lendeborg and center Aday Mara appearing in multiple mock drafts. Given the Warriors’ longstanding need for positional size and frontcourt depth, it’s not difficult to understand the appeal.
Lendeborg may be one of the older prospects in this draft class at 23 years old, but he could also be among the most NBA-ready. The 6-foot-9 versatile forward averaged 15.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists while helping lead Michigan to a national championship. With a reported 7-foot-3 wingspan, Lendeborg offers the size, athleticism, and defensive upside that could allow him to contribute immediately for the Warriors.
Meanwhile, Mara has emerged as one of the fastest-rising prospects in this year’s class. The 7-foot-3 center measured with a 9-foot-9 standing reach at the NBA Draft Combine, providing the type of size the Warriors have lacked for years now. Mara averaged 12.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.6 blocks per game while shooting 66.8 percent from the field last season. While his length and rim protection already make him an intriguing option, one of Mara’s most underrated strengths is his passing ability. Mara averaged 2.4 assists per game with the Wolverines last season, showcasing a willingness to facilitate which should bode well for his potential fit within head coach Steve Kerr’s offense.
Regardless of who ultimately hears their name called by the Warriors on draft night, this postseason has only reinforced Golden State’s need for an injection of youth, size, and athleticism. Several prospects in this range could help address those concerns, but Lendeborg may be the one to watch most closely given his experience and ability to contribute from Day 1.
For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Tuesday, June 9th:
Along with Carr and Mara, Burries, Hannes Steinbach, and Yaxel Lendeborg are other names commonly brought up as targets for the Warriors around the league. Ament and Flemings are among the two players Golden State would give serious consideration to if they fell out of the top 10. Speaking of Lendeborg, he has a scheduled upcoming workout for the Warriors, a source said. How he performs during this workout will greatly impact whether he is truly in play for the Dubs, as he has been a hard read as of late.
It’s also why the Warriors should get greedy. The best path forward for the Warriors isn’t somehow moving up in the draft. The real best outcome would be leaving the first night of the draft with multiple first-round picks.
So, what’s the easiest way for that idea to come true? There are two teams that have two first-round picks this year: The Oklahoma City Thunder and Charlotte Hornets. Let’s start with OKC.
In Game 3, Wembanyama set 35 ball-screens, the third-highest total in his 19 playoff games. Of the 35, 16 of them had two players on the weak side.
But late in the second quarter, right after the Knicks took their first lead of the game, the Spurs found something with two players on the strong side. Julian Champagnie was in the left corner, and Harper was in the left “dunker” spot (on the baseline, just outside the paint). That left Devin Vassell (deep in the right corner) as the lone Spurs player on the weak side as Wembanyama set a ball screen for De’Aaron Fox.
With Vassell so far away, the Knicks had nobody to tag Wembanyama as he rolled into the paint. Both Jordan Clarkson (Vassell) and Josh Hart (Harper) collapsed into the paint after Wembanyama caught the ball, but now the Knicks were a little scrambled.
They lost the crown the next year against the Toronto Raptors. A year later, James returned to the finals and this time emerged victorious, now a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. Giannis Antetokounmpo, years before discontent with the Milwaukee Bucks would brew, hoisted the trophy in 2021, and then the Warriors snuck back in for a surprise revival in 2022. In 2023 it was the Denver Nuggets, and in 2024 the Boston Celtics.
Follow@unstoppablebaby on X for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.
This is the 64th time in league history that the NBA Finals has featured one team winning two of the first three games, and there's been an inordinate amount of volatility in these situations in recent years. But there's still just one team ever to overcome a 3-1 series deficit in the NBA Finals.
With that in mind, USA TODAY Sports combed through the NBA record books to examine all the NBA Finals since they began in 1950 to determine any trends and patterns that have emerged when a team leads the series 2-1. Here's a look at five storylines that emerged:
1) Home teams have an advantage, but not as much lately
Home teams are 29-32 in Game 4 of the NBA Finals when the series sits at 2-1, while road teams have won eight of the last nine Game 4s of an NBA Finals where one team won two of the first three games.
Though the team that's leading the best-of-seven series 2-1 after Game 3 has gone on to win the NBA Finals 49 of 63 times, the team trailing 2-1 after three games has won the NBA Finals three of the past four times it has occurred (2025, 2022, 2021).
2) The Knicks have been here before
The New York Knicks are more than 50 years removed from their last NBA championship, but that title in 1973 came under similar circumstances. The Knicks had a 2-1 series lead heading into Game 4 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden and won, then captured their second NBA championship in four years in Game 5.
The Knicks also had a 2-1 series lead in 1970 when they beat the Los Angeles Lakers for the NBA title, though New York lost Game 4 on the road in that series. The Knicks trailed 2-1 in the series when they lost in the NBA Finals in 1994 and 1999.
3) Only 7 teams have pulled off what Spurs must to win NBA Finals
There are seven teams to successfully pull off what the San Antonio Spurs must do in the NBA Finals — overcome a 2-1 series deficit facing Game 4 on the road in the NBA Finals. Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors did it twice during their recent championship run (2015 and 2022). Before that, LeBron James and the Miami Heat won the 2013 NBA championship over the Spurs in that fashion.
The 1984 Boston Celtics with Larry Bird, the 1978 Washington Bullets and Bill Russell's 1957 and 1962 Celtics' teams also won championships facing the scenario the Spurs are now dealing with entering Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals.
None of those teams, however, lost the first two games of the NBA Finals at home like San Antonio this year.
4) Could Wemby emulate Bill Russell's early NBA Finals loss?
Russell faced a 2-1 series deficit in his first two NBA Finals appearances and four times overall during his remarkable run with the Boston Celtics in which he won the NBA championship 11 times in 13 years.
He had a 3-1 record in those respective Game 4s, with the lone loss coming in 1958 when the Celtics lost the NBA Finals to the St. Louis Hawks. During Russell's rookie season the year before, he and the Celtics overcame a 2-1 NBA Finals deficit by winning Game 4 on the road against the Hawks.
5) LeBron James and 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers stand apart
A team that's leading the NBA Finals by a 2-1 series advantage and and then wins Game 4 has only failed to win a championship once. In 2016, Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers became the first (and only) team to overcome a 3-1 series deficit in the NBA Finals when they defeated the Golden State Warriors for the title. The Warriors won Game 4 on the road that year.
Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls had a 2-1 series lead in five of their six NBA Finals appearances and went 3-2 in Game 4 in those situations. They, of course, never lost an NBA Finals series.
Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks looks on during the second quarter against the San Antonio Spurs in Game Three of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden on June 08, 2026 in New York City.
The Knicks wouldn’t be here without Jalen Brunson.
But they just might be better with him off the court in this NBA Finals.
The Knicks have been outscored by 13 points in 110 minutes with Brunson on the floor through three games against the Spurs, a jarring development for a team built around its star point guard’s playmaking.
Jalen Brunson (11) shows his frustration while looking for a call during Game 3 of the NBA Finals Monday night. AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin
Heading into Game 4, Brunson is shooting just 37 percent overall and 31.8 percent from 3-point land.
Turnovers have been an issue as well, with Brunson giving the ball up at least four times in all three games.
Outside of his 27.3 points per game, Brunson’s impact on the offensive end has been limited, having dished out just 13 total assists thus far in the Finals.
Brunson’s defense, which has never been a strength of his game, has been a problem as well.
His 110.8 defense rating is the third-worst among players with at least 15 minutes per game played in this series.
The Knicks’ thrilling Game 2 win overshadowed what was a rough performance from Brunson, who was a minus-10 while shooting just 7-for-25 from the field with 20 points.
He was a Knicks starter worst minus-9 in Monday’s Game 3 loss with 32 points on 11-of-25 shooting.
Brunson admitted after the game that the Knicks’ offense could be better, especially down the stretch.
“I liked some of the looks, but I also think we were pretty stagnant. There’s definitely things that we can learn from,” Brunson said of the fourth quarter.
“Especially with our approach when we start the game and with the way we start the half, I don’t think we did well and I don’t think I did well either.”
After a third straight physical game to begin the NBA Finals, Knicks guard Jose Alvarado has issued a warning after Spurs star Victor Wembanyama got away with a bit of nastiness on Jalen Brunson early in Game 3.
In the first quarter, San Antonio’s center gave a shove to the back of Brunson’s head as the guard jockeyed for position at the high post, sending him to the ground.
Brunson took exception to the uncalled one-armed shove and addressed it with Wembanyama, jabbing his finger at the Frenchman during the possession.
On Tuesday, Alvarado issued a warning to the Spurs.
“I think that’s not basketball,” Alvarado said Tuesday, via The New York Post. “That’s something that they gotta look at. But he got away with one.
Monty McCutchen, the NBA’s Senior Vice President and Head of Development and Training for Referee Operations, said Tuesday the play should have been whistled for a foul.
"Well, most certainly I think we can all agree that a foul was missed on that play," McCutchen said on ESPN's "NBA Today." "A big part of our job is on-ball, off-ball exchanges between referees. We did a poor job of that here, where we've got two people on ball, and we don't see the screening action… And if we break down in our fundamentals in even the smallest amounts, we have the opportunity to miss a clear foul as we missed here."
The NBA has yet to announce whether Wembanyama will receive a retroactive flagrant foul for the action on Brunson. If the league does upgrade the foul, Wembanyama would be one flagrant foul away from an automatic one-game suspension, after he was issued a Flagrant-2 foul and ejected for elbowing Minnesota’s Naz Reid earlier in the postseason.
Spurs guard De'Aaron Fox said everybody knows playoff basketball will be physical, and nobody expects to “not have bumps and bruises” in his defense of his teammate.
“If you get hit, you hit back. That's life,” Fox said Tuesday. “If life hits you, you need to figure out a way to get on your feet and hit it back.
Every time he rolls, he gets tagged, he gets hit. If he's trying to go set a screen, box out, whatever it may be, he's getting grabbed, he's getting held. It would be crazy for him to think he's going to get open by not hitting somebody.”
Fox added: “You know that team's going to be physical with you, so you go out there and you try to hit first.”
Stacey King’s family has broken its silence after the NBA champion and beloved broadcaster’s unexpected death.
King’s sons, Erick, Garrett and Brandon, issued an emotional statement through the Bulls on Tuesday, thanking fans for the outpouring of support and remembering their father as more than the larger-than-life personality Chicago came to know.
ESPN Chicago’s David Kaplan said King died after a fall at his home. Medical examiners said King was found at his River Forest, Ill., home and that a head autopsy was needed to confirm the cause of death, ABC7 Chicago reported.
Stacey King playing for the Bulls in 1990. Getty Images
King’s sons said many knew him as a champion, broadcaster and “larger-than-life personality,” but they knew him as an “even greater father, friend, and man.”
The family also shared one of its favorite memories of King’s ability to connect with people.
When fans would ask if he was a professional athlete, King would smile and say, “No, I’m just a tall black guy.”
His sons said that his sense of humor and warmth never left him.
The family said the messages, phone calls, prayers and stories they have received since King’s death have brought comfort.
Stacey King had been a Bulls broadcaster since 2006. NBAE via Getty Images
The Bulls selected King with the No. 6 pick in the 1989 NBA Draft out of Oklahoma, and he became part of Chicago’s first three-peat alongside Michael Jordan from 1991-93. He played eight NBA seasons before retiring in 1997.
After his playing career, King became one of the most recognizable voices around the Bulls as a longtime television analyst, known for his energy, humor and signature calls.
Jordan said Monday that he was “deeply saddened” by King’s death, remembering their years together as teammates and King’s role in defining an era of Bulls basketball.
Former Chicago Bulls television announcer Stacey King attends the first half of an NBA basketball game, Nov. 17, 2025, in Denver. AP Photo/David Zalubowski
The Bulls also paid tribute to King after his death, with owner Jerry Reinsdorf remembering him as one of the unique personalities and “unmistakable voice” in the organization’s history.
King’s family thanked the Bulls organization and Bulls Nation for embracing him throughout his playing and broadcasting career, saying his connection with the city and fans meant the world to him.
“We love you, Dad,” the family added. “Your legacy will live on.”
… 
