There is optimism Mitchell Robinson will be ready to go for the Finals. 

He underwent surgery on his broken right pinky finger, league sources confirmed.

The hope is that he will be ready for Game 1 on Wednesday, though there is still no concrete timeline.

And still, it is uncertain how effective Robinson can be if he does play. 

Beyond Robinson, the Knicks lack depth at center behind Karl-Anthony Towns.

Ariel Hukporti would be the likely next option, but he played sparingly in the regular season and so far in the playoffs.

When Robinson missed Game 2 of the second round against the 76ers due to an illness, Hukporti played seven minutes and recorded two points and three rebounds while also picking up four fouls. 

The potential play Mitchell Robinson broke his right pinky.

He's expected to play Game 1.

Read more: https://t.co/VzwfQ07CGfpic.twitter.com/bQUQZQj0zj

— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) May 29, 2026

Jeremy Sochan is theoretically another option, though he has been relegated to strictly garbage time minutes since the end of the regular season.

The Knicks could utilize small-ball lineups with OG Anunoby at the five, though that will be difficult against either the Thunder or Spurs, both of whom feature star bigs. 

If it’s the Spurs, in particular, that the Knicks face in the Finals, Robinson’s availability could be critical.

He was excellent when guarding Victor Wembanyama in the Knicks’ NBA Cup final triumph over the Spurs last December. Robinson spent more time matched up with Wembanyama than any other Knicks defender, per the league’s official tracking stats.

Wembanyama went 3-for-7 from the field and 0-for-2 from 3-point range when Robinson was his primary defender in that game. 

It’s been a bit of a roller-coaster postseason for Robinson.

His brutal free throw shooting – he is 13-for-43 (30.2 percent) from the line in the playoffs – has allowed opponents to utilize Hack-a-Mitch and force the Knicks to take him off the court. 

He is only averaging 14.2 minutes per game in the postseason, down from 19.6 minutes per game in the regular season. 

Regardless, the Knicks don’t have any replacement for his rebounding prowess and his versatile defense.

Talent or fit? It’s the age-old question, at least as far as the NBA Draft is concerned. And with Brayden Burries, a 6’4”, 215 lb combo guard out of Arizona, it raises itself again. Burries is talented, no doubt, but is he talented enough in a draft as deep as this for the Bucks to take him over players who better fit positional needs?

Burries quickly became Arizona’s go-to offensive option as a freshman this season, putting up 16.1 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 2.4 APG, and 1.5 SPG with impressive .491/.391/.805 shooting splits and just 1.5 TOPG, leading the Wildcats all the way to the Final Four. While he did struggle shooting in their loss to the Michigan Wolverines (4/16), the rest of his tournament run was impressive overall:

• 18 points and five boards against Long Island.
• 16 and nine against Utah State.
• 23 and five against Arkansas.
• 14 and six against Purdue.

Oh, and he did all that shooting a combined 22/38 (58%) from the field.

As an NBA player, Burries will make an excellent backcourt running mate next to just about anyone. He’s a physical defender with enough size and strength to guard both backcourt positions, is disruptive on the ball and in the passing lanes, and demonstrates genuine commitment to the defensive end, drawing comparisons to All-World defenders Jrue Holiday and Derrick White. While he still has a ways to go to reach those lofty heights, the potential is there.

Offensively, Burries’ versatility similarly holds him in good stead, as he possesses the tools to play both on and off the ball. Off-ball, Burries has value as a floor-spacer for others, using his shooting range to open up driving lanes. This same gravity also helps him attack close-outs to get inside the arc, where he’s adept at finishing in the midrange or with either hand at the rim. On ball, Burries is also a capable shot creator, able to get downhill through a quick first step and decisive dribble moves, and uses a variety of gathers—his low “sweep” gather stands out—to create space to finish at or around the rim.

Overall, while Burries has positional and skillset versatility, he’s not a “true” lead guard and lacks the explosive athleticism (aka flashy play) of some of the other top-end talent. His ceiling isn’t projected as high as some of his peers either, likely due to his lack of a singularly elite skill—though if these playoffs are a reminder of anything, it’s that there’s always a spot for players who are multidimensional, able to help a team win in a number of ways.

Burries touched on this himself in an NBA Draft Combine interview, stating that what separates him from the other guards in this class is his “competitiveness… [his] will to win, [his ability] to just guard one through four, [and his] impact on winning outside of scoring.” He also sees himself as “somebody that you want to play with” and cited Jamal Murray and Devin Booker as current NBA players he studies, seeing them as “big guards that can get to their spots… who can guard, impact winning… and can play on the ball, off the ball.”

All things considered, Burries would make a fitting partner next to Ryan Rollins in the Bucks’ backcourt, sharing ball-handling responsibilities while providing valuable shooting and defence. Their skillsets, though similar, would be complementary rather than duplicative—you can never have enough guards who can do multiple things. And should the Bucks bring back Kevin Porter Jr. too—which they must; Milwaukee can’t afford to let talent walk—they would make quite a talented backcourt triumvirate. So, in Burries’ case, it’s not a matter of talent or fit. It’s both.

---

What do you make of Burries as a potential fit in Milwaukee? Does he form the backcourt of the future alongside Rollins, or is the thought of yet another ~6’4” guard enough to put you off? Add your thoughts in the comments and vote for who you’d take next in our draft.

Knicks center Mitchell Robinson had surgery earlier this week on his broken right pinky finger and will "push to play" when the NBA Finals start this coming Wednesday, reports SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley.

Shams Charania of ESPN adds that Robinson will wear a brace on his hand. 

The Knicks will head to either San Antonio or Oklahoma City for Game 1 of the Finals, with the winner of the Western Conference Finals between the Spurs and Thunder set to be decided in Game 7 on Sunday. 

Robinson has been a crucial part of the Knicks' playoff run. 

In the Eastern Conference Finals against the Cavaliers, Robinson provided key minutes, impacting the game with his signature defense and rebounding prowess. In the clinching Game 4, Robinson scored eight points on 4-of-6 shooting, grabbed 10 rebounds, and was a plus-14 on the court in his 18 minutes of play. 

One thing that has hampered Robinson and the Knicks this postseason is when opposing teams have used the "hack-a-Mitch" strategy to send him to the free-throw line.

Robinson went just 2-for-14 from the line against the Cavs after going 6-for-16 against the 76ers in the second round and 5-for-13 against the Hawks in the first round. 

"I know that Robinson will push to play. Just in having conversations with people over the last couple of hours," Begley reported Thursday night. "He will want to play; it's ultimately up to the Knicks' medical staff. A player's opinion does matter in these things and so he's going to want to be out there." 

If the Knicks face the Spurs, Robinson could be the physical, tall center to match up with Victor Wembanyama. If the Thunder advance, Robinson could be used alongside Karl-Anthony Towns to combat OKC's massive frontcourt of Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein. 

Robinson, who will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, averaged 5.7 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks across 60 games this season. The 60 games were the most Robinson has played in a season since he played 59 games in 2022-23.  

As someone who talks to, consumes, and is adjacent to a lot of Mavericks diehards and take artists, the overwhelming sentiment around Dallas’ drop in draft positioning is that it was a worst-case-scenario outcome. Whether it is a complaint about the process or a statement regarding the quality of players past the eighth pick, the opinions thrown at me are far from indifferent. And yet, here I am, a Mavericks blogger, season ticket holder, and fan for life, feeling completely removed from that group. In fact, I find myself a smidge on the other end where cautious excitement lives. Maybe the last 15 months have numbed my senses, but the Mavericks check a lot of boxes that make a lower draft pick an annoyance, not a hindrance. 

The hard part is done

The Mavericks won the lottery a year ago. They selected Cooper Flagg first overall in 2025, and the only thing clearer than the direction of the franchise is the speed at which the train is moving. Finding your version of Flagg is something that teams spend decades doing, and the Mavericks have been without a centerpiece for maybe three months in the last 28 years. If Dallas were constructed like Brooklyn or Washington or Utah, where they have a collection of young guys without the head of the snake, then dropping out of the top eight the way Dallas did may have been more agonizing. But if the Mavericks were in that position, meaning they hadn’t gotten Flagg last season, we may all be devoid of feelings anyway. 

The 9th pick cannot be bad if the draft is deep

As far back as last summer, draft scouts and experts alike have touted the 2026 draft as one of the deepest in recent memory. If that is true, then the 9th overall pick cannot simultaneously be a doomsday scenario. The question now turns to how well the Mavericks can assess talent, and, as our very own Matt Martinez highlighted, new General Manager Mike Schmitz has a very good track record at doing just that. 

Plenty of top 10 picks do not pan out. They can’t, or every team would be a superteam. 

There have been a number of gems between picks nine and 16 in recent years. In 2025, Cedric Coward was selected 11th, and Derik Queen 13th. The 2024 draft saw Matas Buzelis go 11th and Jared McCain 16th. Even in 2023, a similarly top-heavy draft, Cason Wallace, Dereck Lively II, and Keyonte George all went from 10 to 16. Jalen Williams, the number two option on the defending NBA Champion, went 12th in 2022. That was one pick before Jalen Duren, who was the starting center on a 60-win Detroit team. That is nine guys who went between 10th and 16th in the last four drafts that have all contributed to playoff teams or been standout rookies. There will be plenty of talent available to the Mavericks at nine; they just have to find it.

There are options

The thing about owning a pick is that you do not have to use it. Dallas is familiar with this sentiment, as they have just one of their own first-round picks after this year until 2032. So while it is true that the player of their dreams may fall to number nine, there are also a plethora of avenues they can explore if that doesn’t happen. Maybe the guy they really want is available at five, and the Clippers agree to trade back four spots to acquire one of the Mavericks’ veteran wings. Or maybe Dallas thinks their guy will be there later in the lottery, so they trade back to 12 with Oklahoma City and grab the 18th pick as well. 

The Mavericks aren’t in a bind to hit a home run at nine. They have flexibility with where they go. A dud would be bad, but getting on base is just fine. The draft never goes according to consensus, and the talents never perfectly align with projections. Dallas now has very smart people in its war room, and we have to trust that they’ll make the right play.

They didn’t sacrifice a winning culture

The loudest frustration I heard over the last few months was regarding the lack of conviction in Dallas’ process to tank. Intentionally losing was obviously a huge talking point this season, so much so that Adam Silver made fixing it the number one off-season priority. The flagrancy with which some teams tanked this year was shocking, and the Mavericks essentially doing it the “natural” way, by being organically bad, was highlighted in a way it may not normally have been.

The Mavericks made a decision to keep general manager Nico Harrison through the start of the year. As soon as that choice was made, there was never going to be a smooth ride. Dallas going all-in on a tank was only possible with a complete reset last summer, and the fact that they opted out of that doomed their chances from the start. They were 7-26 after February 1st! They were really bad after the decision to move on from the last year was made. Dallas was faced with an impossible situation, and, unsurprisingly, was a mess of an organization. 

They chose to play hard and try to win every night. Now, with a new coach on the way, those habits will carry over and should place them a step or two above where they would be had they made the call for a punt. Now, they can enter the draft with a clean conscience, a top franchise cornerstone, and a trust that the new regime will find the correct pieces to build with. 

A look at the Lakers entering the offseason:

Luka Doncic

Stats: 33.5 ppg, 8.3 apg, 7.7 rpg

Contract status: 2026-27: $49.5 million; 2027-28: $53.5M; 2028-29: Player option for $57.4M.

Skinny:Doncic reestablished himself as one of the league’s best players during the regular season before missing the playoffs due to a left hamstring strain. He won the scoring title for the second time in his career, becoming the first Laker since Kobe Bryant (2006-07) to accomplish the feat, and earned All-NBA first-team honors for the sixth time in his eight-season career. 

LeBron James

Stats: 20.9 ppg, 7.2 apg, 6.1 rpg

Contract status: Unrestricted free agent

Skinny:James continued to redefine what the latter stages of a player’s career can look like, earning an All-Star selection for a record-extending 22nd season. He navigated multiple changes within the team’s offensive hierarchy — from the co-second option to second option to third option — before closing the season in a primary role after the regular-season-ending injuries to Doncic and Austin Reaves. James was the Lakers’ best player during the first-round playoff series victory over the Rockets.  

Austin Reaves

Stats: 23.3 ppg, 5.5 apg, 4.7 rpg

Contract status: 2026-27: Player option for $14.9M.

Skinny: Reaves’ All-Star-caliber season was hampered by injuries, including the oblique strain that sidelined him for the end of the regular season and the start of the playoffs. His return during the first round helped get the Lakers over the hump against the Rockets, and he started to regain his rhythm toward the end of the second round against the Thunder. He’s due for a significant pay raise this summer.

Deandre Ayton

Stats: 12.5 ppg, 8 rpg, 1 bpg

Contract status: 2026-27: Player option for $8.1M.

Skinny: The playoffs perfectly captured Ayton’s season with the Lakers. He was an integral part of their first-round series win on both ends of the floor, showcasing the two-way value he can bring. But against the Thunder, he was a nonfactor at best and a detriment to the Lakers at worst. 

---

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters

Marcus Smart 

Stats: 9.3 ppg, 3 apg, 1.4 spg

Contract status: 2026-27: Player option for $5.4M.

Skinny: Smart was the emotional and hustle tone-setter for the Lakers during a season he provided a reminder of what he can bring to the floor after two forgettable seasons with the Grizzlies and Wizards. 

Rui Hachimura

Stats: 11.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg

Contract status: Unrestricted free agent

Skinny:Hachimura continues to grow as a shooter, knocking down a career-high 116 3-pointers and shooting a career-high 55.6% on midrange shots. He averaged a playoff career-high 17.5 points during the postseason, once again elevating his play when it matters most. 

Jake LaRavia

Stats: 8.2 ppg, 4 rpg

Contract status: 2026-27: $6M.

Skinny: LaRavia had his biggest role on the best team he’s played on so far through four NBA seasons. His durability (82 regular-season games played) and tenacity were positive, but he had the worst 3-point shooting season of his career (32.1%) and was too timid offensively in the playoffs. 

Luke Kennard

Stats: 8.4 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 2.2 apg

Contract status: Unrestricted free agent

Skinny: Kennard led the league in 3-point shooting percentage for the third time in his career. A pre-trade deadline acquisition, Kennard provided reminders that he brings more than just shooting to the table during the final stretch of the regular season. 

Jaxson Hayes

Stats: 7.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg

Contract status: Unrestricted free agent

Skinny: Hayes had the most efficient scoring season of his career (75.6% shooting) and his highest scoring season in his third year with the Lakers. He continues to improve with his screening and not fouling, being the ideal lob threat to play alongside Doncic.

Jarred Vanderbilt

Stats: 4.4 ppg, 4.5 rpg

Contract status: 2026-27: $12.4M; 2027-28: Player option for $13.3M.

Skinny: Vanderbilt showed a willingness to shoot more corner 3s in 2025-26. But the results were shaky. And he’s still a subpar finisher at the rim, which makes it challenging to keep him on the court alongside a center despite his defensive skills.

Maxi Kleber

Stats: 2 ppg, 2 rpg

Contract status: Unrestricted free agent

Skinny: Kleber struggled to stay healthy and was the clear third big man in the rotation. He hasn’t played more than 50 games in a regular season since 2021-22.

Nick Smith Jr.

Stats: 6.2 ppg

Contract status: 2026-27: Team option for $2.5M.

Skinny: Smith earned a standard NBA contract after starting with the Lakers on a two-way deal but didn’t factor into the playoff rotation. His season highs of 25 points and six assists in the Nov. 3 win over the Trail Blazers was his best game.

Bronny James

Stats: 2.9 ppg, 1.2 apg

Contract status: 2026-27: $2.3M; 2027-28: Team option for $2.5M.

Skinny:The younger James received more playing time toward the end of the season after the injuries to Doncic and Reaves, even factoring into their playoff rotation. He grew as a defender and shooter.

Dalton Knecht

Stats: 4.2 ppg, 1.1 rpg

Contract status: 2026-27: $4.2M; 2027-28: Team option for $6.5M.

Skinny: Knecht’s deficiencies outside of scoring/shooting have prevented him from having a bigger role since being the Lakers’ first-round pick in 2024. 

Adou Thiero 

Stats: 1.9 ppg, 1.1 rpg

Contract status: 2026-27: $2.2M; 2027-28: Team option for $2.5M.

Skinny:The rookie forward wasn’t healthy to start the season, dealing with swelling in his left knee after surgery from before he was drafted by the Lakers. But by season’s end, he was in the playoff rotation, showcasing the athleticism the team needs. But he’s still raw and has many areas to improve..

JJ Redick 

Contract status: Signed through 2029-30 season. 

Skinny:Redick has led the Lakers to back-to-back 50-win seasons, including 53 in 2025-26, which was the franchise’s most in an 82-game season since 2010-11.  

Welcome to Inside the Suns, your weekly deep-down analysis of the current Phoenix Suns team. Each week, the Fantable — a round table of Bright Siders — gives their takes on the Suns’ latest issues and news.

Fantable Questions of the Week

Q1: If the Suns could trade their 2027 1st round pick (least favorable of Cleveland, Minnesota, and Utah) for a late 1st rounder in this year’s draft, would you do it?

Diamondhacks: Beyond 2026 being a “strong class”, my principal insight on drafts involves beer, so I’ll say “No” to a swap. Or to any transaction I have insufficient visibility into. I’d also recommend this hands-off approach to similarly challenged hoops fans. But if you’re addicted to this sort of thing, a recent prospect breakdown by Brynn-Tannehill might be a good place to start assessing the landscape.

Ashton: I think it is pretty safe to assume that Cleveland and Minnesota would be the least favorable picks that probably turn into a late first-rounder in 2027 anyways. By allowing a late first-round pick in the 2026 draft is the preferable option due to the strength of the draft. But I am not overly impressed with what the mocks are saying at the back-half of the draft. I am assuming this pick would fall somewhere between 26 and 30. If it is 20 and above, the better.

Also, I am writing this on Thursday, when the deadline to declare for the NBA draft closed Wednesday night. I now have a better idea of who is returning to college, and that resets the mock draft boards. The main takeaway is that there’s still good talent at those late round picks in the 2026 and 2027 drafts, looks a lot stronger with a boatload of 2026 second rounders opting back into college. The 2026 47th pick is not going to be worth Jack.

But like speculating on the draft, and it would be boring to just consider the 47th pick in June. So sign me up for more options in the heat of summer. Brynn Tannenhill can write an article about it.

But where does the money come from to sign a two-year guaranteed contract for a first-rounder for a team that is already toeing the repeater tax? Let’s say 3 million is added to payroll. By keeping the 2027 pick, the can is kicked down the road to reset the repeater tax clock and another incremental increase in salary cap. That gives MI a bit more flexibility in spending his hard-earned cash.

It is a tougher question than most would think.

Rod: If there’s someone there that they want this year and they can find a trade partner, even if they had to throw in the 47th 2nd rounder, I’d do it. I can’t see that 2027 pick ending up higher than maybe 24th/25th, and there’s no way of knowing if they might be able to get a better player next year if they wait. To me, that’s a relatively cheap deal and one I’d much rather make than trade away any of the few Suns’ 1st rounders that they still own. But, unless there’s someone there that they really want, there’s no valid reason to trade up to the 1st round.

Q2: Between the 1992-93 Suns and the 2004-05 Suns teams (both 62-20), which of the two do you think would perform best in today’s NBA?

Diamondhacks: Stylistically, D’Antoni’s squad more closely resembled a modern team, successfully pushing the volume three onto an unsuspecting league. But I suspect that advantage and breakneck pace wouldn’t flummox modern opponents quite the same. Because everyone defends (and shoots) the three better now, which might effectively ‘steal’ D’Antoni’s thunder.

Speaking of Thunder, Westphal’s team defended better and was probably a bit more balanced overall. They had more rebounds, blocks, a lot more steals and, perhaps most surprisingly, scored more points and dished more assists than the transformative MVP Steve iteration. So against modern competition, I’d lean towards 93.

Ashton: It must be summertime to consider this question. Look, I am probably the youngest poster on the Fantable (we all know it is not OldAz) and the 92-93 Suns have a special place in my heart. It is where I truly began to follow the Suns in earnest as a know-it-all 19-year-old and thus leading to my current sports watching addictions and streaming subscriptions.

What I wouldn’t give to see the 92-93 Suns in today’s NBA. But what this question should really ask is who is refereeing the game? And that is where NBA development has occurred. Flop fouls and foul baiting to get to the free-throw line. Barkley is not going to flop for anyone. Add that more three-point shooting and fewer post-ups would probably doom this team.

I think Steve Nash and his circus dribbling, passing, and shooting would win the league. Yes, that team had some fouling issues of their own, but in more of a more pace-and-space league, 7SOL would set the pace and not let the other teams defend in space.

Rod: I had a tough time making up my mind on this one. Both teams were great; my vote goes to the 1992-93 Suns. It was really close, though, as each had points that kept me going back and forth between them. Overall depth and defense were the final factors in my decision.

The 2004-05 team really didn’t have great bench depth and was 17th in defense while the 1992-93 team had a stronger bench and was 9th in D. Either of the starting lineups would probably play great in this era but, the faster pace of today’s game (and yes, today’s game is actually played at a faster pace than the 2004-05 7SOL team played at) just favors teams with deeper rosters.

Q3: If you could magically add either Charles Barkley or Amar’e Stoudemire in their primes to the current Suns roster, which would you choose?

Diamondhacks: By most standards, Barkley’s prime (way back in Philadelphia) was a little more robust, but also twenty years earlier than Amare’s, and the league evolved a great deal in that interim. That’s the first conundrum of any magical teleportation. Were Chuck’s stats better because he was definitively the better player, or because the average NBA player wasn’t quite as advanced back when he played? I think it’s clearly some of the latter and less clearly some of the former.

In any case, we’re talking about the most serious interior ass kickers in Suns history. Chuck’s passing and shot creation for teammates probably put him over the top for me. Even if he was only 90% superstar and 10% Dillon Brooks. Amare was 100% ballplayer.

Ashton: Another whimsical question, and it bleeds off of Q2.

And again, I would pay good money to see Barkley bang against the top centers and forwards in the league. Barkley vs. Wemby? Barkley vs. Jokic? Hell, pick your dream match-up. My wallet would be picked clean just to see those battles.

But it goes back to pace and space, and Amar’e fits the bill as the defending teams would be forced to sag off players to defend the rim (and earth) shaking shattering dunks. Sign me up for that too.

Okay, these hypothetical “what-ifs” will probably force me to watch YouTube highlights for the rest of the day. It will be interesting to see what the comments say, as I may change my mind.

Rod: As much as I loved Amar’e, I’m picking Sir Charles here. Barkley was better with great players around him, but he was great all by himself and was just a more versatile player than STAT, also more of a leader. I think that would make him more valuable in today’s game, which leans toward positionless basketball.

As always, many thanks to our Fantable members for all their extra effort this week!

---

Suns Trivia/History

On May 30, 1976, after getting down 0-2 against the Boston Celtics in the 1976 NBA Finals, rookie center Alvan Adams scored 33 points and grabbed 14 rebounds along with 2 steals and a block to lead the Suns to a 105-98 Game 3 victory in Phoenix. The Suns took control from the start, building a 52-38 lead at the half and held on for the win despite a late run by the Celtics in the 4th quarter. A total of six Suns players had 2 steals in this game for a total of 12 vs just 5 for the Celtics. Paul Westphal added 22 points and 6 assists.

May 30, 1976: Boston's Kevin Stacom and Ricky Sobers of Phoenix are ejected for fighting in the second quarter during Game 3 of the NBA Finals.

The Suns won the game, 105-98, and narrowed the Celtics' series lead to 2-1.
📼 https://t.co/17kZmYeDucpic.twitter.com/T5L66tfNB9

— NBA Cobwebs (@NBACobwebs) May 30, 2022

On June 1, 1993, Dan Majerle set a then-playoffs record by sinking eight 3-pointers during the Suns’ 120-114 win over Seattle in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals. Majerle finished the game with 34 points and was 8 for 10 from three (80%) and made 70.6% of his FG attempts. The rest of the Suns team took only 2 shots from three and went 1 of 2. Sir Charles (Barkley) led the Suns in scoring with 43 points while adding 15 rebounds and 10 assists…without even attempting a three-point shot. Tom Chambers was the only other Sun to make a three in the game.

On June 3, 2021, the Suns defeated the LA Lakers 113-100 on LA’s home court in game 6 of their 1st round playoff series to progress to the 2nd round. Devin Booker led all scorers with 47 points while adding 11 rebounds for his first-ever playoff double-double.

On June 4, 1976, the Suns lost Game 5 of the NBA Finals to the Boston Celtics 126-128 in the first triple-overtime game in NBA Finals history. That game came to be called “the greatest game ever played,” and Gar Heard’s buzzer beater at the end of the second OT to tie the game and send it into a third OT was dubbed “The Shot Heard ‘Round the World”. Gar Heard set a then Finals record by playing 61 minutes that night. This record stood until Kevin Johnson broke it 17 years later when he played 62 minutes in the Suns’ triple OT win against the Chicago Bulls on June 13, 1993.

---

Important Future Dates

Mid-June (date TBD) – Teams can begin negotiating with their own free agents (following the Finals)
June 23 – NBA Draft First Round, 8 ET (ABC/ESPN)
June 24 – NBA Draft Second Round, 8 ET (ESPN)
June 30 – Teams can begin negotiations with all free agents
July 1 – Official start of the 2026-27 league year and moratorium period
July 6 – Moratorium ends, official free agent contract signings can begin
July 9-19 – NBA 2K Summer League 2026 in Las Vegas
Late September (dates TBD) – NBA Training Camps open

The 2026 NBA Draft starts with the Washington Wizards, which means they hold all the cards surrounding the No. 1 pick.

If Washington stays put, it will have the first choice in what’s considered one of the most talented draft classes of the last decade. Should another team covet the top choice enough to make a compelling offer to move up, the Wizards can milk that team for several key assets while still drafting a talented prospect in the top three.

The last time a team traded the No. 1 pick was in 2017 when the Boston Celtics traded the top selection for the No. 3 pick and a future unprotected first-round pick. The Sixers selected Markelle Fultz at No. 1. The Celtics took Jayson Tatum at No. 3.

Highlighted below are three trades the Wizards could make surrounding the No. 1 pick.

Trade No. 1: Utah moves up for Dybantsa, Washington picks up a future FRP

Washington: 

No. 2 pick 

2029 unprotected first-round pick

Utah:

No. 1 pick

President of Monumental Basketball Michael Winger told Jake Fischer at the NBA Draft Lottery that the Wizards would consider trading down from the No. 1 pick, which sparked a bevy of trade rumors over the ensuing weeks. Winger’s comments, coupled with the obvious links between Utah and AJ Dybantsa, created speculation surrounding the draft’s top two picks.

The Jazz, who own the No. 2 pick, have long coveted Dybantsa, who spent his senior year of high school at Utah Prep before playing one season at BYU. He attended numerous Jazz games in courtside seats, which created a link between him and Utah’s owner, Ryan Smith, among other members of the organization.

It’s become increasingly likely that Dybantsa will be the No. 1 pick in the 2026 draft. The BYU product is currently -390, according to FanDuel Sportsbook, to be the No. 1 pick. And nearly every mock draft believes the 6-foot-10 forward will be the first player selected in June.

The only way the Jazz would make this offer is if they believe Dybantsa is the clear No. 1 prospect — miles ahead of both Darryn Peterson and Cameron Boozer — and thus warrants trading significant draft capital to move up one spot. If not, Utah is likely content to sit at No. 2 and take the best prospect available.

Likewise, Washington only makes this move if it believes the gap between Dybantsa and prospects like Peterson and Boozer isn’t that wide. If that’s the Wizards’ belief, they can move back one spot, acquire an additional first-round pick and still select the player they might’ve taken at No. 1.

Trade No. 2: Only if Washington believes Boozer is the top prospect

Washington:

No. 3

No. 32 (via Indiana)

2028 unprotected first-round pick

Memphis:

No. 1

No. 60 (via Oklahoma City)

Most draft experts believe Dybantsa should be the No. 1 pick. But none of those opinions matter inside the Wizards’ draft room, which will pinpoint its top prospect after individual predraft workouts, player meetings with front-office personnel and physical testing.

It’s possible Washington’s brass comes to the same conclusion as most and selects Dybantsa at No. 1. But it’s equally plausible for GM Will Dawkins and his staff to enter June 23 with Boozer as their top guy.

The Duke product won the 2026 Naismith Men’s College Basketball Player of the Year award after averaging 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game. He shot an efficient 55.6% from the field and 39.1% from 3-point range as a bruising 6-foot-9 forward. And at 18 years old — he doesn’t turn 19 until July — Boozer is younger than both Dybantsa and Peterson.

Our Kevin Broom discussed why Boozer might be the perfect franchise player for Washington.

If the Memphis Grizzlies, who own the No. 3 pick, send significant draft capital to acquire the No. 1 pick, it’s almost certainly to select one of Peterson or Dybantsa. Several articles, including a story from The Athletic’s Tony Jones, have stated Utah will select whichever prospect — Peterson or Dybantsa — falls to No. 2. 

So if the Wizards truly believe Boozer is the best player, they can acquire a stockpile of assets from the Memphis Grizzlies and still select the Duke forward at No. 3.

Trade No. 3: Washington goes all in for a superstar

I should preface this trade by saying I doubt the Wizards trade the No. 1 pick for a package that doesn’t include either the No. 2 or No. 3 pick, nor do I think they should. But for the sake of this exercise, and amid swirling rumors of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s availability, here’s a trade Washington could make to go “all in” for a superstar.

Washington:
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Milwaukee:

No. 1 pick

Anthony Davis

Bub Carrington

2029 first-round pick (via Portland – second most favorable of Portland, Boston and Milwaukee)

The Bucks appear poised to deal their franchise star this summer. And after several trade deadlines and offseasons with palpable trade buzz yet no trade, Antetokounmpo’s return won’t be as grand as it would’ve been years ago.

Milwaukee would acquire Davis — an aging superstar they could relocate for additional draft capital — plus a young player with potential in Carrington. The real kicker, however, is the No. 1 pick in a draft class considered by many as having multiple projected stars. With this return, the Bucks could quickly move past Antetokounmpo and into a new era with Dybantsa or Peterson.

This move would vastly alter Washington’s competitive timeline and give it a real shot at competing in the Eastern Conference next season. While Dawkins has maintained the Wizards “won’t skip any steps” in their rebuilding process, a starting lineup of Trae Young, Bilal Coulibaly or Tre Johnson, Kyshawn George, Antetokounmpo and Alex Sarr is quite compelling.

Trading the top pick is a steep price to pay for a 31-year-old forward who’s played more than 70 games just once since the 2019-20 campaign. But if the Wizards can acquire a two-way superstar of Antetokounmpo’s caliber while not surrendering any of their own future draft capital or young talent apart from Carrington, it’s a move that should be considered.

You’ve heard it a thousand times: “The 2026 NBA Draft is deep.” But how deep does it go, and who will be available by the time the Dallas Mavericks are on the clock with the ninth overall pick? There are tiers in this draft. The first four picks are the obvious standouts from this past season: AJ Dybantsa, Cam Boozer, Darryn Peterson, and Caleb Wilson. The next tier of players gets more muddled and can vary depending on the specific team’s needs (and who you talk to). The fifth through 10th spots are the ones experts don’t agree on, but the talent is there. That tier includes names like: Keaton Wagler, Darius Acuff Jr., Mikel Brown Jr., Kingston Flemings, Brayden Burries, and Nate Ament. There hasn’t been as much chatter about Ament, but he’s a prospect worth taking a deep dive into.

The basics

Nathaniel Ament, born December 10, 2006, enters this year’s draft as one of the top forwards available. The 19-year-old was a consensus five-star recruit and one of the top players entering the 2025 college basketball season. Ament led the Tennessee Volunteers to a 25-12 record, averaging 16.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game.

He grew up in Manassas, Virginia, and initially attended Colgan High School. He scored a mere 53 points his entire freshman season. After an underwhelming start to his high school career, Ament busted out of his shell as a sophomore, scoring 18.2 points per game and adding 9 rebounds. Following his sophomore season, he transferred to Highland School in Warrenton, Virginia. In his junior year, he showcased his ability to be elite on both ends of the floor, averaging 19.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, 4.0 blocks, and 3.7 assists per game. Following his standout season, he signed a shoe deal with Reebok. His senior season did not disappoint as he averaged 18.9 points per game, 10.0 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.2 blocks. Ament was named the 2024–2025 Virginia Boys Basketball Gatorade Player of the Year, earning him a spot in the 2025 McDonald’s All-American game. The Virginia standout led Highland to a 39-6 record and the Virginia Independent School Athletic Association Division I state championship.

Ament was highly coveted as he entered college and ultimately committed to Tennessee after receiving offers from Duke, Kentucky, Arkansas, and Louisville. The Tennessee Volunteers made it to the elite eight in the 2026 NCAA tournament, but got routed by Michigan 95-62. In his final game, Ament had one of his worst showings of the season, posting 7 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists. After the season, he was named second-team All-SEC and All-Freshman Team. While he may not be considered at the top of this draft class, his talent has been recognized leaguewide entering the 2026 draft.

The good

Ament is the type of forward the modern NBA team covets. The 6’10, 210-pound Volunteer is a long and fluid forward who is a rare blend of size, perimeter skill, and versatility. He also has a natural feel for the game that’s hard to teach. His size allows him to shoot over defenders with relative ease. He’s listed at 6’10 but has a 7’1 wingspan and 9’ standing reach. Although his shooting numbers weren’t great this year, he showed significant improvement as the season went on. On 16.7 points per game, Ament shot 40% from the floor (4.9 makes/12.3 attempts per game). His 3-point shot needs some work at just 33% (1.3 makes/3.9 attempts per game). He’s around average or a touch above average from the free-throw line for a forward at 79%.

Although the numbers don’t look ideal, Ament’s upside is legitimate. His shot is still a little raw, but his technique is there and just needs some fine-tuning and more volume. He shows a strong feel for the game with composure and awareness, operating comfortably facing the basket. He’s also showcased a great touch on fadeaway jumpers and mid-post scoring situations, where he often exploits mismatches. He shot 43% in the midrange with a 45% effective field goal percentage.

Ament is also very coordinated for his size, and that allows him to handle the ball and make plays in ways uncommon for his frame. He’s shown flashes of point-forward qualities, as he’s able to grab-and-go in transition, make reads on the move, and facilitate in space. He’s an ideal hybrid for a positionless NBA. In 30 minutes per game, he averaged only 2.3 turnovers per game. For his usage rate and position, you’ll take those numbers all day long.

The room to improve

What scouts get excited about with Ament, they also get a little nervous about. His shooting consistency and efficiency are key concerns, as reflected in his 40% field goal and 33% three-point shooting splits. Injuries have played a part and impacted his rhythm and development, particularly a right leg injury in February that sidelined him for four weeks until the SEC tournament. But injuries happen in the NBA, too, and if he can’t find a solid footing with his shot, he won’t reach elite status. His total shooting percentage should ideally be around 45%, and his three-point percentage in the 35-37% range as a forward.

Ament’s foot speed is adequate but not a strength, which can make it more challenging to consistently create separation off the dribble and fully maximize his ball-handling ability. Drives are more effective when he has momentum, but he can struggle to generate speed and separation from a standstill in half-court situations.

Defensively, he’s good, but there are still some concerns — particularly guarding in space and navigating screens, where his foot speed and strength are tested. The NBA has stronger, faster, and more mobile athletes. If Ament wants to at least be an average defender in the NBA, he’ll need more quickness, especially laterally, trying to stay in front of the league’s best offensive players.

Fit with the Mavericks

Outside the top four to five prospects, the player a team takes will hinge more on the specific needs of the team, rather than talent alone. For that reason, choosing Nate Ament with the ninth pick may not make a ton of sense for the Mavericks, unless they choose to trade someone like P.J. Washington for more future picks (remember, Dallas doesn’t own their own first-round pick again until 2031). The Mavericks are in desperate need of more guards and shooting, and there will likely be better options still available at nine. Ament isn’t a guard, and his shooting is spotty. As they currently sit, the Mavericks have P.J. Washington, Marvin Bagley III, Dwight Powell, Tyler Smith, and Daniel Gafford listed as power forwards. Of course, many of those guys interchangeably play center, too, but you get the point. Size is not a problem for Dallas. Ament will be a great fit for many teams, just not this one.

Player comparison

Ament is frequently compared to players like Jabari Smith Jr. and Jonathan Isaac. This past season for the Rockets, Smith Jr. averaged 15.8 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.9 assists on 45.0%, 36.3% from three, and 77.5% from the free throw line. He’s known for his ability to face up and shoot over the top of defenders, finding crafty ways to drive and score, and he can hit the occasional three. While he’s not a franchise-altering player, Smith Jr. has been a solid piece for the Rockets as they’ve rebuilt themselves into a West contender. Jonathan Isaac has similar characteristics but is a touch more defensive-focused than Smith Jr. Isaac does a lot of his damage inside and on short shots in the post. At his peak, Isaac averaged 11.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game. He shot 47.0% from the floor, 34.0% from three, and 77.9% from the free-throw line. Isaac has been a solid anchor on both ends of the floor for the Magic as they’ve returned to prominence in recent years.

No matter what type of player he evolves into, Ament has the promise of being at worst a solid role player and at best an elite two-way guy that any team needs to win a championship.

Eighty-two regular season games. One Emirates Cup Final. Five games in round one of the playoffs against the Portland Trail Blazers. It took six games to eliminate the Minnesota Timberwolves. And last night the Spurs evened the Western Conference Finals at three games apiece.

By my count —and I am a math teacher after all — that is 100 games.

The Spurs are heading back to Oklahoma City in a winner-take-all Game 7. Their 101st game.

Basketball 101.

The biggest factor for the Spurs in wins versus losses comes down to Victor Wembanyama.

In Games 1 and 4, the Spurs won when Wemby scored over 30 points. In the losses in Games 2, 3, and 5, Victor scored 21, 26, and 20 respectively.

Last night in Game 6, Wembanyama scored 22 points in the first half. He ended the night with 28 points, but he played sparingly in the second half as the Spurs pushed the game out of reach during the 3rd quarter.

By comparison, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 15 points in Game 6 and sat out the entire 4th quarter. This is the second loss in a row at the Frost Bank Center where Mark Daigneault has kept his MVP out of the final frame.

The Spurs did a fantastic job in the elimination game of limiting SGA to just three free throws. Over the series, they have frustrated his shooting game, forcing him to score from the line. Reducing his trips to the charity stripe paired with the Spurs defense on him has been paramount in taking the series to a Game 7.

Meanwhile, both teams have suffered injuries.

From the Spurs side, De’Aaron Fox have been pushing through a high ankle sprain, and though he’s not a hundred percent, he is able to steer the ship when needed. Dylan Harper also suffered a right adductor injury. He played through but was not producing. If Game 6 was any indication, Harper is better and ready to battle.

For the Thunder, Jalen Williams (J-Dub) has missed much of the Western Conference Finals with a hamstring injury. Though he came off the bench in Game 6, he scored only 1 point in ten minutes of playing time.

The Thunder have also utilized Alex Caruso as a difference maker. Other than the doule-overtime loss in Game 1, Caruso scored 17, 15, and 22 in the Thunder victories, a key component to their success. But in the losses they endured in San Antonio, Caruso scored 0 and 7 respectively.

While the Spurs have exhibited balance all season — they were close to having eight players averging double figures in the regular season — their wins and losses in this series align with Victor Wembanyama.

So the real question is, which Wemby will hit the hardwood in Oklahoma’s capital Saturday night?

Victor has made his intentions clear. He shares his emotions readily and he does not hide his frustration when he does not perform at his best. But this is win or go home.

He will be the focal point of the Thunder’s defense. He should expect double teams and clogging in the paint, which is an asset when he’s dishing to Devin Vassell, Julian Champagnie, and De’Aaron Fox, provided they are hitting open threes.

The version of him from Games 3 and 5 that looked winded, missed shots, and hung around the three-point line instead of making a play for the paint cannot step onto the court Saturday night.

It is imperative the same confident superstar that came out of the gate hitting threes in Game 6 dominates the reigning champions. For 48 minutes, the Spurs must execute.

For most on the team, this is just another in the series of “firsts” they have experienced this season.

Victor has to impose his will to ensure this is the first of many.

---

Welcome to the Thread. Join in the conversation, start your own discussion, and share your thoughts. This is the Spurs community, your Spurs community. Thanks for being here.

Our community guidelines apply which should remind everyone to be cool, avoid personal attacks, not to troll and to watch the language.

There are always several players in the NBA Draft who just know how to play the game at a high level. They make the right plays, are always in the right spots, and are efficient in almost everything they do. This year, one of those players is Bennett Stirtz out of Iowa. Stirtz has an amazing combination of ball skills, shooting ability and high IQ that makes him one of the more solid point guard prospects, and he could help any team with what he provides.

It’s a list of things that Stirtz does well, but the thing that jumps out the most that will help him at the next level is his play in the pick-and-roll. Whatever Iowa needed Stirtz to do out of that play, he executed it and made something out of it. He knows how to create easy shots for himself, whether that’s getting crafty and going to the rim or creating a shot on the perimeter. He averaged 19.8 points per game, and it’s safe to say most of his points came out of the pick-and-roll.

When it comes to his playmaking, his assist numbers don’t do him much justice (4.4 per game), but he makes the right play. He hits the roller with a perfect pass, or he might make a skip pass to an open shooter. These are the type of intangibles a team would want, and Stirtz has it on offense.

What makes him even more of an efficient prospect is his shooting numbers. He shot 36% from behind the arc, and in his junior season with Drake, he shot 40%. That should be enough to show that he can knock it down at a high level, and in different situations. Though he thrives in pick-and-roll, he was also good playing off ball, and his catch-and-shoot ability worked well in Iowa. Unfortunately, when it comes to creating his own shot, Stirtz falls short in that category, but if he’s doing everything else right on offense, it may not be a big issue for teams.

The reason for his lack of shot creation is attributed to his athleticism. When looking at the mix of guards that are projected to go in the lottery, they all have some sort of speed, strength, or twitch that helps their game. As for Stirtz, he just doesn’t have that extra burst, which could limit him on offense if you’re asking him to go get a bucket in isolation.

His lack of athleticism also bleeds into the other side of the ball, where he can be taken advantage of at the point of attack. He’s not the worst defender, but Iowa usually sat him in the corner against the opposing team’s worst offensive player, which is what might happen at the next level. The thing is, camping him in the corner at the next level isn’t going to work all the time, especially if teams are looking to attack him.

Of course, the other thing that is always questionable about prospects is their age, and Stirtz will be 22 years old on draft day. At the end of the day, Stirtz has the skills to play at the next level, and age shouldn’t deter teams away from drafting him.

The Hawks could look at Stirtz as a guy to draft late in the first round. The two areas of need for them are guard and center, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if he were on their draft board. He seems like a guy who would fit in perfectly in Quin Snyder’s system, but his lack of shot creation may be something that could make them lose interest.

In Thursday’s Brotherhood Playoff Action, San Antonio smoked Oklahoma City, 118-91, to even the Western Conference Finals at 3-3.

The Spurs just punked the Thunder. There’s really no other way to put it, and keep in mind that OKC is a great defensive team, and San Antonio is ridiculously young.

Jared McCain got the start again, and he finished with 13 points, 6 assists, and 2 rebounds.

For his part, Mason Plumlee got 5 minutes and had 1 rebound.

Game 7 will be on Saturday, and that’s going to be worth tuning in for.

• Mason Plumlee’s foul on Jared McCain upgraded to a Flagrant 1
• Jared McCain is Now So Good That They’re Sending Goons After Him
• NBA Addresses Mason Plumlee’s Hard Foul on Jared McCain After Thunder’s Game 5 Win vs. Spurs
• Jared McCain helps Edmond couple go viral as they raise money for IVF through hats
• Revisiting the Jared McCain Trade: How the Thunder Fleeced the 76ers for a Crucial Playoff Piece
• Jalen Williams played in Thunder’s Game 6 loss to Spurs, but did not start and scored 1 point
• Mark Daigneault: Spurs ‘threw a great punch in the third’ to knock out Thunder in Game 6
• Wembanyama and aggressive Spurs force game seven against Thunder

Go to the DBR Boards to find Blue Healer Auctions || Drop us a line

The San Antonio Spurs have forced the Oklahoma City Thunder to a Game 7 in the NBA’s Western Conference finals.

San Antonio went wire-to-wire in Game 6 to secure a 118-91 victory on Thursday, May 28 at home.

The Thunder managed to sweep their first two series of the postseason before running into the team that caused problems for them during the regular season. The Spurs got the best of the Thunder in four of five meetings during the regular season, including a 117-102 victory on Christmas Day.

Victor Wembanyama has led the way for the Spurs and did again Thursday, producing a double-double with 28 points and 10 rebounds in Game 6. He went 10-for-21 from the field, including 4-for-9 shooting from the 3-point line, in 28 minutes of play.

“We played together and passed the ball,” Wembanyama said. “We trusted the game plan as always.”

NBA playoff takeaways: Victor Wembanyama makes his case as real MVP as Spurs force Game 7

The Spurs had a dominant third quarter, outscoring OKC 32-13. San Antonio produced a 20-0 scoring run during the quarter.

“I think we need to be consistent (on defense),” Wembanyama said. “I think outscoring them 20-0 is not a realistic projection … but we want to be consistent.”

Wembanyama played a big role in the team’s defense and had three of the team’s seven blocks.

Stephon Castle has also held his own on defense against the two-time reigning MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Thunder star struggled to find a rhythm throughout the game on Thursday.

He was held to 15 points after shooting just 6-of-18 from the field and going 0-for-5 from long range in 28 minutes of play. Gilgeous-Alexander was 3-for-3 from the free-throw line.

“A lot of the shots I’m shooting I’ve taken plenty of times before and felt good,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “They’re just not going in. It’s too late in the season to abandon (my shooting style) now.”

The Thunder will have home-court advantage but Gilgeous-Alexander knows it will take more than that to defeat a determined Spurs team.

“We are a motivated group and accept the challenge ahead,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. ”Anything can happen in a Game 7.

“It's win or go home. Playing in your building is nice but it doesn’t really mean anything. You have to be the better basketball team.”

When do Thunder and Spurs play Game 7?

The Thunder will host the Spurs in Game 7 at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on Saturday, May 30 at 8 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on NBC and streamed on Peacock.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Spurs, Thunder ready for Game 7 showdown in Western Conference finals

The Houston Rockets are being floated as a team to watch in the blockbuster trade market this offseason.

Last summer, the Rockets traded for Kevin Durant from the Phoenix Suns, acquiring him for Dillon Brooks, Jalen Green, and the number 10 overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft, which was used to select Khaman Maluach out of Duke.

Now, the Rockets could be looking to acquire Durant’s former teammate, Kyrie Irving, whom he shared the court with from 2020-23 with the Brooklyn Nets.

CBS Sports contributor Sam Quinn listed the Rockets as a potential destination for Irving if he were to be traded this offseason.

“The Rockets are loaded with draft capital, including, potentially, a Mavericks pick in 2029. They can match money with Fred VanVleet, who’d be a useful veteran point guard for Dallas, assuming he picks up his player option, and Dorian Finney-Smith, a former fan-favorite for the Mavericks. Little needs to be said about the basketball fit,” Quinn wrote.

“The Rockets had the second-worst per-play half-court offense in the playoffs and ranked 19th on that front in the regular season. Durant and Irving could cover the half-court offense. Their legion of young wings could generate transition offense and rebounding and play defense. It’s the obvious sort of move Houston could make to build on last year’s flaws.“

While it would be difficult for the Rockets to move on from VanVleet, a trade like this is likely something General Manager Rafael Stone could consider over blockbuster deals that would force the Rockets to trade anyone from the young core.

Despite two consecutive first-round exits, it’s too early for the Rockets to move on from Alperen Şengün, Reed Sheppard, or Jabari Smith Jr. They still have a lot of potential for growth and the Rockets have to continue investing in them.

TDS community, would you trade for Irving this offseason? If not, what trades do you want to see the Rockets make? Let us know in the comments section below.

Going into the 2025-26 season, Ron Harper Jr.’s NBA career was seemingly stuck in mud. After going undrafted in 2021 out of Rutgers, he began his career with the Toronto Raptors for the first two seasons of his career where he played a total of 10 NBA games. He started last season with Boston in training camp but was waived and spent most of the season 2024-25 season with the Maine Celtics where he played a total of 14 games before signing a two-way contract with the Detroit Pistons.

Harper Jr. played the last 23 games of the G League regular season with the Motor City Cruise before getting the chance to play one game with Pistons on the last game of the season, but that would be his last game with Detroit. The Pistons would waive Harper Jr. on July 24th, 2025 after averaging 16.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.2 assists, and 39% shooting from 3-point range in the G League.

He would reunite with Boston a month later on August 16th, 2025, signing an Exhibit-10 Deal to attend training camp. This is where the story of Ron Harper Jr.’s incredible 2026 season begins. Through grinding in Maine to slowly creeping his way up the Celtics depth chart to finally ending his season starting in the biggest game of his career, you couldn’t write a better redemption story if you were trying to pitch it to Disney.

Preseason and Maine Celtics

Preseason was an import time for Ron Harper Jr. because was fighting for a two-way contract against a lot of stiff competition. He played well in the three games, averaging 4.3 points in 10.6 minutes per game while shooting 40% from the field and 42.9% from three-point range. He was awarded the final roster spot on the Celtics, signing a two-way contract on October 16th, 2025.

He made it a point to comment on his familiarity with the Celtics system that helped him feel more comfortable this time around. He said, “Being here last year, I feel like it helped me gain a grasp of the system a little better, a little faster…so, I feel like I was a step ahead in that aspect.”

Harper Jr. spent most of the first half tearing up the G League, averaging 26.9 points on 49.7% shooting from the field and 39.8% shooting from three in eight games for the Maine Celtics in their Tip-Off Tournament. He continued his stellar play into the regular season, including Player of the Week honors for games played from November 17th-23rd where he averaged 36.0 points, 7.0 assists, and 6.0 rebounds in a 2-0 run.

His best game during this stretch came on November 21st, 2025 where he dropped 46 points, 8 assists, and 7 rebounds on the Delaware Blue Coats while shooting 16-26 from the field and 7-14 from three including a game winning layup with 1.1 seconds left to give Maine the victory.

During this time, he was seeing spot minutes with Boston but mostly at the end of blowouts. In only seven games from October to January, Harper Jr. averaged 1.9 points on 31.3% shooting from the field and 25% shooting from three in 5.0 minutes per game. This drop in performance was a stark contrast to his play in Maine and although the numbers didn’t jump off the page, Ron Harper Jr. was about to get his shot.

Becoming a star in his role paid off

Ron Harper Jr. got his first real minutes on February 2nd, 2026 when the Celtics were on the second half of a back-to-back with Jaylen Brown and Sam Hauser out. Harper Jr. would be thrust into the starting lineup for the first time in his NBA career and be matched up with Kevin Durant for most of the game. He thrived, finishing with a (at the time) career-high 11 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists on 4-8 shooting from the field and 3-7 shooting from three in the Celtics under-manned 114-93 win over the Rockets. Not only did his offense come up big, he also played lock down defense on Durant, holding him to 2 points on 1-5 shooting and one turnover in 4:41 minutes matched up with KD.

He had a busy All-Star Weekend following his career game, being chosen to be on the G League team of NBA Rising Stars Challenge and competed with his father, 5x NBA Champion Ron Harper and brother, San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper in the Skills Challenge.

Coming out of the All-Star break, Harper Jr. continued to find more minutes as the dog days of the season started to come around. In February, he averaged 4.5 points in 16.3 minutes per game, but really started to impress on the defensive end. Harper Jr. surpassed his career high in points scored for the second time on March 10th, 2026 against the San Antonio Spurs. With Jaylen Brown ejected early in the game, Harper Jr. stepped up to score 22 points on 8-11 shooting from the field and 6-9 shooting from three in a close 125-116 loss.

His play on a two-way contract caught the attention of Brad Stevens in the front office and after everything he went through this season, on April 4th, 2026, Ron Harper Jr. signed an official two-year standard contract with a club option for the 2026-27 season. From starting the season not even guaranteed a roster spot to signing an official contract six months later is an incredible story and everyone across Celtics Nation was so happy that he finally made it. Harper Jr. would reward the front office’s trust in him with his best performance on the final game of the season.

The Boston Celtics are signing two-way wing Ron Harper Jr. to a new two-year deal, agent Drew Gross of WME Basketball tells ESPN. Harper has played a key Celtics rotation role at times this season while spending time starring for their Maine G League affiliate. pic.twitter.com/3g44oay1Ql

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 4, 2026

The Orlando Magic came into the game playing all of their starters for a chance at better seeding in the Eastern Conference while the Celtics played their bench guys. It looked like the Magic weren’t taking this game serious at all after building a lead but the Celtics stormed back behind Ron Harper Jr. igniting for his now career high 27 points along with 7 rebounds and 3 steals on 10-20 shooting from the field and 5-12 shooting from three. Boston would win the game 113-108 and Harper Jr. would finish his season with career highs across the board. In 29 games played he averaged 4.2 points, on 41.8% shooting from the field and 35% shooting from three.

The playoffs saw Harper Jr. go back to his role as a reserve player for most of the series where he hyped up his teammates and played at the end of a few blowouts — that was until Game 7 when Jayson Tatum was ruled out. After showing a ton of fight at the end of the Celtics Game 6 loss with the rest of the stay ready group, Joe Mazzulla put Ron Harper Jr. in the starting lineup for Game 7 for his first career playoff start. Harper Jr. only played 4:02 minutes and shot 0-1 in the first quarter before sitting the rest of the game, but he did make a couple really nice defensive plays with two steals.

Future for RHJ in Boston?

What impressed me the most with Ron Harper Jr. this season was the defense he was able to play against other high level wings. He is a ball hawk when it comes to forcing steals and can hold his own against bigger offensive players. On offense, he can be a microwave scorer when given the chance, but he also did a great job of playing his role as a catch-and-shoot three-point shooter from the corners.

I think Ron Harper Jr. has been able to secure his spot on this Celtics team going into next season. I think his role moving forward will be similar to what it was this season: a solid third option at the wing that can play in case of an emergency and can hold his own on both sides of the ball.

Harper Jr. is just a guy who is so easy to root for. His story alone but he was also able to show off his personality as the season went. He was a big member of the Celtics players who would play Catan on team flights, he was always celebrating his teammates on the bench, and he was able to ingratiate himself within the Celtics community, going to multiple autograph signings around the city.

His brother Dylan Harper might be the one in the spotlight right now with his playoff run in San Antonio, but Ron showed this season that he is a legitimate NBA player and he has the potential to carve out a solid career for himself.

You asked for it…

…and you got it.

Here’s the latest from Tarrytown and elsewhere as we keep patiently/anxiously waiting.

Mike Brown: “I’ve actually gotten to know @fatjoe a little bit. He used to kill me about my shoes… He’s probably the only (celebrity) I know well (from Knicks games).” pic.twitter.com/qnactJBm6o

— Kristian Winfield (@Krisplashed) May 28, 2026

Mike Brown

On preparing for either potential Finals opponent:

“If we expect to be who we think we are, then at the end of the day it doesn’t matter. If we play San Antonio, it’ll save me some money because my family lives in San Antonio. I don’t have to buy airline tickets. But at the end of the day, both teams are great and both teams will be a challenge for us.”

On staying intentional amid any Finals distractions:

“Yeah, the biggest thing is you have to enjoy it because this doesn’t happen. Some guys never make it here, you know. And this is what most people play for, is to have a chance to, at the end of the year, say you won your last game, so you can walk around in the summertime with your chest out and all that other stuff amongst your peers. Having said that, you know, there are a lot more distractions that you got to navigate, so you have to be — I was talking to Allan Houston, he used the right word when I was talking to him about it, but you have to be real intentional about what you’re doing because you’re going to get pulled in so many different directions. And everybody’s human, and it’s natural to get pulled here, get pulled a little here, get pulled a little there, and think that you’re OK. But at the end of the day, after doing the media and practicing and getting pulled three or four different directions — because you’re going to have your family around you, you’re going to have friends around you, you’re going to have people wanting tickets, you’re going to have people wanting to go on this show and that show. At the end of the day, you may not realize it, but it can be fatiguing for you to do all of that stuff while trying to focus on some of the biggest games in your life. So again, going off of what word Allan Houston used, trying to be intentional about everything that we do during this time while keeping an edge is going to be huge.”

On managing scrimmage intensity before the Finals:

“Well, I mean, you can only have so many scrimmages because there’s only so many days, and you got to make sure – knock on wood — that you give them time to recover from the scrimmages. So it can’t be about much more increased contact, you know? But just the biggest thing is reminding them what happened in Game 1 of our last series, and let them know that when you’re watching these teams, it can’t happen this time around.”

On the difficulty of manufacturing Game 1 energy in practices during the break:

“It’s hard to manufacture the competitive environment that you’re going to be in in Game 1. So to continue to just find different ways to keep that competitive spirit or to keep that edge as high as you can is something that I’ll ask different players. I’ll ask my staff. I’ll get input from a few different people, and may roll with this, may roll with that. But the biggest thing that I think should help us is knowing that as a group, the last time we went through this, we started off a little slow in that game, and we can’t afford to do that again. Our guys, they’re a veteran group. They’ve been really resilient, and they’ve done a good job of growing quickly anytime they’ve hit adversity.”

Mitchell Robinson (broken right pinky) is holding his left hand after this play, but look at the right pinky

A minute after this no apparent indication of an issue as he shot free throws, and as Ian Begley notes he did play on beyond that: https://t.co/2mKsBq7t8apic.twitter.com/zD2DA1XOMB

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) May 29, 2026

OG Anunoby

On missing the Raptors’ 2019 postseason run due to injury:

“Of course, I wanted to play. I wish I played, but I also learned a lot.”

On learning from his Raptors championship teammates:

“Jeremy Lin was a great teammate. I had Jodie Meeks, Norm Powell, Fred VanVleet, Marc Gasol, Serge Ibaka, Kyle Lowry, Kawhi Leonard, Pascal Siakam and Danny Green. I learned a lot from those guys. I learned so much being out.”

Word out of Westchester is Jalen Brunson's planning to dunk all over the Finals pic.twitter.com/huamGR6OwQ

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) May 28, 2026

Jalen Brunson

On getting ready for an unknown Finals opponent:

“Obviously, you want to focus on being ready as a team, but you gotta prepare for both [teams]. Just understand the differences between the teams. You have two really good teams going at it right now. We gotta prepare for both.”

On staying locked in during another long break before the Finals:

“Comparing our situation from last time, just being mentally and physically locked in. I think that’s really important for us and that’s what we have to focus on these next couple of days.”

On blocking out social media and outside noise:

“I think it’s different for everybody. I’ve been off social media. I may post one thing and then just go back to deleting it. You just gotta block out the noise. You gotta do whatever you can to make sure you’re locked in. Everyone is different. Every individual has their way of blocking out things. It’s important to not hear some of the things. When there’s negative things being said about you, it’s important to ignore them. When there’s positive things about you, it’s easy to read them and feel good. You can’t do one and not the other. So just block it out as best as you can.”

On being ready from the opening tip in Game 1:

“I think just being more ready to go by the time Game 1 hits. Comparing our situation from last time, just being mentally and physically locked in. I think that’s really important for us and that’s what we have to focus on these next couple of days.”

Robby: “Pope Leo go Knicks! Pope Leo go Knicks! Pope Leo! Pope Leo go Knicks! Pope Leo go Knicks! Pope Leo go Knicks! Go Knicks!

Pope Leo: (nods, gives 👍)

Robby: “YEAH! Knicks in 4!” pic.twitter.com/GzjCpGeL4K

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) May 28, 2026

Mikal Bridges

On focusing on the Knicks’ own identity regardless of who they face in the Finals:

“Just going out there, playing our way no matter what, whoever’s out there, don’t really care. Just go out there and just play our way, and whoever’s out there is out there. We just got to play the right way.”

On starting the Finals on the road:

“I think it helps even just being on the road a little bit, being in a hostile environment. That should just get the mindset right off the jump anyway … Second time going around it, knowing that, ‘OK, we just got to pick it up.’ ”

On handling praise and media attention during the long break:

“Just worry about what we have to do to be better. Not get too into the media and all the stuff. A lot of questions, a lot of talk about how great we are, how great we’ve been. That doesn’t matter, we just gotta worry about being ourselves and stay locked in. And go win.”

"I would've retired as soon as I won."

Melo winning a championship with the Knickstape crew would've meant the everything 💯 pic.twitter.com/3S5z0Tfy33

— 7PM in Brooklyn (@7PMinBrooklyn) May 28, 2026

Karl-Anthony Towns

On Brunson’s MVP-level work ethic:

“What a wild surprise. I think he just puts the work in. We always talk about, that’s what I think makes all of us special because all of us are putting work in, but he also really, really puts the work in. And I know if you know JB’s merch line and everything like that, it’s always about ‘The magic is in the work.’ He’s a testament to that. He believes in that. He showcases that every single day to all of us and drives us all to be better.”

On preparing for the possible Finals rust off a long layoff:

“Obviously, rust will be a thing, just not having shot in an NBA game in a while, but we’ll do a better job this time around of just preparing for that kind of situation to happen. I think that obviously the coaching staff did an amazing job getting us ready for Game 1 [of the Eastern Conference Finals], but obviously we just didn’t go out there and shoot well … We just got to figure out a way to get those game-like reps. I think the coaching staff heard us loud and clear. We want to get back to work to keep the rhythm and also maybe change up the philosophy of how we have those, I guess, scrimmages that we had last time, that we didn’t do last time. So I think we’ll be better prepared, but at the end of the day, it’s all about execution, desperation, energy. We got to bring it in Game 1.”

Crowd "We want Shamet! We want Shamet!

Mike Brown 😄

Lisa "You hear that? You're in the other teams building

Josh "It's New York man. Gotta give Sham big shoutout. Played huge––

(Shamet shown on jumbotron)

(Team cheers)

(Crowd roars)

Josh "Everywhere we go like the Garden" pic.twitter.com/TTX4rVxIxf

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) May 29, 2026

Josh Hart

On Brunson receiving national recognition once and for all:

“It’s cool. Obviously you always want teammates and friends to get recognition for everything that they’re doing. It’s super dope that’s how he’s being viewed now. Obviously he’s very humble. He’s not going to really make too much of it until he retires. But it’s cool he gets that recognition.”

"I would've retired as soon as I won."

Melo winning a championship with the Knickstape crew would've meant the everything 💯 pic.twitter.com/3S5z0Tfy33

— 7PM in Brooklyn (@7PMinBrooklyn) May 28, 2026

Chris Childs

On Brunson’s whistle compared to SGA’s:

“I just wish [Brunson] would get the respect and the calls that all these other guys are getting when they’re flopping and falling. I was at the game when they played OKC and Shai was getting calls and Jalen was literally getting hit all the time. But he brushes it off. He was getting a little upset initially and he calms himself down. You got to be like that because if your teammates see you being feisty, they’re going to do the same thing and not stay focused; they’re going to do the same thing on the attention to detail going forward.”

On Brunson’s physical style and toughness:

“Brunson’s small in stature, but he’s a power guard. He’s small but he doesn’t do all the theatrical stuff, falling down like he just got shot by a tranquilizer dart or something. Maybe he needs to take some acting lessons so he gets the calls. But he’s so strong, he’s bouncing off guys so he doesn’t have to fall all the time to get the call.”

On Brunson’s focus despite missed foul calls:

“I sat there — I’m not being biased — I sat there and for one quarter [Brunson] drove the ball, and I saw at least six fouls that weren’t called. And he literally was grabbed and pushed and knocked off balance. But that tells you the focus he has that he’s not going to let that take away from the goal at hand. ‘Okay, I’m not getting the calls but I’m going to make them make these calls.’ And we’ll see in the Finals if it’ll hold true that, ‘If you’re going to let us play, let us play.’ If you’re going to make the calls, make them fair on both sides.”

Monica McNutt

On Becky Hammon’s infamous take about small guards:

“Honestly, historically, she was not wrong. Isaiah Thomas. Steph Curry. The list is very short, right? But I remember her saying, and I was like, ‘Oh, saying that to the wrong fanbase, my girl.’ And I, too, adore Becky Hammon. She’s a Hall of Famer.”

On the reaction to Hammon and being a woman in sports media:

“She picked the wrong fanbase, and I will add, as a woman in this space, I think it’s easy to pile on women in this space. Not everybody rolls off her credentials the way you did, Adam. … But I get it, I’ve said some crazy things as an analyst too. I think I said the Warriors were cooked a year they went on to win the championship.”

On Brunson’s mentality and growth over time:

“I’ll never forget this as long as I cover him, Adam. We are looking at these moves, and I’m like, ‘What are you seeing?’ He’s like, ‘I’ve never been the fastest. I’ve never been the strongest. I’ve never out athleticisized. But I’ve always had to figure out how to beat my opponent. So, I just play to my strengths.’ And he has been meticulous about finding his strength. … At every stop, he has been one that has been doubted — and for whatever reason — but all he has done is won. There are some people among us that just have that winning gene and I would describe Jalen Brunson as one of those guys.”

What do you know about Pablo Prigioni?

Track ID: Knicks Anthem – Iman Shumpert pic.twitter.com/NibBEfM7Jz

— Dunk Comp (@DUNKC0MP) May 28, 2026

Ernie Grunfeld

On how this Knicks team resembles the champions of the 1970s:

“I grew up in Queens with the championship Knicks teams of the ’70s, and this team plays the same way. They share the basketball and the ball just pops around. They play defense, they are deep, and they have so many people you can rely on. You never know who can hurt you. Leon has done a tremendous job, and he’s done it his own way. His team sacrifices for one another just like those ’70s teams. Josh Hart was one of his great moves because he’s the glue of that team, just like Dave DeBusschere. They’re peaking at the right time and doing things that have never been done in the NBA playoffs.”

On Leon Rose’s quiet approach as Knicks president:

“It’s working for him, and that’s what counts. The whole media situation has changed from the ’90s, with social media and everything else. Mike Brown has done a great job, the Knicks are winning, and when you have too many voices out there, it’s not beneficial anyway.”

Maria "Patrick Ewing

VC "WAAH

T-Mac "PE my brother!

Melo😆

Pat 😆"Whats up fellas

Maria "They didnt know you were gonna show
…
VC "Who's been best player?

Pat "OG…Jalen😁

VC "You already said OG

Pat "Come on man

Melo "PE this is Melo…To me you're the greatest Knick to… pic.twitter.com/pi4pXgk1Da

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) May 29, 2026

Howard Tapscott

On Rick Brunson and Jalen Brunson’s rise:

“Rick existed only on one-year contracts. And it was always the joke from Patrick [Ewing] to me all the time — every year we would bring Rick into training camp, and Patrick would go, ‘Hey, you brought your nephew back.’ I guess he thought we looked alike. So, as a result, whenever I see Rick, I refer to him as nephew. He was in on the joke, and I say, ‘My nephew is really doing well.’ (Laughs). I don’t know Jalen, really. I only met him through the draft process and all that. But he’s become an extraordinarily good player and an extraordinarily clutch player.”

On rest vs. rust entering the Finals:

“Let me dispose of the rest vs. rust concept. When you’ve already played 90 games, everything on your body is sore. I don’t know a player in the league who wouldn’t want the rest. Because it allows your body to go back to some feeling of normalcy. … We played a grueling hand-to-hand combat series against Miami. And then we flip it over and we play another six-game hand-to-hand combat series with the Pacers. And we were a team that, at that time, was starting to age. So this current team seems to have everybody who is a critical member in their prime. I don’t see anybody who is on the aging side of their career. And they have dispatched other teams pretty quickly so they can get their rest. So they’re on a good cycle. To me, that’s an important ingredient in the calculation as to whether or not they can win this.”

John Thomas

On why most players prefer long postseason breaks:

“That’s key. A lot of people look at rest as a negative but as players we always look at that as a positive. The more rest, the better.”

Reggie Miller clarifies his take that the Knicks will be the favorite in the NBA Finals:

"The sentimental, people I think are pulling for the Knicks because it's been a bazillion years since they go to the Finals … that's what I was trying to say last night." pic.twitter.com/oho17DhuUS

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 27, 2026

Reggie Miller

On whether he “hates” the Knicks:

“Hate is a very strong [word]. I love the players. I love the organization. It’s the fanbase at times that makes me scratch my head. … Those guys, the way they play, the way they carry themselves, it’s all about business.”

On clarifying his comment that the Knicks could be favored in the Finals:

“They won’t be the betting favorite. Obviously, that will be the Spurs or the Thunder. They will be the betting favorite, either one of those teams, but the sentimental people, I think, are pulling for the Knicks because it’s been a bazillion years since they’ve gotten to the Finals. All of New York is on board. That’s what I was trying to say last night. And the way they’ve been playing right now, 11 in a row, they are so connected at both ends of the floor, that’s why I think they would be favored, not in the betting aspect of, but in terms of winning a series because of how well they’re connected.”

“Nunca vi Karl-Anthony Towns defender e estar tão engajado no lado defensivo como ele está. O que vimos por anos, e este ano um pouco, é ele cometer essas faltas idiotas. Ele nem está fazendo isso mais.”

— Draymond Green sobre KAT#AlwaysKnickspic.twitter.com/J1twOAcwrD

— KNBR™ 🗽 (@KnicksNationBR) May 24, 2026

Draymond Green

On giving Towns kudos for his defense:

“I’ve never seen Karl-Anthony Towns defend and be as engaged as he is on the defensive end. What we’ve seen for years, and this year some, is him get these dumb fouls. He’s not even doing that anymore.”

.@RhodenRhoden8 on the greatest Knick of all: Clyde. New York Knicks trying to scale a mountain not climbed in 53 years https://t.co/U5xqZmvuXO

— Dwayne Bray (@DwayneBrayESPN) May 26, 2026

Kenny Smith

On what makes New York City basketball unique:

“You’ve got great players coming out of Chicago, great players coming out of L.A., but in those cities only the ones who want to be great play [at the next level]. In New York, the guys who play don’t want to be great, they just want to play in the day. Now, everyone who’s playing AAU, everyone who’s playing streetball, everyone who’s playing travel ball, everyone playing in high school in those cities has delusions of grandeur to be in the NBA. Everyone in New York [back then], they just want to play, they don’t think they’re going to be in the NBA, so you have everyone playing. We had a guy in our neighborhood, Fat Ike. I had Fat Ike on my team because he knew how to set a hell of a pick. He ain’t trying to make the NBA, he ain’t thinking about it. Those guys don’t exist in other cities.”

"I said it 2 years ago

I stand by it

There's no air to be cleared

I said what I said"

–– Becky Hammon on saying Jalen Brunson's not a "1A dude" because he's "too small" and therefore "not winning" pic.twitter.com/erkWEOPDaY

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) May 27, 2026

Becky Hammon

On standing by her previous Jalen Brunson comments:

“I’m speaking historically on the NBA with what I said. I don’t know why everybody’s so stuck on that. I said it two years ago, I stand by it. There’s no air to be cleared. I said what I said. He proves me wrong. He proves me wrong. Good for him, but I do think the two best teams are in the West. I’m up for being proven wrong. That’s the other thing. I think Jalen Brunson is a hell of a player.”

BREAKING: Mayor Mamdani says he’s considering an executive order to let kids stay up late to watch the Knicks finals. pic.twitter.com/RWEeXp1675

— Josie Stratman (@JosieStratman) May 28, 2026

Isaiah Thomas

On Becky Hammond and other Brunson haters:

“I remember when Coach Becky Hammond went on national TV saying you can’t win with a SMALL guard… Man I don’t like those type of statements smh. Keep doing ya thang Brunson… Us ‘small’ guards all rooting 4 ya.”

So sick of the blasphemy I’m hearing in @GetUpESPN from @Perkins, @McNuttMonica, @VinceGoodwill, @Espngreeny and, of course the diabolical @RealMikeWilbon. Already wanting to tell @nyknicks fans the season is a success. They are NOT the ones who’ve suffered since 1973. They don’t…

— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) May 27, 2026

Stephen A. Smith

On criticizing ESPN colleagues for considering the Knicks’ Finals run enough:

“So sick of the blasphemy I’m hearing in [Get Up] from [Kendrick Perkins], [Monica McNutt], [Vince Goodwill], [Mike Greenberg], and, of course the diabolical [Michael Wilbon]. Already wanting to tell [Knicks] fans the season is a success. They are NOT the ones who’ve suffered since 1973. They don’t get it. But they will, especially on [First Take] this morning. They’d better!!!”

Adam Silver says the NBA will implement an AI automated system to review calls.

(via @patmcafeeshow) pic.twitter.com/NqyLxWnUbj

— ESPN (@espn) May 27, 2026

Adam Silver

On how franchises will approach team-building in the new lottery era:

“You want the greatest incentive to be successful. So those teams still have very good chances to get a top draft pick, but I’ll just also add that’s not the only way to build a team. It may put more of an emphasis on scouting. We’re now at a point where 30 percent of our players are from outside the United States. So you have a much larger pool of players. Rosters are much deeper than where they used to be.”

On the distinction between embellishment and deception in officiating:

“Even as I sit in the stands at games, players may be falling down, players may be reacting to a call. But to me, if they’re not fooling the referees, it’s OK. Players are taught to sell calls these days.”

On the NBA starting to use AI for automating certain calls:

“We’re going to move to a system like that where that whole category of calls will be automatic. It’s going to be Laker ball, Knick ball, whatever it is. Those calls will be done by an AI, automated system with cameras lined around the court. It will take all those so-called objective calls out of the hands of the referees. You won’t have to deal with challenges on those calls.”

On why referees will remain essential for judgment calls:

“There’s often contact on every play, but that doesn’t mean there’s a foul on every play. That’s something that can’t just be done on camera.”

Travis Kelce explains viral Taylor Swift Knicks photo – and why couple's MSG playoff trip didn't happen https://t.co/3EhUyWtWbXpic.twitter.com/PO6KmcGy9m

— New York Post (@nypost) May 27, 2026

Travis Kelce

On taking Taylor Swift to the Cavaliers-Knicks game:

“This wasn’t me trying to persuade Taylor into being a Cleveland sports fan with me. This was me just having a fun date night knowing that I love going to basketball games. We actually tried to go to a game in New York, but I was stuck in Kansas City. I love bringing her into the sports world that I appreciate. That’s why you’ve seen us at the U.S. Open tennis matches, other baseball games, and the (Guardians) vs. the (Yankees) two years ago. I just enjoy bringing her to experience a lot of the fun that I’ve always known to have.”

On Swift’s New York ties and wearing Knicks gear for the Melo-Amar’e pic:

“Not a lot of teams have been able to get Taylor to wear a jersey, and the Knicks did. Tay’s got a lot of New York ties. When it came down to going to the Cavs game, she was like, ‘Oh nice, they’re playing the Knicks, sweet! I’ve seen them play before.’ It was fun.”

Coach Glenn is a big fan of the @nyknicks and @jalenbrunson1
🗣️

"they play their butt off and it's fun to watch" pic.twitter.com/YPwIdB7Z4P

— New York Jets (@nyjets) May 28, 2026

Aaron Glenn

On the Knicks’ leadership and influence in the Jets:

“That’s a gritty, gritty team, and it’s hard to be a gritty team without gritty players. And it all starts with the point guard. I mean, you could tell that the leadership, the fight, everybody follows that. And it’s easy to follow that. … I continue to say this, that leadership really comes down to one word and that’s ‘influence,’ and you really see the influence that he has. And it’s not always verbal — it’s a lot of just what he does and how he operates. Man, pulling for those guys. I really am because they play their ass off and it’s fun to watch and it’s good to see.”

Donald Trump reveals that Knicks owner James Dolan has invited him to an NBA Finals game pic.twitter.com/w4PY7pBPim

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) May 27, 2026

No. 47

On planning to attend a Knicks NBA Finals game:

“I was invited to. I was going to go on Wednesday [Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals], but they closed it out very quickly. They’re great, and Jim Dolan’s a great guy — he’s as you know, owns and in charge of Madison Square Garden. He’s having a good year. Boy, what a team! They win all their games. They really have some great players. I think I’ll be going to one of the games, yeah. I was invited by numerous people, and Jim, and I think it’s great. Great to see it. The Knicks have really, they’ve really suffered for years and they’re doing right now very well.”