Category: Basketball

“Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win” — Sun Tzu

When the season began, I fully expected the Knicks to represent the Eastern conference in the NBA Finals. The West? Different story.

If the defending champions opening their title defense with a 24-1 start was in any way typical, then Oklahoma City would’ve been the clear-cut faves. But it isn’t; these days, neither is repeating as conference champs, much less going the full Monty in June. The main reason to pick against the Thunder was as simple as “the last seven champs didn’t repeat, either.” Still, back in October I would have picked the Thunder, the Nuggets, the Timberwolves to meet the Knicks in the Finals. Could’ve squinted my way to the Lakers or Rockets, even. But the Spurs? Who even are these people?

ORIGIN STORY

For their first six years, the San Antonio Spurs were the ABA’s Dallas Chaparrals. I assumed that’s short for “chaps,” and was briefly excited at the prospect of two teams named after pants battling it out for the Larry O’Brien Trophy. There was a racing team called Chaparral Cars back in the day, named after the chaparral bird (i.e. the roadrunner), but no, that ain’t it, either. A chaparral is basically a bunch of shrubs in a climate that’s mild and wet in the winter, then hot and dry in the summer. Fires in these regions are uncommon, and uncommonly intense.

The Chaps were led by Hall of Famer Cliff “Lil’ Abner” Hagan, their 36-year-old player-coach. A Hall of Fame player, Hagan was Josh Hart before Josh Hart: a 6-foot-4 do-it-all maestro who piled up points, rebounds and assists. In 1974 the Chaparrals became the San Antonio Spurs, ditching their red, white and blue uniforms for the silver and black better known today. The owners decided to sell the team, either to San Antonio or El Paso. Spoiler: El Paso lost. Originally they were to be called the “San Antonio Gunslingers,” but somehow ended up the Spurs instead.

On the last day of 1978 season, Denver’s David Thompson scored 73 points to pass George Gervin as the league’s leading scorer. The Iceman needed 58 that night to win the scoring title. He put up 63. Gunslinger.

MODERN-ER HISTORY

For 14 of their first 16 seasons in the Association, San Antonio finished .500 or better. Of the four former ABA sides to switch leagues (Indiana, Denver and New Jersey the other three), the Spurs were the most successful at first. Playing in the Eastern conference back then, they nearly reached the Finals a couple of times in the 1970s, only to be thwarted by the then-Washington Bullets. Imagine the Bullets and Gunslingers fighting it out to the bitter end.

The mid-1980s were a low point, including a six-year run without a winning record, but when it comes to the Spurs low points are often where bouncebacks begin. When the 1986-87 season ended, the 12-win Clippers were far and away the league’s worst team, followed by the Knicks and Nets (24 each). Lottery luck was lacking: the Nets picked Dennis Hopson third, the Clippers chose Reggie Williams fourth and the Knicks didn’t draft until 18th, thanks to them having shipped Chicago that year’s first and the following year’s second for Jawaan Oldham. Oldham played 44 games for New York that year, then 64 the rest of his career. The Bulls turned those picks into Scottie Pippen and B.J. Armstrong.

The Spurs waited two years for their draft pick to join them, but once David Robinson did they joined the NBA’s glitterati and they haven’t really looked back. Over his first seven seasons, the Admiral’s crew won between 47 and 62 games, even seemed a legit title contender in some. But a house built on the likes of Larry Brown and Dennis Rodman cannot stand standing still for long, and in 1996, after Robinson suffered from a back injury and then a broken foot, the Spurs sunk to a franchise-worst 20-62. But remember: when these cats fall, they bounce.

In the ’97 draft, a loving God kept the tanking Celtics from Tim Duncan, instead sending the swimming Virgin Islander to the Alamo (skip to 11:27 in the video if you want the money shot). By the time Bob Pettit2.0’s playing days were finished, San Antonio had lapped the field.

The Spurs won 50-plus games a record 18 years in a row, had a winning record 22 years straight and tied another record with 22 consecutive playoff appearances. Did you know the Spurs once won a playoff series eight straight seasons? Pretty good, right? Doesn’t match the Knicks’ best mark (nine straight from 1992-2000), but still. Not bad. The Spurs have almost always been above-average, and on the few occasions they’ve stumbled they turned that loss of balance into a leap of brilliance.

THE SPURS TODAY

How young are the Spurs? Mason Plumlee and Kelly Olynyk are their only players old enough to remember life the last time they met New York in the Finals in 1999.

In this postseason the Spurs play six dudes 25-plus minutes a game; all five starters average over 30. Three Spur reserves have suited up in every one of their playoff games: Keldon Johnson, Luke Kornet and Harrison Barnes.

Don’t waste your breath getting into any big- vs. small-market beefs this series. San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States, with a bigger population than Dallas, San Francisco or Boston.

There is a sizable, risible percentage of people who believe that Jalen Brunson can’t possibly have success in these Finals against the Spurs defense, because of how much Shai Gilgeous-Alexander struggled against it. Certainly Brunson has his work cut out for him, between unanimous Defensive Player of the Year Victor Wembanyama and the size, strength and defensive tenacity of Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell and Dylan Harper. Relatedly, the premiere scorers the Spurs have dealt with this postseason have been Deni Avdija, hobbled Anthony Edwards and shorthanded Shai. He may not go for 61 again, but JB’s not just some guy.

There’s plenty to be concerned about from a Knick perspective, duh. The Spurs killing off the Thunder is good news, given the Knicks have struggled more with OKC than anyone else the past few seasons. Every player the Thunder have is seemingly between 6-foot-6 and 7-foot-Holmgren, which figured to wear on Brunson over a seven-game series, especially with OKC’s defense something straight outta ICE training. At least the Spurs feature De’Aaron Fox mightily, leaving one defender Brunson is bigger and stronger than.

But Spiderman can’t breathe easy when Venom is dead, not when he has to deal with the monster still breathing. Wemby is Carnage. It’s hard to imagine the Spurs not hacking the ever-living s#$% outta Mitchell Robinson and his bum right hand all series. And unless Mitch gets over some of his male insecurities and starts shooting free throws underhanded, he could become downright unplayable — not what you want when he’s literally one of like four people alive who can credibly guard Wembanyama. If Mitch is compromised in any way, the Knick title hopes could boil down to whether Karl-Anthony Towns can play 40-plus minutes a night and staying outta foul trouble.

In addition, the Spurs are just way more talented, particularly in two-way players, than anyone the Knicks have seen in these playoffs. If Castle weren’t such an incredibly accomplished and ahead-of-his-time second-year star, Harper could start his own Netherlands with all the flowers he’d be (rightfully) getting. Fox is a two-time All-Star, still closer to 28 than 29. Justin Champagnie made as many 3s as Brunson and more than any other Knick. And you just know Harrison Barnes is gonna come off the bench and somehow give KAT all kinds of problems on defense. Maybe both ends.

But here’s the thing: the Knicks present the Spurs with questions they have yet to be asked in the playoffs. For starters: Wembanyama’s defensive domination has — in part — benefited from all three of his playoff opponents being unable to play five-out offense. In the first round, Portland’s Donovan Clingan and Robert Williams III combined to shoot 8-of-34 from deep; in the second, Naz Reid, more a hybrid bench big, drilled 15-of-33; and in the Western finals, Chet Holmgren was 3-of-12. Rudy Gobert and Isaiah Hartenstein both missed their one and only 3-pointers.

With respect to Reid, he’s nowhere near the offensive package or fulcrum Towns is; whatever 3s he took were likely the result of his teammates’ dribble penetration and Reid himself attacking or side-stepping closeouts. Even if we include Reid’s production with the other centers the Spurs have faced, that lot combined to go 26-of-90 (29%) from distance over three rounds. KAT’s made nearly as many by himself, on half the attempts (22-of-45, 49%). If Wemby guards him, he won’t be as free to help his teammates; if Wemby’s on Hart or somebody else and tries to close-out on KAT, the 7-foot Towns is one of the few players in the league who won’t feel like it’s an eclipse.

Another ray of hope: Harper, Castle, Wembanyama, Champagnie and Vassell are 19, 21, 22, 24 and 25. This is the first playoff run for each of them. The Spurs enter the Finals having played 100 regular-season and playoff games so far (101 if you count the time the Knicks beat them that counts, but doesn’t). The Knicks are older, presumably stronger, and hopefully better conditioned for long playoff runs.

Until they take off for San Antonio, the Knicks haven’t flown anywhere but Atlanta since April Fool’s Day; in that same stretch the Spurs have taken 13 flights. The Spurs’ crowd will be the first hostile fans the Knicks have played in front of since March in Houston. And as distressingly and speciously corporate as the Garden crowd gets the higher the ticket prices go, I’m here to tell those of you who’ve never witnessed MSG in the Finals that it hits more than a little different than The Rose Garden, the House that A-Rod Will Ruin and Never Forget What We Did To Seattle Coliseum.

The Spurs are really, really quite good. They often are. The Knicks are really, really good too. They’re often not. Now that I’ve given you the background on both, forget all you’ve read. Don’t try to guess what will happen. Let it wash over you. Let it unfold. If the Knicks lose, trust me, that’s the easiest way to prep yourself for the fallout. And if the Knicks win . . . . . .

Welcome to our annual Lakers season in review series, where we’ll look back at each player on the team’s roster this season and evaluate if they should be part of the future of the franchise. Today, we take a look at Bronny James

While seemingly every sports fan across the globe was giving their unique and different take about Bronny James and his spot on the Lakers roster, Bronny was busy working quietly in the background.

Spending much of his first two seasons in the G League, Bronny had brief moments of flashes of his progress, typically coming in blowouts or on nights when most of the team was out. However, injuries late in the season forced him up the depth chart and into the rotation and, for the first time in his young career, he showed what he could do in meaningful minutes.

It was an encouraging look at a player the Lakers have invested in the last two seasons. The question is, did he show enough for the Lakers to count on him moving forward?

How did he play?

For good portions of the season, Bronny was in the G League and playing well. Across the first 73 games of the Lakers’ season, Bronny played 32 times and averaged only seven minutes per game. Only five of those games saw him play at least 10 minutes, showing how limited he was to garbage time or one rotation at most per game.

A better summary of his season would be his time with South Bay, where he played 14 games. He averaged 15.6 points per game, but shot 56.4% from the field and 45.6% from three. He found his groove over the course of the season and looked a lot like the prospect that had so many scouts excited when he was in high school.

Eventually, injuries in the final month of the season opened the door for him to play meaningful NBA minutes again. Bronny took that confidence he gained in the G League and looked like a different, improved player with the parent Lakers.

His improvements didn’t directly result in big stat lines, but the assuredness and comfort he played with were the most noticeable difference. After looking overwhelmed by the moment too often during his rookie year and the beginning of his second season, Bronny finally looked like he belonged.

That all became really important when Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves went down with injuries and it became an all-hands-on-deck approach entering the playoffs. That included Bronny, who played in the first four games against the Rockets, including a memorable moment with LeBron during Game 3.

Eventually, as the games got more intense and the margin for error slimmed, Bronny fell out of the rotation, but it was an encouraging sign that he could see the floor at all.

Bronny was always going to be a project and the team certainly had to spend quite a bit of time developing him. While the work isn’t done, that they finally started to reap some of those benefits was a great sign this season.

What is the contract situation moving forward?

After two seasons with a full-guaranteed contract, Bronny’s deal is only partially guaranteed for next season. However, it becomes fully guaranteed on June 29 and it seems unlikely the Lakers move him before then.

He’s only on the books for $2.3 million next season and has a fourth season with a team option with a decision not due until late June of 2027.

Should he be back?

It’s not a necessity for Bronny to return, but there are a lot of other players on the roster who should be replaced before him. Bronny is on an affordable deal and showed enough to warrant bringing him back.

No longer is he tied to his father and even if LeBron leaves the Lakers this summer, Bronny has done enough to warrant a spot on this roster next season and, after devoting so much to help him develop, the Lakers should keep him around to see the benefits of all of that.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

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The New York Knicks have a significant rest advantage over the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals.

Those fresh legs, however, aren’t enough to convince basketball fans that New York can knock off San Antonio for the franchise’s first NBA title since 1973.

Kalshi — one of our favorite prediction market apps currently give the Knicks a 36% chance of winning the 2026 NBA championship. And while those odds aren’t great, they aren’t impossible.

I dissect the NBA Finals matchup and highlight the five things New York has to do – and do well – if it’s going to shock the Spurs and hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy.

1. Next-up scoring

Jalen Brunson shoulders the scoring load for the New York Knicks, but their postseason push has enjoyed balanced efforts across the starting lineup.

All five starters are averaging more than 11 points, and New York has watched players step up when Brunson struggles, be it Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, or Josh Hart. Even super-streaky Mikal Bridges has been constant the past two rounds.

The X-factor for New York will be bench production.

The Knicks need guys like Miles McBride, Landry Shamet, and Mitchell Robinson to contribute when the starters need a blow. The San Antonio Spurs have a couple of capable bench players in Dylan Harper and Keldon Johnson, and New York’s reserves need to at least counter that.

2. Mitchell Robinson healthy

Unlike an Oklahoma City squad falling apart at the seams versus the Spurs, New York comes in relatively healthy – save for center Mitchell Robinson.

Robinson enters the NBA Finals with a broken right pinky finger and is questionable for Game 1.

Kalshi is offering prediction markets on Robinson’s next game and whether it will be before June 4 (with Game 1 scheduled for June 3) or after June 4. They’re giving him an 80% chance of playing in Game 1 even though he’s been spotted wearing a splint ahead of the series.

Having Robinson in the lineup is vital to defending Victor Wembanyama. The Knicks don’t have much size beyond Karl-Anthony Towns, and with Robinson in, the defense can roll out different matchups between him, KAT, and Hart to see what bugs the Spurs’ 7-footer the most.

In two meetings versus San Antonio, Robinson averaged four points and five rebounds with a +10.0 plus/minus rating over 33 total minutes. New York won both of those games.

3. Josh Hart hitting shots

Playing against big, bad opponents is nothing new to the Knicks. They just took down Cleveland’s twin towers of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, thanks in large part to Hart’s solid shooting.

Hart isn’t known for his offense, so Cleveland opted to assign rim protector Allen to the 6-foot-5 guard. The Cavs hoped Hart’s poor outside shooting would allow Allen to sag off and stick to patrolling the paint.

However, Hart made Cleveland pay by shooting 45% from the floor, including 35% from beyond the arc for the series. He shot the ball 49 times in the four ECF games, and 25 of those FGAs were graded as “wide open” without a defender within at least six feet.

Hart needs to do the same with Wembanyama, expected to check him on the defensive end, as San Antonio wants to keep the shot swatter in the key. But if Hart stays hot and makes those open looks, the Spurs either have to move Wemby out or switch up things defensively.

Getting the French 7-footer away from the rim is vital to the Knicks being able to break down San Antonio’s guards, get inside, and either score at the rim or find open shooters. It all starts with Hart.

4. KAT scratch fever

A big part of the Knicks’ offensive success has been the emergence of Towns as a “point forward” for New York.

Towns is operating out of the high post on many possessions, dragging a bigger defender away from the hoop and finding cutters to the rim and shooters coming off screens. The 7-footer is averaging almost six dimes on 6.6 potential assists – nearly double his regular season passing production.

On top of that playmaking, KAT can hit the outside jumper and make big defenders pay for not closing out. Towns hit at a 50% clip from deep versus the Cavaliers and went 2-for-5 from outside in two of the three meetings with the Spurs this year.

Towns could also find himself attacking inside should San Antonio toss smaller players at him. If Wembanyama is on Hart, the Spurs will have to use 6-foot-7 Julian Champagnie or 6-foot-5 Johnson to stop KAT – or reach down the bench to Luke Kornet, Harrison Barnes, or Kelly Olynyk.

Towns is behind Brunson and Wembanyama in the NBA Finals MVP prediction markets, with Kalshi giving him a 5% shot at taking home the individual hardware. A $1 investment pays $100 at KAT’s current price.

5. Disrupt Spurs’ transition

San Antonio wants to force deep misses, grab long boards, and push the ball in transition to beat the Knicks down the floor.

The Knicks’ best line of defense is simply making their shots and forcing the Spurs to start their possessions off the inbounds more often than not.

When it does miss, New York can’t just watch and needs to get bodies back, pick up the ball handler, and slow the Spurs down. A little pressure on the ball handler could go a long way for New York.

We’ve seen San Antonio get sloppy – albeit with injuries to PGs – but the Knicks have tenacious on-ball options and solid defenders off the bench. They’ve forced more than 15 turnovers per contest, generating an average of 20 points from those mistakes in the postseason.

The Knicks have done a much better job of slowing down transition attacks in the postseason than in the regular season, when they allowed the eighth-most points per possession to transition teams. In the tournament, that metric has been trimmed from 1.17 to 1.05.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

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The Phoenix Suns have numerous decisions ahead of them this upcoming offseason, including multiple restricted free agents, unrestricted free agents, and players with trade value. The following series will examine those decisions as our writing team presents both a point and a counterpoint for each.

We’ve arrived at the final player to discuss in our “How to Fix the Suns” saga. You know him well, as he’s played 11 seasons for the Phoenix Suns. And I’m here to tell you why the Suns should let him play his 12th in Phoenix.

Devin Booker is easily the team’s most valuable asset, both financially and organizationally. And there is a reason for that. Last season, he once again showcased why he is an All-Star, and had he played the qualifying number of games, he may have added another All-NBA team selection to his resume.

The likelihood of him being moved? I’d place it in the “slim to none” category, especially considering what Suns’ owner Mat Ishbia stated in his end-of-season presser.

“I’ll ride into a fire with Devin Booker and I’ll do it proudly,” Isbia emphatically stated. “Devin Booker is not getting traded. Devin Booker is our franchise player.”

Perhaps that should be it. That’s the entire article. Ishbia said we ain’t doing it, the end. But where’s the fun in that?

I’ll start by acknowledging that, while I truly appreciate who and what Devin Booker is as a player and a person, no one in inexpendable. Such is life. You might think you’re hot shit, but guess what? The building will still be standing whenever you leave. There’s your life lesson for you.

So it’s valuable to have this thought exercise. It allows us to ponder big picture scenarios, understand the broader picture, and respond to those who believe that parting ways with Devin Booker is something to be explored.

Yes, Book has his shortcomings. In 11 seasons with Phoenix, the team has truly been a viable championship contender in two of them. Preseason expectations may lead you to tack on another two seasons, although we all know how the Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal era played out. Still, for those who believe moving off of Devin Booker is the right call, I’m here to make the case that you’re wrong.

Trading Booker now creates more problems than it solves

Last year was a pleasantly surprising season. We exited the year feeling a sense of confidence in the overall direction of the franchise, and although the Suns have their dead-cap issues and limited draft capital, it finally felt like we had fewer problems than your average NBA team.

Devin Booker may have his limitations as a player, and the Phoenix Suns may ultimately be limited by whatever ceiling exists with him leading the way. But for an organization searching for continuity and stability, keeping Booker is paramount for moving the ball forward. Blowing things up now only leads to more losing, less competitive basketball, and a franchise climbing onto the hamster wheel every rebuilding team hopes to escape, chasing lottery picks and waiting for one to change everything.

Phoenix spent last offseason retooling. There’s a foundation here. In my opinion, you stay on the path you’re on. That doesn’t mean you can’t pivot in a year or two. But right now, with this mix of youth and veterans, continuity and stability are the two most valuable things the Suns have. The moment you move off Booker this offseason, you’re sacrificing both.

For those who think now is the time to blow it up, stockpile draft picks, and bring in younger pieces alongside veterans whose contracts match Booker’s money, I simply don’t agree with that path. There are plenty of teams around the NBA trying to find stars, praying that their latest lottery pick is the answer. Praying isn’t a strategy. Having an organization that knows how to properly function is. That is what Phoenix is attempting to build.

Sure, Booker isn’t a superstar, but he is undeniably a star. And he raises your floor every time he’s on the court. All you have to do is look back at this past season to remember what the offense looked like when he wasn’t available. Point Book may not be the long-term answer, but his presence still brings a level of steadiness to an offense that understandably struggled whenever he was out. The team carried a 115.9 offensive rating and were +201 when Booker was on the court this season, and were -81 with a 110.0 rating when he was off.

That’s why, to me, this isn’t really about blind loyalty or refusing to acknowledge Booker’s limitations. It’s about timing and understanding where the Phoenix Suns actually are as an organization. They finally have some traction. They finally have a direction that feels intentional. Devin Booker is still a major part of that. Right now, moving off Booker feels less like progress and more like hitting reset before you truly know what you’ve built.

The Suns still need Booker to bridge what comes next

Phoenix finds itself in a weird spot in franchise history. They’re good. And maybe next season, with continued youth development and more stability around Devin Booker, they can become better than good. Great, perhaps? At the same time, this era feels like a bridge. A strange middle ground between the team that made the Finals and the team that fumbled its way out of that era.

Now it’s about the next steps.

Part of correcting the course is getting to 2030, when Booker’s salary comes off the books and some of the dead cap money clears as well. To get there, the Suns need to navigate the next few seasons the right way. And having Booker here gives them a real chance to do that, because having Booker here means Phoenix is going to win basketball games.

And winning matters.

When you have an influx of young players and you’re trying to teach them how to win, having Devin Booker in the building is important. His presence has value. Because if you blow it up, chances are you start losing. And when losing becomes part of the culture, players can grow comfortable with it, and climbing out of that hole becomes incredibly difficult.

Ask the Brooklyn Nets this year. Ask the Suns from a decade ago. Losing culture isn’t something to embrace. It isn’t something to chase. And I believe moving off Booker this offseason would put Phoenix right back on that path.

Phoenix finally has a roster with some direction, some continuity, and a young core learning what winning basketball is supposed to look like. Booker helps reinforce all of that every time he steps on the floor. Maybe a year from now, the conversation changes and the organization decides a different path makes more sense. Currently, the Suns need stability more than they need a reset, and Devin Booker still gives them the clearest path toward building something worth sustaining.

Devin Booker means more to Phoenix than basketball

Then there’s the loyalty factor. Sure, the NBA is a business. Fans don’t always care about loyalty, and players don’t always care about loyalty. That conversation goes both ways. In Booker’s case, it feels different.

A player entering his 12th season in Phoenix is rare. If Booker suits up with Phoenix next season, he’ll become one of only three players in franchise history to play that many seasons for the Suns. The others are Kevin Johnson, who played 12 years in Phoenix, and Alvan Adams, who spent all 13 seasons of his career here.

There’s something meaningful in that. There’s beauty in that loyalty. There’s a sense of pride in it. And for a fan base that’s dealt with plenty of mercenaries in recent years, it’s nice having somebody who never felt like one. Booker stayed. He embraced the state. He embraced the community. He’s grown with the franchise and helped carry it through some ugly years and some unforgettable ones.

Those things matter to me. And quite honestly, I’m not ready to let go of that yet.

That’s the part that can’t be fully measured when we talk about contracts, timelines, and long-term roster building. Devin Booker became bigger than a stat line in Phoenix a long time ago. He became part of the identity of the franchise itself. Through the losing seasons, through the Finals run, through every reset and every expectation that followed, Booker remained the constant.

The player, the franchise, and the city still feel connected.

The smarter move is to give this one more year

And the primary reason I don’t want to move off Devin Booker at this point is simple. Now is not the time.

I keep coming back to that word, continuity. The Suns need another season with their primary pieces in place to see what they are, who they are, and whether what they’ve built actually works. Not strictly the players either. The coaching schemes. The culture. The foundation they started laying this past season.

Because if it’s repeatable, now you have options.

And with this new regime focused on development across the board, it’s also an opportunity for Booker to continue showing exactly who and what he is within that structure. If Phoenix falls short of expectations, then this time next summer the conversation becomes very different. And when that time comes, we can have it. At this point, I don’t think it’s time.

I know there are some of you out there who believe Booker’s value will never be higher than it is right now. I disagree. I actually think there’s a case for his value increasing next season, when he has three years left on his deal, with two of those on the supermax. There’s less long-term money attached. There’s a cleaner runway. And if there’s an organization out there struggling to find direction, a team like the Detroit Pistons, for example, Booker suddenly becomes the type of player you convince yourself can change everything.

And to get that player, you pay a premium.

Granted, the NBA’s anti-tanking rules have changed the math a bit. Teams are probably not going to throw five first-round picks into deals the way they once did. Those picks carry more value now because flat lottery odds have made every one of them feel more like a lottery ticket. That reality exists whether you trade Booker now or next summer.

Across the league, draft picks are more valuable, and teams are going to be more selective with how they move them. That’s why I believe Phoenix can accomplish both things next season. You can evaluate whether the system works. You can evaluate whether Booker works within it. You can gather another year of development, another year of chemistry, another year of data.

And if things don’t break the way you hoped they would, you can still move off Booker next summer at fair market value. That option is still there. It doesn’t have to happen now.

The Suns spent all of last season trying to establish structure, identity, and a healthier long-term direction. Walking away from Booker before you’ve truly given that process another year to breathe feels premature. Let the group play. Let the system evolve. Let the organization gather one more season of information. If the answers aren’t there a year from now, the option to make a major move still exists. Right now, patience feels like the smarter play.

Yeah, Ishbia says we aren’t moving Booker. And I agree with that statement, for now. This team has earned the right to see what next year brings. They’ve earned the right to prove whether or not health, development, and continuity can progress their standing in the league. ‘

This is Devin Booker’s team. This is Devin Booker’s town. Until it’s not.

The Knicks are back in the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999, facing the same San Antonio Spurs franchise that defeated them in five games 27 years ago. 

The Spurs, winners of 62 games during the regular season, own homecourt advantage in the series.

Head coach Mike Brown knows the Knicks will need to come out strong in Wednesday night's Game 1 in order to not let the home crowd become a factor.

“[We need to be] aware that we’re going into an environment where the opposing team is going to generate a lot of energy,” Brown said. “Our crowd is one of the best, if not the best in the league, and the energy that we get from playing here at Madison Square Garden is unbelievable. There are probably other buildings where, in their players’ minds, they give them that same energy. 

"So, knowing that it’s going to be hostile, we don’t have the energy of the crowd to help us get over the hump. So we have to come out, not coming out jumping on them, but we have to come out with a purpose, not just physically but mentally as well, so that we don’t fall behind big, because the crowd will really feed into that.”

The Knicks’ most recent meeting with the Spurs came in mid-December, as the Knicks won the NBA Cup with a 124-113 victory over San Antonio. 

And while the two teams split the two regular season matchups outside of the NBA Cup, Karl-Anthony Towns isn’t putting much stock into any of those past meetings.

“The Finals are won by a team, and I think both of our teams are different than what you saw at the [NBA] Cup,” Towns said. “Even though we were blessed to be able to win it, we’re not the same team that we were at the Cup, nor are they the same team that they were at the Cup.”

Towns, of course, grew up in New Jersey as a Knicks fan. Now he’s part of a Knicks team that is on the cusp of winning the franchise’s first title since 1973.

“It’s been an honor to be part of this team, part of this organization that’s bringing the word hope back to the city,” Towns said. “To have the Knicks be where we’re at right now and to be so respected in the city…. The greatest currency you can earn in New York City isn’t money, it’s respect. And to have the respect of the fans in the city, we’re rich beyond belief here in the city.”

The Knicks have steamrolled through their first three playoff series, making things look easy in series wins over Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Cleveland. 

In sweeping the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Knicks haven’t played since last Monday. But as Landry Shamet explained, the Knicks are no strangers to having longer gaps in their playoff schedule.

“Our focus is on going on the road and winning Game 1, and that’s been the same. This isn’t our first long break that we’ve had,” said the veteran guard. “So, it’s more of the same and focusing on the details and gameplan and not getting too crazy or outside the box. The reality is we’re here for a reason and we don’t need to reinvent the wheel entirely. Staying with our principles and focusing on the little things and building up to go try to win Game 1.”

When I first started writing for Pounding the Rock ahead of the 2016-17 season, the Spurs were plenty relevant. The had arguably a top 2 player in the league in Kawhi Leonard, their first ever big free agent signing (LaMarcus Aldridge) was entering his second season with the club, and they were seen as top title contenders alongside the soon-to-be dynasty of the Golden State Warriors. As a result, there was plenty being written about the Spurs from across the media landscape, which meant there was plenty to cover. So we regularly published posts with links so our readers could find content that they had missed.

In the years since, as the Spurs fell down the standings and out of the average sports fan’s mind, there wasn’t as much being written beyond the occasional monument0us event (like, you know, drafting Victor Wembanyama). But now, with the Spurs back in the NBA Finals, they’re in the brightest of spotlights, so it’s time to dust off ye ol’ Links post to provide you with even more reading than what we produce ourselves as you wait for Wednesday evening to arrive.

A look back at the Western Conference Finals

Obviously, we have covered the Spurs’ amazing victory over the Thunder pretty extensively, but if you want some other perspectives, check out the following links:

• Jeff Zillgitt of NBA.com provides four takeaways from Game 7, from how the Spurs took down the defending champions to where the Thunder go from here.
• ESPN’s Anthony Slater discusses how Victor Wembanyama led the “ahead of schedule” Spurs back to the Finals.
• San Antonio Express News’ Tom Orsborn looks at Julian Champagnie’s improbable journey to the Finals, from being cut by the Philadelphia 76ers to make room for Mac McClung — entirely so he could be in the dunk contest — to starter who hit big shot after big shot to help take down the defending champions. (Subscription required.)

Finals Previews

Check out what national pundits are saying in series previews and how they think it will go.

• SB Nation’s Ricky O’Donnell makes a case for both teams and a prediction over at our mother site.
• ESPN staffers look back at the Spurs and Knicks three regular season games and what to watch for in the Finals.
• The Athletic’s Spurs and Knicks contributors — Jared Weiss and James Edwards III, respectively — team up to provide the lowdown on the Finals. (Subscription required.)
• CBS’s Jack Maloney looks at the three biggest questions that will decide the Finals.

Knicks’ Perspective

• Michael Zeno of our sister site, Posting and Toasting, has an excellent review of the both teams’ regular seasons and preview of this match-up.
• We love you, Jeremy, but hush up! Former Spur Jeremy Sochan, who has the unique of experience of having played for both the Spurs and Knicks this season and with Wemby for almost three seasons, provides some insight on how to beat his former teammate.

Finals Courts are back!

Hey look! After receiving much criticism during last year’s finals — where there were initially no trophy or Finals logos or any indication what you watching before the NBA tried tiny, glitchy, digital logos — the Larry O’Brien Trophy is back front and center for the Spurs and Knicks courts. (I kind of feel bad for the Thunder and Pacers, to be honest. You could watch their highlights from last year and think it was a regular season game.)

For your viewing pleasure

Are your eyes tired of reading and you just want to watch or listen to something? Check out Thinking Basketball’s latest video on Dylan Harper and his unique abilities that can’t be taught.

And here’s an excerpt from Bill Simmons and Zach Lowe on how the Spurs took over the Western Conference and their eagerness for next year to get here so we can run it back with the Thunder.

The wait between the Conference Finals and the NBA Finals can feel like forever. As Knicks fans count down the hours until Game One against the Spurs, here are a few practical tips for maintaining your sanity until the ball finally goes up in San Antonio.

1. Mood Swings Are Normal

While waiting for the start of the Finals, you may experience:

• Euphoria
• Anxiety
• Irrational confidence
• Existential dread

These feelings are normal. Do not make major life decisions during this time, and for God’s sake, try not to impregnate anyone or buy a pet. Or impregnate a pet. Pro tip: avoid pictures of Victor Wembanyama standing next to average-sized NBA players. That could cause some unpleasant flutters.

2. Approach Podcasts with Caution

On today’s podcast from The Athletic, all three panelists picked the Spurs to win. I am continually impressed by how underappreciated the Knicks remain, no matter what they do. A historic run through the playoffs? Fuhgeddaboutit! Irrelevant!

If New York wins the Larry O’Brien Trophy, we already know what will happen. The public will find a way to qualify it. Something like: “The Knicks got lucky, catching Wemby before he fully metamorphosed into a World Destroyer.”

New York can blame itself, I suppose. It’s something like the crazy ex-girlfriend who reappears looking healthy and claiming to be on her meds. You want to believe her stability will last, but you can’t forget how many times she trashed your stuff. A narrative that has proven true so often is hard to shake, and the Knicks were terrible for so many years that we can’t blame people for not trusting that they’re for real. Being one of the biggest markets in the league didn’t help, either. It kept the spotlight on them when they deserved to be hidden in the shadows. Well not anymore, pal! Recommendation: Stick to Knicks Film School or Locked On Knicks and skip those other dolts.

3. Strange Symptoms May Occur

Maybe you find yourself checking for updates on Mitch’s pinky every 15 minutes. Or you lurk a little too menacingly behind a guy in a Spurs jersey on the sidewalk. Or you start considering a subscription to Cleaning the Glass because you want to sound extra informed at the Game One viewing party.

Relax. Let the crazy wash over you and pass. If you start a fight with a Spurs fan, you might miss a game or two due to incarceration. And you can totally live without paying to know Stephon Castle’s shot quality from 12-15 feet. Feel free to jump ahead to Number 6 below.

4. Your Relationships May Change

This is the schedule:

Game 1: Wednesday, June 3 — Knicks at Spurs, 8:30 p.m. ET
Game 2: Friday, June 5 — Knicks at Spurs, 8:30 p.m. ET
Game 3: Monday, June 8 — Spurs at Knicks, 8:30 p.m. ET
Game 4: Wednesday, June 10 — Spurs at Knicks, 8:30 p.m. ET
Game 5 (if necessary): Saturday, June 13 — Knicks at Spurs
Game 6 (if necessary): Tuesday, June 16 — Spurs at Knicks
Game 7 (if necessary): Friday, June 19 — Knicks at Spurs

Explain to your family that you love them, but these are sacred time slots. If they are unable to accept that you will be unavailable during those hours, well . . . we are your family, too. We understand you more than they ever can. Cut us, and do we not bleed orange and blue? Besides, I’m sure we have an extra cot for you here at P&T headquarters. Just let me clear it with the wife.

5. Prepare for the Unpredictable

The Finals are much like a scheduled C-section. You know when they’ll arrive. You know they’ll change your life. You know roughly how long they’ll last. Yet somehow, despite months of preparation, you have absolutely no idea what will happen once the cutting starts.

Sleep may prove challenging during this time. You may discover previously unknown superstitions. Remember that these behaviors are normal and no amount of nervous doomscrolling can prepare you for the emotional roller coaster of a Knicks Finals game. Pro tip: Pack an emotional-support beverage. (But don’t drink if you’re actually pregnant, you degenerate. Sheesh.)

6. Savor this Moment

You are breathing rare air. Oh, we caught a teasing whiff of it last season, but now we’re sucking it all into our lungs, and it’s even more amazing than advertised. This is what those Golden State kids were talking about. This is Finals air—not that hot, exhaust-scented B.S. air I was spewing back in 2016, when I was Ubering and trying to convince passengers that Langston Galloway was one to watch.

Breathe in, hold it as long as you can, and enjoy it, family. It took a long time to get here and the future is not promised. Smile to yourself and be cool, knowing that on Wednesday, your New York Knicks will play in the NBA Finals. At last.

LGK!!!

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While the San Antonio Spurs are heavy favorites in the NBA championship odds, some particular New York Knicks players are the favorites in the prop categories.

If pondering a bet on the Knicks to spring the upset in the series, such a prop bet may be the safer route to profit, as my Knicks vs. Spurs series props and NBA picks explain.

Knicks vs. Spurs series props

Player	Pick
Jalen Brunson	Most points in series	+145
Karl-Anthony Towns	Most assists in series	+2000
Victor Wembanyama	Most rebounds in series	-160
De'Aaron Fox	Most steals in series	+500
Karl-Anthony Towns	Most threes made in series	+2800

Most points in series

Pick:Jalen Brunson (+145 at bet365)

As will be the case again amid these props, Victor Wembanyama is the favorite, juiced to -180, followed by Jalen Brunson at +145. The next best odds? Karl-Anthony Towns at +4000.

So let’s focus on only Wembanyama and Brunson.

The latter is the better scorer, but he is also facing the better defense. Sure, the New York Knicks may have the better defensive rating in the postseason, but let’s be honest about who they have played. The San Antonio Spurs’ defensive rating was No. 3 in the regular season and No. 4 following the All-Star Break, about two points better per 100 possessions than the Knicks in both subsets.

In the postseason, Brunson has averaged 26.9 points per game, a number actually deflated by New York’s success. In the last 10 games, Brunson has needed to play more than 35 minutes only five times.

Wembanyama has averaged 25.7 points (when ignoring Game 2 of the first round, when a concussion sidelined Wemby after only 12 minutes, and Game 4 of the second round, when he was ejected after only 12 minutes), playing at least 35 minutes in seven of 15 games.

Perhaps that workload concern should be a moot one.

When the Knicks are desperate, Brunson shows up. Looking at genuinely competitive games this postseason, the diminutive point guard has averaged 29.4 points in five games.

He should rise to this moment, and the plus-money payout lends some value to that desperation.

Most assists in series

Pick: Karl-Anthony Towns (+2000 at bet365)

Sportsbooks also view this market as a two-horse race. Brunson and Stephon Castle are near equals, priced at +120 and +130, respectively, with De’Aaron Fox then trailing at +550.

This makes sense. Brunson has led New York with 6.6 assists per game in the postseason, while Castle has led San Antonio with 6.7, ahead of Fox at 5.9 assists per game.

There is another name that should garner more attention, though. In fact, this should be the bet.

The Knicks fell behind the Hawks 2-1 to start the postseason. New York then made an offensive shift, turning to Karl-Anthony Towns as more of an offensive fulcrum. Since then, Towns has averaged 6.5 assists per game, while Brunson has averaged 6.7.

Keeping the ball in Towns’ hands on the perimeter will drag Wembanyama away from the rim, creating cutting chances for the other Knicks. There is both a track record in this postseason and a schematic logic to jumping on this long shot.

Most rebounds in series

Pick: Victor Wembanyama (-160 at bet365)

The leaders in this prop are obvious, Wembanyama at -160 or Towns at +130, then followed by Josh Hart at +2000.

Hart leading the NBA Finals in rebounds would be a chaotic delight, but San Antonio’s perimeter players are physical enough to slow down his usual penchant.

Let’s not overthink this prop.

The only way Wembanyama should fall short of this prop is outright fatigue. And even then, he should have a cushion to work with. Removing those two games in which he departed quite early, Wembanyama has averaged 11.7 rebounds this postseason, compared to Towns’s 10.6.

If there is a Western opponent most comparable to the Knicks, it is Towns’ former team. Wembanyama averaged 13.6 rebounds per game against the Timberwolves, Game 4’s ejection aside. Expect something similar from the Frenchman in the NBA Finals.

Most steals in series

Pick: De’Aaron Fox (+500 at bet365)

Finally, a series prop with a number of viable options. Six players come in between +275 and +600, led by three Knicks, and then followed by three Spurs.

If curious, Hart (+350) has led New York with 1.8 steals per game, closely trailed by OG Anunoby (+275) at 1.5. Devin Vassell (+600) has led San Antonio with 1.4 steals per game, closely trailed by De’Aaron Fox (+500) and Julian Champagnie (+4500) at 1.3.

That might quickly suggest a bet on Champagnie would bring value, but the Knicks’ offense should not put the ball in front of him as often as the Timberwolves did. Fault Julius Randle. Champagnie notched 10 of his 24 postseason steals in that second-round win, otherwise averaging 1.2 steals per game.

This is too high a price for someone who should be the on-ball defender against Brunson with great frequency. Fox made his bones early in his career on fast hands and transition buckets. Reviving that reputation against Brunson could be an underrated piece of San Antonio’s championship chase.

Most threes made in series

Pick: Karl-Anthony Towns (+2800 at bet365)

Let’s start by tearing down the shortest odds.

Devin Vassell (+250) and Julian Champagnie (+260) have led the Spurs from deep this postseason, hitting 2.3 per game and 2.6, respectively, while each shooting better than 35% from beyond the arc. But now they face the best 3-point defense in the postseason, with the Knicks holding foes to 30.5% from beyond the arc.

Brunson (+350) struggled from deep in the Eastern Conference Finals, hitting just 4 of 22 threes, eventually taking only four and then five in the final two games.

If there is no clear frontrunner, is there a worthwhile longshot? Absolutely.

This fits with the assists thought above. Playing Towns on the perimeter does not lessen New York’s offense. It may, in fact, better it. And that is without even acknowledging it will drag Wembanyama away from the rim.

Towns has shot 48.9% from deep this postseason, but he has taken only 3.2 threes per game. Double that in the NBA Finals to force Wembanyama to worry about the perimeter on every possession.

Even the misses will have a better chance of ending up in Knicks’ possession given Wemby will not be crashing the glass while Hart and Anunboy will be.

This is New York’s best offensive approach, and it is one Towns is entirely capable of.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

When the New York Knicks swept the Philadelphia 76ers in the second round of the playoffs in dominating fashion, fans debated whether the Knicks’ nine days off before the Conference Finals would cause rust to build or if the rest would give them an advantage. Sportico’s analysis determined that rust was not a significant factor, and the Knicks backed that up by sweeping the Cleveland Cavaliers in the next round.

The rest vs. rust debate has revved back up prior to the Finals, but the benefits of rest may be less pronounced in the Finals because there is more time off before the games start and between each game. The bigger discussion this time around: Are the Knicks actually as good as their 11-game win streak would suggest, or is the Eastern Conference just weak?

The Western Conference has been stronger for most of the 21st century, with a winning record over the East in interconference games in 24 of the past 27 seasons. This year, though, the East was, on paper, the fourth strongest it has been since the 1999-00 season. East teams won 49% of their games against West teams.

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The East’s competitiveness wasn’t just about depth of talent masking a lack of strength at the top. The top four teams in the East went 18-15 versus the top four teams in the West.

In fairness, two of the best Eastern Conference teams bowed out in the postseason before the Knicks got the chance to face them. The Boston Celtics blew a 3-1 lead to the 76ers in the first round and the Detroit Pistons lost to the Cavaliers in seven games in the second round.

But the Knicks have shown they can compete with the best of the best. They went 2-1 versus their Finals foe the San Antonio Spurs this year, including a 124-113 win in the final of the NBA Cup in December. New York went 0-2 against the best team in the regular season, the Oklahoma City Thunder, but those losses were by an average of only seven points.

It should be noted that in their 11-game win streak through the middle two rounds of the playoffs, the Knicks outscored opponents by 262 points, more than any team in any 11-game stretch in NBA history, regular season or postseason. The Knicks played teams that were 12th, 19th and ninth in regular-season net rating, respectively, but they dominated those opponents to a historic extent.

Even if the East was weak, that wouldn’t necessarily indicate anything about the Knicks’ ability to beat the particular team standing in their path right now. The weakest season for the East in the past 50 years was 2004, when the conference won just 37% of its games against the West. The Detroit Pistons didn’t exactly demolish their competition that year, needing seven games to beat the 47-win New Jersey Nets en route to the Finals against the heavily favored Los Angeles Lakers, led by Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal.

The result of the 2004 Finals? 4-1 Pistons.

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New Yorkers argue about everything. The best pizza, the best bagel, the best borough. Yankees fans won’t sit next to Mets fans at the Subway Series. Giants fans can tolerate Jets fans only because they have the same home — in New Jersey. Rangers and Islander fans split households.

But the Knicks? They make a run in the playoffs and suddenly this big city feels like they are all one big, loud New York family.  

That is what's happening now. The Knicks are in the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999, opening Game 1 on Wednesday, June 3 against the San Antonio Spurs after sweeping Cleveland and reeling off 11 straight playoff wins.

The city hasn’t had a moment like this in 27 years. And it shows.

“The Knicks are the one team that makes New York feel like a small town,” Mike Greenberg, host of ESPN’s Get Up, told USA Today Sports. He's a Greenwich Village kid and lifelong Knicks fan. “You always feel like you’re in the biggest city in the work, like you are in the center of the universe. And the Knicks are the one team that makes New York feel like a small town, because everyone is wearing their Knicks shirts and everyone is yelling ‘Go Knicks’ in the street. There is just a vibe.”

Zaza Pachulia recounts best decision of life to sign with Warriors, find a home originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The doors to NBA free agency swing open this month, and dozens of players will be on the market. Some have the status to choose their next team. Others accept the only offer available. Some go overseas. A few retire.

For fans glued to the NBA’s summer news cycle, it’s a fascinating time. For players and team executives, there can be enough uncertainty to redline stress levels.

Former Warriors center Zaza Pachulia, a guest on the latest episode of the “Dubs Talk” podcast, has been there. He endured multiple summers in free agency during his 16-year NBA career.

One foray stands so far above all others that he enjoys reliving it. That would be joining the Warriors in 2016.

“That was one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life,” Pachulia told NBC Sports Bay Area.

Pachulia, then 32, was coming off a solid season with the Dallas Mavericks, starting 69 games at center, playing alongside the likes of Dirk Nowitzki, Deron Williams, Chandler Parsons and Wesley Matthews. His two-year contract, signed with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2014, had expired and he was home in Eastern Europe, preparing to play with Georgia’s national team.

“My agent calls me, and he goes, like, ‘I got a couple options for you,’ ” Pachulia recalled. “But this is probably the most important decision you’re going to face, the most important decision you’ll ever face. Option 1 is Dallas wants you back. And then there was another team. And there’s another team. And the last option is the Golden State Warriors.”

The Warriors, featuring All-Stars Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson, 11 weeks earlier finished the regular season with an NBA-record 73 wins. They were 16 days removed from losing to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a searing seven-game NBA Finals.

Golden State also was two days removed from signing Oklahoma City superstar Kevin Durant, one of the most coveted free agents to ever grace the market.

And now his agent, Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports, was on the phone sending a grand opportunity through Pachulia’s ears.

“He said they’re looking at you as a starting center,” Pachulia said. “I was obviously . . . I was already thinking about it. This was Steph, Klay, KD and Draymond. And they needed a center. And I said, ‘Wow, these kinds of calls don’t happen.’ This is a lifetime opportunity. We’re like these are generational players.”

Zaza’s mind was racing. Visions he had not imagined were becoming clear in his mind. Pachulia and his wife, Tika, had two sons and a daughter, all between 3 and 7 years old. His NBA career had taken him from Orlando, where he was drafted in 2003, to Milwaukee, to Atlanta, back to Milwaukee and then to Dallas.

There had been a few trips to the playoffs, but none of those steps had offered anything close to an NBA championship. Nothing like this.

“This is generational, a once-in-a-lifetime call, this opportunity,” Pachulia recalled. “It was not about the numbers. It was unique. And that was special summer. It was not about which team is offering how much money and how many years, and what other bonuses. There was none of that. 

“It was the Warriors’ offer, and it was everything else. And once I was thinking about the Warriors offer, once I was thinking about that I was going to be part of something special, something unique, I couldn’t focus on other offers.”

Pachulia had one request before accepting Golden State’s offer. He wanted to speak with head coach Steve Kerr.

Kerr talked about his coaching influences, Phil Jackson and Gregg Popovich. He explained his general coaching philosophy and how he wanted to deploy Pachulia. About 20 minutes later, the big man was sold.

Less than a year later, Pachulia and his teammates were celebrating with a championship parade through the streets of Oakland.

“Everything he said, that’s how the season went,” Pachulia recalled. “But honestly, that was one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life. At the end of the day, life is beautiful, because it’s just kind of either you make the right decision or you learn from it, right?

“That was one of those moments where I think I made the right decision, and the reason why I’m still here, because of that right decision, it’s kind of building on it, and still part of this amazing community is amazing organization, and this became home.”

Pachulia, two years later, signed a free-agent deal with Detroit, staying with the Pistons for one year before retiring and returning to the Warriors in a consulting capacity. He and his family had found a home.

Which is what most NBA free agents will be seeking in the weeks to come.

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What Warriors star Steph Curry failed to prove to Kendrick Perkins until 2022 originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Steph Curry is widely considered the best shooter in NBA history and is often credited with altering the trajectory of basketball with his unlimited 3-point range.

While this is a common stance around the NBA, ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins shredded the accolades of the four-time NBA champion and future Hall of Famer on Monday’s episode of “Get Up.” When discussing comments made by WNBA coach Becky Hammon and Warriors star Draymond Green, who both believed that the New York Knicks needed a “1A” player because Jalen Brunson is too small to fit that role, Perkins ended up firing a stray at Curry.

As he addressed Green’s comments that denounced the Knicks’ success because they are in a weakly perceived Eastern Conference, Perkins fired off the take that Curry wasn’t a “1A” kind of player until after the team’s 2022 title.

“Let me end on this, Steph Curry didn’t prove he was a 1A until he actually won his fourth NBA championship,” Perkins said. “That’s when he got his Finals MVP as being the 1A. If you want to keep it real, that’s why they had to go get Kevin Durant. That’s why they had to go get Kevin Durant for the other two after that.”

Perkins also wanted to make sure Green didn’t discredit the Knicks’ path to the NBA Finals, citing the fact that the Warriors benefited from Chris Paul and Kyrie Irving injuries during their first title run in 2015.

“To win a championship, it takes luck,” Perkins said. “Last time I checked, Draymond Green, when he was facing the Houston Rockets, didn’t Chris Paul when they had control over that series pull his hamstring? Didn’t they get to the NBA Finals and Kyrie Irving got injured, I believe it was in Game 1, for their first championship?”

While Perkins might have a point in the sense that plenty of teams have won titles as a result of injuries plaguing another, it does seem odd that he went after Curry for this particular discourse.

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A DraftKings bettor won more than $1.7 million from a $2,500 parlay that was capped off by the San Antonio Spurs winning the Western Conference finals.

The four-leg parlay, valued at +68,528 odds, contained legs from the Winter Olympics, national title game, and NBA postseason.

Key Takeaways

• The parlay had a cash-out value of under $300,000 after the Spurs fell behind 3-2 against the Thunder.
  
  
• The ticket began in February when the Winter Olympics were still in progress.
  
  
• DraftKings believes that the Spurs are NBA champions in waiting. 

DraftKings’ $1.7 million parlay was one of the top stories to follow during the conference finals. The +68,528 odds translated to a 0.15% implied chance and would pay $686.28 for every $1 wagered.

Two of the four legs - Team USA to win Gold in hockey at Milan-Cortina and Michigan to win the college championship - had already cashed before the NBA playoffs began. The Spurs still needed to beat the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, and the Knicks needed to take out the Eastern Conference preseason favorite Cleveland Cavaliers. 

The bettor, known as “Parlay Prince,” didn’t face any trouble with the Knicks, who swept the Cavaliers out of the playoffs in short order. That was far from the case in the Western Conference finals, which went down to the wire in Game 7.

DraftKings provided updates of cash-out values that were offered over the last week as the Spurs and Thunder exchanged blows. The offer dropped as low as $293,273.26 and sat at $612,212.95 heading into the final game. 

WE HAVE AN UPDATED CASH OUT OFFER HEADING INTO GAME 7 🚨

The offer stands at $612,212.95 and Parlay Prince is NOT taking it as of now

He's one Spurs win away from $1.7M pic.twitter.com/STEZDrMRPH

— DraftKings Sports (@DKSports) May 29, 2026

Despite the Thunder being favored, the bettor opted not to cash out or place a hedge bet, making Game 7 a truly all-or-nothing event. 

While many online users slammed “Parlay Prince” for their stubbornness, he ended up walking away with the full prize after the Spurs won Game 7, 111-103.

$2500 and a dream turned into $1.7 million 🥹

Take a look back on one of the greatest parlay wins in DK history https://t.co/KACwzekoftpic.twitter.com/xY7vbTlInY

— DraftKings Sports (@DKSports) May 31, 2026

“All you gotta do is believe, and if you believe it, you can achieve it,” Parlay Prince said in a video recorded at the Thunder’s arena after his ticket cashed. 

“ALL YOU GOTTA DO IS BELIEVE”

Almost everyone told Parlay Prince to cash out and he said I believe 👏

Now, he’s got $1.7M 🥹 pic.twitter.com/ZzsEIi11E5

— DraftKings Sports (@DKSports) May 31, 2026

Tracking NBA Finals odds

Neither the Spurs or Knicks were expected to reach the NBA Finals. 

BetMGM valued the Knicks at +2200 in NBA Finals odds when the playoffs began, while sportsbooks agreed the Thunder were at least 2-to-1 favorites to beat the Spurs in the conference finals. 

With the Spurs or Knicks soon to be crowned NBA champions, the league is about to experience for the first time an eighth different champion in as many seasons. DraftKings believes the team in waiting is the Spurs, who are -205 (67.2% implied chance) to win the Finals. The Knicks are +170 (37% chance).

For an 8th consecutive season, the NBA will crown a NEW champion 👀 pic.twitter.com/70TBduHJsS

— DraftKings Sports (@DKSports) June 1, 2026

Despite the Spurs being in pole position, the Knicks have and are continuing to make up ground. San Antonio was -225 in hypothetical lookahead lines before Game 7, meaning they lost 2% probability since they were crowned Western Conference champions.

DraftKings’ users are going against the grain. Although series betting splits aren’t publicly available, 59% of tickets and 70% of the handle in the Game 1 moneyline market are on the Knicks. An additional 55% of bets and 53% of the money are on the Knicks at +4.5, according to DraftKings Nation.

Ready for Game 1

This is the second time that the Spurs have met the Knicks in the NBA Finals. The first time occurred in 1999, when Tim Duncan led the franchise to its first title over the only 8-seed ever to reach the championship.

Knicks big man Karl-Anthony Towns wore a shirt promoting the ‘99 Finals ahead of his first game with the Knicks after he had been traded by the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2024. He will now star in the rematch 27 years later.

KAT arrives to his 1st game as a Knick in a 1999 Finals shirt pic.twitter.com/veWVsHfkxz

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) October 6, 2024

DraftKings has the Spurs at -198 moneyline odds (66.4% chance) and the Knicks at +164 (37.9%) in Game 1, which will take place in San Antonio. Both teams are undefeated in Game 1s in the playoffs.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.