Victor Wembanyama didn't go full Joe Namath poolside in Miami before Super Bowl III, but the big man came close.
When asked about the mood around the Spurs ahead of Saturday night's Game 5, facing a 3-1 series deficit in the NBA Finals to the Knicks, the Frenchman said the team "absolutely" believes they can spring a most unlikely comeback.
"Everybody thinks, everybody knows, we're going to do it," Wembanyama said Friday.
"I feel like we need to isolate that one game and take it one game at a time," he continued. "I think it would be a mistake to waste our energy on multiple games. It's one game at a time."
Guard Devin Vassell echoed the "one game at a time" mantra.
"Nothing is guaranteed. Nothing is promised. But we know we've at least got one game," Vassell said. "So we need to go 1-0, and whatever we need to do for that to happen, we've got to do that."
He added: "We've got our backs against the wall. Let's just focus on trying to go 1-0... and then from there we'll just try to walk it down."
The comments come after the Spurs saw a 29-point third-quarter lead – that was still at 20 points with under 10 minutes to play in the fourth quarter – slip away in a tremendous collapse in Game 4 at MSG.
Wembanyama said there were "a thousand ways we could have not lost that game," but the team has shifted its focus to Saturday night.
"It felt like there was a time to process this, to really dwell on it. But not anymore," he said.
"We're very confident, but yeah, I wouldn't say it was so hard to, like, shake off, right?" Wembanyama said about Game 4. "Harder than any other game before, by far, for sure. I mean, now we're over it. It's the playoffs. There's no time to regret things for too long."
Vassell added the Spurs feel they've played the Knicks "really good for the past four games."
"We just really haven't been able to close out games," the guard said. "Obviously, a credit to them. But we feel like we have been able to control a lot of this series, and we've just got to figure out how to finish these games."
After his comments following the Spurs' Game 4 collapse, Victor Wembanyama was asked if he has a better sense of whether or not the Spurs believe they can pull off a 3-1 comeback in the NBA Finals:
"Yeah, absolutely. Everybody knows we're going to do it. I feel like we need to… pic.twitter.com/mS7F8QW9ov
Knick fans may think Victor Wembanyama is public enemy No. 1 currently, but a former Knicks head coach sure doesn’t think that way.
Isiah Thomas, who coached the Knicks from 2006-08 and also served in the front office, defended Wembanyama Friday morning on the “Run it Back” Show, saying he’s been the victim of physical abuse all NBA Finals long and pushed back on the idea the Spurs star is “dirty.”
“Wemby has been the victim of some of the dirtiest s–t ever. I mean, people are grabbing and holding him,” Thomas said.
"Wemby has been the victim of some of the dirtiest sh*t ever… they're lucky he hasn't popped one of them in the face."
“With Wemby, we’re allowing people to grab and hold him, knock him down. They literally have him locked up. With his demeanor, they’re lucky he hasn’t turned around and popped one of them in the face real quick,” Thomas added. “Big men, normally you don’t get to be this aggressive with them without them having the ability to retaliate, hold their temper and all of that.”
Thomas compared the situation to “hack-a-Shaq,” where teams would purposely hit and foul Shaquille O’Neal to send the poor free-throw shooter to the line.
“Shaq took more abuse in our league than probably any NBA player that’s ever played,” Thomas said.
In regards to Wembanyama, Thomas may be in the minority.
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama celebrates a basket against the New York Knicks during the first half of Game 4 of the NBA Finals basketball series, Wednesday, June 10, 2026, in New York. AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin
Even though the NBA reviewed the play Tuesday, they did not penalize him.
The flagrant now means Wembanyama is at three flagrant points this postseason after getting two for elbowing Naz Reid in the second round.
One more flagrant would lead to an automatic suspension.
Wembanyama and the Spurs are on the brink of elimination after blowing a 29-point lead in Game 4, and trail the Knicks 3-1 as the series shifts back to San Antonio for Saturday’s Game 5.
New York’s success in the Finals has been great for the public, especially live bettors during the most-wagered NBA game ever at DraftKings.
Key Takeaways
Game 4 generated more betting action than any NBA game in DraftKings' history.
The Knicks have captured a wide betting audience both in New York and across the U.S.
Bettors are already backing underdog New York in Game 5 in San Antonio.
The Knicks pulled off an incredible 29-point rally to go up 3-1 in the best-of-seven Finals against the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday in a game that was highly favorable to bettors, both before and during the contest.
“The Knicks and the public are locked in on each other, and it's been going well for the general public,” DraftKings’ Johnny Avello told Covers on Friday.
That’s a trend that will likely continue heading into Saturday’s Game 5 when the Knicks can clinch their first championship since 1973.
Avello doesn’t believe the series shifting back to San Antonio on Saturday will hurt the betting handle at this point, and he predicted before the series began that this would be the most-bet NBA Finals at DraftKings since the company began operating legal sports betting in 2018.
“We knew that there was going to be Knicks money. We knew that from the outset,” Avello said. “We've had future money on them throughout the year, and the hype was so high on them coming to the series that we knew the bettors would be playing them on the moneyline, especially when they were underdogs.”
Title-contender turnaround
Aside from last year when this team made the Eastern Conference finals, the Knicks have largely been starved for success over the last two decades. Still, in the most populous city in the U.S., they remain king.
With New York natives spread across the country, celebrities appearing at games, and television ratings through the roof, the Knicks have become an incredibly popular team to watch and bet on.
“The stars show up. People are tuning in to see who’s coming to the game,” Avello said. “It’s just created a hysteria. It's incredible with this team, how people have backed this team.”
The Empire State, which leads all jurisdictions in sports betting handle each month, certainly carried a large percentage of the amount wagered on Game 4, but Avello said there was plenty of Knicks action from across the U.S. and through sports contract trading on DraftKings Predictions.
“Customers hung with them, and played them throughout the game,” Avello said.
Bettor-friendly comeback
Bettors feasted on numerous live moneyline odds Wednesday. Avello said the longest they got at DraftKings was +2,200 in the first half. Bettors weren’t deterred and had no problem firing on New York throughout the second half, even when they were down 22 points with eight minutes to play.
The Knicks were still over +1,000 at times in the final quarter before they took their first lead with 1:22 remaining. After falling behind 106-105 with under a minute left, OG Anunoby tipped in the game-winning shot with two seconds remaining, lifting New York to a 107-106 victory in front of a raucous Big Apple crowd.
“These are the comeback kids, and you know, the bettors, they've been betting this team when they're down,” Avello said. “They have as much confidence in wagering on the Knicks as the Knicks do in winning the game themselves.”
Will the Spurs recover?
The Knicks head into Saturday night as -500 favorites to win the series but 5.5-point underdogs to do it in Game 5.
DraftKings has already seen 75% of the bets and 85% of the money come in on the Knicks by Friday afternoon. More than 80% of the wagers are backing New York at +164 on the moneyline.
“The feeling now is that San Antonio won't be able to recover,” Avello said. “This is the feeling from the bettor that I'm kind of seeing. We knew that the Knicks money would come in each and every game, so no, there'll be no drop-off here.”
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MARCH 02: A detail view of the basketball shoes of Jordan Walsh #27 of the Boston Celtics during a game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum on March 02, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Former Knicks teammates Carmelo Anthony and Jeremy Lin said they hashed out 14 years of unanswered questions and false narratives after "Linsanity" took over New York in 2012.
Former Knicks teammates Carmelo Anthony and Jeremy Lin said they hashed out 14 years of unanswered questions and false narratives after “Linsanity” took over New York in 2012.
During Friday’s installment of the “7PM in Brooklyn” podcast, Lin — whose rise to fame during the 2011-12 season sparked rumors that Anthony was jealous of his success — explained that the pair had an “honest and direct” conversation and finally reconciled.
“Basically I asked every last question I had: ‘Did that happen? What happened there? What happened here?’” Lin said. “But it was honest. It was direct, it was honest and we were able to definitely clear the air. Obviously perception is reality in certain situations.
Jeremy Lin on the “7PM In Brooklyn” podcast on June 12, 2026. YouTube/7PM In Brooklyn
“And that’s the thing about that whole stretch was there was a lot that I was unsure about. And so the narratives come, but to be able to talk it out, I appreciate that. And so my biggest thing was when I think back on my career, because I recently retired [last August], I’ve never wanted my story to be me versus anybody else, which we had talked about.
“And I think at the end of all of this, if my name comes up or my story comes up and it’s me versus [Carmelo] or if we’re ever at a point where someone has to choose sides, then I think we failed.”
Anthony, who publicly invited Lin to be a guest on his “7PM In Brooklyn” podcast to “clear the air” last month, explained that it took him some time before he felt ready to answer Lin’s questions.
“These was questions that was built up for 14 years that other people probably was adding on to your pressures and your mindset and your perspective,” Anthony said. “It took me to go through what I went through to have the time to come back and be at peace with being able to answer all your questions with actual facts.”
New York Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin and Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony looks on against the Atlanta Hawks in the second quarter of their NBA basketball game at Madison Square Garden in New York, February 22, 2012. REUTERS
There were rumblings of a reported feud between the pair during the rise of “Linsanity” after Lin was called up during the 2011-12 season.
At the time, Lin led the Knicks to 10 wins in 13 games when he averaged over 22 points and nine assists.
Anthony was dealing with a groin injury at the time.
“Forget being jealous of what he’s doing, I want him to keep going.”
Lin’s popularity rose to the point where he couldn’t leave his apartment in New York City without being swarmed by paparazzi, he was the subject of Kim Kardashian dating rumors and he turned down the cover of GQ magazine.
After the 2011-12 season, Anthony made waves when he called Lin’s Houston Rockets contract offer — three years and $25 million — “ridiculous,” which led to reports that he was jealous of Lin’s fast success and it was disrupting what he was trying to build in New York.
Anthony addressed his “ridiculous” remark, saying that Lin deserved for the Knicks to match his offer from Houston instead of letting him walk over luxury tax concerns.
New York Knicks’ Carmelo Anthony (7) talks to teammate Jeremy Lin (17) during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers, Wednesday, March 14, 2012, in New York. AP
“You got to think from my perspective, everything kind of came and went so fast and now I’m not on the Knicks anymore,” Lin said on the the podcast. “7PM in Brooklyn,” a Wave Original. And after that, I hear publicly a coach saying something and three teammates saying stuff publicly about like, ‘Oh, Linsanity didn’t vibe with everybody in the locker room.’ And so I’m like, ‘You got to think, Melo, I’m hearing this and I’m trying to piece together the story.’”
Anthony also pushed back on the narrative that he was jealous of Lin during “Linsanity.”
“I had to figure my s–t. I was injured. I was hurt,” Anthony said of the “Linsanity” era. “I had to think about how fast I’m going to come back, what I’m going to do, how the f–k I’m going to go help this team, how I got to lead this team.
“I’m in a different position than [Jeremy] is. So I got to deal with a whole bunch of s–t. Forget being jealous of what [Jeremy’s] doing. I want him to keep going. Game win in D.C. Yo, keep going. Toronto. Yo, keep going.”
Melo reveals why he called Jeremy Lin's contract extension 'ridiculous' @FDSportsbook
Melo: "Did he deserve the match, yes … what was ridiculous was the jump."
Lin: "My exit from the New York Knicks crushed me … I would've done anything to stay." pic.twitter.com/GZUnjbHPT3
Lin and Anthony reconciled as the Knicks are one win away from their first championship in 53 years. Both have supported their former team throughout the Knicks’ playoff run.
Lin, who announced his retirement from professional basketball in an Instagram post last August, is a guest NBA analyst with ESPN for the 2026 NBA Finals.
Carmelo, who announced his retirement in 2023 following 19 NBA seasons, is an NBA analyst with NBC.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 10: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs looks to shoot the ball against Mitchell Robinson #23 of the New York Knicks during the first quarter in Game Four of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden on June 10, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s been ten years since a team leading in the NBA Finals 3-1 blew the lead, and the New York Knicks are hoping they aren’t the latest squad to join that list.
After the Knicks’ epic Game 4 comeback against the San Antonio Spurs, they have pushed their opponent to the brink of elimination, but they haven’t finished the job yet as they need one final win.
The Knicks have put themselves in a great position, giving themselves three chances to pull it off, but that adds to a lot of pressure to finish a 53-year drought and hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy for the first time since 1973.
The Spurs have proven to be a formidable opponent and they are a team used to the pressure of having to win when it matters most. In their series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, they fell behind in Game 1 with a loss at home but still managed to beat them in six games to advance to the Western Conference Finals.
When they faced off against the Oklahoma City Thunder, they fell behind 2-1 after Game 3 and 3-2 after a Game 5 blowout loss on the road. They were able to clutch up, win Game 6 at home, and get the job done on the road in Game 7.
“We’ve got to try to put it behind us. Get back to the things that we’ve done well in these games,” Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox said.
“We have to figure out a way to hold the lead. We’ve been able to build double-digit leads in all four of these games, and we’ve got to figure out a way to sustain that. It obviously looks like a steep hill, but this is something that’s happened before. … We feel like we have a team that is able to come back from this, but we have to take this one game at a time.”
Despite their struggles in the second half of Game 4, the Spurs are expected to bring out their best for Game 5 to push the series back to Madison Square Garden for Game 6. The last thing the Knicks need to do is get complacent, otherwise they could see the joke turned around on them.
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 01: Deandre Ayton #22 of the Phoenix Suns shoots the ball while guarded by Mark Williams #5 of the Charlotte Hornets in the second quarter during their game at Spectrum Center on March 01, 2023 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
What if I told you that the Suns could increase their production at the starting center position while simultaneously paying less money than it would take to re-sign Mark Williams? Is that something you might be interested in?
Despite the Suns’ injury management plan, reduced minutes, and scheduled rest days, Mark Williams ended another season hurt. This left the Suns with no choice but to turn to their young reserve centers as they struggled to gain traction against the overwhelming perimeter pressure of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Averaging 43.6 minutes over the course of four games, Khaman Malauch and Oso Ighodaro (KhOso) combined to average 9.5 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks.
No bueno.
Going into the 2026-27 season, the Suns have a decision to make about whether to bring back Mark Williams, who played a career-high 60 games last season. The Suns, in a surprise move, acquired Williams via a draft day trade, swapping two first-round picks for the big, and then immediately turned around and drafted Khaman Malauch. As Holden Sherman pointed out in his Bright Side article, the Suns knew they’d need a starting center as 19-year-old Malauch developed his body and game. A necessity to compete, but still a high price to pay.
Some fans might wring their hands at the thought of moving on from a player their team just gave up two draft picks to get after one year, but the Suns would be well advised not to fall victim to the sunk cost fallacy.
Mark Williams is a restricted free agent, so the Suns are in a position to match any offer made. Whether there will be interest in the Suns big remains to be seen, but ESPN’s Bobby Marks reported that Mark could receive a possible contract of $42 million over 3 years, and there are real questions as to whether or not that fits the Suns budget and Khaman Malauch’s timeline.
So if Mark does hit the $13-15 million dollar a year range and the Suns decide to walk away, what options do they have? Replacements for Mark within the Suns’ budget are hard to find. The Suns will either have to spend more on or expect less from the starting center position. The Suns front office has been good at working with less, but when you go out hunting potential value contracts, it’s important to turn over every rock. And I think I found a familiar rock that may have some value on the backside of his career.
Ladies and Gentlemen, it’s my privilege to present to you today, for the approval of the fan base…
*Drumrolls on desk*
Deandre Ayton.
That’s right. Deandre Ayton, aka DA, aka DominAyton. The same Deandre Ayton we drafted ahead of Luka Doncic. Or is it? It’s been eight years since the Suns drafted DA and three years since he’s laced them up for the purple and orange. He’s no longer number one pick Deandre. He’s a new Deandre. He’s no longer max contract Deandre, he’s fighting to stay a starter in this league Deandre, and that comes with a price tag that should give the Suns pause when considering if they really want to creep closer towards the 1st apron to bring Mark Williams back at possibly northwards of $13 million dollars a year.
There are Suns fans who may hate this, but we need to remember, it was the Suns’ decision not to draft Luka, not DA’s. So haters get wrecked or just get over it.
The narrative around DA has gone from “he needs to be more physical” to “he needs to lock in and focus” to “DA doesn’t care.” I don’t know DA other than what he’s done on the basketball court and what he’s said in pressers or on social media. But I still remember Monty giving that incredible speech to DA when he was a young player getting worked by Giannis at the peak of his game. I remember the frustration, which was sliding into resignation as he struggled to compete with an all-time great. Monty knew he needed a pick-me-up, not a scolding.
Ayton needs to be managed properly. He doesn’t need ultimatums or call-outs in the media; he needs to be finessed. Some, if not most, of you might be thinking, “Exactly, that’s why I don’t want him on the Suns.” But hold that up to the mirror, and you’ll see, “.sunS eht no mih tanw t’nod I yhw s’taht, yltcaxE” which is Latin for, “That’s actually a good thing.” Let me explain why.
It’s the Dead Cap era. The Suns need to find players who overperform the price tag on their contract. This isn’t me making this up. Brian Gregory said it himself. Three of those players who had career years, Goodwin, Gillespie, and Brooks, are getting new deals. So the prices on their tags are going up. The Suns don’t have the money to go out and get a season trajectory-changing center like Sabonis without having to reconstruct the roster or move into those nasty aprons. They need to find someone who under-produced that they can get at a bargain and rehabilitate.
Deandre Ayton is coming off of a down year. Not just in the box score, but also in vibes and in media perception. Last year, DA recorded career lows in minutes, points, and rebounds. It was the first season Deandre Ayton has averaged under 10 rebounds. I don’t think the Lakers want him back, and either he opts into the last year of his contract and becomes a trade piece, or he declines his option and tests the free agent market.
Whatever his decision, all indications are that Deandre Ayton will be on a new team next year. Will he garner more than the $8 million left on his contract? Not everyone thinks so. Estimates range anywhere from $5-13 million if he were to enter free agency. If the Suns can sign DA at the right price, he might be the perfect fallback if they don’t want to spend that much money to sign Mark. But if it didn’t work in Portland, and it didn’t work in Los Angeles, why would it work in Phoenix on a team where it already hasn’t worked once?
Culture.
The Suns have defined their culture, and now it’s time for them to use it. You don’t build a culture to bring in only players cut from the same cloth. The power of culture is that teams can bring in players who aren’t cut from that cloth, but the culture currently carries them that way. It’s the advantage the Patriots have by bringing in Randy Moss and reviving him. It’s Head Coach Tom Osborne recruiting Lawrence Phillips and all the emotional dysfunction that came with him and them winning championships at Nebraska. It’s the Bulls signing Rodman. It’s the Pistons taking a bet on Rasheed Wallace. It’s the Heat bringing in Jimmy Butler and making the Finals, after it didn’t work in Philadelphia, who got him after his meltdown in Minnesota.
The Lakers had no established culture in 2025-26. There was no locker room chemistry. No alignment. Luka randomly fell into their laps, and then they had to figure out how to make it work with a team built around LeBron and AD. Oh, and LeBron was still on the team. I’m sure he was flexible.
The Lakers were not a fit for DA. JJ Reddick has to be a hard ass, that’s all he knows. So he made comments at pressers, tried to spike Deandre’s water with crunk juice, and cut his minutes to let him know he wasn’t happy with his performance. Luka and Lebron didn’t want DA on the team either. Anyone out there who has worked a job where the management isn’t happy with your performance and has already formed their opinion of your value knows it’s not easy to come in excited to work every day under that type of scrutiny.
Deandre doesn’t respond to the stick. He’s a carrot guy. Everyone is always so quick to say, DA, you need to play harder, DA, you need to focus, DA, you’re letting the team down. No one ever thought to ask DA what he needs. What’s wrong, Deandre? What can I do to help you, Deandre? Do we need to get you a couple more field goal attempts, Deandre?
¿Deandre, por qué estás tan triste?
It breaks my heart to see Deandre sad and on the Lakers. I want to see Valley-Oop DA. And I want to see the Suns get more production out of the center position. I know they can get that from DA who played 72 games in the regular season last year. 72 games before he got to the playoffs, where he added another 10.
Mark Williams has never played in a playoff game. Deandre Ayton has 55 under his belt. He’s won 31 of them. I don’t know what kind of offer Deandre will get if he hits free agency, but it’s a good bet Mark Williams gets offered more. Khaman looked at least another year away from being a starting-caliber center in this league, but we know he’s coming. Why sign Mark to three years at $42 million if you could get Deandre on a two-year prove-it deal for under 20 million, similar to his deal with the Lakers?
Would Deandre be interested in coming back to the Suns? Who knows? I won’t pretend to know Deandre Ayton. It didn’t end very well. But this is a new Deandre with a new contract that comes with new expectations. He didn’t live up to the number 1 pick, but he was far from a bust. The free agent options at center look bleak so if DA hits free agency or if he opts in and the Lakers are open to moving him, the Suns have to take a look. There aren’t very many rocks on the beach. They can’t leave any unturned.
Thank you for your time and consideration. Now form an orderly line at the top of the comments section to tell me why I’m wrong.
SAN ANTONIO — Apparently, it’s obvious to Victor Wembanyama.
He was unwavering in his confidence.
“Everybody thinks — everybody knows,” Wembanyama said after Spurs practice on Friday, “that we’re going to do it.”
Victor Wembanyama expects the Spurs to come back from 3-1 deficit. AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin
He was talking about the Spurs locker room, not necessarily everyone on the outside watching these Finals. He was asked if he and his teammates actually believe they can overturn their 3-1 Finals deficit.
After the Knicks’ miraculous comeback in their 107-106 Game 4 win Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden, Wembanyama said that the Spurs’ collapse would either divide or unite the locker room. Two days later, he is confident that it is the latter and that they share that common belief.
And he thinks the Spurs have moved past their historic Game 4 choke.
Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs have to win three straight against the Knicks. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“We’re very confident,” Wembanyama said. “I wouldn’t say it was so hard to, like, shake it off. Harder than any other game before, by far, for sure. I mean, now we’re over it. It’s the playoffs. There’s no time to regret things for too long.”
Only one team has come back from a 3-1 deficit in Finals history — the Cavaliers in 2016.
“I feel like we’ve made history all year, and we’ve proven that with our backs against the wall that we can step up,” Stephon Castle said. “So I don’t really expect this to be any different.”
Both Spurs coach Mitch Johnson and his players have expressed a sentiment that it has been them that has decided all four games of this series. They pointed to their double-digit leads in all four games.
It has been their own shortcomings when they have those leads, they say, not anything the Knicks have done that has dictated the end results. That’s why they are so sure that this series is still within their control.
“I think just our confidence,” Castle said. “We’ve had a 10-plus point lead in every single game. Just trying to stay poised throughout that and try to keep our foot on the gas really. I feel like once we get those leads, we start to play a little bit different, take our foot off the gas defensively. I just feel like we have to stay aggressive but be smart through it.”
They are not looking at the totality of needing to win three straight games, though. Their eyes are solely on Saturday’s Game 5, back home at the Frost Bank Arena.
“I feel like we need to isolate that one game and take it one game at a time,” Wembanyama said. “I think it would be a mistake to waste our energy on multiple games. It’s one game at a time.”
Even the streets around Madison Square Garden are zhuzhed up, with the 34th Street-Penn Station subway entrances transformed into an Instagram-ready landmark with globe lights reimagined as basketballs and the metal facade repainted in the Knicks’ signature colors.
The city’s most beloved eateries have been stirring up fan spirit, too — proving that when the Knicks win, so does New York.
Marco Vicari of Il Fornaio Bakery shows off some of their themed treats. Brigitte Stelzer for NY PostJalen Brunson is leading the Knicks in the NBA Finals NBAE via Getty Images
Restaurants, bakeries and more are getting in on the basketball boom, giving New Yorkers another reason to hope for a championship win this Saturday, which would be the team’s first since defeating the LA Lakers way back in 1973.
From Knicks logo-emblazoned cakes, cookies and cupcakes to pasta in — what else? — neon orange and blue, NYC chefs are making a full-court press with in-demand themed treats in time for Game 5 against the San Antonio Spurs.
Here are some of the hot spots getting major foot traffic for their Knicks-themed goodies.
Patrizia’s
Pasta eaters are flocking to Patrizia’s to score the new Jalen Brunson rigatoni.
The Jalen Brunson rigatonia from Patrizia’s is $24.99. @patriziasrestaurants/Instagram
The family-style Italian chain rolled out the $24.99 plate — honoring the team’s star point guard at all 19 restaurant locations — just before the finals started.
The in-house rigatoni is dyed blue using natural blueberry extract, then topped with a spicy orange vodka cream sauce, plus generous dollops of burrata cheese.
Antonio Alaio, owner of Patrizia’s Manhattan, told The Post that diners have been packing in just to get a taste of the dish after it went viral on social media.
But you’d better be quick.
“Over the weekend, we sold out. Approximately 600 pounds of pasta since launching our pasta special last week across all our locations,” said Alaio.
That’s 1,200 orders citywide — translating to an extra $20,000 just from Knicks pasta alone.
Noa, a Café
For those with a sweet tooth, a newer bakery — cleverly titled Noa, a Café — is already making fans with its vibrant cinnamon rolls.
Only available on game days, the cinnamon rolls have been selling out each day Noa Bakery
Its two locations — the first debuted in Nomad in April 2023, and the second is now open in the West Village — have been blasting through about 150 to 200 cinnamon rolls on game days only, according to founder Nicki Dehghani.
That’s in addition to the 100 to 300 non-themed rolls with cream cheese frosting they produce every day.
“We wish we could do more! But that is what we have time to produce at the moment,” Dehghani said of the popular product, which offers the option of orange or blue frosting and sprinkles for $9.
The Dot Cakes from Butterfield Market come with the classic Knicks orange and blue Butterfield Market
Junior’s Restaurant and Bakery
In a rare move, legendary Junior’s Restaurant and Bakery added something special to its famed cheesecake line: melt-in-your-mouth Knicks vanilla cupcakes, boasting frosting, a fondant wafer, a Knicks logo and sprinkles on top.
“They are selling like hot cupcakes!” third-generation owner Alan Rosen proclaimed to The Post. He said they unloaded more than 1,000 cupcakes in the first week alone, adding: “Which is surprising since we are known for cheesecake.”
Upscale grocer Butterfield Market is also getting in on the game.
The UWS staple has been selling out of its viral Dot Cakes The Dotcakes/ Instagram
Its original Upper East Side location on Lexington Avenue — there’s also a newer spot on Madison — recently went viral for its exclusive, multi-product Dot Cake collab. Each 8-ounce confection is $11, whether Knicks-themed or regular, and fans have been lining up for a chance to score one.
Butterfield has also whipped up 12-packs of orange- and blue-frosted cupcakes for $24.99. Overall cupcake package sales have spiked from 200 per day to 220 across both locations since the playoff run.
And Knicks-themed cookies ($12.99 a box) have pushed cookie sales from roughly 300 per day to about 350.
Butterfield Markey is selling New York Knicks cookies and cupcakes Butterfield Market
In addition, they’ve been selling approximately 50 to 60 Knicks-themed cakes ($20 each) per day.
“The Knicks excitement has created a meaningful boost in our dessert business and has driven a noticeable increase in customer traffic and celebratory purchases,” Joelle Obsatz, CMO of Butterfield Market, told The Post.
Il Fornaio Bakery
Beloved Il Fornaio Bakery has been selling out of their most popular hand-crafted goodies since rolling out Knicks-themed cookies, cakes and cake pops.
Owner Marco Vicari revealed that just in Knicks items alone, the company made over $35,000 in sales since the finals kicked off. Most notably, cookies — at $30 a pound – have been a big seller at the Astoria staple, known for its luxe cakes, traditional Italian pastries and danishes.
The classic rainbow cookies from Il Fornaio Bakery are dressed in orange and blue for the Knicks Brigitte Stelzer for NY Post
“Since Game 3, which was our biggest day to date, we have sold over 500 pounds of Knicks rainbow cookies alone, and the orders have not stopped,” Vicari, who established the shop in 2011, told The Post.
Posting on Instagram just hours before Wednesday’s game, Vicari urged diners to call ahead and reserve theirs as other treats have sold out fast.
In recent days, online orders have skyrocked 100%, he told The Post.
Given that success and just ahead of Game 4, the bakery has also started selling personal-sized chocolate mousse cakes christened with the Knicks’ colors and logo on top.
Zabar’s
Meanwhile, Upper West Side landmark, Zabar’s (2245 Broadway), also jumped on the Knicks kick — big-time.
A rep told The Post that it has landed a $11,800 windfall from special team treats and merch.
Zabar’s switched its black and white for Knicks-themed cookies Zabar's
The popular deli and grocery store, best known for selling 4,000 pounds of hand-sliced smoked fish per week, traded its signature black-and-white cookies for orange-and-blue-hued treats just ahead of Game 3.
Six-packs, available online, run $29.98; individual cookies are $4, first-come, first-served; in just a few days, the UWS staple nabbed $6,000 alone on those as fans line up to grab them, setting social media abuzz.
For those looking to score one, Zabar’s revealed it will restock with 200 more hats this weekend — but, no surprise, they expect to sell out again.
Raising the bar(s)
A Knicks shirt-wearing server pours a shot at Goldie’s Tavern. @Goldiestavern/Instagram
It’s no surprise that bars have also seen big wait times, and for Goldie’s Tavern — an official partner of the Knicks Playoff Bar Network, with a prime location at 135 W 30th St, just one block away from MSG — it’s certainly no different.
“It’s a level of ‘holy s–t’ we were not expecting. The best crowds we’ve ever had.” Wayne Gravesande, general manager of Goldie’s, told The Post, adding that he projects a whopping $40,000 to 50,000 in sales each game night.
Knicks fans rushed to Goldie’s Tavern for a spot to watch their team play the Spurs. @Goldiestavern/Instagram
The sports bar has been playing all games on massive projectors, and for Game 1 alone on June 3, 500 fans were standing outside for hours, waiting to get in ahead of the game’s 8:30 start.
Fans have even stood on cars outside just to catch a peek, the proud manager revealed.
While the city of New York and its media machine are not paying attention this year because the Knicks are in the Finals — that group usually leads the "What playoff games? Let's focus on the offseason" push — free agency and trade rumors are heating up fast around the league.
If you want the latest on Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors, follow this link. Here is what else is being talked about.
Nets, others eyeing Austin Reaves
Re-signing Austin Reaves is at the top of the Lakers' offseason to-do list. He has proven himself a quality No. 2 option as a scorer and shot creator (plus a guy who can carry the offense for a stretch when Luka Doncic is out), plus he has become a key locker room voice for them.
The question is price. Reaves is 28 and this contract is his one shot at generational wealth, he is not handing out a steep discount to stay with the Lakers as he did with his last contract.
Reaves has leverage this time because he is an unrestricted free agent and there are other teams interested — including Brooklyn coming in at the max, reports Dan Woike of The Athletic.
Multiple front-office sources around the league, granted anonymity to freely discuss an opposing player, expect Reaves to have interest from the Brooklyn Nets, with a four-year, $178.5 million contract expected to be offered. League sources said the Detroit Pistons and Atlanta Hawks are among a group of interested teams that can create space to make competitive offers. Other teams could also emerge.
The Lakers can offer more, both a fifth year and larger raises, with a max of $239.3 million (for five years), but they had hoped to get out cheaper, likely around $200 million. That said, the Lakers really have no choice but to pay a little more and make a deal. Reaves is a proven high-level shot creator who averaged 23.3 points and 5.5 assists a game last season while battling injuries, plus he has strong relationships with Luka Doncic and LeBron James. The Lakers cannot let Reaves just walk for nothing as a free agent — and he doesn't want to. He wants to stay in Los Angeles, but as noted, this is his first massive contract, and he has to take advantage of his opportunity. It's a business.
The Lakers have an exclusive negotiating window between now and the start of free agency on June 30. They want to get a deal done, but with Brooklyn lurking, Reaves has leverage.
Minnesota still eying Morant, Irving?
Minnesota realizes if it wants to compete with the elite teams in the West — Oklahoma City and San Antonio, specifically — it needs another high-level shot creator and scorer to pair with Anthony Edwards. That is why they come up in Giannis Antetokounmpo rumors (although he reportedly does not want to go to the West).
[Timberwolves president Tim] Connelly pursued stars like Kevin Durant and Antetokounmpo (at the February trade deadline) while showing some level of interest in others like Kyrie Irving and Ja Morant, but has yet to land a high-profile running mate for Anthony Edwards.
To be clear, Dallas has said Kyrie Irving is not available. While other teams take that with a grain of salt, there have been no indications that Dallas is looking to trade Irving in the short term.
Morant is expected to be traded this offseason, although the Grizzlies will wait until the Antetokounmpo drama plays out before making a move, to see whether any teams that strike out with the Greek Freak pivot to Morant. The question is how much are teams willing to trade for Morant? He's a 26-year-old All-Star and dynamic shot creator, a fan favorite, but one with a lengthy injury history, plus he has missed time due to off-the-court issues. It's something to watch.
"League sources said teams are approaching free agency with increased caution because of the restrictions tied to the league's first and second tax aprons, potentially leading to more conservative spending than in previous summers."
The new CBA is the gift that just keeps on giving for fans.
Zach LaVine likely opts-in
Zach LaVine has a $48.9 million player option for next season with Sacramento, and the expectation is that he is going to take it. While Kings fans may dream of a team swooping in with a multi-year offer, that's not happening, something Hoopshype’s Michael Scotto laid out.
"[Another team's offer for LaVine] would have to be something of like a... three-year deal for $100 million, something like that. If you're Zach LaVine, I don't see that out there right now. I think ultimately he's opting in and barring anything of that caliber, that was kind of the expectation I was told and a lot of people around the league have surmised that as well. So I do think ultimately he's opting in."
Expect his name to come up a lot in trade rumors during the season and around next February's deadline.
In a twist of fate that some near-newlyweds are calling serendipity, and others a head-scratching snag — a host of tri-state couples who have spent months or even years planning their big day will be tying the knot on the same night as Game 5 of the NBA Finals.
Victoria Perry and her fiancé, James Kostadaras, both native New Yorkers, watched a Knicks game on their first date in 2023. Kostadaras is shown above proposing to her last October. Gabrielle Eichenholtz/Jill Davren
With some guests panicking about missing a chance to see their beloved team’s big moment, The Post met the brides and grooms pivoting their nuptials to Knick-tials.
Victoria Perry and James Kostadaras
“This is more exciting than any other piece of my wedding!” Victoria Perry — a 33-year-old Manhattan bride, native New Yorker and lifelong Knicks fan — confessed to The Post.
“As a girl, I never grew up dreaming about my wedding dress or the flowers,” said Perry, who will marry her fiancé and fellow diehard Knicks fan James Kostadaras at a snazzy Midtown East venue on Saturday.
“But the Knicks have been such a source of happiness for me over the years.”
When Perry and Kostadaras — whose first date in 2023 involved watching a Knicks game at Astoria sports bar Rivercrest — first realized that the NBA Finals could coincide with their wedding, the pair sprang into action to incorporate the game into their June 13 nuptials.
But Knicks fever nearly derailed their plans: Perry shared that she and Kostadaras would have even considered delaying their wedding due to the Knicks’ potential championship, if necessary.
“We would move it if it would guarantee [the] Knicks win,” she told The Post, joking that their priorities as a couple are: 1. God, 2. The Knicks championship, and 3. Their wedding.
Ultimately, though, she’s just thrilled to be able to experience Game 5 with those closest to them.
“It’s the biggest blessing,” she said.
Kostadaras wore the white Knicks jacket at her rehearsal dinner; she’ll also rock it at her wedding afterparty. Victoria Perry
After a traditional Greek Orthodox ceremony, guests will file into the larger reception space to enjoy dancing and a live band — which has been instructed to share live updates on the score throughout the game.
Perry also has a big outfit change planned: she’ll wear a white Knicks jacket over her dress for the reception.
During the last quarter/after-party, guests will move into an additional downstairs space, which Perry, Kostadaras, their planner and an AV team worked to convert into a full-blown Knicks watch party — complete with a 70-inch TV screen, team-themed floral arrangements and sports-bar food.
A hip-hop DJ will also play NYC-themed hits, such as “New York” by Ja Rule.
Perry feels that getting to celebrate the potential championship game and her wedding on the same day is “the biggest blessing.” Paige DeMaio
Arielle Salmon and Greg Eichenholtz
For Arielle Salmon — a 28-year-old teacher based in Bergen County, New Jersey — the emotions about having her big day fall on the Knicks’ potential championship game have been decidedly mixed.
“It’s so weird to have excitement but also nervousness,” she told The Post.
Arielle Salmon and her husband-to-be, Greg Eichenholtz, are both big Knicks devotees. Arielle Salmon
Though Salmon and her fiancé, 29-year-old contract negotiations worker Greg Eichenholtz, identify as avid Knicks fans and are rooting — along with the rest of NYC — for the team to clinch the NBA Finals, Salmon admitted to “anxiousness” that the game clashes with their wedding.
They started planning it soon after their January 2025 engagement.
“Monday night, I literally was sitting on the couch hyperventilating … I was just not OK,” Salmon told The Post, after the Knicks lost Game 3, meaning that Game 5 would fall on their wedding day.
Eichenholtz proposed to Salmon at the Freedom Tower in Manhattan in January 2025. Arielle Salmon
“I was disappointed because we didn’t want [the Knicks] to lose, but also because I expected them to win all four games in a row and then be done with it before our wedding,” she continued.
“We keep laughing, because we tried so hard to pick a date where there would be nothing going on.”
In the midst of last-minute wedding preparations for the Bergen County ceremony, which will be held at a venue 16 miles from Madison Square Garden, Salmon has also had to deal with a few guests reaching out to ask if the newlyweds will be streaming the game at their reception.
“I would never ask anyone that question — these people are being serious,” said Salmon. “It’s kind of, like, how do we handle this the right way?”
Salmon and Eichenholtz still identify as avid Knicks fans in the midst of the scheduling whirlwind. Arielle Salmon
While the couple doesn’t plan on putting the game on at their reception — a screen will be available if they change their minds — they are encouraging their guests to bring their best Knicks gear to wear during the party portion of the evening.
The band will also lead famous “Go, New York, go!” MSG chants and play N&C-themed songs like Jay-Z and Alicia Keys’s “Empire State of Mind” to get people “going and excited.”
Salmon shared that the Knicks still having more games in the NBA finals if they lose on Saturday is helping her through the scheduling collision. Arielle Salmon
“The good thing is that if they lose, there’s more games, so that’s what’s helping me through this,” Salmon said.
“Just knowing that hopefully everyone we invited are trustworthy people, and that they care very much about us, and hoping that they won’t just be sitting and streaming the game the whole time … We’re just trying to focus on the positives.”
Robyn Ferguson
When Robyn Ferguson, an Upper East Side-based consultant, first met her fiancé, who chose to remain anonymous for this story, in 2022, the two quickly bonded over their shared passion for sports — with her native New Yorker husband-to-be’s unwavering love for the Knicks fully rubbing off on her.
Robyn Ferguson, originally from Canada, was always a sports fan, but shared that her fiancé’s love for the Knicks swayed her. Brian Hatton
“(My fiancé) went to Villanova for college, and of course (some of) the best players on the Knicks are all from Villanova,” Ferguson told The Post, referring to the Pennsylvania university’s alumni Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges.
“He’s followed these guys since they played in college, which makes it more fun for him … I’m now a diehard Knicks fan, too. We go to a lot of games together.”
Before they even knew that the Knicks would reach the NBA Finals, the couple had joked that if the team made it, they would get a TV and “blow the roof off the Metropolitan Club” — the luxury, private UES venue near Central Park where they will tie the knot this Saturday.
Ferguson, seen here calling her mom after the proposal to share the news, could hardly believe her wedding would coincide with the potential Knicks final game. Brian Hatton
The pair could hardly believe it when their joke turned into reality.
“The way the Knicks were playing in the playoffs at the beginning — we were, like, ‘OK, they swept the first series — they’re hot, this could actually happen,’” recalled Ferguson, referencing their Eastern Conference Semifinals win over the Philadelphia 76ers in May.
“They have a chance to win it all,” she recalled thinking. “Like, all of (my fiancé’s) dreams are coming true in the blink of an eye.”
Once they knew the NBA Finals were a serious possibility, they asked their wedding planner to reach out to AV companies to arrange for a TV at the Metropolitan Club, and told the 12-piece band that the game would be accompanying their set.
The reaction was a mix of incredulity and laughter.
“Everyone was just laughing at us — they’re, like, ‘Of course you guys would do that,’” Ferguson said. “I love it. I’m just as into it as my fiancé, so it just makes it more fun, honestly.”
Ferguson shared that she is “just as into” the Knicks hype as her fiancé. Brian Hatton
In addition to their main cocktail hour and reception areas, there’s a section of the club called The Bar Room, sanctioned as the official game-watching area, with a Knicks-themed cocktail menu — with blue-and-orange signature drinks including “The Brunson” and “The KAT,” named after team stars Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns.
As for what their friends and family have thought about the big day colliding with the NBA Finals, Ferguson emphasized that they are all ready and raring to celebrate both.
“When I tell you the amount of Knicks fans we have coming to our wedding — all the text messages I’m getting are, like, ‘Knicks in five, we’re going to blow the roof off the Metropolitan Club!’” said Ferguson, who will be wearing a blue Knicks jacket for her reception and has a friend bringing team jerseys for guests.
“We have a pretty fun crew of people coming — it’ll be a big celebration.”
Ferguson looks forward to celebrating both the Knicks and her love for her husband-to-be this Saturday. Brian Hatton
However, the couple isn’t worried “at all” about the Knicks overshadowing their big day, emphasizing that the game will only amplify their wedding festivities.
“As soon as we found out the Knicks were definitely in the Finals, it made us even more excited for our wedding — which sounds crazy,” Ferguson said. “But as big sports fans, it’s like you ride so hard for your teams that any excuse to have a giant celebration is just really special.
An army of Knicks fans is set to storm San Antonio Saturday night — with 45% of tickets for the pivotal Game 5 snatched up by New York and New Jersey basketball buffs.
Nearly half of Frost Bank Center will be blue and orange as the Big Apple’s beloved squad looks to secure its first NBA Championship title in 53 years in a 1999 finals rematch when Gregg Popovich’s Spurs won in five games.
Data shows New York billing zip codes bought 37% of tickets to the potentially clinching game, and another 8% came from New Jersey, according to Kyle Zorn of the popular resale service TickPick.
New York Knicks fans celebrate during the game against the San Antonio Spurs during Game Two of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 5, 2026, at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NBAE via Getty ImagesKnicks fans react after the game against the San Antonio Spurs during Game One of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 3, 2026, at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NBAE via Getty ImagesKnicks fans are pictured before Game Two of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 5, 2026, at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NBAE via Getty Images
Scores of Knicks fans were getting out of dodge at LaGuardia Airport in Queens Friday afternoon — though had to make last-minute adjustments because of flight delays and cancellations to Texas.
Queens native Joe P. bought Game 5 tickets after being convinced by a pal — and realizing the cost is cheaper than one at Madison Square Garden.
“I wasn’t gonna do it, but he said, ‘You’re not gonna experience this ever again in your life,’” Joe said.
“And he’s probably right. So we decided to screw it, and we bought our tickets yesterday. When we saw how expensive it was to fly to San Antonio, we opted to fly to Austin because it was about half the cost. So then we just decided we were gonna rent a car and drive.
“I have not been able to afford any of the tickets for the NBA finals at the Garden, because I think it’s $10,000, $12,000 for nosebleeds now, so that’s a little bit out of my budget … It’s cheaper to go to San Antonio, and fly back then to go to the game in NY.”
Only 12% of tickets were bought by Texas-area customers as of early Thursday, Zorn said.
Andrew Cramer and his 11-year-old son, Charlie, came to MSG all the way from Australia. Courtesy of Andrew Cramer
Knicks diehards Andrew Cramer and his 11-year-old son, Charlie, flew all the way from Australia to the Big Apple to attend Game 4 of the finals – and they decided why not score tickets to Game 5 for a chance at witnessing more history.
“Once we were here, to make it worth the while since we came all the way from Australia we thought we’d go to the game tomorrow,” Cramer, who lived in New York for seven years, told The Post Friday.
Cramer’s flight to Texas was packed with Knicks fans and it was more of the same in San Antonio.
“There are a lot of Knicks fans here. You can identify one another. It’s a Knicks family which is nice,” he said while enjoying a river cruise with his son.
“It’s a really nice reflection of the city that it brings so many people together. Sports is a wonderful unifier,” he added.
Cramer’s flight to Texas was packed with Knicks fans and it was more of the same in San Antonio. Courtesy of Andrew Cramer
Five other Knicks fans were boarding a plane to Miami to connect in Austin — and then planned on driving from there to San Antonio. Their original flight to Dallas had gotten cancelled — and the group of strangers bonded over the debacle.
“We’re united Knicks fans,” Eric Kwiatkowski, 40, said. “Now you see what Knicks fans endure.”
Kwiatkowski told The Post he and his pal Ramy Fakhr, 44, shelled out for tickets for Game 5 because “it’s an opportunity” to see the Knicks “close out the series.”
“I’m beside myself with excitement,” he added.
Fakhr was so dedicated to seeing his hometown team potentially make history that he was prepared to go without a change of clothes, after checking his bag on the now-nixed Dallas flight.
“I’m not missing this flight. Now I have to spend the whole weekend without any clothes,” he said. “This is all I’m wearing. Well, I’m gonna borrow some Eric’s clothes.”
Another Queens guy, Kevin Chang, chimed in: “Knicks in five. Knicks in five.”
Both New York and New Jersey accounted for only 13% of Game 1 tickets and 17% in Game 2 — both of which were on the road, SeatGeek numbers indicate.
Fans flocked for tickets in Texas after Knicks completed a historic 29-point comeback against Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs in Game 4 to take the 3-1 stranglehold in the series at Madison Square Garden.
The New York Knicks lay out T-shirts for fans before the game against the San Antonio Spurs during Game Three of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 8, 2026, at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NBAE via Getty Images
TickPick’s listings fluctuated throughout Thursday as get-in prices for Game 5 dipped from around $1,500 for standing room to just below $1,200.
The cheapest listed ticket — section 201, row 10 over mid-court — is $1,288 as of Friday morning.
The Knicks are also a perfect 2-0 playing in San Antonio during these finals, notably after Wemby missed what would have been a winning last-second shot in Game 2.
MSG’s get-in price on TickPick is $10,727 for a prospective Game 6 Tuesday night should the Knicks need another crack to win it all for the first time since 1973.
While talking with ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne after the Knicks’ improbable NBA Finals Game 4 comeback Wednesday, Knicks legend Carmelo Anthony said he played a role in OG Anunoby‘s tip-in game-winner.
Anthony, now a broadcaster for NBC Sports, was at the game and said he was giving instructions to Knicks players before their crucial final possession when they were trailed by one point.
Carmelo Anthony applauding at the 2026 NBA Finals game between the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks. NBAE via Getty Images
“I was yelling at them the whole time, ‘The offensive rebound is there! The offensive rebound is there!” Anthony told Shelbourne after the 107-106 win. “Coming out of that timeout, I made eye contact with them and was yelling, ‘The offensive rebound is there! Somebody go!'”
Knicks players were probably more focused on what head coach Mike Brown was telling them to do, but Anthony’s advice proved solid.
Anunoby’s game-winning putback with 1.2 seconds left came on an offensive rebound after Jalen Brunson missed a deep 3 that pulled Spurs star Victor Wembanyama out of the paint to contest the shot.
The Knicks forward then leaped above some smaller Spurs guards to produce one of the most iconic moments in NBA history, giving the team the 107-106 edge.
It was far from the first time Anthony has helped the Knicks.
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
After starting his career with the Nuggets, the Knicks traded for Anthony in 2011, where he spent seven seasons and helped lead the Knicks to the playoffs three times.
Anthony made the All-Star team every year with the Knicks, won the NBA’s scoring title with 28.7 points per game in 2012-13, was named to the All-NBA Second Team in 2013 and set the Knicks all-time record for points in a game with 62 in 2014.
He later became a Hall of Famer in September 2025.
The Knicks will now look to close out the Spurs in Saturday’s Game 5 as the series shifts back to San Antonio, with tip-off set for 8:30 p.m. ET.
“I see a lot of people saying OG Anunoby is the current favorite for the Finals MVP. And I must say, I agree,” Green said on Friday’s episode of “The Draymond Green Show.” “I think he’s been the most consistent. I think, you know, he’s made pivotal plays. He had the block and the bucket to close out the game in Game 4. Jalen Brunson was incredible last game, but I think the first three games, he wasn’t great, was shooting a lot of shots at a low percentage.
“And OG has just been constant. And it hasn’t been like averaging 14 points, 16 points — he’s averaging 24 points on the series, 65 percent from the field, 55 [percent] from three, playing the defense he’s playing, guarding [Victor Wembenyama] at times in the series. I think OG Anunoby has a decent Game 5, and [the Knicks] win Game 5. I think OG Anunoby is the Finals MVP.”
The Anunoby vs. Brunson debate feels a bit reminiscent of the 2015 NBA Finals, when Andre Iguodala was named MVP over Steph Curry. Like Brunson, Curry boasted better stats than Iguodala, but voters recognized and rewarded Iguodala elevating his game on the biggest stage and making a massive defensive impact — the same could be said of Anunoby this series.
Perhaps that could be the reason for Green’s opinion on the matter this time around, already having seen a similar storyline play out a decade earlier.
Regardless, we’ll find out soon enough whether or not Green’s prediction comes to fruition.
Make no mistake, the Miami Heat are still considered the clear frontrunners to land Giannis Antetokounmpo. If you put trust in such things, it's worth noting that Tyler Herro — one of the primary players who would head to Milwaukee in any deal — has unfollowed the Heat on social media.
"I have heard Boston is shopping people around a lot right now. That Boston is making calls, Boston is open to trading anybody besides Jayson Tatum. And that doesn't necessarily mean they land Giannis at the end of the day but I do believe, based off all the conversations I've had, is that the Celtics are in on Giannis. And if they are making a push on him and that this seems to be currently a two-team race with Milwaukee to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo."
Everyone talking about Boston is using a lot of qualifiers — "if they are making a push" — so the question becomes how much of this is smoke and how much is fire? Is Milwaukee trying to drum up a bidding war or flush out other suitors besides Miami? Or, is Boston really interested? Is Jalen Brown in play to be traded coming off an All-NBA season where he averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game? If the Celtics are in, they pose a serious challenge to the Heat as frontrunners.
Minnesota? Orlando? Bucks want clarity
When any trade deadline gets close, we start to see the real offers from teams. What teams are serious, which are not, and what is genuinely on the table.
To this point in the summer, the market outside of Miami for Antetokounmpo has been softer than expected. With the deadline nearing, the Bucks are looking for that from teams on the fringes of the conversations, such as Orlando and Minnesota, reports Sam Amick and Eric Nehm at The Athletic.
Per league and team sources, the Bucks appear to be seeking clarity from several suitors as to what they would actually be willing to offer before making a final decision. The Boston Celtics, Minnesota Timberwolves and Orlando Magic, the sources say, are known to be among them. The Portland Trail Blazers are known to have interest in trading for Antetokounmpo, but it appears more likely — if the Bucks have their way — that they would be involved as a third-team as a way for Milwaukee to regain control of some of the picks they lost in the Damian Lillard trade in 2023.
Minnesota is not likely because, unless Antetokounmpo changes his stance, he does not want to go West (don't forget, he has leverage in these talks because he only has one more guaranteed year on his contract and teams trading for Antetokounmpo will want him to sign an extension, he can tell them he will not).
That said, the Bucks may like what the Timberwolves can offer, The Athletic reports. The Bucks are eying Naz Reid, Terrence Shannon Jr. and two first-round picks. The sticking point is two-way forward Jaden McDaniels — the Bucks want him, and the Timberwolves say he is not available. All of this is moot if Antetokounmpo doesn't want to go West, even to a team with Anthony Edwards.
Orlando is interesting, a team on the rise in the East, but with questions about whether they have a true No. 1 shot creator and bucket getter who can get them a ring. The Magic are expected to let new coach Sean Sweeney try to figure out the Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner puzzle rather than blow it up for Antetokounmpo or anyone else, league sources told NBC Sports. However, if they decide to get in the mix, they can put together an impressive offer.
Teams don’t fully trust Bucks
At the February trade deadline, Bucks general manager Jon Horst listened to trade offers for Antetokounmpo for the first time. However, other teams ultimately felt he was just gauging the market; he wasn't serious about making a deal, league sources told NBC Sports at the time. That widely held belief is an issue for the Bucks now, Amick and Nehm report at The Athletic.
Yet there is, the sources say, a sense of distrust from some teams because of how the Bucks handled trade discussions around Antetokounmpo at the deadline... It was, in the eyes of some, a fact-finding mission that was intended to set the stage for the summer to come. As such, sources say some teams are imploring the Bucks to come to them with all the final details of an offer that they would accept rather than going back and forth. The hope, of course, is that taking that tact would minimize the locker-room impact of the rumor mill.
Good luck with slowing the rumor mill.
Other Antetokounmpo trade notes
• Keep this thought from friend-of-the-site Keith Smith in mind on how the Antetokounmpo trade to Miami would ultimately be structured.
I've said this before, but worth putting here too:
If the Heat make a trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo, it's to their benefit to send out more salary than they take back. That way they avoid a first-apron hard cap. That gives them more wiggle room to build out the roster.
