Stacey King’s family has broken its silence after the NBA champion and beloved broadcaster’s unexpected death.
King’s sons, Erick, Garrett and Brandon, issued an emotional statement through the Bulls on Tuesday, thanking fans for the outpouring of support and remembering their father as more than the larger-than-life personality Chicago came to know.
ESPN Chicago’s David Kaplan said King died after a fall at his home. Medical examiners said King was found at his River Forest, Ill., home and that a head autopsy was needed to confirm the cause of death, ABC7 Chicago reported.
Stacey King playing for the Bulls in 1990. Getty Images
King’s sons said many knew him as a champion, broadcaster and “larger-than-life personality,” but they knew him as an “even greater father, friend, and man.”
The family also shared one of its favorite memories of King’s ability to connect with people.
When fans would ask if he was a professional athlete, King would smile and say, “No, I’m just a tall black guy.”
His sons said that his sense of humor and warmth never left him.
The family said the messages, phone calls, prayers and stories they have received since King’s death have brought comfort.
Stacey King had been a Bulls broadcaster since 2006. NBAE via Getty Images
The Bulls selected King with the No. 6 pick in the 1989 NBA Draft out of Oklahoma, and he became part of Chicago’s first three-peat alongside Michael Jordan from 1991-93. He played eight NBA seasons before retiring in 1997.
After his playing career, King became one of the most recognizable voices around the Bulls as a longtime television analyst, known for his energy, humor and signature calls.
Jordan said Monday that he was “deeply saddened” by King’s death, remembering their years together as teammates and King’s role in defining an era of Bulls basketball.
Former Chicago Bulls television announcer Stacey King attends the first half of an NBA basketball game, Nov. 17, 2025, in Denver. AP Photo/David Zalubowski
The Bulls also paid tribute to King after his death, with owner Jerry Reinsdorf remembering him as one of the unique personalities and “unmistakable voice” in the organization’s history.
King’s family thanked the Bulls organization and Bulls Nation for embracing him throughout his playing and broadcasting career, saying his connection with the city and fans meant the world to him.
“We love you, Dad,” the family added. “Your legacy will live on.”
Jun 8, 2026; New York, New York, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) passes the ball to forward Victor Wembanyama (1) against New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) during game three of the 2026 NBA Finals in the third quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images | Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
I’ve never been much for horror films.
Sure, I’ve always been fascinated by the destabilizing and open-ended duality of The Shining (Stephen King owes Kubrick a debt for improving on the book, the ungrateful wretch), or the bizarro excesses of a young Peter Jackson’s Dead Alive, and though I have enjoyed the return of more psychological horror over the past decade, by-and-large it’s a genre I don’t engage with much.
Most perplexing to me is the popularity of horror films that rely on the jump scare. The jump scare is a time-honored convention at this point in the genre, but there’s a very fine line between using it as an intelligently startling punctuation, and having it function as the only real draw/form of stimulation.
Personally, I adjust to over-stimulation far too quickly for these kinds of films to be very effective. As a younger man, drinking began to lose the appeal once I needed to imbibe larger and larger quantities of alcohol, even as the effect lessened.
Now, in the relative sobriety of middle-age, I find that one or two drinks can really do the trick. The same feels true for the jump scare. Too many, and I begin to lose interest. I find an extended section of growing unease to be far more effective.
Why is probably why I spent most of my weekend dreading the thought of having to write about Game 3.
Unlike the previous series against the Thunder, there haven’t been any blowouts. Losing feels bad, but in a blowout at least it goes quickly. You lose your attachment to the game pretty quickly when you’re down 20+ in the fourth quarter. It almost seems like it hurts less, or at the very least, allows you to pull the chute earlier.
Each Finals game has felt like base-jumping into the Overlook Hotel. The endless seesawing of the score starts to play tricks on your mind. How many times have the Spurs had the lead? Have they actually ever really had the lead? I could have sworn they were up by 8. Or 10. Or 6. Wait…they’re tied??
The margin starts to feel as inflationary as our national currency (or gas prices), and everything seem relative. What even is a lead? Five points ahead is basically a tie at this point. It’s all a fugazi. It’s fairy dust. Even worse, the games were starting to give me a feeling that the only slasher franchise I’ve ever regularly engaged with gives me.
Anytime something important needed to happen, the Knicks seemed to hit any and every shot in spite of the odds.
A long-distance prayer at the end of the shot clock?
They’re going to make it.
The perfect pass out of a near-perfect defensive rotation?
They’re gonna find it.
A critical rebound that mutiple Spurs are in position for, and have hands on?
And in the second quarter of Game 3, the Final Destination vibes started to kick in again.
The Spurs were amazing for the first ten-or-so minutes of the 1st quarter, before the Knicks caught back up with the highest-scoring quarter of the series for either team.
New York hit 6 of their 13 threes in that quarter. They went 13/16 from the field as a whole. Everything was going in. Perfectly contested shots. Leaning shots off one leg. Shots majestically arcing over Wemby’s Lovecraftian reach. (Brunson in particular seems to have mastered this) Shots with seemingly no arc at all.
They went 8 for 8 from the free-throw line, and they didn’t even seem to need it.
The Spurs had been up by 12 at the start of the 2nd. Now they were down by 7 going into the half. Intellectually I knew that 7 points wasn’t much, but I was starting to feel like the Spurs were up against something supernatural.
Had James Dolan finally given in and sold his soul to dark forces? Was Adam Silver the demiurge? Were the current Knicks being possessed by the ghosts of Willis Reed, and Dick Barnett, and Dave DeBusschere?
And so it continued. The Spurs would claw out a lead. The Knicks would then make impossible plays and shots and/or the Spurs would slip up in unusual ways. And even though they only ended up with eight turnovers, it felt like every pass from San Antonio was either reckless or hazarded by their opponents, to the point that I thought it might be giving me heart palpitations or angina.
If this had been a bog-standard slasher film, I’d have adjusted to it by then, but as in the case of Final Destination, it was the sheer improbability and unpredictability (or false certainty) that was keeping my blood pumping.
I was either standing or pacing for most of the fourth quarter, my daughter tucked in on the couch, a serene and innocently slumbering opposite. I couldn’t carry her to her room in the middle of that madness! Who knows what might have happened?!
I had honored my contractual agreement for pre-bedtime cuddles. What my daughter had failed to grasp was the nature of the contract I had signed in watching this potentially paranormal snuff film of my favorite team’s hopes and dreams on the apparently haunted hardwood of Madison Square Garden!!
(Who says dramatic monologuing isn’t the spice of life?)
And the Spurs clawed out one final lead. They were about to be up double digits.
And then the Knicks successfully challenged the foul, with Keldon Johnson found to be the real culprit like some awful Scooby Doo reveal, which wiped out Wemby’s make and the free-throw.
And the Brunson hit a shot. And then Anunoby. And the valiant De’Aaron Fox answered, but Brunson continued to close the gap.
An alley-oop to Victor, but it didn’t seem to matter. The fix was in, and it felt malevolently Calvinistic. The Knicks were the Elect. Everything was predetermined. We’d seen this movie before. At least twice. And I was definitely not crashing out in a pseudo-theological way at all.
And then Castle hit a three.
And it wasn’t just a three. It was an end-of-the-shot-clock plea for intercession. A life exchange momentarily shifting someone else’s name onto Basketball Death’s list in place of your own. The resuscitation of an NBA team that was flat-lining. A tiny miracle of the sort that had been evading the Spurs all series.
And you could tell the invigoration was real, because no one hung their head or checked out when OG Anunoby ended up at the free-throw line. Or when Jalen Brunson benefited from one last gasp of ludicrous magic by hitting a step-back three to cut the lead to three points.
And then Fox, the 2023 NBA Clutch Player of the Year, who’s had to pick his spots for most of the series, picked the last perfect spot of the night, with a mid-range jumper right over the formidably-defending Anunoby, and the light at the end of the tunnel was there. The edge of the maze. The weirdly rampant zombie-killing lawn mower.
And I was relieved, which feels like the wrong word, because I wasn’t sure what to write. But also the right word, because I really had to pee.
The ending of the film version of the shining is ambiguous. We don’t actually know what happened to Jack, or who/what he even is. The Final Destination films are heading into their seventh installment, with no more hint of clarity or cessation than in the films before.
The Spurs still have to play Game 4. They’ll still be at The Garden. There’s no way of knowing if this was a respite, or a turning point. Anticipation is its own kind of psychological horror.
But for one night, the Spurs disrupted the conspiratorial delusions of at least one Spurs fan.
I don’t know what tomorrow will bring. I don’t know if they’ve broken the cycle. But I know that I can’t stop watching.
I can’t help it. It’s the best show around.
Takeways
For most of the postseason, the Spurs have actually shot a little above (79.5%) their season average (78.7%) at the free throw line, but they shot 75% during the first two games, and it cost them. Shooting closer to their average last night (78%) was almost certainly a deciding factor when the margin is so thing, so let’s hope they continue to trend upwards in the respect. People always talk about championships being won in the margins to the point of eliciting the occasional eye roll, but that’s how much a 3% difference can matter. Maybe Mitch Johnson should set up a practice where players shoot free-throws while Sean Sweeney stands next to them doing his best Chucky Doll impression? I’ve got all kinds of ideas, if only they’d ask me.
The Spurs also managed to finally knock down their threes to the tune of something close to their season average (35%). Variance is a beast that both teams are falling victim to in that arena, but the Spurs shot 30% from three over those first two games, and the law of averages has somewhat avenged them. Thankfully, the Knicks are finally sinking back down to just below their regular season average (with some Spursy assistance, of course) after going on a very extended hot streak over multiple rounds, but the Spurs aren’t going to win the day in MSG again if they get a repeat of those first two performances, so light your payer candles before the game, because I get the feeling they’re going to have to weather a fierce response.
Keldon Johnson looked a little bit better after a pair of games that had me questioning how he could be effectively used in this series. But by limiting his usage, and picking his spots more like De’Aaron Fox, he ended the game with the team-high plus minus and has pulled himself out of the depths of a negative net rating. However, as much as I like the more discerning approach, I get the feeling that the Spurs are going to need *at least* one big game out of Keldon in order to bring home the trophy, so he still needs to keep his eye out for opportunities while biding his time more efficiently. Both of the previous series have featured at least one game with Keldon on a heater. Does he have one more in him against a team that has clearly prepared for thwarting him? I guess we’ll see.
Carter Bryant hit a three! It’s his first of the series, and we like to celebrate the little victories as well here at PTR. Naturally we all expect him to instantly morph into Steph Curry and change the complexion of the series. That seems fair. Maybe I can go out and buy one of those wishing willows from Obsession. I’m sure that won’t backfire at all. It’s not like it’s a Monkey’s Paw.
President Donald Trump was booed, loudly and at length, when he appeared on the Jumbotron during the national anthem before Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden Monday night.
The arena had been chanting “U-S-A! U-S-A!” as Avery Wilson began to sing The Star Spangled Banner. The Trump’s face appeared on the screen for the first time since he had entered the arena, saluting the flag and the arena erupted in boos.
While the booing was clear on the ABC broadcast, people inside the arena also posted videos capturing the booing.
The Athletic's Esfandiar Baraheni recorded the moment it turned.
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) June 9, 2026
Trump wasn’t rattled, at least not publicly. Boarding Air Force One after the game, the president told reporters, “I think it was mostly cheers. It was loud. And it was enthusiastic.”
He attended as the guest of Knicks owner James Dolan and became the first sitting president to attend an NBA Finals game. The Knicks lost 115-111. They lead the series 2-1. Game 4 is on Wednesday at MSG, ESPN reported that Trump will not attend.
Joining Trump in the suite were White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino, EP Administrator Lee Zeldin, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Trump's granddaughter, Kai Trump. Also in the suite was Envoy Steve Witkoff, Director of White House Oval Office operations Walt Nauta, longtime Trump adviser Boris Epshteyn, and executive assistant to the president Natalie Harp.
CNN reported that his son-in-law Jared Kuschner was also in the suite.
Madison Square Garden waited 26 years to host an NBA Finals game, but the home fans saw a loss on Monday night when the San Antonio Spurs beat the Knicks in Game 3 to trim New York’s series lead to 2-1. After the game, there were multiple reports of Knicks fans physically attacking Spurs fans on the streets. The viral videos of the assaults are so ugly that Victor Wembanyama, Karl-Anthony Towns, and others players pleaded with fans to stop the violence.
In separate incidents, Knicks fans jumped men wearing Spurs jerseys around the city after the loss. The videos are horrifying. This is totally unaccepted behavior from some stupid, young members of the fanbase. No should should be assaulted just because they are wearing another team’s jersey.
The videos elicited a response from star players on both teams. Here’s Wembanyama’s comments on the incidents, via ESPN:
“My thoughts of course [are] that we can’t forget it’s a game,” Wembanyama said. “We’re just playing a game out there. I am all for passion, but [with] the respect of each other. It’s unacceptable.”
Spurs teammate Julian Champagnie added: “I feel like, for the fans, it should never be that serious where you have to jump people, beat people up, follow people home. Whether we win, they win, it doesn’t really matter. Everybody should be able to come and enjoy the game, no matter who they’re rooting for.”
Towns encouraged fans to “Leave the physicality to everyone on the court.”
Warning: The video below contains violence that readers may find disturbing.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - MARCH 08: The shoes of James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first quarter against the Boston Celtics at Rocket Arena on March 08, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Antonio Spurs have officially made the 2026 NBA Finals a series after taking Game 3 on the road in Madison Square Garden. However, their victory may have come at a heavy cost. After reviewing a first quarter shove of New York's Jalen Brunson by Victor Wembanyama, the league's head of officiating, Monty McCutchen, has admitted they missed a foul call on the play. Even worse for San Antonio is that it could turn into a retroactive flagrant.
NBA head of officiating Monty McCutchen, appearing now on ESPN, acknowledges that a foul was missed on Victor Wembanyama's first-quarter shove of Jalen Brunson and says the league's review is still ongoing regarding whether the play will be deemed a retroactive flagrant foul. https://t.co/W4wAe20h0F
While there is no trouble just yet, Wembanyama has put himself in danger with this foul. Should the league upgrade it to a flagrant 1, Wembanyama would be subject to suspension if he were to commit another similar foul.
Wembanyama's absence from the Spurs would almost certainly mean defeat in the NBA Finals. Wembanyama cannot afford to play so recklessly for the remainder of the series.
Here's what to know about the foul and what it could mean for the Spurs.
What happened between Wembanyama and Brunson?
The play in question came in the first quarter of the Spurs' Game 3 win over New York. Brunson and Wembanyama got tangled up during a possession and video shows Wembanyama tossing Brunson to the ground during the play.
Not yet. In the NBA playoffs, players are allowed three penalty points before a suspension is enacted. Wembanyama has already obtained two penalty points for his Flagrant 2 foul against Naz Reid in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals.
Should the NBA determine that Wembanyama's shove warrants a Flagrant 1 distinction, Wembanyama would have three penalty points for the postseason, meaning one more flagrant foul (1 or 2) would lead to immediate suspension.
What determines a Flagrant 1 or 2 in the NBA?
Per NBA Rule 12, a Flagrant 2 is called when contact with an opposing player is determined to be "unecessary and excessive." A Flagrant 1 is called when the contact is only unecessary.
A Flagrant 2 is also grounds for an immediate ejection from the game and comes with a minimum $2,000 fine.
Seeing a lot of confusion right now about whether Victor Wembanyama will be suspended for Game 5, so here’s what NBA rules say might happen:
When it comes to the integrity of sport, few participants have more influence than the officials who interpret and apply the rules in real time.
For basketball, eyebrows are raised when significant disparities arise in free throws.
After Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Monday night, Knicks coach Mike Brown expressed concern about the Spurs having 24 free-throw attempts in the second half, while New York had eight.
The Knicks had led by seven at halftime. The Spurs won the game, 115-111.
"I talked to [the officials]," Brown said, via Vincent Goodwill of ESPN. "They outshot us 14-3 in the third quarter from the free-throw line. I talked to them, and they said, 'Well, this is a foul, this is a foul. That's the question I had with them is, 'You're right. Maybe we did foul. But they fouled, too.'"
Goodwill acknowledged that officiating will be an issue in Game 4, given his remarks.
"It's going to be that because I said it," Brown said. "The story is going to be there."
That's the thing about a seven-game series. The working of the officials extends from game to game.
And the work of the officials will be scrutinized. Especially in the age of legalized gambling. Tin-foil hat wearers (whose conspiracy theories become more plausible given the many ways pro sports leagues and teams are wetting their beaks via sports betting) would claim that the officials and/or the league wanted to avoid a four-game sweep. And so, the theory would go, they put a finger on the scale to help the Spurs on Monday night.
The explanation could be as simple as, yes, the Knicks committed more fouls. But the gap in free throws is what it is. And it is something that more people will be paying attention to on Wednesday night.
For the NFL, there are fewer natural incentives for the league to want a given team to win a given playoff game. Every postseason contest is single elimination. For the NBA, a four-game series becomes far less profitable (given all of the various revenue streams) than a five-, six-, or seven-game series.
PORTLAND, OR - MARCH 27: P.J Washington #25 of the Dallas Mavericks looks on during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on March 27, 2026 at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Cameron Browne/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks are trying to figure out what direction to go in this offseason, especially after the dismissal of head coach Jason Kidd.
The decision to move on from Kidd suggests that the Mavericks might be trying to go in a brand new direction, which could lead to a total youth movement that’s led by Cooper Flagg. However, veterans like P.J. Washington, who was crucial to the team’s 2024 NBA Finals run, remain on the roster and provide value both on the court and in trade talks.
“Washington is a great stylistic fit next to Cooper Flagg in Dallas’ frontcourt. Now the only question about his place in the Mavericks’ starting lineup is whether they keep him to try to win next season — with a healthy Kyrie Irving back in the fold — or trade him for picks or young players who are closer in age to Flagg,“ Kram wrote.
Washington signed a four-year extension worth $88.76 million last September, and it kicks in at the start of the season. He’ll make just under $20 million this season, with a pay bump to $21.3 million, then $22.9 million, followed by $24.5 million in the final year of the contract for the 2029-30 season.
It’s a pricey contract, but for someone who averages 14.2 points and seven rebounds per game, the value is fair. Given the contract extension, the Mavs could ask teams for an expensive offer right now and his value might not exceed where it currently is.
At the very least, general manager Mike Schmitz needs to listen to offers if they come in, but they shouldn’t shop him at the moment. Let the offers come to them and then make a move if the price is right.
Mavs Moneyball community, what do you make of Washington’s future with the team? Let us know in the comments below.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 23: Joel Embiid #21 and Paul George #8 of the Philadelphia 76ers look on against the Brooklyn Nets at Xfinity Mobile Arena on December 23, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Nets defeated the 76ers 114-106. 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 Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As the team that demolished the Sixers out of the 2026 playoffs continues playing for a championship, Philadelphia’s new brass is under no delusions on how far they are from contending for one.
In his introductory press conference, president of basketball operations Mike Gansey gave a frank assessment on where he thinks his new team is, one that Bob Myers would agree with in a media availability an hour later.
“They got swept in the second round, so it’s not a championship-caliber team right now,” he said, “but we’re going to work on that.”
Gansey went on to explain that getting the core four of Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Joel Embiid and Paul George on the court will be central to that. The presence of those last two has become quite the topic of debate amongst the fanbase. The current CBA already makes it hard to fill out a roster built around maxing out stars, but Embiid and George only being able to get on the court for about half the games makes it a Herculean task.
Gansey had to field multiple questions about balancing the potential long term of Edgecombe and Maxey while having the veterans Embiid and George under contract.
“I don’t look at it as a timeline, I just look at it like, we have those four and we have to maximize those four,” Gansey said. “Obviously, Tyrese and VJ are younger, but Paul and Joel can still play at a high level.”
He went on to cite the 24-14 record the team had when Embiid played this season, as well as their first-round series comeback win over the Boston Celtics. The commitment Gansey showed in his presser to the top four players on this roster could be seen as a contradiction to the organization’s view that this team is not ready for true contention.
As awesome as their success was against Boston, they were worn down by the time they reached the second round. The bench being too thin combined with a front office that was too stingy to provide any sort of reinforcements led to an ugly sweep.
For at least the very beginning of Gansey’s Sixers tenure, he has no choice but to present confidence. Whether it’s best for VJ Maxx to dump Embiid and George as quickly as possible or see what kind of support they can give the backcourt as they play out their contracts is a debate worth having several times over this offseason. Regardless of which path Gansey thinks is right, it’s in his best interest to show belief in this core as it currently stands.
“They’re our four guys, they’re under contract. We got to do the best to get them to their best self,” Gansey said, “because I think every night at 7 p.m., we got to get them to their best to help us win.”
That’s true whether Gansey has a deal to trade Embiid or PG tomorrow or not. Whether it’s hoping to turn those guys into a bunch of medium-sized contracts, or waiting until Edgecombe hits his prime as their contracts expire, this is a large ship that Gansey has to turn around.
The re-tool, re-vamp, whatever it is, is not going to be as straightforward as hoping to land a star at the top of the draft as Sam Hinkie’s capital P process was. A difference in Gansey’s favor though is that he certainly inherits more building blocks to start out. It’s clear Gansey values some pieces that are here.
Victor Wembanyama said fans should respect each other during the NBA finals. Photograph: Ross D Franklin/AP
Players from both teams in the NBA finals have condemned apparent attacks on San Antonio Spurs fans by supporters of the New York Knicks.
Videos circulating on social media showed Spurs fans having their jerseys ripped off on the streets of New York in the aftermath of the Knicks’ loss in Game 3 of the finals at Madison Square Garden.
“My thoughts of course [are] that we can’t forget it’s a game,” Spurs star Victor Wembanyama said when told of the incidents. “We’re just playing a game out there. I am all for passion, but [with] the respect of each other. It’s unacceptable.”
According to CBS News, 21 people were taken into police custody, with eight arrested, after Monday’s game in violence related to the NBA finals.
Several members of the Knicks expressed their disquiet about the behavior of some of their fans.
“The game is built off of respect and passion,” Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns said. “We want everyone to respect each other. We want everyone to enjoy basketball at its purest state. It’s the NBA finals. There’s no better place to watch basketball. Leave the physicality to everyone on the court.”
Spurs forward Julian Champagnie grew up in New York but said he had not felt threatened walking around Manhattan during these finals. He did, however, say fans should moderate their behavior.
“I feel we’re here to play a basketball game. That’s the main thing,” he said. “I feel like for the fans, it should never be that serious where you have to jump people, beat people up, follow people home. Whether we win, they win, it doesn’t really matter. Everybody should be able to come and enjoy the game, no matter who they’re rooting for.”
A watch party outside Madison Square Garden was cancelled for Monday’s game due to enhanced security measures because of Donald Trump’s attendance. Several other outside gatherings took place around the city without serious incidents.
The Knicks host the Spurs again on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks, chasing their first NBA championship since 1973, lead the series 2-1.
Josh Hart said it perfectly while talking to reporters after the Knicks’ practice on Tuesday, “We knew they weren’t just gonna lay down and let us win four straight.”
Hart, of course, was referring to the San Antonio Spurs who recovered from losing the first two games at home in the NBA Finals by beating New York in Game 3 on Monday night at Madison Square Garden and putting the pressure on the Knicks who are up 2-1 heading into Wednesday’s Game 4.
“We knew this was gonna be a battle,” Hart said. “They played very well and you gotta give them credit for that.”
Still, in the loss, the team’s first since April 23, New York made some uncharacteristic mistakes that it wasn’t making during its 13-game winning streak.
Perhaps the most obvious was the amount of turnovers – the Knicks had 13 to the Spurs’ eight which led to San Antonio scoring 21 points. Jalen Brunson had five turnovers by himself and emphasized not turning the ball over as a way to improve the team’s flow offensively.
“Our attention to detail needs to be better,” he said.
“We were making turnovers that were uncharacteristic of us, just being sloppy with the ball, not being on the same page,” OG Anunoby added. “Throughout the course of a game stuff like that happens so we’re just gonna try and clean it up.”
Turnovers are a part of the game and there’s no escaping them entirely. However, the goal is to cough up the ball fewer times than the opponent which New York had been doing an excellent job of during the playoffs.
Another thing the Knicks had done so well until Monday’s loss was moving the ball around and not being stagnant on offense. Yes, Brunson is capable of playing hero ball late in the game when his team needs a clutch bucket, but New York was running teams out of the gym in previous rounds thanks to its game speed and constant movement around the court.
But in Game 3 the Knicks had just 18 assists, their lowest total in the postseason and the first time they’d gone under 20 assists since their last playoff loss against the Atlanta Hawks in the first round.
“We gotta pick up the ball movement for sure,” Karl-Anthony Towns said. “… We have 13 games in a row, 50 days of film to show what it looks like when we’re at our best so we got good film. We’ll get back to our fundamentals which makes us great and get back to work tomorrow.”
“We didn’t play to the best of our capabilities and I think that’s the frustrating part because we knew we didn’t play our best basketball,” Hart added. “We learned from film today and we’ll be better tomorrow.”
Hart dove into the benefits of watching film, not just from the loss to the Spurs, but in general as it can help players and a team quickly identify and correct mistakes or how to plan to counteract an opponent’s strengths.
“You wanna watch kind of as much film as you can or get as much information as you can to then go out there and play to that,” he said. “Obviously you want to play with your instincts as a basketball player that you’ve been playing the game for such a long time, but certain situations you want to have that information so certain plays you can try to deter them from getting to their spots.”
Despite losing Game 3, New York still leads the series and head coach Mike Brown mentioned that “nobody is panicking” in his “veteran group”. In fact, whether the Knicks won or lost on Monday night, nothing would’ve changed with their preparation on Tuesday for Game 4, a mentality they’ve been running with for a while now.
If anything, a loss, especially after such a long time without one, can bring out new ways to improve.
“Obviously I'm a firm believer that you can grow and learn a lot in wins, but you can do the same in losses, too,” Brown said. “... Everybody is disappointed that we didn't go out and execute and play to what we feel our standard is.
“That's not taking anything away from San Antonio, but we feel like we can play a lot better than what we did. We're looking forward to going out on the floor and showing it.”
“Each game, no matter what the situation is, we're growing as a team,” Brunson added. “I think we're learning and we're getting better… No matter what the situation is, we're going to stick together. We're going to execute, we're going to be better. That's just how our mindset has to be going forward.”
In the first quarter of the Spurs’ victory at the Garden, Wembanyama tossed Jalen Brunson to the floor. No foul was called.
“I think that’s not basketball,” Jose Alvarado, the feisty reserve guard from Brooklyn, said on Tuesday. “That’s something that they gotta look at. But he got away with one. That’ll be the last one.”
The Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama (1) shoves Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) in the back of the head during Game 3 of the NBA Finals on June 8, 2026. ABCKnicks guard Jose Alvarado speaks to reporters on June 9, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
Four points triggers an immediate one-game suspension. So if he was retroactively assessed a flagrant one — that is one penalty point — he would have to be careful to avoid missing a game in the Finals.
Brunson has not directly commented on the play. When asked about it after Game 3, he said: “Whatever you saw is what you saw.”
