LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 11: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts from the bench against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Four of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 11, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The build-up to the Lakers’ 2026 offseason started before Luka Dončić even joined the Lakers, but his arrival placed a larger microscope over what is about to unfold.
After a season-and-a-half of cobbling together pieces to try to maximize Luka as best as they can, the Lakers’ front office has books as clean as they’ll ever have, multiple draft picks to trade and a massive opportunity in front of them. Now, they head into a summer likely to bring big changes.
While it’s the likes of President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka and those around him who will be under pressure, this will be a collaborative effort between the front office and Luka. As Dave McMenamin of ESPN reported on Tuesday, even with Luka back in Slovenia this summer, the two sides have stayed in regular contact.
Doncic is spending the summer in Slovenia with his daughters, Gabriela and Olivia, but sources close to him told ESPN he is in “constant communication” with Lakers president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka and coach JJ Redick.
The problem is that, 16 months later, the Lakers are still searching for that center. And, as reported by McMenamin, that remains at the top of Luka’s wish list.
While the 27-year-old Doncic is preparing for another season squarely in his prime, he has made one roster preference clear to Pelinka and Redick, sources said.
It’s the same one he made in the days after he first arrived in Los Angeles 16 months ago.
“Luka’s first and foremost desire is an A-list center,” the source said.
It really feels like the Lakers have to move past the days of searching for the bargain option at center and pay up to get a top option. Having a genuine, lob-catching, rim-protecting center that Luka can get the best out of not only opens up the offense for him, but the team as a whole. It really changes the identity of the team and should be not just Luka’s top priority, but the team’s as well.
There are any number of ways the team can go about acquiring that type of player, whether through free agency, trade or the draft. But this summer has been a long time coming and the Lakers should be well-prepared for what’s to come.
The Knicks championship parade made its way from Battery Park through the Canyon of Heroes, culminating with a ceremony outside City Hall.
There, Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Knicks owner James Dolan, president Leon Rose, and head coach Mike Brown — among others — thanked Knicks fans, players, executives, and every one else who helped along the way as the Knicks ended a 53-year championship drought.
Here are some of the top quotes from Thursday's ceremony...
Mayor Zohran Mamdani
"They give the Spurs a 99.6 percent chance of winning [Game 4 when the Knicks trailed by 20 in the fourth quarter.] A 99.6 percent chance of tying up the series 2-2, of reclaiming the momentum with the next game in San Antonio. A 99.6 percent chance of silencing the Garden, of another year of watching and waiting. But there is one thing that the pundits just don’t get about this team, that they just don’t get about this city. It is in that .4 percent that we go to work.
"It is in that .4 percent that Jalen Brunson, the same guy that so many said was too small, proves that not only is he good enough, he is the new standard of greatness. It is in that .4 percent that OG Anunoby watches the ball float from the top of the arc and start running toward the basket, fingers reaching toward the heavens. It is in that .4 percent that Karl-Anthony Towns finds the strength to mourn his mother and still grab rebound after rebound, make block after block. It is in that .4 percent that Jose Alvarado shows every kid growing up in public housing that a son of Brooklyn and Queens can win for every one of the five boroughs. It is in that .4 percent that [Mitchell Robinson] breaks his finger before Game 1 and says ‘Go get the tape.’ It’s in that .4 percent that Josh Hart grabs rebounds that break teams and Mikal Bridges proves he was worth every single draft pick, that Landry Shamet pulls up from downtown, that every one of these 18 players transforms the franchise, that Mike Brown keeps believing.
"Most of all, it’s in that .4 percent that the Knicks do what New Yorkers have always done when we are told something is impossible. We find a way. We win."
James Dolan
"Thank you for supporting our team. We're gonna keep working to bring you even better basketball — although it's hard to imagine that we get much better than this — but we will, right fellas?"
Leon Rose
"Last and most importantly, to the greatest fans in the world, we did it for you. Your support in every arena, it felt like a home game wherever we played, and all over the world has been unbelievable, and we hope to see you again very soon."
Mike Brown
"I’m proud of everybody for helping accomplish this great feat. The energy today and all around New York is off the charts, and I want to thank you all for it. Let’s keep this energy going, baby, because this championship is about you guys. This is New York City’s championship.
"We had our ups, we definitely had our downs, and our group stayed connected through those times. … You saw the belief, the belief in each other."
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 27: Zuby Ejiofor #24 of the St. John's Red Storm reacts after dunking against the Duke Blue Devils during the second half in the Sweet Sixteen of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 27, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Depending on how the board falls, St. John’s big man Zuby Ejiofor could be available when New York is on the clock on draft night next week. Should the Knicks consider him with their 24th or 31st selection?
Projected Draft Range: Late first to very early second round (25–30)
The Numbers
Ejiofor became one of college basketball’s most productive frontcourt players during his final season at St. John’s, his third with the Red Storm. He helped lead the squad to the outright Big East regular-season title and Big East Tournament championship while earning Big East Player of the Year, Big East Defensive Player of the Year and Big East Tournament Most Outstanding Player honors.
The St. John’s standout averaged 16.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.1 blocks and 1.2 steals in 30 minutes per game, and experienced quite the jump from his prior seasons. During his senior-year campaign, Ejiofor’s assists climbed from 1.6 to 3.5 per game, while his blocks rose from 1.4 to 2.1, highlighting his growth as a passer, quicker-processor and defensive playmaker.
ESPN NBA Draft analyst Jeremy Woo has already connected the dots between Ejiofor and the Knicks, saying, “I think he’s someone the Knicks should look at. I think he would fit. I could see him fitting in really well [with the Knicks].”
Skills That Pay the Bills
Motor and Physicality: Ejiofor plays with the kind of force that should translate immediately to the pro ranks and give him a solid role as soon as he joins a team. He can rebound, runs the floor, is able to absorb contact, contests shots, and does the dirty work without needing many touches of the ball.
Defensive Versatility: At 245 pounds with a 7’2” wingspan and a 38-inch max vertical, Ejiofor has enough strength, length and explosiveness to defend multiple frontcourt looks. He can protect the rim, switch in spots and make plays in space.
Rebounding: Ejiofor attacked the glass stubbornly and led Division I in offensive rebounding in 2024-25. He is able to generate extra possessions and doesn’t mind playing through contact.
Solid Passing: The passing leap is one of the most interesting parts of Ejiofor’s profile. He averaged 3.5 assists per game last season and showed legitimate feel finding cutters, shooters and weak-side options when defenses rotated.
Improving Touch: Ejiofor is not a proven shooter yet, but his 71.8% free-throw mark and improved shooting at the NBA Draft Combine give some reason for optimism, as he worked to show his comfort on midrange and three-point shots at the event.
Concerns
Tweener Size: Ejiofor measured just 6’7.5” barefoot, which is short for an NBA center. His wingspan and strength help, but the size question is real against bigger, true NBA fives.
Limited Shooting: The jumper is still theoretical, as he shot 30.5% from three as a senior, and his NBA value would rise significantly if he became a reliable corner or pick-and-pop threat. Just not there yet.
Offensive Role: Ejiofor does not project as a self-creator, but more of a finisher with a knack for hustling. Many of his baskets came through put-backs, dump-offs, rim runs, short rolls, and all sorts of low-key-hustle plays. That can work, even more within the Knicks roster, but it’d require Mike Brown to hit all the right lineup buttons.
Processing Consistency: The passing growth is real, but he still goes with the obvious read or forces plays at times.
Age: Ejiofor is also considerably older than many prospects—and virtually all of those projected to be first-rounders—and still needs some offensive refinement.
The Knicks Fit
I don’t need convincing for the Knicks to make this pick with any of their first two selections. See, the Knicks are coming off winning their first title since 1973, St. John’s plays home games at Madison Square Garden, New York had the chance of a lifetime to grab one of their own in legendary Red Storm forward Ron Artest… but they botched it. Nearly 30 years later, Ejiofor would help the Knicks fix that wrong if they complete the homecoming in a move that fans would absolutely love.
Mind you, Ejiofor would not enter the organization with Artest-level expectations, but the connection is real, and there might not be a better moment for the organization to kill two NYC birds with one NBA Draft stone. Ejiofor developed under Rick Pitino (name rings a bell, too?), became the face of St. John’s breakthrough season, and built a reputation on toughness, defense and constant effort. Sounds familiar?
Ejiofor’s profile fits the Knicks’ identity to a T. New York has Karl-Anthony Towns as its starting center and reportedly wants to keep Mitchell Robinson, although James Dolan doesn’t seem too excited about the possibility. If Robinson leaves, Ejiofor becomes a logical frontcourt target and immediate replacement in the rotation. If Robinson stays, Ejiofor could still develop as a rugged backup big who brings energy, rebounding, and defensive versatility, allowing the Knicks to let Ariel Hukporti/Mohamed Diawara go—or move them—if they need to clear some financial room.
ESPN national director of recruiting Paul Biancardi also framed the Knicks’ fit around the franchise’s identity, writing, “[Ejiofor] plays with an edge, and that’s how the Knicks won a championship, right? They play with an edge, and coming out of St. John’s, with (head coach) Rick Pitino, that’s a great story for you and a lot of people. I think it’s a fit.”
NBA Comparison
Best-Case Comparison: Montrezl Harrell with a passing feel
Median Outcome: Xavier Tillman
Low-End Outcome: Kenneth Faried without elite rebounding
The Verdict
Think twice at 24th: The decision here would depend on who else is available. If a higher-upside guard, wing, or true stretch big slips, New York might do better than drafting Ejiofor, given his lack of size for a center and his unproven jumper are legitimate concerns. That said, there is a very real possibility this kid gets drafted within the 25-30 range, so the Knicks might miss out if they pass on the chance.
Don’t hesitate at 31st: If Zuby Ejiofor is still available when the Knicks pick early in the second round, the fit makes too much sense to ignore. Ejiofor brings the toughness, defensive activity, and rebounding the Knicks have build their roster around and might need if Mitch leaves. He also comes with some passing chops and a clear role-player mentality that wouldn’t disrupt the core. The Red Storm connection is also a bonus coming, let alone with the program and Ejiofor coming off a great season at St. John’s, giving the Knicks a rare homecoming story right after winning the championship. Make it happen!
Sochan appeared during the Knicks’ NBA Finals parade down the Canyon of Heroes and was on the podium without a shirt as he accepted the key to the city.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani laughs as he hugs a shirtless Jeremy Sochan. NY Post YouTube
When introduced, Mayor Zohran Mamdani gave Sochan a big hug, laughing that Sochan was indeed still shirtless as he kept up the bit.
Multiple members of the team were shown laughing in the background, including reserve guard Tyler Kolek, as Sochan posed for a picture with the mayor of New York City.
Sochan has seemingly been shirtless since the title-clinching Game 5, after which Sochan was seen wearing goggles and partying at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio.
A shirtless Jeremy Sochan poses next to Mayor Zohran Mamdani at the Knicks NBA Finals parade.
At one point, Finals MVP Jalen Brunson was being interviewed by “TODAY” anchor Craig Melvin when a shirtless Sochan nearly slipped and knocked over an oversized mock Larry O’Brien Trophy.
Here’s the latest coverage on the Knicks’ historic ticker-tape championship parade
Brunson flinched and had to stop his interview to make sure their reserve center didn’t break anything.
Jeremy Sochan celebrates an NBA Championship shirtless. NBAE via Getty Images
Sochan didn’t play much for the Knicks, appearing in just 16 regular-season games, though he did get in two NBA Finals games during the historic Game 4 comeback and the series-clinching Game 5 win against the Spurs.
He also appeared earlier in the playoffs in some mop-up duty games earlier in the playoffs against the Hawks and 76ers.
Jalen Brunson gave his most pointed dig yet at his doubters.
The Knicks star delivered a message to the haters at City Hall after the team paraded through the Canyon of Heroes on Thursday morning as they celebrated winning their first NBA title in 53 years.
As Brunson stepped up to the microphone, he received “MVP” chants from the crowd.
Jalen Brunson says when people with negative opinions are proven wrong, 'You don't have to say s–t to them!' pic.twitter.com/jFNxDGMwMO
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) June 18, 2026
He went on to make a speech, emphasizing he “wouldn’t trade this for the world” and concluded with a message to the doubters.
“There’s a lot of people that have a lot of negative stuff to say. There’s a lot of people who have a lot of opinions. But when you prove them wrong, you really don’t have to say s–t to them,” Brunson said.
Jalen Brunson speaks during the Knicks’ championship celebration at City Hall on June 18, 2026. AFP via Getty Images
The comment received a boom of cheers from the crowd and Brunson opened his mouth as if he was going to add to his statement, but instead he said, “Nah, they don’t deserve it. Appreciate y’all. Thank you!”
Here’s the latest coverage on the Knicks’ historic ticker-tape championship parade
In the press conference following the 94-90 Game 5 victory in San Antonio, the three-time All-Star was asked about those comments and gave a direct answer, similar to what he said Thursday.
“I didn’t respond to them then, I’m damn sure not gonna respond to them now,” he said.
Knicks guard Jalen Brunson #11, with Mariska Hargitay and his dad Rick, with the Championship trophy riding on a float during a ticker-tape parade along Broadway through Lower Manhattan’s historic Canyon of Heroes.
Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Critics said Brunson isn’t a “1A” player because doesn’t fit the usual type. He isn’t a large guard like Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant nor a big guy like Shaquille O’Neal or Tim Duncan, as traditional examples.
The biggest critic with that take on Brunson has been Aces head coach Becky Hammon.
Knicks guard Jalen Brunson #11, carrying the Championship trophy along Broadway through Lower Manhattan’s historic Canyon of Heroes. Erik Pendzich / BACKGRID
He was named Finals MVP after scoring 45 points in the championship-winning Game 5 on Saturday and proved to be a unanimous selection for the Bill Russell Trophy among 11 voters.
Brunson is one of only three other players to score 45 or more points in a closeout Finals game.
During Thursday’s parade, he soaked in the title win, lifting the Larry O’Brien championship trophy among crazed Knicks fans in a packed lower Manhattan alongside wife Ali and daughter Jordyn, who turns 2 in July.
Prior to upcoming NBA draft, Golden State Warriors' general manager Mike Dunleavy addresses the media at Chase Center in San Francisco on Monday, June 23, 2025. (Photo by Scott Strazzante/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)
The Stein Line’s Jake Fischer reports on the possibility of a Trey Murphy III trade between the Warriors and Pelicans.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst gives context to Wizards’ Trae Young declining his $48.97 million player option to become a free agent.
The Golden State Warriors are entering the final stages of their pre-draft process with the 2026 NBA Draft less than a week away. On Wednesday, general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. held a press conference to discuss the draft, the team’s offseason priorities, and how the front office plans to approach the No. 11 overall pick.
One notable takeaway from Dunleavy’s presser was his insistence that the Warriors expect to add at least one player from this year’s draft. The 2026 class is widely considered one of the strongest in recent years, making this an important opportunity for Golden State to add young talent. While they still have a championship-caliber player in Stephen Curry, he will be 39 years old next March, underscoring the need to add more talent and depth to a roster that finished 37-45 last season and missed the playoffs.
Whether that means drafting at No. 11, trading back for additional picks, or making another move that allows them to add talent elsewhere, Dunleavy made it clear the Warriors will explore every avenue available to improve the roster.
Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. feels fairly confident the team will keep the 11th pick as of right now:
“I just feel like, as strong as this draft is, we should probably come out of this draft with a player, unless you know if something falls into our lap, trade-wise.” pic.twitter.com/kuU7fPFtQf
“I’ve had conversations with kind of all of our free agents,” Dunleavy said during a Wednesday news conference. “Their representatives. I think we’re in a good place with all of them … as far as Draymond and KP, Draymond has the player option, but we’re in communication with his group. Then same thing with KP. Both guys, I think, we value, we want here, and we see them as a kind of (a) piece of the puzzle next season.”
To that end, league sources say, Ament has decided not to work out for the Warriors, who hold the No. 11 pick.
Golden State’s selection has proven to be a spot on the board that various rival teams have begun to pinpoint as a potential trade opportunity … partly because New Orleans is no longer hanging up on teams calling to inquire about two-way wing Trey Murphy III and the Warriors’ longstanding interest in Murphy has been well-chronicled.
The Pelicans are known to “want a lot” for Murphy, as one interested team told The Stein Line last week, but they will at least listen. The Pelicans, furthermore, are also known to be very interested in acquiring a lottery pick for next week’s festivities. New Orleans, at present, only holds No. 58 at the end of next Wednesday’s second round.
Big pre-draft workout day for the Warriors tomorrow with Brayden Burries, Labaron Philon Jr. and Hannes Steinbach coming through Chase Center @NBCSWarriors
The parade begins at 10 a.m. ET with the route starting near Bowling Green in lower Manhattan before going north along Broadway and ending at City Hall. A ceremony will take place at City Hall, and singer Alicia Keys will perform her hit “Empire State of Mind,” which she recorded in 2009 with Jay-Z, following the parade.
Here are all the top sights and sounds from the Knicks’ championship parade.
"He's going to re-sign with the Wizards, likely on a three-year, very large contract."@Windhorstespn gives an update on what could be next for Trae Young 🏀 pic.twitter.com/rQBcWPgczD
Through it all, Wilson never ducked the smoke that comes with being a young superstar. He told reporters he changed his phone background to the McDonald’s All-American Game ahead of an early season showdown with Kansas, because Jayhawks super freshman Darryn Peterson didn’t pass him the ball at the event. He kept a personal “kill list” of opponents he wanted to dominate, and he consistently checked names off the list all year.
As he enters the 2026 NBA Draft, Wilson is embracing the pressure that comes with being a likely top-4 pick.
“I’m going to change their franchise,” Wilson said of the team who drafts him at the combine. “I’m going to change the culture of their franchise and I’m going to change the city, honestly. I’m a culture changer. I did the same thing at North Carolina.”
Follow@unstoppablebaby on X for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.
Jalen Brunson has been proving people wrong his entire life and last Saturday he added another accomplishment to his mantle when he led the Knicks to their first championship in 53 years after toppling the San Antonio Spurs in five games.
It was on the back of Brunson's 45-point barrage in Game 5 that steered New York to another one of its notorious comebacks and sealed his case to be NBA Finals MVP — his third MVP trophy this season after taking home Eastern Conference Finals MVP as well as NBA Cup MVP earlier in the year.
On a grander scale, the point guard's performance on the biggest stage cemented himself as a Knicks all-time great, which was on full display during Thursday's championship parade.
Following speeches by NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Knicks owner James Dolan, team president Leon Rose, head coach Mike Brown and others, Brunson was summoned to the podium as the only player to give a speech and received a raucous welcome — even a standing ovation by some — from fans gathered in front of City Hall before chants of "MVP! MVP!" broke out.
The Finals MVP who just finished his fourth season in New York by bringing a championship back to the city began his speech by thanking the front office for "believing in a kid no one else would," his teammates for "giving [him] confidence every single day" and his family for "their sacrifice" for without, nothing would be possible.
Brunson also made sure to shout out the fans, who he admitted can be his biggest critics at times.
"Most importantly, thank you to the fans. I’m not gonna lie, y’all are some pretty hard critics, but we appreciate it," he said. "At least I do. Appreciate it a lot."
Brunson gave himself some time to reflect on the moment while also revealing he had no doubts he and the Knicks would pull it out.
"Damn, we really did it dog. Somehow, someway, I knew we were gonna find a way to get this done," he said.
To close out his speech, Brunson alluded to the haters, of which there are plenty, who have publicly spoken ill of him or his size or his talent in the past. And while the message was clearly directed toward those people, the essence of what he said could apply to anybody going through something similar.
"Lastly, there’s a lot of people that have a lot of negative stuff to say, there’s a lot of people who have a lot of opinions," he said. "But when you prove them wrong you don’t have to say s--t to them. Nah, they don’t deserve it, they don’t deserve it. Appreciate you all, thank you."
Knicks guard Tyler Kolek had a run-in with police after they seemingly mistook him for a fan during the team’s championship parade in New York on Thursday.
The 25-year-old Kolek was running along the parade route and greeting fans while holding a Michelob Ultra in one hand when he was stopped by two police officers who grabbed him.
One officer was seen shaking his head, appearing to say “no,” while another turned him around an pointed for him to leave the area.
That’s when others intervened to inform the officers that Kolek was a member of the championship team.
The officers backed down after that.
Kolek, who did not look happy, was seen saying something to them as he ran off.
Knicks guard Tyler Kolek was stopped by police after they mistook him for a fan during the team’s championship parade in New York on Thursday, June 18, 2026. X/Kimberley MartinKnicks guard Tyler Kolek was stopped by police after they mistook him for a fan during the team’s championship parade in New York on Thursday, June 18, 2026. X/Kimberley Martin
“I swear I’m on the team bro,” Kolek wrote on X, responding to post that said, “security almost tackled” him.
At one point, Kolek went live on Instagram and showed himself holding the Knicks’ NBA Cup trophy that they won after defeating the Spurs 124-113 in the league’s mid-season tournament in December.
“This my real trophy right here. Y’all got that one I got this one,” Kolek told Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson, who was named MVP of the NBA Finals, referring to the Larry O’Brien championship trophy.
“This my real trophy right here. Y’all got that one I got this one”
Tyler Kolek to Jalen Brunson while holding the NBA Cup trophy
Kolek did not play in any of the 2026 NBA Finals games, in which New York won four of five against the Spurs to clinch their first championship in 53 years.
He was a second round pick out of Marquette by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2024 NBA Draft.
Kolek spent the 2024-25 season with the Westchester Knicks, the Knicks’ G-League affiliate team.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 18: Zohran Mamdani, New York City Mayor and OG Anunoby of the New York Knicks are seen on a float during the New York Knicks Championship ticker tape parade and victory rally celebrating winning the 2026 NBA Finals on June 18, 2026 in New York City. The New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs in five games to win their first NBA Championship in 53 years. (Photo by Angelina Katsanis/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Indiana men’s basketball program alumnus OG Anunoby helped lead the New York Knicks to their first NBA championship in over five decades this month, earning his second title in the process.
The Knicks were honored on Thursday in New York City with a championship parade that culminated at New York City Hall, where Anunoby was one of multiple players to receive a key to the city from Mayor Zohran Mamdani:
One striking image sums up the jubilation of Knicks fans — and the adoration they have for team leader Jalen Brunson as the Big Apple celebrated the championship hometown team Thursday.
A photo snapped along the parade route shows throngs of revelers reaching out to the Knicks star point guard as he held the Larry O’Brien Trophy at the celebration along the Canyon of Heroes.
Several cops surrounded Brunson, who held the Larry O’Brien Tropy while fans held their hands high eager to snap a photo of greatness up close.
Jalen Brunson, upper right, of the NBA Champion New York Knicks carries the trophy for fans during the ticker-tape parade on Broadway. AP Photo/Richard DrewJalen Brunson gets closer to fans while holding the Larry O’Brien Trophy. Erik Pendzich/Shutterstock
Brunson led the Knickerbockers over the San Antonio Spurs, notching the NBA Finals in five games to send the city in a frenzy.
An estimated 2 million fans flooded lower Manhattan and partied like they’ve waited 53 years for a championship with plenty of heartbreak, humiliation and hopelessness along the way.
The parade kicked off at 10 a.m., but pens for viewing had hit capacity hours before.
When Brunson rose to talk at the City Hall ceremony, he received a standing ovation from attendees who chanted “M-V-P.”
“Most importantly, thank you to the fans. Not gonna lie though, ya’ll are some pretty hard critics,” he said as the crowd chuckled. “But we appreciate it, at least I do. I appreciate it a lot.”
With five days left until the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft, the Warriors on Thursday got a look at three very different point guards they could be eyeing.
Brayden Burries, Labaron Philon Jr. and Bennett Stirtz showcased their skills on the Warriors’ practice court as part of a big pre-draft workout that also included Washington star big man Hannes Steinbach and Baylor wing Cameron Carr. Stirtz and Carr were late additions to Thursday’s workout and weren’t available to the media, unlike Burries and Philon, as well as Steinbach.
Thriving in Northern California is nothing new to Burries. Down the road at Golden 1 Center, home of the Sacramento Kings, Burries scored an Open Division record 44 points in the state championship to beat San Francisco’s Archbishop Riordan High School and cap off his prep career. During that playoff run, Burries also formed a relationship with Warriors legend and possible future teammate Draymond Green when the two met after a game.
On Thursday, Green was at his home court rooting Burries on. Playing next to respected vets is something Burries hopes to have from his first NBA home.
“He was talking to me before, and then during the workout he was just, like, encouraging me,” Burries said Thursday to reporters. “Little things like that, I feel it’s pretty cool, because he doesn’t have to be doing that. He could be gone. But he’s just helping me, telling me to continue to push through. And then after the workout we chopped it up a little bit.
“I feel like he’s a great vet, honestly.”
Green always has loved to dive deep into the draft and even offer his opinion to the front office. If he pushes for Burries, it’s easy to see why.
In line with other strong young guards like Dylan Harper, Burries has the frame to thrive at the next level. He’s 215 pounds of pure muscle on his 6-foot-4 frame, and it shows on the court. Burries isn’t great at beating defenders off the dribble, but he explodes off his feet and had the fourth-highest standing vertical at the combine (35 inches) and the fourth-fastest lane agility run (10.59 seconds). Those kinds of bunnies help make Burries a great rebounding guard, too.
He also can let it fly from deep as a multi-level scorer. Burries shot 39.1 percent on threes while taking 4.6 attempts per game at Arizona. A single label of point guard or shooting guard doesn’t describe his game enough.
“Something my dad always told me is to just be a complete basketball player. Somebody who can kind of do it all: Pass, defend, shoot, score,” he says.
That’s what everyone wants to be in the NBA, including Philon, who doesn’t have the same build as Burries. He’s an inch shorter, has the same 6-foot-6 wingspan but weighed in at 176 pounds. Skinny guards always are a cause for concern defensively.
Philon, however, says he plays bigger than what he weighed in at, and he’s already putting weight back on. He played at 185 pounds last season at Alabama and is hovering around 180 to 183 pounds right now. Plus, Philon won’t be asked to carry such a heavy offensive load to start his pro career, allowing him to have more energy on defense.
“My ability to play on and off the ball is really special,” Philon said. “And then to still be able to do it on the other side of the ball is really important.”
His freshman year at Alabama showed promise. His sophomore year was special.
Philon last season ranked third in the SEC in points per game (22.0) and fourth in assists per game (5.0). He did so while also shooting 39.9 percent from 3-point range on 6.2 attempts per game.
Another difference between him and Burries is that Philon lives under the rim. Rising for dunks isn’t part of his game. Getting into the paint and making the defense make a decision is. That’s a skill he wanted to show off in front of the Warriors, too.
“Just my ability to get in the paint and create for others,” Philon said when asked what his goal for the day was.
It also doesn’t hurt that Philon’s “idol” growing up was Steph Curry. Even as he grew up in Mobile, Ala., Philon had three Curry jerseys as a kid: Blue, white and gold.
Burries is the least likely of the bunch to be available with the No. 11 pick. There’s a good chance Philon still is on the board. Stirtz definitely will be.
The Iowa point guard is more of a trade-down option for the Warriors, or someone they could trade back into the first round for. Burries will be 21 before his first NBA game. Philon turns 21 in late November. Stirtz, a senior, will be 23 prior to his first pro game.
After two great seasons in Division II, Stirtz transferred to Drake and was named the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year as a junior; he then leveled up again as a senior to Iowa, where he was named Second Team All-Big Ten. He has similar size to Philon and is a little sturdier.
Is he a top athlete? No. Stirtz is a highly skilled player who could surprise some with where he lands. He knows how to operate an offense and shot 37.2 percent from three in his two years of D-I ball. Stirtz swiped 123 steals between his days at Drake and Iowa, and he is extremely smart with the ball, tallying 363 assists to just 138 turnovers in that span.
Getting Curry and the rest of the roster help with more ball-handlers and playmakers is a Warriors priority, whether that’s through the draft, trades or free agency.
Politicians always speak at team victory rallies after the city wins a championship, but often in broad tones. They only talk about the star players, give kudos to the owner, and generally don’t show a lot of understanding when it comes to the team itself, the history, or the significance of the moment.
New York City mayor Zohan Mamdani flipped the script on Thursday when he stepped to the mic at the Knicks victory rally and delivered one of the most incredible, insightful, and inspiring speeches that a public official has delivered about a team. You don’t need to agree with his politics, or even like him as a person to appreciate that this is a guy who really knows the team he’s talking about.
The first part of the speech was focused on the city. How the pain, and anticipation became part of the fabric of the city. Mamdani highlighted the fans watching games on the street through the windows of electronic shops, at the bar, alone in their apartments, or shoulder-to-shoulder at the bar. It’s here he shouted out not just Knicks legends, but iconic moments and superfans. It was a heck of a way to kick things off.
As amazing as this way was, the second was almost better. Showing an unreal understanding of team building, Mamdani gave shout-outs to a lot of the players who are no longer with the team, but who helped build the culture of the 2025-26 Knicks to become champions — and even gave credit to Tom Thibodeau for his guidance before turning the team over.
This will truly rank among the great sports speeches of all time. Not just by a politician at a victory rally, but ever. It was pretty much perfect.
“There are a lot of people who have a lot of opinions, but when you prove them wrong, you don’t have to say (expletive) to them,” Brunson told the crowd, which erupted in cheers immediately afterward. “Nah, they don’t deserve it. Appreciate y’all, thank you.”
Earlier in his career, Brunson had at times faced criticism, in particular for his 6-foot-2 size. The context being that shorter players like Brunson would have a hard time carrying a contender.
Brunson, with his scoring outbursts and clutch play in fourth quarters, quieted those narratives in emphatic fashion.
This follows comments Brunson made Saturday, June 13, after the Knicks topped the San Antonio Spurs in the decisive Game 5 of the Finals.
Spike Lee has had plenty of courtside moments with the Knicks.
This one was different.
The legendary filmmaker and longtime Knicks superfan was in full celebration mode during Thursday’s championship parade through Lower Manhattan, soaking in the franchise’s first NBA title in 53 years from a float alongside the Brunson family.
Spike Lee attends a championship ticker-tape parade celebrating the team’s NBA Finals victory in New York on June 18, 2026. AFP via Getty ImagesSpike Lee rides on Jalen Brunson’s float at the 2026 NBA Champion New York Knicks ticker-tape parade. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Lee, who has been a fixture at Madison Square Garden for decades, was seen reveling in the moment as the Knicks celebrated the end of one of the longest championship waits in New York sports.
“I’ve never been to a parade ever,” Lee told MSG while being interviewed on the float. “I’m glad it’s this one!”
Lee also thanked the Brunson family for inviting him onto their float and said he felt blessed to be part of the celebration.
Lee, who has been a fixture at Madison Square Garden for decades, was seen reveling in the moment as the Knicks celebrated the end of one of the longest championship waits in New York sports. Robert Miller for NY Post
Then he gave the moment a very Spike ending.
After the interview, Lee kissed the interviewer on the cheek before breaking into a dance, pointing his arms up and down as the parade rolled on.
It was a fitting scene for one of the most recognizable Knicks fans in the world.
Lee has been part of the team’s public identity for generations, sitting courtside through playoff runs, painful collapses, rebuilds and years when The Garden had far more frustration than celebration.
That made Thursday’s parade feel like more than just another celebrity appearance.
For Lee, it was the payoff for decades of loyalty.
It has also been quite a year for the filmmaker’s sporting life.
Lee, a known Arsenal fan, also saw the Gunners win the Premier League this season, ending their own long wait for a league title.
For Lee, Thursday’s parade was the payoff for decades of loyalty. Erik Pendzich/ShutterstockLee has been part of the team’s public identity for generations, sitting courtside through playoff runs, painful collapses, rebuilds and years when The Garden had far more frustration than celebration. Stephen Yang for NY Post
But Thursday belonged to the Knicks.
As fans packed the streets in blue and orange, Lee was right in the middle of it — smiling, dancing and enjoying a parade that had been more than five decades in the making.
After all those nights courtside at the Garden, Spike finally got his Knicks championship moment.
NEW YORK − MD Ahnaf Hossain is, like countless other 23-year-old recent college graduates, looking for a job. Preferably in finance, the Queens resident told USA TODAY in a recent FaceTime call from a park in lower Manhattan, before the New York Knicks Thursday, June 17, championship parade. He donned a Knicks cap, glasses slightly lowered, and a Portugal jersey, for the World Cup.
The Knicks eventually won their first NBA championship since 1973, in five games. Hossain adjusted his lines with the extra game ("The Pope's on our side / Knicks in five"). As Nas, another Queens poet said, it was written.
In his city, Hossain has become equivalent to Homer, the ancient Greek poet credited with the epic, “The Odyssey.”
“At this point, I might actually become one,” Hossain said of a career as a poet, pointing to lines he said came to him impromptu on a warm night in the city.
Hossain's poem was as much a celebration of the Knicks as it was a love letter to New York City, his home since his family moved from Bangladesh when he was a year old. He first began rooting for the Knicks during Brooklyn native Carmelo Anthony's era, when Hossain was a kid.
“I grew up in Jamaica, Queens, and there's so many different cultures in there,“ he said. “I'm sure you might be able to find someone from every country in the world.”
While he thought he wasn’t the first person to feel this way, he said, “I just saw that mic that night, and I just had to say what was in my heart.”
In retrospect, he easily recalls the diversity of the winning team. Jose Alvarado, a Brooklyn native, is Puerto Rican. Jordan Clarkson is half-Filipino. Karl-Anthony Towns is half-Dominican. The Knicks' captain Jalen Brunson, Hossain recounted, “good-old American.”
“It's a mix of all these different cultures from around the world,“ he said. “That’s exactly what New York is, and what makes it the best city in the world.”
The day before the city's parade, Hossain said he'd be at the parade but was still figuring out his role. On Thursday morning, he posted on Instagram for Good Morning America, ABC's eminent national program. Hossain was near the steps of New York City Hall, before the Knicks received the keys to the city.
Eduardo Cuevas is based in New York City. Reach him by email at emcuevas1@usatoday.com or on Signal at emcuevas.01.
