Looks like Knicks star Mikal Bridges is really enjoying the team’s NBA championship win.
The former Villanova Wildcat went crazy on Instagram Live on Monday, doing everything from discussing Jalen Brunson getting a statue to singing to his dog Sonny.
“Build him a statue,” Bridges said. “Build that little big-headed ass n—a a statue bro.”
Mikal Bridges talks about Jalen Brunson getting a statue in New York on Instagram live. mikalbridges/Instagram
Bridges continued to support the NBA Finals MVP, sarcastically imitating people who questioned the decision to bring in Brunson from the Mavericks.
“Just take over the Knicks and get a chip,” Bridges said. “That’s some savage talk.”
The guard didn’t just talk about Brunson, though; he also showed off his jersey collection, which included signed jerseys from Josh Hart, Donte DiVincenzo and Austin Reaves.
Knicks owner James Dolan also got a shoutout from Bridges for helping the team lock in over the past 10 weeks as they rolled through the playoffs.
SAN FRANCISCO – When the Warriors signed big man Charles Bassey for the final six games of the 2025-26 NBA season, it was to address multiple needs. He rebounded splendidly, blocked a few shots, set solid screens and, above all, was available. He aced the audition.
As the Warriors prepare for the 2026 NBA Draft next week, they must consider whether a rookie might be a better long-term investment than a 25-year-old who has worn five different jerseys since the Philadelphia 76ers selected him in the second round in 2021.
Which is why pre-draft auditions continue, with Michigan big man Morez Johnson Jr. among several others going through a workout Monday at Chase Center.
“The workout went great for me,” Johnson said. “(I’ve) got try to show them that I’m competitive and want to win, do anything takes to win.”
Johnson is one of three frontcourt players from the national champion Wolverines bound for the NBA this month. All three could enter the league as lottery picks, with Aday Mara, a 7-foot-3 center, expected to go first, followed by 6-foot-9 forward Yaxel Lendeborg and Johnson, who projects to go in the middle of the first round.
Standing 6-foot-10 and weighing 250 pounds, with a 7-foot-3 wingspan, Johnson played primarily at power forward, putting up decent numbers. His interior defense is considered ahead of his offense, and that’s OK with Golden State, which is seeking help on that end.
It’s notable that Johnson expressed a belief that he’s capable of defending every position, from point guard to center.
Johnson leapt onto the radar of NBA teams after averaging 13.1 points and a team-high 7.3 rebounds for the Wolverines. Among the NBA players draft services consider reasonable comparables are Detroit Pistons big man Isaiah Stewart, Dallas Mavericks big man Daniel Gafford and Houston Rockets veteran Clint Capela.
“I think that I bring some physicality, versatility on the defensive end and a connector offensively,” Johnson said. “Just trying to help everybody get to their spots, not try to force anything, being a great teammate.
“I think the second effort, second, third, fourth effort, that’s a winner’s trait. Just showing you I’ll do anything to win, multiple efforts, not just trying it one time and giving in. Just keep showing effort and being resilient.”
Johnson leaves Michigan after his sophomore season, during which he started all 40 games. He began his collegiate career at Illinois, where he played 30 games (eight starts) as a freshman before transferring.
There seems to be a consensus among scouts that Johnson’s greatest strength is his desire. His toughness and “motor” seem unquestioned.
Golden State is interested in players with those attributes, which also apply to Bassey. The greatest difference is that Bassey turns 26 in October, and Johnson won’t turn 21 until next January.
The Warriors like Bassey. They can’t be blamed for taking a close look at someone like Johnson, whose upside is reason enough to place him high on their draft board.
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 10: Victor Wembanyama #1 and Head Coach Mitch Johnson of the San Antonio Spurs looks on during the game against the New York Knicks during Game Four of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 10, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Before the 2022-23 season, I wrote a piece about the importance of the Spurs learning from losses. The title was “Watching for small victories in a season that won’t feature many Spurs wins”. I ended the piece with this:
In our lives, and watching this Spurs team struggle through this season, let’s all try to embrace the small victories, even if they don’t all translate into wins in the standings.
Of course, that season of abundant losses ended with a huge victory at the draft lottery when the Spurs got the top pick in the NBA draft. They then cleverly chose a tall French player instead of Scoot Henderson. Fast forwarding to before the start of the 2025-26 season, I ended a piece about the strength of the Western Conference with this:
While the 2025-26 Spurs cannot realistically expect to challenge the top five from last year, they can set their sights on the next three, along with Play-In losers Mavs and Kings.
Let’s aim for that 6-spot. And maybe face the Clippers in Round One. Does that sound about right?
That might have sounded right in September 2025, and it was not just me. The Vegas over/under for the Spurs was 43.5 wins, barely over a .500 record. The actual 2025-26 standings reveal that 43 or 44 wins would have gotten the Spurs the 7th spot in the West. That means if the theoretical 43-win Spurs won their Play-In game, they would have matched up with the 2nd seed in the West.
Looking again at the standings as the season actually played out, our 43-win Spurs team would have played the first round of the playoffs against … the San Antonio Spurs, who went 62-20, not the 43.5 wins predicted by Las Vegas. In that theoretical first round match-up, I would definitely have picked the Spurs to win. After all, they would have home-court advantage for all 7 games, if it went that long.
Of course, this Spurs team was the 62-win team juggernaut, not the barely over .500 team that would have had to win a Play-In game to even make it into the “real” playoffs. And the juggernaut team had to survive a Victor Wembanyama concussion against the Blazers in the first round, a Victor ejection against the Timberwolves in the second round, and a 3-2 deficit against the defending champs — including a “win or go home” Game Seven in OKC — to even reach the NBA Finals.
So why do I feel so terrible now? The answer is easy — the Spurs could have and should have won it all. They didn’t, and it hurts. Once they made the Finals, all the way too pessimistic preseason predictions, all the playoff hardship, all the “they are too young” pundits went out the window. The Spurs were in the NBA Finals, led every game by double digits, and the Finals could have easily been a 5-game Spurs coronation instead of what actually happened.
For me, the most pain was after Game Four. When Game Five and the Finals ended, I realized I had spent all my angst not sleeping Wednesday night. I simply could not summon up the same amount of angst so soon after the Game Four slowly unfolding nightmare. I slept OK after the Finals ended way too soon Saturday night, got up Sunday for my Sunday morning hoops, and lost myself on the court —passing, shooting, trying to defend, just hanging with my hoops buddies. My safe spot, my sanctuary. It felt good to be on the basketball court.
On the drive home after the Sunday morning game, my mother called from Oregon. We try to talk every Sunday morning. She said she read a bunch of stuff criticizing Mitch Johnson. I told her two things.
First, I told her I had not read anything — not even Pounding the Rock — after Wednesday. I had watched Game Four and didn’t need to (and didn’t want to) read about all the things that went wrong on Wednesday night that led to that result.
Second, I told her that I find it amusing/infuriating when arm-chair pundits criticize coaching decisions. I have been in locker rooms, coaches’ meetings, hundreds of practices, intense halftime strategy sessions, and on the bench during games. I don’t understand how people who have not had any of those experiences believe they know better than the people who have — with this Spurs team — and who do this as their full-time jobs.
Even ex-players, some who are Hall-of-Famers, have this disease of “knowing better”. At halftime of Game Five, one of those Hall-of-Famers said that the Spurs should not play De’Aaron Fox in the second half. What does that even mean? Were Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper supposed to each play 24 minutes in the second half? Of course not. In related news, one of the two guards Chuck apparently thought should play all 24 minutes in the second half had zero baskets in the first half of that very game and did not make a single basket in the first 47 minutes. Stick to being a commentator, Chuck. Coaching is hard.
One final thought: The Spurs’ most painful loss, even worse than Game Four in Madison Square Garden, was the Ray Allen game in 2013. Absent missed free throws by Manu Ginobili and Kawhi Leonard in the last minute, some funky bounces on Heat bricks, and Allen’s back-pedaling three from the corner, the Spurs would have been champions in 2013. What did the team do to re-tool for the next season? They brought back the entire team.
This year’s team would have been champions in 2026 absent some missed free throws and lay-ups, numerous crazy threes from the Knicks, Victor’s “back-pass” to Castle, OG Anunoby’s block on Fox, KAT’s fingertip on Harper’s pass to a wide open Castle at the end of Game Four, and too many other weird things to list here. What should the team do to re-tool for next season?
The closest comparison I can offer is that this feels like I got kissed. When I was a kid who wanted to kiss someone, the few occasions in which I actually got to kiss that person represented a conversion from dream to fact. To want overwhelms the senses. It’s busy, it’s feverish, it’s puzzling, it clouds the vision and rings in the ears. And then one gets what one wants and everything goes quiet. I don’t have to wonder anymore what it might feel like, because it feels like this. It’s a fact about me now, and no one can take it away from me: I’m the kid who kissed Jalen Brunson. I don’t think it’s appropriate to name an actual person I’ve kissed, so I picked the name “Jalen Brunson” at random. I guess I just made it up.
This is now a fact about me. It’s a fact about Jalen and Karl and Mike Brown, of course, but it’s also a fact about me, because the Knicks are a fact about me. I have nothing but love in my heart for adults who chose to pick up Knicks fandom recently, maybe even just for the playoff run, but right now I’m speaking to the sickos and the idiots, because I am one of you, and because the Knicks aren’t something we picked up.
The Knicks imprinted on us long enough ago that choice played no part and putting them down was never an option. If you’re reading this as a lifelong fan of a team other than the Knicks, and that team hasn’t won a title in your life, then this is for you, too. Eat shit, Knicks only, Knicks number one basketball team fuck you, etc., but this is for you.
One way you prove this fact about yourself is to name guys; to just rattle off the grimy, warty players who populated all those bad Knicks teams of yore. I could shout down at you from a tower of miserable lived experience, but I’m not here to do that. I’m not here to talk about Mirsad Turkcan or Erick Strickland to make some point about myself. I love naming guys, but I’m not gonna waste your time naming “Kelvin Cato” and “Demetris Nichols” and “Courtney Sims” and “Cheikh Samb.” Not even Xavier Rathan-Mayes. Okay? It wouldn’t be fair or productive to make you sit through such names as John Thomas and Kadeem Allen.
I trust that you’ll just take me at my word — without my having to mention Derrick Brown – that I’ve been alive for roughly 37 years and a Knicks fan for roughly 32 of them. Nearly as long as I remember being, I remember being a Knicks fan. The people who know and remember me know and remember this, too. I got a lot of texts over the weekend from people I haven’t seen in decades. I watched Game 5 with a friend I made in 1994, still one of my very best friends, one of the people who introduced me to Knicks fandom. We have this trait in common.
It’s a trait! That’s what it is. Everyone around me has always known that the Knicks run in our blood like a trait. We cannot change that. And now we don’t want to! I don’t think I’ll ever want to ever again!
That whole time, I held out hope that the Knicks would one day win an NBA championship, and all the time I spent wondering and wanting and watching such players as Slavko Vranes and Randolph Morris and, for instance, Sergio Rodriguez would make the culmination that much better. Well guess what, you motherfuckers: It did! It feels so much better this way! That tower of grime now has a Larry O’Brien trophy sitting atop it! Any future grime will slide off the big ol’ shiny ball and fall to the sides! The trophy will always sit on top!
And it’s up so, so high! It’s a huge tower! But now it can’t get any taller! Only wider? The tower metaphor got away from me! The point is: this trophy represents an incontrovertible fact about Mikal Bridges AND me AND perhaps you. Nobody can take it back.
To an extent, that would have been the case no matter how the Knicks finished the series. I spent a good chunk of Wednesday night – approximately 10:41 to 11:35 PM – trying to convince myself of that, but I really do believe it. When the Knicks fell down 29 or whatever in the first half of Game 4, I went home. I live in the Hudson Valley, but I was watching the game in downtown Manhattan. I decided to bail on the bar and my friends and just catch an earlier train home.
Along the way, I thought about two things: One was that no matter what happened in the second half, I would not watch any more of the game live. It was a vow against temptation, and I kept it. I did not take out my phone on MetroNorth except to find louder and louder music to distract myself. Experiencing that comeback only through the screams of strangers and the shaking of a train car was fucking awesome, for real.
The second thing I told myself while staring down a certain 2-2 series score was this: When the Knicks blew their lead and lost the Finals, we would still have something to hold. We still love Patrick Ewing. He still gets to hand Jalen Brunson his ECF MVP trophy. I still watch Allan Houston’s game-winner against the Heat. It’s all fond, tinged though the nostalgia may be with impending doom. A 2026 Knicks Finals run would have settled into that nostalgia portfolio no matter how it ended. Jalen Brunson would be our guy anyway. Forever. I swear I believe that.
But now . . . who gives a shit!? It’s not a Finals run, it’s a title run! No doom impends! They won. It’s a fact. It’s a fact engraved in gold, a fact to be encrusted in jewels and embroidered on . . . I dunno, what do they make those banners out of? Probably polyester. Do they wash those? It’s a fact, not a dream. It’s a kiss on the mouth. Facts don’t rattle around your head raising questions and stirring worries. Facts just sit there on a shelf, frozen. You can pick one up whenever you want. When times are tough, when you feel discouraged or lonely, or just when it’s quiet, when there’s snow on the ground, you have that fact to mind-fondle:
The Knicks are NBA champions. They’re our NBA champions. That runs in our blood now. Forever. We’ll bleed again, but we won’t bleed out.
PORTLAND, OREGON - JANUARY 11: Shaedon Sharpe #17 of the Portland Trail Blazers talks with acting head coach Tiago Splitter of the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center against the New York Knickson January 11, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Olivia Vanni/Getty Images) 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. | Getty Images
The Chicago Bulls are finalizing a deal to name Tiago Splitter as their new head coach. Front office executives chose Splitter to replace Billy Donovan following an intensive search, leaning into Splitter’s proven ability to manage player development and align with a long-term organizational vision.
The Bulls conducted a search that spanned a double-digit number of candidates before narrowing the process. They landed on Splitter due to his ability to lead the team’s player development, organizational alignment with the franchise’s direction and vision, and his leadership and knowledge base as a coach who has risen through the ranks since 2018 and played in the NBA for seven years, winning one championship with the San Antonio Spurs.
Splitter, 41, is a former NBA center who spent seven seasons in the league and won a championship with the Spurs in 2014. After transitioning to coaching via player development roles and an assistant gig with the Brooklyn Nets, he joined the Portland Trail Blazers’ staff in June 2025.
Splitter rose to the lead chair in Portland due to a sudden legal scandal involving head coach Chauncey Billups. At the start of the season, Billups was arrested as part of a federal takedown of a sprawling, illegal high-stakes poker operation. Facing federal charges of wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy for allegedly serving as a ‘Face Card’ to lure victims into rigged games, Billups was placed on leave by the franchise.
Thrown into the fire, Splitter excelled as Portland’s interim head coach. He rallied the roster to a 42-40 record, securing the number seven seed and guiding the Blazers to their first postseason berth in five years. He received praise from his players during exit interviews (but maybe not Shaedon Sharpe, who Splitter had a quick hook for in the playoffs).
With Splitter heading to Chicago, the Blazers are deep into their own coaching search. Two primary candidates remain on their short list: Tyler Lashbrook (assistant coach for the Boston Celtics) and Micah Nori (highly regarded lead assistant for the Minnesota Timberwolves).
Chicago is coming off a chaotic, transitional season in which it finished 31-51, placing 12th in the Eastern Conference and missing the postseason entirely. The injury bug sidelined core pieces like Josh Giddey and Zach Collins for chunks of the year. Throwing in the towel, the front office completely dismantled its veteran core at the February trade deadline, executing a league-high seven trades. The Bulls shipped out stars like Coby White (to Charlotte) and Nikola Vučević (to Boston), leaving a young, messy roster behind. Josh Giddey served as a bright spot, averaging 17 PPG, 9.1 APG, and 8.3 RPG, but he suited up for only 54 games.
Splitter’s hiring seems like a hard pivot to a ground-up rebuild. Having played under Gregg Popovich and coached in the Nets and Blazers systems, he brings a heavy emphasis on ball movement, European-style spacing, and frontcourt accountability. Given that Chicago’s roster is made up mostly by young talent—including Rob Dillingham, Matas Buzelis, and Anfernee Simons—Splitter’s player development background might be exactly what this raw team needs to establish a functional culture.
How might the hire affect New York? Very little. The World Champion Knicks went 3-1 against Chicago and should sweep the next season series. Unless they get tired out from carrying the Larry O’Brien Trophy around.
Tiago Splitter coaches from the sideline during the Trail Blazers’ Oct. 24 win. AP
Billy Donovan stepped down as Bulls coach in April after six seasons with the team. Chicago went 31-51 last season and has not made the playoffs since 2022.
The Trail Blazers excelled defensively under Splitter, ranking in the top 10, as he became the first Portland head coach to post a winning record in his first season with the team since Maurice Cheeks in 2001-02.
Splitter was also the first to win a playoff game in his first season in Portland since Mike Dunleavy in 1997-98.
The Brazilian-born head coach earned his players’ approval in Portland, where the Trail Blazers were also conducting a coaching search.
“He got thrown into a difficult situation. But he’s done a phenomenal job,” Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija said. “He’s getting the best out of all of us, and we love playing for him.”
Portland Trail Blazers acting head coach Tiago Splitter speaks during a post-game news conference after his team’s win over the Golden State Warriors in an NBA basketball game. AP
The other finalists for the Bulls job were Minnesota Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori, Atlanta Hawks assistant Ryan Schmidt and current Bulls assistant Wes Unseld Jr. They all met with Bulls officials this week, ESPN reported.
Chicago originally considered at least 10 candidates but landed on Splitter due to alignment with the franchise’s direction, among other factors.
Splitter played seven years in the NBA, including time with the Spurs, the Hawks and the 76ers.
Tiago Splitter #11 of the Atlanta Hawks defends against Brook Lopez #11 of the Brooklyn Nets. Getty Images
He won an NBA championship with the Spurs in 2014.
After retiring, he started his coaching career as a scout and player development staff member for the Nets, before becoming an assistant under Ime Udoka with the Rockets in 2023.
Splitter’s first head-coaching role was with Paris Basketball during the 2024-25 EuroLeague campaign.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 14: Interim head coach Tiago Splitter of the Portland Trail Blazers reacts during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament game against the Phoenix Suns at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 14, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Splitter is 41 years old. As a player, he was a member of the San Antonio Spurs’ 2014 championship team, and he moved directly into coaching after retiring in 2018. Splitter was an assistant for the Brooklyn Nets from 2019-2023, then spent a season with the Houston Rockets, then became head coach at Paris Basketball, where he led his team to a French Cup championship and qualified for the EuroLeague playoffs. Splitter left Paris Basketball after one season to take a job on Billups’ staff in Portland, and he was unexpectedly thrust into the head coaching seat in the second game of the season after Billups’ arrest. He’s the second tallest head coach in NBA history at 6’11.
The Blazers had not make the playoffs since 2021, but Splitter helped get them back there despite not having his starting point guard Scoot Henderson for much of the season due to injury. Deni Avdija made an All-Star leap under Splitter as he took on a more heliocentric role as an offensive creator by spamming pick-and-rolls as the handler. The Blazers closed the regular season with a 32-20 record over their final 51 games, and posted a top-10 defense over that time. Portland earned its way into the playoffs through the play-in tournament, and they were knocked out by the San Antonio Spurs in five games in the first-round of the playoffs.
Splitter is taking over a Bulls organization in flux. Chicago fired Arturas Karnisovas and replaced him with former Atlanta Hawks exec Bryson Graham earlier this offseason. Hiring Splitter is Graham’s first big decision, and there are more to come. The Bulls pick at No. 4, No. 15, No. 38, and No. 56 in next week’s 2026 NBA Draft, and the Bulls are projected to have the most cap space in the NBA with just shy of $60 million available.
It will be fascinating to see how Graham puts his stamp on the roster. Chicago is projected to take Caleb Wilson at No. 4 in our latest 2026 NBA mock draft. Wilson would be a best player available selection, but he does have some overlap with the existing roster. Chicago’s lottery picks the last two years, Matas Buzelis and Noa Essengue, both have similar size and skill sets to Wilson. The team enters the offseason needing a rim protecting center, and a lot of shooting. There’s two solid point guards already on the roster in Josh Giddey and Tre Jones, which will be a welcomed sight for Splitter after he had terrible ball handling in Portland.
It feels safe to project Buzelis at the three, and very likely Wilson at the four in next year’s lineup. Jalen Smith had a terrific year as a hybrid big man, and could be the team’s starting stretch five in 2026-27. Will Graham trade Giddey or Jones? What will he do with his cap space? Graham and Splitter will now work to create a shared vision to shape the next iteration of the Bulls.
Chicago hired Splitter over Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori, Hawks assistant Ryan Schmidt, and incumbant Wes Unseld Jr. as the other finalists for the job. Under Splitter, the Blazers finished No. 20 in offensive efficiency and No. 14 in defensive efficiency. Portland chucked threes without good shooters, finishing third in three-point rate despite being No. 28 in three-point percentage. The Blazers turned the ball over more than any team in the league, but that was due to talent more than scheme. Portland was an elite offensive rebounding team (No. 2 in o-board percentage), and it finished No. 7 in turnover percentage defensively.
I thought Portland needed to crank up the pace and aggression defensively given their lifeless halfcourt offense. The Blazers ended 21st in seconds per possession after a defensive rebound, and 23rd after a turnover. Granted, Portland’s ball handling was so bad that it’s possible Splitter just didn’t trust his team to push it on the break.
The Blazers ranked No. 29 in the halfcourt offense points per play. Is that because of talent or scheme? Splitter put the ball in Avdija’s hands and let him be a battering ram going to the rim. The offense was bland, but they didn’t really have the creators to do much more. Splitter also ranked dead last in ATOs — after timeout plays — according to Steph Noh.
Will Splitter try to make Giddey or Buzelis his new Avdija? Will Giddey be traded? How will he use Wilson, assuming he’s the pick at No. 4, early in his career? There are so many questions for the Bulls going forward that it’s hard to make any big takeaways from this hire yet. Chicago would be wise to prioritize the future over the present, and put a heavy emphasis on development of its young pieces, rather than relying on veterans who can immediately help them win games. Graham talked about taking the long-view in his opening press conference, but the NBA’s new lottery changes take tanking off the table for all teams.
I thought Portland’s offense was dull under Splitter, but not having your point guard will do that to a team. He’s a young head coach, and coaches can improve over time like players. Splitter definitely did a nice job in guiding the team to the playoffs under tough circumstances. Given the other finalists, this seems like a totally acceptable hire. The Bulls just have a lot more work to do.
After making $116 million during his NBA career, former Knicks small forward Trevor Ariza made just $2,316 last month as a trainer for the disabled, according to an income and expense declaration filed in court.
Ariza, 40, was forced to detail his financial position due to a custody battle with his ex-wife.
An NBA champion with the Lakers in 2009, Ariza also declared $50,000 in cash and bank accounts, and $2.5 million in real estate, which he bought while he was playing.
Trevor Ariza waits to sub in for the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. New York Post
His expenses for the month included $2,000 on healthcare, groceries, utilities, education and auto expenses and insurance, and another $1,000 on clothes and cleaning.
The $11,500 declared expenses are glaringly higher than the ex-NBA players’ average monthly salary of $6,000.
Ariza spoke out about his financial situation earlier this year, stating that he has a negative $230,000 in his bank account.
Trevor and Bree Ariza in 2014. WireImage
He also claimed his ex-wife, Bree Anderson Ariza, “refuses to work or contribute financially, despite being able to do so.”
The former small forward has been attempting to lower his child support payments in court over the past year.
“I’ve been exploring deals, trying everything to create income. Nothing stable has come through. Things changed since we finalized this [divorce],” he said.
Trevor Ariza playing for the Lakers in 2022. NBAE via Getty Images
Ariza was drafted by the Knicks with the No. 43 overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft and went on to play for 10 different teams throughout his 18-year NBA career.
At his peak, Ariza signed deals worth $34 million, $32 million, $25 million, and $15 million, bringing his career earnings to $116 million.
The San Antonio Spurs learned a few hard lessons during their 2026 NBA Finals loss to the New York Knicks, and to hear Draymond Green tell it, they have another still to go.
The Warriors forward took to his podcast, “The Draymond Green Show,” to admonish the young Spurs for what he called a “disheartening” lack of leadership as the team left the floor following Saturday’s series-ending defeat without offering any formal congratulations to the victorious Knicks.
“Oh, by the way, y’all ain’t going to come shake [Jalen Brunson’s] hand?” Green said. “No problem. What’s the first thing Jalen Brunson did? Beeline to [Spurs coach] Mitch Johnson. Respect. Much respect. I would have loved for the Spurs players to be there for them to shake [the Knicks’] hands. They walked off. That was disappointing, a bit disappointing.”
New York secured its first NBA championship since 1973 by beating San Antonio in five games, with the title-decider coming on the Spurs’ home floor. When the final buzzer sounded on a 94-90 Knicks win, nearly every Spurs player—including star center Victor Wembanyama—left the floor immediately.
Per reports, only the San Antonio coaching staff and backup center Luke Kornet remained to offer their respects to New York players.
“The reason it was disappointing is because when you go ‘mano y mano,’ toe to toe, blow for blow with a team and they get the better of you, those that become champions look them in their eyes and say ‘respect.’” Green said of the Spurs’ postgame exit. “And then you go to the locker room. That’s what those that become champions do…Look your killer in the face.”
Green did give San Antonio some grace, conceding that the team is generally very young and lacks the veteran presence that might have helped avoid what he saw as a lapse in sportsmanship.
“To see [the Spurs] walk off the court, it was disheartening. I’ll blame it on youth,” Green said. “I’ll blame it on lacking the leader to show them that ‘hey, this is what you do. Not walk off.’ I blame it on that.
“There’s a way to win and there’s a way to lose. And walking off the court, not looking your killer in his eyes, ain’t the way to lose…I hate it. I hate when people do it. And I hated to see those young Spurs do it because I actually think they’re capable of doing something special…and I would urge those young Spurs [to] reach out to Jalen Brunson however you can. Reach out to Karl-Anthony Towns however you can. Reach out to Josh Hart, however you can. You tell [those] dudes ‘congratulations.’”
The Knicks, for their part, didn’t appear all that concerned.
The celebration was ON in the @nyknicks locker room last night after winning their first NBA Championship in 53 years 🏆🍾 pic.twitter.com/3aprwZbaiT
Comedian Kevin Hart and ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith are among those who think celebrity Knicks superfan Spike Lee should get a championship ring after the franchise won its first title in 53 years.
Hart shouted out Lee in an Instagram video posted on Sunday.
“Give Spike a ring,” Hart said of Lee, who has likely paid many millions for tickets over the last 40 years. “Spike deserves a f–kin championship ring, and I’m saying it here. Give Spike a New York Knicks championship ring.”
Spike Lee celebrates after the Knicks win their first NBA championship in 53 years on June 13, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
Responding to a tweet advocating for the 69-year-old director to get a ring, Smith wrote Sunday, “I completely support this for Spike Lee. No Knicks’ fan deserves this more than him.”
Fans were divided in their responses to Smith.
“I’m sorry but this man ain’t shoot one shot or grabbed a rebound,” one X user wrote. “Let him enjoy the parade just like the rest of us. He’s good.”
“No. Players, coaches, executives and other members of the organization get rings, not fans, even if they’re superfans,” another wrote.
One supportive fan wrote, “Give the man his flowers! And the ring.”
“Agree. Fans are part of the team and he’s been there for the good, the bad and the ugly when a lot of us (like me) wouldn’t even watch on TV,” another wrote. “I saw the 70 and 73 teams as a teen and waited in hope for this day but Spike was the ultimate fan!!”
Jalen Brunson lifts the NBA Finals MVP trophy after the Knicks’ championship win on June 13, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Unlike those who frequent Celebrity Row, Lee pays for his seats. As of March 2020, Lee was spending $300,000 a year for his pair of courtside season tickets.
Lee has had tickets since 1985 after the Knicks drafted Patrick Ewing. It’s unclear how much he’s paid in sum over about 40 years, and his seats weren’t always courtside, but it’s safe to say he’s spent several million.
He also travels for the playoffs and was in attendance in Atlanta, Philadelphia, Cleveland and San Antonio throughout the Knicks’ championship run, including Saturday’s clincher.
Austin Reaves is about to become one of the most sought-after free agents in basketball, but all signs continue to point toward him staying exactly where he wants to be: Los Angeles.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Brooklyn Nets and Detroit Pistons have both emerged as potential suitors for the Lakers guard as free agency approaches. Yet despite the outside interest, league executives remain skeptical that anyone will actually pry Reaves away from the Lakers.
NBA Insider says Austin Reaves could draw interest from the Nets and Pistons as Lakers free agency approaches. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“The Lakers are widely expected to re-sign Reaves,” Stein reported, citing both Reaves’ affection for Los Angeles and his growing chemistry with Luka Dončić as major factors working in the team’s favor.
That mutual interest has become one of the NBA’s worst-kept secrets.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) and guard Luka Doncic (77) celebrate after scoring against the Oklahoma City Thunder IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
After averaging a career-best 23.3 points, 5.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds last season, the 28-year-old has positioned himself for the biggest contract of his career.
Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick hopes to retain Austin Reaves to build off a year coming off of a postseason appearance. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
The Nets have long been viewed as the biggest external threat. Previous reports suggested Brooklyn could have interest in offering Reaves a four-year deal worth as much as $178.5 million.
However, Stein noted there have been recent indications the Nets may prefer shorter-term contracts rather than aggressively pursuing marquee free agents this summer.
LA Clippers Vs. Brooklyn Nets at The Barclays Center: Terance Mann #14 of the Brooklyn Nets along with Michael Porter Jr. #17 of the Brooklyn Nets, Nic Claxton #33 of the Brooklyn Nets Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
Detroit’s interest appears less concrete as well.
While Reaves would fit seamlessly alongside All-Star guard Cade Cunningham, Stein reported the Pistons are expected to focus more heavily on trade acquisitions than major free-agent spending.
Detroit also faces looming extension decisions involving young cornerstones Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson, making a massive offer sheet for Reaves more complicated.
New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns fights with Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren and Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham for position to get the rebound JASON SZENES/ NY POST
That leaves the Lakers in a familiar position.
Reaves has evolved from an undrafted role player into one of the franchise’s most important building blocks. His ability to score, create offense and thrive alongside stars has made him a natural fit next to Dončić, who has publicly expressed his desire to continue playing with his close friend.
The Lakers know replacing that production would be nearly impossible.
As one NBA executive recently told The Athletic, “You can’t let a talent like that walk.”
Outside teams may continue doing their homework on Reaves over the coming weeks. But unless something changes dramatically, the expectation around the league remains the same: Austin Reaves will get paid, and he’ll probably be getting paid by the Lakers.
Even though it became clear over the last several seasons that the Knicks winning it all for the first time since 1973 was at least a possibility, it actually happening has altered the brain chemistry of the city.
Despite the belief that it could happen, there were still looks of disbelief on many people's faces when it actually did.
Now let's rewind for a bit to remember how the Knicks got here...
There was triumph (twice) in the 1970s, some modest playoff success in the early 1980s, the arrival of Patrick Ewing that eventually made the Knicks a title contender again in the 1990s, and then two decades of near-irrelevance, with the only positive blip during that time being the Carmelo Anthony years that maxed out in the Eastern Conference Semifinals in 2013.
As someone who grew up on the 90s Knicks, my early fandom was pockmarked by the near misses of a tough, resilient team, and the fact that Michael Jordan and the Bulls were almost always standing in the way.
There was 1993-94, when the Knicks took a 3-2 NBA Finals lead to Houston but couldn't stop Hakeem Olajuwon (who got his hand on John Starks' potential title-winning shot at the end of Game 6).
There were Reggie Miller's eight points at the end of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Pacers, and New York's loss in Game 7 of that series when Ewing's finger roll just wouldn't go down.
I thought the 1996-97 Knicks would've had a real chance to take down Jordan's Bulls in the Eastern Conference Finals, but they didn't get there because their roster was decimated by suspensions after a fight P.J. Brown of the Heat started at the end of Game 5 in the semifinals.
The 1998-99 run to the Finals was incredible, but the Knicks never really stood a chance going up against the Spurs' Tim Duncan and David Robinson without the injured Ewing.
From the point the Knicks lost the title in 1999 until their recent run of serious contention in 2022-23, New York bringing a title back to the Garden felt like a pipe dream.
Jun 10, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) reacts in the fourth quarter against the San Antonio Spurs during game four of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden. / Brad Penner - Imagn Images
And when it started to feel possible that the Knicks had something special brewing, Brunson sacrificed $113 million dollars in order to help Leon Rose keep building around him.
As the Brunson Knicks started to ascend, in came Josh Hart and OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges. By the end of this regular season, with their core surrounded by a tremendous supporting cast and led by head coach Mike Brown, it felt like it could finally be the Knicks' time.
But at the start of the playoffs, even after the Knicks proved over the last several seasons that they had what it took to be a serious contender, they were still doubted.
The Celtics and Cavaliers had better NBA title odds than New York when the playoffs began, with it feeling especially absurd that Cleveland's odds were better.
After the Knicks dispatched the Hawks in the first round, it was "the 76ers aren't Atlanta, how will the Knicks stop Tyrese Maxey?"
After the Knicks swept the Sixers, it was "the Cavaliers are a different animal."
After the Knicks steamrolled the Cavs, it was "the Eastern Conference was weak -- the Western Conference Finals are the real NBA Finals."
But this Knicks team was deep, united, and super talented. Most of all, they were selfless and impossible to keep down. They had proven by the point they reached the Finals against the Spurs (and months before, really, as I wrote after covering their close loss to the Thunder on March 5) that they could beat anyone.
And they did.
Jun 13, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) celebrates with his teammates after the Knicks defeat the San Antonio Spurs during game five of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center. / Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
During the Finals against the Spurs, anywhere you went in the city became a watch party.
The partying, jubilation, and incredible scenes we've witnessed in every neighborhood in the city have been a sight to behold. But it's the togetherness and unity of the people celebrating that has been the most special aspect of all of this.
It's the strangers hugging one another. Ecstatic fans helping the sanitation workers do their job after the clincher. People from all walks of life dancing with each other in an incredible spectacle of spontaneous community in the streets.
In a way, it's like the city is holding up a mirror to this Knicks team and vice versa. There is a certain attitude and swagger about New York City, it's true. But there's also togetherness. And it's been on display these last few weeks as millions have rallied around a team like never before.
That's because the Knicks are the only team that can truly unite the whole city.
The Mets and Yankees can't, because the fan allegiances are split. The same goes for the Jets and Giants. As far as the Rangers, their fans greatly outnumber Islanders supporters, but hockey is the clear fourth sport in the city.
Last week, the Arkansas guard reportedly worked out with Sacramento, KCRA’s Sean Cunningham reported Monday, citing sources.
According to sources, former Arkansas star Darius Acuff Jr. worked out for the Kings in Sacramento last week. It was not publicized and there was no media availability following his workout.
The Kings publicly have hosted pre-draft workouts for several players, such as Tennessee guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie, Connecticut forward Alex Karaban, Kansas guard Tre White, Illinois guard Kylan Boswell and Louisville guard Ryan Conwell.
Acuff’s reported workout in Sacramento, however, was not made public.
It is no secret that the Kings have had their eye on the 6-foot-3, 190-pound prospect, especially with the team’s desperate need for a starting point guard. Acuff easily could fill that void in Sacramento’s roster, considering his scoring abilities on all three levels and playmaking skills.
In only one season at Arkansas, Acuff averaged 23.5 points, 3.1 rebounds and 6.4 assists per game and shot 48.4 percent from the field and 44 percent from 3-point range in 36 starts.
Acuff’s impressive freshman season earned the Detroit native several awards, including first-team All-America, All-SEC honors and SEC Player of the Year.
With such a strong résumé under his belt, Acuff highly is regarded as one of the top prospects in this year’s draft, making it difficult to imagine that he will remain on the board for Sacramento with the No. 7 overall pick.
Other players who have been associated with the Kings’ No. 7 pick include Louisville guard Mikel Brown Jr. and Houston guard Kingston Flemings.
However, if Acuff remains available at No. 7, it would be harder to imagine the Kings passing on a player with his caliber and star potential.
The Portland Trail Blazers — specifically new owner Tom Dundon, according to league sources — were unsure about bringing back acting coach Tiago Splitter and giving him the job full-time. They took their time deciding between him and several other finalists, while Dundon was focused on his NHL team, the Carolina Hurricanes, winning the Stanley Cup.
So the Chicago Bulls have swooped in and will hire Splitter as their new head coach, a story broken by Shams Charania of ESPN and confirmed by multiple other reports.
Splitter came to Portland last season, hired away after leading Paris Basketball to the French Cup. He became a top assistant coach on Chauncey Billups' Portland staff, then, when Billups was arrested as part of a federal gambling investigation, Splitter was tapped to become the acting head coach. In that role, he led them to a better-than-projected 42-40 season and a playoff berth in the West, and helped develop Deni Avdija into an All-Star.
The Portland players respected Splitter. He was a seven-season NBA veteran as a player who won a ring with the 2014 San Antonio Spurs. As a coach, he has shown a strength in player development — something seen in Portland last season with Avdija, Scoot Henderson and others — and something that has to be a priority in Chicago with a roster in flux.
While it seemed logical to keep Splitter in the big chair in Portland, Dundon reportedly wasn't a fan. While Splitter was a finalist for the Trail Blazers' job, he was part of a wide-ranging search by Dundon and the Portland front office to find their cost-effective coach. While that search dragged on, Splitter started talking to the Bulls, and that team's new head of basketball operations, Bryson Graham, liked what he saw. Splitter reportedly beat out Minnesota assistant Micah Nori, Atlanta assistant Ryan Schmidt and Bulls assistant Wes Unseld Jr. for the job.
Splitter takes over a Bulls team with a roster in transition, but led by quality players in Josh Giddey and promising young forward Matas Buzelis. There's a lot of roster changeover coming, but that will give Splitter the chance to build his own culture and playing style.
A representative for the Houston Police Department told The California Post on Monday that the NBA superstar was pulled over for some kind of traffic violation at 3 a.m. on a downtown Houston roadway.
“The driver of the vehicle identified himself as James Harden” during the stop, the HPD rep said, “and he was taken into custody for unlawful carrying of a weapon.”
Cleveland Cavaliers’ James Harden during the first half of Game 2 in the Eastern Conference finals NBA basketball playoffs series against the New York Knicks, May 21, 2026, in New York. AP Photo/Frank Franklin IIJames Harden was arrested at 3:41 a.m. on Saturday in Houston.
According to court documents, Harden had a handgun in his vehicle that “was not carried in a holster” while “in plain view.” He was formally taken into custody at 3:41 a.m. and booked on one misdemeanor charge of unlawful carrying weapons.
In Harden’s mugshot, which was provided to The Post by the HPD on Monday, he could be seen wearing a black T-shirt and a stern look on his face.
Harris County records show Harden was released from jail on bond later Saturday morning and given an arraignment date of June 22.
However, the records also show that hearing date was rescheduled on Monday to Aug. 3.
Harden, according to the records, has hired high-powered Texas attorney Rusty Hardin to represent him in the case. Hardin has previously repped several famous professional athletes, including Deshaun Watson when the NFL quarterback was accused of sexual misconduct by multiple massage therapists.
Messages to Hardin and his office for comment on Harden’s case were not immediately returned.
Harden, a former Los Angeles Clipper who currently plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers, has deep ties to Houston — he played nine seasons with the Rockets earlier in his NBA career.
Sources told The Post he had been out at a local hookah lounge with a large group of his friends before his arrest occurred.
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I love Mikal. #official#mikalyearpic.twitter.com/zTB0w8hIat
(@SG212MSG) June 15, 2026
What's that dance bro doing when Beenie's song comes on? pic.twitter.com/fq7FXMU30x
