Category: Basketball

We asked fans around New York: What would a Knicks championship mean for them and the city? In a word: Everything.

Dear Knicks . . .

“It’d be incredible. This team’s been getting close the past couple years. They’ve got a great young core. When the Knicks are doing well and they’re winning championships, it also helps us at the Stadium, man. The fans are pumped up here at every game. We’re rooting for ’em. We’ve got their back.”

— Aaron Judge, captain of the Yankees

“If the Knicks win, that means that my father is looking down on them and saying, ‘Yes, go, go, go.’ He passed away just before Mother’s Day. He was watching the finals. He was like, ‘Oh, my boys are going to do it,’ but he couldn’t see them do it. And thank God that they have swept everybody. This is amazing. And I’m so excited to actually be able to say, ‘This is for my dad.’ Go Knicks. You got an angel on your side.”

— Shukura Gardner-Petrus

“When you grow up in the streets of New York in the late ‘50s, rooting for the Knicks in the ’60s and getting that championship, it was awesome those two years of championship basketball. And now we get a chance once again. And there’s no doubt in my mind — don’t worry about Jalen Brunson being Second Team. He’s the best player in pro basketball this year. And OG, don’t worry about being Second Team Defense. You’re the best defensive player in the league. Go Knicks!”

— Rick Pitino, St. John’s basketball coach

“For my students here at Nesaquake, it’s a daily master class in resilience. It proves to these kids that if you put your head down, do the dirty work and play for the guy next to you, you can conquer the world.”

— Dan McCabe, principal of Nesaquake Middle School

“It’s special. We’re all pulling for them. We’re watching every play, every game, every time we can. The whole city, the Mets, everybody’s behind you guys. Keep it rolling. Four more. It’ll be something special for all of us here in New York.”

— Carlos Mendoza, Mets manager

“2026 has been the year for New York City basketball. We had the LIU men’s basketball team win the NEC championship and make it to March Madness. And now the Knicks are only four wins away from an NBA championship. It was only a few years ago where no one would have ever thought this was possible for either one of these teams. What this Knicks run shows is that in the greatest city in the world, New York City, anything is possible. Fins up and best of luck bringing a championship home to New York.”

— David Pochapin

“A championship for the Knicks in the city would mean absolutely everything. A basketball championship in New York would be monumental for the city and bring fans together from all walks of life. Not to mention the maniacal fans of New York City and the way they’ve been craving for a championship for years it seems like this is our most favorable year to win it as well and I think everyone can feel that. For me personally, winning in the city is next to my child being born. It’s an experience that I’ll never forget, and one that I will cherish for the rest of my life – the memories and experiences you get from that are second to none, and I know the fans understand that and the players are craving for that feeling to share those memories with their family.”

— Victor Cruz, Giants Super Bowl champion

“1973 in New York City. Watergate. The Vietnam War. We were a divided city. But the Knicks brought us together with their championship against the Lakers of [Wilt] Chamberlain and [Jerry] West. Oh, it was Willis Reed and Walt ‘Clyde’ Frazier. And now once again I’m reminded, as we’re on the cusp of another NBA championship, this is what’s bringing the city together. The suburbs, the urban area, where you could get together real Knick fans over the years. Real Knick fans who disagree on everything but come together for the good of a city that’s polarized, in which it’s negative, it’s divided. And the Knicks are bringing us all together, hopefully through the Canyon of Heroes, a championship parade where you’ll see the most unlikely people cheering the world champion Knicks together on the steps of City Hall.”

— Curtis Sliwa, founder of the Guardian Angels

“I think New York would be on the map like they wanted to be with the Knicks. For real. I think New York is definitely going to be wilding out, and I’m pretty sure if they made it this far, they’re going to make it all the way.”

— Emily Colon

“I am the pastor of the Church of St. Francis of Assisi. It’s exactly one-half block away from Madison Square Garden. I’ve been a Knicks fan for over 50 years. I was there when it happened, when they won the championship in 1973. The Knicks will win the championship this year when they beat their opponent next week. This is a great joy for New York City. Let’s go Knicks.”

— Father Brian Jordan

“A New York Knicks victory is like Joey Chestnut winning on the 4th of July. You know everything is right in the world.”

— George Shea

“What would a Knicks championship mean to me? I’ve been waiting for this moment all my life. New York City needs this, man. Fifty-three years since 1973. No, we need this. We need this”

— Gil Vazquez

“Not IF the Knicks win the championship — WHEN they win the championship. This place is going to be on fire. Tri-state area. Oh my goodness. Let me tell you something. The mecca of basketball is New York. And the greatest fans, sports fans in the world, come from New York and they deserve this. So I’m so proud of the Knicks. I can tell you Willis Reed, Dave DeBusschere, Earl ‘The Pearl’ Monroe. Once you win a championship in New York, you’re never forgotten.”

— Jayson Williams, former Nets player

“It would mean the world to me, honestly. There’s a blue and orange that needs to get it right ’cause the Mets, you know, I’m also a Mets fan. But they’re gonna do it, I believe it.”

— Joshua Lopez

“Growing up a Knicks fan my whole life, every birthday was a new Knicks jersey. Do it for me, do it for Carmelo [Anthony], do it for [Patrick] Ewing, do it for those guys. We don’t want any more jerseys, we want a trophy!”

— Louie Selvaggio

“It would mean everything to me. We’ve been waiting for this for more than 50 years. We probably have to write new legislation to rename laundromats because of how he’s been washing these teams.”

— Mayor Zohran Mamdani

“This will be the single biggest licensed event in the history of New York. And more importantly, it will bring the whole city together unlike any other win than any team in New York’s history.”

— Mitchell Modell, former CEO of Modell’s Sporting Goods

“Everything. It’s the one franchise since the ’70s that has not won anything. Giants had it. Rangers had it in the ’90s. They haven’t won since the ’70s. This is probably the one fandom team that does not split in New York City. You have the Brooklyn Nets and everything, but it’s the one fandom that never splits anybody. We have Rangers, we have Islanders, we have Jets, we have Giants. Giants won championships. Rangers won championships in the ’90s. If you’re from New York and you’re an original New Yorker, the Knicks are your team. And I’m 37 years old and never seen one. You see the crowd out here. You see how they react. It’s amazing.”

— Nicholas Ramos

“If the New York Knicks win the championship this year, that’ll be the greatest thing I’ve ever witnessed in my lifetime. It’d be amazing. I feel like the whole city will go wild, including me. I might crowd surf. There are a lot of things that I might attempt to do if the New York Knicks win a championship. That’s for certain.”

— Nisaun White, a server at Roberta’s in Penn Station

“Have you been outside? Everybody’s polite for no reason. Everybody’s smiling. Republicans are celebrating with Democrats. Ultra-conservatives are celebrating with ultra-lefties. The New York Post, of all people, asked me about my opinion.”

— Public Advocate Jumaane Williams

“It is a great time to be a Knicks fan. In 1999, we were in the finals, but we didn’t go all the way, unfortunately. You got to go back all the way to 1973 where the Knicks went all the way and won the NBA championship. This is our time. History is with us. We’re going to take that championship and bring the cup home to New York City and all of New York. Let’s go Knicks. Let’s do it. It’s been waiting a long time. We’re all Knicks fans. We can’t wait for them to beat San Antonio over the head.”

— Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine

“I’m really excited for them. I’ve had the fortune of getting to know a couple of their guys over the last couple of years. To see the level they’re playing at right now is really fun to witness. The run — what, they’ve won, 11, 12 games in a row in dominant fashion? The West is going to be tough but I feel like they have a special, special thing going on and hopefully they can bring one home.”

— Aaron Boone, Yankees manager

“So, let’s pray for the Knicks. Let’s pray for the players, their managers, and all the fans just for these next couple of days to be united as one and, yeah, just whatever happens, give glory to God. So, we ask you to send your blessing upon the Knicks in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”

— Father Steven McClernon, Beach Catholic in Long Beach

Stephen Curry is a free agent no more.

A sneaker free agent, that is.

The four-time NBA champion has spent his entire playing career with the Golden State Warriors and is under contract through the end of next season.

He has been playing without a shoe deal, however, since parting ways with Under Armour in November.

That won’t be the case when Curry starts his 18th NBA season in the fall. The man who holds the NBA record for most career three-pointers announced on Monday that his Curry Brand is teaming with Chinese sportswear and athletic equipment company Li-Ning for a partnership that is “bigger than a shoe deal” and “bigger than a signature series.”

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“This is the partnership of a lifetime. The future of Curry Brand is with Li-Ning,” Curry wrote in a post announcing the deal on his Thirty Ink site. “I couldn’t be more proud to build a long-term vision with Li-Ning that will fuel Curry Brand for years to come and unlock the full potential of this company on a global scale.”

ESPN reports that the deal is for 10 years. Terms were not released.

Curry signed with Nike for the first four seasons of his career before switching to Under Armour in 2013. After announcing his sneaker free agency early in the 2025-26 season, Curry wore shoes from a variety of companies during warmups and games. In April, Curry auctioned off more than 70 pairs of those shoes through Sotheby’s, raising more than $1.7 million for his charitable foundation.

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While many of his shoe choices had special significance — like when he honored Kobe and Gianna Bryant by warming up in Nike Kobe 6 Protro “Mambacita” sneakers — Curry also was doing his due diligence as a businessman.

“Throughout my sneaker free agency, I was impressed by the quality, comfort and performance of Li-Ning’s shoes,” Curry said. “It was during that time playing in Dwyane Wade and Jimmy Butler’s sneakers, that I knew that Li-Ning could be the right partner that can deliver on the innovation and design that I want Curry Brand to stand for.”

The Li-Ning company was founded by Li Ning — the Chinese gymnast who won six medals, including three gold, during the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics — in 1990. A handful of NBA players have signed with the company, starting with then-Cleveland Cavaliers guard Damon Jones in 2006 and also including former Clippers guard Baron Davis and future Hall of Famers Wade and Shaquille O’Neal.

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In addition to Curry’s Golden State teammate Butler, other current NBA stars signed with Li-Ning include Atlanta’s C.J. McCollum and Washington’s D’Angelo Russell.

According to Curry, Li-Ning will open Curry Brand stores in the United States and China.

“We’ll be proudly building Curry Brand into a future leading company that will leave its mark in Basketball, in Golf and across the lifestyle space,” Curry wrote.

“We’ll aim to create game-changing products, launch elevated platforms and bring storytelling that will inspire young boys and girls around the globe. My hope is for young athletes to find the same purpose, joy and drive through sports that I’ve long enjoyed throughout this journey.”

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

The Los Angeles Lakers have made another addition to the business operations side of their front office.

Yao Williams II has been named vice president and head of global partnerships, the team announced in a statement on Tuesday, June 2. He will lead the Lakers' global partnerships team in his role, which includes partnership sales, business solutions and partnership activation. The Lakers also pointed to Williams' "proven track record of securing both domestic and international large-scale deals while leading high-performing sales teams."

"I couldn't be more excited to have Yao Williams join the Lakers business and lead our global partnership team," Lakers president of business ops Lon Rosen said in the statement. "Yao is an engaging leader with an appetite for innovation that will help drive performance and deliver best-in-class experiences for Lakers partners."

Williams' previous stops include the NBA and Manchester City throughout his two decades of experience in global sales and brand partnerships in sports and entertainment. He was most recently at Elevate Sports Ventures, where he co-led global partnerships.

More: Lakers hire rocket scientist, per report. Will team get a boost?

The idea of LeBron James wearing a Golden State Warriors jersey has lingered around the NBA for years. Now, one prominent Bay Area insider believes the possibility is more realistic than ever.

Speaking about James’ uncertain future with the Los Angeles Lakers, The San Francisco Standard’s Tim Kawakami recently suggested the Warriors should be viewed as a legitimate contender if the four-time NBA champion reaches free agency.

“I think the Warriors would be a very live option,” Kawakami said. “Check that: I think the process has already started and the Warriors are a live option.”

The comments come as questions continue to swirl around James’ future after completing his 23rd NBA season.

Kawakami added a return to the Lakers remains the most straightforward outcome, but also pointed to the possibility of both sides reassessing their partnership, particularly as Los Angeles continues building around Luka Doncic and a younger timeline.

If that happens, Golden State could emerge as a serious landing spot.

The Warriors have long been connected to James. The franchise explored a trade for him before the 2024 deadline, and James has developed strong relationships with Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and head coach Steve Kerr through years of competition and international play.

The biggest hurdle remains financial. According to Kawakami, Golden State could offer James only the non-taxpayer mid-level exception worth approximately $15.1 million. That would require a dramatic pay cut from one of the highest-paid players in league history.

Still, the basketball fit is easy to imagine.

A core featuring Curry, James, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler would instantly become one of the most recognizable groups in the NBA. For a Warriors team searching for one final championship window during Curry’s career, adding James could represent the ultimate all-in move.

Whether it remains speculation or develops into something more, Kawakami’s comments have reignited one of basketball’s most fascinating possibilities.

Knicks center Mitchell Robinson's status for Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Spurs is still a bit of a mystery.

SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley reported last week that Robinson, who had surgery last week, will "push to play" when the Finals start.

Robinson arrived at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio on Tuesday without a brace or splint on his finger/hand ahead of practice.

Speaking shortly after, head coach Mike Brown said that Robinson did individual work at practice on Monday and that he would speak with the medical staff about the plan for Tuesday. 

At practice a bit later, Robinson had a wrap/brace on as he handled the ball with both his right and left hand and took shots.  

The team then listed him as questionable in the official injury report with a fractured right 5th Metacarpal.

Robinson has been a crucial part of the Knicks' playoff run. 

In the Eastern Conference Finals against the Cavaliers, Robinson provided key minutes, impacting the game with his signature defense and rebounding prowess. In the clinching Game 4, Robinson scored eight points on 4-of-6 shooting, grabbed 10 rebounds, and was a plus-14 on the court in his 18 minutes of play. 

One thing that has hampered Robinson and the Knicks this postseason is when opposing teams have used the "hack-a-Mitch" strategy to send him to the free-throw line.

Robinson went just 2-for-14 from the line against the Cavs after going 6-for-16 against the 76ers in the second round and 5-for-13 against the Hawks in the first round. 

"I know that Robinson will push to play. Just in having conversations with people over the last couple of hours," Begley reported last Thursday. "He will want to play; it's ultimately up to the Knicks' medical staff. A player's opinion does matter in these things and so he's going to want to be out there." 

With the Knicks facing the Spurs, Robinson could be the physical, tall center to help match up with Victor Wembanyama. 

Robinson, who will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, averaged 5.7 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks across 60 games this season. The 60 games were the most Robinson has played in a season since he played 59 games in 2022-23.  

Mitchell Robinson practices in San Antonio pic.twitter.com/HH1olqVMjt

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) June 2, 2026

More looks at Mitchell Robinson practicing pic.twitter.com/cVXBAwEZbW

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) June 2, 2026

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

Why do you love the Phoenix Suns? When discussing the future of Devin Booker, this question becomes more than a conversation topic at Majerle’s.

For many of us, our sports fandoms were not chosen, but inherited. We sat, week after week, next to our fathers on the couch and rooted alongside them. In doing so, we gained our own emotional attachment, not just to the team but also to our childhood. That inexorable link can last a lifetime.

My own father didn’t care much for basketball. It was baseball and hockey on the TV in our house growing up. I sat next to him as the Red Wings won the Cup in 2008 and cheered with him. I remember sitting in his bedroom watching Jim Joyce blow the call on the last out of Armando Galarraga’s perfect game for the Tigers.

But when it came to basketball, I was a free agent. I didn’t watch until I was already in High School, and there was no reason to choose the Pistons in the 2010s. But one team had recently picked a young shooting guard born in my home state of Michigan. Thus, Devin Booker became my gateway drug into the Phoenix Suns.

Today, I am as loyal an acolyte as any. Until the day he was traded, I delusionally defended the Ayton pick to my friends. When the Suns made the finals in 2021, I had people all over the country texting me because the one thing that everyone knew about me was that I loved this team.

But what about you? Year in and year out, you come back. Why?

By definition, it can’t be that you are addicted to the feeling of seeing your team win an NBA championship. It has to be something else. That something else is more important now than ever.

The Phoenix Suns are at a crossroads. Devin Booker is a Tier-2 kind of star. Some players, like Wemby, you might be willing to build a team around without a true second superstar. Booker just isn’t that guy. 

So, what do the Suns do?

Option A: Use what little draft capital the Suns have to build what team they can around Devin Booker, while combatting the total lack of cap due to the Bradley Beal stretched contract.

Option B: Accept that the Suns are not winning a title with Devin Booker and trade him for assets that can make the foundation of the next great Suns team.

Both options are rather unpalatable. If you go with Option A, you are likely dooming yourself to years of the Play-In and first-round exits. If you go with Option B, you know that you are dooming yourself to years of handing over high draft picks to other teams while the Suns wallow in disappointment.

Neither option feels great, but neither option brings the Suns a title either. So, what are the benefits of trading Devin Booker now?

Booker’s value will never be higher

This is, I think, the most urgent point. We are still years away from Book being a distressed asset. He is coming off of a season where the Suns overperformed with him at the wheel. It is likely that, around the league, Devin Booker has regained some of the value that he likely lost under Frank Vogel and Mike Budenholzer. There are teams out there that do have their number one star that could look over at Devin Booker and think, “There’s our missing piece.”

The clock on that is running out, though. Booker turns 30 in October and already looks like he might be a step slower than he used to be. Soon, he will reach a point where some of those random lower-body injuries are more likely to recur. If Booker sustains one major injury, the Suns will have nothing significant to trade and will become the most pitiable franchise in the NBA.

Right now, the Suns have a guy with an All-Star floor and an NBA Finals ceiling. Every year that they wait to trade Devin Booker, both of those lower a little bit more. That is a problem. Every little bit of value that Devin Booker loses could mean fewer draft picks or young players coming back in a trade. Given the recent NBA Draft Lottery reform, Booker is already going to net the Suns less in a trade than he would have two weeks ago. Teams are surely going to be less willing to part with their draft picks now.

Booker is getting harder to trade

Devin Booker is being paid like one of the best players in basketball. He will make fifty-seven million dollars this season. In the final year of his contract, he will make almost $69 million dollars at age 33, depending on what the league cap number is at that time. Regardless, he will account for 36% of your cap in 2029-30.

The teams most likely to trade for Book are the teams closest to winning. Those teams are also the teams most likely to be at, over, or close to the second apron.

Currently, only the Cleveland Cavaliers are over the second apron. Go back one season, and there were three teams. Go back another, and there were five. Every year, teams fear the second apron more and more. It melts a team’s financial and roster flexibility. The second apron currently sits at around $207 million. Is a team going to be willing to pay over a quarter of that for a second star in his thirties?

Surely, one team will be willing. Every year, there is a team that feels like they are so close that they are willing to trade away key pieces and flexibility for the final player that they think will bring them over the top. This past season, the Cleveland Cavaliers were the prime example of that, trading for James Harden. 

My point, though, is that the first and second aprons, and the rules surrounding them, make trades for high-salary players complicated. Many teams would have to gut their cores to bring in a guy making as much as Devin Booker does. If they have also traded away draft capital and are hard-capped or close to it, how will they build around Booker and their other star?

If Booker were Giannis, this wouldn’t be an issue. True, 1A superstars are worth every penny and loss of flexibility. Booker just isn’t that. As his salary continues to rise alongside his age, Booker is becoming less tradable by the season.

What are the Suns really accomplishing by keeping him?

In my opinion, this is the best argument. If you are willing to sit and just watch enjoyable basketball for the next few years and are content as long as the Suns win more than they lose, then you should go and sit on the other side of the fence.

But if you really want to see the Suns win a title and force their way out of the mess that they have built, you should want Devin Booker to be traded. 

Until the Suns are free of the Bradley Beal shackles and have some draft capital back, they are playing at a severe disadvantage compared to the rest of the NBA. 13% of the Suns’ salary cap is already dead next season, being paid to Bradley Beal and Nassir Little to be anywhere but Phoenix. Meanwhile, their first pick that doesn’t have a “least favorable of X, Y, and Z teams” qualifier on it doesn’t come until 2032, two years after the end of Booker’s contract in 2030.

The Suns are set up for years of disappointment either way. They can do it now, while there is already the sunk cost of Bradley Beal and no draft capital, or they can do it later when Devin Booker is either in his mid-thirties or on a different team, and there is still no draft capital. The only difference between the two options is whether or not the Suns give themselves some tools to rebuild with along the way.

It’s time

Look, I want to see the Larry O’Brien trophy in the Valley of the Sun. This franchise and this city deserve it. Arizona sports is a hellscape that some are born into and others enter willingly, but it is a hellscape either way. The Coyotes are gone, the Cardinals always disappoint, and the D-Backs are forced to play in the same division as the Dodgers, which are apparently run by Mr. Monopoly Moneybags.

But none of that matters, because Phoenix is a basketball city. The Suns will always be Phoenix’s first love. I don’t want the Suns to trade the franchise’s greatest player because I’m some black-pilled doomer. I want the Suns to trade him because I wholeheartedly believe that doing so will bring the Suns closer to a title than they currently are.

I don’t watch sports for seasons that end barely over .500. I watch because I want to see my team reach the mountaintop. I watch because I know when they do, it will be the end of the great, long journey that it took to get there. When the Suns do win the title, it won’t be in spite of the fact that they traded Booker. On the contrary, all future Suns teams will be built on the back of the legacy Booker will leave behind in Phoenix. Just like recent Suns teams are built on the backs of Nash, Barkley, Stoudemire, Westphal, Adams, and so many more.

Booker will be one more in the line of greats that Phoenix Suns fans have watched on the road to glory.

The end of Booker’s time in Phoenix doesn’t mean the end of his legacy. But trading him now for pieces that can build the next great Suns team can enhance his legacy even more. His value on the trade market can be his last great gift to this organization.

Devin Booker was my entry point into Suns fandom, but even so, I believe it is time to let him go.

Mitchell Robinson had just a black bandaid on his broken right pinky Tuesday when he arrived to Frost Bank Center in San Antonio to practice on the eve of Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

When practice began he had a thin protective black sleeve on his right hand.

The longest-tenured Knick was not among those scheduled to speak to the media Tuesday since he is inujured.

Robinson underwent surgery after breaking the pinky and is hoping to play in Game 1, although it’s uncertain where he will suit up for Wednesday’s game and beyond.

The Post’s Stefan Bondy previously reported that Robinson had fractured his fifth metacarpal, which is the bone that connects the pinky to the wrist.

It’s unknown how he suffered the injury, although Brown clarified that Robinson did not suffer the injury in a game nor during a practice.

He completed individual work each of the last two days at Knicks practice, and wore a protective brace on his right hand.

“I’m just waiting on the medical staff,” Brown said Monday. “He just did individual work today. I’m waiting on the medical staff to let me know what the next step is.” 

Robinson’s size and rebound prowess is needed against Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama, especially since Karl-Anthony Towns can run into foul trouble.

He is averaging 5.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 0.6 blocks across 13 playoff games this year, leaving marks on games on the boards although teams have successfully employed hack-a-Mitch strategies.

Robinson missed Game 2 against the 76ers in the second round.

While he has not commented on the injury, he did post a message to Instagram on Saturday.

“I can’t thank you guys enough for the love and support most of you bring especially at a time like this in my life,” Robinson wrote. “It makes everything in fighting for 100x easier to deal with. 

“The ones that want to see me down and hurt all I gotta say for you is f–k you. And last the ones that say they love and care about me but can’t be there for me when I need them but I’m always there to when they need me god get you.” 

The basketball community is in mourning, following the news of former Rockets coach Rick Adelman’s passing on Monday. Adelman was 79 years old.

The cause of death has not been disclosed or announced by Adelman’s family. In total, Adelman coached for five different teams: the Portland Trail Blazers, Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings, Houston Rockets and Minnesota Timberwolves.

Adelman ranks tenth all-time in wins, with 1,042 victories in 23 years of coaching. Only four coaches have coached longer than Adelman and posted a better win percentage than Adelman’s 58.2 winning clip. He’s also one of just 11 coaches in league history to nab 1,000 victories and posted eleven 50-win seasons, while making the playoffs in 16 of his 23 seasons as a coach.

On the Rockets front, Adelman was hired in 2007 by Daryl Morey, who was a first-time front office executive, at the time. Adelman coached the Rockets for four seasons and the Rockets never had a losing season under Adelman’s tenure, despite dealing with injuries to both Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming throughout his reign in Houston.

The Rockets earned the fifth seed in each of Adelman’s first two seasons in Houston, going 55-27 in 2007-08 and 53-29 in 2008-09. Adelman’s second season was quite memorable, as Houston won 22 consecutive games, which still ranks as the fourth-longest win streak in NBA history.

That Rockets team also took the eventual champion Los Angeles Lakers to seven games in the Western Conference Semifinals — the only such team that can make that claim among the Lakers’ opponents during their path to the championship. Adelman ranks as the fourth-winningest coach in the history of the Rockets franchise, behind Mike D’Antoni, Kevin McHale and Ime Udoka, boasting a 58.8 percent winning clip.

Adelman also ranks fourth in Rockets victories, with 193, tying McHale. In addition, he ranks third in franchise history in games coached, with 328 games.

Rest in paradise to Adelman.

There’s no such thing as a guaranteed win in the world of sports — unless you’re Knicks forward Jeremy Sochan. The fifth-year NBA player finds himself in rare company entering the 2026 NBA Finals, because it quite literally doesn’t matter who wins, he’s getting a ring anyway. It’s something we saw in 2020 with Dion Waiters in the Lakers/Heat final, and now it’s happening once more.

This is happening because Jeremy Sochan began the 2025-26 season with the San Antonio Spurs where he played 28 games, averaging 4.1 points per game in 12.8 minutes. It was clear that the former top-10 pick didn’t figure into the Spurs’ long-term plans, especially in a post-Wemby world — so in February, he reached a mutual agreement with the team to be waived.

Sochan wasn’t looking for a team for very long. Two days later, after he cleared waivers, the Knicks signed him to add to the team’s depth for their playoff run. This meant that he was part of both the Spurs and Knicks in 2025-26, and now Sochan will get a ring regardless, now that they’re meeting in the NBA Finals.

It’s only the fourth time in NBA history that a player has been guaranteed a ring before the first game of the NBA Finals. Heres the history of those games:

• Anderson Varejão (2016-17): Began the season with the Cavaliers and was traded to the Blazers, where he was waived. Signed with the Golden State Warriors. NBA Finals were Cavaliers vs. Warriors, with Cleveland winning. Varejão declined his championship ring.
• Dion Waiters (2019-20): Began the season with the Heat and was traded to the Grizzlies, where he was waived. Signed with the Los Angeles Lakers. NBA Finals were Heat vs. Lakers, with Los Angeles winning and Waiters getting a ring.
• Torrey Craig (2020-21): Began the season with the Bucks. Was traded to the Phoenix Suns for cash considerations. The NBA Finals were Bucks vs. Suns, with Milwaukee winning and Craig getting a ring.

The lesson in all this: Maybe if you really want an NBA ring, you shouldn’t bust your butt to form an unstoppable team — but instead be an utterly dispensable role player who gets waived or traded for cash. Then you might be lucky enough to bounce between two teams and guarantee yourself a ring!

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Entering the last two NBA Finals, there was an accepted feeling of fait accompli. Neither the Mavericks nor the Pacers really felt like they had a chance, though Indiana clearly proved that wrong last year.

These Finals feel different, as you'll see in my Knicks vs. Spursprops for Game 1.

While the New York Knicks are distinct underdogs, their 11-game run of absolute dominance in the Eastern Conference should stoke some fear in the San Antonio Spurs.

These NBA picks start by looking at New York’s offense during that run to find value in Game 1 on Wednesday, June 3, featuring Karl-Anthony Towns.

For more on this game, read Jason Logan's Knicks vs. Spurs predictions.

Best Knicks vs Spurs props for Game 1

Player	Pick
Karl-Anthony Towns	Over 1.5 made threes	+120
De'Aaron Fox	Over 1.5 steals	+160
Jalen Brunson	Under 6.5 assists	+115

Game 1 Prop #1: Karl-Anthony Towns Over 1.5 3-pointers

For most players, it's worth noting that the San Antonio Spurs have held postseason opponents to 32.9% from deep. But Karl-Anthony Towns can shoot over any defensive look. Yes, even over Victor Wembanyama to start this series.

Only to start this series because Wembanyama’s instinct will be to keep one foot in the paint and then close out on Towns. That will not work. As Towns hits 3-pointers in this series, that should draw the Frenchman out toward the perimeter, thus reaping another benefit for the New York Knicks’ offense.

Towns has hit 48.9% of his 3-pointers this postseason. The only issue is whether he will attempt enough triples to be a threat. But in this series more than ever, Towns’s success on the perimeter could be the make-or-break piece for New York.

Game 1 Prop #2: De'Aaron Fox Over 1.5 steals

This is as much a bet on how often Jalen Brunson will handle the ball as it is on De’Aaron Fox’s quick hands. Fox should be Brunson’s primary defender more often than not — allowing Stephon Castle to match up with a bigger wing — and when facing such a ball-dominant point guard, the steal opportunities will be bountiful.

Fox cleared this prop twice in the final three games of the Western Conference Finals, again facing a ball-dominant guard in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Betting on Fox’s steals prop makes most sense early in the series — as is the case with any Spurs — as it may take a game or two for New York to adjust to this unique, Wembanyama-supported defense. San Antonio’s perimeter defenders can be aggressive, knowing the quality of rim protection awaiting behind them.

Game 1 Prop #3: Jalen Brunson Under 6.5 assists

If not wanting to bet an Under, then consider Towns’s Over 4.5 assists prop, priced at +122 at bet365. But the bet with more avenues to cashing is indeed this Under.

First of all, the Knicks have put the ball into Towns’s hands as an offensive fulcrum more often. By no means is it a majority of New York’s offense, but it has opened up space in the halfcourt. Since that move, Towns has averaged 6.5 assists while Brunson has averaged 6.7.

Secondly, Brunson’s assists have come in chunks this postseason. Since that shift to moving the ball through Towns, Brunson has fallen short of this modest prop in seven of 11 games. Even in the two genuinely competitive games in this stretch of dominance, Brunson notched only six assists in each.

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

The NBA Finals will be filled with fresh faces. Both the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks are made up of players who haven’t appeared on this stage before. It’s an exciting time for the league, as the Spurs look to begin a new dynasty with Victor Wembanyama at the helm, and the Knicks look to win their first NBA Championship since 1994.

Right now, the Spurs are -198 favorites to hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy on FanDuel. Which team ends up doing that will come down to the performances of their best players. These teams are loaded with talent. But which players rise to the top? Let’s break down the top-10 players in the NBA Finals.

1. Victor Wembanyama

The Western Conference Finals MVP will headline these NBA Finals. The 22-year-old Frenchman has been dominant. Over the course of the playoffs, Wembanyama is averaging 23.2 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks per game while shooting 51% from the field and 37% from three. He’s proven that even in his first playoff run, he may be the best player in the league. His biggest impact in this series will likely come on the defensive end, as the Knicks feast in the paint and on the boards. If Wembanyama can own the paint, he’ll give the Spurs a major advantage.

2. Jalen Brunson

Brunson is writing himself into New York lore. He’s the best modern Knick, and may go down as one of the best New York athletes in history if he can bring home an NBA Championship. He’s scoring 26.9 points per game on 48.6% shooting from the field and 35.2% from three. That last stat is perhaps the most important. Brunson will be able to hurt the Spurs with his pull-up three-point shooting. It’s a shot that they’ve been prone to giving up in their drop pick-and-roll coverage. Brunson’s pull-up shooting from three and in the mid-range is a major factor in this series.

3. Karl-Anthony Towns

Towns is the type of player who can create big problems for the Spurs. He’s big, strong, and can shoot the three. Towns is averaging 16.9 points and 10.6 rebounds (2.6 of them offensive) while shooting 48.9% from three in the playoffs. The Knicks have used him as a hub for their offense and have thrived as a result. Towns has to stay out of foul trouble and hold up defensively against a physical Spurs team. If Wembanyama guards him, Towns will likely try to pull him out of the paint. If Stephon Castle guards him, as he did in the regular season, Towns will have a chance to bully the Spurs inside. How the Spurs decide to guard KAT is one of the more interesting strategic decisions in the Finals.

4. OG Anunoby

This was the first tough decision on the list. It’s very close between Anunoby and Castle for the fourth-best player in the series. The edge goes to Anunoby, who has been one of the Knicks’ best scorers this postseason, averaging 19.7 points on 57.7% shooting from the field and 48.3% from three. He’s accomplished that all while being their best perimeter defender. Anunoby may also find himself guarding Wembanyama a bit, as he did in the regular season. He’s a big, strong, agile wing who can hold his own against bigger players. Anunoby is an X-factor in this series just based on his defensive prowess. If he also continues to score the ball at a high level, he gives the Knicks a significant advantage.

5. Stephon Castle

After a run of three-straight Knicks, we finally have a Spur rounding out the top-five players in the series. Wembanyama has a huge gap between him and Brunson, but the margin between Castle and Anunoby is slim. Castle has emerged as the Spurs’ second-best player in the postseason with his lockdown defense and aggressive driving. He’s averaging 19.2 points and 6.7 assists while shooting 36.3% from deep in the postseason. The keys for him in this series are to keep spacing the floor with his shooting, reduce his turnovers (averaging 3.7 in the playoffs), and guard without fouling. He will likely be asked to take on several different tough defensive matchups against New York, switching between banging with Towns inside and chasing Brunson around screens on the perimeter.

6. De’Aaron Fox

Which version of Fox will we see in the NBA Finals? If it’s the Fox we saw explode for big scoring nights against the Portland Trail Blazers, he should be higher on this list. If his ankle injury still restricts him, as it did against the Oklahoma City Thunder, then he could actually be too high. Fox will be key to the Spurs’ offensive attack. He’s going to face tough matchups like Josh Hart or Mikal Bridges, who will have the length and speed to keep up with his quick attacks to the basket and contest his mid-range shots. Even if Fox’s scoring doesn’t return to his heights from the first round, he still has a role to play as a steadying hand for San Antonio. They’ll need him to be a leader against a tough Knicks defense.

7. Mikal Bridges

Bridges has been up and down for the Knicks in the postseason. He started the playoffs ice-cold from the field, but he has caught fire lately. He’s averaging 14.6 points on 58.6% shooting from the field and 34.1% from deep. New York needs him to hit threes in this series. He’ll likely have some open opportunities as the Spurs send a lot of defensive attention at Towns, Brunson, and Anunoby. Bridges is an ace-in-the-hole defensively for the Knicks. He provides some matchup issues for the Spurs with his length and athleticism. He’ll likely guard the Spurs guards, who will try to get their bodies into Bridges to counter his length.

8. Dylan Harper

Harper is the only non-starter in the top-10, and for good reason. He’s looked years ahead of where he should be as a 20-year-old guard in his first postseason. Harper is averaging 13.1 points off the bench while shooting 52.5% from the field and 36.4% from deep. He’s competing defensively and has been a force on the glass. Harper struggled through an adductor injury in the WCF, but now looks to be back to near full health. He should create some issues for the Knicks’ smaller bench backcourt. With rebounding being so critical in this series, Harper’s ability to crash the offensive glass should help the Spurs make up for their size disadvantage against New York.

9. Devin Vassell

You need great glue guys to win a championship. The last two players on this list fit the bill. Vassell was excellent in the WCF, knocking down big shots while making clutch defensive plays. Vassell’s defensive effort has been the biggest development for the Spurs this postseason. He’s had tough defensive assignments, like Anthony Edwards and Chet Holmgren, and risen to the occasion every single time. He’s been active in the passing lanes (1.4 steals per game) and made some highlight blocks. He’ll once again have to take on a difficult defensive assignment in the Finals, trying to guard players like Anunoby and Brunson. San Antonio needs him to hit shots and continue defending his tail off if they want to take home a championship.

10. Josh Hart

Hart isn’t going to wow anyone with his box score stats, but he does a lot of the little things that make a team great. He rebounds the ball, hustles on defense, and is a high-level passer. Whatever the Knicks need him to do, he does with intensity. The Spurs will force him to make three-pointers in the Finals. Hart is shooting just 30.3% in the postseason. If he makes open threes, the Spurs’ defensive scheme becomes even more difficult to execute. If he doesn’t, San Antonio can treat him like they did non-shooters in other series, leaving him open while Wembanyama roams the paint to block shots.