For the first time in 27 years, the NBA Finals have returned to Madison Square Garden. The New York Knicks bring a 2-0 lead over the San Antonio Spurs back home, and the court isn't the only place where the stars will be shining.
We've seen the likes of Timothée Chalamet, Ben Stiller, Tracy Morgan, Spike Lee, and others make the trip to San Antonio to support the Knicks as they have all season. They are expected to lead a list of celebrities and former players showing their face courtside for Game 3. President Trump is also scheduled to attend Game 3, though he will be watching from a suite.
See below for those who are taking over Madison Square Garden's "Celebrity Row" for Game 3 of the NBA Finals:
The New York Knicks didn't have to search too far for a halftime performer.
The Knicks tapped Grammy award-winning rapper and New York native Cardi B to provide halftime entertainment for Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the Knicks and San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden on Monday, June 8, a person with direct knowledge of the matter confirmed to USA TODAY Sports.
The person spoke under the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the matter.
Cardi B is the latest New York native to turn the basketball court into her stage. Singer Mary J. Blige served as the halftime performer during Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals last year.
The rapper recently wrapped her critically-acclaimed Little Miss Drama Tour, which featured two stops in New York at Madison Square Garden in March. It's not clear which songs she'll perform, but Cardi B's discography includes hit songs "Bodak Yellow" and "Hello" among many others.
Cardi B has attended several Knicks games over the years, including Game 4 of the Eastern Conference last year alongside NFL beau Stefon Diggs.
Contributing: Lorenzo Reyes
Reach USA TODAY National Women’s Sports Reporter Cydney Henderson at chenderson@gannett.com and follow her on X at @CydHenderson.
Monday was the dawn of a new era for the Philadelphia 76ers.
Out is Daryl Morey, who served as the franchise’s president of basketball operations for six seasons. In is Mike Gansey, who previously served as the general manager of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Gansey spoke to reporters for the first time at the team’s practice facility in Camden. He didn’t divulge much (who needs a “we sold high” type of quote on their first day?), but made it clear he wants to build around the team’s Big 4 while fostering a positive culture from the front office on down.
After Gansey’s introductory presser, Bob Myers and the newly-promoted Jameer Nelson spoke as well. Here are five takeaways from the day.
Building around the Big 4
Again, there wasn’t a ton of clarity as far as the direction Gansey wants to go, but there were plenty of questions surrounding Joel Embiid and the team’s ability to be a contender with three max contracts.
The main goal is obvious — though it’s easier said than done.
“I’ve had a lot of good conversations with him so far,” Gansey said of the former MVP. “Excited to meet with him this week. … With him and the roster we have, that’s who we have. We got to get those guys on the floor, we got to create an identity and just get them to play basketball.”
Gansey pointed to the fact that the Sixers were 24-14 with Embiid on the floor and to the upset of the Boston Celtics in the first round of the postseason. He didn’t sugarcoat things (more on that in a bit) or attempt to gaslight the fan base. The reality is there’s little other recourse. Embiid is owed a lot of money over the next three seasons and Paul George over the next two.
It makes sense to not obsess over the dual timeline situation and just build the best team possible with the resources at hand.
“I don’t look at it as a timeline,” Gansey said, “I just look at like we have those four and we got to maximize those four. Obviously, VJ [Edgecombe] and Tyrese [Maxey] are younger, but Paul and Joel can still play at a high level. … We gotta rely on those four, and obviously keep them on the floor, and then just build around them.”
Building the culture
Morey has long been known as one of the smartest minds in basketball. It’s an earned reputation.
With that said, the biggest criticism of Morey is how cold and calculated he could be. The Jared McCain trade — which did not go over well in the Sixers’ locker room — is a decent example. You could understand some of the basketball reasons for the decision, but, ultimately, it might’ve been a bit shortsighted.
Gansey seems like he’s viewed as an antidote to the disconnect between the front office and the players — and really everyone else in the organization.
“My philosophy is simple: build a culture rooted in character, work ethic, competitiveness, accountability and teamwork,” Gansey said in his opening statement. “Our fans deserve a team that they can be proud of. There will be alignment throughout the entire organization with a relentless focus on putting our players and staff in the best position to succeed.”
The word “alignment” came up an awful lot. With the turmoil surrounding the Sixers for the last decade or so, it’s fair to wonder how much “alignment” there’s been.
Gansey seems intent on changing the culture here. He talked about wanting to be “attached at the hip” to head coach Nick Nurse and speaking with all of the players about what this team needs. Will it lead to more wins? Who knows? But the organization clearly needs to try something different.
“I want guys that want to be in Philly, first and foremost,” he said. “Obviously, guys that can fit around our players that we have currently under contract, and I want fountains, not drains. I want guys with high character, guys with high work ethics, and guys that want to be in Philadelphia.”
Building an identity
But it wasn’t all rainbows and butterflies.
The reality is the Sixers are in one of the weirdest spots in the league. They had what could be considered a decent season, upsetting the second-seeded Celtics in the first round. They were also handily swept in the second round by the New York Knicks, who currently hold a 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals. It’s clear the gap between the Sixers and Knicks is massive.
Gansey is now charged with bridging that gap.
“They got swept in the second round, so it’s not a championship-caliber team right now,” Gansey said, “but we’re going to work on that. Getting the Big 4 together on the floor, but we’re going to do everything we can to bring players in here that fit, and that obviously can help. … We got a great staff here, and we’re going to do everything we can to get the best players in here to help us get to the mountaintop.”
“Identity” was another buzzword used by all of Gansey, Myers and Nelson. With all the uncertainty surrounding the statuses of Embiid and George, it was nearly impossible for the 2025-26 team to create one. They were essentially middle-of-the-pack by most statistical measures.
There wasn’t any one thing they could hang their hat on.
“We gotta find an identity. We just don’t have one,” Myers said. “I mean, that’s maybe a harsh thing to say, but look at the numbers. I mean, we were not elite offensively or defensively, and … if you’re gonna win at the highest level, you gotta be great at something. We have the capabilities, I think, and we have the players and some of the talent, but in order to see what we are, we’ve got to be on the floor.”
The front office triumvirate
For those unfamiliar, Gansey was a very good college basketball player at Saint Bonaventure before transferring to West Virginia. He then spent a few years bouncing around playing in the G League, overseas and getting NBA summer league invites.
Myers, who stands at 6-foot-7, had a decent college career at UCLA, helping the Bruins reach the Elite Eight in 1996-97.
And we’re all familiar with Nelson’s playing career.
It’s an interesting dynamic. The franchise has gone from more analytics-driven executives like Sam Hinkie and Morey to people who played the game at a high level. That doesn’t mean analytics won’t be involved in the decision-making (they will) or that it will lead to success.
But it does change things for an organization in desperate need of a shake-up.
“I think it’s helped me a lot throughout my career,” Gansey said, “just because I’ve been in the locker room, I’ve been in wars, I played with some of the guys who are still playing in this league a little bit in college, so I think my understanding of maybe what they’re going through day to day. They’re going through training camp, or they’re exhausted, or the travel, or their confidence is low, like I can kind of relate to them a little bit, and say, ‘hey, I didn’t play at the highest level, but I played at a pretty good level,’ where they can come to me and ask me questions, and I can relate to them a little bit more than maybe someone that didn’t play.”
What’s next?
The first round of the 2026 NBA Draft will take place on June 23. The Sixers will have the 22nd overall selection — a pick they received in the McCain trade that originally belonged to the Houston Rockets.
For so many reasons, it’s crucial for the Sixers to nail this pick. Right after that will be free agency.
“I think with where we’re at now … we have pick 22 in the draft, we got to hit on that,” Gansey said. “We got to get a good player there. Just building depth. We got to get guys in here in free agency that we like, we got to get minimum guys, and then the big part is just internal development with Tyrese, VJ, and some of our other young guys, they got to get better too. I think it’s internal growth, 22 and then free agency, and trying to add as much depth as we can to this roster.”
The good news for the Sixers is Gansey has already been doing draft prep for the Cavaliers, who hold the 29th overall pick. If there’s one area where you can see Gansey’s fingerprints with Cleveland, it’s the draft.
“I ran the draft in Cleveland, so I was really big on the player personnel and the valuation, but I’m a connector. I build relationships with everyone in the building, all the way from our star player to the janitor.”
Basketball bettors are in a New York state of mind for Game 3 of the NBA Finals.
The New York Knicks are home and holding a 2-0 series edge over the San Antonio Spurs, who enter what will be a madhouse inside Madison Square Garden tonight.
My Spurs vs. Knicks same-game parlay isn’t getting in the way of New York and loves these two role players – one veteran and one rookie – to blow up their scoring props in the Big Apple.
The New York Knicks have the San Antonio Spurs on their heels, proving they’re the tougher team physically and mentally. The Knicks have outworked the Spurs for almost every 50/50 ball while also showing their experience edge in crunch time. New York is making big shots late in games while San Antonio is stumbling with massive miscues, burying itself in a 0-2 hole.
We saw the New York bench put in work in Game 2, and that was a big X-factor entering the series, playing a bigger role as the finals roll on. With a healthy lift from an insane crowd at MSG, the Knicks put San Antonio on the ropes with another strong team effort on both ends in Game 3.
SGP leg #2: Dylan Harper Over 12.5 points
Rookie guard Dylan Harper is a “rookie” in title only. We’ve seen his maturation during the playoffs, and Game 2 proved he could be San Antonio’s second-best scorer. While most of the Spurs shrank in crunch time, Harper made the most of the extra minutes in the fourth quarter, attacking the rim and igniting a late surge. His size and speed are a tough blend for the Knicks defense to deal with, and models call for as many as 15+ points in Game 3.
SGP leg #3: Mikal Bridges Over 13.5 points
Mikal Bridges was huge for New York in Game 2, and his mid-range game is the perfect foil for the Spurs, who pack the paint and hope the Knicks miss outside shots. He’s getting good looks with San Antonio focusing on Jalen Brunson and has scored 14+ in five of his last six games and nine of his last 11 outings. Most models call for close to 15 points from Bridges tonight.
Get Jason Logan's full breakdown of this game, including his best bet, plus the latest NBA odds, injuries, and betting trends, in his Spurs vs. Knicks predictions for Game 3.
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Midtown Manhattan was already going to be a wild scene with the NBA Finals returning to Madison Square Garden for the first time in 27 years — and with the Knicks up 2-0 on the Spurs, New Yorkers believe they are witnessing a coronation.
They are also witnessing the most intense security around an NBA game anyone can remember. What was already going to be a strong law enforcement presence around the game ramped up to a whole new level when President Donald Trump confirmed he would accept the invitation of Knicks governor James Dolan.
What does that look like? How about five blocks around the arena being shut down to all vehicular traffic, and only people with a ticket for the game can get past the security barrier.
Starting at 4pm today, vehicular and pedestrian traffic will be closed from West 30th Street to West 35th Street between 6th Avenue and 8th Avenue.
No one will be allowed inside the secure area unless you have a ticket to the game, a train ticket, are going to a business inside…
"There should be extra security for the President of the United States to be at a game, but I think the fans are very understanding of that," NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said when Trump confirmed he would attend. "I think they recognize that it adds to the bigness of the event."
Inside the arena, Trump will not be on celebrity row courtside but will watch the game from a suite, NBC Sports confirmed.
"This President, Donald Trump, before he ever ran for office, he was a big Knicks fan..." Silver said at an NBA Cares event.
"I think sports, in particular, is something where we can emphasize what we have in common, not what pulls us apart, that it creates a sense of belonging. We're seeing that in New York, and I think President Trump is very much a New Yorker, and I'm thrilled that yet another New Yorker wants to participate in the enthusiasm and the joy around this Knicks team."
Knicks fans won't care much about who attends the game so long as their team wins, but those fans will also face additional security. Fans entering MSG can't take bags of any kind into the game and will have to undergo additional screening, much more like a TSA screening at the airport than at a typical NBA game.
All of this security has led to a slight decrease in the cost of buying a ticket and getting into the game on secondary markets, according to reports. Although this is still shaping up to be the most expensive game to attend in NBA history.
The question is, will those Knicks fans witness history and see their team move within a game of their first NBA championship in 53 years?
The 8:30 p.m. June 8 game is expected to mark the first time that a seated U.S. president has attended the NBA Finals. And, as with any high-profile presidential appearance, this trip comes with added layers of security.
USA TODAY will have live updates from inside MSG as the president takes in the game, which will be broadcast live on ABC.
The presidential motorcade will drive up the five-story entrance ramp that players and coaches use to arrive, where President Trump will be escorted to elevators and taken to a suite, where he will watch the game.
While the President is being whisked up, the wing where the corresponding elevator is will be momentarily blocked off to foot traffic. Similar protocols will be followed when Trump leaves the arena.
A security wall around the perimeter of the "World's Most Famous Arena" in midtown Manhattan is in place. NYPD officials said during a news conference about 12 hours before the scheduled start time for Game 3 that the police's security perimeter will run from West 35th Street to West 30th Street between Sixth Avenue and Eighth Avenue around Madison Square Garden.
All fans will encounter TSA-style magnetometer screening before entering the arena, according to Matt McCool of the U.S. Secret Service, who encouraged those attending Game 3 of the NBA Finals to arrive at MSG at least two hours before Monday's 8:30 p.m. ET tip.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver confirmed Trump's bonafides as a Knicks fan last week when asked about the President's potential attendance at Madison Square Garden.
"Donald Trump, before he ever ran for office, he was a big Knicks fan," Silver said. "I was there at many Knicks games with him in the old days. He attended many of our drafts when they used to take place at Madison Square Garden."
Silver noted he hopes Trump's appearance will "emphasize what we have in common, not what pulls us apart. We’re seeing that in New York and I think President Trump is very much a New Yorker, and I’m thrilled that yet another New Yorker wants to participate in the enthusiasm and the joy around this Knick team."
A planned watch party for Game 3 of the NBA Finals outside Madison Square Garden has been canceled.
More than two dozen people were arrested at a similar party last Friday during Game 2 of the series between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs. But now, with President Donald Trump and NYC mayor Zohran Mandami planning to be in attendance as the series moves to New York, security is on heightened alert.
The Knicks are making their first appearance in the NBA Finals since 1999, and fans have enthusiastically embraced the team's title run. After nearly 7,000 fans showed up at Madison Square Garden to watch New York's 105-104 victory in San Antonio, authorities said 26 people were detained, with 17 arrested and charged.
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New York City has waited a long time for tonight — 27 years, to be exact.
Game 3 of the NBA Finals are tonight, June 8, on the Knicks’ home court at Madison Square Garden. It’s the first NBA Finals game to be hosted at the World’s Most Famous Arena since the 1999 Finals.
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This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping, Page Six, and Decider.com. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on every streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. When she’s not writing about (or watching) TV, movies, and sports, she’s also keeping up on the underrated perfume dupes at Bath & Body Works and testing headphones. Prior to joining Decider and The New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews.
Quin Snyder is getting rewarded thanks in part to some moderate playoff success against the Knicks.
The Atlanta Hawks coach, 59, signed a new multiyear contract extension, the team announced Monday, after they were eliminated from the playoffs in a six-game first-round series against the Knicks.
After going 46-36, the Hawks were the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference and once led the Knicks 2-1 in the best-of-seven series before the Knicks won three straight to begin a 13-game winning streak that they’ve ridden to a 2-0 NBA Finals lead over the Spurs.
The Hawks are the last team to beat the Knicks, having held a 2-1 series lead in the first round. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
The Hawks also traded four-time All-Star Trae Young this season, but were able to pry Nickeil Alexander-Walker away from the Minnesota Timberwolves in a sign-and-trade deal that helped change their trajectory and defensive prowess.
Atlanta had the 12th-best total net rating in all of basketball during the regular season, which was actually better than the 53-29 Lakers.
The Hawks hope to continue developing their young players, including Jalen Johnson, who just made the All-NBA third team.
Atlanta made some moves at the trade deadline and competed in the playoffs against the eventual Eastern Conference champions, who haven’t lost a game since.
Quin Snyder received a multiyear contract extension from the Hawks. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
After the Knicks won three straight against the Hawks, Snyder tipped his metaphorical hat to the Knicks, calling what Mike Brown’s group did to the Hawks the “perfect storm.”
Snyder was hired by the Hawks in February 2023 after they fired Nate McMillan midseason. Snyder resigned from the Jazz at the end of the previous season following an eight-year run. He was a Hawks assistant for one season before becoming Utah’s head coach.
A tectonic shift may be required to change the course of the 2026 NBA Finals
(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Two Games, Same Story
Twice in this series, San Antonio has built significant leads. Twice, it hasn’t mattered.
Through two games, the Spurs have been good enough to control stretches but not disciplined enough to finish them. That distinction has defined the Finals so far.
The Knicks have reduced the game to its simplest elements and executed them better. Their three-point production comes from three repeatable sources: Karl-Anthony Towns above the break, OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges mainly in the corners, and Landry Shamet as a rhythm shooter.
Nothing exotic. Just precision.
The Wembanyama Problem
Victor Wembanyama’s Finals performance has, by his standards, been underwhelming, not just in output, but in impact.
I have aggregated the “concussion” and the “flagrant 2” games into one, thus counting 16 games pre-Finals.
Finals vs. rest of the post season:
Points: 27.5 vs 24.6
Rebounds: 10.5 vs 11.4
Blocks: 3.8 vs 3.5
Assists: 2.0 vs 2.9
Steals: 1.5 vs 1.0
Turnovers: 5.0 vs 2.9
PF: 2.0 vs 2.75
FG%: 40.5% vs 50.9%
3PT%: 26.7% vs 37%
FT%: 81% vs 87%
Compared to earlier rounds, his efficiency is down, turnovers are up, and his influence has diminished. The eye test confirms it: less force, less inevitability, fewer moments where the game bends around him.
From the Knicks’ perspective, Towns’ shooting (43% from deep) stretches the Spurs’ defense because it is embedded in structure, rhythmic, balanced, with options. KAT’s long threes, top of the key, are in rhythm and he always maintain his triple-threat options, which has led to some impressive drives to the rim leaving Vic behind, or he timely passes the ball (4 assists per game) to his teammates.
On the other end, Victor’s attempts look like the threes a SG or a PG would take, especially someone like Curry. Wembanyama’s threes are often high difficulty attempts that disconnect possessions when they miss.
Karl-Anthony Towns has contained Wembanyama effectively. He is mobile enough to stay in front, disciplined with fouls, and large enough to contest. KAT has reduced his “silly” fouls to a point where it doesn’t impact him anymore and he can maintain defensive pressure for 48 minutes.
Josh Hart and Mitchell Robinson have limited second chances. Individually small wins, collectively significant. The result is a version of Wembanyama that feels manageable.
Vic’s troubles are not just behind the 3-point line, they can also be found in ISO situations when he faces the basket. Too many dribbles leading to turnovers and difficult shot attempts, especially in Game 1.
The Paradox of His Development
At 15, Wembanyama turned down Barcelona’s academy offer. He explained he did not want to be confined to a traditional center role. He chose development built on versatility, ball-handling, shooting, and freedom. Vic has given his youth coaches at Nanterre a lot of credit for giving him this freedom to experiment and develop skills rarely seen in prospects of his height.
Beyond his unique skillsets, Victor Wembanyama has showed a maturity, a drive to succeed, and work ethics never seen before from such a young person. What die-hard Spurs fans have known for almost 3 years now, is that Vic’s unique abilities come with some downfalls. There have been games where Vic will shoot too many threes or will take too many dribbles in traffic.
That path created extraordinary upside, but also a tension. His game is built on optionality, not constraint. For three seasons, that balance favoured the upside. In this series, it has shifted.And unfortunately for Vic and the Spurs, the Knicks are clearly banking on this, and it’s working.
His youth coaches and his family’s open-mindedness supported his unique development. It might be time for Victor to demonstrate some open-mindedness of his own and make some changes.
What once gave him an edge may now require recalibration.
Down 0–2, the Spurs have no margin for error. Their ceiling runs through Wembanyama.
<p>Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)</p><br> | Getty Images
The “Big Fundamental” Adjustment. Not long-term. Immediate.
Since Victor Wembanyama joined the Spurs organization, many fans have been left wondering what kind of signature move, he could / should add to his arsenal. There are games where he seems unstoppable and others where he looks like a mere mortal rather than an Alien.
With 2 games left to avoid a sweep, there is no time to develop a Kareem Sky Hook or a Timmy Bank Shot. Many fans have been asking for something like this, but it would take hours in the gym to perfect such moves.
Victor’s incremental adjustment that I think is required would already be a Big Fundamental Shift for him. Vic needs to work in the low post, not facing the basket, but playing his back against his defender and the rim. We keep hearing that Vic is not strong enough to gain positioning in the low post. Well, after battling the likes of Clingan, Gobert, Randle, Hartenstein, Holmgren, Dort, KAT and Robinson, I disagree.
Vic has managed to get the ball in the high post; there is no reason he could not position himself in the low post. He has the will power to do so. Establishing deeper position in the low post is the key here.
Second incremental change, after receiving the ball, he needs to stay tall on the catch. So far, the Finals referees have been better than those he experienced in the Western Conference playoffs, they will protect him to some extent. Otherwise, when he receives the ball, he has a tendency to lower his center of gravity, to avoid to be pushed around, but he immediately loses his height advantage.
Final adjustment, Vic needs to use his Hakeem’s moves. Vic’s mobility and length are better than anybody of his height in the world. 9 times out 10 he would win this battle and would get a chance to score, being so much closer to the rim.
Down 2-0, only a drastic adjustment can change the course of history, and it must come from Victor Wembanayma. The coaching staff might even consider bringing Mason Plumlee for short sequences to add a banging body in the paint when Victor is establishing position.
I don’t think the Spurs can now win the Finals without a 40-20 game from Vic. To pull this off, especially at the Madison Square Garden, he needs to demonstrate he can adjust his skillset to the circumstances.
Simple, but critical.
There is still a path. Narrow, but real.
If Wembanyama simplifies, anchors, and imposes himself, the series changes. Until it doesn’t.
Stacey King spent nearly 20 years making bad basketball worth watching. Now, he’s gone. King died Sunday, June 9 at 59 years old and Chicago is in mourning.
King was the sixth pick out of Oklahoma in the 1989 draft, a 6-foot-11 big man who won three NBA titles alongside Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen in his first five seasons with the Bulls.
He never truly stopped being a Bull.
After his playing career ended, he joined the team’s broadcast crew in 2006 and became its color commentator. He’s the voice that a generation of Bulls fans grew up hearing, even the reason some tuned in at all during a lot of lean years. He won an Emmy, but perhaps the better legacy is that fans knew his catchphrases like, “Let me step back and kiss myself,” by heart.
King was pronounced dead Sunday morning in River Forest, where he lived. No cause of death was given.
Here is what we know.
The Bulls confirmed his death Sunday
The announcement came from the team’s X account Sunday afternoon: “We are devastated by the passing of 3x NBA Champion and beloved broadcaster Stacey King.”
Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said in a statement: “Stacey King was a cherished member of the Bulls family and one of the truly unique personalities in our organization’s history. His connection to Chicago, the Bulls and our fans spanned more than three decades – first as a player and later as the unmistakable voice that helped bring Bulls basketball into the homes of generations of fans.”
The Bulls said details on a service honoring King would be announced at a later date.
Authorities say he fell at his home
Authorities said King suffered a fall at his residence, though officials are continuing to review the exact cause of death. An autopsy was conducted as part of the process, ESPN 1000 host David Kaplan reported.
Autopsy is pending
The medical examiner’s office said a head autopsy is needed to determine the cause of death. No timeline for results has been released.
Stacey King’s legacy as a player
The sixth pick in the 1989 draft, King was on the Jordan teams and was never a star. Still, King was quick for a big man, useful and willing to do the grunt work — the kind of guy that helps win championships.
In Game 6 of the 1992 Finals against Portland, with the Bulls down 15 in the fourth quarter, Phil Jackson went to a reserve lineup that included King. He hit a big jumper to pull Chicago within three points during the comeback.
He finished his career averaging 6.4 points and 3.3 rebounds over eight seasons, with additional stops in Minnesota, Miami, Boston and Dallas.
King’s legacy after his playing career
King joined the Bulls’ broadcast team in 2006, starting on pregame and postgame shows before becoming the color commentator. For a lot of younger Bulls fans, he was the guy in the booth making them laugh and cheer for a team that had given them very little to be optimistic about for a long time.
His former teammates responded
"We shared some special years together as teammates, and he was part of a group that helped define an era of Chicago Bulls basketball," Michael Jordan said in a statement. "My thoughts are with Stacey's family, friends, and everyone whose life he touched."
Scottie Pippen wrote on Instagram: “Sad to hear about the passing of Stacey King. A champion, a great teammate and a true ambassador for the game. His impact on the Bulls organization and the city of Chicago will be remembered for generations. Rest in peace King.”
Bulls’ president and CEO Michael Reinsdorf said: “Stacey loved being a Bull. You could feel it in everything he did – the way he played, the way he called games and the way he connected with our fans.”
The NBA issued a statement mourning a “three-time NBA champions and longtime Chicago Bulls television analyst,” who “made his mark on the game as a player, coach and commentator.”
Chicago paid tribute
Outside the United Center, fans left flowers alongside printouts of his most memorable lines. The Cubs held a moment of silence before their game Sunday night and a tribute ran on the Wrigley Field scoreboard.
CLEVELAND, OH - MARCH 8: The sneakers worn by Derrick White #9 of the Boston Celtics during the game against the New York Knicks on March 8, 2026 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
SAN ANTONIO, TX - JUNE 5: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks looks on during the game against the San Antonio Spurs during Game Two of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 5, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. 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
It’s not all that surprising that a former Villanova player hasn’t won NBA Finals MVP.
Main Line legends have plenty of championship hardware — from Herman “Red” Klotz in 1948 to the historic 1956 run with Paul “Pitchin’ Paul” Arizin and Larry Hennessy, and the 1967 squad featuring Wali Jones and Bill Melchionni.
More recently, Chris Ford (1981), John Celestand (2000), Kyle Lowry (2019), and Donte DiVincenzo (2021) have all come away with championship rings.
But historically, these Wildcats were more culture-setters and complementary pieces. The only real “what ifs” are are Arizin’s 1956 run (Finals MVP hadn’t been invented yet) and Lowry in 2019 — but let’s be real, Kawhi Leonard was an absolute unit for the Toronto Raptors and rightfully claimed the honor.
That is what makes Jalen Brunson’s current trajectory with the New York Knicks so unprecedented for a Wildcat.
As the 2026 NBA Finals head to Madison Square Garden with New York holding a 2-0 lead over the San Antonio Spurs, Brunson is the betting favorite to win the Bill Russell Trophy.
The recently crowned Eastern Conference Finals MVP is actively rewriting the script on what a Villanova guard can be. Alongside fellow Wildcats Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges, Brunson is leading a charge few saw coming. Not even Brunson’s former coach Jay Wright thought the 29-year-old would be this good.
History is waiting at MSG, and Brunson is ready to claim a crown no Wildcat ever before him could.
The legacy Stacey King left behind with the Chicago Bulls as a player and broadcaster came pouring out in tributes during the 24 hours since the team announced the 59-year-old's death on Sunday, June 7. He was a constant link between the franchise's greatest years and its current generation of players, with achievements that helped establish the most famous Bull of them all.
Michael Jordan released a statement on Monday, June 8 in the wake of King's passing and emphasized King's role on his first three NBA championship teams with the Bulls (1991-93). King was the No. 6 overall pick in the 1989 NBA draft by Chicago and played eight seasons in the NBA before a long career as a beloved color commentator on Bulls' television broadcasts.
"I'm deeply saddened to learn of Stacey's passing," Jordan said, according to ESPN 1000 in Chicago. "We shared some special years together as teammates, and he was part of a group that helped define an era of Chicago Bulls basketball. My thoughts are with Stacey's family, friends, and everyone whose lives he touched."
Stacey King cause of death
The official cause of King's death is unknown at this point.
The Bulls said on Sunday that service details honoring King's life and legacy will be announced at a later date.
“Stacey King was a cherished member of the Bulls family and one of the truly unique personalities in our organization’s history," Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said in a statement. "His connection to Chicago, the Bulls and our fans spanned more than three decades – first as a player and later as the unmistakable voice that helped bring Bulls basketball into the homes of generations of fans. We will miss him deeply and remember the joy, energy, humor, candor and passion he brought to our organization, our broadcasts and our fans every day. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones.”
Boston, MA - April 19: Boston Celtics center Nikola Vucevic celebrates a 3-pointer in the third quarter. The Celtics played the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 1 of the first round of the NBA Playoffs on April 19, 2026. (Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
“Former All-Star center Nikola Vucevic is increasingly regarded as a certainty to switch teams this summer after a fractured right ring finger in March helped derail his brief stint as a Boston Celtic in the spring. He’ll be 36 in October but figures to draw some interest on the open market given that there is generally always a clamor for floor-spacing big men.”
Vucevic was acquired at the trade deadline from the Chicago Bulls for Anfernee Simons and the pick that ended up 38th in the draft.
Vucevic played 16 regular season games with the Celtics, averaging 9.7 points and 6.6 rebounds per game while coming off the bench in 15 of the 16 games. He missed 14 games from March 8th to April 3rd due to a fractured right ring finger.
In the playoffs, Vucevic played in six games, averaging 6.2 points and 4.3 rebounds before a DNP-coach’s decision in Game 7, where the Celtics were eliminated by the 76ers. Vucevic played a big role in the Celtics Game 3 win in Philadelphia, where he played 31 minutes with 11 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists.
PHOENIX, AZ - JANUARY 9: Khaman Maluach #10 and Mark Williams #15 of the Phoenix Suns high five before the game against the New York Knicks on January 9, 2026 at PHX Arena 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
I was at the Barclays Center when it happened last year. As NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced the Phoenix Suns’ selection of Duke Center Khaman Maluach with the 10th pick of the 2025 NBA Draft, the Shams Charania notification came in that Phoenix was acquiring Charlotte Hornets big man Mark Williams for the 29th pick and a 2029 first-rounder. It felt like a huge moment for the Suns and the future of their center position.
BREAKING: The Charlotte Hornets are trading center Mark Williams to the Phoenix Suns for the No. 29 pick tonight and a 2029 first-round pick, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/a6eDDn5aE6
It was known when Phoenix selected Maluach that he was going to be a project. He started playing basketball as a teenager, and he’s one of the youngest players in the league. Pairing him with Williams, with whom he had a prior relationship as Williams went to Duke, made sense, especially with what center lineups looked like the previous two seasons with Jusuf Nurkic and Nick Richards manning the five and producing lackluster results.
In the first year of the two together, Williams played as the starter, while Maluach played third string behind him and Oso Ighodaro. When Williams missed time at the end of the year, Ighodaro started while Maluach played the backup five.
As Maluach now enters his second season and is widely viewed as the player with the most untapped potential on the roster to pair with Devin Booker, we’ve reached an inflection point in Williams’ tenure with the Suns.
Now a restricted free agent, if Phoenix feels Williams’ presence could disrupt Maluach’s growth, there should be concerns about what his future should be with the team, even if it means Phoenix gets rid of a player that they traded multiple first-rounders for. If the goal is to build another Finals caliber roster around Devin Booker, as team owner Matt Ishbia continues to say is the plan, acquisitions and signings can’t be made that block or prohibit the development of players with high-end potential.
Suns team owner Mat Ishbia said Devin Booker "is not getting traded" when asked about Booker's status.
With Maluach’s physical gifts (He’s 7’1” with a 7’7” wingspan) and willingness to shoot the three, Phoenix needs to ensure he has opportunities to grow if they view Maluach the way that many do, and if continuing to employ Williams hurts their vision for him, then serious conversations need to be had about whether they should resign him.
Playing the most games he did in his four-year career last season in his first with the Suns, Williams averaged 12 points and eight rebounds on 64% shooting from the field. Averaging just 24 minutes a game, Phoenix was very conservative with his minutes to help him avoid injuries.
While he played the most winning basketball of his career, he had just eight games with 20 or more points and only 13 games with two or more blocks this season. In 14 fewer games played and averaging nearly 15 minutes less per appearance, Maluach had eight games with at least two or more rejections. All of them came in the final 45 days of the regular season, as Williams missed significant time with a foot issue, demonstrating the growth he made throughout the season as a rim protector, and the value that he could provide when Williams wasn’t playing.
What Phoenix gave up to acquire Williams in 2025 shouldn’t matter for how they move in 2026. To accomplish their longterm goals, they need to move in the direction that they think gives them the best opportunity to surround Booker with top-end talent. If they believe keeping Williams disrupts that goal, then they shouldn’t resign him. The idea of what Maluach could be is too precious, considering the lack of assets Phoenix possesses.
