Cleveland Cavaliers President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman delivered his requisite end-of-season interview with the media a few days ago, several weeks earlier than he probably would have liked. His answers made it seem like the team will be running it back, indicating that this group has another attainable gear to hit.

Altman is standing behind head coach Kenny Atkinson, praising James Harden for assimilating as well as he could, and noting how great the front court is, and will be, next year. He also heaped praise on Evan Mobley during his press conference in a way that makes it sound like the team is very unwilling to part with him. 

“All Evan has done is impact winning,” Altman said. “He’s been remarkable for us in terms of our ascent the last five years. He’s a huge part of what we do.” 

All signs point to a team that will look very similar come October. But the uncomfortable truth is that the only way for the Cavs to meaningfully upgrade this offseason is to trade Evan Mobley.

While a run to the conference finals is no small feat, the Cavs got there in a way that feels much worse than reality. They ended up losing more games than they won in the playoffs with a record of 8-10, failed to close out several winnable games against inferior teams, and then were beaten down in historical fashion to conclude their campaign. Had the Cavs, say, swept Toronto, dispatched of Detroit in six games, and then lost to New York in a hard-fought series, the discussion would be different. As it stands, this team is not as close to the NBA Finals as the front office thinks.

The team already dove headfirst into the deep end of the pool with the trade of Darius Garland, and that was met with raised eyebrows. Moving on from Mobley would be even more daring, but also much more rewarding. He would fetch a hefty package in return, but it would have to be for a player who is better right this very second. The Cavs cannot trade him for a few decent players and draft capital to make up the difference. The tightrope they are walking is championship or bust. 

Someone like Giannis Antetokounmpo would be the ideal outcome, a player that instantly levels the Cavs up in a meaningful way and can serve as the alpha. It is unclear if he would be willing to sign an extension to remain in Cleveland beyond next season, making a move risky. But the reward is their best shot at a championship with one of the five best players in the league. 

What about Jaylen Brown? Him and Mitchell are exceptionally close friends, and he took a major step forward as a scorer and playmaker with Jayson Tatum out. Sending Mobley to Boston may not be the best idea karmically, but a three-team deal that avoids that is possible. Brown fits as the two-way player that would glue things together. 

Oklahoma City, upon being eliminated by the San Antonio Spurs, was instantly linked to Mobley in a potential trade, according to The Athletic. The Thunder have some interesting trade chips in All-Pro Jalen Williams and the other lanky young power forward in Chet Holmgren. With plenty of picks at their disposal, Oklahoma City can feasibly send a very high-end player and then some. 

Trading Mobley, of course, comes with risks. He is an elite defender and has continued to grow on offense, though not as quickly as the Cavs need. However, he would be an excellent blue-chip prospect in Milwaukee and profiles as a Victor Wembanyama deterrent for the Thunder. But there is no denying that, if the Cavs are to make another run with Donovan Michell as the head of the snake, trading Mobley is an unfortunate reality.

Sure, Jarrett Allen could get you a good player in return, but it won’t be a great one. The Cavs cannot simply waive Harden and unlock cap space — they are so far over the cap that all that would do is let a good player walk for nothing. A Mitchell trade is not happening, at least not this summer. They don’t have enough draft capital to swing anything meaningful. LeBron James circa 2014 isn’t walking through that door, and the diminished 2026 version might not either. Internal progression from Jaylon Tyson and Tyrese Proctor is not nearly enough to bring the Cavs up an echelon. That leaves Mobley as the ticket to something better.

If the Cavs are serious about maximizing their window to win a championship, trading Mobley has to be on the table as an option. It isn’t a requirement that they trade him, and the Cavs aren’t in dire need of a superstar, but they do need to get better. If trading Mobley achieves that in a meaningful way, and as painful as it may be, it must be considered.

Welcome to smokescreen season. The NBA Finals are underway, and the draft is just around the corner. The players in this class have already been measured and tested at the combine, and many have pulled out to return to school with millions flooding the marketplace in NIL money. The workout circuit has been popping lately, and there’s already some early rumors about who certain teams are preferring.

There remains some mystery at the top of the draft with the Washington Wizards holding the first pick. BYU forward A.J. Dybantsa has been the front-runner to No. 1 since the lottery determined the draft order, but Darryn Peterson and Cameron Boozer could still steal that honor from him. Boozer is our top player in the class.

This mock draft is informed by tracking workouts and rumors around the league, plus my own reporting with league sources. The first-round of draft will be here before you know it on Tuesday, June 23. Here’s how we see the draft playing out at the moment.

1. Washington Wizards – A.J. Dybantsa, F, BYU

I still think there’s a chance Darryn Peterson or Cameron Boozer go with the No. 1 pick, but Dybantsa continues to feel like the frontrunner at this point. This draft is starting to remind me of the 2022 class when the Orlando Magic were reportedly leaning toward Jabari Smith Jr. over Chet Holmgren with the top pick until they decided to select Paolo Banchero at the 11th hour. I would take Boozer No. 1 overall for any team, and I think he’s a great fit in Washington. Part of the reason why Dybantsa still feels like the favorite to go first though is because there’s always a chance Utah trades up for him. I love Dybantsa’s shot creation potential in Washington, but he does feel like an odd defensive fit there. Ideally, you want Dybantsa surrounded by a team of dirty work All-Stars, and that’s not Washington’s makeup right now. Fortunately, Dybantsa is still only 19 years old, and the Wizards will have a long timeline to build around him.

2. Utah Jazz – Darryn Peterson, G, Kansas

I detailed why I love the fit between Peterson and the Jazz last week. He feels like a perfect complement to Keyonte George in the backcourt as a movement shooter who can cause chaos defensively with deflections, steals, and blocks. Of course, it’s possible Peterson regains the explosiveness he showed in high school that briefly had him looking like the top player in the class. The more time passes from his bizarre freshman year at Kansas, the better the long-term idea of Peterson looks. He would be a home run pick for Utah at No. 2.

3. Memphis Grizzlies – Cameron Boozer, F, Duke

The Grizzlies are one of the best drafting teams in the league, and I feel confident they would select Boozer at No. 1 if they won the lottery. Boozer consistently grades out as the best player in the class in analytics models with a long history of production and influencing winning at every level. I’m not smart enough to build one of those models, but I’m also not stupid enough to completely discount them. Boozer’s statistical dominance also matches my eye test, because he’s great at almost everything. Concerns about his athleticism are overblown. I think Boozer and Zach Edey would absolutely mash teams inside and out. My hot take is the Grizzlies would quickly become a Western Conference contender with Boozer if their key players can stay healthy.

4. Chicago Bulls – Caleb Wilson, F, North Carolina

Wilson isn’t a shot creator, a shooter, or a center. So what is he? There are real questions about how the North Carolina forward translates to the NBA with a thin 210-pound frame and a raw dribble-pass-shoot skill set, but at a certain point he’s too productive to pass up. Wilson’s entire statistical profile is green, meaning he was above average in just about every rate stat. He’s an explosive play-finisher near the basket, he has real post-up scoring moves with step-throughs and spins, and he can recover to make game-changing plays defensively even with some poor technique and awareness on that end at times. The Bulls just need talent in the door, and Wilson is bursting with long-term upside if they can continue to refine his skill set.

5. Los Angeles Clippers – Keaton Wagler, G, Illinois

The early read on this choice is that it’s going to come down to Louisville’s Mikel Brown Jr. and Illinois’ Keaton Wagler. I have Brown higher on my board, but Wagler feels like a cleaner fit in LA next to Darius Garland. I also wouldn’t be surprised if the Clippers look to trade down. Wagler’s off-the-dribble shooting was so impressive in his breakout freshman year, and should continue to fuel his NBA success. If Brown goes in this spot, Wagler could fall to the Hawks at No. 8.

6. Brooklyn Nets – Nate Ament, F, Tennessee

Rival teams believe Ament’s range is 6-10. There are some unconfirmed reports that the Nets are targeting the Tennessee forward at No. 6, and I’m buying it. Ament seems like he fits Sean Marks’ draft history as a highly-touted high school recruit who can theoretically do everything on the floor — it just didn’t always work out that way at Tennessee. Ament was considered the fourth best player in this class entering college, and his role with the Vols where he led the team in usage didn’t do him any favors. This would feel really high for him to me, and I would probably give it a poor grade if it actually happens on draft night. With that said, I still think there’s a pathway for Ament to be a pretty good NBA player as a third or fourth option who can space the floor, attack once the advantage is created for him, and use his length to impact the game near the rim defensively. Michigan’s Aday Mara is another name to watch here.

7. Sacramento Kings – Darius Acuff, G, Arkansas

The worst kept secret in the draft is that the Kings love Darius Acuff. Somehow, they are still able to land him despite falling all the way to No. 7 with the league’s fourth worst record. Acuff is a polarizing player largely because of his defensive shortcomings, but there’s no doubt he was a prime time performer at Arkansas who fills an obvious need at point guard in Sacramento.

8. Atlanta Hawks – Mikel Brown Jr., G, Louisville

I’m a big fan of Brown for his pull-up shooting, passing creativity, and ability to get to the rack off the bounce. The Hawks should be thrilled if he’s somehow on the board at No. 8, because to me he’s a top-5 player in the class. There are real questions about Brown’s durability and shot-selection, but there’s no denying his talent. The Hawks were relying on CJ McCollum to create offense for them in the playoffs last year, and Brown is a natural long-term replacement after the franchise finally moved off Trae Young this season.

9. Dallas Mavericks – Brayden Burries, G, Arizona

There are reports that Burries is trying to land in Dallas to play next to Cooper Flagg. I like the vision even if I’m a bit skeptical Burries has the shot-creation upside to eventually be a star. The Arizona guard is a well-rounded player who defends and rebounds better than your average two-guard, and he’s a really good three-point shooter. Flagg would have to stay in more of a shot-creator role if Burries is the pick, but maybe that’s what Dallas wants. I personally wouldn’t have him as the best player available in this scenario, but Burries’ lack of a glaring weakness makes him a malleable guard who should be able to hang in the playoffs. It’s easy to understand the appeal of that with the No. 9 pick.

10. Milwaukee Bucks – Labaron Philon, G, Alabama

The Bucks are reportedly interested in Ament, Karim Lopez, and Philon according to ESPN. It’s hard to really know Milwaukee’s intentions until we learn if they’re keeping or trading Giannis Antetokounmpo. A Giannis trade feels more likely than ever, but we’ve said that before, and all he has to do is sign a contract extension to end the drama forever. The Bucks’ young guards in Ryan Rollins and Kevin Porter Jr. are actually much better than most people realize, so I don’t really think they need to go point guard. Philon’s shifty off-the-bounce game will be appealing to teams looking for shot-creation, and I wouldn’t be stunned if he eventually lands in the top-10 with Dallas as another option.

11. Golden State Warriors – Yaxel Lendeborg, F, Michigan

The Warriors are believed to be interested in Lendeborg, Mara, and Lopez according to ESPN. Lendeborg deserves to go much higher than this, in my opinion. Yes, he’s going to be a 24-year-old rookie, but he’s made the exact improvements you would hope to see from a player in their age-22 and age-23 season, and he has unique physical gifts that will help him adjust to the NBA level quickly. Lendeborg basically has the frame of an NBA center, but he showed at Michigan that he’s comfortable playing on the perimeter in a complementary role at both ends. Read my feature on Yaxel’s wild journey to get to this point.

12. Oklahoma City Thunder – Aday Mara, C, Michigan

Mara could be in play as early as No. 6 to the Nets, and I’d be surprised if he fell past the Thunder at No. 12. The 7’3 big man shouldn’t be counted on to play full-time center minutes early in his career, so I like the idea of him joining a deep frontcourt where he can be in more of a platoon situation. The Thunder also drafted Thomas Sorber in this range last year, so it’s possible they don’t want another big man. I’m skeptical that the best way to defend Wemby is with another giant — especially one as slow-footed on the perimeter as Mara — but it’s still a nice option to have in the bag when the Thunder and Spurs inevitably meet again. Mara’s passing is really special, and he could help add a little more flavor to the OKC offense if he continues to develop.

13. Miami Heat – Karim Lopez, F, New Zealand Breakers

Lopez is reportedly getting looks from teams in the second half of the lottery, so this could be the end of his range. Will the Heat actually be making this pick, or will they have already traded it for Giannis Antetokounmpo? Milwaukee has a reported interest in Lopez too, so I feel like he makes sense at No. 13 either way. I’m a bit skeptical of Lopez’s defense and outside shooting, but his ball handling as a big, strong forward is really intriguing.

14. Charlotte Hornets – Morez Johnson, F/C, Michigan

Hornets lead executive Jeff Peterson has already indicated the team wants to re-sign Coby White, which would potentially take away the need from drafting another guard here. Charlotte has a need for more beef inside, and Johnson is uniquely suited to address it with his ability to play the four or the five. Johnson is long and strong and really athletic for someone his size. It could be argued that his upside isn’t very high unless he develops a consistent three-point shot, but his impact has always gone beyond the numbers to this point in his young career. The Hornets had a noticeable lack of physicality in the play-in tournament, and Johnson would change that.

15. Chicago Bulls – Kingston Flemings, G, Houston

Could Flemings really fall this far? I’ve viewed the Houston guard as a potential top-5 talent throughout this cycle, and he’s reportedly in play as early as No. 5 to the Clippers. It would be shocking if Flemings fell out of the lottery, but we typically get one draft night surprise every year, and the depth of this point guard class means someone is bound to fall at least a little bit further than expected. The Bulls brought in Flemings for a workout last week, and would likely jump at the chance to add this type of talent in the mid first-round.

16. Memphis Grizzlies – Jayden Quaintance, C, Kentucky

I had Quaintance as a top-4 pick coming into the season, but he had a nightmare year where he only played four games at Kentucky after rushing back from an Achilles tear. He explained his decision to shut it down this season when I asked him about it at the combine, but he did say he’s about 95 percent healthy right now. Last time he was right physically, JQ looked like an elite paint protecting prospect as a 17-year-old at Arizona State. The Grizzlies feel like the type of franchise that would take a chance on him. I figure that Ebuka Okorie and Bennett Stirtz could also be in the mix for Memphis.

17. Oklahoma City Thunder – Ebuka Okorie, G, Stanford

Is Okorie the fastest-rising prospect in this draft class, or am I spending too much time online reading people who aren’t actually informed about the intentions of NBA teams? Okorie is still only No. 27 on ESPN’s board which is typically the best indication of a prospect’s range, but there are some people who like him way more than that. Jonathan Wasserman had Okorie at No. 8 on his big board, and I would bet there are front office executives who are similarly high on him as they go back and watch the tape for his season at Stanford. OKC badly needed another ball handler in the Western Conference Finals, and they didn’t trust Nikola Topic enough to give him a shot. Okorie has the ball on a string and a blazing first step. He would be a good value in this range in my mind.

18. Charlotte Hornets – Chris Cenac Jr., C, Houston

ESPN reported that Cenac’s realistic landing spots begin with the Hornets at No. 14, and they’ve been mocking him to Charlotte since the start of the season. Cenac is the only real stretch five bet in the first-round unless you really believe in North Carolina’s Henri Veesaar. The Houston big man is pretty raw in terms of his feel for the game, but his jumper is sweet and he has a great frame after measuring at 240 pounds with a 7’5 wingspan at the combine. I wouldn’t hate Charlotte walking out of this draft with two bigs.

19. Toronto Raptors – Bennett Stirtz, G, Alabama

The Raptors could really use a guard who can suck up some ball handling responsibility while also being a good enough shooter to space the floor. Stirtz checks both boxes. The senior guard created everything for Iowa this season and basically never came off the floor. His scoring and playmaking off the dribble is really impressive, but I also like his ability to move without the ball as a spot-up shooter. Toronto has the bodies to protect him defensively. I’d really like this fit.

20. San Antonio Spurs – Hannes Steinbach, F/C, Washington

The Spurs are focused on winning a championship, so this pick is a secondary concern for now. I’m going with Steinbach here because he’s both the highest-rated player on my board, and feels like a good positional fit on the roster. The German feels stuck between a power forward and a center, but that’s no big deal as two big lineups start to take over the NBA again. San Antonio doesn’t have a two-big look it can go to, and Steinbach is excellent at the league’s other emerging trend right now: crashing the offensive glass. The Spurs need more depth in the frontcourt, and Steinbach’s elite skill on the glass would give him a pathway to minutes early in his career.

21. Detroit Pistons – Christian Anderson, G, Texas Tech

The Pistons made a sneaky trade at the deadline to get a first-round swap with the Timberwolves, and it paid off by moving them spots up in the draft order. Detroit has been tied to Stirtz, Okorie, and Duke shooter Isaiah Evans, but with the first two off the board, I’m going with Anderson. The Texas Tech guard had a private workout with the Pistons in May. He’s widely considered one of the best shooters in this draft class, and he would allow Cade Cunningham to spend more time playing off the ball. Anderson is the smallest likely first-round pick in this class after measuring at 6’1 barefoot and 180 pounds, but his skill level is high and worth betting on.

22. Philadelphia 76ers – Allen Graves, F, Santa Clara

Philly has a new front office leader in Mike Gansey who was just introduced last week, so the bulk of their draft work is likely coming over the next couple weeks. I’ve been mocking Allen Graves to the Sixers throughout the pre-draft process because he feels like he offers the most upside at their biggest position of need. I was surprised to see Graves land at No. 17 on ESPN’s big board, which is the highest I’ve seen him from a mainstream outlet so far this season. The Santa Clara sixth man was uncovered by some wonderful nerds on Draft Twitter, and now seems like a lock to go in the first round. His wildly strong defensive playmaking and reliable spot-up shooting would give the Sixers something they don’t already have at the position.

23. Atlanta Hawks – Dailyn Swain, F, Texas

Swain will be the steal of the draft if he falls this far. There are informed analysts who view him as a top-10 prospect in this class, but it seems like the league has never been quite as high on him. Swain is a damn good wing defender who made a huge leap as a slasher and scorer this past season. The big hang up is his slow and hitchy three-point shot, but it’s worth noting that after going 11-for-54 from three his first two seasons combined, Swain finished 32-of-92 (34.8 percent) just this year. Swain and Mikel Brown Jr. would be a blockbuster draft class for the Hawks.

24. New York Knicks – Cam Carr, G, Baylor

Carr is drawing interest in the 10-20 range, and he’ll probably go higher than this. He has obvious utility with an outstanding intersection of length (7’1 wingspan), outside shooting, and vertical athleticism (44 dunks, 3.9 percent block rate) as a 6’5 wing. I’m a bit lower on Carr because I question his shot-creation and passing while wondering how his thin frame will hold up defensively. There feels like a talent drop-off after these first 24 players in this mock go off the board.

25. Los Angeles Lakers – Joshua Jefferson, F, Iowa State

The Lakers are primed to have the second most available cap space in the NBA this summer at around $48 million, but they have to make decisions on Austin Reaves, LeBron James, and Rui Hachimura. LA could use some defense and toughness around Luka Doncic with this pick. Jefferson gets the nod over Zuby Ejiofor for me because he can do the dirty work while still being able to space the floor out of three-point range. I like Jefferson’s ball handling and playmaking for such a strong forward. If the shot keeps developing, he could be a cost-controlled two-way forward on his rookie deal.

26. Denver Nuggets – Koa Peat, F, Arizona

Peat had the toughest decision of the withdrawal deadline to make, but I actually think he made the right choice by staying in the draft. His money surely would have been bigger at Arizona for a hypothetical sophomore season, but he risked falling off the NBA radar completely if he didn’t improve in important areas. There should still be room for him at the end of the first round with much of the depth in this class getting drained by NIL dollars. His intersection of weight, passing, and offensive rebounding will be interesting even if his shot is completely busted right now.

27. Boston Celtics – Zuby Ejiofor, F/C, St. John’s

Ejiofor has been the busiest man on the workout circuit with 13 confirmed team workouts so far, including one with the Celtics. The St. John’s big man might be a tad undersized for a center, but he still has a big frame after measuring at 6’7.5 barefoot and 245 pounds with a 7’2 wingspan. While he’s not a proven outside shooter yet, Ejiofor is comfortable operating with the ball in his hands as a playmaker or scoring around the rim. He moves well for someone who is this strong, and he always showed a strong feel for the game with the Johnnies. He should be a premium target for every team in the mid-20s.

28. Minnesota Timberwolves – Meleek Thomas, G, Arkansas

Tim Connelly loves a guy who could be charitably described as a ’walking bucket’ after trading up for Rob Dillingham and resuscitating Bones Hyland’s career in recent years. Thomas fits right in. He’s a good off-ball scorer with a quick trigger from three-point range, and he’s shown enough juice off the dribble to offer some shot creation upside. Thomas just isn’t very big after measuring at 6’3 barefoot and 189 pounds with a 6’6.75 wingspan at the combine.

29. Cleveland Cavaliers – Henri Veesaar, C, North Carolina

The Cavs have plenty of talent in their frontcourt already with Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, but they’ve never had a real stretch-five option. Veesaar could be that after hitting 42.6 percent of his threes on 94 attempts with North Carolina this season. I really enjoyed watching Veesaar’s high-low game with Caleb Wilson, and I think he could have similar success

30. Dallas Mavericks – Isaiah Evans, G, Duke

Evans is No. 24 on ESPN’s big board, and he’s already had a workout with Detroit picking at No. 21. The Mavs probably wouldn’t expect him to be on the board with this pick, but if he is, he would add volume three-point shooting around Cooper Flagg.

The opening acts have already been electric.

But Monday could be historic.

This playoff run — in which the Knicks have won 13 straight, including five at home — has shown the absolute mania that is possible inside Madison Square Garden.

But even that is likely just a warmup for what the Mecca and Knicks fans are capable of at their full potential.

Everything has lined up for Monday’s Game 3 of the Finals to be one of those moments that cements itself in New York City lore.

The Knicks return home leading the series 2-0, having won both road games to begin the Finals.

“I expect our fans to come out and do what they do every game, which is come and support us at the highest level,” Karl-Anthony Towns said after practice Sunday. “I’m really excited to play. It’s always great when you get to play the game of basketball at its highest level. To be able to lace the shoes up, be able to put the jersey on and be able to see our fans, to see Finals basketball after all this time is going to be really, really special.”

The wait only adds to the anticipation.

For 27 years, The World’s Most Famous Arena has been a pressure cooker just waiting to explode — a sleeping giant just waiting to be woken up.

The last Finals game in the building was June 25, 1999 — when the Knicks lost Game 5 to the Spurs to end the series.

“I think it’s really cool — 27 years since the last Finals here in this building,” Jalen Brunson said. “I know the fan base is really excited, as they should be.”

This century has not seen the Finals version of MSG and New York City.

And really, even in ’99, the Knicks trailed 2-0 in the series by the time they came home, dulling some of the energy.

You have to go back even further, to Game 5 of the ’94 Finals, to find a game the Knicks began at the Garden at least tied in the Finals.

“We got to be desperate for these fans,” Towns said. “Fans have earned the right and deserve the right to see Finals basketball be played here at Madison Square Garden. For this to be the first game in a long time that they have seen Finals basketball, it’s up to us to bring it, give ’em something to cheer for, give ’em something to get loud for and also give ’em something to believe in.

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“I talked about the word ‘hope.’ Hope has been brought back to the city. We’ve revitalized that word. But the word ‘success’ hasn’t been seen in this city for a long time. So we have to continue to fight to bring that word back to fruition.”

This young Spurs team, which has already shown it is susceptible to capitulating in high-intensity moments, is about to walk into a cauldron unlike anything it has experienced before.

“I think there will obviously be a ton of excitement around the game,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. “This arena’s like no other. The added circumstances will be on top of that.”

Victor Wembanyama is confident he’s ready for the atmosphere.

“Isolating myself is something I’ve practiced over the years,” he said. “I think I’m good at it. So it’s not a problem.”

The uniqueness of MSG can be felt before Game 3 even tips off.

It felt like there was double the number of media members at practices Sunday than there were in San Antonio.

Fat Joe and Jadakiss crashed coach Mike Brown’s news conference and then held their own impromptu media availability.

Ben Stiller was roaming the grounds filming the scene.

A special building has been waiting for this special moment.

“It makes it feel different,” Brown said, “than almost any other building you’ve been in.”

Remember those long breaks between the second and third rounds, then the Conference Finals and the Finals?

Having an extra day of rest between Games 2 and 3 felt like twice as long to me. Thank God we’re back at it.

Here’s another humongous Bulletin ahead of Game 3, covering everything that went down on practice day at MSG on Sunday.

Mike Brown

On adjusting to Karl-Anthony Towns and finding common ground:

“It is supposed to be like this. I came (to New York) with a great plan. Maybe the plan doesn’t work. Who adjusts: Him or me? Me. I adjust. (But) the adjustment’s not enough. Every once in a while, we’re not on the same page. We talk about it. We talk about it. I adjust again. A little bit better. He’s feeling good. We talk about it. We talk — maybe we take a couple of steps backwards because what I did, he doesn’t like, which is fine. It’s my job as a coach to fit whatever scheme we have on both sides of the floor to all of our players. And if you’re a great player, I’ve got to make a little bit more adjustments, or I’ve got to give a little bit more than you do. We finally got to a point where he was comfortable, (where) I was comfortable, Jalen (Brunson) was comfortable, OG (Anunoby) was comfortable, Mikal (Bridges) was comfortable. And to me, that’s what the regular season is about. The regular season is about finding your way so you can prepare for this time of the year … So, when we get here, anything we run into, we’ve already conquered during the regular season, and we’ll know how to handle it.”

On Gregg Popovich’s influence on his career:

“It was huge. Pop — I talk about MSG being iconic, New York City being iconic — Pop is iconic, especially here in San Antonio. When you talk about the game of basketball, he’s iconic to everybody that enjoys the game of basketball.”

On what he learned from Popovich beyond basketball:

“The neat part about him is it’s not just about the X’s and O’s that you learn. You know you can never be him, but you learn people skills. You learn how to connect, not just the 15 or 18 players, you learn how to connect an entire city, maybe even an entire state.”

On Popovich’s personal support during difficult times:

“He’s second to none how [in] he treats people off the floor in their personal lives. I grew a lot personally. Everybody goes through good times and bad times off the floor in their personal life. When I was here, I went through good times and bad times. He helped me tremendously with those. He’s a special human being.”

On facing Mavs’ Jalen Brunson as a defensive coordinator at Golden State:

“As a defensive coordinator, this is just me, going into that series, my concern wasn’t Luka, my concern was Jalen. We put Draymond Green on Jalen. That’s how concerned we were. Because we needed a bigger, stronger, tougher guy to try to do it or to try to slow him down at that time.”

On meeting Ben Stiller and seeing Fat Joe at practice on Sunday:

“A great day for me today. For the first time I got a chance to meet Ben Stiller. … I actually gave him a handshake and a hug. I got my man Fat Joe sitting in the back. This is a great day for Mike Brown.”

Jalen Brunson

On whether or not he’s stopped to reflect on the Knicks’ Finals run:

“Not until it’s over.”

On the need for finishing games better after losing a 14-point lead in Game 2:

“I think playing better with the lead that we had, the 14-point lead. The way they fought back and took the lead is just a credit to how good they are.”

On his mentality and upbringing with relation to Kobe Bryant:

“I think the way I carry myself, the way I do things, is a credit to how I was raised by my parents. But also part of their philosophy, I think, seeps into the Mamba Mentality, as well. So, there’s a connectivity there. I do my best to stay present in the moment, to do the things I can to make sure my mind is right. Being mentally and physically ready every day. Trusting my work. That’s what’s gotten me here.”

On what scouts missed about him when he fell to the second round of the NBA draft:

“Everything.”

On the love he’s received from New York:

“I’ve always said this and felt the amount of love I’ve gotten from this fanbase and from this city since Day 1. I’m so thankful, I’m so honored to be able to put ‘New York’ across my chest. I wouldn’t trade that feeling for anything in the world.”

On the magnitude of the Finals returning to MSG:

“I think it’s really cool — 27 years since the last Finals here in this building. I know the fan base is really excited, as they should be, but as a team, us inside the locker room, we have more work to do.”

On the team’s daily improvement mindset:

“Things take time. We knew that we just had to get better every single day — every single day. In the world we live in now, everyone wants things instantly. So from our perspective, it’s all about just getting better every single day, keep chipping away, keep chipping away, being one percent better. When you take steps back, how can you improve? It’s always about, ‘How can you improve? How can you improve?’ Having that mentality and focus and approach, I think, allows us to still be students of the game and still find ways to learn, even through wins. And I think we need to continue to do that.”

On his perspective on pressure given his father’s pro career in the NBA:

“I view pressure… my dad, he was in the league on 10-day contracts and non-guaranteed deals. Being able to see that, and getting older and seeing what he had to do (for his family to live), I have it easy.”

On his thoughts about failure and giving everything:

“It’s all about being able to say you gave it everything you got. Knowing that sometimes you might not get the end result you want, but you know you gave it everything you got. Just control what you can control. If you go out there, put all the preparation and the work in, do everything you can, and you live with the results.”

On the Knicks’ steady search for “sprays”:

“I mean, they were just reading and reacting. We were playing off each other. We saw the same thing you did.”

Karl-Anthony Towns

On the need to pay back Knicks fans:

“We got to be desperate for these fans. Fans have earned the right and deserve the right to see Finals basketball be played here at Madison Square Garden. For this to be the first game in a long time that they have seen Finals basketball, it’s up to us to bring it, give ’em something to cheer for, give ‘em something to get loud for and also give ‘em something to believe in. I talked about the word ‘hope.’ Hope has been brought back to the city. We’ve revitalized that word. But the word ‘success’ hasn’t been seen in this city for a long time. So we have to continue to fight to bring that word back to fruition.”

On restoring success to New York:

“Hope has been brought back to the city. But the word ‘success’ hasn’t been seen. We have to fight to bring that word back to fruition.”

On playing for the fans at MSG:

“To be able to lace the shoes up, be able to put the jersey on and be able to see our fans, to see Finals basketball after all this time is going to be really, really special.”

On not taking the Spurs lightly after going up 2-0:

“Every single game, you expect their best. That’s how you don’t get caught, in a way, lacking. You go out there and you expect their best, so you want to bring your best. This is the NBA Finals. There’s no time to take any game easy or to take any game lightly.”

On the team leaning on each other during adversity:

“This team leans on each other. I think that’s why we’ve gotten here. That’s why we had the success we had during the regular season even when things weren’t going great, because at the end of the day, when things do get tough and the trials and tribulations do present themselves, this team doesn’t disband. They don’t go away from each other. We lean into each other even more. We trust each other even more to get out of the rut. That’s what special teams do. Jalen knows. He has a national championship, and you’ve seen the camaraderie and unity they have.”

On adjusting his role throughout the season:

“It’s about impacting winning. Especially this year, throughout the year, I’ve always had to change my role for the betterment of the team. I’ve always had to change the way I play so it could be most beneficial for the team. Taking all that experience this year, I’ve had to do it on the fly. It wasn’t like game by game. It’s been quarter by quarter. That comes with experience and just knowledge of the game and just time. Time playing the game, time putting shots up, time reading defenses, seeing defenses, offenses. So like I said, one game Jalen got hurt, that’s when I have to be a primary scorer. Other games when he’s cooking, I’ve got to be a facilitator, a hub, assist-maker, aggressive in playmaking. Then there’s games when I need to do both when he’s in and I’m in and be able to do both when his shot is warming up. There’s also days where I got to be a decoy, I got to be the best screener, I got to be the best spacer for our offense. So I think that right now, whatever it takes to win, especially when you’re in the NBA Finals, I’m willing to do.”

On finding the right balance in the playoffs:

“I’ve been in playoff series where I’ve done too much, and it was to the detriment to the team. And I’ve been in playoff series where I’ve done too little, and it was a detriment to the team. It’s a fine line. It comes with experience where you learn what truly is best for the team and being able to find that balance of being aggressive and impacting the game with your skill set, but also utilizing that skill set to make others better. Something that experience has taught me. I think right now, I’m doing the best I’ve done at it.”

On being recognized as a great shooting big:

“It’s an honor. I worked on my game. When I was younger, that wasn’t something that was supposed to happen. You’re laughed at. You’re told, What are you doing? You’re wasting your time. People come back to me and give me all the congrats and congratulations and all this love for something they didn’t help with; they told me to do the opposite. So that’s how life always goes.”

Mikal Bridges

On what he remembers from the 2021 Finals collapse:

“I just remember losing four straight. That’s what I remember out of that. They all understand as well, knowing the series is far from over. We’ve got to keep playing desperate and be the more desperate team.”

On the need for fixing the Game 2 fourth-quarter mistakes:

“Got to be better the whole fourth: turnovers, shot selection, a lot of transition defense in that fourth quarter itself. Keep going. Can’t get too comfortable. We had a good lead, but we know how the league works. Being this far, playing against a really good team, no lead’s ever safe.”

On resiliency despite a poor fourth quarter:

“I think a poor fourth by us, obviously with all that happening, the resiliency to stay together and stay mentally locked in and still find a way to win. You can’t do that to the team that is that good, give chances like that. We got to be way better.”

On ignoring the 13-game winning streak:

“Personally, I think we really don’t care too much about the winning streak or anything like that because all that’s in the past. I think we do a great job as a team of always knowing that it’s 0-0 after every win, staying locked in on the next game.”

On how he’s able to keep up with his ironman streak:

“I just want to be out there … just want to grow every day, be better. It’s kind of how I was raised, kind of how when I was in high school, college, my coaches always preached playing every game even if you’re banged up a little bit. They make you play. I think subconsciously knowing how the league goes … the more I think about it, never ever, leave a window open for someone to take your spot. I think that’s kind of been subconsciously staying on my mind ever since I first got in the league. I always play no matter what, but I think that’s just another aspect that kind of got to me was always just you never know. You never know how you might go out for a week or two and maybe the next guy steps up and maybe the team plays better … the organization might look at you a little bit different.”

On maintaining urgency despite a 2-0 lead:

“0-0 man, f**k. Keep playing, desperate. That’s it, man. Take this rest. We got two days, take a break, do whatever you gotta do to get ready for this next game, but keep going out there and don’t stop. We got nothing but the offseason, man. Keep pushing. Leave everything on that court.”

On fighting through adversity in Game 2:

“Just gut. Just fight. A lot of integrity, poise, staying together. We’re gonna fight to the end. They made a run. They’re a really good team, but we’re gonna fight to the end. I wish we had a better fourth quarter. They’re a really good team. They pushed it, but we’ve gotta be better.”

On his prior Finals experience helping him and the Knicks now:

“I think just being here before, knowing how it’s going to be. Just a lot of experience knowing how much effort you need to give every single moment. Same situation, up 2-0, and I’ve got to be able to talk to these guys and just keep level-headed and just keep playing desperate. Being here before, knowing how it was gonna be and how much effort you need to give at every single moment.”

On his playoff mindset:

“Just that desperation. You know, that desperation of trying to be the last team standing and trying to do whatever it takes to help my team win. There’s nothing after June. You don’t play again until October. So just try to give it all that I got and do whatever it takes for this team.”

On the urgency of the moment:

“It’s just go time. It’s winning time. It’s that season. I’m trying to go out there and give it all I’ve got for this team, my teammates, the coaches, for the organization, fans.”

Josh Hart

On the need for better late-game execution after Game 2:

“In terms of that play, you never know because you could go down and get a stop. So you never know what play can change a game. But for us, we know that we have to do better. We were up like 14, and I think we’re the best fourth-quarter team in the league, so we got to make sure that we’re locked in and executing in that regard.”

On fourth-quarter issues in Game 2:

“[Poor] execution, for sure, in the fourth quarter. I feel like we played a little bit slower. Transition defense wasn’t as crisp as it was in the first three quarters. I think if we focus on that and rebounding, we’ll be good.”

On the high ticket prices at MSG for Game 3:

“I kind of wish the ticket prices weren’t as crazy as they are. I feel like a lot of people who have been waiting for this moment for a very long time unfortunately aren’t able to get into the building. The cheapest ticket is $7,000, $8,000. That’s ridiculous.”

On the expected atmosphere at Madison Square Garden:

“The Garden is going to be rocking. Obviously in this city we love our Knicks. So we’re going to come out, show love, support. The energy is going to be electric.”

On tuning out the outside noise in Game 3:

“For me personally, especially in college, [Villanova] Coach [Jay] Wright always talked about [how] we play for the guys in the locker room, and we don’t really play to the crowd. So for me, I feel like I’m able to kind of tune that out pretty well, just because that guy instilled that in me [during my] four years in college.”

On Mikal Bridges’ impact:

“You can’t say enough about him. I’m not surprised about it. I don’t think anyone else is surprised or should be surprised. That’s what he does. He’s a winning basketball player. He makes big-time shots, big-time stops. He takes the challenge and he’s a hell of a basketball player.”

Jose Alvarado

On the high resale ticket prices for Games 3 and 4:

“I see it’s $11,000 each, I say no. They know the love. They know what it is. But it’s a lot of money … I ain’t doing that. I tell you that much. It’s a good thing and a bad thing. That means we got a fanbase that’s willing to do anything to come out and see us and we’re grateful for that. … We’re just seeing what we can do because not a lot of people can afford that. … I’m gonna throw a watch party for my neighborhood in Williamsburg. Just improvise and be grateful for the situation we’re in. That’s what New York is all about.”

On celebrating with fans if they win the title:

“If we win the championship, I don’t know what I would do, but that’s probably one thing that’s gonna go through my head to see how I can go out there and celebrate with everybody. If that happens, it definitely will be something I’ll think about.”

Deuce McBride

On Landry Shamet stepping up:

“It’s no surprise to us about whenever any of us step up. But especially Landry, for a guy that’s dealt with so much throughout his career, and to be here … it’s a testament to how he works, how he trusts in himself and his confidence.”

Landry Shamet

On the 13-game winning streak:

“The games in the past don’t matter. Not 13 games ago, not one game ago. It’s one game at a time, and that’s the only way through this thing. So we’re worried about Game 3, and the series is 0-0 in our mind in that respect.”

On whether this is the best he’s played throughout his career:

“I don’t know. I’ll let you guys figure that out.”

On staying present during the run and not thinking too much about it:

“No. And that’s OK. I’ve had moments, but actively, I don’t want to do that until it’s all said and done. I want to be here, be present, soak this up, compete, stay locked in and just try to help my team. Getting four wins is the goal. Right now, we’ve got to get another one.”

On ball movement and looking for “sprays”:

“Drive and kick, make the right read, share the ball. That’s our team. You know, if there’s a guy open, we’re gonna make that pass, make that play, trust each other and do that.”

On embracing sacrifice during this run:

“We’re here for a reason, we want to compete and contribute. At the end of the day, wins speak much louder than any of that other stuff. That’s what we all ultimately want.”

OG Anunoby

On staying focused with the added Game 3 distractions:

“I think he will just be there watching the game. We’re just going to go as usual and play our game and try to win the game.”

Mitch Johnson

On the need for capitalizing:

“We have to be better at taking advantage of when we put ourselves in good starting spots to take advantage of the things that we are doing well. I think that’s probably been — if there’s a thematic thing, the biggest thing is we’ve put in some good, hard work at times, and have not taken advantage of that hard work. That’s been partially some undisciplined things of us, partially also New York has stepped up and made some plays at the end of the clock and finished out possessions.”

On returning to their standard to try and bounce back:

“If there’s a thematic thing, the biggest thing is we’ve put in some good, hard work at times, and have not taken advantage of that hard work. That’s been partially some undisciplined things for us. Also, New York has stepped up and made some plays at the end of the clock and finished out possessions.”

On the atmosphere at Madison Square Garden:

“I think there will obviously be a ton of excitement around the game. This arena’s like no other. The added circumstances will be on top of that. We’ve been fortunate to play some games in this arena recently that have been, again, not Finals, but [the] Christmas game [in 2024]. Again, I just think added attention around Victor and being in this arena a few times, we’ve experienced that. I would expect tomorrow will be more than that. It will be a fun environment.”

On simply focusing on Game 3 down 2-0:

“We’ve got one game [Monday] night at 8:30 in Madison Square Garden. It’s the only game that matters. We’ve got to come in here ready to win it.”

Stephon Castle

On the late turnover in Game 2:

“I don’t know what we could have done differently at the end of that game to pull it out. It didn’t happen, so on to the next.”

On the added urgency being down 0-2:

“It’s human nature to come out with a certain sense of urgency after a loss. It probably shouldn’t go that way; you should come out with the same urgency whether you win or lose. Now being down 2-0, our sense of urgency is the highest it’s been.”

On Gregg Popovich’s message after going down 0-2:

“Pretty much his message was, ‘Just let the last two games go.’ It happened. They were very winnable games. We feel like we gave them those games. We’ve got to let those go and focus on the next one. The next game is the most important game of the series. Try to come into that and win it.”

On the challenge of coming back from a 2-0 deficit:

“At the end of the day, it’s first to four [wins]. I mean, at this point in the season, it doesn’t really matter whether you’re playing at home or away. Teams are playing their best brand of basketball. Trying to figure out how to win basketball games is the most important thing. I mean, yeah, going down 0-2 at home is something we definitely didn’t want to do. Going back and watching it, those were very winnable games. I think the next two are very winnable games, too.”

On his ankle after the Game 2 scare while foul-baiting:

“It’s been feeling good. Yeah, I’ve been feeling good. It feels a lot better than I thought it would initially. Obviously, I had some adrenaline running, [and] kind of once I settled down, I started to feel it. Waking up the next day, actually felt really good.”

Victor Wembanyama

On the Spurs’ mistakes in Game 2:

“There were many things we could have done better. From simply not turning the ball over to being smarter about fouls, or even fouling earlier sometimes in the possession. It could have went a thousand ways.”

On blocking out distractions at MSG in Game 3:

“I think the key is acceptance a lot of times, taking a step back, realizing all the journey that’s behind this and what’s ahead of this. Just being okay with who I am, where I am, what I’m doing. I think this is everything that I wished for. There’s really no reason to overthink it. I mean, this is what I’m built for. I think it could be [more difficult given all the attention], but isolating myself is something I’ve practiced over the years. I think I’m good at it. So it’s not a problem. This is similar to something media-wise like the Olympics.”

On capitalizing in Game 3:

“We need to capitalize, actually use all the efforts we did. We did a lot of things wrong, but we also were relentless and kept pushing, but kind of, like, wasted that effort. Even though I know it’s not wasted because our lessons are learned — I know we’re not going to make the mistakes of the past again — but in a moment like this, we need to make these things matter.”

On De’Aaron Fox’s leadership within the Spurs locker room:

“He’s an experienced guy that we’ve always been able to turn to when we need it. Especially I think it’s easy to forget that our guards are really young, how precious he’s been for them.”

Harrison Barnes

On De’Aaron Fox’s impact on the Spurs:

“It’s huge. It can’t be stated enough the things he’s done. When he came here last year, I think he had in the same week 50 and 60 points, you know what I mean? I think those things aren’t talked about enough. You talk about the youth of this team. This is his second playoff run.”

Dylan Harper

On what’s the most important thing for him heading into Game 3:

“Desperation. I think for me, I feel like I’m at my best when I play with that type of desperation, and I think that’s what’s kind of needed for this occasion. I feel like I’m going to go out there and no matter what the circumstances, I think if I’m not playing with that type of fire or grit, I’m doing a disservice to everyone.”

On the atmosphere at MSG for Game 3:

“I mean, I feel like we kind of got a taste of [what it will feel like] a little bit in San Antonio. I think that next game tomorrow is going to be electric. I think it’s going to be through the roof. I think it’s going to be everything that I’ve kind of seen or dreamed of times 10.”

De’Aaron Fox

On believing the Spurs can recover from the two-game hole:

“We’ve lost a Game 1 at home and we’ve been able to fight back. We’ve played well on the road throughout the course of the playoffs. I don’t think any of us in the locker room are thinking we can’t do it.”

On his approach for Game 3:

“It could go downhill quickly or we could fight back. So, for me, you want to come out and just be aggressive and just allow our team to follow suit.”

On the Spurs’ belief in themselves:

“There’s a reason why we’re so good. We have a talented group. We have a group that is willing to share, willing to play together and we want to continue to do that. But we need to play better.”

Amar’e Stoudemire

On No. 47 attending Game 3:

“Oh, man, he’s going to get a standing ovation. That’s the United States president. He deserves all the respect that we can give him. So I think the Knicks fans will show respect Monday night to the president if he does come to the game.”

Mike Sweetney

On being welcomed back by the Knicks for Games 3 and 4:

“I didn’t have the career I could have had. But for them to have me back and welcome me with open arms, that means the world to me.”

On how different the current environment feels to his Knicks days:

“It was a zoo when I was there as a player. So it’s one of those things where I look at it like, ‘Whoa, that’s kind of crazy.’ But now it’s one of those things where you’re happy for the team for where they are now, what they’re doing. There was a lot of pressure on me. But I’m going to be honest with you, I didn’t know it was like this. I knew it was crazy but … you can see it, wow, Knicks fans are everywhere.”

Walt Frazier

On the Knicks being destined for the NBA title:

“It’s destiny. At the end of the season, we feared Detroit and Boston and they fell out. We didn’t want OKC and they fell out. We got the guys we wanted because of their lack of experience. You saw that tonight. They had us on the ropes, but they didn’t know how to finish it.”

On the team’s togetherness compared to his era:

“Frazier, Bradley, DeBusschere, Reed. It’s the same thing. That togetherness is really core. This year, we’ve been a 10-man team. Guys are stepping up . . . All these guys have been very productive.”

Zohran Mamdani

On attending Game 3 at MSG:

“I will be in a very different section of the stadium. And I think we look forward to welcoming any New Yorker who is excited for the Knicks to have that chance to win that championship.”

On what this Knicks run means to the New York City:

“This moment means everything for so many across the city. It feels like the transformation of the world’s greatest city into the world greatest small town, where not only are we all thinking about the same thing, but we’re all praying for the same thing.”

On the need for keeping watch parties safe and joyful:

“I think thus far the focus is on the question of watch parties and ensuring the safety and the security and also that they’re places of joy where New Yorkers can gather.”

On balancing safety and celebration:

“This is the constant bounce in any time of immense excitement and joy is that we want to make sure that it is safe, it is secure, and also that we are not stifling a moment that New Yorkers are going to remember for a long time. And I think in the World Cup we’ll see a similar thing where, yes, we are focused on making sure it’s a safe and secure World Cup, and also one where that is not stifling the excitement of the experience. And, I can tell you that as a fan, yes, you build your entire day for the game. But the memories you have are before, they’re after, they’re at the fan zone, they are across the city, and that’s something we want to make sure that others get to have here.”

On James Dolan providing tickets to underprivileged families:

“I’m appreciative of the fact that Mr. Dolan has provided a number of hundreds of tickets for these finals for those who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford it. I think this is a moment where everyone is thinking about the Knicks … (While campaigning), I remember speaking about the fact that we’re going to fight for affordable tickets and there are many who rolled their eyes. And now there will be a thousand New Yorkers who otherwise wouldn’t have been able to go to the game for whom this will mean everything and that’s an incredible opportunity.”

Dwyane Wade

On challenging Victor Wembanyama to elevate his game:

“What Wemby’s done has been incredible. I need to see more. If you’re gonna win this championship, we’re gonna have to see Wemby go to the level that we think Wemby can go to. He’s shown us he can. I knew the opportunity that was in front of me and I didn’t want the opportunity to pass me by, and so I end up discovering a player that I never had seen before. That guy who averaged 34.7 in the Finals, I never seen him before.”

Edie Falco

On her overwhelming positivity about the Knicks:

“I’m a little embarrassed at my positivity and joie de vivre. Not being the winning team is kind of built into the Knicks’ sauce. You say you’re a Knicks fan, and people are like, ‘Oh, I’m sorry.’ It’s like a joke. But it’s never really mattered to me ’cause I just love ’em. I love the Knicks, and I love being at the Garden, even though the individuals are different every year. So, this is some whole other place. This is some whole other thing. It’s intense.”

On feeling possessive about the team:

“I don’t know where to put this. It’s a little bit like everybody is focused now on my guys. But they’re my guys! I’m feeling sort of very possessive about my team. Like, the whole freaking world is focused on them right now, and I’m like, ‘Back off, everybody. These are my guys.’”

Fat Joe

On the Knicks unifying New York:

“I seen Hasidic Jews break dancing with Black kids. This is the greatest unification of the city since 9/11.”

On James Dolan’s ownership:

“Shoutout to Mr. Dolan. Greatest team owner in the game. Very misunderstood. They villainize Mr. Dolan almost like a Bruce Wayne, like Batman in Gotham City because he’s an elite. But this man: All these watch parties. That man’s taking care of us. What do you want me to say? The guy lives a great life. It’s a lot of pressure. New York City, man, they want answers and they want it now. So they kept trying to get it right and now finally you’ve got this team-ball mentality.”

On the Knicks’ team-first mentality:

“[In New York], we like big names, and we always went for the big names, but those were more like individual achievers. It wasn’t team basketball. So we got it right.”

On fearing the firing of Tom Thibodeau and the hiring of Mike Brown:

“I was a little nervous with coach cause I’m not gonna lie to you: I loved Thibs. So when he came, I said, ‘Dog, what did we do?’ But [Mike Brown] proved to me that he’s an incredible, incredible coach. This is all a team. They’ve got that mentality. They’re not celebrating. I might be celebrating more than these guys.”

Ben Stiller

On sharing courtside footage with fans on X:

“If you’re lucky enough to have that access and have that point of view, I feel like it’s great to be able to share that. I think that’s the biggest part of it, is to be able to share that point of view because I feel so grateful to have that. And then it’s fun to be just witnessing it.”

On combining filmmaking and his Knicks fandom:

“It’s just incredible. It’s so exciting. Obviously, to do what I love doing, and then my favorite thing to do is to go see the Knicks play, it’s special to have that come together.”

On appreciating the moment as a fan:

“It’s that thing of just trying to appreciate the moment. It’s actually hard, even when I’m filming, because I want to enjoy it as a fan, too. So, it’s kind of that balance. So, half the time I’ll drop the phone and just go jump up and down. For me, I’m much more interested in seeing what’s going on out there instead of myself.”

On accepting the Knicks’ struggles over the years:

“My whole life I’ve lived with this idea that, ‘Oh, the Knicks aren’t going to make it, the Knicks have never been good, the Knicks have been a joke for a long time back in the day.’ It almost became something you accept.”

On how surreal this Knicks run feels:

“It’s kind of surreal. I think it would be one of the biggest things to happen to the city in terms of unifying [us]. I think it’s stuff inside of people that they don’t even know is there, the feelings that are coming up where you’re used to just having to live with, ‘OK, this is what it is’ to the reality of we’re in the Finals and we’re two games up.”

On being in denial about the moment:

“It’s still, I feel like I’m in denial about it. But I think for the city it’s going to be incredible. You can already feel it.”