Category: Sports News

The New York Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs 105-95 in Game 1 on the road, stealing home-court advantage from the Wemboys.

In yet another Burner Classic, Jalen Brunson’s clutch chops pushed the Knicks to victory on Wednesday, while Josh Hart’s Energizer Bunny tendencies and an inspired Karl-Anthony Towns did the rest to give the Knicks faithfulness what they deserved and waited for a damn 27 years.

The Spurs still had Victor Wembanyama, who finished with 26 points, 12 rebounds, and three blocks, but could only shoot 6-for-21 while committing six turnovers in a day to forget for the French.

For anyone monitoring the Finals from the betting side, FanDuel flipped the favorite to win the chip after New York’s Game 1 win, and is now listing the Knicks at -134 and the Spurs at +114 odds.

With one game in the books, here’s our ranking of every player eligible to play in the 2026 NBA Finals.

• 1. Victor Wembanyama, C, Spurs

Wembanyama remains the best player in the series, even after a Game 1 that looked more human than alien. The size alone is all he needs to be the best at a sport in which taller usually means better…

• 2. Jalen Brunson, PG, Knicks

…unless your surname is Brunson. JB is the reason this Knicks era stopped being a perennial exercise in nostalgia and turned New York into a Finals contender. Brunson needed 31 shots to get to his 30-point outing, but he still gave the Knicks enough to pull off another late-game comeback.

• 3. Karl-Anthony Towns, C, Knicks

Towns gives the Knicks size, spacing and secondary playmaking in a way we had not seen before CJ McCollum inspired him. KAT’s 18 points, 12 rebounds and four assists in Game 1 showed the full package.

• 4. OG Anunoby, F, Knicks

Anunoby is New York’s most important defensive wing and a supremely underrated offensive player. His 17 points and three made threes in Game 1 reinforced his two-way value.

• 5. Stephon Castle, G, Spurs

Castle has become San Antonio’s most important player outside of “veteran” De’Aaron Fox, while probably already more talented than the latter. His 17 points and eight rebounds in Game 1 fit his larger playoff rise in his first postseason run.

• 6. Mikal Bridges, F, Knicks

Bridges gives the Knicks durability, defense and secondary scoring. He does not need a huge box score to matter.

• 7. De’Aaron Fox, PG, Spurs

Fox gives San Antonio speed and a grown voice with creative chops—when healthy. His seven-point Game 1 was not enough, but his ceiling keeps him high in the list as long as he can stay on the court.

• 8. Devin Vassell, G/F, Spurs

Vassell is vital because San Antonio needs his spacing and wing defense. The Spurs need more than his 1-for-6 Game 1 shooting from deep.

• 9. Josh Hart, G/F, Knicks

I guess it’s easier to describe what Hart isn’t than what Hart is, isn’t it? Corny description: Hart is the Heart of the Knicks and its chaos engine. He had one of his greatest games—even scoring just three points—in Game 1, getting 15 rebounds, six assists and four steals.

• 10. Dylan Harper, G, Spurs

Harper already looks like a trusted bench scorer and he’s barely getting started in the L. His 16 points and eight rebounds in Game 1 made him San Antonio’s best reserve.

• 11. Miles McBride, G, Knicks

McBride gives the Knicks defense, shooting and low-mistake guard minutes on the best bargain deal you could imagine. His four assists and zero turnovers in Game 1 helped the effort.

• 12. Julian Champagnie, F, Spurs

Champagnie has become one of San Antonio’s steadiest role players and a maddening one for opponents because he can unload a flurry of three the minute you give him a millimeter. His 16 points, 10 rebounds, and five threes in Game 1 proved the point.

• 13. Mitchell Robinson, C, Knicks

Robinson gives New York rebounding, size and rim pressure behind Towns. His free throws remain terrifying, but his physicality matters and it looks like his hand isn’t impacting his play that much. Here’s hoping!

• 14. Landry Shamet, G, Knicks

Shamet has become a trusted shooting piece for New York and has enjoyed quite a renaissance this postseason. His 13 points and three threes in Game 1 were badly needed.

• 15. Keldon Johnson, F, Spurs

Johnson gives San Antonio bench scoring and strength and it’s not for nothing that he just got named the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year. The Spurs need more from him after a quiet Game 1 cameo.

• 16. Luke Kornet, C, Spurs

Kornet’s job is surviving non-Wembanyama minutes, and, while limited, he’s hellaciously tall to get close to doing it. His size and screening can still help in short stretches, but not much more than that.

• 17. Harrison Barnes, F, Spurs

Washed Barnes gives San Antonio some veteran composure and past Finals experience off the pine. His role is smaller now, but not meaningless, and sometimes it can even hurt you.

• 18. Jose Alvarado, PG, Knicks

GTA! Alvarado brings steady pressure, unlimited energy and saucy irritation to the Knicks and opposition in equal parts. His seven points in 11 minutes in Game 1 showed he can swing a short stint, which is how he’s usually used.

• 19. Jordan Clarkson, G, Knicks

Clarkson has had quite the rollercoaster season, but he can still score even though his role has narrowed. If the jumper is not falling, New York has cleaner options because his game goes in the negative quickly.

• 20. Carter Bryant, F, Spurs

Bryant has size, defensive tools, and long-term value. His current Finals role remains limited.

• 21. Ariel Hukporti, C, Knicks

Hukporti gives New York extra size if foul trouble hits. That matters more against Wembanyama, and given Robinson’s hand injury.

• 22. Mohamed Diawara, F, Knicks

Diawara is more future piece than Finals factor. The rotation is too tight for developmental minutes.

• 23. Kelly Olynyk, C, Spurs

Olynyk has playoff experience and offensive skill, but his current Spurs role is small.

• 24. Jordan McLaughlin, PG, Spurs

McLaughlin can lead possessions in an emergency, but San Antonio’s guard depth should keep him buried.

• 25. Jeremy Sochan, F, Knicks

Sochan’s role has been minimal since joining New York. The Finals are not the place to invent one, even less knowing he’s already bagged a ring no matter what.

• 26. Lindy Waters III, G, Spurs

Waters can shoot, but minutes are scarce. San Antonio’s perimeter rotation has simply left him out.

• 27. Tyler Kolek, PG, Knicks

Kolek did something in the regular season but has now turned into no more than an emergency ball handler.

• 28. Pacome Dadiet, G/F, Knicks

Dadiet remains a young developmental wing, and New York is surely not running a prospect showcase in the Finals.

• 29. Mason Plumlee, C, Spurs

Plumlee gives San Antonio emergency veteran size, that’s probably it.

• 30. Bismack Biyombo, C, Spurs

Biyombo brings depth, some interior insurance, and is the perfect Hack-a-Mitch partner.

Do the Spurs have the best player? Yes. Do the Knicks have the early win, the best team, and the best leader when it matters? You bet.

Let’s go Knicks!

When it comes to unrestricted free agents, the Lakers will have a hard time finding better players on the market than the ones from their own team.

With LeBron James coming off an expiring contract and Austin Reaves expected to decline his $14.9 million player option for 2026-27, the top unrestricted free agents expected to be on the market this offseason are the longest-tenured Lakers stars.

Add in Rui Hachimura, Luke Kennard and Jaxson Hayes and the Lakers have several unrestricted free agents who’ll draw interest from other teams.  

That’s before getting to Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart, both of whom have player options for next season. 

The Lakers have made it clear they aren’t satisfied with how the 2025-26 season went after falling short of their ultimate goal of competing for an NBA title. And they need roster upgrades to achieve the championship roster they’re looking to surround superstar guard Luka Doncic with going into the 2026-27 season.

Unrestricted free agency is one of the many tools to make those upgrades.

Top teams have signed unrestricted free agents in their quest for a championship — from role players such as Spurs big man Luke Kornet during the 2025 offseason to stars such as Knicks guard Jalen Brunson during the 2022 offseason.

Besides James and Reaves, there won’t be any realistic star-level players available for the Lakers to potentially land. 

But there are impactful ones. 

Which unrestricted free agents who weren’t already on their roster should the Lakers target this summer?

Robert Williams, Trail Blazers, center

2025-26 stats: 6.7 PPG, 7 RPG, 1.5 BPG, 1 APG, 17.1 MPG

One of the Lakers’ biggest offseason priorities should be acquiring a center — or multiple big men — who better fit alongside Doncic. 

A rim runner and lob threat who’s efficient with finishing at the basket. 

A shot blocker and rim protector. 

Someone who can make an impact on the offensive and defensive boards.

A center who’ll still make an impact with their energy and effort even if they’re not consistently getting touches offensively.

Williams checks many of these boxes as an ideal big man target for the Lakers.

The biggest concern is his availability after several injury-riddled seasons, primarily to his knees. 

Williams’ 59 regular-season games played for the Trail Blazers last season are his most since 2021-22 and the second most of his career (behind the 61 he played as a full-time starter for the Celtics in 2021-22) since being the No. 27 pick in the 2018 draft. 

And he’s averaged just 17.4 minutes in 85 games (four starts) over the last three regular seasons with the Trail Blazers — far from a workload expected of a starting center. 

But in a limited role and for the right salary, Williams could make an impact for the Lakers in the ways they need.

Mitchell Robinson, Knicks, center

2025-26 stats: 5.7 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 1.2 BPG, 19.6 MPG

Similar to Williams, Robinson comes with his own durability concerns. 

His 60 regular-season games played are his most since 2021-22, when he played a career-high 72 games including 62 starts.

He also played 59 games (58 starts) in 2022-23 before back-to-back injury-truncated seasons in 2023-24 (31 games played) and 2024-25 (17 games played).

But Robinson is a rebounding machine on both ends of the floor, a reliable rim protector and a strong finisher who remains a vertical threat near the basket. 

And he has more experience with a higher workload compared to Williams, averaging 24.5 minutes from 2019-24 before coming off the bench regularly the last two seasons (19 minutes per game).

Robinson, the Knicks’ second-round pick in 2018, may be difficult to pry from New York after his contributions to its postseason success over the last few years, including this dominant run to the NBA Finals against the Spurs.

Jordan Goodwin, Suns, guard

2025-26 stats: 8.7 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 2.2 APG, 1.5 SPG, 22.5 MPG

The Lakers know as well as any team the kind of impact Goodwin provides.

He was a key part of the Lakers’ rotation to close the 2024-25 season, showcasing his offensive rebounding talent, disruptive perimeter defense and improved 3-point shooting.

But the Lakers waived Goodwin last summer to make financial room to sign Smart, with Goodwin showing the improvements he made last season were here to stay. 

Goodwin’s in line to receive a more lucrative contract this offseason after making $2.3 million in 2025-26. 

Keon Ellis, Cavaliers, guard

2025-26 stats: 6.7 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 1.2 SPG, 20.5 MPG

Ellis wreaks havoc defensively, helping each team he’s played on create more turnovers when he’s on the court. 

He’s knocked down 40.7% of his 3s since entering the league in 2022, making him one of the better young 3-and-D guards in the league. 

Ellis would provide an athletic and quickness upgrade to the Lakers’ backcourt.

Honorable mention: Ayo Dosunmu (Timberwolves), Kelly Oubre and Quentin Grimes (76ers).

The Phoenix Suns already built one Finals team around Devin Booker back in 2021. Chris Paul was next to him in the backcourt, Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson on the wings, Deandre Ayton looked like a budding star, and Cam Johnson and Cam Payne brought the energy, shooting, and defense off the bench. They’re looking to build another.

That Suns team is a distant memory, and team building is drastically different from what it was five years ago when Phoenix was just two games from hoisting the franchise’s first Larry O’Brien trophy.

Game 1 of the NBA finals was a reminder of this reality. Whether Mat Ishbia and Brian Gregory’s plan is for Booker to be the team’s best player for the future or to pair him with someone better, Phoenix needs to start building like the Spurs and Knicks have. There is more to a team than its best players.

There OBVIOUSLY is no Victor Wembanyama (they already tried that with Bol Bol, haha) walking through the door, but both teams have created rosters around their best players not just by strong drafting, but with strong asset management, being financially responsible, and focusing on player development.

As New York continued to demonstrate to the league that they were a formidable opponent, back in 2023, the Knicks traded RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley for OG Anunoby. If New York had jumped on offers to send either of them to the Jazz more than a year earlier for Donovan Mitchell, it would’ve been much harder for them to acquire the all-defensive guard. Months before the trade, New York had the opportunity to extend Quickley before the season and did not. If they did, it would have changed the financials of the trade and made it harder to acquire Anunoby

Signings like Landry Shamet and Julian Champagnie have given both teams not only shooting, but also another player whom they can rely on off the bench that provides spacing for the team’s ball handlers. Development projects Keldon Johnson and Deuce McBride are examples of how San Antonio and New York can help non-lottery draft picks progress into key pieces. Johnson just won Sixth Man of the Year this season, and McBride shot over 40% from three this year.

This is not to say the Suns have not made drastic improvements since they traded Kevin Durant and bought out Bradley Beal. Collin Gillespie’s development is an example of how the team can develop young players into strong contributors. Dillon Brooks could be the team’s version of Anunoby with his defensive tenacity and improved scoring, but the Suns are nowhere near either of the NBA’s finalists, despite the fact that they went 4-2 against both of them in the regular season.

Down the stretch of the year, the team showed its lack of athleticism, depth, and offensive punch. They went 6-10 in their final ten games as they hobbled into the playoffs.

The West looks to be even better and deeper next season. Not only will the Thunder and Spurs both be back and be a year more experienced, the Rockets’ young players will be even better, Cooper Flagg will be a year better and even the Jazz, after years of being at the bottom of the standings, could be a formidable opponent next season after acquiring former Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr. and adding whoever they select with the second pick in this month’s draft.

Whether it’s acquiring more assets or staying patient, Phoenix can take a page out of San Antonio and New York’s playbooks on how to build an elite roster around its top-end talent.

They’re back.

It wasn’t hard to spot the pair of viral Spurs fans, who’ve made their presence known at Frost Bank Center throughout San Antonio’s playoff run, at Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals.

The female fans, who made waves online when they were seen on the broadcast for Games 3 and 4 of the Western Conference finals, stood out once again when they were spotted behind the Spurs’ bench.

One wore a bright body-con dress, and the other had on a plunging top and white capri pants while standing in a crowd of San Antonio fans, all wearing the same bright yellow shirt.

The team gave away shirts to fans in the arena — but the two women opted not to wear them.

“Can someone tell those chicks to wear their shirts! You know who you are,” one fan wrote on X.

The women, who go by @bluebeari3 and @juliejswan on their verified Instagram pages, say they are Spurs superfans.

They also met Charles Barkley, who’s in San Antonio for ESPN’s Finals coverage, as seen in photos of them with the NBA legend.

He said he takes back what he said about San Antonio women @_CharlesBarkley@BarkleyonTNT@spurspic.twitter.com/a31eYMYpzo

— Blue! (@bluebeari3) June 3, 2026

“He said he takes back what he said about San Antonio women,” @bluebeari3 shared in an X post, referring to the Barkley’s remarks when he said that San Antonio is the home of “some big ol’ women” while on-air in 2014, along with other digs at San Antonio women over the years.

The ladies first captured the public’s attention when the were spotted sitting behind the Spurs bench during the Western Conference finals against the Thunder.

The Knicks beat the Spurs 105-95 on Wednesday to take 1-0 series lead.

They have won 12 straight games and seven consecutive road games by double digits in this playoff run.

The viral Spurs fans did not say if they plan on attending Game 2 on Friday night in San Antonio.

In Game 1 of the NBA Finals, New York basically out-toughed San Antonio late in the game to pull out a 105-95 win.

As we’ve seen during the rest of the playoffs, former Blue Devil Mason Plumlee rarely gets off the bench, and Wednesday was no exception, as he got another DNP.

In general, you could argue that this game was a great example of the value of experience.

The average age of the Knicks starters is about 29. The average age of San Antonio’s are closer to 22. The overall average age of the Knicks is 27.2; for the Spurs, it’s 25.2.

The Spurs, and particularly Victor Wembanyama, are the future of the league, but it may not happen this year. Wembanyama, for example, shot just 6-21 Wednesday night, and said bluntly that he had a bad game.

Game 2 is on Friday, and is again in San Antonio. If the Spurs lose twice at home, they’ll have a major problem.

• Victor Wembanyama Makes Blunt Admission After Knicks Take Game 1 on Spurs’ Home Floor
• Spurs Collapse Late in Fourth Quarter, Drop Game 1 of NBA Finals to Knicks
• Devin Vassell calls out major issue Spurs must fix in Knicks series
• These Knicks once again proved they truly are different with Game 1 haymaker
• Spurs let game 1 slip away as Knicks rally for 105-95 finals win
• The Knicks’ Jalen Brunson can already do what the Spurs are still figuring out
• Mike Brown reveals Rick Brunson’s blunt message that calmed Knicks vs. Spurs
• Fan runs onto court, briefly stopping Game 1 of NBA Finals
• How Jalen Brunson overcame injury to will Knicks to win vs. Spurs with clutch 4th quarter
• Selfie-taking fan storms court in surreal NBA Finals Game 1 scene
• Victor Wembanyama came up short in disastrous NBA Finals Game 1 fourth quarter
• Josh Hart’s efforts help Knicks turn around Game 1 of the NBA Finals and beat the Spurs

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Victor Wembanyama, this time, was nonplussed.

He had just finished playing his first career NBA Finals game – an achievement that, when realized just four days prior, had brought him to tears – and he sat at the podium and calmly took questions.

The Spurs had lost, 105-95 Wednesday, June 3, and it wasn’t emotion Wembanyama was showing. This time, it was poise.

"Nothing," Wembanyama said after the game when asked if he was kicking himself over anything. "We’ve been down in a series before. Never in the Finals, obviously, but I'm not kicking myself about anything, really. I'm not worried in the slightest."

It was, by basically any significant metric, a flop.

The Spurs blew an eight-point lead in the fourth quarter, lost by 10 and ceded homecourt advantage. Historically, teams that lose Game 1 of the Finals have gone on to lose the series 69.6% of the time (24-55).

Wembanyama finished with 26 points, but he shot just 6-of-21 from the field. He committed six turnovers and forced shots down the stretch when Knicks centers Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson clamped him up on defense.

"I was bad tonight," Wembanyama said. "It's not more complicated than that."

Perhaps Wembanyama’s calm and measured approach is merely posturing. Perhaps he understands that the rest of the Spurs take his lead.

The more likely scenario is that Wembanyama, who has proven time and again this season to own competitive maturity well beyond his 22 years, understands that the Spurs can still win these NBA Finals.

How Wembanyama and his teammates respond to this Game 1 loss will merely be another opportunity for him to express his greatness.

Because that’s one of the indelible marks of the all-time greats, the ability to adjust and bounce back from defeats. The reality is Wembanyama is still learning, and how he comes responds in Game 2 will be indicative whether the Spurs can legitimately threaten the Knicks, who have won 12 consecutive playoff games in historic fashion.

Wembanyama did try to set the tone early; he was heavily involved in San Antonio’s actions in the first minutes of the game and appeared intent on establishing urgency. But the Knicks responded with physicality, using the extra heft that Towns and Robinson wield, to put their hands on him and body him every time he tried to establish position in the paint.

Wembanyama started to back out of the paint and settle for outside shots; he’d convert just four field goals in the paint. He never appeared comfortable, and some of his shots late in the game, as New York carried a lead midway through the fourth, were wild and off-target.

Victor Wembanyama hits the side of the backboard on the driving attempt, and shortly after, hits the top of the backboard on the corner 3 attempt pic.twitter.com/beBasVXUgo

— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) June 4, 2026

Step one for Wembanyama in Game 2 should be to aggressively attack Towns, who is prone to falling into foul trouble, at the rim.

"It felt like he missed a few shots early," Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said after the game. "We got to get him moving in space and toward the rim, whether that’s on rolls or running in transition. But we need the pressure on the rim and the force in the paint. They did a good job of obviously being physical and showing crowds. We need to do a better job of establishing that early on, for sure."

San Antonio’s response to New York’s physicality manifested itself in other ways, too. The Knicks were able to scoop up timely offensive rebounds that led to debilitating second-chance points, a statistic the Knicks led, 23-14.

The Spurs, inside the final minute of the game, committed a pair of turnovers.

It’s why Wembanyama said, of Game 1, that he thought the Spurs "let that one go."

It’s also why, as Wembanyama has said previously this postseason following defeats, it’s all about adhering San Antonio’s system and identity.

"It’s almost not like I have anything to figure out," Wembanyama said. "It’s almost like I have to play normal – not even good. It’s, like, just doing the right things is enough. When we play bad, when I play bad, is when we shoot ourselves in the foot. This is why I’m not worried. We’re going to be so much better. I’m going to be so much better."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Victor Wembanyama unfazed after Spurs blow NBA Finals Game 1 lead

When Steve Kerr was considering whether to return as Warriors’ head coach, his wife said something that deeply resonated with him.

“You might coach again someday,” Kerr recalled. “But you’ll never coach the Warriors again.”

Those words struck a chord with Kerr, who signed a two-year contract extension with Golden State last month. Over the last decade, there’s so much that stands out about the league’s modern-day dynasty. 

There are the four championships in eight years. Steph Curry’s unconscious scoring sprees. The Splash Brothers. Draymond Green’s lockdown defense. Shimmies. The “Night Night” celebrations. The joy. 

But above all else, what makes the Warriors unique is their loyalty. 

Kerr has coached Curry and Green for 12 years. Curry and Green have played together for 14 years. Before Klay Thompson left the Warriors in free agency in 2024, he, Curry and Green were the longest-tenured trio in the league. 

It’s remarkable when you think about it. 

In a league with constant turnover — where players don’t hesitate to undercut organizations by requesting trades and franchises deal personnel as though they were used furniture — the Warriors stand out. 

It’s obvious that when Kerr was pondering whether he wanted to remain on the treadmill of marathon NBA seasons, under the scrutiny that accompanies fading dynasties, there were two beacons of light that guided him toward the more difficult option: Curry and Green. 

The three of them are family. 

They’ve been atop the league. They’ve been in its cellar. They’ve fought against each other. They’ve fought for one another. 

Through it all, something was deeply understood: There’s a lot of love there. 

Kerr and Curry have shown up at Green’s house and talked to him for hours when he has struggled. Green has put his body on the line for them. They’ve spent more time together than with their own families, including 152 postseason games since 2015, which is the equivalent of nearly two extra NBA seasons. 

Kerr talks about Curry with awe. He describes Green as the best defender he has seen. When Kerr was unsure about his future, Green said he hoped he’d return. Curry added that all he wants is for him to be happy. 

“He knows how I feel about him,” Curry told reporters in April. “That shouldn’t even need to be said.”

Green’s relationship with Kerr is more nuanced.

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They’ve had public outbursts. They’ve had screaming matches behind closed doors. The Warriors’ success was inextricably tied to Green’s fire and sometimes it raged, clashing with Kerr’s infamous intensity. 

“There’s things he’s done that I could never forgive him for,” Green said of Kerr on his podcast, “The Draymond Green Show.” “And yet I will do anything for him.”

As for Curry and Green, they basically grew up together. They became winners together. They watched each other become fathers. Green’s job was to ignite passion, while Curry’s was to remain effortlessly unbothered. They became each other’s ultimate complements on the court.  

Nowadays, it’s wild for a coach and players to have that kind of staying power together. 

There are only two NBA coaches who have held their jobs for at least five years, Kerr and the Heat’s Erik Spoelstra. 

As for Curry and Green, they’re the NBA’s longest-tenured active duo. They’ve played together longer than many of the most famous duos in NBA history, such as Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen (11 years) and Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10 years).

Things are now greatly shifting for the Warriors.

For the first time in Green’s career, he was involved in trade rumors in February. He’s 36. Curry is 38. Since winning their last championship in 2022, they haven’t gotten past the second round of the playoffs.

But this much is sure: The bond between Kerr, Curry and Green runs deep. That was never more palpable than when they feared their days together were coming to an end. 

After their season was derailed by Jimmy Butler suffering a torn ACL in January and Curry missing 27 straight games because of an ailing knee, their playoff hopes came down to a pair of play-in games. 

In their do-or-die contest against the Clippers, Curry and Green showed their championship DNA, stunningly clawing their way back from a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit in a 126-121 win. 

Curry had 35 points on 7-for-12 shooting from beyond the arc, including making a step-back 3-pointer with 50.4 seconds left and the score knotted at 117. 

Green held Kawhi Leonard to 1-for-2 shooting in the fourth quarter, leaving the two-time NBA champion completely flummoxed. “It was hard to even get shots up,” Leonard said. 

After a slog of a season, Kerr overflowed with pride at something that had been reawakened in some of the greatest competitors on the planet. 

“For one night, we’re us,” he said. “We’re champions again.”

The magic was gone in the Warriors’ next play-in game, as their season flatlined in a 111-96 loss to the Suns. 

After the final buzzer, Kerr put his arms around Curry and Green. He said a few words. And then the three men who had been through nearly a decade and a half of battles together shared a hug. 

“I don’t know what’s going to happen next,” Kerr told them. “But I love you guys to death.”

Weeks of uncertainty followed. Did Kerr want to return? Did the Warriors’ long-term goals clash with his win-now approach? Did we just witness the official end of one of the greatest dynasties in sports history?

But ultimately, Kerr decided to return for his 13th season with Curry and Green. 

The Warriors haven’t been contenders for four years. Their goal post has shifted from championship or bust to trying to see how far they can take things together. If they’re all healthy, they believe no one would want to face them.

And they’re not wrong. 

It’s hard to walk away from that. It’s difficult to close the door on such a stunning chapter. 

But as Kerr pondered his options, his wife reminded him of the ultimate reason he decided not to walk away. 

He wasn’t ready to say goodbye to Curry and Green. 

Did you know that before De’Aaron Fox was traded to the San Antonio Spurs, Rich Paul had planned to push a trade to San Antonio involving Darius Garland? Neither did I. But even before Fox was interested in leaving Sacramento, the famed agent saw the need for a ball-handler in the Alamo City.

Rich Paul reveals he had Darius Garland lined up for a trade to the Spurs prior to the Fox trade, and that Fox had no problem with being the #2 behind Wemby:

"I remember a trade getting ready to take place and De'Aaron and I were talking about it, and we were talking about… pic.twitter.com/FbSTIaqQ1J

— Wemby Alien Era (@WembyAlienEra) June 3, 2026

Rich Paul reveals Darius Garland was frustrated with Cleveland. Paul had been working up a trade to the Spurs. At the time, Fox had not been interested in leaving Sacramento.

Paul shared,

“I remember a trade getting ready to take place and De’Aaron and I were talking about it, and we were talking about different options where he could go etc, and obviously I had the Spurs kinda teed up.. At first it wasn’t De’Aaron, it was another guard that I represent that I was envisioning going there, because De’Aaron wasn’t wanting to be traded yet.. It was Darius Garland. He was flustered, he was frustrated and he wanted to get out.. and the Spurs before they got the 2nd pick, they needed a point guard. And I thought next to Wemby, with shooting and all that. And then things changed and he was fine. And then so now Mike Brown got fired.. and so in De’Aaron’s case when he finally got to the point to where ‘you know what it’s probably time’, and we’re having a conversation, one of the things we talked about was: OK if you get to the Spurs, are you OK being number 2? And (Fox) didn’t even flinch. ‘Absolutely, absolutely.'”

First of all, isn’t it amazing what goes on behind the scenes. An agent, looking out for his client, is wheeling and dealing to get him into the best position to succeed. Blows my mind, the chess that goes into putting together a formidable team. I also loved that Fox never had a problem playing just outside of Wemby’s spotlight. He’s said it publicly, but knowing that’s how he truly feels solidified that the trade worked out well for Fox and the Spurs.

What do you think, Pounders? Could Garland have made the same impact that Fox has made? There are similarities between the two for certain. But as we’ve seen, the dynamic of the team factors heavily into the success of the Spurs. As it stands, they have developed into a cohesive unit. Could Garland have blended seamlessly into this incarnation of the Spurs?

We’re in the NBA Finals with De’Aaron Fox, but have some fun with with the hypothetical.

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