I’m most looking forward to ...

Where to even begin? Victor Wembanyama, the brightest young star in the NBA, appears on the biggest stage imaginable (in this galaxy, at least ... I’m not sure how big the stages are where he comes from), while one of the most storied franchises in American sports has its return to relevance cemented. And, maybe most importantly of all, The Garden, baby! CDL

Watching what a Knicks team that has the best defensive net rating of the NBA playoffs can do when they play an elite opponent anchored by a generational talent. In other words, seeing them attempt to, not stop Wemby, but bring him down to a level below the god of all basketball gods. Their strategy to do something, anything, to postpone the crowning of the Frenchman for one more season is going to be fascinating. A lot of that responsibility will be in the capable hands of OG Anunoby, in what will be an incredibly stern challenge. DL

I’m excited to see the Knicks tested against the best possible competition. They’ve won 11 consecutive games, many by gaudy point differentials. They went up 72-22 on Atlanta on the Hawks’ home floor! But it’s one thing to embarrass a sixth seed, or the Cleveland Cavaliers, and another to look that good against the Spurs. Are these Knicks really one of the best teams ever, or has their competition flattered them? Let’s find out. OL

The Alien at the Garden. NBA stars have cemented their legacy on basketball’s biggest stage, and I expect Wembanyama’s first finals at Madison Square Garden to be theatrical. Game 3 will ignite a Super Bowl-like atmosphere on and off the court as premium ticket prices have skyrocketed to over $100,000 on the secondary market. AS

What the Spurs need to do to win …

Keep their composure, and not run out of gas. If San Antonio’s young core can be as mature, self-assured, and unbothered as they were in Game 7 on the road in Oklahoma, they’re a force to be reckoned with. But that bruising series against the Thunder presents problems: it’s yet to be seen if they have enough left in the tank to topple a red-hot Knicks team, who have been resting for a week plus. CDL

Slow down a Knicks team that dismantled three opponents on the way to the finals. The Knicks are playing total basketball - there’s no sticking wings in the corner and waiting for passes. The off-the-ball movement and distribution brought us the most dynamic offense we’ve seen in a while. San Antonio must drive the Knicks back into their regular season mode, where they failed to maximize their talent and were sometimes frustrating to watch. Cleveland did have some limited success with zone defense in the Eastern Conference finals; will San Antonio use it to try and shove these new Knicks back in the bottle? DL

Get everybody involved. Wembanyama’s Game 1 performance against the Thunder was astonishing, but tired him for the next couple games. In Game 7, seven Spurs scored in the double digits and the team shot 42.5% from three, which is a much healthier victory recipe. If Devin Vassell and Julian Champagnie hit from beyond the arc, De’Aaron Fox tears through the defense for short jumpers, and Stephon Castle distributes and defends at his best, the burden on Wembanyama will be manageable. OL

The youthful Spurs have avoided costly mistakes that often hinder young teams in the postseason. Defensively, they must minimize Jalen Brunson’s drives inside the paint, similar to how they stifled Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s effectiveness in the Western Conference finals. If they replicate the same physicality, the Spurs can overwhelm the more seasoned Knicks. AS

What the Knicks need to do to win …

Exactly what they’ve been doing. The Knicks are in that weird, magical place teams sometimes get to where everything is falling into place. Role players are making every shot, bad habits are nowhere to be found, and their star, Brunson, is rising to the occasion. They have Team of Destiny energy, and cruised through the Eastern Conference. If they can step up against the San Antonio Spurs, the most formidable team they will face this postseason, they’ll take home the trophy. CDL

Exhaust San Antonio. The Spurs are coming off an incredibly physical series, so a lot of the work has already been done for them. The Knicks are deeper, fresher and with the exception of Mitchell Robinson, healthy. San Antonio are roughly seven deep; New York must force them to go deeper into their bench. Jalen Brunson is obviously the key to everything offensively for the Knicks, and in a way, so is Josh Hart, who the Spurs will dare to shoot, just as Cleveland did. DL

Contain and fatigue Wembanyama. The Thunder had success wrapping up the Spurs’ stick bug via Isaiah Hartenstein, who at times exhausted or restricted Wembanyama enough to take his rebounding out of games. The Knicks may be able to approximate the same strategy with Karl-Anthony Towns and Anunoby. Wembanyama will remain a constant scoring and blocking threat, but better to deal with his abilities in isolation than the full terrifying package. And don’t default to Brunson iso-ball until the shot clock weeps for relief at the expense of running the offense through Towns. OL

The Knicks hold an advantage in veteran leadership, role players, and established coaching. To win, the Knicks must force the young Spurs to become uncomfortable offensively. The Spurs tend to go on stretches where they force bad shots and rely heavily on three-pointers. If the Knicks pressure the Spurs to second-guess themselves, they’ll survive as champions. AS

This is the most exciting finals series since ...

At the risk of sounding hyperbolic, because last year’s finals between the fearless Indiana Pacers and the then-juggernaut Oklahoma City Thunder was a delight, I don’t think I’ve been this excited for an NBA finals since LeBron and Steph were going at it in the 2010s. There are storylines aplenty, star-power galore, and the backdrop of the Mecca as a cherry on top. CDL

Toronto v Golden State in 2019. That was interesting because the Warriors were favored, even after losing Kevin Durant. Kawhi Leonard was at the peak of his powers, as was Stephen Curry, but without Durant, Toronto won in six games. DL

The Thunder and Indiana Pacers last season. Sorry! The Pacers rode an unprecedented run of magical buzzer-beaters to the finals, where they made fascinating and modern music with the Thunder’s supersonic defense until Tyrese Haliburton’s achilles gave out. I’m not still mad about it. The Knicks are on a historic run and Wemby’s early presence in the finals is thrilling, but we’ll be lucky if the quality of the series itself equals that of last year. OL

Cavaliers v Warriors in 2016. LeBron James and Kyrie Irving led the Cavs to a historic comeback against Steph Curry and the Warriors during their dynasty era. This year’s finals could produce a more intriguing spectacle headlined by Wemby in Gotham; Brunson v. Stephon Castle; and celebrity row at the Garden. AS

Unheralded player to watch ...

I’m gonna cheat and do one for each squad. Anunoby feels like the key to the series in a lot of ways for New York: he’s been an excellent jump shooter in these playoffs, which has been important to the Knicks’ offense, but he’s also probably going to spend at least some time with the Wembanyama assignment. On the San Antonio side, Castle, the beyond-impressive guard, has shown remarkable poise in his first playoff outing, but guarding Brunson in the Garden will be perhaps his toughest test so far. CDL

It’s Hart, who has the best engine in the NBA. He’s capable of a triple-double with rebounding prowess that far exceeds his size. New Yorkers are familiar with his game, which is mostly to do a little bit of everything, but I don’t think the rest of the basketball world has an appreciation of what a wonderful all-around player he is. DL

Anunoby. The Knicks’ muscular forward has been one of their best players these playoffs, both offensively and defensively, and could defend Wemby on key possessions. But he’s also missed some playoff games with a hamstring strain, bringing unpleasant memories of Jalen Williams’ long absence to mind. Anunoby’s availability and efficacy are must-haves for the Knicks. OL

Dylan Harper. Throughout the playoffs, Harper has remained a steady hand for the Spurs off the bench by maintaining offensive control and hitting timely shots. Wembanyama, Brunson, Castle, and Towns will garner the most attention, but Harper could be the unsung hero during clutch moments in the fourth-quarter. AS

The finals MVP will be …

It’s likely that Brunson will never have to pay for anything in New York for the rest of his life; win, lose, or draw in these finals. But if he brings the Knicks their first title in over half a century, there will be Brunsons dining for free in the city that never sleeps for generations to come. CDL

Brunson, capping one of the most extraordinary rises in NBA history. This is a second-round pick who has been underestimated as a sluggish, undersized, shoot-first point guard. Even now, despite his showcase performance in the Knicks’ improbable Game 1 comeback over Cleveland in the Eastern Conference finals, he’s still in the long shadow of Wembanyama. But, thanks to some of the best footwork in NBA history, along with razor basketball instincts and shooting, elite leadership capabilities and timing, he will be MVP, and he will be the most celebrated New York City athlete of the 21st century so far. DL

Wembanyama. His performances affect the game on the defensive end in ways nobody else in this series can dream of, and he may already be the best offensive player on these teams, too. Unless fatigue ruins him or the Knicks find a nonexistent skeleton key to lock him up, look for Wembanyama to join former Spurs Tim Duncan and Kawhi Leonard in the club of 22-year-old finals MVPs. OL

There is only one player in the NBA finals who can dominate the game on every level. Wembanyama is the most unguardable force since Shaquille O’Neal in 2000, and his defensive presence in the paint will force the Knicks to make offensive adjustments. Once he asserts himself, expect Wemby to compile multiple video game-like stat lines on his way to securing the finals MVP.

Your winner will be ...

Knicks 4-2 Spurs. I’ll be the first to admit that I did not think the San Antonio Spurs would be this ahead of schedule. As impressed as I was with their first two rounds of play, I still thought they were a year away, and predicted that the conference finals were their ceiling. I stand corrected: they’re really, really good, and Wembanyama looks like the best player on Earth. But New York present a unique challenge, with far more ball handling and shot creation than the Spurs have faced thus far (they came up against an Oklahoma team missing two of their best in that department in Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell). The Knicks are on a heater the likes of which I’ve never seen in an NBA playoffs, and it’s been largely written off as the spoils of the weaker East. But they’re for real, and primed to play spoiler to the Spurs’ magical ride from lottery to finals. San Antonio will win at least one, if not several titles in the Wembanyama era. But this year, my money’s on the Knicks. CDL

Knicks 4-1 Spurs. The Knicks will frustrate Wemby, they will share the ball in a way the 1970s pass-first Knicks would relish. Towns will continue to unwind all the soft parts of his game. Anunoby will get to the basket with determined physicality. Mikal Bridges will slash and drain from mid-range. Brunson will take over down the stretch and Robinson, bad pinky and all, may even hit a few foul shots. As Nikola Jokić once said: “When is parade?” DL

Spurs 4-2 Knicks. A Knicks win won’t surprise – they fared well against the Spurs during the regular season, they’re fresher, and they’ve been more dominant in the playoffs – but Wembanyama is transcendent and his supporting cast fits perfectly around him. After watching San Antonio overcome the Thunder in Oklahoma City, it’s too hard to bet against them knocking off anybody else. OL

Spurs 4-3 Knicks. In our preseason predictions, I picked the Knicks to clinch an NBA finals berth, although I didn’t think they’d do it in such a dominant fashion. But the Knicks’ uncomplicated journey to the finals could be both a gift and a curse: after enduring a rigorous seven-game series against the defending champions, the Spurs are more battle-tested than New York. Their defensive discipline will halt the Knicks’ surging offense, and Wemby will be the series’ biggest X-factor. By the time the title is decided, it will be clear that the Wembanyama era has arrived. AS

The time has come for the Knicks to play an NBA Finals game.

The day is today, and you, like everybody and their mother, will surely be watching.

Here’s a mammoth bulletin to get you ready for what will come later.

Mike Brown

On Mitchell Robinson’s status heading into Game 1:

“He did individual stuff (Monday). I’m about to talk to our medical people to see what he can do (Tuesday).”

Ariel Hukporti

On staying ready in case Mitch is ruled out:

“I’m always preparing. I’m always ready. Always stay ready. When you’re in the third unit, you never know. Stuff happens, people in foul trouble.”

Mikal Bridges

On the Spurs-Knicks recent past:

“I think those games matter, those regular-season games matter. But [they’re a] really well-coached team, really talented team. You can tell how together they are, which is very dope. But with all that, they’re ready to go out there and fight. They’re going to battle. Watching them in the playoffs, [they’re] not soft at all. They’re going to go out there, compete at a high level. It’s great. I feel like we do the same.”

On his favorite college memory:

“Probably winning our national championships—against UNC.”

On the Knicks’ focus throughout the season:

“I think everybody out there is trying to do just one thing, win.”

On getting a second chance at the Finals after his 2021 trip:

“It’s tough to get here once, but to be here a second time, just blessed, honestly.”

Josh Hart

On how to prepare to face Wembanyama:

“I don’t know if you can, because there’s not a situation that’s similar.”

On focusing on the team over individualities:

“For us, I think if we focus on ourselves and focus on the habits that we’re building, we’ll put ourselves in good situations to be successful. We can’t focus too much on one player and focus on Wemby too much because obviously they’ve got a lot of extremely talented guys that can go off any single game. We’re focused on them as a whole. But he’s an interesting guy to game plan for.”

On doubting himself earlier in the season:

“I definitely didn’t see the bigger picture. There were moments I went home, and I’m like ‘damn, man, am I ass? Do I suck as a basketball player?’ There’s a lot of those moments. Whenever your minutes go down, or you get a bench, you have those thoughts, that thought process.”

On using those benching experiences to improve:

“But for me, it was like, okay, how can I build off of it? How can I improve as a player to not put myself in that situation? And, you know, now I’m cool with it sometimes. I mean, there was game one, I got bench, you know, Atlanta was out there hooping, and I was happy about it. And, you know, but that took a little bit of time and self-reflection to get to that point.”

On the Knicks’ selflessness:

“This team was a selfless group. At the end of the day we know we’re willing to sacrifice our own individual performance or stats or accolades for the betterment of the team. When you have not just one, two or three, but a whole team of those kinds of guys, that kind of character, it puts you in a position to be successful.”

On building championship habits steadily:

“When you’re building championship habits, it’s very boring and it’s very meticulous. It’s frustrating at times, but it never changes. We continue to do what we do, continue to build those habits. Nothing changes from the first round of the playoffs to the Finals. We know we got to be locked-in, focused, have attention to detail, physicality, a sense of desperation. It’s been like that for every single series, every single game of these playoffs and it doesn’t change now that we’re in the Finals.”

Jordan Clarkson

On representing the Philippines in the Finals along with the Spurs’ Dylan Harper:

“(It’s) another amazing thing that’s happening right now. Definitely inspiring to the Filipino-Americans and Filipinos all around the country. It’s definitely going to be fun to watch. One of us (will be) taking a championship back home to the Philippines and representing that well.”

On Harper’s early career:

“(Harper has) been really good throughout the whole year. I’ve been watching him, keeping up with him, as well. Him being so young and having so much poise throughout this whole playoffs, it’s a great sight to see a young star coming in this league and doing what he’s doing.”

On growing up in San Antonio watching Spurs parades:

“My stepmom worked at The Westin, so I would see the parades through the hotel balconies and stuff. I would sneak around there. At the hotels at that time, everybody was staying at the Westin downtown. Being able to take pictures and run up on players for autographs, I was definitely that kid. I was around to see how alive the city comes when the Spurs are in the Finals and winning championships. … Just a lot of growth, man, from here as a kid. This definitely feels great.”

On his father’s presence in Game 1:

“[I’m] focused on trying to win, but my dad’s strength and everything has been the world to me, and seeing him continue to fight has been an amazing battle. My dad detailed the cars of a lot of Spurs players in terms of washing them and doing that … [but] my dad, definitely he’ll be a Knicks fan this series. I wouldn’t let him have it any other way.”

On the Knicks’ collective mindset:

“One through 15, I think we’re all just trying to impact the game in any way. Doing the small things is a big emphasis for us that we put on everybody, and that’s what we try to do.”

Jose Alvarado

On making the Finals and doing so playing for his hometown Knicks:

“It’s really something I can’t put in words. I’m blessed. I can’t even say it’s a dream, I never thought about being in the finals playing for the Knicks. But I’m here, I’m extremely excited. I’m a kid from the city living a dream.”

On what to expect from Knicks fans during the Finals:

“The atmosphere is always going to be amazing. That’s just New York.” 

On his role with the Knicks after the mid-season trade:

“They got me for a reason. It’s something that’s easy to be a part of, when everybody is on the same page defensively. That’s what we are, we know defense can win us games or at least give us a chance, and that’s what we do at a high level.”

On what’s next for him as a perennial NBA underdog:

“I always think of [my journey]. I want to try to continue the story. You’re a reporter — I’m your height. That’s not really normal in the NBA. Just keep doing what I’m doing, man. The story is not over and I just want to continue writing it and give everybody hope. Don’t say nobody can’t do it. I am living proof.”

Karl-Anthony Towns

On facing Victor Wembanyama:

“Obviously, he’s a special talent and the NBA’s blessed to have him and to be able to showcase his talent to the world. For us, we just have to have discipline in our gameplan and execute at a high level.”

On playing in his first Finals:

“It means a lot, because for my career I’ve only been able to see that [NBA] Finals logo on TV. So it means a lot to be the person that sees the logo on their jersey and has this opportunity.”

Jalen Brunson

On Victor Wembanyama’s skill set:

“Yeah, watching him as a player, it’s pretty unbelievable. The things he’s able to do on both sides of the ball, people have never really seen before for a person of his size. It’s incredible to watch from a player’s perspective.”

On game-planning for Wembanyama:

“As an opposing player, [Wemby] is something you constantly have to be on watch for. You just never know the things that he’s capable of doing. That’s why game planning and our game-planning discipline, our attention to details are so important when it comes to playing because he’s pretty incredible.”

On the Knicks’ mindset:

“I think we’re a hard-working group. I feel like we’ve been doubted a lot. There’s been a lot of noise on the outside that we could obviously talk about and complain about, do something about, but we’ve always just gone into the gym, worked on our game individually… Our mentality is the right place at the right time. We just have to stay focused and keep learning. We can’t be satisfied just because we’re here; we have to continue to keep learning.”

On making the Finals:

“It’s pretty surreal – it’s something I haven’t really thought about. Once the season’s over, once the career’s over, we’ll be able to think about this stuff. It’s a cool feeling.”

On the Knicks’ focus during the Finals run:

“I mean obviously, we’ve been playing hard. Mix in a little luck as well. I think most importantly, we’ve been coming in focused. Just focus on one possession at a time, and just playing hard for that possession and worry about the future later. We’ve been locked in on the moment and we need to continue to do that.”

On preparing for Game 1 of the Finals:

“Everything leading up to Game 1 is going to be definitely high-end just because of everything that goes on around it. I think most importantly, when you can prepare the right way, when you do your routines, you treat it like a normal game, it allows it to be as normal as possible. I’m just trying to make sure I’m level-headed, making sure I do the things I need to do pregame-wise, not change anything just because it’s the Finals.”

On the meaning of making the Finals:

“I’m very excited to be here. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. You can’t take it for granted.”

On facing Stephon Castle:

“He’s great. I think his intensity and tenacity is special. He plays with a chip on his shoulder. He’s had that since I’ve seen him at UConn. The way he’s played over these first couple years of his career, he’s going to be a great player, great defender.”

On the Spurs’ team defense:

“Yeah, they’re very physical. The way they play, obviously, they’re able to pressure on the perimeter. Obviously, having Wemby down there on the weak side creates havoc. They’re multidimensional. A lot of ways they can beat you on both sides of the ball.”

On preparing for the Finals during yet another extended break:

“When we were in the gym, we were focused. We were practicing pretty hard, understanding that not knowing who we were playing yet, we had to prepare for both teams. We didn’t want to be behind the eight ball. It was really important for us to have those days because we saw how we came out in Game 1 last time when we had the rest days. I feel it’s really important those days we had, it was important for us, for sure.”

OG Anunoby

On how to guard Wembanyama:

“He’s pretty unique. I mean, there’s little things like maybe guarding [Nikola] Jokic or [Kristaps] Porzingis or Joel [Embiid]. He’s different. He’s taller. Just being aware of where he’s at all over the floor. He can do everything. Super talented. Just being aware of him at all times, trying to make it as difficult as possible.”

On the Spurs’ depth:

“Yeah, they’re a very versatile team, very deep. They have talent all over the court, at all positions. They can all shoot, drive, do everything. And they rebound really well, too. They’re getting the rebound, they can push, one-man fast break. They can push the pace. They really speed the game up. They do a great job doing that.”

James Dolan

On whether the Knicks represent New York City:

“It represents the people of New York City, yes. Absolutely. That’s New Yorkers, right? They’re tough, they’re gritty, they’re full of personality. But they’re also high-character individuals. You have a good sense of right and wrong and what’s fair and what’s not, and if you cross it with ’em, you’re gonna get a New York hello. That’s New Yorkers, right? We’re not subtle, but we’re very straightforward. New Yorkers, they love effort. They don’t just love winners, they love effort … sincere effort. And if there’s nothing else you’re getting from the Knicks, you’re getting sincere effort. And so, I do think they represent New York.”

On why he believes the Knicks will win the championship:

“Because they’re a team. Because they have heart, and they have that X factor in heart. And we’ve seen it all season long, but we’ve really seen it in the playoffs, and in talking to them, they’re gonna be almost impossible to beat. Because they have that heart, and you’re never gonna get them to quit. They will never quit. That’s how winners win.”

On his NBA Finals-or-Bust proclamation:

“That’s why I don’t do a lot of interviews — I’m usually very frank (smile). I did not go into the interview thinking, “Oh I’m gonna say this.” But it was on my mind, and I knew that the rest of the organization knew it too — we all knew it. We knew it from the moment that we said goodbye to Thibs (Tom Thibodeau) and we hired Mike (Brown), that we were gonna be in a hot spot because we just made the conference finals. We didn’t win, but you don’t make a change unless you’re expecting to do better. We didn’t change ’cause we wanted it to be worse! To me, it was a little obvious, so I just said it because it was obvious.”

On hiring Mike Brown:

“Leon (Rose) convinced me (laugh). When we knew we were gonna make the change, we didn’t tell the players about making a change. We first had talked to all the players and I was there, and then sat down with Leon, and we talked about what it is we want in a coach. ’Cause we knew we had a good coach in Thibs. We weren’t just going for a change, right? There was something we wanted, and we laid it out, really on paper, what we were looking for in a coach. I would say the No. 1 quality was collaborative, that was a big piece … somebody who strategically could avail himself of all the minds around him and put it together, particularly at game time, between halves, that was a big thing. And we were looking for flexibility. So we laid out all these sort of characteristics that we were looking for, and then I set Leon loose. And he interviewed a lot of different guys, and he came back with Mike, and I’m like, “OK.” Leon did all the work. I just blessed it.”

On what he likes most about the Knicks’ play:

“Their willingness to sacrifice has been just off the charts. They’re all like this, whatever it takes to win, and don’t worry about me, I’ll do whatever it takes. That’s a sacrifice. We played some opponents who haven’t actually had that kind of a commitment. I’m not gonna name names, but you probably know who they are. I think that’s what sets this team apart, and it’s probably what I like most about them right now.”

On why he hired Leon Rose:

“I obviously have been doing this for a while before Leon showed up, and it was much more about just getting convinced that no matter if you get the most brilliant strategist in the world, you have to have talent in order to win. And so I thought about the guy who would be best in bringing talent to New York, and Leon’s name was at the very top of the list.”

Walt Frazier

On the Greatest Knick of All Time conversation:

“I always say it’s Willis (Reed), and Willis said it’s Patrick (Ewing), and Patrick says it’s Patrick. So he would definitely be on Mount Rushmore. We’ll put him up there if he can bring this title.”

On what a title means in New York:

“I can’t walk the street, it’s like I’m in a parade. Anywhere I go people are like, ‘Oh, there he is, there’s Clyde! There’s Clyde!‘ So if these guys win another title — man, I can’t spend money now in New York. I’ll never have to spend money again in this city. And that’s what I want to show the players. Hey man, I’ve been doing this for 50 years. Fifty years just for winning two titles! So you guys can have it if you just win one title.”

Jeremy Lin

On Knicks fans:

“I always felt like Knicks fans deserve the best performances. They’re so passionate. And as cool as it was for me to give good performances only for that stretch of time, I genuinely wish that I was able to do more. I genuinely wish I was able to stay longer, genuinely wish that I could have a lot more success and done things in the playoffs for the Knicks, but that never came to fruition.”

On his ESPN trial run leading to his hiring for the Finals:

“I think after those three days, the reception that we got from the fans as well as what I felt internally was definitely beyond what I expected. So that was nice in the sense of like, oh, people had really appreciated the breakdown, but I also felt joy in being back in NBA basketball.”

Charles Barkley

On Knicks fans in New York:

“I’m not gonna lie, last year in the Conference Finals, (TNT’s Inside the NBA) traveled, and man, it’s a different thing being in New York. I know New Yorkers are annoying. But man, they’re right. When the Knicks are doing good, it’s a different energy in that city.”

On New York’s Conference Finals atmosphere:

“It was one of the most amazing things those three games we went to in New York. And then now you’re gonna put it on steroids going to the Finals.”

On covering the Finals at ESPN and the meaning of the Knicks-Spurs matchup:

“For me, being able to do the Finals for the first time, to get the New York Knicks in the Finals…I’m so glad we’re gonna get to do the games. But for Adam Silver, this is a dream matchup to get the Knicks against Victor (Wembanyama).”

Mitch Johnson

On Stephon Castle’s defensive impact:

“I don’t want to get crucified. But in terms of output of energy, when you think about what he’s doing defensively and offensively, it takes you to some really rare territory of names that you may not want to say in terms of because you’re not comparing him to that person or this person. It’s similar to Victor in terms of he’s basically in the middle of every single play for us offensively, defensively, but he’s on the basketball.”

De’Aaron Fox

On his message to the Spurs heading into the Finals:

“Don’t change anything that we’re doing. There’s a reason that we’re in the Finals. There’s a reason that we won 60 games. There’s a reason we didn’t lose three games in a row the whole year.”

On enjoying the moment:

“I think my big message for the guys is, especially as we we’re going through this process, not right now but as we were playing in the first round and going up; enjoy the moment. This is a hard thing to do. It’s hard to get back to these places. We don’t want to get to this place and then start changing the way we play.”

On the Game 7 vs. Oklahoma City:

“Going to game seven, a lot of times superstars think, people say ‘unload the clip,’ ‘get all your rocks off,’ whatever phrase you want to use. Going into that game, I’m like, no, do the things we’ve been doing throughout the course of the year, those are the reasons we’re playing the defending champs, that we forced a game seven on their home court. We don’t need to change anything. We’re a good team, and we know that. Going to these games knowing that there’s a reason that we’re here and continuing to play the way that we play, double down on it, triple down on it and continue to do those things.”

On his time in Sacramento:

“I think the hardest part was you have a good year and then you kind of expect it to get better, and then it doesn’t. I think that’s probably the biggest part. Usually, when you hear guys who went to the Finals or won the Finals, they talk about loving; getting to that point. But it’s a hard thing to do once, and it’s definitely a hard thing to do multiple times. Once you taste that success a little bit, I think the hardest part was not being able to get back there.”

Victor Wembanyama

On seeing the Spurs’ lack of experience as a positive thing:

“The lack of experience is a strength for us. Because we don’t know. We could do impossible stuff because we don’t know it’s impossible.”

On the Spurs’ need to lock in after the sugar rush of beating OKC in a Game 7:

“Coming back down from this is a challenge. It’s not done yet. We still need to really come back down to Earth and realize we haven’t done the hardest (thing) yet. The job isn’t done at all. So we still got about, I don’t know, what time is it, like 30-plus hours to recenter.”

On the Knicks:

“It’s a great team of experienced guys who are not here by chance, but by relentless effort over the years. Very different career paths for all of them. They’re right where they’re supposed to be, in my opinion. All of them are going to be super hungry in their own way.”

Devin Vassell

On not being satisfied with winning the conference title:

“We didn’t get here to say, we’re the Western Conference finals champions. We want to sit here and say we’re the NBA champions, we won the finals. It was great while it lasted, but we’re ready for the next chapter.”

Julian Champagnie

On the meaning of facing the Knicks as a Brooklyn native:

“For sure. For sure (it means a lot). I have a lot of friends who are New York fans. I would love to spoil their plans. I would love to. It would just be fun.”

On competing for a championship in NYC:

“Obviously going back [to New York] and competing for a championship is great. I personally want to win, so we’ll just see how it goes.”

Stephon Castle

On admitting toflopping and selling calls:

“I don’t really know how to answer that. I mean, I sell calls, too, sometimes. I mean, I can’t lie. But I mean, it’s really just a field thing, especially in the playoffs, you know. If it’s too egregious, the refs aren’t going to bail you out. They’re going to make the two teams, they’re going to make the better team win. So, I think just taking it game by game and not trying to put yourself at a disadvantage. I don’t really think it’s about selling calls or not trying to sell calls to make yourself look a certain type of way. You know, I think we talk to the refs a lot, especially me in particular, but most of the times they’re right. So, I mean, just having a short term memory. I mean, whether you fall down or not, if you get the call or you don’t get the call, it’s not really something you can change. So, I think for us, just playing the game and seeing how the refs are calling it.”

On defending Jalen Brunson:

“I think what’s worked for me is trying to be physical with him. He’s obviously shorter than me, but he’s a very physical guard, he gets to his spots well. Uses deception well, has great footwork. Trying to be as disciplined as I can, crowd his space, but not give him the angles that he’s looking for. At this point, he’s seen pretty much every coverage, been guarded all kinds of ways. Just trying to impose my will and use my physicality to my advantage.”

On needing to move on from the Game 7 win over OKC:

“Playing the defending champs on the road in a Game 7 like that, it’s hard to flush that out of the back of your mind, especially when you’re the team that came out on top. We have a balance where we understand we can’t get complacent or satisfied with that. We still have a job, so come game time, we’ll be ready.”

On not having an issue with the Spurs being much younger than the Knicks:

“I don’t think that was ever a problem for us. I think for us, that was all outside noise. In-house, we have nothing but confidence in each other. I mean, we’ve been making history — with every game, we see something new. We got four more [wins] to go. We got this far. We still haven’t really done anything yet.”

Dylan Harper

On representing Filipino heritage in the Finals:

“I think me and him (Clarkson) get to do something really special, representing our country, where we’re from, representing everything on the biggest stage in basketball. I feel like over there in the Philippines, basketball is probably the biggest thing. I think we’re very excited for that, and we’re just very blessed and grateful to be in this position.”

Luke Kornet

On returning to the Finals:

“Talking about being on [the NBA Finals] stage, it’s a little different than the [literal] stage at the Westchester County Center that is on one end of the court. I was just trying to make a name for myself, or really, just be able to be in the NBA and see how that goes … I had a great time in my first two years, especially in Westchester. I feel like the group that we had, it was some really fun basketball that we played. That’s what I remember the most. We had a lot of talent and young guys and it felt like an extension of college. I felt like I was growing my game a lot at that time. A lot of guys always talk about the G-League like you can’t wait to get out of it, but I really enjoyed my time.”

On facing the team that first signed him to an NBA deal:

“It’s definitely a cool, full-circle moment playing the Knicks and having started there. Now it’s like my third Finals … one of those things that maybe 20 years from now I’ll have a little more perspective on, but for the moment just trying to succeed and win a championship.”

Upfront, I’ll admit that I’m a sentimental guy. I love nostalgia and in Boston, basketball is a brotherhood. How many times have you seen alumni visiting the Auerbach Center and talking to the team or lining the front rows of TD Garden during a playoff game?

I’d be lying if the Knicks’ dominating march through these playoffs didn’t remind me of my high school reunion. With the trio of Nova Knicks — Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, and Josh Hart — teaming up with Jersey-born Karl-Anthony Towns and Brooklyn’s Jose Alvarado, the party they’re having at Madison Square Garden after every home win feels like the prom night redux at my 25th. Even as a rival, I can appreciate how special this is.

It’s not dissimilar to how I felt with the Celtics this season. The majority of Boston’s roster was either drafted by the team or signed their first contract with the franchise. So, for the most part, it was a homegrown and that matters. It’s our team made up of our guys.

The Celtics have already started to get the band back together by hiring Isaiah Thomas as a scout. He won’t suit up, but tell me that doesn’t warm your heart?

There’s a scenario where Stevens elects to bring most of that 56-win team back. However, there’s an opportunity to put on that dusty letterman jacket, relive old glory, and maybe win at an even higher level with some old friends.

Speaking of old friend and Spotrac’s Keith Smith, the following players are potential free agents in July:

• Marcus Smart (player option)
• Al Horford (player option)
• Kristaps Porzingis
• Kelly Olynyk
• Robert Williams III
• Guerschon Yabusele
• Anfernee Simons
• Jeff Green

Cap experts don’t really see next season as a true contending year for the Celtics. It’s not exactly a gap year like this year was, but after ducking the luxury tax for two consecutive years, Boston will be set up in 2027-2028 to really push the envelope and spend big as the Jays enter the middle of their primes. In the meantime, I propose a sort of continuation year from 2025 like Tatum didn’t tear his Achilles and like the first and second apron don’t exist.

Boston has some glaring needs, most notably at the 5. After having to break up with them last summer to duck under the luxury tax, the Celtics could reunite with Horford and/or Porzingis as soon as this July. After a circuitous route that reunited them in Golden State last season, Porzingis and Horford enter free agency with a chance to chase a ring and there may be no better place for their careers than with the Celtics. Can you imagine the hero’s welcome they’d get at their first (re)introduction on the parquet? I can.

The Timelord has been a popular name to fill out Boston’s frontcourt. Why not? He had his first healthy season in years and was a force in the playoffs. Here’s ESPN’s Bobby Marks on NBC Boston’s podcast with Chris Forsberg:

Count me in, Forsberg.

For me, the most welcoming homecoming would be for Marcus Smart.  When the raised Banner 18, I always felt like it belonged to Marcus, too.  And in a way, to bring home Smart would be equivalent to landing Jrue Holiday, a savvy vet that can quarterback the offense and defense.  More so, it’s returning the heart and soul of the team back to Boston.

I’m sure right now, Boston’s front office is crunching the numbers, analytically and financially, to see what players are the best fit for winning next season. They’ll address deficiencies from last year and raise the roster’s ceiling.

But sometimes, if you’re lucky, what feels right and what’s best are in alignment.

Just last year, the San Antonio Spurs were waiting on bated breath to see where their lottery pick would fall in the NBA Draft. Flash forward to today, when the Spurs’ young core will play in Game One of the NBA Finals against the New York Knicks.

The stakes are clear: the Spurs have a chance to kick off a new dynasty earlier than expected by winning their first championship since Tim Duncan and the big three won in 2014. The Knicks have a lot of historical baggage as well. This will be New York’s first NBA Finals appearance since 1999. The franchise hasn’t won a championship since 1973.

It’s also a big moment for the NBA Cup! It’s the first time the NBA Finals have replicated the Cup finals. The Knicks defeated the Spurs 124-113 in the Cup. New York won the overall season series 2-1. However, both teams look much different now than they did in the regular season.

The Knicks’ path to the Finals has been simple. They beat the Atlanta Hawks in six games, then swept both the Philadelphia 76ers and Cleveland Cavaliers to get here. They have won 11 straight games heading into Game One. The Spurs are coming off an emotional 7-game Western Conference Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Before that, they defeated the Portland Trail Blazers in five games and the Minnesota Timberwolves in six games.

Both teams bring versatile, star-studded rosters. Victor Wembanyama will headline the series, leading his squad to the Finals in his first playoff run. He is the anchor for one of the best defenses in the NBA. Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns lead the New York Knicks, one of the league’s best offensive teams. Both teams bring unique strengths and counters to the table in what should be a chess match of a series.

The Knicks played their last playoff game 10 days ago on May 25th, while the Spurs are coming off an intense seven-game series. Rest vs. rust will be a real factor in Game One in San Antonio. The Spurs will look to carry the momentum from Game Seven of the Western Conference Finals and defend home court as they attempt to win four more games and hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy.

San Antonio Spurs (0-0) vs. New York Knicks (0-0)

June 3rd, 2026 | 7:30 PM CT

Watch: ABC / ESPN | Listen: WOAI (1200 AM)

Spurs Injuries: No injuries to report.

Knicks Injuries: Mitchell Robinson – Questionable (hand)

What to watch for:

San Antonio’s matchups

The Knicks pose real matchup problems for the Spurs. Towns is a bruising big man who can also shoot the three. OG Anunoby is a big, strong wing who can play inside and out. San Antonio’s defensive scheme is focused on Wembanyama roaming off of a non-shooter so he can protect the rim, while the team around him scrambles to guard the perimeter. Everything funnels into Wemby. The issue with this strategy against the Knicks is that Towns and Anunoby are so big that they can punish smaller defenders who get cross-matched onto them.

Mitch Johnson is faced with a choice: put Wembanyama on a non-shooter like Josh Hart, and risk Towns beating a smaller defender like Stephon Castle inside, or put Wembanyama on Towns and risk the Knicks pulling him away from the paint. The Spurs’ defensive game plan and its effectiveness are the most important things to track in Game One.

Winning the possession battle

Where have you heard this before? One critical factor for the Spurs throughout the postseason has been reducing turnovers and securing the glass. Turnovers crushed the Spurs in both losses to the Knicks in the regular season. They also got crushed on the glass. San Antonio won’t stand a chance if they are giving New York extra possessions by turning it over and letting them pound the offensive boards. At the same time, San Antonio’s defense is smothering and is at its best when it is creating easy offensive looks in transition. The Spurs can gain an advantage in the possession battle by forcing giveaways, even if the Knicks aren’t a turnover-prone squad (12.4 turnovers per game in the playoffs).

Three-point shooting

The Spurs really haven’t faced a team that has consistently made it rain on them this postseason. The Knicks have been shooting the three-ball well in the postseason, knocking down 40% of their deep shots. That said, they have a few players who have been up-and-down shooting the ball, including starters Hart and Mikal Bridges. Their three-point shooting becomes very important in this series. San Antonio needs shooting from its role players, too. Devin Vassell and Julian Champagnie add a lot if they are knocking down threes. De’Aaron Fox’s shooting is an x-factor in the series. When he can take the top off the defense, it opens a lot of stuff up for the Spurs around the rim.