When Masai Ujiri was hired he was tasked with a difficult balancing act; build a competent winning team, and set up success in the future. The idea of a full rebuild is sadly impossible due to the lack of draft picks over the next 5 years, and Cooper Flagg’s rapid ascension could mean the desire to win sooner rather than later.

But the Mavericks can’t go all in right now.

The roster is full of odd-fits and mismatched timelines. The addition of the 9th pick further complicates this dynamic because that player will need development.

But blowing up the roster is also not an option, so what do the Mavericks do?

Well I decided to put on my GM hat and take the Mavericks through an entire simulated offseason. This will include everything from coaching hires to mock trades, all in an attempt to correct both the present and future of the franchise.

But before we dive in, what are the specific goals the Mavericks must accomplish this offseason?

1. Use aging veterans and financial flexibility to acquire future draft assets
2. Build the current team to suit Cooper Flagg’s playstyle
3. Begin building the foundation of the basketball culture that will define this era

So with all of that out of the way, let’s begin

The head coach

The first order of business is to hire a new head coach, and with the Mavericks being very early in their search we can only speculate on the potential hire.

But for this excersise we will hire former Portland Trailblazer head coach Tiago Splitter as the next leader of the Mavericks.

Splitter had an impressive season for the Blazers, as he stepped in when Chauncy Billups was fired in an FBI gambling investigation. Splitter led the Blazers to the playoffs, an impressive feat given the impossible circumstance he was placed into.

Splitter would bring a focus on offensive organization and a more balanced shot diet, as the Blazers attempted the majority of their shots at the rim or from three. This change is philosophy is much needed for a Mavericks team who were nearly last in both three point attempts and percentage last season.

Finally, Splitter would have a connection to current GM Mike Schmitz, with the pair overlapping in Portland for a couple of years.

The Kyrie conundrum

With all the talk of resetting the timeline it may feel obvious that Kyrie Irving would be on the trade block.

But it may be smarter to keep Irving for the time being. Irving can still provide value on the court even if his athleticism is diminished from his ACL injury. But this injury is the reason the Mavericks should keep him, with his trade value probably being diminished from where it was before he got hurt.

Now this doesn’t mean the Mavericks shouldn’t listen to offers, and if they get a package that can restock their future draft assets, they should take it. But I don’t expect teams to be lining up with packages that involve multiple first round picks, which is my minimum with any Irving trade.

It would be smart to keep Irving around for now, with any trade being revisited at the deadline. This would allow Irving to come back and show his extraordinary abilities, and possibly drive his price to the point where a trade would make sense.

The Draft

By far the single most important aspect of the Mavericks offseason will be nailing the draft.

The Mavericks do not own another outright first round pick until 2031, and won’t have another opportunity to acquire a premier young player for some time.

Not only do the Mavericks have to draft a player with high-upside, but they also have to fit next to Cooper Flagg long term. Now the draft is still two-and-a-half weeks away, and the order could be shaken up dramatically. But it feels obvious that the Mavericks need a guard, but whether that player will be a ball-handler is still unknown.

The most likely players in my opinion are either Brayden Burries or Kingston Flemings, 2 players with wildly different skillsets. It remains to be seen if the Mavericks want the more pro-ready candidate in Burries, or the higher upside bet in Flemings, either way, a guard being drafted feels extremely likely.

For this excersise, I will default to the mock draft that we recorded on Pod Maverick last Monday, in which the Mavericks selected Flemings.

Flemings would immediately fill multiple holes within the team, serving as a primary point of attack defender, and another downhill threat. He would also help as a floor-general, as his 32.6% AST ranked in the 86th percentile. His shooting is a large concern, but his on-court play and high basketball IQ make him a tantalizing fit on this team.

But the Mavericks also posses the 30th pick, where I will again default to the previously mentioned mock draft, in which the Mavericks select Meleek Thomas.

Thomas was a Freshman last season at Arkansas, and while he was overshadowed by his teammate Darius Acuff Jr., Thomas was still very impressive. His most standout skill is his three-point shooting, as Thomas shot 41.6% from three on 5 attempts per game. Thomas’s size and defense are real concerns, but he would fill the most desperate need on the roster, and could become a very useful player.

Finally, the Mavericks have a second round pick, but this pick will be used in a trade later on.

Overall, the additions of Flemings and Thomas would help to address 3 biggest needs of the current roster. They would also be building blocks of the future, as both were just freshman in college last season.

Possible re-signings

Before the Mavericks can make any new additions to the roster, they have some decisions about players currently on the team.

The 5 players who could receive an extension this offseason include: Dereck Lively, Naji Marhsall, Max Christie, Ryan Nembhard and Moussa Cisse.

The first 2 that we’ll focus on are Nembhard and Cisse, as both will be receiving extensions in this scenario. Nembhard will be signed to a 3 year $9 million deal, and Cisse will be signed to a 2 year $6 million deal. Both of them showed potential last season, and can give you rotation minutes at the very least. Cisse especially showed tremendous upside, and he should be kept around no matter what.

Resigning Nembhard means that Brandon Williams is gone, and while I enjoyed watching Williams play, I do not believe he fits next to Cooper Flagg.

The next player to receive an extension will be Marshall, signing a 3 year $45 million extension. This was the hardest decision of this bunch, but in the end, I felt it was better to keep Marshall around rather than trade him. His new deal is also not very expensive, and if he needs to be moved in a future transaction he still can be.

Finally we get to both Christie and Lively, 2 players who fit Flagg’s timeline, but have significant issues that hinder my excitement.

First with Christie, while he is an effective 3 point shooter and decent defender, his impact is inconsistent at best, and is not worth a potentially lucrative extension. This carries risk due to his current contract because of his player-option next season. If the Mavericks choose not to extend him now, he could become a free agent next offseason, but that is a risk that Mavericks must be willing to take.

On the other hand, there is not questions about Lively’s impact when he plays, as the young big-man has consistently been one of the more impactful role-players in the league. The issue, of course, is his health, as Lively has played in fewer than 50% of the possible games in his career.

But his health issues could help with his next contract, with the Mavericks having the option of extending him now at a cheaper price, rather than waiting for restricted free-agency. The contract I have devised is 4 years 64$ million, but with the only guaranteed seasons being the first 2. This type of contract has been done before, and allows for a compromise between the 2 parties.

Now this still carries risk, especially if Lively is a shell of himself due to the injuries, but the upside is tremendous. If Lively is able to overcome his early career injuries, the 16$ million contract per year will feel like a steal.

Trades

Finally we have reached the most exciting part of any mock offseason; trades.

P.J. Washington

Dallas receives: Keldon Johnson, 2027 Atlanta Hawks first round pick

San Antonio receives: P.J. Washington

This trade has been brewing in my mind while watching the NBA finals, specifically with how much the Spurs have struggled to contain Karl-Anthony Towns. Washington has proved to be a great defender in his time with the Mavericks, and fills a roster hole the Spurs have. The Spurs do not have a player of Washington’s build on roster, and should be in the market to upgrade if they end up losing in the finals.

For the Mavericks this trade is simple; a 2027 first round pick alleviates pressure for next year’s team. If the Mavericks had the security of this pick they would not feel forced to win games, and could put a greater focus on development. This pick is also not a meaningless first, as it would not be surprisng if the Hawks pick could end up in the lottery.

The real hold up for this trade could be the inclusion of Keldon Johnson, with the Spurs possibly being hesitant to move off of the reigning 6th man of the year. But if they feel the need to make major improvements next year, Johnson’s $17 million contract will have to be moved.

Daniel Gafford

Dallas receives: Jarred Vanderbilt, 2032 Lakers first round pick

Los Angeles receives: Daniel Gafford, pick 48

This next trade could trigger some Mavericks fans, with the prospect of helping the Lakers being the last thing many fans want.

But feelings cannot get in the way of a good deal, and this deal makes perfect sense for both teams.

The Lakers are in desperate need of more athleticism and size across their team, with Gafford bringing both in spades. There is also the connection that Gafford and Luka Doncic share, with the ladder being able to advocate for the big men’s services. If the Lakers want to keep Doncic happy they need to continue to add more talent, and who makes more sense then a starter on Luka’s only finals appearance.

The purpose of this trade for the Mavericks is simple; adding another unprotected first round pick. Obviously 2o32 is 6 years away, but all first round picks are incredibly valuable. Whether the Mavericks ever use this pick isn’t the point, rather, gaining more assets and flexibility gives the Mavericks more avenues to build around Cooper Flagg.

So why did I choose these 2 players to trade?

Simply put, their skillsets are redundant on the current roster, and both will be on the decline when the Mavericks are actually ready to contend. The Mavericks already have a plethora of center options, with Gafford being the oldest and most worn down of them all.

Washington’s issue is his fit next to Flagg; simply put, it doesn’t really work. Both players occupy similar roles defensively, and have similar size and athletic profiles. Washington also pigeon-holes Flagg at the 3, rather than his more natural position at the 4.

Finally, Washington does not provide the requisite shooting the thrive off of Flagg’s gravity, and unlike Marshall, he cannot be a primary ball-handler.

Traded player exception

Dallas receives: Isaiah Joe, 2028 UTA, 2029 BOS, 2030 HOU second round picks

OKC receives: Cash considerations

The final trade of this offseason is using an underrated tool that the Mavericks posses; a traded player exception. This exception allows for the Mavericks to absorb any player who has a salary of $20.2 million or under, which is incredibly useful for absorbing a bad contract. The Thunder have to make a move like this due to their proximity to the second apron, and while Joe is a useful player, his minutes had decreased heavily in this year’s playoffs.

The Mavericks would receive Joe, who would add much needed three point shooting, along with 3 second round picks to help the Thunder out.

Free Agency

For the last several years free agency has become much less important, with few teams having any cap space, and exceptions being the only way contenders add players.

This fact is especially apparent in this year’s free agent class, with there being few high-level contributors available, and even fewer who would want to join the Mavericks.

Due to this, I will have the Mavericks split their full non-taxpayer mid-level exception ($15,000,000) on two players: Marvin Bagley III, 3 years $25 million, and Simone Fontecchio, 2 years $7 million.

Bringing back Bagley is obvious for me, he was a spark for the Mavericks after the Anthony Davis trade, and brought a different skillset to the center position. Bagley averaged 10 point and 6 rebounds after the trade, but the most interesting development was him shooting 48% from three. If this development can continue over a full season it would allow for the Mavericks to have true versatility at the center position, rather than the simple rim-running big men that have populated the position.

Fontecchio is a lesser known name, as the Italian wing has only spent 3 seasons in the NBA after leaving the Euro league. But his skillset is very intriguing, with his primary value coming from his three-point shooting. Fontecchio has shot 37% from three over the course of his career with an elite .70 3PR. Fontecchio can also compete on the defensive end thanks to his size, measuring at 6’7 and 220 LBS.

While this class may feel lackluster, the Mavericks would be adding 2 solid contributors on cheap contracts, which is exactly what they should be doing.

Final roster

So after all this maneuvering and changes, what does the final roster look like?

• PG: Kyrie Irving, Kingston Flemings, Ryan Nembhard 
• SG: Max Christie, Isaiah Joe, Meleek Thomas,
• SF: Naji Marshall, Simone Fontecchio, Caleb Martin
• PF: Cooper Flagg, Keldon Johnson, Caleb martin
• C: Dereck Lively, Marvin Bagley III, Moussa Cisse, Jarred Vanderbilt

Overall the roster has been changed heavily from what is was before this exercise, with the majority of the focus being on restructuring the depth of the roster. While the starting lineup is similar to last season, the bench has been completely slanted towards three point shooting and offensive creation.

This choice would certainly hurt the defensive upside of the roster, but would completely change the way they play on the offensive end of the court. Joe, Fontecchio and Bagley all bring real three-point shooting, with Flagg, Marshall and Flemings relentlessly attacking the rim.

Klay Thompson is also absent from this roster with the Mavericks buying out his contract. While I searched for a trade, nothing felt very likely, and it would be fair to let the veteran try and win one last ring on a contender.

But the X-factor would be Kyrie Irving. If Irving is able to return to the level of play that he was showcasing pre-injury, then this could be an offense that causes serious problems. But even if he isn’t at his peak anymore, he still brings elite shooting and a clutch-gene that was sorely missing last year.

Combine these upgrades to the roster with 2 more first-round picks, and I would say that this offseason accomplished the goals that were laid out at the beginning: more three-point shooting and creation for the current roster, all while gathering future draft assets.

Celtics' Joe Mazzulla is logging the miles to earn his players' trust originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

It’s not even officially summer and Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla is piling up the frequent flier miles in his relentless offseason quest to be near his players.

During the first week of June, Mazzulla was spotted in both Omaha, Nebraska, and Lisbon, Portugal, while supporting Baylor Scheierman and Neemias Queta, respectively. That’s roughly 4,400 air miles between the two spots — with no direct flights — and is only the start of Mazzulla’s worldwide travels aimed at nurturing relationships. 

For Mazzulla, that shared time is key to getting the Celtics where they want to go next. And that wild itinerary reminded us of something poignant that president of basketball operations Brad Stevens told us right before the 2025-26 season. 

“I had a guy that has been around [Mazzulla] working out — he’s been here doing individual work and small group work for a couple of weeks — and he just said, ‘That guy can say anything to me because of the amount of time he spends with me,'” Stevens said. “And I think that that speaks to — you have to build a relationship, you have to get to know people. 

“You just don’t get to throw a whistle around your neck and wear a shirt that says, ‘Coach’ and just be able to coach people. You have to really learn to meet them where they are and then hopefully motivate them, or find the intrinsic motivation and motivate them to use their strengths.”

For Mazzulla, that trusts begins with trying to find out what makes a player tick and often examining the roots of their NBA journeys.

In previous summers, Al Horford marveled at Mazzulla’s willingness to trek to the Dominican Republic to help run basketball camps after Boston’s championship season. When offseason signee Chris Boucher mentioned last year that he was returning to Montreal to be baptized, Mazzulla excitedly asked if he could attend.

While the outside world tends to focus on Mazzulla’s unique personality and the odd ways he choses to motivate himself and his team, his players have bought in largely because of his old-fashioned relationship building.

“He is very unpredictable. People see all these other things. But there’s also, I feel, like the caring factor from him, and it’s a real thing,” Horford told us after Mazzulla’s Dominican visit.

“You can see that he cares about his players, he cares about you as a person, and that’s somebody that you can respect. We can rally around him, he’s genuine, and when he speaks, we listen.”

Horford suggested Mazzulla might even go to great lengths to hide that more human side.

“One of the coaches that was [in the Dominican] told Joe that he wanted him to give another session, another practice,” explained Horford. “So, the next day, we go see the president and we have our moment and everything. And then Joe kind of afterwards, we drive separately, we go our separate ways.

“And he went back to the neighborhood in the Dominican, in La Romana specifically, it’s a city there. And he went back and gave — he’s not gonna talk about this, nobody knows this — but he gave like a two-hour clinic to a bunch of kids down there.

“There were no cameras, there was no anything. And he just went down there with the people and just gave a free basketball clinic and just talked about fundamentals of the game. So, it just speaks of the type of great person and leader that he is.”

Mazzulla, who’s been known to wander off into the Costa Rican jungle on his own summer refresh, was spotted working with Scheierman on the Creighton campus, then accompanied Neemias Queta to Portugal to see two of the teams that Queta played for to start his own basketball journey.

Players like Scheierman and Queta both made big strides last season. If the Celtics are to shuffle closer to title contention next season, they might need both players to take another leap.

For Mazzulla, that process starts long before the Celtics even get back on the floor.

Beside the lack of anyone who could stop Joel Embiid, one of the Boston Celtics’ most glaring flaws in its first-round exit from the 2026 playoffs was its lack of an experienced, steady-handed veteran to right the ship when seas got choppy.

During the Celtics’ 2024 championship run, one of the team’s biggest strengths was the reliability and composure of its two players over the age of 30: Al Horford and Jrue Holiday.

Horford, who was 38 by the Finals, stepped up when Kristaps Porzingis went down and started 15 of 19 playoff games. His efficiency dropped from the regular season, but Big Al still put up 9.2 points, 7 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.6 stocks over 30.3 minutes per game on 47.8% field goal shooting and 36.8% three-point shooting. All while anchoring Boston’s defense despite the fact that his lateral quickness had noticeably declined.

Beyond the averages, Horford provided a calming locker room presence and stepped up in some of the run’s biggest moments. That includes putting up a classic performance (22 points, 15 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal and 3 blocks) in the closing game of the Celtics’ second-round series against the Cavaliers and exploding in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Pacers for 23 points on a career-high 7 three-point makes.

Jrue Holiday, who was 33, was arguably Boston’s third most impactful player during the run. He averaged 13.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.7 stocks per game while shooting 50.3% from the floor and 40.2% from three-point range.

Despite sharing the floor with the Jays, there was a legitimate argument that Jrue deserved the ECF MVP award. He averaged 18.5 points per game while feasting on open shots created by the Celtics’ spacing, creating quality looks for himself, and playing elite, timely defense that led to a game-sealing steal in Game 3.

Boston has struggled in some high intensity moments over the Jays era, but the steady hands of Horford and Holiday brought a level of poise and dependability that took the 2023-24 team over the top.

The Celtics’ current roster simply lacks those tertiary veteran pieces. Nikola Vucevic, 35, was a bust on the court for Boston and it doesn’t look like he’ll return next year. Derrick White, 31, contributes on many levels, but it’s hard to call him steady-handed when his shot has become so unreliable.

So, who could Boston target to fill such a role? While there may not be many — or any — savvy, two-way veterans on the level of Horford or Holiday, there are a few vets the Celtics can realistically pursue this offseason who could contribute to another deep playoff run.

Andrew Wiggins

The thought of acquiring Wiggins, 31, may leave a bad taste in the mouths of Celtics fans. He played a crucial role against Boston in the 2022 Finals for the Golden State Warriors, ending a magical run that eclipses even the 2024 championship run for some fans.

Nevertheless, Wiggins has continued to mature into a solid veteran who would immediately slot in as a starter on the Celtics in place of Sam Hauser, who has consistently struggled in the playoffs for Boston as defenses dial in and focus on taking away his lone offensive strength: his three-point shooting.

Wiggins has also struggled to match his regular season three-point shooting numbers over his playoff career, but his offensive versatility and defensive chops allow him to impact the game in other ways. This season for the Miami Heat, Wiggins averaged 15.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.1 stocks per game on 47.5% shooting from the field and 41.4% shooting from three-point range (and a whopping 48.2% from the corner).

Despite beginning his career with expectations of superstardom, the stringy Canadian has settled into more of a supporting role since joining the Warriors during the 2019-20 season. His 19.7% usage rate in 2025-26 was the lowest of his career and, while he still creates more than half of his own shots within the arc, 94.2% of his three-point makes were assisted. Between his elite efficiency on catch-and-shoot opportunities, ability to drive to the rim (6.8 drives per game) and low usage demand, he’d easily fit into Mazzulla’s offensive system without stepping on any toes.

“Two-Way Wigs,” as his Warriors teammates called him, would also provide a solid defensive presence between the Jays on the perimeter. While Wiggins has yet to replicate the 109 defensive rating he put up in 2021-22, he is a strong athlete with length and impressive lateral quickness. He is no OG Anunoby, but his addition would undoubtedly strengthen Boston’s perimeter defense.

While it may not be likely, it is possible for the Celtics to acquire Wiggins this summer. He has a $30,169,644 player option he could decline in order to seek a new deal before he turns 32. Boston only has a $15 million full mid-level exception to spend on free agents, but it can also pursue Wiggins via sign-and-trade with the Heat. That would allow his salary to be absorbed into the Celtics’ $27.7 million traded player exception created by the Anfernee Simons trade.

Norman Powell

Norman Powell, another member of the 2025-26 Heat, just put up what may be his best season yet — and first All-Star appearance — at the ripe age of 33.

If the Celtics decide to trade Derrick White and elevate Payton Pritchard to a starting role, the team will be in need of another bench scorer to help carry the offensive load when one or both of the Jays take a breather. That is a role Powell, a top-4 Sixth Man of the Year candidate in 2022-23 and 2023-24, would be more than equipped to excel in.

Over the 2025-26 regular season, Powell averaged 21.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.1 steals per game on 47% shooting from the field and 38% from three-point range despite taking on the largest offensive role of his career. He had a shaky jumper when he entered the league, but has become an elite shooter in the latter half of his 10-year career: Powell hasn’t shot below 38% on three pointers since 2017-18 (his third year in the league).

This season, Powell started 52 of 58 games played for the Heat and became one of the team’s offensive lynchpins. His 27.2% usage rate was the highest mark among all Miami’s players with at least 10 games played. As part of Erik Spoelstra’s latest offensive system, Powell learned to create off-the-dribble opportunities from the top of the key and feast on one-on-one matchups — a useful trait for a sixth man.

While he can lead an offense in need, he can also slot in as a tertiary scorer alongside the Jays. During his time with the Los Angeles Clippers, Powell operated as an elite off-ball scorer, often running around pindown and flare screens for open looks. Even in Miami, he was assisted on the vast majority of his buckets (58.1% of his made field goals and 85.9% of his three pointers).

The professional scorer would not provide the same defensive impact as Wiggins, but his adaptive offense would surely benefit the Celtics’ attack, which can stutter when shots aren’t falling. He may be easier to acquire than his teammate, too. Powell’s current contract currently expires this offseason, so Boston could sign him to the full mid-level exception — which may not be too little for a 33-year-old coming off a $20,482,758 annual salary — or pursue him via sign-and-trade.

Alex Caruso

This is more of a pie-in-the-sky idea since Caruso, 32, is entering the second season of a four-year deal and has expressed a desire to stay in Oklahoma City. Additionally, the Thunder’s front office reportedly feels the same way, according to Tim MacMahon of ESPN. Since it would take a trade for the Celtics to acquire Caruso, that may take such a trade off the table, or at least make it prohibitively expensive for Boston.

Regardless, it’s not an impossibility. Caruso’s age is an outlier on OKC, which is on track to become a second apron team next season. As Celtics fans know, the second apron brings with it hefty restrictions and forces any team in it to make hard decisions. If it wasn’t for the second apron, Horford and Holiday (and Porzingis and Luke Kornet) might have still been playing for Boston this year. So, if the Thunder make the tough decision to part ways with Caruso in order to pay the youth, the Celtics should jump at the opportunity to add the veteran.

Caruso has won two rings, one with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020 and one with OKC in 2025, and was instrumental in the success of both teams. He is one of the best defensive guards in the league, who is often tasked with slowing down the opponent’s greatest offensive weapon using his 6’5” frame, tireless motor and exceptional basketball IQ. Caruso’s decent size and impressive strength make him one of the most versatile defensive guards in the league. That versatility inspired the Thunder to charge him with guarding Victor Wembanyama, who stands about a foot taller than Caruso, early on in this season’s Western Conference Finals (admittedly to mixed, if not poor, results).

Caruso is not only an elite defender, though. He is a proven playoff riser who is usually at his best when the lights are brightest. In 38 playoff games over the past two seasons in OKC, Caruso averaged 9.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 2.2 stocks per game while shooting 46.2% from the field and 42.7% from three-point range. While he has not been used as a primary scorer, he is also capable of exploding on offense — proven by a 31-point performance in Game 1 of the WCF this year.

As he has for the young and talented Thunder, Caruso would provide the Celtics with as steady-handed a presence on the court and in the locker room as anyone could ask for.

Craig Porter Jr. hoped to take the next step forward as a consistent rotational player for the Cleveland Cavaliers this season. How close did he get?

All grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.

Regular Season Stats

• 4.5 points
• 3.4 rebounds
• 3.2 assists
• 45% FG
• 35% 3PT FG
• 60% FT

Cleveland leaned on Porter during the first half of the season when injuries decimated their roster. He quickly made himself useful as an energizer off the bench who could pass, dribble, and defend. His improvements on the defensive side of the floor were especially helpful.

Head coach Kenny Atkinson challenged Porter before the season to get into the best shape of his life. Increased stamina and endurance became the priority. Porter aced those tests, accepting the challenge and entering the season in better shape than ever.

This helped turn Porter from a liability on defense into someone who could actually make an impact. Darting into passing lanes and picking pockets are examples of this. Porter finished this season with career-highs in block and steal percentage.

Coaches love when players heed their advice. Porter was rewarded for his hard work with more minutes this season (1,148) than in his first two combined (1,162). Injuries, of course, also helped open the door for Porter to play more often.

On offense, Porter’s experience is making him a more polished playmaker. He dished 205 assists to just 59 turnovers, placing in the 97th percentile for assist-to-usage ratio. Porter also made an impact on the offensive glass, ranking fifth on the roster in offensive rebounds behind only Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen, Jaylon Tyson and Nae’Qwan Tomlin.

Still, some things will always work against Porter.

He’s an undersized point guard who isn’t impactful without the ball on offense. That’s because he’s a limited shooter who doesn’t feel confident in his outside shot. He took just 1.5 three-pointers per game, ranking in the 27th percentile for three-point volume relative to his position. He won’t be able to co-exist with Donovan Mitchell or James Harden until he can reliably space the floor.

Furthermore, positional versatility is king in today’s NBA. Porter might have multiple skills, but he lacks the size to truly maximize any of them. His defense, for example, can only be so impactful when he isn’t capable of switching onto bigger opponents.

I’d rate this season as a partial success for Porter. He should be proud of improving physically and taking a step forward on defense. He’ll need to continue working on his jumper, but he can find solace in knowing that his mechanics are not totally broken. He’s got a fine enough shot to believe that marginal improvements are possible for him.

Moving up from his current place in the rotation will be a challenge. But there are worse things than being a third-string guard in the NBA.

Grade: B+

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Now the NBA Finals get interesting.

Assuredly, the New York Knicks will respond with vigor after their first loss since April, but the San Antonio Spurs have their own adjustments to make.

My Spurs vs. Knicks props and NBA picks lean into a few playing-time adjustments for Game 4 on Wednesday, June 10.

Best Spurs vs Knicks props for Game 4

Player	Pick
Dylan Harper	Over 3.5 assists	+120
Karl-Anthony Towns	Over 1.5 threes	+160
Mikal Bridges	Over 12.5 points	+100

Game 4 Prop #1: Dylan Harper Over 3.5 assists

This may sound bold, but the San Antonio Spurs need to play rookie Dylan Harper more and star guard Stephon Castle and/or veteran De’Aaron Fox a little bit less. Play Castle and Fox plenty still, but Harper has been the best ballhandler for the Spurs in this series, while Castle and Fox have been loose with the ball and at times played with less of a plan and more pure aggression.

Harper has remained in control and is very much a mismatch for even the New York Knicks.

He dished out four assists in Game 3 despite lagging in minutes behind those two, nearly five minutes behind Fox and six behind Castle. More time watching the film should lead the San Antonio coaching staff to the same conclusion. Putting the ball in Harper’s hands more often will only help the Spurs.

Game 4 Prop #2: Karl-Anthony Towns Over 1.5 threes

Expect the Knicks coaching staff to lay into Karl-Anthony Towns a bit after Game 3. Not in a way of tearing him down, but in a way of encouraging him to be more liberal with his shots.

Towns simply cannot go the first three quarters without taking a 3-pointer, as he did in Game 3. While his drives helped dictate the first two games of this series, it is his shooting that turns Towns from a strong offensive piece to a walking mismatch.

And yet, he took only six total shots in the first three quarters on Monday, and none of them were 3-pointers.

Towns has hit 46.3% of his threes this postseason. At the risk of overcorrecting from his reluctance on Monday, New York should encourage him to heave at least once per quarter in Game 4.

Game 4 Prop #3: Mikal Bridges Over 12.5 points

Of New York’s six players to see at least 15 minutes of action in Game 3, only two had positive integers in the plus/minus column of the box score: Towns (+11 in 38 minutes) and Mikal Bridges (+6). Yet, of the Knicks’ starters, only Bridges played fewer than 35 minutes, falling short of 29 minutes.

It was only one game, but it seems worth noting that Landry Shamet played 23 minutes off the bench and posted the worst plus/minus of those six players, logging an ugly -20.

Not to be too blunt, but hey, Mike Brown, perhaps play Bridges more.

His 1-of-5 shooting was ugly and, frankly, not aggressive enough. That needs to be the adjustment included within this adjustment. But a look at Monday’s tape makes it clear: Mikal Bridges helps the Knicks win.

After all, he cleared this prop in five of his previous six games and in nine of New York’s 13 straight wins.

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

He’s public en-Wemby No.1.

Spurs star Victor Wembanyama is now the most hated man – or “alien” – in the Big Apple after his dirty, ref-boosted big night spoiled the Knicks’ first NBA Finals home game in 27 years.

The handsy San Antonio big man’s shove of beloved Knicks captain Jalen Brunson in Monday’s Game 3 went viral on social media and was seen by seemingly everyone in the world but the referees — leaving hometown fans incensed and Manhattan’s top prosecutor joking that no jury trial was needed for a verdict.

“It doesn’t take a seasoned prosecutor to know Wemby crossed the line and is guilty of a flagrant foul,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg told The Post.

Fans meanwhile wondered how the 7-foot-5 center known as Wemby or “The Alien” got access to the exclusive Gramercy Park, which can only be accessed with a key.

The Spurs bully was captured on video sitting on a park bench and sketching a photo of a statue depicting Edwin Booth, a well-regarded Shakespearean actor best known for being the brother of John Wilkes Booth.

“I absolutely hate the way he treats our players, he fouled Brunson yesterday and they didn’t call it,” longtime Knicks fan Joey Amado, 28, fumed on Tuesday as the Game 3 blues set in for hopeful Big Apple residents.

“We can’t have any love for him in this city right now.”

Disdain for the 22-year-old, French-born player was rampant after his 32-point performance buoyed the Spurs to a crucial win inside Madison Square Garden on Monday night.

The Knicks still have a 2-1 game series lead over San Antonio ahead of Wednesday night’s primetime contest at the Garden.

But disgruntled New Yorkers weren’t optimistic after Knicks Coach Mike Brown ripped the imbalanced officiating in Game 3, with the Spurs given 34 free throws to the Knicks’ 22.

“It’s not personal but it is personal. We have a mission to accomplish,” Knicks fanatic Fidel Maldonado, 26, said. “Get the f–k out of the way.”

“He had a legacy game, but he be doing some dirty s–t,” Gabriel Ramos, 31, added.

Other New Yorkers called him the “villain” and “antagonist” of the Knicks-Spurs matchup.

“I think he’s the series villain for sure,” said 25-year-old Queens resident Mario Mendez, adding, “New York loves villains. The fans just need it.”

Teen Dylan Demuro even had a four-letter message for the Wicked Witch of the Western Conference in front of his father David, who brought his son from their Florida home to take in the excitement.

“F–k Wemby,” the 16-year-old said flatly, echoing a chant that broke out in the Garden on Monday.

Even a Spurs fan thought Wembanyama’s push of Brunson was downright ugly.

“It didn’t look good and I hope it doesn’t turn him into a villain,” said Sarah, 36, as she waited to ask for his autograph outside the Ritz Carlton, where the Spurs were staying during their city visit.

Wemby appeared to lean into the hate, saying at a postgame press conference Monday night he doesn’t think he’s as repudiated as other hated sports figures in New York.  

“I’m nowhere near Trae Young-level,” he said with a menacing smirk in reference to the guard who helped lead his former team, the Atlanta Hawks, past the Knicks in five games in 2021. Young remains a favorite target of vulgar chants from Knicks fans at MSG even when he’s not in the arena.

Members of the Spurs earlier Tuesday received a chorus of boos — with some of the loudest reserved for Wemby — when they left their hotel for the team bus.

And New Yorkers were also ready to swat down the slender man after he was spotted relaxing and drawing in Gramercy Park, apparently clearing his head before Game 3 and having been keyed into the park by an unknown accomplice.

“That pr–k should have never come in here in the first place,” said park regular John Little, 33. “He should have never come in here in the first place.”

He said during Game 3’s postgame press conference he didn’t even know the name of the famous green space.   

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“Who let him in? Whoever gave him the key needs to be doxxed,” said Knicks fan Mario Mendez.

A worker at the park speculated he might have had a pal let him into the park.

“Everybody is talking about it,” the worker said. “A lot of people who come here don’t have a key and they have a friend. They said he was taking a lot of pictures.” 

The Big Apple has been a buzz during the Knicks’ magical and dominant postseason run, leaving New Yorkers to embrace the Knickerbockers – and direct their ire at everyone else.

A worker at the Midtown Manhattan NBA Store on Tuesday afternoon warned a customer holding a Wembanyama jersey, “I hope you don’t plan on wearing that, this is New York City.”

“It’s not his time,” she added.

Shouts out to everybody who reads and enjoys and comments on the Knicks Bulletin pieces at P&T.

Y’all keep it going even though my Kindle died in the making of this, the longest-ever edition of it.

You bet karma will make up for it tonight. Knicks in five!

Mike Brown

On returning to their winning offensive principles after the Game 3 loss:

“We have to play to what our concepts or play to what our strengths are. It’s been pace, it’s been space, it’s been getting the ball reversed, it’s been touching the paint, and more importantly it’s been making quick decisions. There were a lot of times where the decisions weren’t made quick last night. One guy caught, held, held, held, held, held. Now the defense settles in. Now you’re in trouble.”

On addressing execution and spacing after Game 3:

“Just telling the guys the truth. Not just verbally, but doesn’t matter if it’s Jalen, KAT, OG, Mikal, we’ll show them what we feel we need to show them on film. Then we’ll walk through certain things to make sure that the spacing’s right, the timing’s right of our execution.”

On the Game 3 offensive stagnation:

“There were a lot of times where the decisions weren’t made quick last night. One guy caught, held, held, held, held, held. Now the defense settles in. Now you’re in trouble. Making quick decisions while doing all those other things can help us out a lot, on top of me trying to help make sure that these guys are organized a little bit better.”

On getting Karl-Anthony Towns more involved going forward:

“It’s extremely important that [Towns] is getting touches, that he’s involved, not just in the fourth quarter, but obviously throughout the ballgame. I got to continue trying to do a better job of getting him involved throughout the course of the game, as well as late.”

On the team’s response to the Game 3 loss:

“We have a veteran group. Nobody is quote-unquote ‘panicking’ or anything like that. Everybody is disappointed that we didn’t go out and execute and play to what we feel our standard is. That’s not taking anything away from San Antonio, but we feel like we can play a lot better than what we did.”

On pace, space and quick decisions:

“It’s been pace, it’s been space, it’s been getting the ball reversed, it’s been touching the paint, and more importantly, it’s been making quick decisions. There were a lot of times where the decisions weren’t made quick last night. One guy caught, held, held, held, held, held. Now the defense settles in. Now you’re in trouble.”

Jalen Brunson

On taking accountability after the Game 3 loss:

“Most importantly, [I have to] not turn the ball over, give my team an opportunity. Kind of in the middle. I’ve played better, but also I’ve played worse.”

On sticking together for Game 4:

“No matter what the situation is, we’re going to stick together. We’re going to execute, we’re going to be better. That’s just how our mindset has to be going forward. You never really know what the situation’s going to be. You never know how the script is going to play out. As long as we have each other’s back and we keep fighting, that’s what we hope for.”

On growth through adversity:

“Each game, no matter what the situation is, we’re growing as a team. I think we’re learning and we’re getting better. Obviously, before last night. No matter what the situation is, we’re going to stick together. We’re going to execute, we’re going to be better. That’s just how our mindset has to be going forward. You never really know what the situation’s going to be. You never know how the script is going to play out. As long as we have each other’s back and we keep fighting, that’s what we hope for.”

On the need for staying disciplined against San Antonio:

“There’s a way for us to do things we have to do, the things that we’ve done throughout these playoffs. They’re just game plan discipline. I don’t think the discipline we had in those situations was good enough. We just got to be disciplined in those moments.”

On Karl-Anthony Towns as a teammate and person:

“He’s been a great teammate. He’s been a very great teammate. But most importantly, the person he is is fantastic. Like, he’s a person who is willing to do whatever to kind of help out, whether he knows you well or not. That’s just who his character is, that’s just who he is. That translates on the court. I didn’t really know him as well back then. Getting to know him now, it’s an unfair narrative of him, but I truly love that dude and everything he’s done for this team, this city and as a friend. He’s been fantastic.”

On tightening up offensively:

“Our attention to detail needs to be better.”

On his relationship with Rick Brunson:

“Our family relationship is awesome. I know when to decipher when he’s being a coach and when he’s being a dad. When we’re on the court, that’s coach. I still call him dad, but he’s a coach then. As soon as we get off the court, that’s obviously my father. Our relationship is very unique. It’s interesting how people perceive that, perceive us. I wouldn’t change anything for the world. My dad being a journeyman in the NBA, us living in South Jersey most of my childhood while he played. So being able to see my dad for the last four years consecutively is probably the longest it’s ever been. I don’t take this for granted at all. I love this relationship and this opportunity. I don’t take it for granted.”

Karl-Anthony Towns

On executing better late in games:

“We have a game plan, and we want to execute it. So just trying to execute our game plan, especially when we get in the fourth, is vital, and just doing what I can to execute it at the highest level.”

On restoring ball movement to the one from the 13-game winning streak:

“Execute our game plan and get back to what’s made us special — that ball movement and getting the ball zipping around the court, and allowing it to judge who shoots the ball. So I think we have to get back to the details and our fundamentals that made us special in the 13-game winning streak.”

On the lack of execution in Game 3:

“I just saw us not executing the little details that made us special. The game they brought to MSG yesterday, we didn’t meet their level. The details that made us special, we were too relaxed in them, and we didn’t execute them at the level that you guys are used to seeing. So doing that and also just the fundamentals of what our team is and how we play, we didn’t do that for 48 minutes. It’s something that has got us that 13-game winning streak. Playing around with the game against a great team, you’re asking for a disaster, and that’s what we got.”

On failing with fourth-quarter execution and ball movement in Game 3:

“I think it’s a combination. We have a game plan, and we want to execute it. So just trying to execute our game plan, especially when we get in the fourth, is vital, and just doing what I can to execute it at the highest level. We’ve got to pick up the ball movement, for sure. We have to. Two, we have, what, 13 games in a row, 50 days of film to show what it looks like when we’re at our best. So we’ve got good film. We’ll get back to our fundamentals, what makes us great, what made us great, and get back to work tomorrow.”

On friendship with Brunson:

“Did he say that with Josh around or no? Ooh, Josh is going to be jealous. I think our friendship is built off of respect. We’ve had so much respect for each other as opponents, and now to be teammates, spending true time with each other as teammates. I’ve always said, we spend more time with each other than our families, our kids. So to see who we truly are on a day-to-day basis and how we truly treat people and the things that the media says, is it true, is it not, and you’re getting to see firsthand what the truth really is. I’m glad I’ve been able to not only earn his respect even more as a basketball player, but as a man. For him to appreciate the advice I give him on the daily, in daily life and things I see, it means a lot.”

On the violence in the streets of NYC after Game 3:

“The game is built off of respect and passion. We want everyone to respect each other. We want everyone to enjoy basketball at its purest state. It’s the NBA Finals. There’s no better place to watch basketball. Leave the physicality to everyone on the court.”

Josh Hart

On adjusting defensively against San Antonio’s guards:

“I’m sure we’re going to change some things and switch up some schemes to protect the paint. Obviously, those guys are very dynamic when they touch the paint.”

On Game 3 being a battle:

“We knew this was gonna be a battle. They played very well, and you gotta give them credit for that.”

On learning from the loss:

“We didn’t play to the best of our capabilities, and I think that’s the frustrating part because we knew we didn’t play our best basketball. We learned from film today, and we’ll be better tomorrow.”

On the value of watching film:

“You wanna watch kind of as much film as you can or get as much information as you can to then go out there and play to that. Obviously, you want to play with your instincts as a basketball player that you’ve been playing the game for such a long time, but certain situations, you want to have that information so certain plays you can try to deter them from getting to their spots.”

On the team’s shortcomings in their first Finals loss:

“We didn’t play to the best of our capabilities, and I think that’s the frustrating part because we knew we didn’t play our best basketball. We learned from film today, and we’ll be better tomorrow.”

On adjusting schemes and watching film to fix errors in Game 4:

“I’m sure we’re going to change some things and switch up some schemes to protect the paint. Obviously, those guys are very dynamic when they touch the paint. You wanna watch kind of as much film as you can or get as much information as you can to then go out there and play to that. Obviously, you want to play with your instincts as a basketball player that you’ve been playing the game for such a long time, but certain situations, you want to have that information so certain plays you can try to deter them from getting to their spots.”

On why Jalen Brunson fits New York so naturally:

“Because I don’t think he came in that way. He doesn’t care about it. He just wants to win. When you have that humility, all the other stuff takes care of itself.”

On what defines Knicks basketball:

“Toughness, grit, physicality, energy, clutch plays — I think that’s what you think of when you think of Knicks basketball. That’s something that we want to do. We want to come out with energy. We want to come out with physicality and be focused on the game plan. Especially with the guys that we have in the locker room, we’re going to make plays. We’re going to make big plays. We’re going to do those kind of things. That’s kind of our brand — playing fast and having fun.”

OG Anunoby

On the Game 3 turnovers and sloppiness:

“Our attention to detail needs to be better. We were making turnovers that were uncharacteristic of us, just being sloppy with the ball, not being on the same page. Throughout the course of a game stuff like that happens, so we’re just gonna try and clean it up.”

Mikal Bridges

On hearing fan criticism:

“There might be times — I’ve been here for two years, and I feel like they’ve been on me a little bit. But the thing is, obviously, some can be extreme, but the real fans, there’s nothing else you want more [than to hear from them] because I know personally … if I’m going through some struggle, I know I’m trying to do whatever in my power to be better. They stand on me and they want better, so they’re going to demand it. I’ve got nothing wrong with tough love.”

On his Game 3 performance:

“I played a terrible game, not playing defense well, fouling, being in foul trouble. I know, personally, I’ve got to be better. I know I’m going to do whatever it takes to be ready for Game 4.”

Jose Alvarado

On Victor Wembanyama’s no-call in Game 3 and making up for it:

“I think that’s not basketball. That’s something that they gotta look at. But [Wembanyama] got away with one. That’ll be the last one.”

Deuce McBride

On former Knicks sharing in the current run attending home and road games:

“They’ve been with us, you know, my whole five years here — it’s not just showing up when we’re winning. They’ve been with us through a lot. So shout out to them and obviously everything they did. We just want to get the job done for them.”

Jordan Clarkson

On the team’s lack of execution in Game 3:

“I think it was maybe just a little bit of, you know, antsiness — us trying to make plays faster. I think as a team, it’s just something we look at and we change […] I just think it was us, you know? Coming back home. Playing this game. A lot of energy.”

Monty McCutchen (NBA Head of Officiating)

On admitting the refs missed Wemby’s flagrant foul on Brunson:

“I think we can all agree that a foul was missed on that play. A big part of our job is on-ball, off-ball exchanges between referees. We did a poor job of that here, where we got two people on-ball, and we don’t see the screening action. If we break down in our fundamentals, in even the smallest amounts, we have the opportunity to miss a clear foul, as we missed here.”

Mitch Johnson

On the Spurs’ strong mentality despite their youth:

“I understand the discourse around it, but that’s not an age thing or an experience thing, that’s a makeup and a personality thing.”

On forcing late-clock shots:

“We’ve forced them to take a lot of shots at the end of clock. They’ve made a lot of those shots. There’s some give and take there. I think we’ve shown that we can be impactful when we’re connected and doing it the right way.”

De’Aaron Fox

On the Spurs simply playing physical playoff basketball:

“If you get hit, you hit back. That’s life. If life hits you, you need to figure out a way to get on your feet and hit it back. Every time he rolls, he gets tagged, he gets hit. If he’s trying to go set a screen, box out, whatever it may be, he’s getting grabbed, he’s getting held. It would be crazy for him to think he’s going to get open by not hitting somebody. You know that team’s going to be physical with you, so you go out there and you try to hit first.”

On defending late-clock shots:

“If you’re playing 21, 22 seconds of great defense, they make a shot, tap ’em on the butt, good job. That’s where we want to live. We want to live in the area of them trying to take tough shots at the end of the shot clock. If they’re making them, so be it. Usually the numbers are in our favor if we’re getting them to play that deep into the shot clock.”

On Victor Wembanyama’s response in Game 3:

“I would say it’s the way that everybody would think a great player would react. Obviously, he was upset with himself. It’s not even, like I said, about the missed shots. He would get on himself more about the turnover at the end of the game. Those things happen. There was definitely no inkling that I thought he wouldn’t come out here and respond the way that he did.”

Victor Wembanyama

On Knicks-Spurs fans’ altercations:

“We’re just playing a game out there. I’m all for passion, but to the respect of each other. My thoughts of course [are] that we can’t forget it’s a game. We’re just playing a game out there. I am all for passion, but [with] the respect of each other. It’s unacceptable.”

Julian Champagnie

On fan behavior following Game 3:

“It’s just not necessary. No one should be coming to the game and getting assaulted like that. It’s not what we’re promoting. It’s not what we’re playing for. I feel we’re here to play a basketball game. That’s the main thing. I feel like for the fans, it should never be that serious where you have to jump people, beat people up, follow people home. Whether we win, they win, it doesn’t really matter. Everybody should be able to come and enjoy the game, no matter who they’re rooting for.”

Stephon Castle

On dictating pace and control being key for their Game 3 win:

“For the most part, we kind of dictate where we . want to go on the courtI think that’s a skill that me and [Harper] both have, and it’s very useful. We’ve just got to keep continuing to use it. I don’t think we’ve let the defense force us to do anything all year.”

Dylan Harper

On his shooting struggles in Game 3:

“I feel like every night is not going to be your night. [In Game 3], I couldn’t make a shot. That’s just the reality of the game. I’m going to keep on shooting them because the confidence I have in myself, the confidence the team has in me. I can’t really hang my head too much because we’ve got a lot more basketball to be played.”

On the MSG environment:

“It’s my first time in New York, walking out and getting booed. I can say that. It’s kind of been every series. I think [in Oklahoma City during the Western Conference Finals, we got booed a little bit. Not really much in Minnesota and Portland. But I feel like it’s New York, [a] hostile environment. I don’t think it would feel the same if it wasn’t this hostile.”

Keldon Johnson

On fan safety:

“We don’t want to sacrifice safety over a game of basketball that we love. We go out there and compete every night and we value safety, and I feel like that’s one through 15 on this side and one through 15 on that side. We don’t want to see people get hurt. We don’t want to see any type of violence coming into the game of basketball. This is a beautiful sport, we put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into it, and it’s not what we want to see. We don’t want to see violence. We want to see everyone healthy and happy. Obviously have passion for the team you’re rooting for. There’s nothing wrong with that, but I feel like when health and safety comes into the balance, you’ve got to draw the line.”

Harrison Barnes

On safety concerns:

“Safety for everyone involved is the most important thing, right? Nobody’s trying to have any type of altercation or any type of serious injury outside of the floor. For the respect of the game, for the respect of why we’re all here — to witness great basketball — I don’t think fans attending games, fans going to watch parties or anything like that, should have to fear for their safety.”

Latrell Sprewell

On seeing Brunson as a kid around the Knicks:

“They used to let the kids run around on the court and just take over after the game. So I remember Jalen running around with my son and Little Pat.”

On Brunson being built for big moments:

“Jalen’s made for these moments. None of these moments are too big for him.”

Jamal Crawford

On why Brunson thrives in New York:

“He’s comfortable there. They empowered him. They believed in him. He’s got guys on the team from Villanova that he knows and who fit his play style. He’s got his dad on the bench who knows exactly what buttons to push to get him going. He knows Leon. So with that comfortability, I think you’re going to get the best of him.”

Patrick Ewing

On what it takes to succeed in New York:

“The thing about this city, Jalen. It’s not just about what you accomplish here. But how you accomplish it. Like a true New Yorker, you dare people to doubt you – and go about your business.”

Walt Frazier

On the atmosphere at MSG:

“It’s like a family reunion with what the Knicks are doing at home games. It’s very rewarding that they appreciate what we’ve done in the past and what we have meant to the team. They are not forgetting us with the team success. They’ve made us a part of it. All the decades are represented. And they know the struggle.”

Channing Frye

On Mike Brown sharpening the entire roster:

“What Mike Brown has done, is he’s sharpened every tool in the shed. Previous coaches have only sharpened one and said, ‘Hey, this sword has to be the sharpest.’ He said, ‘Nope, I’ve got a sword, knife, spear, shield, fork, spork. I got everybody.’ Right? Look at the team. Landry Shamet comes in and you would think he’s the second coming of Steph Curry in some games.”

On Brown having counters off the bench:

“So now, Mike Brown has counters to counters. If you want to do this, guess what? I got the green light for Landry Shamet right here. Oh, you want to change the pace of the game? I got Jose Alvarado right here. Oh, you want to get us in the bonus? I got Mitchell Robinson, a great offensive rebounder. And you keep going down the bench, and everybody is activated and ready and accepting of their role. Where before — it’d be like, ‘What am I going in for like a minute? To do nothing?’ It’s impossible to ask people to do that. All season long it’s impossible to ask people to do that.”

On Brown being the fall guy in Sacramento:

“I think coaches get hired and fired 1,000 times. Look at the dysfunction in Sacramento. You could have Phil Jackson, Red Auerbach on the bench with Popovich, you’re not getting anything out of that team. They’re just not built like that and he was the fall guy. Looking back at what he did, Mike Brown was crazy successful in Sacramento.”

On the Knicks’ culture and Brown fitting Brunson:

“The Knicks front office went and got guys that understand [the] heartbeat of New York, that understand the fans, they understand the pressure that it is to play as a Knick. So they establish culture. Then you establish an alpha male in Jalen Brunson. Then you bring in the talent, which is Karl-Anthony Towns. I’ve gone on the record saying he’s the second- or third-best big in the NBA if Giannis [Antetokounmpo] is playing or not playing. And when they went on Mike Brown — he’s been around the league, but he’s the best coach to get if you have a 6-[foot-]5-or-under point guard to put him in a system where him and everyone else has an opportunity to play. And don’t feel like they’re watching him. And that’s because they’re starting to run a lot of Golden State sets. Nobody is thinking about that.”

John Starks

On former players sitting courtside:

“I sit down there, Larry sits down there, and a few guys sit down there when they’re in town. The excitement we were generating down there going back to the Indiana series, I think everyone kind of picked up on that. TV picked up on us getting up, cheering the team on, and it kind of grew out of that. It showed that these guys are still valuable to the organization. [So the Knicks] keep bringing them back.”

On Jim Dolan providing courtside seats:

“You got to thank Jim [Dolan] for that because those are some expensive seats down there that he’s giving up for the players. But he sees what it means to the Knicks fans and players in general, so he is like, ‘OK, let’s roll with it.’ And we’ve been rolling with it ever since. [Dolan] could have said, ‘Here is some seats up here.’ No. He has us front and center. It’s been good.”

On other teams trying to replicate it:

“You see it all around the league now, which is good. But they can’t look like ours. I notice that [other teams] don’t sit [former players] baseline. They sit them in the stands somewhere.”

Larry Johnson

On “Alumni Row” and reconnecting:

“Marcus [Camby] and ‘Spree’ [Latrell Sprewell] I hadn’t seen in 20, 25 years. And even Kurt Thomas, I hadn’t seen in 20-25 years. I saw Marcus and Spree last year. Same goes with Chris Childs, started coming back this year. And we got Charlie Ward at a couple games this year.”

Carmelo Anthony

On the Knicks’ alumni presence:

“For one, I don’t think nobody else could do it. I haven’t seen no other organization do that. It’s only in New York where I’ve seen them bring back the legends of the game. Once a Knick, always a Knick. Everybody is sitting there. You got Clyde at the table calling the game. P.E. [Patrick Ewing] to Starks to my generation watching the new generation. It’s super fun. You become a fan. You become a fan of the [former Knicks]. You become a fan of Bernard King sitting next to Pat and talking about when he used to play, sitting next to [Stephon] Marbury talking about when he used to play. That camaraderie. You can’t buy that.”

Iman Shumpert

On the MSG environment:

“It’s sort of like a family vibe that happens at MSG. You don’t get it in other places.”

Stephon Marbury

On the Knicks alumni culture:

“There is nothing on earth like what the Knicks alumni does for the players who have worn this jersey, whether they started their career here or ended it elsewhere. Once you’re part of this family, that legendary slogan becomes real, because it’s true, it’s authentic, and it’s alive. No matter who you are, Dolan makes sure you stay in the family. And in this family, it’s one family, always family. Once a Knick, always a Knick.”

On Victor Wembanyama’s shove of Jalen Brunson:

“Wemby is an international player, okay, (and) they play dirty overseas, just so you know. We’re not used to playing dirty in America the way how Wemby just now threw Jalen Brunson. Now, if I’m watching film and I see Wemby throw somebody like that on my team… the next game, I’m gonna pop him in his rib cage so hard with my elbow that he’s going to fall and drop to the ground and he’s going to wish he never put his hands on me. So next game, I guarantee you, after y’all watch film what he did to Jalen Brunson… you better make sure you put that knife in his neck. That’s where it’s at. [Wembanyama] said he was going to come in and win Game 2. He did exactly what he was supposed to do. So make sure you take know and next game you bring that same energy, alright?”

Jeremy Lin

On this Knicks run:

“I don’t think I know enough about the history of the older teams to fully know. But forget the Knicks, this is one of the most dominant runs we’ve seen in NBA history.”

On Jalen Brunson:

“He is starting to get [the attention] now and definitely deserves it. I don’t think enough people are talking about him giving up $113 million to build a team full of players that want to win. I think that speaks volumes. That’s also historic. It’s not talked about enough. Now he’s starting to get some of the recognition he deserves as a player, but he’s the consummate teammate and professional.”

On Karl-Anthony Towns:

“It’s huge because, one, he’s rising to the occasion. Two, he’s doing it on the defensive end as well. Three, he has turned up his playmaking abilities. We’re seeing three different areas of KAT that had certain narratives already written about him, so credit to him. And from all of his interviews, he seems so centered, so grateful. It has been great to see.”

On finishing the job:

“Obviously, it’s not over until they finish the job. If they don’t finish the job then that will forever be a knock. Until this point, their run is about as dominant as it gets.”

Rick Pitino

On the Game 3 atmosphere at MSG:

“It was unreal. The fans were up. I’d say I was on my feet for 90% of the game, and that’s the type of magic it was.”

On Spurs’ physical approach:

“I think San Antonio last night knew what to do to win that game from a coaching standpoint, strategy standpoint, that was extremely physical…It was a game like it was when I was coaching the Knicks. It was back then they allowed physicality.”

Q-Tip

On Brunson embodying New York point guard ethos:

“New York City is a place that historically loves a point guard, and Jalen Brunson represents a true point guard ethos. His leadership and his ability to take over the game with a gritty, New York City guile, is quintessential New York City point guard play.”

Chuck D

On being a fan and staying quiet around pros:

“I’m what they call a fan, but when the pros and ex-players talk, I just sit quietly because there’s a lot of talk by everybody. Everybody’s got a podcast, everybody’s got analysis and all that. I just watch, and the only thing I bring to the game is I’ve been a fan since the ’60s.”

On being an illustrator and working on speed:

“I’m an illustrator. Illustrators are different from painters; I can work big and I do paint well, but what you see are illustrations. I have the speed of an anime cartoonist, and I worked on my speed during the pandemic. Everybody was inside, so the only thing I worked on was the speed. And when you’re an illustrator, you don’t have to work with accuracy.”

On comparing Wembanyama to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar:

“Wemby is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar all over again. People are like, ‘Oh man, we’ve never seen anything like this.’ That’s evolution, man; this ain’t revolution. … It could be like, ‘He dribbles the ball like Allen Iverson,’ and that’s not what we grew up with, but that’s evolution.”

On making the game easy against a dominant star:

“You know what old coaches always say? You gotta make the game easy. You gotta make it come to you. When (Wembanyama) gets to the point where he learns and he’s unstoppable, teams are gonna figure out how to neutralize that, because one man can’t beat five.”

On Wembanyama’s long-term outlook:

“Wemby is going to have an unbelievable career if he’s healthy and stays out of the way. But if he is healthy, it depends on how easy the game is for him as opposed to hard. You could get hurt in this modern game real quick.”

On Knicks fans expecting to be hated if they win:

“Yeah, we know it’s a one-year honeymoon, because if the Knicks do win, then they’re gonna be hated by everybody next year. And Knicks fans expect that.”

Spike Lee

On getting his first season tickets after the 1985 draft lottery:

“I got my season tickets the morning after Dave DeBusschere pulled out the — I don’t know if it was hold or cold envelope, I don’t know. And I jumped on the subway, and I slept on line. So I’ve had season tickets since Patrick Ewing’s rookie year. But I didn’t start courtside.”

Fran Lebowitz

On Brunson personifying New York toughness:

“New York is a hard place to live in. Just getting to the dry cleaners – if you can find one – is a triumph. Jalen Brunson is the personification of New York – he’s smart, he’s talented, and he won’t take no for an answer. He’s us – except he’s very good at basketball.”

Draymond Green

On the narrative around Towns’ intensity:

“A lot of guys in the league has had a problem with KAT because a lot of guys have felt like he don’t play hard enough, he don’t play tough enough, he don’t play with the intensity that most people want to see. And I think in watching these playoffs, he’s changed that entirely, and it’s the key to why they’re having the success that they’ve had.”

Charles Barkley

On the Knicks’ slow starts:

“Mike Brown got to get his team together, and ask, ‘Why are we getting punched in the face first in every game?’ Like the Spurs have gotten off to great starts in every game. You come home, you got one of the craziest environments I’ve ever been in and you still come out and you get off to a bad start. You can’t play from behind, even though they got lucky in the first two games and won. For some reason, they’re coming out not ready to play.”

On Brown’s comments on the Game 3 officiating:

“He should’ve stopped at, ‘We didn’t play well.’ They did not play well enough to win the game. The Spurs out-played them tonight.”

On Trump allegedly jinxing the Knicks:

“No, s*** no. That had nothing to do with it. I thought the Spurs outplayed them.”

DeMarcus Cousins

On the Knicks’ best players in the series:

“The best player in this series for the Knicks, as of right now, is KAT. The 2nd-best is OG [Anunoby]. The 3rd, we can possibly go and say Brunson.”

Chandler Parsons

On Wembanyama’s dirtiness:

“I’d rather him do this than flopping and foul baiting. He’s got to be careful, though. This type of stuff will get you tossed from a game, and then your team has zero chance.”

Lou Williams

On Victor Wembanyama’s physical play:

“Give credit where it’s due. Wemby’s starting to do a lot of dirty s–t.”

Fat Joe

On the current Knicks’ historic numbers:

“The statistics right now are saying this is the greatest New York team ever.”

On comparing this run to past Knicks seasons:

“So when you say — what we got, 13 [wins] in a row? Look, we’ve had a little bit of bad luck in the past … so everybody’s, like, tentative. But if you really compare these stats, this team’s looking like … I don’t even wanna tell you. Do you see the numbers? Let’s just wait ‘til it’s over. But right now, if you analyze the numbers, we might be looking at the greatest team ever. If you analyze the numbers. I’m not making this up.”

Jadakiss

On what defines a true New York team:

“A New York team has to have grit, you know what I mean? We always need grit. You need a good point guard. You need a good big man. You need a good coach. You need a little bit of luck. You need a glue player, like Josh. You need a decent bench like we have. And you need the New York fans.”

Stephen A. Smith

On Jalen Brunson’s Game 3:

“Jalen Brunson He’s a superstar in this game, he’s one of the clutch players, he’s ‘Mr. Clutch’, he’s a closer we know how lucky we are to have him, we know go great he is it’s just one game. But last night I said ‘Jalen Brunson, I got to put this loss on him just as much as anybody.’

“You launched double the amount of shots of Karl-Anthony Towns. You shot more than Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart combined. Karl-Anthony Towns, you didn’t find him pretty much all game long. They went small for crying out loud. You had an opportunity to exploit that and take advantage by getting the ball to Karl-Anthony Towns. You didn’t do that.

“We know how lucky we are to have him, how great he is. It’s just one game. But last night I said something about him last night that I never thought I’d say. I thought it looked like he was playing to win Finals MVP than he was playing to win Game 3.”

On OG Anunoby’s need for more involvent:

“OG Anunoby had 28 points on 13 shots. How do you not find OG Anunoby more considering the level of accuracy and efficiency that he was showing?”

On No. 47 attending Game 3:

“Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. How you doing? Our president showed up in New York City last night. And needless to say, what I feared would happen ended up happening. The New York Knicks lost. And obviously, I’m blaming him. If it was that important for you to be there, why did you look like you were asleep? Didn’t you call our former President Joe Biden sleepy Joe? Well, what should we call you?”

“New York Knicks haven’t won a title since 1973. At that time, our president was 26 years of age. He was not a toddler. He was not a child. He was there. He was there in ’70 when Willis Reed walked through the tunnel. He was there in 1973 when Walt Clyde Frazier dropped 30 plus in a Game 7. And now the New York Knicks have to go back to San Antonio. Why? For a game five. Why? Because you got in the way for your own selfish, narcissistic motives.”