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How should the Yankees align their outfield without Aaron Judge?

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 04: Cody Bellinger #35 talks to Trent Grisham #12 of the New York Yankees during the game against the Cleveland Guardians at Yankee Stadium on June 4, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images

When the Yankees announced Aaron Judge would miss significant time with a right rib fracture, the most immediate concerns centered on the team’s offense. They’ve often struggled to score on the occasions when Judge has missed time, and with a number of bats playing below their standards to start the year, there was an understandable worry that the lineup would struggle without their captain.

But the impacts of Judge’s absence are far-reaching, and his injury also has forced the Yankees to answer interesting questions about their defensive alignment. How exactly should the Yankees align their outfield with Judge down?

There are seemingly endless permutations the Yankees can evaluate. The foundation of their outfield without Judge will consist of Cody Bellinger and Trent Grisham, with both players having the ability to play across the outfield, though Bellinger is the only one who has consistently played at multiple positions in recent years. Beyond those two, the Yankees have a number of players across the roster and returning from injury to consider, including Spencer Jones, Max Schuemann, infielders who can also play corner outfield like Jose Caballero and Amed Rosario, and the recovering Jasson Domínguez and Giancarlo Stanton (even if the latter is very unlikely to actually play the field coming off a calf injury).

So far, the Yankees have stayed committed to two-thirds of their Opening Day construction with Bellinger in left and Grisham in center. They’ve rotated options in right, with Caballero, Jones, and Schuemann all getting some time there in the last week. Domínguez’s impending return complicates things further; the Martian has struggled in the cavernous left field in Yankee Stadium, yet also has limited experience in the other corner.

What should the Yankees prioritize among all these variables? Bellinger’s excellence in left? Should they give Jones a run in center, the mammoth prospect having come through the minors with decent grades on his glove? And how should they handle Domínguez? His bat could prove useful with Judge out, but his defensive home is not easy to find.

The good news is the Yankees have options to weather the storm. The bad news (other than the fact that Judge will be out for several weeks) is that there’s no obvious way to align their outfielder without their captain. What would you do in Aaron Boone’s shoes?

It’ll be a fairly light day on the site today, with Sam previewing the series with the Guardians this morning, and Andrew recapping Sunday’s American League action. Later, the latest entry in our Yankee Birthday series will feature Tacks Neuer, and Madison will put out the call for the mailbag ahead of the 6:40 pm EST start for tonight’s game.

Today’s Matchup

New York Yankees vs. Cleveland Guardians

Time: 6:40 p.m. EST

Video: YES Network, Guardians.tv, FS1

Venue: Progressive Field, Cleveland, OH

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Cavs final report card: Koby Altman and front office

CLEVELAND, OHIO - FEBRUARY 11: President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on prior to a game against the Washington Wizards at Rocket Arena on February 11, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images

We’re beginning our end-of-season review series for the Cleveland Cavaliers. This time, we’re going to go with the report card format.

As is the case with our postgame report cards, a “B” grade represents a player or group meeting their standards.

We’ll start with Koby Altman and the front office.

Key moves

  • Traded Isaac Okoro for Lonzo Ball.
  • Didn’t re-sign Ty Jerome
  • Re-signed Sam Merrill
  • Signed Thomas Bryant
  • Signed Larry Nance Jr.
  • Drafted Tyrese Proctor
  • Traded De’Andre Hunter for Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis
  • Traded Darius Garland for James Harden

The Cavs had more postseason success this year than they have at any point since LeBron James left for Los Angeles. That’s an accomplishment.

The front office played a large role in that happening. They reshaped the roster at the deadline to one that could win multiple playoff rounds. However, that overhaul was only needed because of their missteps over the last few years. Additionally, the runway for success has been significantly shortened. They deserve criticism for that.

In many ways, the Cavs tried to build a roster to compete against the 2025 Indiana Pacers — a team they would never face again.

The plan last offseason was to increase their versatility at the expense of specialty players like Okoro and Jerome. This trade-off took away some of the intangibles that made the previous group special.

They weren’t the free-flowing motion offense that defined the 64-win version. Instead, they were mostly a jump shooting team that had very few on-ball playmakers. The Cavs didn’t lose their free-flowing offensive identity after the Garland trade — as he suggested last week — they simply never established it at all this year.

This season’s plan fell apart shortly after takeoff. Ball, Nance, and Bryant didn’t provide much versatility, with the main failure being Ball.

Injuries zapped Ball of being a productive player at all. He wasn’t able to get into the paint, and the outside shot abandoned him. Additionally, the defensive versatility wasn’t there due to his diminished lateral quickness. In the end, this all led to Ball not even being in the league by the end of the season.

These failed acquisitions, in addition to the team’s overall injuries, exposed the lack of playable depth during the regular season.

The front office made the best of a bad situation at the deadline. However, it was a mess they created over the past several years.

The Cavs made the wrong bet on Hunter at the previous deadline. He was supposed to solve the team’s ongoing issue at the wing and did for a short time, but it didn’t carry over to this year.

Hunter was bad this season for the Cavs. Fourteen points per game on .423/.308/.869 shooting splits isn’t worth $21.6 million for a team in the second apron. This is in addition to Hunter providing little to no value on the defensive end. Saving some money while finding much-needed depth was the right thing to do, but it was more of a band-aid than a solution to the real issue.

Now, they’re left in a worse spot on the wing than they were before the initial Hunter deal. The Cavs have fewer assets and are at risk of losing Dean Wade, their only truly capable wing defender, in free agency. There are limited avenues to improve on the wing outside of trading a member of the core four, or hoping LeBron decides to come home in free agency for less money than he’s worth.

The Harden trade was a somewhat similar situation.

The real issue was that this version of Garland isn’t worth a max contract based on how he’s looked after the toe injury. But even before the injury, there were reasons to be skeptical of his fit next to Donovan Mitchell well before this past trade deadline.

The front office continually dug its heels in with the previous core four group, despite warning signs that the talent didn’t mesh. Instead of moving Garland when he had more value — as he did in 2024 — they were forced to trade a hobbled version in addition to a second-round pick just to bring back a 36-year-old Harden.

On their own, none of the moves that the front office made this season were indefensible. Trading Okoro for Ball was a worthwhile gamble at the time, not re-signing Jerome made sense, and the moves at the deadline were correct in the moment. Only when you zoom out do the issues become clear.

The Cavs have the highest-paid team in the league, and still have a lot of the same issues that have haunted them each of their past postseason runs, despite winning three more playoff games this year. Except now, they have far fewer avenues to improve, and they have a much more condensed runway to compete.

Realistically, this group has two more years to be a threat to win the conference. That’s a timeline they imposed on themselves. And figuring out how to make the leap is harder now than ever.

The mistakes of the past caught up to the Cavs this year and could haunt them for the remainder of this era unless something drastically changes.

Grade: C-

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Pirates Brandon Lowe avoids major injury, “good to go whenever”

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JUNE 7: Brandon Lowe #5 of the Pittsburgh Pirates reacts after a double during the ninth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on June 7, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) | Getty Images

There was a collective gasp from Pirates’ fans on Saturday evening when second baseman Brandon Lowe was unable to exit the field under his own power after a deflected foul ball met his kneecap in Atlanta. Luckily for Pittsburgh and for Lowe the temporary scare is as bad as it’s going to get as no major injury was sustained.

General Manager Ben Cherington revealed on Sunday ahead of the team’s contest against the Braves that Lowe had not suffered any kind of significant injury.

“Tests last night were negative for any sort of fracture,” Cherington said. “He got hit pretty good, he’s pretty sore and right now, we’re looking at this as a day-to-day thing and hopeful that we’ll see him back in there against the Dodgers at some point.”

Despite Cherington describing Lowes’ situation as day-to-day, it took less than 24 hours for “Bam Bam” to be right back in the mix. In a tight contest against the Braves, Lowe told Pirates’ manager Don Kelly that he was “good to go whenever” in the event that the team needed a pinch hitter. Kelly took Lowe up on his offer in the top of the ninth, as the injured second baseman pinch hit to lead off the Pirates in the last frame. Despite not being able to walk off the field less than a day before, Lowe came up big in his relief appearance, as he crushed a double into deep right field. Cruz was the pinch runner for Lowe, and despite the Pirates’ loss, the team wouldn’t have likely been in such a good position were it not for Lowe stepping up.

Kelly was complimentary of Lowe postgame.

“Huge after last night,” Kelly said. “He came up with a big hit.”

The team is hopeful that Lowe will be able to contribute in the team’s upcoming series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, as he’s been one of the team’s top contributors on offense. This season the 31-year-old is slashing .252/.336/.522 and has 15 home runs. Without Lowe in the lineup, the Pirates would be missing their best power hitter of the season, and after being swept by the Braves, they need all the help they can get in the runs department.

Lowe avoiding a major injury is huge for his season and the success of the Pirates moving forward, especially considering the history he has with being sidelined. In 2023, Lowe had a very similar injury to his right knee when a deflected foul ball resulted in a fractured right-patella that ultimately ended his season prematurely. For the past four seasons in a row, Lowe has experienced some kind of injury that has kept him off the field for significant amounts of time. 2022 saw Lowe miss 97 games because of lower back tightness and a right tricep contusion.

The Pirates have a day off before their home series against Los Angeles gets underway, and Lowe is hopeful that the time off will have him feeling prepared to play against the Dodgers.

“This off-day lining up the way that it is is probably the best timing I could have ever hoped for, following something like this,” Lowe said. “Hopefully, my kids take it easy on me tomorrow and we show up on Tuesday ready to rock.”

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Rockets reveal new uniforms

The Rockets debuted new jerseys and a complete makeover late last week. This makes sense because the video was a follow-up to the Rockets account’s Twitter video, which featured Rudy Tomjanovich’s dinner and honored the ‘93-‘94 and ‘94-‘95 Rockets teams that wore the Ketchup and Mustard jerseys, making them a fan favorite remembered by Rockets fans worldwide, regardless of age. Finally, Ketchup and Mustard are back.

In addition to the Ketchup and Mustard jerseys, the Rockets also unveiled a new black alternate that will be their signature jerseys and a new pin-stripped version. The Rockets also changed their emblems, giving the famous Dunkstronaut and the trademark R a new border. I personally am glad they kept the Dunkstronaut.


“We heard our fans…Ketchup and mustard are back!” said Patrick Fertitta, Vice Chairman of the Houston Rockets and Comets. “From the time my family bought the team in 2017, we’ve heard from countless fans about how deeply those colors are tied to their memories of Rockets basketball. We wanted to create something that celebrates the generations of fans who built Rockets basketball while inspiring the next generation of Rockets fans.”

The Rockets will continue to promote their new design by holding a celebratory event at The George R. Brown Convention Center on Friday from 10 to 8 in honor of the new uniforms. The first 100 fans who spend $100 or more will receive a free T-shirt. Rudy Tomjanovich, Steve Francis, and Vernon Maxwell, who will sign autographs from 12-1, 2-3, and 4-5, respectively, are just a few of the many Rockets icons that will be present to sign autographs.

Having stated all of that, what are your thoughts? Are the jerseys appealing to you? Do you not like the jerseys? Tell me, and don’t forget to return to The Dream Shake for all Houston Rockets news.

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MLB power rankings: How far will Yankees slide without Aaron Judge?

Aaron Judge is such an impactful player, the New York Yankees must figure out how to recreate themselves without him.

And will they face an identity shift, or an identity crisis?

The Yankees lost three of their first five games without Judge after the 6-foot-7 slugger and three-time MVP was lost for several weeks with a stress fracture of the first rib on his right side. Now, they face a key six-game road swing to Cleveland and Toronto that may answer the question everyone's wondering: How good are they without him?

The Yankees slid one spot to No. 5 in USA TODAY Sports' power rankings, as an already muddled AL field gets even further complicated. That's not to say the Yankees will get pulled back to the pack. They'll simply have to lean a little more on a starting rotation that ranks fourth in the AL with a 3.12 ERA. And continue getting contributions from players like Jazz Chisholm, on a 19-game heater (four homers, .919 OPS).

And hope for positive updates on Judge.

A look at our updated rankings:

Aaron Judge is chasing a third consecutive AL MVP award in 2026.

1. Atlanta Braves (-)

  • Among the many reasons they call him Money Michael Harris II: He's 4-for-6 as a pinch-hitter, including a game-winner Sunday.

2. Los Angeles Dodgers (-)

  • Very fortunate a grisly collision didn't disrupt one of Max Muncy's finest seasons.

3. Milwaukee Brewers (+2)

  • The Jake Bauers Experience rolls on: He has a pair of four-walk games, has .376 OBP, .891 OPS.

4. Tampa Bay Rays (-1)

  • In a 3-10 funk, and their advantage over the Yankees has evaporated.

5. New York Yankees (-1)

  • Spencer Jones, still seeking first homer, goes 3-for-3 in first game following recall.

6. Cleveland Guardians (-)

  • Starters Gavin Williams, Parker Messick each building strong All-Star cases.

7. St. Louis Cardinals (+1)

  • Riley O'Brien's 17 saves rank second in majors.

8. Philadelphia Phillies (+7)

  • Cristopher Sanchez's amazing streak pushes Phillies' rotation to fourth-most innings pitched in NL.

9. San Diego Padres (-2)

  • Manny Machado sags to .169, .596 OPS. Perhaps "more analytics" is the answer?

10. Chicago White Sox (-1)

  • Randal Grichuk didn't join team until May but ranks sixth with 19 RBIs.

11. Seattle Mariners (+1)

  • Cal Raleigh's rehab assignment begins.

12. Chicago Cubs (-2)

  • Rotation savior Ben Brown has 1.74 ERA, hasn't given up homer in majors-best 56 2/3 innings.

13. Arizona Diamondbacks (-1)

  • Corbin Carroll nearly on a 30-homer pace.

14. Pittsburgh Pirates (-3)

  • Rotation stalwarts Mitch Keller, Braxton Ashcraft each give up six runs to No. 1 Atlanta.

15. Toronto Blue Jays (+3)

  • Say what? Fill-in catcher Brandon Valenzuela ranks second on team with seven home runs.

16. Cincinnati Reds (-4)

  • At least Matt McLain starting to awaken, pushing average over .200 and OPS from .614 to .671 in a week.

17. Texas Rangers (+3)

  • For the sixth time since May 2, they've pulled within a game of .500. Perhaps this time's the charm.

18. Washington Nationals (-1)

  • Marlins sweep in DC, series win at Arizona continues crazy home (12-20) and road (21-13) fortunes.

19. Athletics (-3)

  • Perhaps Gage Jump can save this rotation: He's given up just one run in 13 ⅓ innings in two starts away from Yolo County.

20. Baltimore Orioles (-1)

  • Still just 11-15 in AL East after losing rubber game at Toronto.

21. Houston Astros (+1)

  • 11-8 since Jeremy Peña's return.

22. Miami Marlins (+2)

23. New York Mets (-)

  • Carson Benge becomes first Met rookie to go 5-for-5 with a home run.

24. Minnesota Twins (-3)

  • Royce Lewis mashed in St. Paul minor-league reset; can he take that to Target Field?

25. Boston Red Sox (+1)

  • Things getting dicey between team and recently demoted Brayan Bello.

26. Detroit Tigers (+1)

  • Tarik Skubal back by the weekend? He looks dominant in first rehab start.

27. San Francisco Giants (+1)

  • Hit a grand slam in every city on nine-game road trip.

28. Kansas City Royals (-3)

  • Eesh: Bobby Witt leaves game early with knee soreness.

29. Los Angeles Angels (-)

  • Jack Kochanowicz hits IL with elbow soreness.

30. Colorado Rockies (-)

  • Outscored 28-12 in three-game Coors sweep by Brewers.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB power rankings: Aaron Judge injury has Yankees in identity crisis

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Jacoby Brissett plans to attend Cardinals' mandatory minicamp, despite contract dispute

Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett wants a new contract and has skipped the team's voluntary offseason work, but he plans to show this week for mandatory minicamp.

Brissett will be in attendance, but it's unclear how much on-field work he will do, according to ESPN. If he were to skip mandatory minicamp, the Cardinals could fine Brissett $107,911.

Last offseason, Brissett signed a two-year, $12.5 million contract with the Cardinals. Heading into the second year of the deal, Brissett is due a salary of $4.9 million, of which $1.5 million is guaranteed.

This year, quarterback Gardner Minshew signed a one-year, $5.8 million contract with the Cardinals, and almost all of that is guaranteed. The Cardinals reportedly view Brissett as the starter and Minshew as the backup, at least until rookie third-round draft pick Carson Beck is ready to start, and Brissett may be questioning why his backup has a bigger guarantee.

Whether the Cardinals are willing to give Brissett the contract he wants remains to be seen, but now that the work is mandatory, Brissett is ready to get to work.

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Knicks celebrity fans, explained: Origin stories from Spike Lee to Timothée Chalamet

Perhaps the best way to humanize the world's biggest celebrities is to get them talking about sitting courtside at Madison Square Garden for a New York Knicks game.

Rapper Fat Joe always says a prayer once he's in his seat, grateful he no longer has to watch from the top of the "World's Most Famous Arena." Actress Anne Hathaway says Knicks' games give her "a fairytale feeling," with flashbacks to her childhood spent dreaming of being where she watches the games from now.

"I don't cherish anything more in my new life than my Garden access," actor Timothée Chalamet said last year on the "7PM in Brooklyn" podcast featuring former Knicks star Carmelo Anthony.

The stars will be out in full force when the Knicks host their first NBA Finals game since 1999 at the Garden on Monday, June 8, with President Donald Trump among those expected to be in the building for Game 3 against the San Antonio Spurs.

Celebrity row is a tradition at Knicks games. There are mainstays who span generations of Knicks teams, such as Spike Lee and Ben Stiller, still in the crowd. But many of the names and Knicks regulars have changed after so many years between Finals appearances.

Tony Bennett sang the national anthem before the Knicks played Game 3 against the Spurs 27 years ago. John F. Kennedy Jr., Tiger Woods, Adam Sandler, Billy Crystal, Woody Allen, James Caan and Evander Holyfield showed up to Game 4 at Madison Square Garden that year. Actors Timothy Hutton, Matt Dillon, Rick Moranis and Matthew Modine were shown by NBC during Game 5.

What celebrities will be there in 2026? The possibilities are part of the fun in having the NBA Finals in New York again. But there are a group of diehard Knicks fans who also happen to be extremely famous.

Here's a fun breakdown of Knicks celebrity row, featuring fan origin stories and anecdotes for Chalamet, Tracy Morgan, Stiller and more of the most well-known New York Knicks basketball fans:

Timothee Chalamet

Chalamet has become one of the most recognizable Knicks fans in recent years, with his courtside appearances alongside girlfriend Kylie Jenner going viral during the past two postseasons. He previously called last year's postseason run "the most fun period of my life."

But the movie star, who grew up in Manhattan, didn't just join the bandwagon when the Knicks got good again with their current nucleus. There are photos of Chalamet, then 14 years old, winning a social media contest hosted by former Knicks players Landry Fields and Andy Rautins.

"He's the real deal," Stiller told "The Howard Stern Show" in December 2025. "…I've sat with him, I don't know him that well, but this year we sat at a bunch of games. He reminds me of my level of just, he lives it, he feels it. He really is experiencing it inside … but there are others who don't."

Chalamet, 30, told the "7PM in Brooklyn" podcast in December 2025 he used the money he received from a Disney commercial when he was 12 or 13 years old to buy "the cheapest season tickets I could find thinking LeBron was coming to the Knicks." He would go to as many games as he could walking from where he lived at 43rd Street and 9th Avenue, or sell the tickets he couldn't use to scalpers outside Madison Square Garden.

Chalamet revealed to Anthony that he was at the 2006 game when Anthony, then with the Denver Nuggets, was involved in a brawl with the Knicks.

"It's very pixelated on the footage, but you can see a little kid going nuts on the players," Chalamet said. "That was me."

"My whole life, my grandma was a huge Knicks fan, so that's what turned me on to them," Chalamet explained. "If you live in New York, you are a Knicks fan. My grandma had a New York Giants teddy bear and a New York Jets teddy bear, but she only had a New York Knicks teddy bear. … That's what made me a fan and I went to as many games when I could afford a ticket growing up."

Ben Stiller

Stiller has become one of the more engaged celebrities among Knicks faithful in recent years, with his social media commentary during games and throughout the season serving as a connection point for the team's diehard fans.

Stiller began following the Knicks in the early 1970s and witnessed their championship runs in 1970 and 1973, attending games with his late father, Jerry Stiller, according to a 2024 ESPN story. Stiller's wall included a poster of Knicks star Willis Reed.

"The 10-year-old in me is like this is the coolest thing ever," Stiller told Stern last October.

Tracy Morgan

"There's only one problem with being a Knicks fan," Morgan said during an NBA on NBC voiceover earlier this season. "I was 4 years old the last time we won a championship. A baby."

Morgan told MSG Network in 2018 he's been "watching Knick games my whole life" and he's been a passionate supporter for decades at home and away games ever since he broke through as a cast member on "Saturday Night Live."

Morgan was shown in tears on the court in Cleveland celebrating after the Knicks made the NBA Finals. He's been the public address announcer for the Knicks starting lineups at Madison Square Garden and served as the voice of the MTA's Subway announcements ahead of the NBA Finals.

"Tracy's kind of like the mayor of MSG. He just, like, knows everyone," said Morgan's co-star Daniel Radcliffe of Harry Potter fame, who attended a game courtside with Morgan this past season.

Tina Fey, Morgan's co-star on "30 Rock," said in an interview on "The Today Show" last week that Morgan is the source of her courtside seat at Knicks games. She was optimistic about being a guest of his again at the NBA Finals when they return to New York.

Tracy Morgan sits courtside with Ben Stiller during Game 5 of thethe 2026 NBA Playoffs series between the Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

"Sitting next to Tracy Morgan at a Knicks game is an experience," Stiller said to Howard Stern. "My son's 20 now, but sitting next to Tracy Morgan when he was 10, Tracy Morgan's pointing out all the Knick dancers and telling him what he wants to do."

"Don't spill beer on the parquet and don't get Reggie Miller mad," Morgan told MSG Network about the unofficial rules of sitting courtside. "That's basketball. That was me in the projects, T-shirt backwards, tag hanging out, sneakers untied, snapping on everybody on the court, criticizing everybody's game."

Spike Lee

Lee became famous as a Knicks superfan for his trash-talking courtside exchanges with Michael Jordan and Reggie Miller in the 1990s, but he's been going to games at Madison Square Garden for 60 years. He initially bought season tickets ahead of Patrick Ewing's rookie season in 1985.

"My father started taking me 8, 9 years old, and my father is a great, great musician … his lawyer had season tickets to the yellow seats," Lee during an NPR interview recently. "May 8th, 1970, Game 7, he said, 'You go to the game.' I was at the Willis Reed/Walt Frazier game, where the Knicks won their first NBA championship. So I said, 'Lord, if I ever make any money, I just want to get season tickets.'"

Anne Hathaway

After Knicks forward OG Anunoby nearly ran over Hathaway while seated courtside at Madison Square Garden last season – she called it a "bucket-list moment" on Instagram – Hathaway explained her fandom on "The Jimmy Fallon Show."

"I'm very chill. I'm very loving and calm. But I'm also the type of fan that I considered wearing an OG (Anunoby) jersey out here today," Hathaway told Fallon on April 29. "… When I'm at the game, I want them to know that I know who they are and that they're going to win. … I want them to know you can do no wrong. I'm trying to be a gentle, loving motherly fan."

"I love when Anne supports," Anunoby said at the Forbes Iconoclast Summit in June 2025.

But Hathaway, a Brooklyn native, also has a deeper connection to the team related to her childhood.

"The Knicks, to me, that's where I have a fairytale feeling whenever I go to The Garden and I see them," Hathaway told ESPN's Sportish, "because when I was growing up, going to a game was such a huge deal and the closest we ever got was nosebleed, and I remember looking down and seeing the people who sat close up and some people got to sit courtside."

"And so when I get to go to The Garden now and I get to sit in those beautiful seats," she continued, "I'm like, 'Oh my God, 8-year-old me is up there looking down and I'm one of those people now.' It's so special and I love the team. I'm such a huge fan of Jalen Brunson. I think he's such a brilliant player and such a phenomenal leader."

Fat Joe

Rapper Fat Joe has been a fixture at Knicks games over the years and made some headlines earlier this postseason when he revealed the Cleveland Cavaliers took away his courtside tickets to Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals.

The Bronx-born entertainer told Eli Manning in 2023 he "was just born into the Knicks" and would sit in the highest parts of Madison Square Garden growing up as a fan.

"I used to see Michael Jordan this little, the last (row)," Fat Joe said on "The Eli Manning Show," while squeezing his fingers together. "… Something I do courtside at the Knicks game, I always give a prayer appreciative of being here and not being all the way at the top."

Actor and filmmaker Spike Lee (l), hip hop artists Fat Joe (c) and N.O.R.E (r) watch Game 3 of the 2025 NBA Playoffs series between the Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden

Michael J. Fox

The "Back to the Future" star and longtime Parkinson's Disease advocate has been a regular at Madison Square Garden for decades along with his wife, Tracy Pollan. He's been pictured seated with Stiller and Chalamet courtside this season.

The arena will often show a clip from Fox's role as Marty McFly before showing him on the jumbotron to Knicks fans. He reportedly received a standing ovation from the crowd during Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals.

The origins of Fox's Knicks fandom are unknown, but the Canadian-born actor was watching games long before this current run.

Celebrities sitting court side (left to right) Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor and Michael J. Fox and Tracy Pollan and Timothee Chalamet during Game 1 of the 2026 Eastern Conference finals between the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers.

Mariska Hargitay

Hargitay's relationship with Knicks star Jalen Brunson has been a constant the past couple years, with the two often hugging after wins at Madison Square Garden. Stiller has said Hargitay is "the envy of every other Knicks fan, Knicks celebrity fan" because of her bond with Brunson.

"How it started is they let me know Jalen is a big fan, and I was so flattered and thrilled because I was such a huge fan," the "Law and Order: SVU" star said on NBC's Late Night with Seth Meyers. "I think Jalen sort of grew up on 'SVU' … He felt, as many people do, that intimacy and safety that one does growing up on 'SVU.'"

Brunson said he would often watch "Law and Order" with his father, former NBA player and current Knicks assistant coach Rick Brunson. Jalen Brunson told Hargitay he plans to attend her new Broadway show, "Every Little Thing" after the Knicks' NBA Finals run is over, according to NBC. He previously attended the premiere of her recent HBO documentary.

"I’ve never been like super, super starstruck. I saw her and I was like, 'Oh, (wow),'" Brunson said during a May 2025 episode of his "The Roommates Show" podcast, which he hosts alongside teammate Josh Hart. "Then, the first time we met, it was awesome, we talked and everything."

Jimmy Fallon

It's unclear how long Fallon has been a Knicks fan, but several current players have been on "The Tonight Show" in recent years and his presence at playoff games this spring produced a noteworthy gag initiated by Knicks forward Josh Hart.

Cameras originally caught Hart untying Fallon's shoe as Hart was leaving the Madison Square Garden court during a 137-98 blowout win over the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Fallon then attended Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals with his daughter, when the Knicks erased a 22-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat the Cavaliers.

Fallon recounted on the May 20 edition of "The Tonight Show" that when the Knicks were losing, he had his daughter untie his shoe to help encourage a potential comeback. Afterwards, as everybody inside Madison Square Garden celebrated the win, "Josh Hart runs by me and he unties my other shoe," Fallon revealed.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Knicks celebrity fans: How Spike Lee, Chalamet and Stiller got hooked

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Yankees news: Bombers look to take advantage of weak AL with Judge out

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 02: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees stands for God Bless America during the game against the Cleveland Guardians at Yankee Stadium on June 2, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images

New York Post | Joel Sherman: Speaking of the Yankees playing without Judge, even despite his absence and the Yankees being a bit subpar of late, they still moved into a tie back atop the AL East with the Rays. The reason that they were able to do that and why they might be able to withstand Judge’s injury to some degree is this: the American League as a whole is not particularly strong.

MLB.com | Bryan Hoch: Aaron Judge may be out for the next little while, but he was still present in the game on Sunday…in a way. Jazz Chisholm Jr. borrowed one of Judge’s bats and used it to hit a three-run home run that turned a close game into a comfortable win over the Red Sox. It wasn’t just for fun either, as Chisholm said that he believed using one of Judge’s heavier bats would help him in that particular spot.

MLB.com | Aiden Stepansky: Last year’s Yankee third-round draft pick Kaeden Kent has a degree of notoriety for more than just being good enough to be a high draft pick: he is the son of Hall of Famer Jeff Kent. However, if he keeps up what he’s done so far in June, he’ll make a name of his own. Kent has been hot of late while playing for High-A Hudson Valley.

Reuters: Having struggled mightily this season, Yankees’ catcher Austin Wells was placed on the IL as he deals with “cervical headaches.” Wells talked with the media on Sunday explaining that these headaches have been building up for a while, and the IL stint was need to let his brain “catch up.”

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Mikal Bridges Is Quietly Becoming The Knicks’ X-Factor

SAN ANTONIO, TX - JUNE 2: Mikal Bridges #25 of the New York Knicks talks to the media during 2026 NBA Finals Practice and Media Availability on June 2, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE(Photo by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The New York Knicks were never going to win the trade. Not in November. Not in December. Not in January. Not in April or May. Simply put, Mikal Bridges would forever need to carry the weight of landing in Manhattan by way of five draft picks sent across the bridge to Brooklyn.

The Knicks’ package was loaded with first-round picks, and every single missed corner three or defensive whiff was obviously going to lead directly to questioning New York’s asset management. Mikal must have felt like dying by a thousand cuts.

That was always the problem with judging Bridges fairly and early. The trade was not made for a random Tuesday night in Charlotte, nor for a three-game stretch in January, nor for whatever helped push the “ain’t worth five first-round picks” agenda a step further.

It was made for this.

“Just fight, man,” an emotional Bridges said after the Game 2 win over the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals. “A lot of integrity, a lot of poise. Just staying together. We’re going to fight to the end. They made a run—they’re a really good team—but we’re going to fight to the end.

“This is great, man, it’s great. I wish we had a better fourth quarter, but they’re a really good team. They pushed it, but we gotta be better.

“My teammates, man, my teammates and coaches gave me confidence… Bad, bad fourth. I gotta be better. I gotta play hard all throughout the fourth quarter, even when I’m tired—I gotta keep going. I can’t have a fourth quarter like that.”

Asked about his and the collective Knicks’ mindset after going up 2-0, Bridges left no doubt about it.

“Zero-zero,” Bridges answered. “Stay desperate at all times.”

On the black side, De’Aaron Fox has come downhill, Stephon Castle has tried to turn the corner, Dylan Harper and Harrison Barnes and Devin Vassell and Julian Champagnie have also taken turns at it. On the blue side, Jalen Brunson has surprisingly needed somebody else to hold the offense together while he’s still in search of his jumper. And truth be told, Karl-Anthony Towns has been the undeniably best Knickerbocker out there.

Outside of the 1A-1B punch of KAT and JB, which FanDuel projects to snatch the NBA Finals MVP award with +115 and +165 odds, respectively, someone is emerging. Captain obvious writing here, as you guessed it right: that’s your man Mikal.

Game 2 was the clearest proof yet that Bridges is, against all odds, inching very veryveryclose to making the Nets regret sending him to New York, no matter what they extracted from the Knickerbocker coffers.

Bridges finished G2 with 20 points, six rebounds, six assists, and shot 8-for-13 from the field while going 4-for-6 from three in New York’s 105-104 win in San Antonio, helping the Knicks take a nearly-insurmountable 2-0 series lead in the freaking NBA Finals.

Mikal did it on a night when Brunson went 7-for-25, when Josh Hart scored zero points, and when the Knicks barely escaped both a team and an officiating crew working together to try and put a stop to what is now a 13-game winning streak.

Bridges kept the Knicks afloat before Brunson put the Spurs to the sword. He hit eight straight shots across the second and third quarters, gave Mike Brown real offense when things got dicey, and still had enough left on D to give Fox, Castle, and whoever hunted him fits.

Per the New York Daily News’ Kristian Winfield, Bridges has held Fox to 0-for-4 and Castle to 1-for-7 when serving as their primary defender through the first two games of the series. That might or might not sound like much, but when you realize the Spurs are basically a one-man army with a few minions around him, once you cut those two from the body, the thing becomes an entirely different and not-so-offensive animal.

“[Bridges] was huge for us on both ends of the floor,” Brown said. “You’re not stopping a guy like De’Aaron Fox. You’ve just got to try to make him work. We put Mikal on Fox in the second half a little bit and made him work. But what he did for us offensively when we were struggling and then when we took Jalen out was huge. He made big play after big play after big play.”

And outside of his production—Bridges’ averaging a strong 14-3-3-1 line in the playoffs, shooting 58.5% from the floor and 38% from three—the thing the Knicks might benefit the most from having him is his experience and veteranship. You might have forgotten, but Mikal was part of the latest, biggest face-painting in NBA history.

Up 2-0 with the Suns in the 2021 NBA Finals, Bridges and the band went on to drop four straight games to the Bucks, losing 4-2 and losing an once-in-a-lifetime shot at Larry. Good for Mikal, he found a way to navigate his way to New York and earned a second chance.

“0-0 man, f**k. Keep playing—sorry, excuse my language—desperate. That’s it, man,” Bridges told Shaq after Game 2 on ESPN’s Inside the NBA. “Desperate, that’s the only thing that we’re worried about. Take this rest—we got two days, take a break, do whatever you gotta do to get ready for this next game, but keep going out there and don’t stop. We got nothing but the offseason, man. Keep pushing. Leave everything on that court.”

No panic, no celebration either.

“I just remember losing four straight. That’s what I remember out of that,” Bridges said on the eve of Game 3. “They all understand as well, knowing the series is far from over. We’ve got to keep playing desperate and be the more desperate team.”

The Knicks are two wins from their first championship since 1973, and Bridges surely is not the main reason they are here. Brunson is still New York’s honcho and captain. Towns has done so much during the past couple of months—and week—to flip the narrative of his career that we’re starting to open discussions about his number potentially hanging on the MSG rafters. OG Anunoby is a ruthless, calming presence by nature. Nobody is getting Josh Hart to stop running and biting. The bench mob has been the next thing to great.

But Bridges is slowly, quietly, shadowy, but surely becoming the final piece to make the machine click out on the court and inside the locker room. The Knicks paid a monster price, yes, but I bet they’d hand out twice that package if that’s what brings New York to the promised land on Wednesday or at any point in the next week-and-change.

Two down, two to go, and the show is coming to the Garden. Can’t ask for more.

Let’s go Knicks!

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Vegas brings 2-1 series lead into game 4 against Carolina

Carolina Hurricanes (53-22-7, in the Metropolitan Division) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (39-26-17, in the Pacific Division)

Paradise, Nevada; Tuesday, 8 p.m. EDT

LINE: Hurricanes -115, Golden Knights -105; over/under is 6

STANLEY CUP FINAL: Golden Knights lead series 2-1

BOTTOM LINE: The Vegas Golden Knights host the Carolina Hurricanes in the Stanley Cup Final with a 2-1 lead in the series. The teams meet Saturday for the sixth time this season. The Golden Knights won the last matchup 5-4 in overtime. Mitchell Marner scored three goals in the victory.

Vegas has a 39-26-17 record overall and a 27-14-9 record on its home ice. The Golden Knights have gone 50-7-12 when scoring three or more goals.

Carolina is 53-22-7 overall and 30-12-6 on the road. The Hurricanes are 28-9-3 in games they score at least one power-play goal.

TOP PERFORMERS: Pavel Dorofeyev has 37 goals and 27 assists for the Golden Knights. Brett Howden has seven goals and two assists over the last 10 games.

Nikolaj Ehlers has 26 goals and 45 assists for the Hurricanes. Shayne Gostisbehere has three goals and six assists over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Golden Knights: 8-1-1, averaging 3.8 goals, 6.6 assists, 3.2 penalties and 7.5 penalty minutes while giving up 2.6 goals per game.

Hurricanes: 7-2-1, averaging 3.7 goals, 6.4 assists, four penalties and 9.6 penalty minutes while giving up 2.6 goals per game.

INJURIES: Golden Knights: None listed.

Hurricanes: William Carrier: day to day (upper body).

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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Game Three Preview: San Antonio Spurs vs. New York Knicks

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - JUNE 05: Dylan Harper #2 of the San Antonio Spurs dunks the ball against the New York Knicks during the first quarter in Game Two of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center on June 05, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Down two games to zero, the San Antonio Spurs are playing not only against the New York Knicks, but against history. Only five teams in NBA history have come back from a 0-2 defecit in the NBA Finals: the 1969 Boston Celtics, the 1977 Portland Trail Blazers, the 2006 Miami Heat, the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers, and the 2021 Milwaukee Bucks. None of those teams did it after losing the first two home games.

It may seem like there is no hope, but the Spurs don’t feel that way.

“The key is acceptance… taking a step back and realizing the journey that is behind us and ahead of us,” Victor Wembanyama told the press before Game Three. “At the end of the day, this is everything that I wished for, so there is no reason to overthink it. This is what I am built for.”

It was a mature answer for a team that has, for the first time in the postseason, looked immature. Errors on both ends have built this hole for the Spurs. Both games seemed like ones that San Antonio could have won if they cut down on the types of mistakes that most young teams are prone to making. Now, they’ll have to play with their backs against the wall in historic Madison Square Garden, and a rabid fan base that is eagerly awaiting it’s first championship since 1973. It won’t be easy, but Wembanyama seems to think this group is built for it.

The Spurs will once again look for answers to New York’s stars. Both Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson have been tough to stop. Towns and the Knicks have created big problems while the Spurs are on offense. Wembanyama, De’Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper seemed to find their footing a bit in Game Two, and will hope to carry that momentum into MSG.

San Antonio has been in tough spots before. This is by far the toughest. A win in enemy territory would be the exact type of response this team needs to turn things around. Game Three could turn out to be a pivotal moment in the series if the Spurs can eliminate their mistakes and get a win on the road.

San Antonio Spurs (0-2) vs. New York Knicks (2-0)

June 8th, 2026 | 7:30 PM CT

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

Spurs Injuries: No injuries to report.

Knicks Injuries: No injuries to report.

What to watch for:

Guarding Brunson

San Antonio switched up their strategy guarding Brunson a bit in Game Two, and for the most part it worked. The Spurs stopped throwing quick doubles at Brunson, and instead guarded him mainly one-on-one with Stephon Castle, and switching pick-and-rolls so Wembanyama matched up on Brunson in space. If a bad switch came, the Spurs would sometimes send another defender at Brunson to get the ball out of his hands. The result was some poor decision making from Brunson, who shot 7-25 from the field and had 4 turnovers. Yes, he hit a clutch shot down the stretch, but the defensive approach worked for the most part. If the same defensive strategy is working in Game Three, the Spurs could have a slight edge in guard play.

Playing fast

It’s a worn out saying at this point, but the Spurs play their best when they play with pace. San Antonio mounted it’s big fourth-quarter comeback in Game Two when it started to push the ball in transition to catch the Knicks in disadvantageous cross matches. In front of a raucous New York crowd, the Spurs should be looking to land haymakers by playing fast in transition whenever they have the chance. That may mean playing the “four-guard” lineup that includes Fox, Harper, Castle, Wembanyama and Devin Vassell. This group can hold their own on the perimeter and push quickly with a surplus of ball-handlers to beat the Knicks in transition.

Defensive rotations

San Antonio’s help defense and overall attention to detail on the defensive end has been lacking in The Finals. It’s been where they’ve looked the most inexperienced. Too many times a Knicks player is overplayed for a blow by or left alone for an open shot as the Spurs scramble to help on drives to the paint. New York is going to shoot the ball incredibly well at home. San Antonio has to tighten it’s defensive rotations to get good contests on shooters, or else the Knicks’ lead will balloon quickly.

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Orioles left incensed after controversial base-running call in loss to Blue Jays: ‘You f–ked up’

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows The Blue Jays' Ernie Clement appears to run well out of the baseline against the Orioles, Image 2 shows The Blue Jays' Ernie Clement appears to run well out of the baseline against the Orioles, Image 3 shows Baltimore Orioles' Craig Albernaz and umpire Hunter Wendelstedt discuss a play

A bizarre sequence had the Orioles fuming during their 6-4 loss to the Blue Jays on Sunday after what looked like an inning-ending double play turned into a catalyst for a Toronto rally. 

The Orioles had a 4-1 lead in the sixth inning at Rogers Centre when Ernie Clement reached base on a fielding error by Gunnar Henderson that placed runners on the corners with one out.

That’s when Brandon Valenzuela came up to the plate and hit a ball up the middle to Henderson, who looked as though he reached out to tag the baserunner and then made the throw to first. 

Ernie Clement runs toward second base during the Blue Jays’ June 7 game. Screengrab via X/@jomboymedia

Baltimore thought that Clement had run out of the basepath and would be called out for doing so, but instead, second-base ump Nic Lentz called Clement safe, believing that the runner had altered his path in order to allow Henderson to make the play. 

The Orioles were livid with the call and more so when it allowed Kazuma Okamoto, Andrés Giménez and Nathan Lukes to drive in runs. 

Righty Shane Baz came out of the game after Okamoto and Giménez got hits, and as he did, the pitcher shouted toward the umpire, “You f–ked up,” according to Jomboy Media. 

“The only reason I’m not going to talk about that play is because I will get fined,” Baz told reporters following the game, according to the Associated Press. “That’s the only reason.”

Henderson told reporters that he “felt like, not a great call.”

Speaking with a pool reporter after the game, the umpires expanded on the rationale for the call. 

“The runner has the right to establish his basepath, and so Clement had established his basepath to avoid the fielder from potential interference,” Lentz said, according to the Baltimore Banner. “Even though Henderson reached out for a tag, Clement’s basepath was already established out there, going to the second base, so therefore it was not out of the baseline.” 

The Blue Jays’ Ernie Clement appears to run
well out of the baseline against the Orioles. @jomboymedia/X

Crew chief Hunter Wendelstedt went as far as to describe the decision to alter the basepath a “very gentlemanly thing to do.”

“He was getting out of the way to allow the fielder to make the play toward first base,” he continued. “It just so happened that, you know, then they tried to spin it to get two, but his [Clement’s] basepath was already established, and it was not trying to get out of that.”

Craig Albernaz #55 of the Baltimore Orioles speaks with
umpire Hunter Wendelstedt #21 during the eighth
inning at Rogers Centre. Getty Images

Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said the umpires had told him it was because there wasn’t enough of a tag attempt by Henderson. 

“I think when you stick your glove out to tag somebody, that’s an attempted tag,” Albernaz said following the game. “There’s no rule about how far you have to extend your arm to tag somebody.”

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Chapman’s 10th-inning single gives the Giants a 2-1 win over the Cubs

CHICAGO (AP) — Matt Chapman singled to drive in automatic runner Jonah Cox in the 10th inning, lifting the San Francisco Giants over the Chicago Cubs 2-1 on Sunday night for their fourth win in their last five games.

Chapman lined the second pitch from Trent Thornton (2-2) to center and Cox, pinch running for Bryce Eldridge, scored from second base as the Giants took two of three at Wrigley Field and dealt the Cubs their 20th loss in 27 games.

Keaton Winn (2-1) pitched a scoreless ninth for the win, working around a single and a walk. Dylan Smith tossed a perfect 10th for his first major league save, getting Alex Bregman to pop out and stranding Pete Crow-Armstrong at third.

Javier Assad threw 6 1/3 shutout innings and allowed only Chapman’s infield single — along with a walk and a hit batter — after coming in for Cubs starter Jameson Taillon, who exited with a strained left hamstring with no outs in the second. Taillon said after the game he thinks he’s headed to the injured list.

Assad struck out five following his recall from Triple-A on Saturday for a second stint with the Cubs this season. The right-hander retired the last 12 Giants he faced before Jacob Webb took over in the eighth.

Jung Hoo Lee had an RBI single in the first to stretch his hitting streak to 15 games

Crow-Armstrong extended his career-high hitting streak to 12 games with a single. Moisés Ballesteros singled in a run in the third.

Giants starter Trevor McDonald allowed one run on four hits in five innings.

Taillon exited after walking Chapman to lead off the second. The right-hander allowed one run and two hits, and walked two.

Two-time Gold Glove shortstop Dansby Swanson was held out of the Cubs’ starting lineup for a second straight game. He entered batting .180.

Up next

Giants: RHP Logan Webb (3-4, 4.25 ERA) starts Monday in San Francisco against Washington RHP Miles Mikolas (1-5, 6.39)

Cubs: RHP Colin Rea (5-3, 4.45) faces Rockies RHP Tomoyuki Sugano (5-4, 3.98) on Tuesday in Colorado.

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Cubs’ Jameson Taillon says he’s headed to IL after leaving vs. Giants with hamstring injury

CHICAGO (AP) — Cubs starter Jameson Taillon thinks he’ll end up on the injured list after he left Chicago’s 2-1, 10-inning loss to the San Francisco Giants on Sunday night with a strained left hamstring.

Taillon walked Matt Chapman to lead off the second with Chicago trailing 1-0. Then, the Cubs training staff and manager Craig Counsell came to the mound to talk to the right-hander. After a brief discussion, Taillon walked to the dugout and was replaced by righty Javier Assad, who was recalled from Triple-A Iowa on Saturday.

“I don’t think it’s crazy,” said Taillon, who’ll have an MRI on Monday. “Like, I’m walking around and moving around. Obviously, it will be an IL stint, but hopefully we can keep the arm conditioned and moving around. I don’t think it’s surgical or anything like that.”

Taillon said he first felt discomfort in the hamstring after throwing an inside changeup to Chapman that made the count 2-2 in the at-bat.

“And then kind of in-between pitches, I was kind of trying to weigh whether I should throw another pitch or not, then threw the 3-2 pitch and kind of felt it a little more,” Taillon said. “Nothing I’ve ever felt. Unfortunately, just kind of one pitch did it.”

Taillon allowed a run in the first inning Sunday on a walk followed by two singles, pushing his ERA to 5.19. He entered the game 2-5 and had lost four straight decisions over his previous five starts.

Assad followed with 6 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing only one hit, along with a walk and a hit batter. He retired the final 12 Giants hitters he faced.

San Francisco won it in the 10th when Chapman singled in automatic runner Jonah Cox. The Giants won for the fourth time in their last five games and handed Chicago its 20th loss in 27.

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Liberty feel sense of connection to Knicks and ‘special type of energy’ title chase brings to city

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows New York Liberty player Jonquel Jones celebrates with Sabrina Ionescu, Image 2 shows Knicks fans cheering at the summer stage in Central Park for Game 2 of the NBA Finals, Image 3 shows New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson gives a thumbs-up

Before Liberty star Breanna Stewart sat down for her obligatory media availability after Wednesday’s win against the Toronto Tempo, she checked the score of Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Knicks and Spurs.

Two nights later, Stewart was watching Game 2.

But since the Liberty were hosting the Indiana Fever on Saturday, she had to turn off the TV early to sleep and missed the thrilling end, which put the Knicks up 2-0 with the best-of-seven series resuming Monday at Madison Square Garden.

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The WNBA season is in full swing, but the Liberty are keeping a close eye on the Knicks, as is the vast majority of people in the city.

How could they not be?

The buzz across the five boroughs has been palpable.

You can’t turn a city corner or step into a subway car without seeing someone sporting donning orange-and-blue gear.

Even visitors are taking notice.

Fever star Caitlin Clark said she was tempted to join the mass celebration outside Madison Square Garden on Friday night.

“I always want to see those people that … they’re jumping around on each other and climbing light poles,” Clark said. “I feel like that would be an experience. I don’t know if my security guy would let me do that, but I want to experience that because those Knicks fans are so passionate and crazy. I admire it. It’s pretty awesome.”

The Knicks fever spread around Brooklyn and infiltrated the Barclays Center, too.

Sure, the Liberty are far more connected with the Brooklyn Nets because of their joint ownership by Joe and Clara Wu Tsai.

But members of the Liberty feel a sense of connection to the Knicks run to their first Finals since 1999.

They’ve relished the communal excitement, too.

Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu (not in uniform) celebrates with center Jonquel Jones (35) in the fourth quarter against the Indiana Fever at Barclays Center. Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

“It’s been amazing,” Sabrina Ionescu said. “You’re able to understand when you’re driving on the street or walking on the street, like, everyone’s in Knicks gear, everyone’s dialed into the game, the streets are packed. Everyone’s cheering, watching the game, and I think it’s a testament to the basketball culture here in New York City, but also how you know everyone’s a fan and so if you’re not, you kind of become one because of the feeling and the buzz in the city, so I’m really excited, the series is going to be really good.”

The Knicks are vying for their first championship since 1973.

The Liberty broke the city’s professional basketball title drought when they won it all in 2024.

So no one understands the pressure and feelings the Knicks are going through better than the Liberty.

Knicks Fans fill the summer stage in Central Park for Game 2 of the NBA Finals. Lone Pine Press for NY Post

“We’ve been able to bring a championship to a city that loves the game of basketball,” Jonquel Jones said. “And obviously, now, seeing the Knicks do it, and see the way that everybody’s supporting them is a great thing and I just want the city to continue to be successful because it’s a special type of energy when New York basketball teams are winning, and New York teams are winning and you can’t really explain it, you just have to experience it.”

Jalen Brunson is pictured at Frost Bank Center for Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals. Jason Szenes for The New York Post

The Liberty have a lot of connections to this Finals series.

Ionescu and Jalen Brunson — the faces of New York basketball — are close friends.

Liberty coach Chris DeMarco worked with current Knicks coach Mike Brown on Steve Kerr’s staff with the Golden State Warriors.

Marine Fauthoux played with Victor Wembanyama’s older sister, Ève, and knows his family well.

She said she also has a friend on the Spurs coaching staff.

New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart (30) drives past Indiana Fever forward Monique Billings (25). Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Marine Johannès shares an agent with Wembanyama and crossed paths with him when the two represented France at the 2024 Paris Games.

The bummer is that the Liberty wrapped up their seven-game homestand Saturday.

They’re heading out for a two-game road trip, starting Monday in Connecticut, meaning they’ll be gone for Games 3 and 4 this week.

“Knicks in four!” Stewart said. “It’s crazy because we go on the road now … We don’t get to go to any games.”

Clark said she’s indifferent about who wins, but selfishly, she hopes the series goes to seven games.

“It’s been a great series — even the Spurs beating the Thunder, I think that was incredible, too,” she said. “So I’m a fan of basketballI think even watching, you can learn so much. So I try to absorb as much as I can.”