BY JORDAN GREENSTEIN ’28
The NBA finals are set as the New York Knicks will face the San Antonio Spurs in a series that tips off on Wednesday, June 3. This is not only a rematch from the NBA Cup Finals between the two teams, but also a rematch 27 years in the making. 27 years ago, the Knicks went on a Cinderella run as the eighth seed, going against the Spurs. That series didn’t go so well for the Knicks, as they lost 4-1. Since then, things have changed for both teams.
First, let’s talk about the 1998-1999 NBA Playoffs and Finals. The ’99 Knicks finals line-up was missing superstar center Patrick Ewing and instead had Latrell Sprewell and Allan Houston running the show. Sprewell averaged 20.4 points per game in the playoffs that year, leading the Knicks to the finals as an eighth seed, which is an incredible feat. The Spurs were led by Tim Duncan, arguably the NBA’s best power forward at the time, who averaged a double-double in that span. They also had one of the best centers in the league, David Robinson, leading the charge.
But that’s history, so let’s move forward into the 21st century…
Here are two things that the Knicks need to do in order to win the NBA Finals, reigning victorious while getting revenge on the Spurs:
- Contain Victor Wembanyama:
Containing Wembanyama is an important aspect for the Knicks to take into account. The Knicks can change their lineup to Mitchell Robinson at center and Towns at power forward to add more size and rim protection against the 7-foot-5 phenom. Wembanyama is a tough player to guard because of his size, versatility, and skill set. He can shoot from beyond the arc, rebound dominantly, and can block anyone’s shots because he towers over the competition. Another option would be for the Knicks to bench Josh Hart and move Anunoby to small forward, in order to keep a big lineup. If the Knicks can limit Wembanyama’s impact, they’ll improve their chances of winning the series.
- Continue Success from Jalen Brunson:
Brunson is not known for his defense, but is known as a great scorer, as seen throughout the 2025-2026 playoffs. Brunson has averaged 26.9 points, 6.6 assists, and 2.8 rebounds per game in the Knicks’ playoff run. Even though Brunson has been dominant, this will be a tough matchup for Brunson as both Brunson and Wembanyama present a challenge for their opponents due to their speed, athleticism, and size advantages. Fox has been one of the Spurs’ X-factors in this playoff run, as he is averaging 20 points, 6 assists, and 4 rebounds in this span. Additionally, Stephon Castle is currently averaging 19.4 points, 6.7 assists, and 4.9 rebounds per game. If the Knicks can execute switches so they have the faster and bigger defenders on Stephon Castle and Fox, they’ll be in good shape.
The Knicks’ Strengths and Weaknesses:
Strengths:
- Josh Hart’s hustling ability
- OG Anunoby’s defense against big men
- Mikal Bridges’s mid-range shot creating
- High 3-point percentages throughout the playoffs
- Having great bench depth like Landry Shamet, Deuce McBride, and Mitchell Robinson
- Mitchell Robinson’s ability to get offensive rebounds for second chance points
- Coming off of significant rest
Weaknesses:
- Towns’s foul trouble management
- Mitchell Robinson’s inability to hit free throws
- Jalen Brunson’s breakdowns defensively
The Spurs’ Strengths and Weaknesses:
Strengths:
- Wembanyama’s size
- Castle’s athleticism
- Champagnie’s red-hot 3-point shooting
- The ability to force players into Wembanyama for a blocked shot or stop
- Aggressive and pesky defense
Weaknesses:
- Youth
- Coming off a 7-game series against the Thunder
Overall, this will not only be a physical war between the juggernauts, but a psychological war between the fans, as well.
Prediction: This series will go to Game 7 in favor of the New York Knicks. What makes the most sense for this series would be a split on each home floor, making the series 2-2. Then, they’ll likely split in Games 5 and 6, making it 3-3 in the series. Lastly, the Knicks will win Game 7 114-109, with Brunson’s heroics and Towns’s and Robinson’s tough defense.
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