Samwise NBA Newsletter
Wednesday, June 3, 2026
Knicks and Spurs Open 2026 NBA Finals in San Antonio; First Meeting Since 1999
The New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs open the 2026 NBA Finals on Wednesday at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Game 1 tipping off at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC. It marks the Knicks’ first Finals appearance since 1999 — a rematch of that storied series against the same Spurs franchise. New York stormed through the Eastern Conference with 11 consecutive playoff wins, while San Antonio outlasted defending champion Oklahoma City in seven games. Jalen Brunson leads the East champions; Victor Wembanyama, named Western Conference Finals MVP, anchors San Antonio. The series pits a battle-tested Knicks core against a Spurs lineup built around the generational talent of Wembanyama.
Sources: NBA.com, Yahoo Sports
Wembanyama Warns Spurs at Media Day: “The Job Isn’t Done at All”
Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs gathered for NBA Finals media day on Tuesday at Frost Bank Center, with the 22-year-old star urging his teammates not to relax after eliminating Oklahoma City. “Coming back down from this is a challenge,” Wembanyama said. “We haven’t done the hardest yet. The job isn’t done at all.” Knicks star Jalen Brunson, speaking at his own session in New York, expressed awe at his Finals opponent. “Watching him as a player, it’s pretty unbelievable,” Brunson said of Wembanyama. “Things he’s able to do on both sides of the ball — people have never really seen before, for a person of his size.”
Sources: NBA.com, Yahoo Sports
Mitchell Robinson Listed Questionable for Game 1 After Surgery on Broken Right Pinkie Finger
Mitchell Robinson, the backup center for the New York Knicks, was listed as questionable for Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals after undergoing surgery on a broken right pinkie finger. Robinson fractured his fifth metacarpal under circumstances unrelated to a game or practice. He plans to play with a protective brace, with sources reporting he is determined to suit up despite requiring final clearance from the Knicks’ training staff. Robinson provides rim protection behind starter Karl-Anthony Towns, and his availability is a key question as New York prepares to face Wembanyama, one of the league’s dominant defensive forces in the postseason.
Sources: ESPN, Yahoo Sports
Spurs Coach Mitch Johnson Offers Cautious Optimism on De’Aaron Fox’s Ankle Ahead of Game 1
San Antonio Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox is managing a high right ankle sprain entering the NBA Finals, and coach Mitch Johnson offered cautious optimism at media day Tuesday. “It feels like it’s moving in a better direction,” Johnson said of Fox’s status. “With rest, I hope he’s better tomorrow than he is today.” Fox missed the first two games of the Western Conference Finals against Oklahoma City before returning to play a key role in San Antonio’s seven-game series win. His status for Game 1 against New York was not confirmed Wednesday morning, though the Spurs remained hopeful Fox would take the floor at Frost Bank Center.
Sources: Yahoo Sports, Yahoo Sports
NBA Selects 12 Officials for 2026 Finals; Curtis Blair Earns First Career Finals Assignment
The NBA announced Tuesday that 12 officials have been selected for the 2026 NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs. Scott Foster leads the crew with 19 career Finals appearances, joined by veterans Tony Brothers, Marc Davis, and James Capers, each with at least 14 Finals assignments. Curtis Blair will work the championship series for the first time, making him the only first-time Finals selection among the 12. Nick Buchert, JB DeRosa, Mitchell Ervin, and Justin Van Duyne were also named as alternates. The announcement was made June 2 through the NBA Communications office ahead of Wednesday’s Game 1 tip-off.
Sources: NBA.com
Spurs’ Youth Core Sets Up One of the Most Striking Generational Matchups in Finals History
The San Antonio Spurs enter the 2026 NBA Finals as a team built around extraordinary youth. Victor Wembanyama, 22, averaged 27.3 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game in the Western Conference Finals against Oklahoma City, earning conference MVP honors. Stephon Castle, 21, the 2025 Rookie of the Year, held two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to 41-percent shooting across the series. Dylan Harper (20) and Carter Bryant (20) contributed meaningful postseason minutes. San Antonio’s rise to the Finals stands as one of the most striking generational stories in recent postseason history, setting up a stark contrast against the experienced, veteran-led Knicks.
Knicks Enter Finals on Historic 11-Game Win Streak, Outscoring Opponents by Record 262 Points
The New York Knicks carry a remarkable 11-game playoff win streak into the 2026 NBA Finals, having outscored their opponents by 262 points during that run — the largest margin across any 11-game playoff stretch in NBA history. Sweeping both the Philadelphia 76ers and Cleveland Cavaliers, New York shot 41 percent from three-point range throughout the winning streak. Jalen Brunson is averaging 26.9 points, 6.6 assists, and 2.8 rebounds in 14 playoff games while shooting 48.6 percent from the field. Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby have provided critical secondary scoring, with Anunoby posting nearly 20 points per game on elite efficiency during the postseason.
Sources: ESPN, Yahoo Sports
NBA Playoffs — 2026
Eastern Conference
🏆 NBA FINALS — Game 1 Tonight
Knicks vs. Spurs — Series 0–0
Conference Finals (Completed)
Knicks def. Cavaliers 4–0
Western Conference
🏆 NBA FINALS — Game 1 Tonight
Spurs vs. Knicks — Series 0–0
Conference Finals (Completed)
Spurs def. Thunder 4–3
Game 2: Fri June 5 — Games 3–4 in New York (June 8 & 10) — All games on ABC, 8:30 p.m. ET
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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