Victor Wembanyama Just Ended the Champs, and the Knicks Still Haven't Played Since Last Monday

Alright, folks, the 2026 NBA Finals are HERE, and man, talk about a throwback! It's the San Antonio Spurs going head-to-head with the New York Knicks for the Larry O'Brien Trophy. And get this, the Knicks, riding an absolutely wild 11-game postseason winning streak, are back in the Finals for the first time since 1999. Who did they face that year? Yep, the Spurs, who snagged their first of five titles back then. But let's be real, the biggest story here is Victor Wembanyama, who has practically teleported San Antonio back to the Finals for the first time since 2014. The dude is a game-changer, and he just took down the reigning champion Thunder in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals on Saturday night. Holy cow!

Wemby's Spurs Are Rolling, While the Knicks Had a Nap

So, the Spurs, fresh off that epic Game 7 win, are feeling good and they've got Game 1 of the Finals at home on Wednesday night. Vegas sees it too, with the Spurs favored big time at -205 at FanDuel. Why? Well, Wemby, duh, and that home-court advantage is huge. The Knicks, on the other hand, haven't played since *last Monday*. Seriously. They've only played four times since May 11. That's a lot of rest, which could be good, or it could mean they're a little rusty when they finally hit the court against a San Antonio squad that just battled through a brutal Game 7. You gotta wonder if all that rest will make them fresh or flat.

The Experts Are All In On San Antonio (Mostly)

Our experts are making their picks, and it's looking pretty clear where they stand. Brad Botkin, John Gonzalez, Jack Maloney, and Cameron Salerno are all picking the Spurs to win it all, with only Sam Quinn holding out for the Knicks. Botkin is calling for a Spurs win in 7, saying the Knicks absolutely belong in the league's elite, uniquely equipped to fight Wemby on both ends. He's talking about OG Anunoby being a brick of a defender to guard Wemby off his spots, and Mitchell Robinson, if he plays, as a physical seven-footer who can challenge Wemby at the rim and on the boards. Offensively, Karl-Anthony Towns could pull Wemby out of the paint, but Botkin thinks Josh Hart will probably be Wemby's initial matchup, allowing him to roam as a paint protector. If the Knicks make the Spurs pay with open 3s, Wemby has to adjust. Both teams are loaded with physical, shooting wings, and both are deep. Jalen Brunson can pull up for 3s if Wemby drops. But for Botkin, even with all that, Wemby is just the biggest difference-maker in the game today, shutting down the paint game the Knicks rely on. Gonzalez agrees, picking the Spurs in 6, saying Adam Silver has to be ecstatic about this matchup for the ratings. He highlights the Knicks' epic 11-game winning streak and their insane point differential. But, he says, rolling past the Hawks, Sixers, and Cavs is a whole different beast than facing Wemby and San Antonio's big, athletic guards and wings. Plus, the Knicks won't have home-court advantage this time, a factor they had for their last three series. All of that adds up to another championship for San Antonio. So, get ready for a war, folks. Game 1 is Wednesday night, and all eyes are on whether the Knicks' incredible winning streak can overcome Wemby's pure, unadulterated dominance. It's going to be wild.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.