Two 18-7 teams meet in Las Vegas at the T-Mobile Arena tonight when the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs face off in the Emirates NBA Cup Final.
The paths that brought them here could not look
more different. Practically everyone predicted New York to dominate the Eastern Conference, while most pundits had much lower expectations for San Antonio in the West. The Knicks make their bones with balance, discipline, and late-game control. The Spurs benefit from having the game’s most disruptive force in Victor Wembanyama, who may or may not be a chess-playing alien. From France.
New York is having one of its strongest starts in years. They have won five straight games and nine of their last 10, raising them to second place in the Eastern Conference, behind the 21-5 Detroit Pistons. Over their recent successful stretch, the ‘Bockers rank second in the NBA in offensive rating and seventh in defensive rating, pairing elite scoring efficiency with improved defensive consistency.
The best basketball team out of New York reached the Cup Final by defeating the pesky, punchy Orlando Magic.
They remain a little thin without Miles McBride, nursing a sore ankle. Picking up extra minutes in the meantime, Tyler Kolek—although not the microwave scorer Deuce is—has been a positive playmaker off the bench. The core rotation remains intact heading into the final, however, which perhaps gives us a sneak peek of what’s to come in the postseason.
San Antonio has surprised the league, rocking off on one of the franchise’s strongest starts since the Tim Duncan era. The Spurs hadn’t had a winning season since the 2018-19 campaign, which was also their last postseason appearance (they lost in the first round). That sorry stretch included back-to-back 22-win seasons (2022-24) and the end of the Gregg Popovich era. Today, the winds of change are blowing through the Alamo. Compared to last season’s lottery profile, these Texans have become a solid playoff contender with potential to push for home-court advantage if health and development hold.
Mitch Johnson’s club advanced to the final by upsetting Oklahoma City, ending the Thunder’s winning streak and delivering them just their second loss of the season. In the semifinal tilt, Wembanyama returned from a 12-game calf injury absence, scoring 15 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter, and finishing plus-21 in limited minutes.
The season has been defined by Wembanyama’s leap from emerging star to top-tier impact player. The 7’4” Wemby is averaging roughly 26 points, 13 rebounds, and nearly four blocks per game, anchoring his squad on both ends with elite rim protection.
One pleasant surprise in the Lone Star State has been Stephon Castle. The fourth-pick in the 2024 Draft is having an impressive year, operating as a primary creator and putting up near “big guard” numbers across the board. Through the early part of the season, the 6’6” guard has become central to the Spurs’ offense, averaging 18 points and nearly seven assists. In his expanded role, he turns the ball over more often, and he still can’t shoot 30% from the perimeter. He’s capable of a 30 point game, though, so the Knicks would be wise not to take him for granted.
Devin Vassell continues to provide wing scoring for San Antonio, who had added veterans De’Aaron Fox (24 PPG, 6 APG) and Harrison Barnes (13 PPG, 3 RPG) to stabilize late-game offense. New Knicks coach Mike Brown might be the best-suited of all NBA coaches for scheming against Barnes and Fox. He coached both in Sacramento when skippering for the Kings.
While the game won’t count toward their season records, it will award the team a financial prize and bragging rights. The NBA Cup-winning team’s players each receive a prize of $530,933, although two-way players earn half the standard amount. The players on the team that loses the NBA Cup final still get around $212,373.
“We have a lot of guys and coaches who don’t make as much as some guys on this team, so it’s an added bonus for them as well,” said Jalen Brunson about the prize. “You’re not just playing for yourself, you’re playing for an entire team.”
Cap also admitted that players intend to take care of others in the organization with their earnings.
For lower-paid players, the prize money can represent a meaningful portion of annual income. Kolek previously used his NBA Cup bonus to buy his mother a car. Jordan Clarkson, currently on a veteran minimum contract, has a simpler goal.
“I’m going to pay my rent, fa’ sho,” Clarkson said. “They can just have the whole thing.”
Some players have altruistic goals. Karl-Anthony Towns, for example, plans to donate his potential earnings to organizations supporting children in the Dominican Republic.
Other players are Josh Hart. . . . He said the timing of the Cup run is useful after losing watches and jewelry worth approximately $185,000 in a hotel robbery. “I’ll buy a watch,” Hart said. “I lost three watches, so I have to start replacing those. We’re in Vegas. If I put it on a hand of blackjack, I might be able to double it and get more watches.”
To each their own, man. Before they start counting their winnings, they first must beat the Spurs—no easy task.
While the Spurs have a top-ten offense, they are a middle-of-the-pack defensive team. They are built to score, not to strangle games. The Knicks’ strengths (half-court defense, shot discipline, possession control) match well with San Antonio’s weakest areas. New York just needs to win Wemby’s minutes.
Easier said than done. Go Knicks.
