It’s time to party like it’s 1999!
The 2026 NBA Finals are upon us and will be a rematch of the previous millennium’s last championship series. The storylines between the two teams are also incredibly similar to that ’99 matchup.
A gritty Knicks team blew by the rest of the Eastern Conference and is led by the infinitely clutch “King of New York” in Jalen Brunson, with a veteran supporting cast poised to end the franchise’s 53-year title drought. Its opponent is a young San Antonio Spurs squad anchored by the 22-year-old, 7’4 Victor Wembanyama, who has delivered an elite playoff campaign as the team took down the defending-champion Oklahoma City Thunder in the conference finals.
Longtime readers — sound familiar?
The Hustler staff breaks down the series and predicts who will be etched into hoops glory.
Eli Landers, Sports Editor
Prediction: San Antonio Spurs, 4-3
The Spurs blew me away in the last two outings of the Western Conference Finals. Wembanyama is obviously great, but I feel like Karl-Anthony Towns will do a good job at neutralizing the Frenchman’s defense by dragging him out of the paint. However, the core around “the Alien” is way better than people give it credit for. San Antonio’s backcourt trio of Stephon Castle, De’Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper each had moments of glory against OKC and will be the key to the outcome of this championship. The Knicks blew by my Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals because of the Cavs’ inability to put a competent defender on Brunson and Mikal Bridges, especially in the clutch. If these guards can shut down the Knicks’ perimeter unit in a couple of games, which I believe they are more than capable of doing, their team will walk away with the Larry O’Brien.
Tristan Rutman, Deputy Sports Editor
Prediction: New York Knicks, 4-3
As the Nets fan that I am — and as much as I hate to say this — I think the Knicks take this year’s chip. It’s hard to deny Wembanyama’s greatness, but at the same time, it’s hard to deny the fact that the Knicks have looked like a completely different team during the playoffs compared to the regular season. New York should have answers for everyone outside of “The Alien” with its exceptional perimeter defenders in OG Anunoby, Bridges and Josh Hart. The Spurs’ three-headed monster at the guard position has also been elite during its run to the finals, but it’s shown some growing pains: Castle is turnover-prone, and Fox is playing on a bum ankle (I have nothing bad to say about Harper). Brunson has been his usual postseason self, and Towns has discovered a new role for himself on this team, which has played a large factor in the Knicks’ elevation of play. Congratulations, New York fans. Make sure to soak in this moment.
Jack Frutkin, Deputy Sports Editor
Prediction: New York Knicks, 4-2
I still can’t wrap my head around what I’m about to say: The New York Knicks are going to win its first championship since 1973. As a lifelong Sixers fan, I spent much of the conference Finals grumbling about the organization’s decision to get rid of players now thriving on championship contenders, including Landry Shamet, Julian Champagnie, Jared McCain and Isaiah Joe. However, even I can admit that this Knicks team is special, and coming off 11 straight playoff victories and eight days of rest, I don’t see how they don’t finish the job. While Towns will certainly struggle against Wembanyama and Mitchell Robinson isn’t 100% healthy — though I’m not too concerned about a broken pinky — the Villanova trio I grew up watching will continue to play smart, composed basketball against a fatigued Spurs squad. Bridges was excellent against Cleveland, and I expect him to replicate that 3-point efficiency and lockdown defense against San Antonio alongside Hart’s unmatched energy and toughness. And of course, Brunson, the most clutch player in basketball, will prove to be too much for the Spurs’ young, inexperienced supporting cast. Mitch Johnson’s team could very well become the NBA’s next great dynasty, but it is going to have to wait at least one more year: 2026 belongs to New York.
Colin Adams, Deputy Sports Editor
Prediction: San Antonio Spurs, 4-2
The Spurs were out for blood on Sunday night, taking down the Thunder in 48 minutes of controlled pace and consistent gameplay in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Backed by another impressive performance by Wembanyama (22 PTS, 7 REB, 1 BLK) — one where he held rival big-man Chet Holmgren to just four points — San Antonio will almost undoubtedly carry this momentum into the upcoming finals matchup. That said, the Knicks are also coming off a dominant showing in the East, taking down the Cavaliers in a four-game sweep after a series-killing 22-point comeback win in Game 1 at The Garden. The key to the Knicks’ success in this series, especially in San Antonio for Games 1 and 2, will be Towns’ ability to dominate the paint and take the Spurs out of its offensive flow, particularly when Wembanyama isn’t on the court. But much like the team’s last finals appearance (which also pitted them against the Spurs), I believe it will be San Antonio’s perimeter defense that prevents Brunson from taking over and delivers the city its sixth NBA title.
Mikey Andersen, Lead Sports Analyst
Prediction: San Antonio Spurs, 4-1
The New York Knicks are a championship-caliber team led by veterans in Brunson and Towns. The only problem is the 12-foot alien hailing from the land of baguettes standing in its way. Against any other team in the league, I believe Towns’ shooting ability would draw attention away from the middle of the floor and allow Brunson and others to drive into the paint and open up good mid-range looks. However, that’s not the reality when playing against Wembanyama. His ability to defend shots from anywhere inside the arc is one of the most impactful aspects of his game, with the ability to guard the top of the key and stifle perimeter drives at the same time. This will lead to awkward looks for players like Brunson, and likely result in KAT forcing deep shots as he tries to draw Wembanyama away from the paint. With the Spurs’ supporting cast consisting of young stars like Castle and Harper attacking offensively, the Knicks will struggle to keep up, leading to a short series that will end with the Frenchman taking his rightful throne.
Dylan Tovitz, Senior Staffer
Prediction: New York Knicks, 4-1
Wow, this feels surreal to write. As the resident Knicks fan on staff, it should come as no surprise that I’m going with the Knickerbockers to bring the Larry O’Brien trophy back to the world’s most famous arena for the first time since the days of Walt Frazier and Willis Reed. After sweeping its last two opponents and rattling off 11 consecutive victories, New York is playing its best basketball of the season. Brunson and Towns have shined on the biggest stage, but it’s New York’s depth that’s been the true difference maker. Shamet, Deuce McBride, Jose Alvarado and Robinson have all provided invaluable contributions off the bench, giving the Knicks a significant advantage over San Antonio’s second unit. The Spurs, of course, have the ultimate game–changer in Wembanyama, but the Knicks proved an ability to slow him down during their matchup in March: a convincing 25-point victory for the Blue and Orange. If New York can stop Wembanyama from taking over, the Knicks should have a clear path to winning the series. Maybe the fan in me is showing, but I’m betting on the magic continuing. Knicks in five.
Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals will take place Wednesday, June 3, at 7:30 p.m. CDT at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. It will be televised on ABC.
