Knicks vs. Spurs NBA Finals: How each team was built is a study in contrasts

It’s 1999 all over again, as the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks will duke it out in the NBA Finals for the right to be crowned the kings of the NBA.

(Man, we really need a new nickname for Sacramento, don’t we? I don’t mean for them to catch strays here, but … yikes.)

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As the two franchises prepare for Wednesday’s Game 1 (7:30 p.m., ABC), let’s take a look at how each starting five was built and contrast the roster-construction philosophies of each team.

The wheeling and dealing New York Knicks

There’s no getting around it. The Knicks do not have homegrown stars. Every player in their starting lineup has been acquired from other teams.

Jalen Brunson, who was drafted in 2018 by Dallas, could have stuck around with the Mavericks had they not allowed him to reach unrestricted free agency in 2022.

For inexplicable reasons, they did, and Brunson signed a deal with the Knicks. As a Knick he leveled up dramatically, becoming a peripheral MVP candidate, averaging 26.3 points and 6.8 assists during his New York tenure.

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From there, the team went the way of the trade route.

In February 2023, the Knicks acquired Josh Hart from Portland to become their hardhat and launch-pail connector. The organization relinquished future draft equity and young players to secure Hart, who was Brunson’s college teammate at Villanova.

Hart, who has played 249 games for the Knicks, has found a home in New York after starting his career as a journeyman and playing with three other franchises. His 11.5 points, 8.3 rebounds and 4.8 assists during his Knick tenure showcase an ability to do a bit of everything despite not being an outright typical star.

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On Dec. 30, 2023, the organization gave up two homegrown players (RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley) in order to cash in on OG Anunoby from Toronto.

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Anunoby, who is one of the league’s best two-way wings, immediately stepped into a featured role and has been the defensive glue for this team ever since.

The 6-foot-8, 240-pound forward has averaged 16.9 points…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/article/knicks-vs-spurs-nba-finals-how-each-team-was-built-is-a-study-in-contrasts-231220401.html

Author : Morten Stig Jensen

Publish date : 2026-05-31 23:12:00

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