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The NBA Finals matchup is officially set. And storylines abound. The long-suffering New York Knicks, seeking their first title since 1973, versus the fast-maturing San Antonio Spurs, who look poised to launch yet another dynasty in South Texas. The close-knit ‘Nova Knicks, captained by Jalen Brunson, versus the league’s future (and present?) in Victor Wembanyama.…

Before perhaps the most iconic shot in NBA history splashed through the mesh, the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs spent much of the 2013 NBA Finals engaged in a series of bludgeonings. Fans remember Ray Allen’s game-tying 3 in Game 6 of the fnals, the shot he made after backtracking to the arc as…

Sorry, but New York City did not wait more than half a century for an NBA championship to be denied by a pinkie finger. A broken pinkie finger belonging to Mitchell Robinson, that is, suffered while the Knicks big man was doing something unrelated to his craft. Robinson had surgery to repair the damage on…

The Oklahoma City Thunder will be without forward Jalen Williams in Saturday’s Game 7 of the Western Conference finals against the San Antonio Spurs, as he has been ruled out with the same left hamstring injury that has limited him throughout the playoffs. Williams, an all-NBA performer last season, missed the final two games of…

The Philadelphia 76ers have found the next leader of their front office. Cleveland Cavaliers general manager Mike Gansey has agreed to be Philly’s new president of basketball operations, replacing Daryl Morey, league sources confirmed to The Athletic. ESPN was first to confirm a deal. Gansey rose to prominence in Cleveland’s front office over the last…

This always felt inevitable. Of course there would be seven games played between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs. NBA fans deserve no less than the full dose of the reigning champs vs. Victor Wembanyama. As our John Hollinger wrote, this matchup looks set to be this generation’s Lakers-Celtics. Advertisement So, going…

The Orlando Magic are working to complete a contract to hire Sean Sweeney as their next head coach, a league source told The Athletic on Friday. Sweeney, 41, spent last season as the San Antonio Spurs’ associate head coach, helping lead them to the NBA’s third-ranked defense. Sweeney will remain with the Spurs through the…

In one way, the Western Conference finals have lived up to the hype. It’s been a back-and-forth series that is going the distance with a Game 7 on Saturday. However, the last four games have been decided by double-digits and haven’t had much drama. Game 1 was an epic double-overtime Spurs win, but most of…

The Bounce Newsletter | This is The Athletic’s daily NBA newsletter. Sign up here to receive The Bounce directly in your inbox. e’re getting another Game 7. So let’s get ready by watching 30 minutes of the biggest “win or go home” moments in Game 7 history. Let’s not forget to tap in with Zaza…

Editor’s note: This post originally reported that Victor Wembanyama was dressed in a green Shaolin robe prior to Game 6 of the Western Conference finals series between the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder. Wembanyama was wearing a thobe, a garment worn mostly by men and associated with the Muslim culture. Advertisement San Antonio…