The New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs open the NBA Finals on Wednesday night in Texas, a rematch of the historic 1999 championship series won by the Spurs.
Both franchises are chasing a return to glory, and one will become the NBA’s eighth different champion in as many seasons.
Five players in particular carry the heaviest burden of expectation as the series gets underway this week.
Jalen Brunson has built himself into one of the greatest Knicks of all time in just four seasons, establishing a winning culture far removed from the dysfunction of previous decades.
If Brunson can guide New York to their first championship since 1973, the rewards in the city would be immeasurable, with talk of statues outside Madison Square Garden and enduring legendary status.
He faces a serious challenge in the form of San Antonio’s young, athletic trio of guards as well as 7-foot-4 center Victor Wembanyama lurking in the paint throughout every possession.
Karl-Anthony Towns, the No. 1 overall pick in 2015, has made six All-Star teams and three All-NBA teams, yet never fully escaped questions about his ability to deliver when it matters most in the playoffs.
This postseason, Towns has evolved into a monster rebounder and a dangerous passer from the high post, and a Finals victory would cement a Hall of Fame legacy that has long been on the horizon.
Victor Wembanyama already surpassed expectations by eliminating the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, but winning the title outright would make him the undisputed best player in basketball.
A championship, particularly at the NBA’s most famous arena, would push Wembanyama into a category of fame that transcends basketball entirely, reaching audiences far beyond the traditional sports world.
De’Aaron Fox was brought to San Antonio as Wembanyama’s primary running mate, with the Spurs trading for the former Clutch Player of the Year before handing him a max extension.
Fox has been battling a sprained ankle that slowed him against the Thunder, but a performance like his Game 7 effort of 15 points on 6-for-12 shooting would justify every dollar of that deal.
Mikal Bridges was acquired by New York at the cost of six first-round picks two years ago, a price tag that drew scrutiny as he adjusted to Tom Thibodeau’s isolation-heavy offensive system.
Under head coach Mike Brown this season, Bridges has flourished in an offense that suits his ability to slash to the rim and score efficiently in the mid-range, making him one of the Knicks’ most important contributors.
Bridges made several decisive defensive plays during New York’s upset of the Boston Celtics earlier in the playoffs, and a strong Finals showing would finally silence every last critic who questioned whether he was worth the investment.
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