Who Would the Knicks Rather See in the 2026 NBA Finals?
For the first time in 27 years, the New York Knicks are heading to the NBA Finals. After a dominant, start-to-finish victory in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Finals, New York officially punched its ticket to the NBA Finals and continued what has become one of the most impressive postseason runs in franchise history. Winners of 11 consecutive playoff games and sweeping both the Philadelphia 76ers and Cleveland Cavaliers, the Knicks now stand four victories away from their first NBA championship since 1973. Awaiting them will be either the Oklahoma City Thunder or the San Antonio Spurs, two Western Conference powerhouses that each eclipsed 60 wins during the regular season. While many analysts still view either Western Conference representative as the favorite, New York has quickly forced itself into the championship conversation with elite play on both ends of the floor.
The Oklahoma City Thunder have completed one of the most remarkable rebuilds in recent NBA history. Just a few years removed from the lottery, the Thunder transformed themselves into contenders before capturing the 2024-2025 NBA Finals. Leading the way is back-to-back NBA MVP Award winner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who many consider the best player in basketball today. Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 31 points, four rebounds, and seven assists during the regular season while earning his fourth consecutive First Team All-NBA selection. Oklahoma City also features one of the league’s premier young defenders in Chet Holmgren, whose presence completely changes games defensively when healthy. Injuries, however, have become a concern for the Thunder during the postseason, with Jalen Williams battling a hamstring issue and Ajay Mitchell dealing with a calf strain. Former Knicks center Isaiah Hartenstein also brings familiarity with New York’s system and culture to Oklahoma City. Under general manager Sam Presti and head coach Mark Daigneault, the Thunder have become one of the NBA’s model franchises and remain a dangerous matchup for any opponent.
The San Antonio Spurs, meanwhile, have exceeded every expectation placed upon them entering the 2025-2026 season. Many projected the Spurs to compete merely for a spot in the NBA Play-In Tournament, but instead, they emerged as one of the Western Conference’s elite teams. Victor Wembanyama has elevated himself into superstardom during his third season, capturing the Defensive Player of the Year Award while averaging 25 points, 12 rebounds, and three blocks per game. San Antonio aggressively surrounded Wembanyama with talent, acquiring De’Aaron Fox from the Sacramento Kings in February 2025. Even while dealing with an ankle injury throughout the postseason, the 28-year-old has continued serving as the team’s primary ball handler and offensive catalyst. Stephon Castle has also emerged as a major contributor, taking on difficult defensive assignments while providing scoring and energy. Rookie Dylan Harper, selected second overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, has already shown maturity beyond his years, while Sixth Man of the Year Award winner Keldon Johnson gives San Antonio major production off the bench. Head coach Mitch Johnson and general manager Brian Wright have assembled a roster loaded with youth, athleticism, and versatility as the Spurs chase their first NBA Finals appearance since 2014.
During the regular season, the Knicks split their matchups with San Antonio and also defeated the Spurs in the NBA Emirates Cup Final, giving New York confidence in a potential championship showdown. Against Oklahoma City, the Knicks dropped both regular-season contests, though each was decided by a narrow margin. Still, the current version of New York looks significantly different from it did earlier in the season. Jalen Brunson was named Eastern Conference Finals MVP after another dominant series, while six Knicks players scored in double figures during the clinching Game Four victory against Cleveland. Unlike both Western Conference opponents, New York enters the NBA Finals fully healthy and with a full nine days of rest before Game One. Throughout most of the season, many believed the eventual NBA champion would emerge from the Western Conference, but the Knicks have completely shifted that narrative. With elite chemistry, strong depth, and arguably the hottest team in basketball, New York now enters the NBA Finals believing this postseason run can culminate in a championship parade through Manhattan. In terms of who New York wants to beat to acquire the parades, recent history shows the team they've defeated multiple times, rather than zero.
