The Knicks and Spurs have been circling each other long enough that this no longer feels like a future rivalry. It already is one.
That was on display again whenever the 2025-26 San Antonio Spurs ran into the New York Knicks. The Spurs were dominant on both ends of the floor against everyone else, but against New York, Victor Wembanyama kept running into Jalen Brunson like a force he couldn’t quite clear. The matchup has become bigger than the standings, bigger than the conferences, and bigger than any one game.
And it’s only getting more interesting from here. Wembanyama is going to have more help next time around, with Tobias Harris and Billy Donovan joining the mix. The Spurs’ young foundation is still taking shape, but it already looks loaded, with Wembanyama, Dylan Harper, Stephon Castle, and more in the pipeline.
The Knicks, meanwhile, are built to keep answering. Their veteran core is basically intact for next season, and they’re only a couple of extensions away from locking in what could be a truly daunting group for the long haul. New York’s championship window is open now, and it doesn’t look like it’s closing soon.
Other teams have their own looming storylines. The Indiana Pacers have knocked the Knicks out in back-to-back playoff bids.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are a real danger to the Spurs and sit in the same conference as the NBA’s 2026 runner-up. But the most compelling young rivalry in the league has been sitting in plain sight for years.
This one didn’t grow out of geography or division lines. It didn’t come from a classic superstar-versus-superstar matchup at the same position, the kind that once made Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic appointment viewing. The Knicks-Spurs tension has been built almost entirely on competition, and on the collision between Brunson and Wembanyama.
It really started to crystallize in March 2024, when Brunson exploded for 60 points. Wembanyama answered with 40 points and 20 rebounds of his own, then tossed the game ball into the stands. That moment felt like the kind of spark that can change the temperature between two teams.
The story kept growing from there: Christmas Day later that year, the Emirates NBA Cup Championship round in the fall of 2025, and then an entire NBA Finals series.
The Knicks also built a reputation during their run that only makes this matchup feel bigger. They became the first Emirates NBA Cup champion to win a playoff series, then changed their style of play after falling behind 2-1 in the first round. Mike Brown’s team bought in, turned the rest of the Eastern Conference playoffs into a showcase, and posted historic margins of victory that put them in the conversation with some all-time great teams.
Then came Game 4 of the NBA Finals, when the Knicks pulled off the largest single-game comeback in Finals history against the Spurs.
That kind of run leaves a mark. New York spent most of four playoff series proving it would keep finding a way through whatever stood in front of it, and now that it has championship rings, there’s no reason to think the edge is going anywhere. The locker room has only grown tighter after a summer of celebration.
The Spurs, for their part, are still headed upward and still seem destined to keep climbing. They’re also likely even more determined now to win a title of their own.
But Brunson’s Knicks - resilient, battle-tested, and already proven on the biggest stage - will be waiting.
In Other News...
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The Knicks still have work to do behind Karl-Anthony Towns, and its the kind of roster issue that can linger until the front office decides it no longer can. Backup center has become a clear spot to monitor, with New York looking for a big who can give the second unit some stability without forcing a major overhaul elsewhere on the roster.
There are a few places to watch if the Knicks keep hunting on the trade market, and the field is wide enough to keep this from feeling like a one-team problem. Charlotte, Portland and Sacramento all have frontcourt pieces that could fit what New York needs, with several names on the board as possible answers if the Knicks decide this is the moment to act. [Read more 🡒]
Cavs Just Moved On From A Young Talent Knicks Could Still Unlock
The Knicks still have room to keep tinkering with the back end of the roster, with five spots open and a mix of standard and two-way options available. That kind of flexibility matters this time of year, especially for a team that is trying to balance immediate depth with the longer-term search for a player who can be developed into something more.
Cam Whitmore is one of the more intriguing names in that lane after being waived by Cleveland, and he would fit the profile of a low-risk swing on a young talent with upside. He has already logged three NBA seasons, but consistency has remained the question, which is exactly why a Knicks staff that has shown interest in finding value where other teams have moved on could have a decision to make. [Read more 🡒]
Pacers Face An Early Roster Squeeze Fans Will Notice
As the Knicks head toward the start of the season, a few familiar contract questions are already hanging over the roster. Karl-Anthony Towns and Miles McBride are among the players eligible for extensions, but reports indicate the front office is not expected to move quickly before opening night, with cap management and bigger-picture roster planning shaping the timeline.
The bigger issue for New York may be that patience can come with a cost. Delaying talks keeps the Knicks flexible, but it also leaves notable decisions unresolved while the organization has already seen assistant coach Jordan Brink depart for the Bulls and did not retain Gersson Rosas after his contract expired. For a team trying to stay steady around the edges, the next few weeks could say a lot about how aggressively it wants to lock in its future. [Read more 🡒]