NBA Basketball 24 Hours

Last updated: June 1, 2026, 2:42 AM ET

Conference Finals & Championship Outlook

The Spurs eliminated the defending champion Thunder in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals, 111-103, with center Victor Wembanyama contributing 22 points and seven rebounds to propel his team to the NBA Finals. Despite claiming his second straight MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander called his season a failure after the Thunder were eliminated before getting a chance to defend their title. The championship series matchup has San Antonio favored against the New York Knicks as the Spurs look to capitalize on their momentum from their conference finals victory.

NBA Finals Preparations

Knicks center Mitchell Robinson plans to play in Game 1 of the NBA Finals while wearing a brace on his hand after undergoing surgery on his broken right pinkie finger. The NBA has revealed trophy imagery for the Finals courts, with the Larry O'Brien Trophy painted at midcourt and the script logo for "The Finals" positioned on either side of the court. Bettors have heavily invested in the Knicks to win the championship, with nearly half of all money wagered on the Finals winner going to New York at Draft Kings Sportsbook in NYC.

Offseason Developments

The Orlando Magic are finalizing a deal to hire San Antonio Spurs associate head coach Sean Sweeney as their new head coach, bringing in a defensive-minded strategist to help rebuild the franchise. As the offseason approaches for most teams, executives are monitoring key free agent decisions including Austin Reaves, Jalen Duren, and Mitchell Robinson. Meanwhile, the 2026 NBA draft landscape is taking shape with a wave of college returners reshaping ESPN's latest top 100 prospects rankings, setting the stage for what could be one of the most unpredictable drafts in recent memory.