The Knicks’ Game 1 Victory Could Be Telling

It’s still early to tell, but Victor Wembanyama’s playoff run could mirror what LeBron James did in 2007. Both are 22 years old and have led a franchise to the NBA Finals before their prime. In the conference finals, each of them had their signature moment. 

For James, it was Game Five against the Detroit Pistons on the road. He led the Cleveland Cavaliers to a double overtime victory, winning 109-107. In 50 minutes, he logged 48 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists. He scored 29 of Cleveland’s final 30 points in the game. 

For Wembanyama, it was Game One against the Oklahoma City Thunder on the road. He led the San Antonio Spurs to a double overtime victory, winning 122-115. In 49 minutes, he logged 41 points, 24 rebounds, and three blocks. His signature moment was hitting a 28-footer to send the game into double overtime, where he scored nine points and sealed the deal. 

There are a lot of similarities between James and Wembanyama, including age, moment, and performance. That, however, does not guarantee a happy ending for Wembanyama if the story continues the same way. If the parallel holds, the next step is where things get worrying. 

The Cavaliers were swept in the finals, and James averaged 22 points, seven rebounds, and 6.8 assists. The eye-popping stat was that he shot just 35.6% from the field. It was a big drop off from the series before, where he averaged 25 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 8.5 assists on 45% shooting. 

Game One of the 2026 NBA Finals was not very kind to Wembanyama. He scored 26 points and 12 rebounds, but did it on just 6/21 shooting and 2/9 from three. This was a clear drop off from the 27.3 points and 10.9 rebounds on 48% shooting from the series before. 

It’s just one game, but the similarities are too strong to ignore, and they raise real questions about how this series could unfold. 

The Knicks May Just Be Unstoppable

The Knicks might just be on a ridiculous heater at the moment. It’s possible that no matter who they faced, they wouldn’t get beaten. After their 105-95 victory, New York has now reached 12 postseason wins in a row: the second most in NBA history behind the 2017 Golden State Warriors. 

The numbers continue to impress. The Knicks, in their 12-game stretch, have won 11 of the games by double digits. The point differential has ballooned to +272 in this streak, which is once again an NBA record. 

New York has looked its worst in two instances: Game One of the Eastern Conference Finals and Game One of the NBA Finals. In Game One, the Knicks were down 22 points with around eight minutes to go and won the game by double digits in overtime. 

In Game One of the Finals, New York erased a 14-point lead in the second half and ended up winning in double figures. The common thread between the two games may be rust. They had eight days of rest before the Cleveland series and eight days of rest before this current series. 

That is a reason why Spurs fans should be worried. The only thing to make the Knicks look human was the rust. The Cavaliers could not take advantage of it and got swept. San Antonio let this one slip away, and we will see how they respond. 

It’s still early, but Game Two is an absolute must-win for Wembanyama and company. 

End Of My San Antonio Spurs And New York Knicks Rant

There is a reason why players this young do not win. The NBA does not reward teams skipping steps. One must face heartbreak before reaching the mountaintop.

That’s what happened to James, and it might be happening to Wemby. The Knicks have faced 50 years of pain, and their time might be coming. This current iteration of the Spurs has not experienced real disappointment yet. 

With all that said, it’s only Game One. The series can turn on with the snap of a finger. Will New York continue their heater, or will San Antonio bounce back in Game Two?