EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsAn NBA postseason highlighted by breakout performances, Game 7 thrillers and more than a few upsets has reached its last chapter: The Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks.San Antonio is seeking its first championship since 2014 after winning 62 games during the regular season and dethroning the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference finals. New York, ringless since 1973, won 53 games and the NBA Cup before breezing through the Eastern Conference playoffs with a 12-2 run.As the conference champions prepare to collide, let's rank all 30 players eligible to play in the NBA Finals.Note: These rankings reflect performance and availability during the 2025-26 regular season and postseason, plus known medical issues.1. Victor Wembanyama, Spurs | CPlayoff stats: 23.2 PPG, 10.8 RPG, 2.7 APG, 2.5 BPG, 51.0% FG, 37.0% 3-ptWembanyama's first postseason run has been legendary: The 2023 No. 1 overall pick leads all players in Player Efficiency Rating, Win Shares, rebounds and blocks. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Tim Duncan, Hakeem Olajuwon and David Robinson are the only players to match his postseason stats -- 23.2 points, 10.8 rebounds and 3.5 blocks -- in runs of 10 or more games.But Wembanyama's resolve has been as impressive as his production. Young stars usually need time to acclimate to playoff intensity, but the 22-year-old has reached the Finals despite suffering a head injury in the first round, getting ejected for a flagrant elbow in the second round and falling behind 3-2 against the Thunder in the Western Conference finals. Remarkably, the Spurs were plus-62 with Wembanyama on the court and minus-36 when he was off it against Oklahoma City.Everything is on the table for Wembanyama over the next three weeks: He could lead the Spurs to their first championship of the post-Duncan era, become the second-youngest Finals MVP in history and solidify his standing as the best basketball player in the world.2. Jalen Brunson, Knicks | PGPlayoff stats: 26.9 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 6.6 APG, 0.9 SPG, 48.6% FG, 35.2% 3-ptBrunson's transformative impact on the Knicks goes well beyond the numbers, but the "Before Brunson" and "After Brunson" splits have reached eye-popping status. After winning just one playoff series between 2001 and 2022, the Knicks have won seven series in Brunson's four-year run. The point guard's 35 playoff wins since 2022 rank second among players with at least one All-Star selection, and he just led the Knicks on the most dominant run to the Finals by an Eastern Conference team since the NBA instituted its current playoff format in 2003.A perceived lack of size caused Brunson to slip into the second round of the 2018 draft and fueled some doubts about his ability to emerge as a franchise player when he left the Dallas Mavericks. Now the 6-foot-2 floor general now has the chance to join Stephen Curry (6-foot-2), Tony Parker (6-foot-2) and Isiah Thomas (6-foot-1) among the shortest Finals MVP winners in league history.3. Karl-Anthony Towns, Knicks | CPlayoff stats: 16.9 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 5.9 APG, 1.4 BPG, 57.2% FG, 48.9% 3-ptThis was the dream when the Knicks traded for Towns right before the 2024-25 season: The 2015 No. 1 pick has supercharged New York's offense with his floor spacing and distribution skills. With Towns facilitating more than ever, the Knicks' league-best 123.3 offensive rating in the playoffs has jumped 4.6 points above their regular-season standard.Towns ranks second to Wembanyama in Player Efficiency and Win Shares among players with at least 10 games logged during the 2026 playoffs, and his defensive limitations have yet to cost the Knicks in a meaningful way. That could change in the Finals if his propensity for committing cheap fouls comes back to bite New York.4. Stephon Castle, Spurs | PGPlayoff stats: 19.2 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 6.7 APG, 1.0 SPG, 48.1% FG, 36.3% 3-ptCastle is two valuable archetypes rolled into one player: a relentless off-the-dribble attacker capable of collapsing opposing defenses, and a fierce on-ball perimeter stopper who savors the toughest assignments. The second-year guard has stepped up to provide additional scoring with teammates De'Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper battling injuries, and he helped hold two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander well below his regular-season averages during the West finals.There is one catch: Castle has battled turnover issues throughout the playoffs, particularly against Oklahoma City's swarming schemes. In his defense, he has offset his giveaways by leading the NBA in total assists this postseason.5. OG Anunoby, Knicks | PFPlayoff stats: 19.7 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 1.9 APG, 1.6 SPG, 57.7% FG, 48.3% 3-ptAnunoby has emerged as a playoff riser for the Knicks despite a minor hamstring injury that cost him two games in the second round. The 28-year-old forward has upped his scoring, rebounding, and shooting efficiency compared to his regular-season levels, and his defensive versatility has been a major asset.While New York's exceptional offense has garnered most of the attention in recent weeks, Anunoby has helped the Knicks post the NBA's top-ranked defense in the playoffs. Will Knicks coach Mike Brown cast him as the "Wemby-Stopper?"6. De'Aaron Fox, Spurs | PGPlayoff stats: 16.4 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 5.9 APG, 1.3 SPG, 43.5% FG, 31.1% 3-ptFox missed two games and was limited by an ankle injury in the Western Conference finals, but he chipped in 15 points, five assists and one heady foul in crunch time to help lift San Antonio past Oklahoma City in Game 7. The two-time All-Star should enjoy more freedom to operate against New York, assuming he's able to heal up before the series tips.After making just one playoff appearance in seven-plus seasons with the Sacramento Kings before his 2025 trade to the Spurs, Fox is now in position to join Jayson Tatum as the only 2017 lottery picks to win a championship.7. Mikal Bridges, Knicks | SFPlayoff stats: 14.6 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.1 SPG, 58.6% FG, 34.1% 3-ptBridges' renaissance has been one of the best stories of the playoffs: After looking helpless throughout much of the first round against the Atlanta Hawks, the well-rounded forward returned to form and made a positive impact on both ends against the Philadelphia 76ers and Cleveland Cavaliers.With this shaping up to be a physical Finals matchup against the Spurs, Bridges' poor free throw rate could draw scrutiny: He attempted only 98 free throws in 2,692 minutes during the regular season, ranking eighth worst among players who logged at least 1,500 minutes.8. Devin Vassell, Spurs | SGPlayoff stats: 13.0 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 2.7 APG, 1.4 SPG, 41.1% FG, 35.6% 3-ptVassell's patience through San Antonio's pre-Wembanyama rebuilding years has paid off handsomely, and he has proved to be a quality complementary scorer who does a little bit of everything in his first playoff run. While his chief responsibility is to keep opponents from overloading on San Antonio's stars, he scraps and claws as a rebounder and multi-positional defender.9. Dylan Harper, Spurs | PGPlayoff stats: 13.1 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1.1 SPG, 52.5% FG, 36.4% 3-ptThe No. 2 pick in the 2025 draft has looked like a future perennial All-Star at times in his first playoff run. Already one of the NBA's best finishers around the basket, Harper's handle, poise and smooth shooting stroke make him an absurd scoring threat for San Antonio's second unit.If not for a minor hamstring injury that impacted his consistency midway the Western Conference finals, Harper would be a spot or two higher on this list.10. Julian Champagnie, Spurs | SFPlayoff stats: 11.3 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 1.5 APG, 1.3 SPG, 45.4% FG, 39.3% 3-ptOn paper, the undrafted and unheralded Champagnie might seem like the forgotten man among San Antonio's starters. In reality, he's a model of reliability who hasn't missed a game in two seasons and has hit countless backbreaking 3-pointers over the past six weeks.During San Antonio's closeout wins over the Portland Trail Blazers, Minnesota Timberwolves and Thunder, Champagnie has averaged 19.0 points and shot 15-of-26 (57.7%) from deep.11. Josh Hart, Knicks | SGPlayoff stats: 11.4 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 4.6 APG, 1.8 SPG, 44.3% FG, 30.3% 3-ptHart's grit, hustle, unselfishness and sense of humor help explain why Knicks fever has swept through the Big Apple. The pertinent question now, though, is whether his shaky outside shooting will throw a kink into New York's offensive machine. The Knicks' starters have logged the most minutes of any five-man lineup during the playoffs, but Hart looms as a possible weak link if he can't make the Spurs pay for leaving him open.12. Mitchell Robinson, Knicks | CPlayoff stats: 5.3 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 0.3 APG, 0.6 BPG, 73.7% FG, 30.2% FTThe pickup-truck-loving 7-footer recently had surgery to address a broken pinkie on his right hand, but he plans to be a full go for the Finals. Robinson's elite rebounding and willingness to do the dirty work make him a valuable contributor, but his abominable 30.2% free throw shooting has prompted hacking tactics by rival coaches in the playoffs.13. Keldon Johnson, Spurs | SFPlayoff stats: 8.7 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 0.9 APG, 0.7 SPG, 41.7% FG, 36.0% 3-ptJohnson, San Antonio's longest-tenured player, has seen his production and scoring efficiency drop since the regular season, when he was named Sixth Man of the Year. Despite those struggles, Johnson's experience, leadership, physicality and timely 3-pointers helped the Spurs survive the Thunder.14. Landry Shamet, Knicks | SGPlayoff stats: 5.7 PPG, 0.8 RPG, 0.6 APG, 55.3% FG, 60.0% 3-ptShamet has made the most of his limited playoff minutes, shooting a blistering 60% from deep during the playoffs and providing crucial bench scoring to help seal New York's last two series wins. The 29-year-old guard should expect much tougher shot quality against the Spurs.15. Miles McBride, Knicks | SGPlayoff stats: 6.9 PPG, 1.4 RPG, 1.1 APG, 37.3% FG, 42.9% 3-ptThe Knicks would love McBride to get hot from deep in the Finals, just as he did by hitting seven 3-pointers to sweep the 76ers out of the second round. Failing that, they would settle for better consistency: The hot-and-cold guard has been held under five points in five of New York's 14 playoff games.16. Luke Kornet, Spurs | CPlayoff stats: 4.5 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 0.8 APG, 0.9 BPG, 58.9% FGBeing Wembanyama's backup is one of those jobs that comes with lowered expectations, so it was exhilarating to watch Kornet make the biggest defensive play of the postseason with a transition block on Isaiah Hartenstein in Game 7 of the West finals.Wembanyama's increased workload in the playoffs has come at Kornet's expense, but the nine-year veteran, who won a title with the Boston Celtics in 2024, could help counter New York's vaunted offensive rebounding.17. Carter Bryant, Spurs | PFPlayoff stats: 2.9 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 0.9 APG, 48.7% FG, 38.5% 3-ptThe 20-year-old rookie looks like another long-term keeper for San Antonio thanks to his size and defensive potential. Spurs coach Mitch Johnson has gradually gone away from Bryant in bigger games, a trend that could continue with the Larry O'Brien Trophy at stake.18. Jose Alvarado, Knicks | PGPlayoff stats: 4.2 PPG, 0.9 RPG, 1.1 APG, 0.7 SPG, 48.8% FG, 40.9% 3-ptThe feisty Brooklyn native was welcomed with open arms by his hometown fans after the Knicks acquired him from the New Orleans Pelicans in a midseason trade. Alvarado's energy could prove useful in matching up with San Antonio's aggressive backcourt.19. Jordan Clarkson, Knicks | SGPlayoff stats: 5.4 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 0.7 APG, 47.5% FG, 15.4% 3-ptWhile the 2021 Sixth Man of the Year can still get buckets at age 33, he has shot a paltry 15.4% on 3-pointers during New York's playoff run, and his poor defensive metrics could make him hard to trust on the Finals stage.20. Harrison Barnes, Spurs | PFPlayoff stats: 2.6 PPG, 1.3 RPG, 35.1% FG, 25.0% 3-ptIs history repeating? Eleven years ago, Barnes started for a Golden State Warriors team that won the 2015 championship despite its youth and inexperience. Now 34 years old, Barnes is the wise old man for the ahead-of-schedule Spurs, who mostly ask him to come in for mop-up duty.21. Tyler Kolek, Knicks | PGPlayoff stats: 3.5 PPG in eight gamesThe baby-faced lefty guard scored 14 points off the bench in the NBA Cup championship, earning kudos from his star teammates. Since then, the 2024 second-round pick has had his minutes squeezed in favor of more experienced options.22. Ariel Hukporti, Knicks | CPlayoff stats: 2.1 PPG in eight gamesHukporti, a 2024 second-round pick, served as a human victory cigar several times when the Knicks thrashed the 76ers. The German center is a high-volume rebounder who gets called into action when Towns and Robinson encounter foul trouble.23. Kelly Olynyk, Spurs | CPlayoff stats: 2.8 PPG in nine gamesBack in 2017, Olynyk was a playoff hero for the Celtics by scoring 26 points in a Game 7 win over the Washington Wizards in the second round. That was a long time ago, and the aging center has mustered just 25 points across nine games during San Antonio's run to the Finals.24. Mohamed Diawara, Knicks | SFPlayoff stats: 1.2 PPG in six gamesThe energetic French forward earned seven starts during his rookie season, usually as a stand-in when Hart was injured. Diawara has mostly been asked to watch and learn during the playoffs.25. Jordan McLaughlin, Spurs | PGPlayoff stats: 1.9 PPG, in 10 gamesMcLaughlin, an undersized pass-first point guard, can serve as a trustworthy ball handler in a pinch. Spurs coach Mitch Johnson hasn't really needed to call his number despite health concerns in his backcourt rotation.26. Jeremy Sochan, Knicks | PFPlayoff stats: 4.0 PPG in five gamesThe ninth pick in the 2022 draft was cut loose by the Spurs after three-plus underwhelming seasons, and the Knicks have barely used Sochan since picking him up in February. His early-career struggles raise the question: What if the Spurs had selected Jalen Williams (the 11th pick) or Jalen Duren (12th) instead?27. Lindy Waters III, Spurs | SGPlayoff stats: 1.7 PPG in nine gamesThe well-traveled Waters joined the Spurs on a veterans minimum contract last summer, surely knowing that playing time would be very hard to come by in a guard rotation packed with lottery talent.28. Pacome Dadiet, Knicks | SGPlayoff stats: 2.9 PPG in seven gamesDadiet, a 20-year-old French wing with good size, remained stuck outside the regular rotation in his second campaign. New York's youngest player did tally a career-high 12 points in the last game of the regular season.29. Mason Plumlee, Spurs | CPlayoff stats: 0.7 PPG in six gamesThe 36-year-old journeyman's biggest contribution during the 2026 playoffs was a flagrant foul on Thunder guard Jared McCain in garbage time, which sounds about right.30. Bismack Biyombo, Spurs | CPlayoff stats: 0.7 PPG in nine gamesThe seldom-used Biyombo's main job in San Antonio is to make outsiders wonder why the Spurs have devoted four of their 15 roster spots to backup centers in their 30s.
