Michael Wilbon believes the New York Knicks would prefer to face the San Antonio Spurs rather than the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals.
The reasoning is straightforward. Oklahoma City looks more experienced, more complete, and is now just one win away from returning to the Finals after taking a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference Finals.
San Antonio still has Victor Wembanyama , but Wilbon sees the Spurs as the more manageable matchup for New York .
Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images
Speaking on First Take , Wilbon explained why the Knicks would likely lean toward a Finals meeting with San Antonio.
"One team is new to this, the Spurs, and one team isn't. … You don't necessarily want the champs. … Right now, I think the Knicks would want the Spurs," Wilbon stated.
That answer points directly at Oklahoma City's pedigree. The Thunder are the defending champions, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander gives them the kind of proven lead star New York would have to solve over a full series.
Oklahoma City also moved ahead 3-2 in the Western Conference Finals after beating San Antonio 127-114 in Game 5.
The Spurs are dangerous because Wembanyama can change a series by himself, but San Antonio's core is still new to this stage. That is why Wilbon believes the Knicks would rather take their chances there.
Wilbon also warned that the Western Conference Finals could leave the eventual winner drained.
"Oklahoma City and San Antonio are going to Ali-Frazier each other to death," Wilbon said. "And somebody's going to need like a vacation and not be ready physically and emotionally to move on to the next round."
That has already been part of the series. Game 1 went to double overtime; San Antonio punched back with force in Game 4, and Oklahoma City regained control in Game 5 behind its depth and Gilgeous-Alexander's 32 points.
For the Knicks, that could matter as much as the matchup itself. New York has already clinched the East and can watch the West spend more energy before the Finals begin.
If the Thunder advance, the Knicks would face a stronger and more seasoned opponent. If the Spurs survive, New York may get a younger team coming off a brutal comeback route.
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