Sam Mitchell: Knicks have 'size and strength' to defeat Wembanyama, Spurs
Yahoo Sports Daily hosts Caroline Fenton and Jason Fitz are joined by former NBA head coach Sam Mitchell to preview the 2026 NBA Finals and discuss why he believes the New York Knicks match up well against Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs . Watch the full episode of Yahoo Sports Daily on YouTube or YahooSports.TV .
Video Transcript
But I think the Knicks are gonna win because two things, Karl-Anthony Towns, he gonna stand out there and shoot 40% from the three and he will shoot them, and he will take you off the dri- dribble.
So Victor is gonna be occupied.
Victor is gonna have to guard a guy that wants to get 30.
People forget, Karl-Anthony Towns can go get 30, 35.
He wants to do that.
And then a second, those bookend forwards that the Knicks have, you know, Mikal Bridges and OG.
How are you gonna match up with that size and that skill?
And both of those guys can shoot the three, they can defend.
And so even though I think San Antonio future is bright, I think this year belongs to the New York Knicks, people.
Sam, stick there for a second because you just told me, you know, we all know, we all I remember watching Jordan, right?
And like every year you took on Jordan, you didn't beat him in the finals, right?
So what would it mean for the Knicks considering the fact that they are taking on the alien and they've had such an incredible Like what would this- He ain't Jordan yet, guys.
Pump the brake.
Okay.
He's not Jordan.
'Cause we saw some games very un-Jordan-like.
Michael Jordan didn't have some Victor games when it was bad or mediocre, it was bad and mediocre.
But the Knicks are a different animal, guys.
The Knicks can check every box.
Where does Victor struggle?
With size and strength.
They got a guy on the bench that comes off the bench, called Mitchell Robinson that would beat the crap out of anybody.
And guys, you keep forgetting, Karl-Anthony Towns is not some finesse center.
Even though he can pass and shoot and dribble, he will lay wood on you also.
So this is gonna be a very, very physical series, for the San Antonio Spurs.
It's gonna be interesting for me to see if Mi- Mitch Johnson kinda play with that lineup a little bit.
If it was me, I would never play Victor at the five.
He would always be the four if I was coaching him.
But again, I, I, I would try to protect him from all that physical contact, so this is gonna be an interesting series, guy, but I think the Knicks from top to bottom is a better team.
And then you got two all NBA players in Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns.
So- This Knicks team is good, for real.
If you look at that roster, top to bottom, they got the best roster in the NBA.
They got a all-star center.
They got a all-star point guard.
OG Anunoby can be an all-star at any year.
Mikal Bridges can be a, a step below.
Then you got Josh Hart, then you got the bench, and then you got a guy like Mitchell Robinson who can come in, defend and rebound and it's physical.
Then they can play big, they can play small.
OG Anunoby's 6' 6'9", guys, 245. Who's gonna match up with him for San Antonio?
