The San Antonio Spurs emerged victorious with a 111-103 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 7 on Saturday night. This win secured their place in the NBA Finals for the first time since 2014. San Antonio clinched the series by winning Games 1, 4, 6, and 7, including two road wins, while holding the Thunder to their lowest offensive performances of the postseason in their final three matchups.
Victor Wembanyama’s standout performance anchored the Spurs’ success. He opened the series with 41 points and 24 rebounds and achieved 19 blocks, the most in a playoff series in 21 years. De’Aaron Fox contributed as well, with 15 points, five assists, and three steals in Game 7.
The Spurs will face the New York Knicks, who completed a four-game sweep in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Knicks are returning to the NBA Finals for the first time in 27 years. Game 1 is set for Wednesday, June 3, in San Antonio.
Attention also turned to another NBA team, the Sacramento Kings, who ended far from playoff contention. De’Aaron Fox, formerly the Kings’ star, played a significant role in the Spurs’ journey to the Finals. Meanwhile, Knicks’ coach Mike Brown, dismissed by Sacramento in December 2024, will coach against his former player.
Brown turned around the Kings’ fortunes when he joined in 2022, leading them to their first playoffs since 2006. Despite winning NBA Coach of the Year twice, the Kings let him go soon after renewing his contract.
Fox also left Sacramento on unfavorable terms, declining a $165 million extension; he joined the Spurs and later signed a four-year, $229 million max contract extension. The Kings have faced similar setbacks before, including missing pivotal draft opportunities and enduring a lengthy playoff absence since 2006.
In 2011, they chose Jimmer Fredette over Klay Thompson and Kawhi Leonard. In 2018, they selected Marvin Bagley III instead of Luka Doncic. They succeeded with De’Aaron Fox in 2017 and Tyrese Haliburton in 2020, but both are no longer with the team. Haliburton, traded to Indiana, recently led the Pacers to the NBA Finals.
The Fox-Brown situation illustrates the importance of astute front-office decisions and luck in building championship-caliber teams. Unfortunately, the Kings haven’t found success with either approach in recent years. Instead of competing for a championship, they are contending for the title of the most unfortunate franchise in the NBA.