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Jeremy Sochan SF | POR
Knicks' Jeremy Sochan: Celebrates title after limited role
Sochan logged eight seconds of playing time during Saturday's 94-90 victory over the Spurs in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.
Sochan barely touched the hardwood in the final series, playing three first-half minutes in Game 4 and entering Game 5 just to watch the final clock tick down, but he walks away with a championship ring. The defensive specialist found a unique way to make his presence felt during the series, frequently seen taunting and chirping at Victor Wembanyama, his former teammate in San Antonio. It caps off a wild rollercoaster of a season for the 2022 first-round draft pick, who was waived by the Spurs in February before signing a one-year deal with the Knicks. While Sochan was completely non-existent in New York's standard rotation, his athletic traits and defensive versatility should still generate interest on the open market this summer. He will enter the offseason as an unrestricted free agent looking to find a franchise willing to give him consistent developmental minutes.
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Mitchell Robinson C | BOS
Knicks' Mitchell Robinson: Title-clinching board in Game 5 win
Robinson closed Saturday's 94-90 victory over the Spurs in Game 5 of the NBA Finals with two points (1-2 FG, 0-2 FT), 10 rebounds and two assists across 20 minutes.
Robinson's traditional box score numbers will not jump off the page, and his offensive limitations remained a glaring issue as he finished the championship series averaging just 3.6 points while shooting an abysmal 26.7 percent from the free-throw line. However, the 28-year-old center completely changed the complexion of Game 5 with his high-motor activity on the glass, pulling down 10 boards in just 20 minutes off the bench.None were more impactful than his final offensive rebound of the season. With the Knicks holding a slim lead and just 25 seconds remaining on the clock, Josh Hart missed a crucial free throw. Robinson immediately out-muscled the San Antonio frontcourt to snatch the live ball, resetting the possession and forcing the Spurs to foul again, effectively wrapping up the title for New York. Robinson closed a gritty postseason run averaging 5.6 rebounds (3.0 offensive) and 0.6 blocks in 13.4 minutes per game across the Finals, solidifying his role as the team's ultimate dirty-work specialist.
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Mikal Bridges SG | NY
Knicks' Mikal Bridges: Bounces back in Game 5
Bridges closed with 14 points (5-10 FG, 3-7 3Pt, 1-2 FT), two rebounds, four assists and one block over 39 minutes during Saturday's 94-90 victory over San Antonio in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.
After combining for only nine points in Games 3 and 4, Bridges had 14 points Saturday -- his second-highest output of the NBA Finals -- to help the Knicks capture an NBA championship for the first time in 53 years. The 2018 No. 10 overall pick had a down year offensively in 2025-26, averaging 14.4 points over 82 regular-season games, 3.2 less than he had during the 2024-25 campaign. Still, Bridges' durability and contributions on both ends of the floor made him a valuable component of New York's championship run despite the scoring decline.
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De'Aaron Fox PG | SA
Spurs' De'Aaron Fox: Offensive nightmare in Finals loss
Fox closed with seven points (3-15 FG, 1-8 3Pt), five assists and two steals in 37 minutes during Saturday's 94-90 loss to the Knicks in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.
Fox wrapped up a brutal championship series with another dreadful shooting display, failing to crack 37.5 percent shooting from the field for a third straight game as San Antonio was eliminated. The 28-year-old guard was never able to recapture his pre-injury form after returning from a Western Conference Finals high-ankle sprain, averaging a meager 12.8 points while shooting 34.4 percent from the field and 25.0 percent from deep across the five Finals contests. Beyond the efficiency woes, Fox's decision-making plagued the Spurs at the worst possible moments and most notably in Game 4, when he inexplicably drove into a contested layup attempt instead of running out the clock and forcing New York to foul while up one with 12 seconds remaining. With San Antonio heading into the offseason, management will have to weigh whether Fox can adjust his game alongside rising stars Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper, or if his maximum contract will continue to clog the team's flexibility.
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OG Anunoby PF | NY
Knicks' OG Anunoby: Cools off offensively in Game 5
Anunoby contributed 11 points (3-11 FG, 1-5 3Pt, 4-6 FT), eight rebounds, one block and three steals over 33 minutes during Saturday's 94-90 win over the Spurs in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.
Anunoby was the hero of Game 4. However, he wasn't as productive or efficient in Game 5, going 3-for-11 from the field and 0-for-2 from deep. Still, despite the subpar offensive performance, the 28-year-old was instrumental in helping the Knicks claim their first championship since 1973. As expected, Anunoby had a quality 2025-26 campaign, averaging 16.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.7 blocks and 1.6 steals in 67 regular-season appearances. He also shot higher than 38.0 percent from deep for the sixth time in his career. Anunoby is committed to New York for two more seasons, though it could be more if he accepts a player option in 2028-29. With that in mind, unless the Knicks get a substantial offer, he is expected to remain in the Big Apple, where he is projected to see plenty of minutes as a starter moving ahead.
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Landry Shamet SF | NY
Knicks' Landry Shamet: Moves past leg issue
Shamet re-entered Saturday's 94-90 win over the Spurs in Game 5 of the NBA Finals with 26 seconds remaining after exiting the contest with 7:54 left in the fourth quarter due to an apparent leg injury.
Shamet was hobbled after a hard fall to the court and made a trip to the locker room to be evaluated, but he returned to the New York bench shortly thereafter and was able to get back on the court for two brief shifts at the end of the game. The veteran guard finished Saturday's contest with five points (2-7 FG, 1-4 3Pt) and one rebound in 13 minutes. Overall, Shamet averaged 6.0 points, 1.5 three-pointers, 1.1 rebounds and 0.7 assists while shooting 45.3 percent from the field and 47.5 percent from downtown in 16.3 minutes per game while playing in all 19 of the Knicks' playoff games.
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E.J. Liddell SF | BKN
E.J. Liddell: Headed overseas
Liddell reached agreement June 6 with Aris B.C. of the Greek Basketball League on a two-year contract, Johnny Askounis of Eurohoops.net reports.
The 25-year-old big man will head overseas after he spent his fourth season in the professional ranks as a two-way player with the Nets in 2025-26. He appeared in a career-high 26 games at the NBA level, averaging 5.7 points, 2.7 rebounds and 0.9 assists in 13.4 minutes per contest. Liddell is scheduled to become a restricted free agent when the new league year begins July 1, but the Nets will presumably decline his qualifying offer to allow him to continue his career in Greece.
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Dylan Harper SG | SA
Spurs' Dylan Harper: Shines bright in season-ending loss
Harper finished with 25 points (10-19 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 3-6 FT), five rebounds, four assists and one block over 31 minutes during Saturday's 94-90 loss to New York in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.
Harper turned in another dynamic performance, leading the Spurs with 25 points off the bench. It was his second straight performance with at least 21 points, bringing to an end what was an impressive rookie campaign. After a solid regular season, Harper was able to increase his role during the postseason, averaging 14.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.0 three-pointers in 26.8 minutes per game through 23 appearances. Looking ahead to next season, it wouldn't be surprising to see Harper carve out a 30-minute per-night role, either off the bench or as a starter.
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Stephon Castle SF | SA
Spurs' Stephon Castle: Goes missing in Game 5 loss
Castle registered six points (1-10 FG, 0-3 3Pt, 4-6 FT), five rebounds, four assists and one steal over 32 minutes during Saturday's 94-90 loss to the Knicks in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.
Castle was nowhere to be seen, particularly on the offensive end, where he scored a career playoff-low six points. It highlighted the fact that San Antonio was running with a highly inexperienced lineup, although one that will certainly be better for the loss. It was an unfortunate end to what was a dynamic postseason for the sophomore, who averaged 18.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.5 three-pointers through 23 appearances.
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Josh Hart SF | NY
Knicks' Josh Hart: Double-doubles in Game 5 win
Hart amassed 13 points (4-11 FG, 3-6 3Pt, 2-3 FT), 11 rebounds and two assists in 39 minutes during Saturday's 94-90 win over the Spurs in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.
Hart closed his season with another double-double, helping New York to its first championship since 1973. Although his scoring was, unsurprisingly, inconsistent, Hart's impact was certainly a major factor for the Knicks throughout the playoffs. In 19 postseason appearances, he averaged 10.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.5 three-pointers in 32.3 minutes per contest.