With the NBA Finals beginning today, it is one of the first in many years where no one really knows who will claim the Larry O'Brien trophy. It will be a rematch of the 1999 Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks in what is sure to be a series packed with storylines and excitement.
The Spurs are one of the youngest teams to ever make the big dance and are looking to start their dynastic dominance, backed by an unprecedented amount of raw talent that has trumped some of the league's best teams during their playoff run.
While the Knicks have finally gotten over the hump of decades of playoff failure to reach their moment and try to reclaim the biggest achievement in the sport.
Going into the series, the Spurs are the favourites, but the Knicks are no ordinary underdog, with them already claiming the season series against the Spurs and beating them in the Emirates Cup. So how can the Spurs knock off a white-hot Knicks team and move on to claim their sixth banner?
The Wembanyama Phenomenon
Defensive Player of the Year Victor Wembanyama is at the centre of all the Spurs success and he could well be looking to start his case for being the greatest to ever play the game with a championship in only his third season. A 7'4 the Frenchman plays the game in a way few have ever witnessed, dribbling the ball up like a Point Guard while having the jump shot of a Shooting Guard, he's simply almost an impossible player to defend.
Having a mix of consistent shot-making with paint scoring and the ability to temper injuries through hanging on the perimeter instead of creating contact inside makes Wembanyama an ideal cornerstone to establish a dynasty around. The man is simply a winner having already led the French National Team to a Silver Medal in 2024 and will only continue to get better the more time goes on.
