Hi r/nba - Richard Jefferson, Channing Frye, Allie Clifton and Kendrick Perkins from the Road Trippin’ Show here. Let’s chat all things about the NBA Finals, who’s the real MVP, and how to properly button up a dress shirt. Ask us Anything on Tuesday, June 2nd!
Not at all suspicious supercut of Stephen A. Smith discussing Steve Ballmer’s alleged role in the Clippers’ Aspiration scandal vs. Kawhi Leonard: Simultaneously blaming Kawhi for allegedly receiving millions from Ballmer via Aspiration while holding the world’s tenth richest man blameless
Victor Wembanyama: “The lack of experience is a strength of us…because we could do impossible stuff because we don’t know it’s impossible.”
How I made it to the NBA - Joe Alexander
[Lowlights] How Chet Holmgren lost his confidence and only took 2 shot attempts in the 2026 WCF Game 7
[Fischer] I’m not looking at Golden State really as a Giannis team either,” Fischer said. I have been told that Giannis isn’t exactly enamoured with moving to the Western Conference in general.
AJ Dybansta says watching Luka Doncic play in person was the greatest performance he’s ever seen: “I watch Luka live and that was the probably the craziest single performance I’ve ever seen. It was 40 point triple double..and it was easy.”
Stephon Castle on suggestions that the Spurs are not floppers and if they are leaving gamesmanship on the table: “I don’t really know to answer that, because I sell calls too, I can’t lie.”
According to a metric derived from FiveThirtyEight’s RAPTOR model, here are the top players by WAR
Russell Westbrook returns to his ‘second home’ for OKC stadium groundbreaking; “I think it’s my duty, honestly. …”
[NBA PR] The Western Conference Finals between the Spurs and Thunder finished as the most-watched Conference Finals in 24 years with an average of 10.8 million viewers per game on NBC/Peacock— peaking with 17.7 million viewers.
Jeremy Lin joining ESPN’s NBA Finals coverage team
Air Corgi has a security detail in san antonio
[Wright] Source confirms that Victor Wembanyama treated the team to a screening of the movie “Obsession” as the Spurs tried to wind down from the emotional toll of Game 7 heading into the Finals.
Wemby rubs Guillermo’s (from Jimmy Kimmel) belly for good luck
Stats that absolutely nobody asked for: Top 25 in Player distance traveled measured by how many of “themself lengths” they traveled (2026 Playoffs)
Knicks release an emotional Finals promo video narrated by Clyde Frazier: “This team. This city. It’s got the look.”
Death of the cheap seat: How sports figured out they could charge you almost anything for a ticket
Air Corgi prediction for the NBA Finals is Spurs in 7.
Wemby - “I saw Pop right away when we landed, and the emotion was really something I haven’t felt in a while… Coming back from this is a challenge and it’s not done yet. We still need to really come back down to earth and realize that we haven’t done the hardest yet, the job isn’t done at all.””
DrAaron Fox on punishing Dylan Harper for calling him UNC: “Punishment? What the fuck.”
Spurs coach Mitch Johnson in March Madness: 9 points, 15 assists, game-winning dime in 2008 OT win
[Amick & Nehm] The noise surrounding the Miami Heat and Antetokounmpo remains louder than all the rest. Many people around the league, from agents to executives, continue to believe that Antetokounmpo will end up in Miami when this saga finally comes to an end.
Victor Wembanyama on the knicks “It’s a great team of experienced guys who are not here by chance, but by relentless effort over the years…they’re right where they are supposed to be”
[Charnia] Golden State star Stephen Curry’s 10-year endorsement deal with Li-Ning is worth over $400 million, industry sources tell ESPN. Curry had similar financial commitments from other brands, including at least one more lucrative offer, but chose Li-Ning to power Curry Brand.
NBA announces the 12 referees assigned to this year’s finals: Scott Foster leading the way with his 19th finals
[SNY] Karl-Anthony Towns on what the NBA Finals means to him: “It means a lot for my mother when she emigrated from DR to New York. Saw Madison Square Garden for the first time and saw the energy the city has for MSG and the Knicks”
Mike Brown does his best rendition of “Who let the dogs out?”
Youtuber Drew Gooden on the conflicts of interest and very intentional ways ESPN has covered betting scandals, importance of fixing tanking, and the Aspiration scandal in the last year
Darius Garland says he has his “joy” back after leaving the Cavs: “Coming to a system where I could actually be me, have the ball in my hands the majority of the game, have control over the pace of the game…it was really good. It was fun. I got my joy back”
Watch ‘99 Finals in advance of the upcoming series
Talking Head Finals Picks
[Slater & MacMahon] While Gilgeous-Alexander publicly vowed not to provide input to Presti on personnel matters, sources familiar with the superstar’s thinking said that he privately intends to emphasize to management how much he values playing alongside Canadian countryman Dort.
Combining Math + Film Study: The Best NBA Players of 2025-26 (and a new #1!)
Conflict Resolution with Coach Pop and Tim Duncan
2018 LeBron is not his best playoff run and it’s not mentioned enough how ignored his 2009 playoff run is.
[SNY] Jalen Brunson: “We’ve been doubted a lot. There’s been a lot of noise from the outside that we could talk about, complain about, do something about - but we’ve always gone back to the gym and worked on our game. We can’t be satisfied just because we’re here.”
[Highlights] All the 132 field goals made by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the 2026 NBA Playoffs:
In total, SGA scored 414 points in 544 minutes played, 15 games, and went 132⁄285 (46.3%) from the field, 18⁄59 (30.5%) from 3, 132⁄148 (89.2%) FT
[Highlight] Luke Kornet chases down Isaiah Hartenstein
Mitchell Robinson dribbling and doing a lil shooting with the brace on his right hand. (From the NY Post)
[SNY] Victor Wembanyama on the Larry O’Brien Trophy and his love for basketball: “I have picture of myself with a basketball where I was not even old enough to have memories…all kids love trophies and medals”
Don’t Think People Realize How Good Sixers Barkley Was
Victor Wembanyama on seeing Gregg Popovich after winning the WCF
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani signs an executive order repealing bedtime for the duration of the Knicks finals run so the city’s children can stay up late and watch.
Do you think that the Heat organization would function better if Pat Riley finally retires and let Spo take over as President?
[Kawakami] But what if LeBron wants to play and he and the Lakers can’t figure out what the salary number should be?… Well, now. If all that happens, I think the Warriors would be a very live option. Check that: I think the process has already started and the Warriors are a live option.
The Greatest Individual Seasons In NBA History
Aspiration co-founder Sanberg sentenced to 14 years in prison. Ballmer requested no leniency
[Mirtle] Overall, continued Dundon, whose net worth is estimated at $2.3 billion by Forbes, any perceived belt-tightening is really driven by another simple goal: “I don’t make the decisions to save money. I make the decisions to win.”