As the New York Knicks prepare for Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs, guard Miles McBride made one thing clear: the challenge begins with Victor Wembanyama.
Speaking on Sunday, May 31, McBride repeatedly pointed to the Spurs’ length, youth and defensive identity while explaining what New York expects entering a Finals matchup between two teams chasing a championship.
“What was your first reaction to hearing that you guys would be facing the Spurs?” McBride was asked.
“Man, first off, all glory to God,” McBride said. “But they’re a special team. Obviously they have Defensive Player of the Year, a great organization, and they’ve got a lot of great young guys. So we’re just excited for this matchup.”
The Knicks and Spurs split their regular-season meetings, with San Antonio winning 134-132 at home before New York responded with a 114-89 victory. The Finals now open Wednesday, June 3, in San Antonio after the Spurs defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder in seven games in the Western Conference Finals.
McBride said Wembanyama’s impact changes every possession and requires a team-wide approach rather than individual solutions.
“When Wemby is on the floor, you have to be aware of him all the time,” McBride said. “Yeah, obviously you have to figure out how to get him out of the paint and how to run him. Those little things I feel like OKC did a decent job at, but he’s a special player. So we just have to contain him as a team.”
Wembanyama enters the Finals averaging 23.2 points, 10.8 rebounds and 3.5 blocks in 17 playoff games while anchoring San Antonio’s defense. McBride suggested the Knicks must avoid allowing the Spurs star to roam freely defensively.
“Honestly, what I think they do a great job is their guards put a lot of pressure on the ball handler, which forces them into help,” McBride said. “And if you’re playing off the ball and not setting screens and allowing him to roam freely without being touched, it’s different if somebody’s screening you and then you’re getting over things. So I feel like just being physical and bringing a presence to him and to their team.”
McBride also highlighted the Spurs’ young perimeter talent, including Dylan Harper and Keldon Johnson, praising how quickly several San Antonio players have adjusted to playoff basketball.
“Definitely. I would have loved that opportunity,” McBride said when asked about younger players reaching high levels early. “But they’re great players. Seeing what they’ve done as young as they are, all of those guys are special. So kudos to them.”
Asked what makes San Antonio’s guards dangerous beyond the attention drawn by Wembanyama, McBride offered a direct answer.
“They’re relentless,” he said. “I feel like they just have that mentality of go out there and scrap and make it a tough game. So I love that. We’ll be ready.”
McBride, who has averaged 6.9 points while shooting 42.9% from three across 14 playoff appearances, said New York understands the magnitude of reaching the Finals after sweeping the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals.
“These moments you don’t get a lot in life,” McBride said. “Hopefully you get more down the road, but you have to enjoy the moment, be thankful for it, and understand that it’s going to take another level of us, whether it’s mentally locked in, physically attacking them more. Whatever it takes is our mentality.”
