PTI - Reflecting on the Knicks Championship Run

Episode Date: June 15, 2026

Michael Wilbon and Tony Kornheiser discuss the Knicks, the Spurs, and the Hurricanes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pardon the interruption, but I'm Mike Wilbon. It's National Electricity Day, Tony. How you celebrate? I'm Tony Kornheiser by lighting up the lives of our viewers. Oh, nice. What do you think Lee Smith would think of that answer about electricity in your building? Did you got electricity in your building? No, I don't think.

I don't know. That Mike has the greatest response of all times. Do you feel dejected? Do you want to do that on the air? Yeah, I don't think so. Welcome to PTI, boys and girls in today's episode. The Hurricanes win the Stanley Cup. The U.S.S. men beat Paraguay, and Spain gets shocked.

The World Cup. Shocked. But we begin today with the NBA championship, which was settled on Saturday, when the Knicks won their third game in the series in San Antonio and came back from yet another double-digit deficit and closed out the championship in five games. Jalen Brunson scored 45 points for the Knicks 15 in the fourth quarter, and once again, the Spurs froze when it counted most.

Wilbon, what was your reaction to what the Knicks did, how they did it and what it means? Tom, they've done it so many times, and I sat there and seen it in person the previous four times, even in the game they lost. So by the time we get the game five, I'm fully expecting. It's like, I'm not going to say there's no lead that the Spurs can't hold on to, but it wasn't going to be 14. Or 15, that wasn't it. And then you knew the Knicks of a veteran nature about them, all of them. They've been through this. They've won to a point.

They, those guys hadn't won. A couple have been in the finals. McHale Bridges had been in the finals. You know, Carl Anthony Towns has been in a conference final. Jalen Brunson had been a concept conference final. But they were castoffs, their coach, cast off. They knew what it was like to scrap and be disappointed and come back and win. And so I'm expecting, yes, this is what the Knicks are made of.

And Jalen Brunson particularly, man. He's a leader. There's a toughness about him. Everything built to this. He's a winner. in college at Villanova, and now he's a winner in the NBA. I mean, it's an amazing career

he's having for somebody who was a second round draft choice and not thought highly enough of. No, and everything you're saying is right. The Knicks finished the playoff 16 and 3. That's very impressive. They came back in every game against the Spurs. Here is a small statistic that I find meaningful. In

the first quarters of all five games added up against the Spurs, they were minus 57. It's a lot. So they're always playing from behind. Yeah. They're very good at playing from behind. I've got some numbers that I think you're going to like.

In the fourth quarter of game four, in the fourth quarter of game five, both won by the Nix, both comebacks because the NICS came back all the time. Jalen Brunson was plus 32. That's the highest plus minus differential of any player on the court. Victor Wembe Nyama was minus 25. That's the highest in terms of lowness of differential. in there. The Knicks got better as the playoffs went on. The Knicks in the last

three series only lost one game. After being down, 2-1 in the first season. You sat here, and you called the Eastern Conference Final, the junior varsity. I did. But the Knicks didn't look like a JV team against us first. Now, what does it mean? I'm a Knicks fan. Don't let me get carried

away, because I honestly don't think that that's a dynasty that we're looking at. I think it's a very good team that got better when it had to, but it's not necessarily a dynasty. This is a statistic that's meaningful to me, and it's about Jalen Brunson, who I know you love.

Before he arrived at the Knicks, the Knicks had won one playoff series in the last 21 seasons. That's sort of amazing. Since his arrival, the first three seasons, they won at least one playoff series, and now he won a championship. So it's almost immeasurable what he means

as a leader. And the other thing that interested me was the ratings. The ratings were enormous. If a New York team is good. If they're good, they bring these numbers. Again, I don't want to get carried away because I don't think we're looking at a dynasty here.

But they played great down the stretch. They were in a appealing team on a thousand levels. Individually, collectively, I know you don't want to compare them to the 70s, 73 teams. I'll just compare them in this one way. It was an ensemble. They needed all of them. Yes, yes, yes.

Brunson is the best player. But they also got lucky in this regard. Didn't have to play OKC. Well, forget that. There are not that many teams that are going to let you off the hook when they're up 20 on you. That's right. And this happened repeatedly.

We're going to get to that like right now. Because we're going to move to San Antonio's side of things. The Spurs, abundance of talent, got them within reach of a title way ahead of schedule, according to most of us. But their youth and inexperience betrayed them in the end. Ton, what do you see in the Spurs immediate

it and long-term future. Okay. I see championships. I do. I think there are lessons to be learned here, and I think they're going to learn them. But there is a hard reality to face in the aftermath. They let leads slip away in – double-digit leads in every single game. They won one of them.

But it slipped away in that game. Yeah. According to what I heard this morning, in the last two minutes of every game in this series, the spurs were either tied for the lead or in the league. Yes. And they lost four of them. And they lost three of them at home. This left Victor Wembeyanama muttering to anybody who would listen at that point.

I mean, look, the players froze and the coach froze. And it's easier to get rid of a coach than a star player. Would you do that? No, but he's on the clock. Okay. He's on the clock at this point. That's fair. That's fair.

Victor Wembeyanama, he had all the right things to say all the time. He said, it's my fault. here's how I'm going to get better and now we're going to win. But they didn't win. Next year. Okay. But now they didn't win. And it, Mike, it was there for the taking. They had more regular season victories than the Nix.

They came to the harder conference than the Nix. They could have, and I believe some people would say should have won this series. They shouldn't have won. And I told you all year they shouldn't have won. I told you all year none of these teams win. If it ain't Bill Russell's team or Magic Johnson's team, they're not winning. They're not winning out of the gate. I've been saying this and saying it and saying it and saying it, so I'll say it again. They didn't know enough.

Their coach didn't know enough. That's indisputable. Their players didn't have it in them enough. They did the wrong things. They took the wrong shots. They made the wrong passes. They made the wrong inbound plays. Their future, they're going to win.

Multiple champions. They are. And when Bunyanam is going to be, you know, I'm going to go back to something for a second. So Wayne Gretzky, before he won his first championship, he got sweeps. You know what he got swept by? The New York Islanders. Okay. He got swept.

And Gretzky used that. He's told the story a lot. You know, I get to be around Gretzky in a room every now and then. And Gretzky's talked about the feeling he had. He got swept. Boom, get out. Right? Mike Bossy and those teams.

Well, they won four champions. Yes, they did. Okay. You were not being swept by a team that returned to the side of the road. No, no, that's right. No, a big time team. Yeah. Important team historically.

Yeah. But Wayne Gretzky remembered that and he used it. And he used it over and over and over again. Just like the Spurs did in 13, when they lost that game to Ray Allen on the jumper to LeBron. And they came back with a vengeance the next year. And they were not to be stopped. Most of this seems to be landing on DeAaron Fox, who I don't think will be with the team next year. I think that's possible.

But that's okay. But this is about Wembeyanama. And I don't think you'll disagree with this. You got to stop taking all these three. You got to score at the end of the game, and you've got to stop getting flagrant fouls. Now you're 22. It's doable.

How do you come by? You learn it. Yeah, okay. This is, when he says, this is the learning experience. He's not wrong, but this is a learning experience. That whole organization has to sit down and tell them. And they got the people there to do it. They do.

They should have stopped this one, though. I know, I know what you're too young. You look like you know what you're talking about. Too young. Yeah. Let's go to the NHL Championship, which was settled on Sunday. The Carolina Hurray. Hurricanes continued their roadmastery, eight and one on the road in these playoffs. They beat the Las Vegas Golden Knights in Las Vegas, 3-0 to win the Stanley Cup.

The Hurricanes ended a 20-year drought with this one, their second cup ever. Wilbon, what is the word you would use to describe Carolina's accomplishment? Bussy. I am. Because, I mean, we know that goaltending, goalkeepers, they can define an entire postseason. That's not what Bussy did, but he changed this series. Yes. Here's a guy, a 27-year-old rookie who comes to the team, had a really nice regular season.

Something like 36 and 2, 30-6-2. It's his record in regular season or something like that. And Bussie, they go to him is sort of a let's give our guy a break. A goaltender they really, really like it Anderson. They really respect him. They handed him the cup like second. but Bussie changed this thing when they needed to. Last night, Tony, he made a couple of saves.

It's 1-0 at the end of the first, and there's a play he's just going to get beaten. It's going to be 1-1, except he makes this tremendous save to keep the 1-0 lead, and at 2-0, he makes a save and a save on the rebound when sprawled. It's Bussie. Yeah, he's an unknown guy. They picked him up for depth, not to be a starter. How about that? He pitched a shutout in the deciding game.

of the Stanley Cup finally. You know the last time that happened that a rookie pitched a shutout in the deciding game the Stanley Cup? How does 89 years ago strike you? It's almost never. But the word that I would use is consistency.

Everybody raved about the Western Conference all season, justifiably Colorado won the President's trophy. And then when Vegas swept Colorado in the playoffs, everybody got on Vegas. They seemed to forget that Carolina, I believe, had the second most points in the regular season.

But they had Mitch Marner, they had Eichol, they had big star. They had Tortorella who was a magician. He turned the whole thing around with like no time to go. By the way, Vegas won a series once like this where they switched. They went to the goal to the... So, all Carolina just kept showing up and plugging and winning and stuff like that. And Carolina, what were they?

Oh, they had an 16 and 3 record, which in hockey is the second greatest ever. So the only... It was the Knicks, by the way, right? 16 and 3... Yeah, but in basketball, it happens more often. In hockey, this was the second greatest ever. So the only real question to deal with now is who's going to send back Tortorella's clothes from the hotel in Rowley. That seems to be a big deal.

There are three great stories on Carolina. One is Bussie. The second one is Brindamore. Brindamore was the captain of the last team that they had that in 2006. As we'd like to say in Chicago. So the last time that someone had a Stanley Cup ring for playing and for coaching on the same franchise, that was 70 years ago. Toll Blake? Yeah, 70 years ago.

And the other great story is Jordan Stahl, who became the oldest guy ever to win the Khan Smyth. And he won a cup with Pittsburgh in 2009. And that 17-year expanse between cups? The longest. Of all time. Yeah, of all time. Yeah, but you know what?

All that stuff's nice. Without Bussie? That's right. I don't know that they can survive that. By the way, he's not from Chicago, is he? No. You know where he's from? Thank you, Long Island.

Let's take a break. Coming up to the U.S. men's big win over Paraguay increased the expectations for this team. You know, we're from Chicago? Jalen Brunson. It was the Mrs. 15th strikeout masterpiece the highlight of the baseball weekend? No.

Jalen Brunson delivered in New York, a Chicago win. Yeah, I'm very proud of that. Yeah, very happy. Yeah, well, a Long Island guy delivered for Carolina. Yeah, yeah. Why is that meaningless to you? Because it's not Chicago? Right.

Oh, okay. Yes. Not Chicago. Yes. By the way, the Easter Conference was the JV. Nick's Cleveland, that was a TV. Not now. Not now.

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Wayfair, every style, every home. Time to find out what's baffling the riffraff and mail time. I will get the first one put on my glasses to read it. Here we go. Harsh. Did the USA's big win over Paraguay? Paraguay. raise your expectations for this team.

No, not in my case, Sony. I mean, I understand Paraguay had a nice run to qualify. And everybody, you know, talked about how well they played and how that first game was supposed to be, you know, pretty tight match it was not. We ran over them. The U.S. was better in every conceivable way than Paraguay. And that's impressive and that's good.

And it might have been, even if it is, the greatest performance the United States has ever had in a World Cup match, that still doesn't do anything for you in the terms of the knockout race. Now, even if it helps us get through group and it should help us get through group and Turkey didn't look all that good. I don't know where Australia is,

but you still got to deal with a lot of great teams and highly ranked teams and you're still going to have to get through France and England and Germany and I don't know what Spain's doing so far or Brazil, but maybe one of them or both. There are too many great teams in the world and we are not in that top 12 to 14. So raise my expectations yet after one game, not me.

Okay. As you know, I don't know anything about soccer. So I'm going to just tell you a true story. Okay. I was playing golf on Saturday, and we got off the green on seven, and we went into the shack. To see George. And George was in the shack, and George is a big soccer. Yes, he is. And George said to me, that half, the first half against Paraguay is the greatest half in the history of United States soccer. And I said, well, are we any good? And he said, play like that. You can play with anyone. Okay. Now, here's a couple of numbers that are interested.

Well, Paraguay's better, I didn't know this. Paraguay had beaten Brazil and Argentina in real games. To qualify. South America, yeah. The United States over the last eight World Cups has averaged three and a half goals for the entire tournament that they were present. They just got four against a good team. So maybe indeed, maybe.

You want to have some hope here, don't you? Some. I'd like to have some hope. Hope would be good. Expectations? Ah, that's a little early for that. it? And it's like winning game one and your Tony Cornizer

book of theorems. You win game one, don't get crazy. But when you win it impressively and nobody expected it quite like that. They did. And then you're not going to get grouped as 12 men would say because Turkey beat Australia. Yes. A lost to Australia. Australia. Australia, too over Turkey. Turkey didn't look good.

Bigger deal in baseball this weekend. The Miz, school Bulls return, the Rockies putting 23 on the A's in Vegas or the White Sox winning two of three from the Dodgers. Okay. I want to make sure we understand it is this weekend.

We're talking about small expectations, not large expectations. It's limited to that. Because what the MIS did was great. It was. It was. It's great. What Scuba getting back and ready to go, that's great. The Chicago White Sox are insane. They have won 20 of 24 games.

This team, two years ago, lost 300 games. But what happened in Vegas? Shouldn't stay in Vegas. Shouldn't happen anywhere. This is ridiculous. The Colorado Rockies have the worst record in all of baseball. Again. Again.

They stink. Here's what they did. 23 runs, 6 home runs, 24 hits. This does not happen indoors. It doesn't happen anywhere. This is a minor league stadium, and it is a launching pad. They played six games this year. The A's played six games here and six more next year.

You know how many runs were scored in the six games this year? A hundred and two. So that's why it's not a big deal. No, stop it. Stop it. Stop it. Stop the madness. It's a little league park. Stop the mandis. They shouldn't be playing there. Okay, so they shouldn't be playing there. The White Sox should be playing. They just beat the Dodgers two out of three. Right. All right. They share a facility with the Dodgers. Talk about the JV. The spring training facility they share in Scottsdale with the Dodgers. The White Sox, Tony, are like 37 and 30 when I think they're 6.4-5-00.

Why did the Dodgers leave Vero? Everybody loved Vero. This will come as a shock to you. Arizona, closer to California than Dodger Town. Dodgetown, historic, though. Yeah. I will. The White Sox. The White Sox are never the own story in their own town, and now I'm going to go see the White Sox play.

I'm going to go up on the south side. Alert them. Alert them. Alert them. I'm not wearing a white socks thing. Those red jerseys are the ugliest jerseys in the history of sports. The red and black. Now, if they were wearing the red, the galas, I'm going to see the white socks.

I'm going to go see the white socks. Are you worried you won't be able to sing the anthem or throw ten? I'm not singing. I'm just going to go sit. No, I mean, at the Cubs anymore. I can get back in. I'll wear some glasses in a fake nose. That's enough email.

Let's take one last break. Still to come a surprising result for a Spanish team, many have picked him to win the world. Yeah. The Bulls hired a new head coach. Who? You know how many games I went to a Comiskey before I ever set? Pachitino. And Rigley Phil Jackson.

Well, because your dad was a White Sox fan. Then you dumped him and you just went to the Cubs. Went to the Cubs. Went to the San. South side. You went to the north side. I grew up on the south side. Well, whatever. The north side. Whatever. I've learned everything about Chicago from you. You have. Everything. I'm sick of Chicago. When is last time you were making it feel? Big Finish is brought to you by Car Shield. Call, drive, and save. Happy time people. Happy 68th birthday, Wade Boggs. The Hall of Fame third baseman began as a seventh round draft pick in 1976 and turned into a 12-time All-Star.

Boggs led the American League in batting five times, won two gold gloves, eight silver sluggers, and was on a World Series champion with the Yankees in 1996. Both the Red Sox and Reyes retired his number. Boggs had 3,010 career hits and 1,014 RBI. His career batting average was, hello, 328. For years, baseball lore has echoed with tales of Boggs guzzling 107 beers in a single day, 73 of which, legend claims, were consumed on a single last. cross-country flight from Boston to Los Angeles in 1994.

I desperately want this to be true, but Bobs has denied the 107 total. You need one hit to save your life. Boggs, Carrou, or Gwen? Who you pick it? I'll take any of them. I'd also add George Brett to that list. Great clutch hitter. Not so happy anniversary of Houston Astrodome.

On this day, 50 years ago, the Revolutionary Dome Stadium, nicknamed the Eighth Wonder of the World, suffered a rain out, a torrential storm that lasted some seven hours dumped rain reportedly in excess of 10 inches around the dome. While both teams arrived early and were ready to play, flooding of the surrounding area led to road closures and high water in parts of the stadium itself. A game could have been played but without fans and officials decided to postpone it. The Astrodome was an enormously big deal when it opened in 1965, hosted all sorts of big events including the Billy Jean King Bobby Riggs tennis match. I don't know any baseball games from that building, but I remember a basketball game as a kid.

Lou Al-Sindor versus Elvin Hayes. And UCLA lost that. That's right. Only lost they had that year. That's right. Well, they got revenge in the final four. Where was- Oh, yeah. They beat them by like 30, I believe, in the final four.

Maybe I'm wrong. Somebody will get in my ear. Happy trails to Bud Collie's wait for his first PGA tour win. The 36-year-old topped Wilbonds guy Fidsey to win the Canadian Open yesterday in his 239th start. Coley was roommates with Justin Thomas at Alabama and had a promising career until a car crash eight years ago broke one of his legs, five of his ribs and collapsed one of his lungs.

He later suffered an open wound and infection after doctors removed a metal plate from his chest. In all, Cawley missed three years and considered leaving the sport, made it back to the tour in 2004, had four top ten finishes last season. Yesterday's win qualifies him for this week's U.S. Open at Shinnock. Jim Nance set on the call acknowledging how long it had been for Cully to win. Sometimes it takes a while for a bud to become a full bloom.

good story, easy to rule for. Yes, let's go quickly to the big finish. Cape Verde played Spain to a scoreless draw. You're surprised. That's probably the biggest upset of the tournament, and Lillenia Mall played the last 20 minutes, did not start. The Big 12 is seeking an injunction in federal court that would allow it to punish Texas tech if it plays Brendan Soresby. Are you surprised?

Not at all. They don't want to play Sources? Sorsby's good. The Bulls are reportedly hiring Tiago Splitter as their next head coach. How about that? I love this. Are you kidding? He did a great job at Porte. I'm thrilled about this. Darren Peterson has met with the Wizards who reportedly won't meet with any other team.

I think that means he thinks he's going to be the number one pick, not to Bansaw. That would surprise me. Last one, Brian Windhorst says Janus wants to go to the heat. Do you think that'll happen? It sounds like it's... Really? Sounds like it's...

The other teams are interested in. Wow. We are out of time. We'll try to do better than next time. Happy birthday, Reed. I'm Mike Wilbon. Same time tomorrow, hits.