Wembanyama cried! MVP! The top guard in the Eastern Conference is born.

In the NBA Cup final, the Knicks defied expectations by beating the Spurs 124-113 to win the championship, with Brunson named MVP.

The real mayor of New York isn’t Trae Young, but Brunson, who has led the team back to the Eastern Conference Finals and secured the NBA Cup title since joining in 2022. This season, he’s been averaging a stellar 28.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game.

Here are the Knicks’ stats:

Here are the Spurs’ stats:

In this game, Wembanyama continued coming off the bench, shooting 7 of 17 from the field, including 2 of 6 from three, scoring 18 points with 6 rebounds, but had the lowest plus-minus on the court at -18.His average performance might be largely due to the passing of his grandmother before the game, as he was seen shedding tears during the post-game press conference.At just 21 years old, an age typical for a college student, it’s understandably difficult for him to cope with such a loss.

So far, the Spurs hold an 18-7 record, ranking fourth in the Western Conference; the Knicks share the same 18-7 record but sit second in the East.

The Knicks are very promising this season. In today’s Eastern Conference, it seems only the Pistons (21-5) pose a significant challenge, giving the Knicks a strong chance to build on their 24-25 Eastern Conference Finals appearance and potentially reach the NBA Finals and even win the championship.

Of course, the biggest question surrounding the Knicks now is whether they can acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo, with trade rumors between the parties going on for a long time.

Although the Bucks are reluctant to let Giannis go and are doing everything to keep him, it’s highly likely he will leave. The Greek Freak demands to join a big-market championship contender, and the Knicks undoubtedly fit that profile, especially since they’re not competing in the crowded Western Conference powerhouse environment.

Due to a right calf strain, Giannis has missed four consecutive games. This season, he has played 17 games, averaging 29.1 minutes with outstanding stats of 28.9 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 6.1 assists, shooting 63.9%. The Bucks currently stand 11-16, tenth in the East, and once he returns, he may no longer be in Milwaukee.

Giannis’s current contract runs through summer 2028, with a salary of $54.13 million this season. Given these conditions, only a few teams are viable options for him, mainly the Knicks and the Lakers.