The San Antonio Spurs entered the 2026 NBA Finals as heavy favorites, but Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks apparently didn’t get the memo, dispatching San Antonio in just five games. Now, it turns out one of the biggest reasons behind that stunning upset traces back to a friendship forged long before the series even began.
Wembanyama Struggled Even While Dominating
Victor Wembanyama was undeniably one of the better players on the floor throughout the Finals, but he wasn’t quite the unstoppable force fans had grown used to seeing. He still put up 26 points and 11.2 rebounds per game, but he had to fight for essentially every touch, a far cry from the effortless dominance he’d flashed throughout the regular season.
During the regular season, Knicks center Mitchell Robinson had given Wembanyama real problems on defense. But in the Finals, it was actually Karl-Anthony Towns who stepped up to slow the young Frenchman down, and according to one of his former teammates, he didn’t do it entirely on his own.
Anthony Edwards’ Secret Assist
Back in 2024, the Knicks acquired Towns from Minnesota in exchange for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo. Fast forward to this year’s playoffs, and the Timberwolves ran into San Antonio in the Conference Semifinals, with Minnesota star Anthony Edwards gaining firsthand experience defending Wembanyama.
As it turns out, Edwards and Towns remained close even after the trade split them up, and that friendship paid off for New York in a big way. Speaking at Fanatics Fest, Edwards revealed he was in regular contact with Towns throughout the Finals. “I was talking to him before every game because we played San Antonio,” Edwards explained. “So just, you know, give him the little tips and stuff on which players like to go which way and, you know, stuff about Wemby.”
The Cheat Code That Worked
Whatever advice Edwards passed along clearly landed. Towns picked up plenty of fouls battling Wembanyama throughout the series, but he still managed to grab 10.6 rebounds per game, space the floor effectively, and contribute in the paint, bringing genuine physicality and intensity that helped tip the series in New York’s favor.
Edwards didn’t hold back in taking a bit of credit for the result either. “I gave a little cheat code, and he passed the test,” Edwards said. “So shout out KAT.”
A Rivalry With Bigger Stakes Ahead
There’s an interesting subplot here too. Edwards is widely regarded as one of the brightest young stars in basketball, and with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander already having claimed a championship, Edwards clearly has his sights set on becoming the next player from his generation to win a title. That likely means continuing to find ways to slow down elite young talents like Wembanyama and Luka Dončić until he gets there himself.
With LaMelo Ball now running the point for Minnesota, future playoff clashes between Edwards’ Timberwolves and Wembanyama’s Spurs look set to be must-watch basketball for years to come.
