The NBA will once again crown a new champion for the 8th time in a row. As the New York Knicks face the San Antonio Spurs, they are the favorites for many people. But not for NBA legend Charles Barkley.

Barkley picked the Eastern Conference champions as his pick because of how elite they have been on the basketball court this postseason.

“I'm picking the Knicks in six. I think they're playing the best basketball in the NBA,” Barkley told Adam Schein on Mad Dog Sports Radio on Monday. “I truly believe it. I don't ever care who wins, but I'm saying, man, I think the Knicks gonna win this thing. I really do. I think I'm gonna pick the Knicks in six.”

The Knicks enter the series as the underdogs, but those picking New York point to a massive physical edge: their nine-day rest advantage compared to the Spurs' mere three days of rest following a grueling seven-game series.

Moreover, in the last two series, the Knicks completed two sweeps playing just eight games. On the other hand, the Spurs have played very physical 13 games in their last two series. 

To Barkley’s point, New York has also peaked at the perfect moment in this playoff. They are the best defensive and offensive team in the league, and lead the Spurs in net rating by 8.8 points. 

But as confident as Barkley is about the Knicks, not everyone seems to be on board.

Draymond Green Questions the Knicks’ Championship Caliber

The New York Knicks have reached the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999. Despite practically playing the best basketball in the franchise's history, there are still players and coaches who are questioning if the Knicks truly have the right pieces to win it all.

According to Becky Hammon, the Las Vegas Aces’ head coach, they don’t believe that a small guard like Brunson's height can lead a team to a championship. 

Four-time NBA champion Draymond Green doubled down on Hammon's statement and even suggested that getting out of the East was always easy.

"Just like Becky Hammon said, prove me wrong. Absolutely double down. Getting out of the East has never been a sure-fire thing to winning a championship," Green said on his podcast. "What y'all talking about? You're supposed to get out of the East. It's the f***** East!"

The Knicks entered the 2026 NBA Finals with top-ranked playoff ratings, but critics note that their Eastern opponents, the Hawks, 76ers, and Cavaliers, all ranked at the bottom of the postseason field defensively.

Meanwhile, the Spurs survived a much tougher path through the Timberwolves and Thunder. The Knicks must now overcome elite Western Conference competition to capture the NBA championship.

Which team are you picking to win the NBA Finals? Post your pick in the comments.

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Written by

Nandjee Ranjan

Edited by

Shubhi Rathore