Chasing History: Knicks continue to make history
The Knicks sweep the Cavs to reach the NBA Finals for the first time in 27 years, with narration by Jamal Crawford.
The NBA Mailbag is open with NBA legend and NBC analyst Jamal Crawford here to answer your questions during the 2026 NBA Playoffs as he calls games on NBC/Peacock. He will be on the call for Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals in San Antonio tonight (8:30 ET, NBC/Peacock).
Have a question for Jamal? Submit it here.
What adjustments do the Spurs need to make in Game 6? – from Rob in San Diego, CA
I think the main adjustment is to keep Wemby closer to the basket. I know De’Aaron Fox will play better. But in Games 1 and 4, when Wemby dominated, he was close to the basket. When he didn’t dominate, he was further away. So I think the closer he stays to the basket, the more it opens up the rest of the game for him and his teammates.
And I don’t think the Thunder stopped him from doing it. He just stayed further out. It wasn’t like the Thunder suddenly shut down the paint. His mentality was different, especially in Game 5 when he took only four shots in the first half from inside the 3-point line. That’s not a recipe for success for him.
How does Shai impact the game, and why is he so hard to guard? – from Ethan in Aurora, IL
He impacts the game in so many different ways, which isn’t a surprise for a back-to-back MVP. But he’s so hard to guard because he keeps you off balance with his pace. You can never speed him up. And then when you do show a second defender, he makes the right read and his teammates are making shots right now. So that gives him even more space to make those reads.
He can get wherever he wants on the court, then he uses your aggressiveness against you, and that’s how he’s able to get to the free-throw line.
Take a look back at the best moments from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Kia NBA MVP season.
What makes Alex Caruso such a good defender? – from Samuel in Cleveland, OH
The biggest thing is he takes so much pride in it. He doesn’t depend on anybody else for help and doesn’t let any other factors bother him. He has full confidence that he will guard you, make it tough for you, and hopefully frustrate you enough that you get off your game. He does it time and time again.
What do you think separates the Knicks from all the other playoff teams this season? – from John in Eastman, GA
They have a new coach, so that’s one separator in the playoffs. They’re playing with a different philosophy than in previous seasons. No shade at all to Coach Thibodeau, but I think the way they are being used right now is putting them in their best position to succeed.
For example, Brunson used to have the ball more heavily at the point, and he would be watched by all of the defense. Now, he’s off the ball more and can get behind the defense to make quicker decisions, which makes things a lot tougher for the opposition.
Also, maybe last year’s adversity has helped them really take advantage of this run and not take all the time on their hands for granted.
Do you think guards will see Jalen Brunson’s dominance in the post with mechanical footwork and start applying it to their own skill sets, given its usefulness? – from Noah in Georgia
I think they should. I don’t know if they will. But I absolutely think they should. In the playoffs, things slow down, and whenever you have a guard who can go into the post, close to the basket, it makes everybody better. Because a guy like Brunson has the footwork to get buckets or at least a quality shot up when he’s down there. But if the shot isn’t there, then he can make reads closer to the basket. Now his passing angles aren’t coming from 25 or 28 feet out; they’re coming from 15 feet. So if you double-team from there, his reads are even more dangerous.
Check out the best moments from Eastern Conference Finals MVP Jalen Brunson.
If Jalen Brunson wins a championship for the New York Knicks, would that make him the greatest Knick of all time? – from Christian in San Jose, CA
I don’t think it does, but he would at least enter the conversation with Walt Frazier, Willis Reed and Patrick Ewing.
Who is the best opponent for the Knicks to win it all? – from Karunga in Cape Town, South Africa
I’m not sure there’s a best opponent for them. But we do know that whoever wins the West will be more tired, because they went through a longer battle. And it will take a lot of energy from OKC or San Antonio to close this series out. So if you’re a Knicks fan, you have to feel good about that.
How does it feel to watch someone you’re mentoring, like Victor Wembanyama, putting what you taught him into action and developing into a future legend? – from Michael in Compton, CA
First off, I was honored just to get the call. It’s been unbelievable to see the stuff he’s done, the stuff he’s doing, and knowing where it’s going. To be even a small part of that is incredible, and it’s something you don’t take for granted because you know he is special and will be one of the all-time greats.
Since Wemby is so tall, how did it change your approach when working out with him compared to when you work out with other players in the league? – from Ayush in San Antonio, TX
What I realized with Wemby is that he’s just a tall guard. So I didn’t approach it like he’s a big man. I approached it like he’s a tall guard who just stretched out. That’s why he has the feel and the handle and makes the reads he does, because that’s how he views the game. And once I realized that, it helped me choose the different things to work on.
What’s a subtle adjustment great playoff players make that most fans never notice? – from Mitch in Melbourne, Australia
How to calm themselves in chaos. The most amped up time is the next game in the playoffs. They’re all amped up, they’re all emotional, and they all increasingly get more intense as you advance. The great players know how to be calm in the storm with all that going on. All the press, media, and things that come with it. They know how to slow themselves down and feel like they would in any other gym, when the world isn’t watching.
How do NBA players, or professional athletes of any kind, deal with the amount of pressure they get? – from GG in Chicago, IL
Everybody deals with it differently. Some people get away from basketball. Some get away from their phone. Some get away from family and friends. Some people do yoga, take walks, or whatever works for them. All those things are needed because there has to be a balance for the high-pressure situations you’re in during the season and playoffs. You need some type of escape, some type of reset.
And it’s a process to find out what works best for you. Sometimes it takes a while, but once you find it, you never let it go because you know you have to do that to function properly in these high-stress situations.
What is the most impressed you have been during a game or event by another player’s skill? – from Hugh in San Antonio, TX
I wasn’t there for this one, but one of the greatest things I’ve ever seen on the court was Michael Jordan’s last sequence with the Bulls. He hits the layup with under 40 seconds left to cut the deficit to one, gets the steal, no timeout called, and hits the game-winner. All with the looming speculation that it could be his last hurrah. That was one of the greatest things I’ve ever seen.
Who has the best shooting form, in your opinion, in the NBA? – from Jacob in Brooklyn, NY
In my days, it was Ray Allen. I’ll go with Klay Thompson for current players. His form is beautiful.
Being from the era where coaches dressed in suits, do you miss that at all, or do you appreciate the more relaxed fits of the modern era? – from Justin in Portland, OR
Well, being a coach now, I love the more relaxed fits. I couldn’t imagine being a coach and wearing a suit this much. But a suit did bring a certain prestige to the coaching side.
Who are some of the most underrated guards in NBA history, and how could I model my game after them? – from Austin in Sacramento, CA
For me, some of the most underrated guards are Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, Nick Van Exel, Rod Strickland, Andre Miller, Chauncey Billups and Terrell Brandon. Guys like that don’t get a lot of love, but we’re so, so talented.
Watch film on them to see what makes them special. Watch the angles they use, watch how they manage the game, not just play the game, but manage the game. Who needs shots, who hasn’t gotten shots, just being that coach on the court. And then watch their creativity. If you just study those things from them, I think you’ll become a better player.
How does it feel to see your son ranked No. 1 overall for the Class of 2029? — from Caleb in Tampa, FL
It’s incredible. Everybody sees the ranking, but he never once (and I never once) tried to train for a ranking. I marvel more at all the work that he’s done to achieve that byproduct. There’s a lot that comes with a ranking like that, but he’s built for it. And regardless, if he was ranked five, seven, whatever, the work would continue and he knows that. He has a great head on his shoulders and knows it’s a day-by-day process to get better. This ranking is the byproduct of the work, and for a lot of young people out there, I hope they see that. The work is really what’s going to take you wherever you want to go.
Work is working. Hungry and humble @JJ1Crawford . https://t.co/eCygNehvSa
— 🏁 Jamal Crawford (@JCrossover) May 28, 2026
How does AAU basketball compare to high school basketball? – from Pedro in California
High school basketball is more about actually winning at a high level. AAU basketball is more of a showcase. The really good AAU teams bring a high-school mindset to the summer. That’s how some AAU teams thrive because they’re run more like a high school team than an AAU squad.
What can I do if I’m falling out of love with the game? – from Paul in Aveley, England
That’s a tough one. Maybe go back and watch old footage of when you were playing and loving the game. Or watch players that helped you fall in love with it the first time and see if that love can return. If that doesn’t do it, then trust that the love will return when it’s the right time.
