NBA FINALS: KNICKS VS. SPURS

June 3, 2026

Devin Vassell

San Antonio Spurs

Game 1: Postgame

Knicks 105, Spurs 95

Q. First Finals game for you guys. Can you talk about this being a bittersweet moment?

STEPHON CASTLE: We’re just all grateful to be here. Obviously we want to win, but it’ a long series and it’s part of it. We had this series this playoff where we started down or went down within the series. We have to move past it and look on to the next game.

Q. What are some takeways from tonight?

STEPHON CASTLE: I have to go back and watch it. I know we took a good lead in the third. Gave them some offensive rebounds that got them some good looks and gave them some confidence when they started their run. But I have to go back and watch.

Q. What allowed the Knicks to score 50 points in the paint?

STEPHONE CASTLE: Offensive rebounds and probably just containing the ball. I feel like a lot of their drives were on-the-ball drives. They weren’t really we helped there and someone gets an in-rhythm catch. It was really just on the ball. Containing the ball better and keeping them off the glass.

Q. What is the sweet spot between making sure Wemby touches it down the stretch but also getting two feet in the paint, whether it’s De’Aaron or yourself or Harper, to be able to draw and get the kick-out?

STEPHON CASTLE: Obviously you have to have a feel for it, to see who has it going, who has the rhythm. Matchups are definitely important too. That’s why it’s always beneficial when a couple of us are out there together. But Vic creates advantages whether he is on the ball or off the ball. So just really trying to make the right play for the possession.

Q. How did you feel like you guys did against Brunson? He scored 30 points, but he took 31 shots.

STEPHON CASTLE: I thought we did well. We kept him off the line, for the most part. He made some tough shots late. I feel like a lot of his buckets were loud because they were back-to-back. The shots he did get to go were consecutive, so it hurt a little bit more. But looking at the box score, looking back on it, I think we did a pretty good job on him.

Q: You guys were tied there for a bit in the fourth quarter. What would you say affected the rhythm the most toward the end?

DEVIN VASSELL: I think we stopped playing fast in transition, getting the ball out quick. They made some tough shots at the end of the game. I think we got a lot of stuff we can be better on.

Q: You guys had only 16 assists tonight. That’s not y’all.

DEVIN VASSELL: That’s not the Spurs way, for sure. Coach talked about it and we know we can be a lot better. We played a lot of one-on-one today, and that’s something that they want us to do. So I think when we move the ball, we get them chasing the ball, we’re a really good team.

Q: You guys started out pretty strong on the boards, especially the wings and the guards, and then it kind of just tailed off in the second half. What happened?

DEVIN VASSELL: We know we’ve got to control the boards. With this series, they like to crash the glass – KAT, OG, all them. Can’t just be one half where we’re crashing the glass. We’ve got to help Vic. We’ve got to help the bigs down there. That’s going to be a huge part of this series.

Q: You guys struggled from three tonight, especially in the second half. Did you guys like the looks you were getting?

DEVIN VASSELL: Yeah, I think we were getting good looks. I think we’ll just be a lot better. I think we’ll be a lot more comfortable next game. I think we rushed some of our shots. But I think the quality looks on our threes were good and with all the shooters that we have, we’re confident that those are going to go down.

Q: You mentioned comfortability. Is that just the NBA Finals environment?

DEVIN VASSELL: Man, I think all of it, honestly. We’re excited for Game 2 because we know we can play so much better and this just isn’t the game we’re used to playing.