San Antonio

Spurs

Vassell’s contributions in Game 5 won’t jump off the page, but he was solid and recorded a complete stat line in the Spurs’ season finale. That tracks with his fantasy production during the regular season, with the Spurs’ wing finishing outside the top-100 in eight- and nine-cat formats. Vassell will likely remain a player who offers consistent late-round fantasy value, but his ceiling is limited. Especially as players like Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper improve.

San Antonio’s starting backcourt struggled mightily in Game 5, with Castle and De’Aaron Fox totaling 13 points on 4-of-25 shooting from the field. As well as Castle played in the Spurs’ Game 3 victory and for most of the postseason, turnovers and foul trouble were also factors for the second-year guard. The experience should serve him well in the future, but Castle has to become a more efficient offensive player. His fantasy value will remain limited until that changes, especially when considering Dylan Harper’s emergence.

Fox’s first NBA Finals appearance is one that should, in theory, motivate him for years to come, as he struggled for most of the series. The miscues late in Game 4 were followed by a subpar performance in Game 5, and down the stretch, the Spurs would have been better off relying on Dylan Harper. Regarding fantasy basketball, Fox can provide reliable top-75 value, but his ceiling is limited on this Spurs roster. It’s worth noting that Fox’s extension, worth nearly $222 million over four years, goes into effect next season. While the Spurs may not have to make a decision immediately, there will come a point when they need to play Harper and Stephon Castle. Stay tuned.

Harper was San Antonio’s best player in Game 5, and his lack of opportunities in the fourth quarter contributed to the Spurs’ inability to hold off the Knicks. A similar scenario occurred in Game 4, and Harper is the first rookie since Richard Dumas in 1993 to record consecutive 20-point games. After the defeat, teammate Devin Vassell said that there were times during the season when Harper was frustrated with his playing time. Given how well he played during San Antonio’s run to the Finals, minutes should not be a concern for Harper in 2026-27. Don’t be surprised if he breaks out next season.

While he had moments of dominance in his first NBA Finals appearance, Wembanyama’s conditioning and the Knicks’ ability to limit his effectiveness at times were issues. Dominant as a rim protector in Game 5, the 7-foot-4 center was unable to assert himself consistently on the offensive end, even with Karl-Anthony Towns in foul trouble for most of the night. These finals will serve as a learning experience for Wembanyama, who will have an argument to be Pick 1.1 in fantasy drafts next fall. Also, keep in mind that he won’t turn 23 until January. There’s a lot more for Wembanyama to learn before he reaches his prime.

Initially listed as questionable for Game 5, Kornet logged just four minutes in Wednesday’s Game 4 defeat. While he’s likely to take on a similar workload with the Spurs’ season on the line, the veteran center will be able to provide some cover for Victor Wembanyama.

Kornet, who logged four minutes off the bench in Wednesday’s Game 4 defeat, is dealing with an illness. His potential absence from Game 5 would not significantly affect the Spurs’ rotation, given his limited playing time. It’s possible that Carter Bryant would get a few more minutes off the bench, especially if the Spurs looked to keep Victor Wembanyama’s playing time in check after he logged 44 minutes in Game 4. However, given what’s on the line, it’s unlikely that Wemby would play more than 40 minutes once again.

Vassell had the hot hand for the Spurs on Wednesday, as he led the team in three-pointers. Yet, he only scored three points in the second half when New York outscored San Antonio 58-30 to complete a 29-point comeback win. Regardless, he finished as one of the team’s best scorers and also made contributions as a passer. Still, Vassell and the Spurs will need to have short memories and get back on track in Game 5 on Saturday. Otherwise, their season could end.

Harper logged another impactful performance on San Antonio’s bench in Game 4. He led the team with a plus-12 rating and finished as one of two Spurs players with 20 or more points. The rookie recorded double-digit points in six consecutive playoff games at the conclusion of Wednesday’s game. He continues to log heavy minutes and will likely see another heavy workload on Saturday.

Wemby logged 44 minutes on Wednesday and put forth a strong effort. Yet, he shot inefficiently both inside and outside the arc, and couldn’t stop the bleeding well enough to prevent the Knicks from completing nearly a 30-point comeback. The Defensive Player of the Year did control the paint on that end of the floor while performing well on the glass — well enough to earn his second double-double of the series. San Antonio will likely need even more production from him on Saturday if it wants to keep its season alive.