The Athletic NBA Daily: Knicks WIN the NBA Cup | LIVE REACTION POD (Dec 17, 2025)

Hosted by: Dave DuFour, Zena Keita, and panel (sporadic appearances by Andrew Schlecht)

Episode Overview

The crew delivers a spirited, in-depth live reaction to the New York Knicks' historic victory in the NBA Cup Championship. This episode captures the emotional significance for Knicks fans, analyzes standout player performances (notably Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby), breaks down game-changing moments, and discusses what the NBA Cup means for the league’s competitive spirit. There’s also detailed analysis of the losing Spurs, specifically Victor Wembanyama’s struggles and the promise of the Spurs’ young guard corps.

Main Topics & Discussion Breakdown

1. The Emotional Weight of the Knicks’ Cup Win

• Opening Reactions
  • Dave DuFour observes that the Knicks’ victory celebration “meant a lot to them,” highlighting how the win carries extra weight for a team and fanbase that hasn’t captured a title since 1973.
  • Mike Brown’s postgame reflections are echoed:
    • “Anytime you could be the last team standing, no matter what, you can't act like it doesn't mean it.” (Dave DeFore, 02:46)
• Importance of the NBA Cup
  • The panel agrees the NBA Cup creates a new avenue for teams to win something meaningful, especially for franchises in long droughts.
    • “This is exactly why the cup is actually important, because...you get something else that you can win.” (Esperahenne Zena Cato, 02:56)

2. Jalen Brunson: The Tournament MVP and Knicks Offense Engine

• Brunson’s Performance
  • Named NBA Cup Tournament MVP after dropping 25 points against the Spurs.
    • “Jalen Brunson is the reason that they won the game.” (Dave DeFore, 03:30)
  • Brunson’s poise against much larger defenders (including Victor Wembanyama) is underscored as a key to his playoff-level value.
    • “When it's tight spaces, when they're not calling as many fouls, he can still get to his spots.” (Esperahenne Zena Cato, 05:12)
• Improved Playmaking
  • Eight assists in the final, with evidence of off-ball movement and transition play facilitating Mike Brown’s pace-and-space system.

3. OG Anunoby’s Star Turn

• Offensive Firepower
  • OG drops 28 points, including 5/10 from three-point range.
    • “Every single time, they need, let's be more specific, corner three. I mean, it is crazy how much he is...found...in transition, open so many times and he was able to knock them down.” (Sports Analyst, 05:48)
• Defensive Assignment
  • OG spends significant time on Victor Wembanyama, holding his own defensively while still contributing massively on offense.

4. Bench Shift: The Knicks’ Key to Victory

• Bench Intensity and Rebounding
  • Mitchell Robinson: 10 offensive rebounds, swinging the momentum in the second half.
    • “He had 10 offensive rebounds. Insane. Dominates this game from the middle of the third quarter to the middle of the fourth to the point where that won the Knicks this game.” (Dave DeFore, 07:09)
  • Jordan Clarkson and Tyler Kolek also credited for change-of-pace contributions.
    • “Tyler Kolek is a guy who feels like he's forcing himself into the rotation. Playing huge crunch time minutes for this team is something that I didn't expect.” (Dave DeFore, 18:59)
• Winning the Possession Battle
  • Knicks outwork the Spurs on the glass especially in the second half (NY 34 to SA's 18).
  • Spurs struggle to secure defensive rebounds:
    • “There’s one possession where there's like seven missed shots and all of them were Mitchell Robinson.” (Dave DeFore, 08:04)

5. Spurs’ Struggles and Building Blocks

• Victor Wembanyama’s Rough Night
  • “This was his worst game of the season...I didn't like his shot selection...I thought he got a little jumper happy.” (Dave DeFore, 09:29)
  • Third quarter saw a scoring burst (12 points), but overall effort deemed forced and inefficient.
    • “Honestly, I don't think he got in any good positions to make a threat on the offensive side other than when he was the lob guy.” (Esperahenne Zena Cato, 10:06)
  • Only 6 rebounds, outclassed on the glass by Mitchell Robinson.
• The Young Guard Positives
  • Future is bright thanks to De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, and rookie Dylan Harper.
    • “I do think that this was a bright spot for them in a game that they lost...Dylan Harper, a rookie...guarding the best guard in the Eastern Conference, picking his pocket and just honestly dominating him physically...” (Dave DeFore, 11:58)
  • The future challenge: blending their energetic, transition-driven guard play with Wembanyama’s unique skillset.

6. Knicks Identity & Looking Forward

• Pace, Depth & Offense
  • “Offensive versatility for the Knicks is the thing that I think everybody should take away from the NBA Cup. This is a different team than last year.” (Esperahenne Zena Cato, 20:13)
  • Emphasis on unselfish play, deeper roster, and a high-octane transition attack.
  • Defensive concerns linger, but the overwhelming margin in shot attempts (from rebounding/possession wins) helps cover those flaws.
    • “If you're going to take 12, 15 extra shots than your opponents every night, you'll win a lot of games.” (Dave DeFore, 20:43)
• Tournament Toughness
  • Panelists agree that the Cup creates “games of consequence” and strengthens teams’ postseason credentials.
    • “They've created another games of consequence. Opportunities to know if you're tournament tough earlier in the season.” (Sports Analyst, 22:14)
  • The Cup’s tradition is already seen as a harbinger of playoff success.
    • “Teams that do go far in the cup end up actually doing things in the postseason.” (Esperahenne Zena Cato, 22:35)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Knicks’ win:
  • “This is a team that hasn't won a thing since 1973. Their fans needed something.” (Esperahenne Zena Cato, 02:47)
• On Jalen Brunson’s playoff value:
  • “That's why he's such a good playoff player. Because when it's tight spaces, when they're not calling as many fouls, he can still get to his spots.” (Esperahenne Zena Cato, 05:12)
• On OG Anunoby’s shooting:
  • “It is crazy how much he is just one…open so many times and he was able to knock them down.” (Sports Analyst, 05:48)
• On the Spurs’ young guards:
  • “This is the future for the Spurs. And look, I'm still pretty high on what the Spurs are doing right now, even though they lost this game.” (Dave DeFore, 11:58)
• On the NBA Cup's impact:
  • “It's dope that they've created another games of consequence. Right. Opportunities to know if your tournament tough earlier in the season.” (Sports Analyst, 22:14)
• On winning any tournament:
  • “When you're the last team standing in a tournament. I don't care what the tournament is. Holiday tournament, Thanksgiving tournament...it sucks to lose. It's great to win.” (Dave DeFore, 22:44)

Key Timestamps

• 02:07 – Show start and host introductions
• 02:19–03:12 – Emotional/celebratory reactions; meaning of the Cup
• 03:30–04:42 – Jalen Brunson’s MVP performance and impact
• 05:25–06:31 – OG Anunoby’s shooting and defensive assignment
• 06:31–09:24 – Knicks’ bench, rebounding edge, and game-changing sequence
• 09:29–11:45 – Victor Wembanyama’s struggles and the Spurs’ adjustment problems
• 11:58–13:30 – Spurs’ young guard core and possible future
• 18:53–20:40 – Knicks’ backcourt depth, Tyler Kolek’s emergence, team depth
• 21:40–23:04 – Reflections on the NBA Cup’s place in NBA culture and its influence on team development

Conclusion

The episode is a vibrant, thorough postgame analysis that not only recaps the Knicks’ breakthrough NBA Cup win, but also explores the strategic, emotional, and cultural ripple effects of the NBA’s new midseason tournament. The panel commends the Knicks’ team orientation, depth, and resiliency, acknowledges concerns (particularly on defense), and notes the Cup’s growing legitimacy among players and fans. In parallel, the Spurs’ promising youth movement is highlighted despite the loss. The hosts agree: the NBA Cup is here to stay, and it matters.

For any Knicks fan or hoop head, this is a can’t-miss recap blending game analysis, player insight, and lively, big-picture debate.