Sports
Analysing Manchester United manager alternatives to Erik ten Hag: Hoeness, Van Nistelrooy, Tuchel and more
Manchester United fans must feel like they are trapped in a recurring nightmare.
A goalless draw against Aston Villa was underpinned by an improved defensive performance on Sunday, but three consecutive Premier League games without scoring, just eight points from their opening seven matches, and a goal difference of minus three makes for their club’s worst start to a Premier League season.
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And for many people, the natural direction to point the finger in this situation is at the manager.
After a season review in which INEOS spoke with multiple managerial candidates including Thomas Tuchel and Roberto De Zerbi, the decision was made to stick with Erik ten Hag and support him in the transfer market this summer.
Performance data would have likely contributed to such a review and a rudimentary look at the trend of United’s ClubElo rating — which is a measure of team strength that allocates points for every result, weighted by the quality of the opposition faced — offers little reason for optimism in fortunes since the Dutchman arrived.
Ten Hag has spoken confidently about the faith he feels United’s executives have in him, something he reiterated even after the damaging Spurs defeat.
“We made the decision, after a clear review, what we have to improve as an organisation and how to construct a squad,” Ten Hag said. “All decisions were made in togetherness, also knowing it would take some time given how the window went. We are all there on one page, one boat, the ownership, the leadership group, the staff, the players, too.”
Today, that leadership group, including two of the co-owners, Joel Glazer and Sir Jim Ratcliffe, will gather in London for a long-scheduled executive meeting. The performance and future of the manager are expected to form part of the discussions.
One question United executives have to consider when deliberating over Ten Hag’s future is whether or not there are better managerial options out there now than they found and decided against last summer. The contract or job situations of some of those considered then (such as Kieran McKenna who extended his stay at Ipswich and De Zerbi, now of Marseille) have also changed, while others remain in situ (such as Thomas Frank at Brentford and Marco Silva at Fulham), and others (such as Tuchel) are still out of work.
So if United do think about making a change, who should they be considering?
Here The Athletic’s data analyst Mark Carey looks at a selection of possible alternatives focusing largely on those not considered in the summer.
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It has been another difficult period for Erik ten Hag (James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images)
Many fans have expressed frustration over Gareth Southgate’s rumoured links due to his ties with INEOS head of sport Sir Dave Brailsford, but it does speak to the idea that United could benefit from having a manager with a near-ambassadorial presence.
Amid the external noise and sensationalist perspectives that surrounded England’s national team across his tenure, Southgate has proven he can navigate choppy waters and ensure that his players perform on the pitch. Given the ongoing transition occurring at boardroom level, that is not to be underestimated at United in the medium term.
Could Southgate’s ambassadorial style suit the INEOS ethos? (Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
By the same token, a strong character in the shape of Zinedine Zidane has merit, with the Frenchman leading Real Madrid to three successive Champions League trophies from 2016 to 2018. Zidane has not been famed for his teams playing a particular style of football, with an approach that was more pragmatic than dogmatic.
However, his ability to command a dressing room and sustain a winning mentality are two huge ticks on the checklist. As unlikely as it may be, a well-respected figure who can manage a squad of personalities can sometimes be enough to get results at the elite level.
The same traits can be levelled at Massimiliano Allegri, who is an unattached manager since departing Juventus (for the second time) this summer. Allegri’s own tactical acumen is not to be underestimated, but the authority and standards the 57-year-old demands would be appealing.
Things did not go perfectly to plan in the Italian’s second stint as Juventus manager, winning a solitary Italian Cup since returning to Turin in 2021. His football might not always be maximum entertainment, but a man who is capable of managing up as well as down could be a valuable asset to have as United set their sights on a Premier League title by 2028.
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Sacking a manager during a season can be a thankless task and United have experienced mixed results with interim appointments. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s caretaker position in 2018 resulted in a permanent role that lifted the mood at Old Trafford, while Ralf Rangnick’s interim tenure was underwhelming, to say the least.
Solskjaer has recently said he would be open to returning to the club if the opportunity was offered to him. In light of recent seasons, this may seem appealing to some fans, but there is likely to be some revisionism of Solskjaer’s tenure, which ended poorly. The prospect of another reunion would feel like a step back in United’s progression.
Could United return to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer? (Chloe Knott – Danehouse/Getty Images)
The appeal of hiring a manager who “understands the club” can often be quite reductive. While they may progress into high-profile roles, suggestions of former players Wayne Rooney (Plymouth) or Michael Carrick (Middlesbrough) feel premature in their respective coaching careers. Both have a strong affinity with the club — Carrick having had a caretaker role at United — but sentiment should not be a leading factor in a club’s search.
If United are eyeing former players, they shouldn’t overlook current assistant Ruud van Nistelrooy, who led PSV Eindhoven to second place in the Eredivisie in 2022-23.
Using The Athletic’s playstyle wheel, which outlines how a team look to play compared with Europe’s top seven domestic leagues, we can get a broad idea of the Dutchman’s sole season in the dugout.
Blessed with a stacked forward line containing Johan Bakayoko, Cody Gakpo, Luuk de Jong, and Xavi Simons, PSV adopted a direct style (Patient attack, 19 out of 99) that focused on width from their marauding wingers (Central progression, 53 out of 99). It wasn’t always smooth sailing, but only Benfica averaged higher than PSV’s 2.2 non-penalty expected goals per 90 across Europe’s top seven leagues.
Conflict with the coaching staff and players meant Van Nistelrooy left PSV before the end of the 2022-23 campaign. While the Dutchman can offer a lot to the coaching setup, there is little suggestion that he currently has — nor wants — the management experience required at the elite level.
Kieran McKenna, however, sits in the overlap between “knows the club” and “up-and-coming tactician” after guiding Ipswich Town to back-to-back promotions since joining them for his first job in senior management in December 2021.
McKenna held roles as United academy coach and progressed to the first-team setup under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick, but committed his future to Ipswich by signing a new four-year deal this summer, making an impending move elsewhere highly unlikely in the short term. However, United fans are keenly monitoring the Northern Irishman’s progress in the Premier League.
McKenna is both an up-and-coming tactician and also ‘knows the club’ (Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)
With United’s game model alarmingly unclear at the moment, perhaps what INEOS should consider is a manager who is capable of punching above their weight relative in the football food chain.
Brest’s Eric Roy would jump out, having led his side to the Champions League for the first time in their history after a third-place finish in Ligue 1 last season. Similarly, Heidenheim’s Frank Schmidt has performed miracles in guiding his hometown club from the fifth tier of German football into the Bundesliga and now the UEFA Conference League this season.
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Beyond Xabi Alonso’s invincible Bayer Leverkusen, Stuttgart were the Bundesliga’s overachievers after Sebastian Hoeness led them to a second-place finish above Bayern Munich. Having been appointed at the end of the 2022-23 season, the 41-year-old guided Stuttgart away from the relegation zone and into this year’s Champions League within 18 months.
From a low-possession, counter-attacking team last campaign, Hoeness has transformed Stuttgart into a dominant, progressive side that can suffocate teams in their own defensive third (Field tilt, 86 out of 99) and press from the front (Intensity, 78 out of 99).
Hoeness has guided Stuttgart into the Champions League (Harry Langer/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
Only Alonso’s Leverkusen (73) generated more shot-ending high turnovers than Stuttgart (61) last season, as Hoeness had a tangible impact on Stuttgart’s style across the board.
Dino Toppmoller is this season’s version of Hoeness, with Eintracht Frankfurt catching the eye after winning four of their opening five league games. Having served as Julian Nagelsmann’s assistant coach at RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich, it is unsurprising that Toppmoller likes his side to play with a front-foot approach on and off the ball.
The 43-year-old has the attacking duo of Omar Marmoush and Hugo Ekitike to call upon as Frankfurt’s main attacking threats and is quickly emerging as one of Europe’s best young coaches.
Topmoller is a rising star of football management (Cathrin Mueller/Getty Images)
Staying in Germany, Thomas Tuchel remains on the shortlist for most clubs after leaving Bayern Munich in the summer.
Despite a disappointing season relative to Bayern’s standards, the underlying numbers from Tuchel’s side show how dominant they have still been in both boxes. Competing with a history-making, invincible Bayer Leverkusen side was not part of the plan, but Bayern’s 1.6 xG difference per 90 — which accounts for the quality of chances created and conceded — was the best of any side across Europe’s top five leagues.
For context, United’s xG difference sat at -0.3 per 90 — good enough for… 72nd on the list.
Tuchel’s tactical acumen is undeniable, but question marks over his temperament might be a factor that works against him. Across his three most recent roles at Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Bayern Munich, he averaged a tenure of one year, nine months and 15 days. If United are looking for stability with a long-term vision, Tuchel might not be the best man to hand the keys to. United met Tuchel in the summer, getting to the point of discussing financials but ultimately did not employ him, so any issues that prevented a deal at that point would need resolving, too.
Across the border, United have frequently looked to the Netherlands for player and coaching talent, but might they have missed one crucial man? Peter Bosz led PSV to the Eredivisie title last season with the most potent attacking numbers in Europe (2.7 non-penalty expected goals per 90) and they look to be continuing their form this season with seven league wins in seven games.
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Despite losing the individual talent of Gakpo, Simons, Noni Madueke and Ibrahima Sangare in recent windows, Bosz got his side working as a cohesive unit to bulldoze their way to the league title. As you can see by their stylistic evolution over time, Bosz shifted the dial on nearly every measure after taking over from Van Nistelrooy.
There have been mixed fortunes for Bosz during his time as manager of Ajax, Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen and Lyon, but the Dutchman has got this PSV side cooking since he took over in 2023.
In Italy, Gian Piero Gasperini finally got the silverware his career has warranted after leading Atalanta to Europa League glory in the summer — becoming the oldest coach to win a final of a major European competition on his debut.
Gasperini would bring a wealth of experience and a front-foot, aggressive style of play on and off the ball — one that can frustrate the elite sides as shown recently in Atalanta’s goalless draw with Arsenal in the Champions League.
The remit would be entirely different at a club on the scale of United, but Gasperini has evidenced his ability to overperform with the tools he has at his disposal. As The Athletic’s James Horncastle has previously stated, the 66-year-old does not get the credit he deserves for his achievements in Bergamo.
“They’ve normalised the extraordinary!”@JamesHorncastle discusses Gian Piero Gasperini’s incredible work at Atalanta…
🎙️ @julesbreach pic.twitter.com/IYOvjlutjH
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 11, 2024
Finally, why not consider Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola, who has garnered praise across the Premier League for his own aggressive, counter-pressing style of play?
Bournemouth’s direct approach will often see the ball played long into the opposition’s third before squeezing the space and regaining the ball in advanced positions. In the early weeks of the season, only Tottenham Hotspur have won possession more in the attacking third than Bournemouth’s 47 occasions as Iraola’s style looks to be deeply embedded in his squad.
Iraola has settled well into the Premier League but at a much smaller club than United (Andrew Matthews/PA Images via Getty Images)
It might not be to everyone’s taste, but a well-drilled, clear identity is not to be underestimated in a coach — it is something United still look to be searching for this season under Ten Hag.
(Top photo: Getty Images)
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We’re approaching the biggest sporting event North America has ever hosted.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup takes place across the USA, Canada and Mexico in 13 days.
Bettors and fans already have their sights set on the global spectacle, which will kick off on June 11. The World Cup final will be held at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium on July 19, 2026.
After the World Cup groups were announced in December, Spain opened as the favorite at +450, followed by England (+550) and France (+750).
Now, with less than two weeks to go, Spain has slightly drifted to +475, with both France and England making up ground on the oddsboard.
Let’s dive into the odds via DraftKings Sportsbook as of May 29.
This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports.
2026 World Cup winner odds
Spain: +475 (bet $10 to win $57.5 total)
France: +500 (bet $10 to win $60 total)
England: +650 (bet $10 to win $75 total)
Brazil: +850 (bet $10 to win $95 total)
Argentina: +900 (bet $10 to win $100 total)
Portugal: +1000 (bet $10 to win $110 total)
Germany: +1400 (bet $10 to win $150 total)
Netherlands: +2200 (bet $10 to win $230 total)
Norway: +3500 (bet $10 to win $360 total)
Belgium: +3500 (bet $10 to win $360 total)
Colombia: +4000 (bet $10 to win $410 total)
Morocco: +5000 (bet $10 to win $510 total)
Uruguay: +5000 (bet $10 to win $510 total)
United States: +6000 (bet $10 to win $610 total)
Switzerland: +6500 (bet $10 to win $660 total)
Japan: +6500 (bet $10 to win $660 total)
Mexico: +8000 (bet $10 to win $810 total)
Croatia: +8000 (bet $10 to win $810 total)
Ecuador: +8000 (bet $10 to win $810 total)
Senegal: +9000 (bet $10 to win $910 total)
Sweden: +10000 (bet $10 to win $1,010 total)
HOST NATIONS
United States
The United States is led by Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams, and Chris Richards, with several players competing in Europe’s top leagues. The U.S. has appeared in 11 previous World Cups, with its best finish coming in 1930 when the team reached the semifinals.
Canada
Canada’s key players include Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David, giving the squad top-tier pace and goal-scoring ability. Canada has made two previous World Cup appearances, and is still looking for its first win ever in the tournament.
Mexico
Mexico’s top contributors include Raul Giménez and Edson Álvarez, forming a strong mix of attacking talent and midfield stability. Mexico has played in 17 previous World Cups and reached the quarterfinals twice, in 1970 and 1986.
UEFA TEAMS TO KNOW
Spain
Spain’s top talents include Pedri, Lamine Yamal and Rodri, forming a core that blends elite playmaking with scoring depth. Spain has appeared in 16 previous World Cups and won the tournament once, lifting the trophy in 2010. The team also won the 2024 Euros.
France
France enters with Kylian Mbappé as the star player, with the 26-year-old just five goals shy of passing Miroslav Klose (16) for the most career goals at the World Cup. France has made 16 previous World Cup appearances and won the title twice, in 1998 and 2018.
England
England’s key players include Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice, forming one of the nation’s strongest generations in decades. England has reached 16 previous World Cups and won the trophy once, in 1966.
Germany
Germany features Florian Wirtz, Jamal Musiala and Joshua Kimmich as central figures in a talented squad. Germany has participated in 20 previous World Cups and won four titles, most recently in 2014.
Portugal
Portugal’s top group includes Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha, with Cristiano Ronaldo still involved as the team’s all-time leading scorer and cap leader. Portugal has competed in eight previous World Cups and recorded its best finish in 2006, reaching the semifinals.
Netherlands
The Netherlands features top players such as Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch and Denzel Dumfries, forming a core built around elite defending and midfield control. Memphis Depay should also be on the team, the country’s all-time leading goalscorer. The Netherlands has appeared in 11 previous World Cups and finished as runner-up three times, in 1974, 1978 and 2010.
CONMEBOL TEAMS TO KNOW
Argentina
Argentina is anchored by Lionel Messi, with Julián Álvarez, Enzo Fernández and Lautaro Martínez— headlining one of the most talented rosters in the tournament. Argentina has played in 18 previous World Cups and won three, including the most recent tournament in 2022.
Brazil
Brazil’s roster is led by Vinícius Júnior, Raphinha and Marquinhos, giving the team elite attacking and defensive quality. Brazil has appeared in every World Cup and holds a record five titles, with its most recent one coming in 2002.
Uruguay
Uruguay’s leading players include Federico Valverde, Darwin Núñez and Ronald Araújo, forming a core with elite midfield range and speed. Uruguay has appeared in 14 previous World Cups and won the tournament twice, in 1930 and 1950.
Colombia
Colombia is headlined by Luis Díaz and James Rodríguez, with the former playing for Bayern Munich and the latter having a decorated World Cup résumé. Colombia has made six previous World Cupsand recorded its best finish in 2014, reaching the quarterfinals.
CAF TEAMS TO KNOW
Morocco
Morocco’s key contributors include Achraf Hakimi, Noussair Mazaroui and Brahm Díaz, each with major European club experience. Morocco has appeared in six previous World Cups and achieved its historic best finish in 2022, reaching the semifinals.
Senegal
Senegal’s top players include Sadio Mané, Kalidou Koulibaly and Idrissa Gueye, forming one of Africa’s most experienced cores. Senegal has appeared in three World Cups and reached its best finish in 2002, advancing to the quarterfinals.
Ghana
Ghana is led by Mohammed Kudus, Antoine Semenyo and Inaki Williams, giving the squad strong playmaking and midfield presence. Ghana has competed in four previous World Cups and reached its best result in 2010, making the quarterfinals.
AFC TEAMS TO KNOW
South Korea
South Korea is headlined by Son Heung-min, supported by key players such as Kim Min-jae and Lee Kang-in. South Korea has played in 11 previous World Cups and reached its best finish in 2002, advancing to the semifinals as co-host.
Japan
Japan features Takefusa Kubo and Kaoru Mitoma as its leading players, blending top European experience with emerging talent. Japan has appeared in seven previous World Cups and reached the Round of 16 four times, its best result to date.
Australia
Australia’s top players include Jackson Irvine and keeper Mathew Ryan as its most experienced members. Australia has competed in six previous World Cups and reached the round of 16 twice, in 2006 and 2022.
OFC TEAMS TO KNOW
New Zealand
New Zealand is led by all-time leading scorer Chris Wood, with 45 international goals to his name. New Zealand has appeared in two previous World Cups (1982, 2010), and did not advance from the group stage in either appearance.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander apparently isn’t amused by a new board game that pokes fun at the Oklahoma City Thunder star’s reputation for garnering foul calls at the hint of contact by an opposing player.
Last week, a lawyer representing the two-time reigning NBA MVP sent a cease-and-desist letter to sports prediction market and fantasy sports company Underdog that includes a demand for the destruction of all copies of the cheeky and extremely limited-edition game Unethical Hoops.
Done in the style of the children’s classic Operation, Unethical Hoops requires players to use tweezers to pull objects from tiny holes, with the slightest touch of a metal border setting off a buzzer indicating failure.
Instead of pretending to be doctors attempting to remove body parts from a patient, however, Unethical Hoops players act as members of an opposing basketball team trying to take the ball from a cartoon character who very much resembles Gilgeous-Alexander.
In this game, the buzzer represents the whistle of a foul-calling referee.
“Shai has made hoops all about foul baiting and now you’re stuck guarding him in Underdog’s new board game,” a description reads on the game’s website. “Don’t get baited. Steal the ball without getting whistled.”
In a letter dated May 22, attorney Eric Fishman of ArentFox Schiff LLP demanded that Underdog “immediately and permanently cease and desist from any and all use of Mr. Gilgeous-Alexander’s NIL in any and all media, including but not limited to your website (including the Unethical Hoops Website)… and any physical goods including but not limited to the board game advertised on the Unethical Hoops Website.”
The notice also calls for Underdog to “immediately destroy all physical goods or advertisements that use Mr. Gilgeous-Alexander’s NIL, including but not limited to the board game advertised on the Unethical Hoops Website,” as well as a promise never to use the star player’s name, image or likeness without his permission.
Fishman did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Times.
According to the Unethical Hoops website, which remains active more than a week after the date on the cease-and-desist order, only 100 copies of the game were made, to be given away to Underdog users. The giveaway ended as scheduled on Friday.
Underdog declined to comment on the matter other than to point out that the company has pulled comical stunts at the expense of members of the sports world.
“We’ve poked fun at Knicks and Lakers fans, the Red Sox owners, the Mets and more,” a spokesperson said via email. “We like to have some fun with whatever is in the sports fan zeitgeist.”
Gilgeous-Alexander is a four-time All-Star who led the league in scoring last season (2,484 points) and was second in scoring this season (2,117). He led the Thunder to their first NBA title last year and has them back in the Western Conference finals this year (the decisive Game 7 against the San Antonio Spurs is Saturday in Oklahoma City).
While one of the NBA’s biggest stars, Gilgeous-Alexander is often criticized for the number of favorable foul calls he receives — he has ranked second or third in the league for number of free throw attempts per game in each of the last four seasons and is currently second among all players in the 2026 playoffs with 9.8 a game — and the lengths he appears to go to in order to receive them.
After Game 2 against the Spurs, one NBA fan account on X wrote, “Shai flopped on every single shot attempt” and posted a video that showed seven such examples (Gilgeous-Alexander actually attempted 24 shots that night). The post has been viewed 22.7 million times.
Earlier this week, prior to Game 6 of the conference finals, another fan account on X posted a video “ranking all 44 times SGA fell on the floor while shooting during the 2026 playoffs from least to most egregious.” That post has been viewed 1.3 million times.
As the cartoon likeness of Gilgeous-Alexander states in the Unethical Hoops ad, “so much as breathe on me, I’m getting the call.”
The real-life SGA was asked during a TV interview after Game 3 in San Antonio about the “flopper!” chants that rained down on him at Frost Bank Center.
“It’s part of the game,” he said. “It’s nothing. I’ve been dealing with it for a long time. I don’t really hear it. I’m focused on what’s going on on the court.”
Sports
Spurs blow out Thunder, force Game 7 as Victor Wembanyama leads the way with 28-point double-double
Trump says he thinks he’ll attend NBA Finals game
President Donald Trump said during a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday that he believes he will attend an NBA Finals game next week, as the New York Knicks make their first Finals appearance in nearly 30 years.
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The Western Conference Finals will come down to a Game 7 after the San Antonio Spurs routed the Oklahoma City Thunder, 118-91, in Game 6 on Thursday night.
Game 7 heads back to Oklahoma City, where the winner will face the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals after New York swept the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals.
With their backs against the wall, the Spurs did what was necessary on their home court and then some. And it was their phenom, Victor Wembanyama, leading the way.
Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs reacts during the first half against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Six of the NBA Western Conference Finals at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas, on May 28, 2026. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The 7-foot-4 big man led the Spurs with 28 points on 10-of-21 shooting, including four three-pointers made, while notching a double-double with 10 rebounds, two assists, two steals and three blocks.
This was the performance head coach Mitch Johnson and the rest of the team needed from Wembanyama, and he was up for the challenge as the Thunder were looking to make it back-to-back NBA Finals appearances.
Instead, the Thunder’s three-point shooting woes returned in San Antonio, much like they did in Game 4 of this series. They took a whopping 40 threes, but only cashed in 10 of them, finishing 25% from beyond the arc on the night.
SPURS SNAP THUNDER’S PLAYOFF WIN STREAK BEHIND VICTORY WEMBANYAMA’S INCREDIBLE GAME 1 PERFORMANCE
As a team, the Thunder shot just 37%, and MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is among the culprits for the poor shooting night. He had just 15 points, going 6-of-18 from the field and 0-of-5 from three-point land. Lu Dort was also ice cold from three, going just 1-of-9 and 2-of-11 for the game.
Meanwhile, San Antonio was getting more than just “Wemby” contributions, especially from rookie Dylan Harper, who played a vital role in the blowout off the bench.
Dylan Harper of the San Antonio Spurs looks on during the first quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 6 of the NBA Western Conference Finals at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas, on May 28, 2026. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Harper was quite efficient when he had the ball in his hands, going 6-of-9 from the field for 18 points, while tallying six rebounds and four assists in his pivotal 22 minutes off the pine.
And in the starting five, Stephon Castle was getting to the rim like he’s supposed to, scoring 17 points while dishing out nine assists for the Spurs. Devin Vassell also hit four of his seven three-point shots for 12 points, while Julian Champagnie poured in 10 more with six rebounds, two assists, one steal and two blocks on the other end of the hardwood.
The Spurs saw 12 different players contribute on the scoreboard in this contest, some of whom made their way into the game when the Thunder conceded and already started to focus on Game 7. And that swing came in the third quarter, when the Spurs outscored the Thunder, 32-13, and started to run away with this must-win game for their franchise.
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama shoots against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first half of Game 6 in the Western Conference finals NBA playoffs in San Antonio on May 28, 2026. (David J. Phillip/AP)
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Now, folks, it all comes down to the ever-suspenseful Game 7, where the Thunder will hope one last home game will give them the juice to push their way into the Finals.
But the Spurs are hoping to recreate 1999 by earning a matchup with the Knicks in the NBA Finals.
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