The best players in the Spurs vs. Knicks championship, ranked

The 2025 NBA Cup Championship Game in between San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks it should be a thriller. Both teams have stocked up on talent in very different ways over the past few years. The Spurs went through a massive rebuild where they added tons of draft capital, most of which they developed into productive players. Meanwhile, the Knicks are by far the luckiest team in the NBA, having traded away their draft capital to add talent.

Now, both teams are ready for success, and it was evident during their run to the championship game of the season tournament. So who are the best players in the Spurs vs. Knicks matchup?

15. Mitchell Robinson, New York Knicks

Mitchell Robinson has struggled with injuries throughout his career. He’s also a limited scorer, as Robinson’s 3.6 points per game mostly come off rebounds. However, Robinson is an excellent rebounder and shot blocker. He is averaging 8.2 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game in just 17.5 minutes.

Robinson has spent time in both the starting lineup and off the bench this season. As a starter, he takes on typical big man duties and allows Karl-Anthony Towns to play the forward position. Off the bench, Robinson provides a much-needed interior presence for a bullpen that actually has more depth than it has had in recent seasons. Spurs dirty-deal expert Jeremy Sochan almost made this list. However, he hasn’t had a great season and was recently a DNP player in San Antonio’s NBA Finals game, so he had to be left out. Myles McBride would also be here but is currently sidelined with injury.

14. Julian Champagnie, San Antonio Spurs

The Spurs have a lot of depth, mostly due to the high number of draft picks in recent years. The team’s draft success made Julian Champagnie a bit of an underdog. Champagne went undrafted in 2022, but has become an important 3-and-D player for the Spurs.

Champagne shoots his deep ball at a 37.5% rate. He is sixth on the team in minutes per game despite the fact that San Antonio has a number of young or highly paid players who need minutes.

13. Jordan Clarkson, New York Knicks

Jordan Clarkson is one of the most famous sixth man spark plugs in the NBA. He’s a bucket-catcher off the bench. The Knicks have long had plenty of guts and talent on defense, but Clarkson’s ability to put the basketball in the bucket was sorely needed. Clarkson can score from all three levels as a catch-and-shoot threat or off the bounce.

Clarkson is averaging just 9.6 points per game, a career low by far, but has a proven track record of success at what he does best. The former Sixth Man of the Year averaged more than 20 points the previous season and averaged 16.2 points per game last season alone. The shooting guard made sacrifices for the betterment of his team, but is still capable of taking over the game. Unfortunately, he can also throw his team out of the game.

12. Keldon Johnson, San Antonio Spurs

Keldon Johnson’s role has diminished in recent seasons as the Spurs have added more talent to the roster. After recently scoring 22 points per game for the Spurs, Johnson has averaged 12.7 points in each of the last two seasons. Johnson is beginning to understand his new role though, as he has been much more effective this year than last.

Johnson was once a key member of Team USA. He is playing winning basketball that could help the Spurs win the NBA Cup and maybe even make a surprising run in the NBA playoffs.

11. Harrison Barnes, San Antonio Spurs

Harrison Barnes rose to fame as a 3-and-D threat for the Golden State Warriors at the height of their dynasty. He had a few seasons taking on more of the creation duties, but has returned to a role where he predominantly launches open threes and plays solid defense on the other end.

With so many guards on the roster, as well as a starting center taking over the ball-handling duties, having a small-number player who rarely messes up like Barnes is key. Barnes is shooting 41% from deep this season.

10. Josh Hart, New York Knicks

Josh Hart is a jack of all trades and a dirty player for the Knicks. Hart is in the top five on his team in rebounds, points, steals and assists. He is one of the best rebounding guards in the NBA, as evidenced by his 7.7 rebounds per game. Doc Mikal Bridges and And the Anunobi often get more credit for their defensive prowess, Hart is also a really solid defender at the point of attack. His skill set is really where he makes his money.

9. Dylan Harper, San Antonio Spurs

Dylan Harper was the second overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. He would have been the number one pick in a number of draft classes, but Cooper Flagg was one of highly touted prospects ever. Most top picks end up on bad teams, but that wasn’t the case with Harper.

He joined an already deep Spurs team that already had plenty of talent in the backcourt. The team traded for De’Aaron Foxand Stephon Castle was the reigning Rookie of the Year. Despite this, Harper still managed to find a role early in his rookie season. His 13.1 points per game are sixth in line among beginners. The Spurs are still getting Harper into the swing of things, as he is just ninth in minutes per game for the Spurs this season. However, his talent is obvious and he will likely continue to get more opportunities in the future. An NBA Cup championship could even potentially serve as a breakout opportunity for Harper.

Devin Vassell is the Spurs sniper. He throws seven deep balls per game and makes them at a 39.7% clip. The Florida State product also has a nice mid-range jumper, and if he wasn’t on such a deep team, he could probably put up All-Star caliber numbers.

7. And Anunoby, New York Knicks

Anunoby is one of the best wing defenders in the NBA. His length and athleticism allow him to wreak havoc in passing lanes, and he also has the strength to deter shooters inside. Anunoby is also a solid shooter. The former Toronto Raptor is somewhere between a player and a star, and the role he plays for the Knicks is of the utmost importance.

6. Mychal Bridges, New York Knicks

Bridges’ stats are almost identical to Anunoby’s this season, as is his role. Bridges averages 16.4 points and Anunoby’s 16.2. The former is averaging 4.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists while shooting 40.7% from deep, while the latter is averaging 5.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists while shooting 40.8% from 3-point range.

Both players are elite defensively, but Bridges has a slight advantage as fans have seen more goals than him in the past. Bridges’ peak came with the Brooklyn Nets in 2022-23, when he averaged 26.1 points per game after the trade. Bridges is also more reliable in the sense that he never misses games. He is the ultimate Iron Man, as he has never missed an NBA game.

5. Castle Stephon, San Antonio Spurs

The Spurs have had back-to-back Rookie of the Year winners, the most recent being Stephon Castle. The UConn product won a title in college, and he was heralded as an excellent connector who plays defense, can get down low and gets his teammates involved.

All of these attributes were as advertised during Castle’s young career, but he showed more scoring than most would have guessed. Castle is averaging 18.4 points per game. He’s not a great 3-point shooter, but he’s skilled enough in that regard. However, he really thrives as a slasher and mid-range shooter.

4. De’Aaron Fox, San Antonio Spurs

De’Aaron Fox was San Antonio’s big trade acquisition last season. At the time, they were in desperate need of a point guard, and Fox was the perfect player to go out and get. The former Clutch Player of the Year is arguably the fastest player in the league. His tremendous quickness allows him to thrive in transition, but he also has an elite first step that plays well in the half-court offense.

However, Fox is not just about speed. He has a great 3-point shot, has the ability to create for his teammates and has the aforementioned clutch gene.

3. Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks

Karl-Anthony Towns is the best 3-point shooting center in NBA history. After becoming one of the the best players in the history of the Minnesota Timberwolves, he probably had a career season in his first year with the Knicks last year. The five-time All-Star has gotten off to a bit of a slow start this season, especially when it comes to his 3-point shooting, but no one would deny the fact that he is one of the best players in the NBA.

Jalen Brunson doesn’t have the size or athleticism of a typical superstar, but he’s certainly one of the best players in the NBA. Brunson’s elite body control and phenomenal touch have led him to average 28.8 points per game, which ranks seventh in the league.

Brunson is nearly impossible to stop in the pick and roll. He was previously in MVP talks, and at the moment he is the frontrunner won the MVP of the NBA Cup.

While Brunson doesn’t have inspiring physical attributes, Victor Wembanyama is one of the craziest freaks of nature in NBA history. The former No. 1 overall pick is 7-foot-4, but he does things offensively that no one close to that size should be able to do. Vembanjama can bring the ball down the court and control the basketball with various dribbling moves. He can score inside over the top of players but is also a capable shooter. He even has the ability to step-back and dodge shots from beyond the arc.

Vembanjama is even better in defense. The French superstar led the NBA in blocks per game in each of his first two seasons. His length makes it a difficult task for opposing teams to score when he is on the field. After recovering from a calf injury, Wembanyama returned to action in the Spurs’ NBA Cup semi-final game. He came off the bench in that upset win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, but one has to assume he’ll be back in the starting lineup quickly.