Well, Game 7 of the NBA Finals has come and gone. The Oklahoma City Thunder won their first title since relocating from Seattle in 2008, thanks to a dominant second-half performance led by their historic defense. Indiana gave a valiant effort despite brutal circumstances, but the story of the night was the horrific injury suffered by Tyrese Haliburton. The Pacers’ superstar guard tore his right Achilles tendon in the first quarter of Game 7, after deciding to play through a calf strain he suffered earlier in the series. His injury is yet another cautionary tale against playing through tenuous maladies despite the risk of career-threatening injury.
As OKC raised the Larry O’Brien trophy late into the night on Sunday, Indiana was plunged into darkness as an organization. Not only did they lose a winner-take-all Game 7 of the NBA Finals, but they’ve also lost their superstar point guard for at least next season. Basketball fans everywhere should feel for Haliburton, who authored perhaps the greatest clutch playoff run in league history, only to have his moment ripped away in the final game. Unfortunately, Indiana’s outlook has now completely changed.
Knicks Have a Golden Opportunity After Latest Star Injury
As much as we hate to admit it, eras of NBA basketball are often defined by injuries. Which superstars suffer career-altering injuries amid their dominance? Which teams get lucky enough to remain healthy through several consecutive seasons, giving them multiple chances at a title?
Injuries played a huge part in the first half of the 2020s in the Eastern Conference. The Milwaukee Bucks won the 2021 championship, only to have injuries affect their next four playoff runs. The Philadelphia 76ers have lost Joel Embiid for large chunks of several seasons, limiting any chance at contention they might have had. The Boston Celtics stayed remarkably healthy for the first five years of the decade, leading to a title in 2024. Unfortunately, that all ended in 2025, when Jayson Tatum tore his Achilles in Game 4 vs. the Knicks.
The East is Wide Open in 2025-26
Sadly, it appears that the next couple of years will also be heavily affected by superstars in street clothes. Haliburton’s Achilles injury is the third suffered by a star player in the East in the 2025 playoffs. He joins Damian Lillard in the first round and Tatum in the second round. All three will miss most or all of the 2026 season, and won’t be the same until the following year. In addition to the injuries, there’s uncertainty revolving around several of the potential Eastern contenders.
Cavaliers, Knicks, Magic: Who Will Prevail?
Giannis Antetokounmpo could be heading West in a trade if he decides (rightly so) that his time winning in Milwaukee is over. Joel Embiid’s injury situation, as well as Paul George‘s albatross contract, put Philly in dire straits yet again. With Boston and Indiana taking a gap year in 2026, only three healthy teams are looking to truly contend: The Knicks, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Orlando Magic.
Cleveland is coming off a phenomenal 64-win campaign that ended in disaster, losing in five games to the Pacers. Whether they shake up their core with a Darius Garland or Jarrett Allen trade or not, the Cavaliers will be a very good team in 2026. The Knicks are in a similar position. Their regular season was underwhelming, but New York beat the defending champion Celtics in the second round and excelled in the postseason. Their core should return, but there is uncertainty about a new coach and a possible blockbuster trade.
The wild card is Orlando, which just took a big swing by acquiring Desmond Bane. They should be a much-improved team in 2026. As of June 23rd, the East appears to be a three-team race between Cleveland, New York, and Orlando. New York has enjoyed more playoff success than both teams combined with their respective cores. Nevertheless, the three squads are very evenly matched. If Leon Rose can boost their depth and/or make a transformative trade, the Knicks could be the East’s best team. This offseason is one of the biggest in Knicks history.
Featured image: © Brad Penner-Imagn Images
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