San Antonio Spurs vs. New York Knicks: Who has edge in NBA Finals?

It will be a rematch of the 1999 NBA Finals, where the Spurs beat the Knicks 4-1. It was the Spurs' first championship and New York’s last finals appearance.

Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs advanced to the finals after winning the Western Conference Finals in Game 7 on Saturday.

Wembanyama led the way with 20-plus points in each of the seven games against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

It will be the Western Conference Finals MVP’s first trip to the NBA playoffs, following a season in which the projection of his career was in jeopardy after being diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis, a condition that involves blood clots.

It will also be Jalen Brunson's first finals appearance. Brunson averaged 26 points and 6.8 assists for the Knicks this season.

The Spurs and the Knicks played a two-game series during the regular season, with each team winning a game.

Here's who has the edge in the NBA Finals series:

Backcourt

The Knicks will have the advantage in the backcourt because of Brunson until proven otherwise. The Spurs’ backcourt, led by Stephon Castle and veteran De'Aaron Fox, did show they have the defensive mindset and scheme to stop a player of Brunson’s caliber, after leaving Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the back-to-back league MVP, frustrated at times during the Western Conference Finals.

Edge: Knicks

Frontcourt

Wembanyama presents a problem for any team in the league because of his length and playmaking ability. The Western Conference Finals MVP has averaged 23.2 points and 10.8 rebounds in 17 games during this postseason.

Karl Anthony-Towns leads a talented frontcourt for the Knicks that will have the opportunity to cause problems for Wemby and the Spurs. KAT has averaged 16.9 points, 10.6 rebounds and 5.9 assists for New York in the 14 postseason games.

Edge: Spurs

Bench

The Knicks have several complementary players coming off the bench. Josh Hart is a versatile rotation player in the backcourt who has displayed the ability to play with physicality on defense and serve as a solid rebounder. Mitchell Robinson has a broken finger but still expects to play in the finals. He serves as another quality reserve off the bench that can serve as a rim protector and rebounder for the Knicks' interior defense.

Keldon Johnson is the primary reserve for San Antonio, serving as a versatile wing when his number is called. Dylan Harper may only be a rookie, but he has really stepped up when needed for the Spurs in the postseason. He's proven he can score and be a playmaker for his team when he has the ball in his hands.

Edge: Knicks

Coaching

Knicks coach Mike Brown has the advantage in Finals experience. Brown led LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers to the NBA Finals against the Spurs in 2007. He also spent time as an assistant coach for two championship teams. He won three titles under Steve Kerr with the Golden State Warriors and another in 2003 under Gregg Popovich with the Spurs. It will be the first Finals appearance for San Antonio's Mitch Johnson as a head coach.

Edge: Knicks

X-Factors

It’s hard to ignore what impact Robinson can have on the Knicks when he is healthy. Robinson has great size and a defensive presence that could prove to be valuable. He can control the paint and secure offensive rebounds, which may prove to be helpful when the Spurs have Wemby on the floor. Julian Champagnie's supplementary scoring has proven to be important during the postseason. He played a key role in the Spurs' Game 7 victory over the Thunder with 20 points and six rebounds.

Edge: Knicks