Michael Wilbon Takes Shot At Knicks vs. Cavs Before Game 1

Michael Wilbon doesn't think the Eastern Conference Finals will hold a candle to the Western Conference Finals after Monday's double-overtime thriller.

by Andrew Gould

May 19, 2026

Michael Wilbon of ESPN on the mic.

The New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers have a tall act to follow after Monday's captivating start to the Western Conference Finals. Michael Wilbon doesn't see the Eastern Conference coming close.

Victor Wembanyama led the San Antonio Spurs to a double-overtime win over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Monday's Game 1. The teams with the NBA's two best records began the highly anticipated matchup with an instant classic that may have some fans ready to prematurely give the Larry O'Brien Trophy to whoever survives that series.

As everyone exhales from that heavyweight showdown, the Knicks will host the Cavaliers to start the Eastern Conference Finals on Tuesday night. Wilbon predicted on ESPN's Get Up that the series will take a backseat to the Spurs and Thunder.

"Nothing that we see here in this series in the Eastern Conference is going to approach last night," Wilbon declared. "Nothing. OK? This is the junior varsity series."

"It may be great"

May 1, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) celebrates his three-point basket in the fourth quarter against the Detroit Pistons during game six of first round for the 2024 NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images.

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With that said, Wilbon isn't overlooking the Knicks and Cavs. Furthermore, he won't treat the Spurs/Thunder series as the de facto NBA Finals.

But still, how can these teams possibly top Monday night's game?

"It may be great," Wilbon said. "By the way, the winner, if it’s the Knicks, could survive and win the whole thing because these two could kill each other, go Ali-Frazier in Manilla and nothing’s left. But nothing we’re gonna see out of Madison Square Garden is gonna come close to what we saw last night."

Wilbon predicts Knicks-Cavs winner

Wilbon's point stems from his expecting a far less competitive matchup out East. The longtime Pardon The Interruption host predicted that the Knicks will stay hot and make their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999.

New York has won seven straight playoff games by a combined 185 points. Although they haven't played since sweeping the Philadelphia 76ers on May 10, Wilbon thinks the Knicks will quickly shake off any rust against a talented Cavaliers squad that has yet to reach its full potential.

"I expect this to be like a five-game series," Wiblbon said. "I look at Cleveland and I keep wondering, why aren't they better? Why isn't Cleveland better?"

The Knicks and Cavs will look to prove Wilbon wrong with their own epic game. ESPN will air the series-opener on Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET.