When the dust was settling on the 2025-26 season, the majority of basketball fans were convinced the NBA champion would come from the West. After the last round, many touted the Western Conference Finals were the real NBA Finals. Those feelings will quickly change if the New York Knicks are the ones to hoist the Larry O'Brien Trophy.
Those hoping for a Knicks title were handed an excellent start to their optimism. New York stole a tight 105-95 win on the road in Game 1 against the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night.
There are quietly a couple of factors as to why the Los Angeles Lakers should be among the people who want to see the Knicks continue that success. One of them should be a little more obvious. The other could have implications on LeBron James' future that would favor the Lakers.
Knicks winning a championship would completely rewrite West narratives
Let's start with the obvious: the Knicks winning it all would quickly challenge the idea of the Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder being these two unassailable juggernauts in the Western Conference. That would be a major boost to the Lakers behind closed doors.
To some capacity, Los Angeles should have self-belief regardless of the ultimate result here. Luka Doncic was communicating that mindset throughout the 2025-26 campaign.
"If you don't believe, you shouldn't be here," Doncic said earlier this season.
Even so, it never hurts to have additional proof from the outside about how attainable a goal is. The Lakers want to be competing for titles with Doncic at the helm. The Thunder, despite their championship last year, looked beatable against the Indiana Pacers in the 2025 NBA Finals. If the Knicks do knock off the Spurs, that makes the two supposed powerhouses look much more human.
Remember, Luka's 2024 Dallas Mavericks were never favored to win the Western Conference either. Even if the Spurs and Thunder do stand in the way next season, having added belief in the ability to beat those teams is a big bonus.
Knicks title could boost LeBron James' chances of staying with Lakers
Now, let's get to the LeBron of it all.
Firstly, the Knicks winning the championship would likely eliminate them as a dark horse to steal the all-time great. James is not Kevin Durant, he should understand the rough optics of creating a stacked deck in his favor.
Secondly, the question the Lakers and their fans should be asking themselves: Does James want to head out to the Eastern Conference if the perceived weaker path is not truly there? If the defending champions are in the East, how much easier is that road to a fifth championship?
That is an especially real thing to consider when factoring in the other strong teams opposition. The Boston Celtics are only going to get a healthier Jayson Tatum. The Pacers will get rejuvenated when Tyrese Haliburton returns. The Detroit Pistons should also be continue their ascent.
That goes before mentioning other up and comers like the Toronto Raptors, Atlanta Hawks, and Charlotte Hornets. They may be lesser threats here, but they are also not afterthoughts altogether.
Would James joining, presumably, the Cleveland Cavaliers to try and play savior really give him his best shot at a title? LeBron has made it clear he wants to win. Would running it back with a top-five player in Doncic not be the preferrable option for that?
Mix all that together and the Lakers might just want to see a Knicks championship by the end of this NBA Finals series. Potentially annoying narratives aside, it may set Los Angeles up best for a title next year.
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