U.S. media graded the Finals starters: Towns gets A+ highest, Wembanyama gets C- lowest, Knicks sweep top three spots

On June 7th Beijing time, the Knicks edged past the Spurs 105-104 yesterday, holding off a frantic rally in the final period to claim Game 2 of the championship series. With a 2-0 lead, the Knicks hold the upper hand as the series heads to New York.

Renowned U.S. media outlet Bleacher Report took advantage of the brief break to evaluate the ten starting players from both teams based on pre-series expectations, using the familiar A-F grading system. Below is the ranking from highest to lowest, with the top three all being Knicks players—

1. Karl-Anthony Towns: A+

Towns has undoubtedly been the biggest storyline of this series so far. Throughout the playoffs, he has completely flipped the narrative surrounding him, and up to this point, he has dominated his matchup against Victor Wembanyama.

In Game 1, when Towns was the primary defender on Wembanyama, the latter made only 2 of 12 shots. In Game 2, Towns was on fire, scoring 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting. Over the entire series, he has also outrebounded the regular-season Defensive Player of the Year.

Towns, once heavily criticized for his playoff performances and questionable decisions, has now transformed into a savvy veteran who controls the game's tempo with intelligence and skill.

In this postseason, his passing and clutch shooting have already cemented his place among the Knicks' core, and in this Finals series, his defense has become a decisive factor. Before now, passing and defense were never the first things that came to mind about Towns.

2. Mikal Bridges: A

In Game 1, Bridges posted modest numbers—9 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists—but his perimeter defense remained rock-solid. Thanks to his stellar defensive play, he recorded a plus-minus of +11, helping the team win by 10 points.

By Game 2, Bridges' offense became a vital need for the team. He moved intelligently off the ball, attacked closeouts aggressively whenever he got the chance, and shot with hot hands from the field.

In Game 2, he started the game by hitting four straight three-pointers, finishing with 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting. If he hadn't rediscovered his offensive touch, the Spurs might have built a double-digit lead early and shifted the game's momentum entirely. It was his accurate shooting that kept the Knicks within striking distance.

3. OG Anunoby: A-

Anunoby's stats aren't flashy—17 points in each game, totaling 7 rebounds and 3 assists—but his defense has been rock-solid, and he has delivered several key plays in the series.

Both games featured his standout moments in crunch time: late in Game 1 with the Knicks leading by just 2, Anunoby faced Wembanyama one-on-one, used a series of fakes to get past him, and hit a three-pointer against the league's top rim protector. In Game 2, from the corner with Wembanyama again on him, he drove past the defense and scored a layup while being chased down.

In such a tightly contested series, individual clutch plays can often tip the scales, and Anunoby has perfectly embraced that responsibility.

4. Julian Champagnie: B+

During the regular season, Champagnie was a classic "3-and-D" player for the Spurs, and in many playoff games, he has shown near-star-level ability.

But against the Knicks, his standout moments have been fewer. In Game 2, he made only 2 of 6 shots for 8 points. However, he hit five three-pointers in Game 1, and his overall three-point percentage in the series remains at 46.7%. He has also done a solid job limiting Jalen Brunson's production.

After the first half of Game 1, Champagnie's impact on the game has been less noticeable, but as a role player, his overall performance in this series is still commendable.

5. Josh Hart: B

If you only watched Game 1, Hart would easily deserve an A+. In that game, he scored just 3 points on 1-of-5 shooting, but he maximized his strengths in rebounding, hustle, and team-first play. He finished with 15 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals, and 1 block, leading the team with a plus-minus of +22.

But basketball ultimately requires scoring, and Hart's offensive struggles have caused noticeable inconsistency. In Game 2, he went 0-for-4 from the field, scoring zero points while grabbing 6 rebounds and dishing 4 assists, but he also committed 5 fouls and had a plus-minus of -3.

Even so, his grade won't drop below a B. His effort on the court was the same as in Game 1; sometimes, even when you give it your all, luck doesn't go your way.

6. Jalen Brunson: B-

Brunson delivered an explosive fourth quarter in Game 1, scoring 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting in less than 8 minutes, leading the team to a double-digit victory. But his overall game was inconsistent—he shot 12-of-31 from the field, committed 4 turnovers, and had only 2 assists.

In Game 2, he made just 7 of 25 shots, with a plus-minus of -10, tied with Mitchell Robinson for the lowest on the team. More surprisingly, he missed several open looks in the fourth quarter and also missed a crucial free throw just before the Spurs' final possession.

It's clear that the Spurs' forwards, with their size and athleticism, have severely limited Brunson's effectiveness, keeping him well below his usual standard.

Nevertheless, the Knicks' Game 1 win would not have happened without his fourth-quarter heroics. Even though he struggled in key moments of Game 2, he still hit a difficult fadeaway jumper with under a minute left to tie the game.

7. De'Aaron Fox: B-

Many fans who only watched Game 1 might be surprised by this grade. In that game, Fox shot 3-of-13 for just 7 points, leading to speculation that his ankle injury was still bothering him or that he was struggling to adapt to the high-pressure environment of a deep playoff run.

Fortunately, he bounced back strongly in Game 2, scoring 20 points on 8-of-12 shooting, adding 5 assists, and hitting both of his three-point attempts. The team lost by just 1 point, and his plus-minus was +2.

In Game 2, Fox got the better of his matchup with Brunson, making the loss even more regrettable. Before the series began, most believed that if Fox could contain Brunson, the Spurs would comfortably win.

8. Devin Vassell: C+

Before the Finals, Vassell averaged 13 points per game in the playoffs with a 35.6% three-point percentage. While those numbers aren't spectacular, he had only one game where he failed to reach double figures, and his outside shooting was a key factor in turning games around for the Spurs.

In the first game against the Knicks, he was ice cold, scoring just 9 points and making only 1 of 6 three-pointers. He improved in Game 2, scoring 14 points and hitting three three-pointers. But if the Spurs want to mount a comeback, Vassell must play more aggressively while maintaining consistency.

9. Stephon Castle: C

At just 21 years old, Castle has been forced to take on more playmaking duties due to Fox's recurring ankle issues. Before the series began, many fans considered him the second-best player on the Spurs, but his performance has not met the level needed for the team to win.

Castle has maintained physicality and defensive intensity whenever he's on the floor, but his shooting and passing have been inconsistent: overall field goal percentage of 40%, three-point percentage of 33%, 6 turnovers to 7 assists—nearly matching assist numbers with turnovers.

A rookie's playoff journey is always challenging, and most of the Spurs' young players have held up well under pressure, but Castle's offensive inexperience has now been fully exposed.

10. Victor Wembanyama: C-

Wembanyama is the most talented individual player in this Finals series, having finished third in regular-season MVP voting. Throughout the playoffs, fans and media around the world have praised him as the best player in basketball today.

But in his matchup with Towns, he has come up short: In Game 1, he shot 6-of-21 and committed 6 turnovers. In Game 2, he scored 29 points but missed 3 free throws, had 4 turnovers, and only 2 assists. A critical turnover with about ten seconds left in the game turned out to be the worst play of the night.

On that play, Brunson missed a potential game-winning shot, and Wembanyama grabbed the rebound, looking to throw a long outlet pass. But Castle, the intended recipient, was not ready, and the ball bounced off his back and out of bounds, allowing Brunson to recover it, forcing the Spurs to foul.

So far in the series, Wembanyama is averaging 27.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks per game, but his field goal percentage is just 40.5% and his three-point percentage is a low 26.7%. Missed free throws, that ill-advised long pass, an over-reliance on jump shots—if the Spurs ultimately fail to win the title, these mental and decision-making errors will be the regrets of his Finals performance.