Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks will watch on Tuesday night as the banner for their 2026 championship rises to the rafters of Madison Square Garden.
But the Philadelphia 76ers couldn’t be less interested in what was.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope sent a message to the Knicks ahead of Wednesday’s season-opener, when asked about the opportunity to play spoiler:
“I’m not looking at it that way, but it’s always fun competition when you can,” Caldwell-Pope told reporters on October 20. “I’ve had a few ruin my nights, before. It’s not fun. But you know, my team, we wanna start off great as well. So if it’s their ring night, they gotta take the first loss.”
Elsewhere, big man Joel Embiid admitted to reporters that he won’t be taking in the ceremonies, but rather holing up in the locker room until they’re over.
“I don’t really feel like watching it on the sidelines, so I guess I’ll be in the locker room,” Embiid said on October 17. “It’s regular season, it’s time to go. You know, there’s nothing really special about it.”
It’s understandable for Embiid, given that he and the 76ers were one of the teams the Knicks topped in the postseason en route to the title they’ll be celebrating.
Jaylen Brown was the only one who offered any kind of respect for what New York had accomplished. At least, the only one among those who were asked.
“Yeah, it’s an honor; opening night, you know it’s primetime, the former champions,” Brown told reporters on October 17. “I think it’s serendipitous.”
Well, we know how the 76ers feel about it, but fortunately the banner is going up, and the ceremony will be held regardless.
Tip-off between New York and Philadelphia is scheduled for 7:00 pm EST.
