Defense wins championships.
That saying has been proven in basketball across multiple eras by the likes of Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Hakeem Olajuwon, Ben Wallace, Kevin Garnett, Kawhi Leonard, and James Harden; however, one of these examples is not like the others.
James Harden’s Defense Fails Again
For the seventeenth time in his career, Harden is heading home without the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy. This time, it was as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers, who were swept in the 2026 NBA Eastern Conference Finals by the New York Knicks.
Heading into this matchup against New York, fans were concerned about Cleveland for numerous reasons, but none more than the lack of backcourt defense.
Donovan Mitchell has failed to consistently make a difference on defense throughout his career. Many regard Harden as one of the most unaware off-ball defenders in NBA history. Pairing the two together was not going to work.
The Knicks exploited the lack of defense effortlessly throughout the four-game matchup, especially against the 2018 NBA MVP. Jalen Brunson used the mismatch to his advantage, targeting Harden in switches, isolations, and pick-and-rolls.
“They’ve got to figure different ways to guard Jalen, but we were-, there’s no secret we were attacking Harden,” said Knicks Head Coach Mike Brown after Game 1.
However, Harden’s lack of defensive efforts is just a small part of a big realization: defense really does win championships.
Thunder and Spurs Considered Elite Defensive Units
The 2024-25 and 2025-26 OKC Thunder rosters have featured multiple All-Defensive-caliber players. This includes the likes of Lu Dort, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren and Alex Caruso. That defensive talent, combined with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading the offensive engine, made their 2024-25 NBA Championship look easy.
They’re doing it again, as the Thunder swept the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers in their first two matchups. However, their first real conflict began in the 2026 Western Conference Finals, against none other than Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs.
The 7-foot-4 center is widely considered one of the best defensive players the NBA has ever seen after just three seasons.
Wembanyama was the frontrunner to win the Defensive Player of the Year award last season before suffering a major injury. Now, he’s done just that in 2025-26, becoming the youngest and only unanimous DPOY winner ever.
Wembanyama’s insane 8-foot wingspan allows him to contest shots from all over the floor, including the perimeter. He regularly forces players to change their play styles, and led the NBA in blocks in the regular season.
Pairing him with Stephon Castle and Julian Champagnie has made San Antonio’s starting five borderline unstoppable. That defensive identity has not only led to the Spurs making the Western Conference Finals, but also pushing the defensive champions all the way to a sixth, and possibly seventh, game.
Knicks Used Defensive Talent To Eliminate Cavs
Looking back at the Eastern Conference, the Knicks have also built a tough and versatile defensive core. The 2026 NBA Eastern Conference Champions are led by elite DPOY candidate OG Anunoby and supported by players such as Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart.
This was visible in the Knicks vs Cavs matchup, as New York put heavy defensive pressure on Cleveland. The Cavs couldn’t reach 100 points in Games 2 and 4, and barely cracked triple digits in Games 1 and 3.
The Knicks, Thunder, and Spurs have all built some of the best defensive teams in the NBA today. Unfortunately, Harden and the Cavs cannot put themselves in that conversation.
With the Knicks eliminating Harden and the Cavs in the 2026 NBA Playoffs, it’s fair to say that the saying ‘defense wins championships’ has been proven once again.
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