The Knicks and Spurs face off in the 2025-26 NBA Cup title game on Tuesday night. The game is at a neutral site and will feature a Spurs team that can push the pace and defend at an elite level, along with a slower-paced Knicks team that also can defend decently.
It’s an interesting matchup, as the Spurs don’t give up much inside and struggle to defend the three, but the Knicks love shooting threes and hit them at a 37.8% rate (5th best in the NBA). They better hit them, though, as finding buckets inside against Wemby and the league’s 7th best defense in the paint won’t be easy.
On the flip side, the Spurs want to play fast and score in transition, which is something they can do against a league average fastbreak defense from the Knicks. I think all of that equates to both sides having a clear avenue to production, while the spread indicates a pretty close game.
All things considered, here’s my favorite Captain plays and some GPP picks to consider:
Top NBA DFS Picks at Captain for the NBA Cup
- Jalen Brunson
- Wemby
- KAT
- De’Aaron Fox
- Stephon Castle
Brunson is the top Captain play. He tends to wreck in big situations like this, as he’s scored 35+ in his last two NBA Cup games and had some huge moments throughout last year’s run to the Eastern Conference Finals.
You don’t really do a “core” for NBA Showdown slates, but I probably would include Brunson in it if I did. I think this matchup sets up decently for both him and KAT, as they are perimeter oriented players at heart. However, there is the caveat that Brunson does like to penetrate the defense and score in the mid-range and get easy buckets, but both will be harder to do with Wemby lurking down low.
I favor Brunson over KAT just because KAT should be more impacted by Wemby’s presence, plus Brunson is more reliable in these types of situations. They’re both owned and KAT is pulling more CPT ownership as I write this, making Brunson the easy call for me.
Wemby may actually border more on a GPP play in the Captain slot after logging just 20 minutes in his first game back from a month long layoff. I think he can push for 30 minutes in a close game and we know the monster he can be, so I’m very interested in firing him up and throwing caution to the wind.
He is very pricey, though, so a better strategy might be to roll with where ownership is going and either use him in the Flex or pull the full fade and hope a limited Wemby doesn’t nuke. I don’t love that option, personally, so I will do the first two a lot more.
Castle and Fox are going to look really good as leverage plays against Brunson and KAT. Wemby’s presence curbs their ceilings, but the Knicks are not great at defending the three and average at stopping guards in the mid-range game. I think they can excel here and at half the ownership in CPT than Brunson or KAT.
Right now Brunson and Fox are my two favorite plays at Captain.
NBA Cup GPP Picks for the Captain Slot
- Devin Vassell
- Dylan Harper
- Jordan Clarkson
There are other guys like Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, etc. They’re carrying some ownership and are still in play, but if I’m not paying for the top guys, I’d rather go way cheaper or get very different.
Vassell is the biggest pay up option that isn’t garnering any ownership. He’s coming off a nice 40-point fantasy outing versus OKC and has played well of late. He’s going very overlooked for a guy who has a role and should be locked into 30+ minutes.
Harper is just a good value. It’s always possible he loses some minutes since he’s a rookie and the Spurs want to do what they have to in order to win this game, but he saves us cash and should see 25+ minutes if he plays well.
Clarkson is a punt worth trying if you want to load up. Certainly a better Flex try, but he is going to get about 15 minutes with Miles McBride still out, and if he can heat up he could push for 20-25. He actually could nuke in this spot, as the Spurs defend the interior well, but rank just 17th in three-point makes allowed per game and 25th at defending the three in general.
My NBA Cup DFS Strategy
The early projections are siding with the Knicks. They get boosts with San Antonio’s pace and poor perimeter defense, but I will naturally lean into the Spurs more.
I think I definitely want Brunson in most of my lineups, but I will be more than OK with splitting him and KAT up. They are both high usage guys, but the odds are reasonably decent that they don’t both nuke in this game. Instead, I’d play Brunson and go get Wemby or pair Brunson with Castle/Fox, etc.
Brunson is my preferred Captain. Fox is my top spend for leverage, and then I don’t mind taking shots on other guys to lean into some variance. Josh Hart is one that stands out in particular, but he’ll be owned.
Guys like Mitchell Robinson, Keldon Johnson, and Harrison Barnes are fine Captain plays, but probably best used in the Flex.
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