Three major uncertainties will decide the Finals: Can the 22-year-old Wembanyama handle the big stage? Will the Knicks continue their scorching three-point shooting?

The Finals opener is set for Thursday, Beijing time, June 1st. Leading U.S. outlet CBS examined three pivotal uncertainties that could determine the Finals' course. Here is the full analysis—

1. How much will Mitchell Robinson be able to contribute?

Just before Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals, a report surfaced: Knicks center Mitchell Robinson suffered a fractured right little finger. He has since had surgery, and the team is hopeful he will be ready for the Finals.

The first game of the Finals is scheduled for Thursday. If the series goes the full seven games, the entire span will last 17 days, giving players more rest and recovery time than usual.

The cause of Robinson's injury remains unclear. Knicks head coach Mike Brown stated that the injury did not occur during a game or practice. When reporters pressed for details, team public relations intervened, declining to disclose specifics. Regardless, this injury is a heavy blow to a team aiming for its first championship in over fifty years.

Robinson's numbers are modest—he averages just 5.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game in the playoffs this season—but he is one of the league's elite offensive rebounders and a tough interior presence on both ends of the floor.According to statistical platforms, when Robinson is on the court during the playoffs, the Knicks' offensive rebound rate is 39.4%; when he sits (excluding garbage time), that figure plummets to 28.6%. The Knicks lead the league in second-chance points this postseason with an average of 17.7 per game, and Robinson plays a key role in that success.Against a defensively disciplined Spurs team, his ability to battle for rebounds and secure extra possessions is crucial.

Beyond that, Robinson is the only reliable big man on the Knicks' bench. The only other true center on the roster is second-year player Hukporti, who has played a total of just 79 career games and logged only 70 minutes in these playoffs, almost exclusively in garbage time. The Knicks do not want to throw him directly against Wembanyama and San Antonio's frontcourt. If Robinson cannot play, they would be forced to use Hukporti to fill minutes when Towns rests.

If Robinson is definitely out, the entire series dynamic would shift dramatically. Even if he plays through the injury, a fractured little finger will affect his performance. Can he maintain his rebounding ability? Will his defensive aggressiveness be diminished? And if the Spurs deploy a "Hack-a-Robinson" strategy, can he improve his free-throw shooting?

Over the coming weeks, Robinson's status will be a major storyline of these Finals.

2. Can the Knicks sustain their red-hot three-point shooting?

Late in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals, with the Thunder trailing by six and desperately needing points, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drove into the lane. He saw an open path ahead, but Wembanyama quickly rotated to cut it off. Despite Wembanyama having five fouls and the game clock winding down, Alexander chose to pause in mid-air and kick the ball out to the top of the arc.

At 2.24 meters (7'4"), Wembanyama is the first unanimous Defensive Player of the Year in NBA history. No one else in the league can disrupt an opponent's offense like he can. The following playoff stats show how drastically opponents' shot selection changes when he is on the floor versus when he sits—

Facing a Spurs defense anchored by Wembanyama, opponents struggle to score easily at the rim. In the first two rounds, the Thunder shot 75.6% in the restricted area; against the Spurs in the Western Conference Finals, that dropped to 54.4%. The Knicks, meanwhile, have built their postseason offense around interior scoring: they lead the league with 29.6 paint attempts per game, shoot 68.1% on those attempts, average 53.3 points in the paint (also first in the league), and rank fifth in free-throw attempt rate.

No matter how potent the Knicks' offense is, it will be difficult to maintain their interior efficiency against Wembanyama's presence. To win the title, they must make their three-pointers count.

Fortunately, the Knicks' outside shooting has been equally impressive.In 14 playoff games this season, the Knicks have made at least 10 three-pointers in 12 of them. Their team three-point percentage of 40% leads all playoff teams.That is not a fluke—in the regular season, they shot 37.3% from deep, ranking fourth in the league.

The Knicks' three-point production is a team effort. Seven players average at least two three-point attempts per game in the playoffs, and only Josh Hart is shooting below 34% from beyond the arc.

With a deep offensive roster full of capable shooters, the Knicks face a question: can they sustain that hot outside shooting against San Antonio's elite defense? If they want to pull off an upset and win the title, three-point shooting will be their key to success.

3. How will Wembanyama perform in his first Finals game?

Just a year ago, Wembanyama missed the end of his sophomore season due to a blood clot in his right shoulder, having played only 46 games. Now fully recovered, the 22-year-old has led the Spurs to the Finals in his first playoff campaign.

Along the way, Wembanyama has delivered multiple legendary performances. In the first round against the Blazers, he scored 35 points in his playoff debut. In the second round against the Timberwolves, he posted a triple-double with blocks in Game 1, then dropped 39 points, 15 rebounds, and 5 blocks in Game 3. In the Western Conference Finals opener against the Thunder, he erupted for 41 points and 24 rebounds in an epic showing. With the series tied 1-2, he followed up with 33 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 blocks in Game 4.

After winning Game 7, Wembanyama was emotional. Everyone dreams of winning a title, but few are as relentless as he is.

"Winning the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy has been my childhood dream. Now I have a real chance to make it come true—this might be the only opportunity I get. The future is unpredictable. That moment of victory will be a dream realized, and it is essentially the meaning of my life."

To make that dream a reality, Wembanyama will need more standout performances. The Spurs have decent depth, but he is the absolute core on both ends of the floor, and the team's fate hinges on his play.

In this postseason, Wembanyama is averaging 23.2 points, 10.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 3.5 blocks per game, with shooting splits of 51/37/87%. He leads the team in points, rebounds, and blocks; ranks second in the league in rebounds; and first in blocks.

Stats show: when he scores at least 25 points, the Spurs are 7-1; when he scores below 25, they are 4-5 (excluding Game 3 of the first round when he missed due to a concussion). In the 510 minutes he has played, the team has a net rating of +17.2; in the 316 minutes he has sat, that net rating drops to just +0.2.

So far, big moments have never fazed Wembanyama. In the regular season against the Knicks, he averaged 28 points, 13 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game while shooting 62.1% from the field. But the pressure of the Finals is a different level, especially playing on the road at Madison Square Garden.

Can he step up once again and carry his team?