The last time the New York Knicks made the NBA Finals, the San Antonio Spurs were their opponent.
Now, Here they go again: San Antonio vs. New York is the matchup for the 2026 NBA Finals, a Spurs team looking to return to basketball’s mountaintop for the sixth time and a Knicks team looking for its first championship in 53 years.
Game 1 is set for Wednesday in San Antonio!
This matchup is compelling for a number of reasons. For starters, it’s a rematch of this season’s NBA Cup championship game, which the Knicks won.
No matter who emerges victorious, the NBA will crown its eighth different champion in the last eight seasons—the longest streak of championship diversity in league history. The run began with Toronto Raptors in 2019, followed by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020, Milwaukee Bucks in 2021, Golden State Warriors in 2022, Denver Nuggets in 2023, Boston Celtics in 2024, and Oklahoma City Thunder in 2025. Now, either New York or San Antonio will add its name to that remarkable list.
The Eastern Conference champion New York Knicks advanced by sweeping the Cleveland Cavaliers 4-0. Meanwhile, the Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs clutched out an epic 111-103 Game 7 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder to secure their spot in the finals.
The Spurs, Led by Victor Wembanyama, who finished with 22 points and seven rebounds, the Spurs clinched a spot in the Finals for the first time since 2014.
