SAN ANTONIO (AP) — During Tuesday’s practice sessions, both the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks worked out on a court featuring the NBA Finals logo painted at center court. Players conducted interviews against the backdrop of the championship emblem and encountered finals branding throughout their surroundings.
While this scene appeared routine, it represented anything but ordinary circumstances.
The championship stage represents uncharted territory for nearly every player on both the Spurs and Knicks rosters, leaving very few athletes on either team with genuine understanding of what Wednesday night will bring when the league’s 80th championship series begins in San Antonio.
Both teams share two significant characteristics: the experience will be fresh for most, and reaching this point required extensive journeys for all involved.
“Falling in love with basketball happened really early on in my life,” San Antonio star Victor Wembanyama said. “I mean, I have pictures of myself with a basketball at an age where I was not even old enough to have memories.”
Additional memorable moments will undoubtedly unfold during the upcoming four to seven games. San Antonio pursues their sixth championship and first since 2014, while New York seeks their third title and first since 1973.
This pairing represents a matchup that marketing executives might have conceived: New York stands as a global metropolis, the Knicks represent an legendary franchise, the Spurs bring championship pedigree, and their top performer is a 7-foot-4 French athlete who commands massive international attention.
“The best player in the world,” Spurs guard Stephon Castle said of Wembanyama.
Knicks guard Jalen Brunson — who earned Eastern Conference finals MVP honors — expressed tremendous admiration for Wembanyama, the Western Conference finals MVP.
“Watching him as a player, it’s pretty unbelievable,” Brunson said Tuesday. “The things he’s able to do on both sides of the ball, people have never really seen before from a person of his size. So, it’s incredible to watch. … He’s pretty incredible.”
San Antonio reached the championship series by capturing 62 regular season victories, defeating Portland in the opening round, eliminating Minnesota in round two, then completing a seven-game marathon that ended Oklahoma City’s reign as defending champions.
New York arrived through an 11-game postseason victory streak — claiming the final three games against Atlanta in round one, then sweeping both Philadelphia and Cleveland. Their scoring margins during those 11 victories are unprecedented in any 11-game span throughout the NBA’s 80-year existence.
“It’s a great team,” Wembanyama said. “It’s a great team of experienced guys who are not here by chance, but by relentless effort over the years. Very different career paths for all of them. They’re right where they’re supposed to be, in my opinion.”
Among all participants in this championship series, only the Spurs’ Harrison Barnes (with Golden State) and the Knicks’ Mikal Bridges (with Phoenix) have previously started finals contests. Since Barnes usually comes off San Antonio’s bench while Bridges typically starts for the Knicks, nine of the ten opening-game starters will face unfamiliar circumstances.
“When you can prepare the right way, when you do your routines, you treat it like a normal game, it allows you to be as normal as possible,” Brunson said.
Several players maintain connections to championship history despite lacking personal finals experience. Spurs guard Dylan Harper’s father is Ron Harper, who captured five NBA titles as a player. Brunson’s father — Knicks assistant Rick Brunson — competed for New York during the 1999 finals, and Knicks guard Jordan Clarkson witnessed previous Spurs championship celebrations firsthand. Growing up in San Antonio, his stepmother worked at a hotel offering prime parade route views.
“Being able to take pictures and run up on players for autographs, I was definitely that kid,” said Clarkson, whose father previously detailed vehicles for some Spurs players. “Seeing this energy and seeing how alive the city comes when the Spurs are in the finals and winning championships, it’s a great experience.”
Upon conclusion, a new champion will emerge. That franchise will become the NBA’s eighth different title winner across the past eight seasons — extending an unprecedented streak in league history. San Antonio enters as favorites, while New York embraces their underdog status.
“We’re here now, so there’s nothing more for us to say or talk about or to think,” Spurs guard Devin Vassell said. “We’re just going to keep doing what we’re doing and that’s been successful for us.”
