SAN ANTONIO (AP) — With the San Antonio Spurs down 3-1 in the NBA Finals and thousands of New York fans anticipated to attend Saturday night’s Game 5, only a remarkable comeback can prevent the Knicks from claiming the championship.
But are Spurs supporters concerned? Perhaps a little.
Do they maintain their faith? Without question.
One of the franchise’s mottos includes “Por Vida,” which translates to “For Life.” Multiple generations of San Antonio supporters have embraced these words throughout different eras, from George Gervin to David Robinson to Tim Duncan and now Victor Wembanyama. Even with New York close to securing this title, those words continue to resonate with the fan base.
“With absolute certainty, always,” Joe Michael Benavides, the boys basketball coach at Hebbronville High School — some 150 miles from San Antonio — said when asked if he was still a Spurs fan.
Countless others share Benavides’ sentiment. The Frost Bank Center will buzz with energy when San Antonio takes the court Saturday evening, packed with supporters wearing the team’s signature silver and black.
However, there will also be plenty of New York’s blue and orange colors throughout the arena.
Several supporters have chosen to sell their Game 5 seats on resale platforms. While the exact number remains unknown, with ticket costs exceeding $1,500 in the upper sections and climbing to $5,000 or higher near the court — substantial amounts, though still less than what Knicks supporters paid for Games 3 and 4 — it’s understandable why some season ticket holders are making financial rather than emotional choices.
“Of course I’m upset with Spurs fans selling their tickets, but if they can’t afford ’em, nothing can be done,” said Rick Vela, known to Spurs fans as the “Masked Bandido Of San Antonio.” “Just sad these Knicks fans have to buy ’em, but their arena is way worse with those ticket prices.”
Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox shows understanding for the situation.
“People are making money,” Fox said. “It’s the economy we live in. It’s the world we live in. Am I upset about it? No. Do I understand it? Sure. I don’t think that changes what happens on the court.”
San Antonio’s fan base doesn’t simply follow winners. While the city has celebrated five NBA titles and enjoyed a remarkable streak of 22 consecutive playoff appearances under Hall of Fame coach Gregg Popovich, Spurs fans also endured years of disappointment.
There was the devastating collapse of surrendering a 3-1 advantage to the then-Washington Bullets in the 1979 Eastern Conference finals. Bringing up Derek Fisher’s championship-clinching shot with 0.4 seconds remaining in Game 5 that helped the Los Angeles Lakers capture the 2004 NBA Western Conference semifinals is inadvisable in this city; it would be received as poorly as declaring “I dislike cowboy hats.” The sting from Wednesday evening’s loss hasn’t faded either, when San Antonio surrendered a 29-point advantage in a 107-106 defeat to New York in Game 4.
The Spurs represent San Antonio’s sole major professional franchise. Unlike New York with its Yankees, Mets, Nets, Rangers, Islanders, Devils, Liberty, NYCFC, and Red Bulls, San Antonio has just one team. The Spurs mean everything to this city.
“They’re still there for us,” said Rene Gonzalez, still proudly flying a Spurs car flag on his truck. “They still bring this community together.”
Anyone believing that falling behind 3-1 in the NBA Finals will crush the morale of Spurs supporters might receive a simple two-word response in San Antonio.
¿Estas loco?
You’re crazy.
“All year these boys have proven everyone wrong,” said Raylyn Boyson, a member of the Spurs superfan group, The Jackals, a group born from an idea by Wembanyama to have San Antonio fans mimic what happens at games in his native Europe. “There’s no reason why we shouldn’t keep believing. If anyone is going to defy all odds, it’s this group.”
