NEW YORK — The New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs will meet in the 2026 NBA Finals, a rematch of the 1999 series, with Game 1 scheduled for Wednesday in San Antonio, league officials said.
The Eastern Conference champion Knicks will face the Western Conference champion Spurs in a best-of-seven series that begins on June 3 at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC, according to the NBA. The series is tied 0-0.
The matchup was set after the Spurs defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 111-103 in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals on Saturday in Oklahoma City. Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs with a strong performance in the series, earning Western Conference finals MVP honors. The Knicks advanced by sweeping the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals.
This will be the first NBA Finals appearance for the Knicks since 1999 and the first for the Spurs since 2014. The 2026 series marks the first meeting between the two franchises in the Finals since the Spurs defeated the Knicks in five games in 1999 for San Antonio’s first championship.
New York posted an impressive playoff run, winning 11 straight games entering the Finals and outscoring opponents by a significant margin. Jalen Brunson was named Eastern Conference finals MVP. The Knicks feature a balanced lineup that includes Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby and Josh Hart.
The Spurs, led by 22-year-old Wembanyama, upset the defending champion Thunder in a seven-game series. Wembanyama averaged 27.3 points, 10.9 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game in the Western Conference finals.
"Both teams have earned their way here through tough competition," NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. "We look forward to a competitive series."
Game 1 will be played at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio. Subsequent games are scheduled for June 5 in San Antonio, June 8 in New York, June 10 in New York, June 13 in San Antonio, June 16 in New York and June 19 in New York, if necessary. All games tip off at 8:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on ABC.
The Knicks will enter as the No. 3 seed from the East, while the Spurs are the No. 2 seed from the West. Details on injury status and starting lineups for Game 1 were not immediately available.
The series represents a contrast in styles and timelines. The Knicks have built a physical, defense-oriented group, while the Spurs feature one of the league’s brightest young stars in Wembanyama alongside a supporting cast that includes players like Julian Champagnie.
No further details on broadcast arrangements or ticket availability were released Sunday.
