The 2026 NBA Finals are officially set following the dramatic end of the NBA Playoffs. The New York Knicks will face the San Antonio Spurs in a highly anticipated rematch of the 1999 NBA Finals. The official announcement came Sunday from the NBA, marking the Knicks’ first Finals appearance since that memorable run and the Spurs’ return since winning the title in 2014.
Knicks and Spurs set for 2026 NBA Finals rematch; All about Game 1
The Spurs are coming off beating the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 7. The Knicks, who advanced as the Eastern Conference representatives, last reached the Finals as an eighth seed in 1999, falling to the Spurs in five games. San Antonio, powered by a young core featuring Victor Wembanyama, punched their ticket with a gritty Game 7 victory over the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder.
Key stars on both sides include Jalen Brunson, Julius Randle, Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns for New York, and the towering presence of Wembanyama for the Spurs. The series promises a defensive battle between two storied franchises with strong cultures.
Game 1 tips off Wednesday, June 3 at 8:30 p.m. ET from Frost Bank Center in San Antonio and will air on ABC. Subsequent games will follow the standard 2-3-2 format, with New York hosting Games 3, 4, and potentially 6 and 7 at Madison Square Garden.
ALSO READ: You won't believe who won NBA Head Coach of the Year despite brutal first-round loss