The return of the New York Knicks to the NBA Finals after nearly 30 years in the wilderness coincided with the league’s most-watched game since before the COVID-19 pandemic. ABC’s coverage of Wednesday night’s Game 1 averaged 16.93 million viewers, setting the tone for the series.
The Knicks’ 105-95 victory over the San Antonio Spurs nearly doubled last year’s analogous Pacers-Thunder broadcast (8.91 million viewers), bettering that delivery by 90%. Per Nielsen, New York’s win peaked at 19.63 million viewers in the 11 p.m.-11:15 p.m. ET quarter-hour.
To further place the Game 1 deliveries in context, ABC’s TV turnout beat Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals by some 580,000 viewers.
All told, Wednesday’s broadcast drew the NBA’s largest audience since Game 6 of the 2019 Raptors-Warriors series averaged 18.59 million viewers.
Media buyers this week said that the average unit cost for an in-game commercial in Friday night’s game landed at some $800,000 per 30-second spot, and while scatter rates are significantly higher, much of the inventory was sold well before the playoffs got underway. That said, Disney’s ad sales team is looking at somewhere in the neighborhood of a $60 million night when Game 2 tips off.
Disney earlier this week confirmed that it has sold out all of the available guaranteed units in the Finals, but that some slots remain should the series proceed past Wednesday night’s outing in New York. At last count, 42 advertisers had suited up for this year’s installment of the NBA Finals.
ABC’s coverage of the Knicks-Spurs showdown continues Friday night at 8:30 p.m. ET.
Feel free to use this thread to chat about (almost) anything you want: video games, food, movies, non-football sports, you name it. As long as it’s allowed by the site’s ToS, it’s fair game here.
If the opening night of the NBA Finals is any indication of what we’ve got in store for Game 2 and beyond, my good people, we’re headed for basketball Nirvana.
The New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs are back at it on Friday night, and I’ve got a same-game parlay anchored in the back-and-forth battle we all want in the finals.
Here are my best NBA picks and Knicks vs. Spurs SGP predictions on June 5.
Our best Knicks vs Spurs SGP for Game 2
SGP leg #1: Spurs moneyline
The young San Antonio Spurs couldn’t put away the New York Knicks in Game 1, and the veteran side made adjustments and refused to be rattled on the big stage. Game 2 could also come down to the wire, which has me keeping it simple and sticking with San Antonio to win outright.
The Spurs are great off a loss, and with those nerves settled, I expect an efficient offensive effort – as we saw in the first half of the opener. The Spurs evened this championship series before a swing to the Big Apple.
SGP leg #2: Victor Wembanyama Over 11.5 rebounds
Victor Wembanyama still grabbed 12 rebounds on 22 rebounding chances but was pulled away from the rim to defend outside shooters on Wednesday. That left San Antonio susceptible to the crashing Knicks, who snatched 10 offensive rebounds. Wemby stays closer to home in Game 2 in order to kick-start the transition attack off rebounds, and his projections call for as many as 15+ boards Friday.
SGP leg #3: Dylan Harper Over 11.5 points
Dylan Harper thrived in the pace of the first half of Game 1, scoring 12 of his 16 points in the opening two frames. But once New York slowed that transition attack, Harper had a tough time finding his flow. De’Aaron Fox’s struggles could also see Mitch Johnson giving his rookie more floor time in the final minutes. Harper’s models call for as many as 13 points in Game 2.
Get Jason Logan's full breakdown of this game, including his best bet, plus the latest NBA odds, injuries, and betting trends, in his Knicks vs. Spurs predictions for Game 2.
More Covers NBA Playoff content
NBA Championship odds
Stay up-to-date with the latest NBA Championship odds for each remaining team, as well as NBA title splits, betting trends, and the previous list of teams that have won the Larry O'Brien Trophy.
NBA Finals MVP odds
See what the current line movement and updates are in the NBA Finals MVP odds race, along with Finals MVP betting trends, favorite analysis, and recent superstars to receive this award.
Live NBA Playoff bracket
Never lose track of where each series sits with our live NBA Playoff bracket, as well as the updated prices for each team to win their respective series — round by round.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — The star power of Victor Wembanyama and Jalen Brunson helped this year's NBA Finals get off to a huge start in terms of viewership, the likes of which hadn't been seen since the last finals matchup between LeBron James and Stephen Curry eight years ago.
Game 1 of the finals matchup between the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks averaged nearly 17 million viewers on Wednesday night, up 90% when compared to last season's finals Game 1. It was the most-watched Game 1 since 2018, the most recent time James — then of Cleveland — and Golden State's Curry faced off in the title round.
Wednesday's game had a peak audience of 19.63 million viewers around 11 p.m. EDT, which would have been in the fourth quarter of New York's 105-95 victory.
It was the most-watched finals Game 1 ever on ABC and the most-watched finals contest since Game 6 of the 2019 title series between Toronto and Golden State.
The viewership numbers for Game 1 on Wednesday were higher than the opening game of 15 of the past 16 World Series, including the 2024 series opener between the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers — a matchup pitting the country's top two media markets. That game averaged 15.2 million viewers.
The women are expected to arrive for Game 2 of the NBA Finals as they arrived for Game 1, and for many games before that.
They’ll be wearing their traditional nun’s habits and San Antonio Spurs jerseys. They’ll also be rooting (and praying) for the home team when the Spurs take on the New York Knicks at the Frost Bank Center on Friday, June 5.
It makes the nuns almost as easy to spot as Victor Wembanyama, the Spurs’ 7-foot-4 phenom. And like Wemby and the rest of the Spurs, the Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco in San Antonio have become celebrities in their own right.
The Sisters adore the Spurs, and the affection appears to be mutual.
During Game 6 of the Western Conference finals, Wembanyama did not head out of the tunnel without taking time to shake each of the nuns’ hands, according to The Athletic.
"In a way, he was saying, 'Thank you,'" Sister Bernadette Mota told The Athletic. "He didn’t say 'Thank you' out loud, but he grabbed our hands. … You could see the focus in his eyes, and also his sense of gratitude for the prayers that we were giving the team.
"Without saying a word, he said a lot."
No bandwagon jumpers
The nuns started cheering on the Spurs long before Wembanyama arrived in 2023 and has now led the team to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2014.
Former Spurs coach Gregg Popovich helped forge the relationship between the team and the nuns more than 20 years ago, according to Sister Mota.
"We had some sisters who were really diehard Spurs fans throughout the years, and they’re the ones that made that initial connection with the Spurs, and they would write to Coach Popovich and he would actually write back," Mota told EWTN Catholic Television. "And him and his wife came to visit the Sisters a few times. “So much of that love and that connection with the Spurs community and their players, our sisters would watch the games and over the years… it’s just kept up since then.
"But a few years back it had kind of died down a little bit. And then COVID happened and we kind of lost that connection. But just this past year and more recently these past weeks, it really has built up in a really strong way. And so we’re back praying with the Spurs."
These Sisters got game
The nuns’ love for basketball transcends cheering for the Spurs. They play, too.
The Sisters cheer with equal fervor for the Spurs, but the biggest mission is not to help the team win their first NBA title since 2014.
While a handful of nuns attend home games, they've also held at least one playoff watch party for the children who attend St. John Bosco School in San Antonio and the children's parents. The Sisters also report that attention they've received from attending games has led to significant donations that will be used for the children, who apparently share the nuns' love of the Spurs.
An excerpt of a story on the Salesian Sisters website reads, "By meeting young people where they are and sharing in the joys that matter to them, the Sisters bring faith, encouragement, and hope into everyday life."
CLEVELAND, OH - MARCH 8: The sneakers worn by Dean Wade #32 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the game against the Boston Celtics on March 8, 2026 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - MAY 25: Luigi Suigo, #19 of U18 EA7 Emporio Armani Milan receives the All-Tournament Trophy from Michele Gherardini, representative of Adidas after Adidas NextGen Euroleague Finals Championship game between U18 EA7 Emporio Armani Milan vs U18 Zalgiris Kaunas at Mubadala Arena on May 25, 2025 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by David Grau/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images)
The NBA is truly a worldwide league, boasting 135 international players from 43 countries at the beginning of the 2025-2026 season (NBA News, 10/22/25). So, as well as evaluating US college and G League prospects, team scouts also have the daunting task of crisscrossing the globe for new talent. Is there another Luka Doncic making his name with Real Madrid? Another Giannis bending rims in the shadow of the Acropolis? Another Wemby towering over the Arc de Triomphe?
For the Utah Jazz, who only (only!) have the second pick in the entire draft, is it worth trading some of their assets for the chance to land the next big continental phenom? Let’s take a look at some of the worldwide talent on offer and you can decide for yourself. ‘
Karim Lopez is the undisputed top international prospect in this year’s draft. The 6’8” Mexican born wing is currently playing down under with the New Zealand Breakers. Watching his highlights, you see a player who can do a little bit of everything: ball handling, three-point shooting, creating his own shot, setting up teammates, driving to the basket. His size, athleticism and quick hands also provide glimpses of his potential on the defensive end. But as he is expected to be drafted between 11 and 14 on most draft boards, it would be a huge stretch for the Jazz to shell out enough player and future draft capital to acquire him.
Not to worry though. If you can’t afford a Cadillac, perhaps there’s a sporty mid-size sedan in the Jazz’s price range. Or perhaps in the case of this next player, a stretch limo. Standing 7’3” with a 7’5” wingspan, weighing in as a 289 lb Heavyweight, and optimistically referred to by one pundit as “The Italian Wemby” (whoa there, fella), Luigi Suigo is projected to be picked anywhere from the late first round to the early- to mid-second round. Watching his highlights, it’s easy to see why NBA scouts would be intrigued by this towering Goliath. He dominates the paint, easily putting back misses by his teammates. But he can also step back beyond the arc and hit threes, though his three-point percentage needs improvement. The capital needed to take a flyer on Suigo could be a lot less, especially if he drops into the second round. And it’s enticing to think of him as a backup rim protector to Walker Kessler.
Jack Kayil, a 6’5”, 185 lb German point guard is projected to be picked between 37-40 or per some analysts will remain undrafted. Playing for ALBA in Berlin during the 2025-2026 season, he averaged 11.7 points, 3.7 assists and 2.9 rebounds, while shooting just over 34% from three. His handle is reminiscent of Keyonte George and he could be a promising backup guard, especially if the Jazz don’t select Darryn Peterson with the second pick. Kayil is currently committed to Gonzaga, but that could change if there is more interest from NBA teams.
The Jazz, of course, may be completely happy with just taking the second pick and keeping their future draft capital and current players intact. There’s nothing wrong with that, especially considering that the 2027 NBA draft will likely have more intriguing international prospects: Dash Daniels, an elite defender with Melbourne United, whose brother, Dyson Daniels, had a breakout season with the Hawks; Miikka Muurinen, Lauri Markkanen’s Finnish national team sidekick, who will have completed a year with the University of Arkansas; and Sergio de Larrea, a 6’5”, 175 lb shooting guard from Spain, a three-point marksman with a high basketball IQ, who reminds me of Austin Reaves. But my suspicion is that Austin Ainge and the rest of Jazz management are keeping their options open, both here and overseas, as they try to create an edge in their quest to get back to the post season.
Admittedly, it wasn’t “total” speculation. There were already whispers that the Brooklyn Nets were interested in Nate Ament in the upcoming NBA Draft, whether at #6 overall or after trading down. But stronger was the inductive reasoning behind it; given what we know about Brooklyn’s recent drafting history and Ament’s profile, the fit is almost too obvious. But we’ll get to that.
Over the past week, the whispers have become PSAs. Our own Connor Long reported that the Nets were interested in the University of Tennessee product, while Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports just mocked Ament to Brooklyn at #6, adding that the Nets are indeed “drawn” to him…
For what it’s worth, NetsDaily has not heard anything directly from Nets sources about their draft plans, though team insiders are telling people they “feel good” and are “excited” about the summer. Not much there.
But sources around the league — agents and their employees, as well as scouts for rival teams — all paint the same picture: The Nets are very interested in Ament. In fact, some sources are debating whether it’s an outright “lock” that Brooklyn takes the 6’10” forward. You hear phrases like “league-wide expectation,” and when other prospects are mentioned (Karim Lopez, Aday Mara, or one of the guards), the boldest convictions are that they could still be “in play.”
Three weeks out, there is such widespread agreement on Brooklyn’s interest that you wonder if it’s smoke. Or if Brooklyn is telegraphing their interest in a prospect recently projected to go much lower than #6 so as to facilitate a trade-down. O’Connor did note in his latest mock that “plenty of teams [are] interested in trading into this spot.”
The Egor Dëmin selection last season is a valuable reference point, likely part of why these sources feel confident about Brooklyn taking Ament. The team’s interest in Dëmin pre-draft was well known, but few believed the Nets would actually take Dëmin at #8 overall, a clear reach relative to most draft boards. (ESPN had the BYU product at No. 13 in their last mock.) After Brooklyn’s stunning 2025 NBA Draft — from the Dëmin selection to the other four picks to their jubilant reactions in the war room — sources aren’t putting anything past them.
While Dëmin and Ament are not identical prospects, there are important similarities, particularly when you consider how they could fit into the next iteration of the Brooklyn Nets. The thinking goes: Size + shooting provides a floor, and once GM Sean Marks goes star-hunting in the trade market, long viewed as an inevitability, those players theoretically slot in comfortably next to high-usage players.
If Brooklyn does take Ament, they clearly don’t believe this crop of guard prospects (Acuff, Wagler, Brown Jr., Flemings) will produce that aforementioned high-usage star. That thinking may be most in line with consensus; teams are lower on that group of players than the general public might be, hence players like Yaxel Lendeborg and Aday Mara shooting up mocks.
Nate Ament could be a prototypical Nets prospect darling for other reasons. Let’s list ‘em.
Prospect pedigree: Ament was the No. 4 prospect in his high school class before an underwhelming freshman season at Tennessee. Dariq Whitehead, Nolan Traore, Drake Powell, and to a lesser extent, Egor Dëmin were all extremely hyped prospects who lost hype during their pre-draft year.
High-character billing: Watch an interview. Read this Marc J. Spears story. Nate Ament does seem like a hard worker with a very pleasant attitude, affirmed by those in the know. We know the Nets really, really value character.
Weaknesses: The general sell is size + shooting, right? Well, Ament shot 33% from deep, 37% on long twos, and under 79% from the line. Not terrible, but Brooklyn would certainly be banking on a shooting leap, nothing new for them. Ament also struggled with physicality and explosiveness, creating space and/or finishing at the rim. How many current Nets could that last sentence apply to?
O’Connor gave Ament a bit of a pass on the shooting:
[O]ver the second half of the year for Tennessee, he flipped a switch and shots began to fall. He averaged 23.8 points over a six-game stretch in January and February that reminded everyone why he was a top recruit in the country. Then he dealt with an ankle injury that ruined his momentum entering March and severely struggled during the tournament.
We haven’t heard anything from Nets sources about their interest in Nate Ament. Brian Lewis tweeted Friday that Ament has not yet worked out for Brooklyn. Acuff was in Wednesday, according to Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report, the first word any of the top prospects have been in. And while league sources are quite clear on their opinion, there are still nearly three weeks until the 2026 NBA Draft. Things can change in a hurry.
Alas, even if Ament to Brooklyn isn’t a “lock,” the noise and our own inductive reasoning is simply too much to ignore. We’ll have plenty of analysis coming, namely an interview with a prominent NBA Draft analyst on Brooklyn potentially taking Ament. But we can say this: If it does come to fruition, particularly without a trade-down from #6 overall, it will be a very polarizing (at best) decision within draft circles, perhaps even more than the Dëmin selection…
Nate Ament has declared for the draft out of Tennessee. Draft range is ballpark No. 8 to No. 18 on draft night. Polarizing prospect for scouts. The ones who like him really like the upside. The ones who don't aren't interested at all. Would bet he ends up back half of lottery. pic.twitter.com/f5VejArtQV
For those looking for more discussion on Nate Ament, I appeared on the most recent episode of Locked On Nets with Erik Slater, where we discussed Ament at length. Once again, we’ll have further analysis of Ament and other prospects before the draft, starting this weekend.
Ten years ago, home teams wore white uniforms for 97% of NBA playoff games, and alternate jerseys were rarely worn during the postseason. This year, only 32% of playoffs games have featured home teams in white—many fans have voiced a desire for that number go back up—as NBA team’s jersey choices have become more chaotic.
The New York Knicks wore their non-traditional black uniforms at Madison Square Garden for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals, but the San Antonio Spurs were not allowed to wear their popular Fiesta jerseys for Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
This week, Club Sportico talked to the NBA to get the league’s perspective on alternate uniforms during the playoffs, and whether the home whites tradition could ever return, even if only for the Finals.
The San Antonio Spurs opened the NBA Finals at home with another glorious Fiesta night. Just as they’d done in previous rounds, fans wore the team’s 1990s “Fiesta” shades, divided into tangerine, fuchsia and turquoise sections of the arena, to create an awesome visual.
But, unlike in the first two rounds, the team itself was not dressed as colorfully. Despite being cheered on by a giant sherbet menu, the Spurs wore their traditional black instead of their Fiesta jerseys. This wasn’t a surprise—Sporticoexplained back in April that the NBA requires teams to wear their “primary uniforms” in the conference finals and Finals.
The league’s priorities, though, seemed contradictory to me. If the NBA wants a more classic look for the higher-profile later rounds, then why allow the Spurs to wear black at home, when home teams typically wore white for the league’s first 70 years?
I talked to Christopher Arena, the NBA’s SVP of on-court and brand partnerships, to get his perspective.
“There’s something about world-building as a team hosts a game that they can tell a story wearing whichever uniform they’re wearing,” Arena said. “If in the early rounds, that’s about City Edition and Fiesta and doing t-shirt giveaways that paint the crowd, great. If that’s about a more traditional team like the Knicks and they just want to wear white at home, that’s great too.”
The league does recognize the importance of history—it’s one reason City Edition jerseys are no longer allowed late in the playoffs. The Toronto Raptors and Denver Nuggets clinched the 2019 and 2023 Finals, respectively, wearing alternates that debuted in those particular seasons and are no longer worn. The NBA understood that this wasn’t ideal.
“When you get to these big, call it trophy, T-shirt, hat moments… there’s something about seeing the teams in their core identities and fans connecting to that,” Arena said.
Don’t expect the home whites tradition to come back, but towards the end of our conversation, Arena seemed open to the idea of having some “dividing line” to distinguish certain games when teams would have to wear white at home.
“You could do just the Finals. You could do conference finals and Finals. You could do all the playoffs, including the play-in. You know, you could do Friday night games,” Arena said.
____________________________________________________ You can read and subscribe to Club Sportico, our casual Substack newsletter, here. Sportico subscribers have free access to all of Club Sportico.
The San Antonio Spurs desperately need to hold down the fort tonight against the New York Knicks before heading into a hostile Madison Square Garden. Ahead of Game 2 of the Finals, our NBA player prop projections have locked in on a few major value spots you'll want to target.
By breaking down the data and comparing it to the latest market lines, we’ve uncovered where the strongest betting edges lie for this pivotal matchup.
If you’re building your card, here are the model’s top NBA picks for Friday, June 5.
Knicks vs Spurs computer picks for Game 2
Knicks
Spurs
Towns o10.5 rebounds -125
Fox o14.5 points -115
Anunoby o15.5 points +102
Champagnie o2.5 3-pointers +100
Brunson u6.5 assists -150
Wembanyama o11.5 rebounds -120
Cash your ML bets quicker with bet365's early win payout!
Take advantage of the early win payout at bet365, where any pre-game NBA moneyline bet gets paid out as a winner if your team goes up by 20+ points!
Learn more about this feature, and all of bet365's offerings, with our comprehensive bet365 review!
Sign Up Now atimg src="https://img.covers.com/betting/sportsbooks/2/bet365.svg" alt="bet365" width="100" height="28" style="vertical-align: middle;"
21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
Knicks Game 2 computer picks
Karl-Anthony Towns Over 10.5 rebounds (-125)
Projection: 11.41 rebounds
New York’s relentless effort on the glass has been a defining trait all season, with the Knicks ranking 6th in the league by hauling in 12.5 offensive rebounds per game.
A massive portion of that interior wealth belongs to Karl-Anthony Towns. KAT carried that regular-season dominance right into the NBA Finals, dominating the paint in Game 1 with a stellar 19-point, 12-rebound double-double that completely disrupted the San Antonio Spurs’ interior defense.
span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet towns Now at bet365!/span
OG Anunoby Over 15.5 points (+102)
Projection: 15.41 points
OG Anunoby has been an absolute cash cow for this line, clearing his points prop in 10 of the New York Knicks' 13 postseason games.
While the Spurs boast the defensive tools to make life difficult, Anunoby has consistently found a way to assert himself in a resilient New York offense that adapts to any scenario. Expect him to deliver once again & take the Over on Anunoby's points prop tonight.
span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet anunoby Now at bet365!/span
Jalen Brunson Under 6.5 assists (-150)
Projection: 6.39 assists
Jalen Brunson has hit the Over on 6.5 assists just three times in his last 10 games, and keeping "Captain Clutch" contained is San Antonio's top priority for Game 2.
To establish any peace of mind, the Spurs must disrupt Brunson both as a scorer and a playmaker. Forcing him into a frustrating, inefficient night is the key to throwing the loaded Knicks off script, and San Antonio's defensive blueprint begins and ends with slowing down New York's star guard.
span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet brunson Now at bet365!/span
Spurs Game 2 computer picks
De'Aaron Fox Over 14.5 points (-115)
Projection: 17.76 points
While it’s entirely understandable that injuries have kept De'Aaron Fox from playing at 100%, his seven-point dud in Game 1 simply won't cut it.
The Spurs desperately need more production from their star guard if they want a fighting chance to give their home crowd some life before the series shifts to New York. Expect a resilient bounce-back performance tonight & back Fox to put it all on the floor and erase the memories of his Game 1 struggles.
span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet FOX Now at bet365!/span
Julian Champagnie Over 2.5 3-pointers (+100)
Projection: 2.55 3-pointers
You know the old saying: you can take the kid out of New York, but you can't take New York out of the kid. Julian Champagnie proved that in the series opener, letting it fly against his hometown team to the tune of a 5-for-10 shooting performance from deep.
Playing against your roots in the NBA Finals brings a different kind of juice, and Champagnie was locked in. Expect him to bring that exact same energy to the floor tonight & the Spurs are going to need every bit of it.
span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet champagnie Now at bet365!/span
Victor Wembanyama Over 11.5 rebounds (-120)
Projection: 12.74 rebounds
San Antonio has been dominant on the glass lately, ranking as the league's second-best offensive rebounding team over its last five games. When it comes to reliable bets, few lines look safer than Victor Wembanyama’s rebounds.
Wemby hauled in 12 boards in Game 1, and with the Spurs desperate to avoid a 2-0 hole before heading to New York, expect him to fight even harder tonight to limit Towns & Co. from creating second-chance opportunities.
span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet wembanyama Now at bet365!/span
How to watch Knicks vs Spurs Game 2
Location
Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, TX
Date
Friday, June 5, 2026
Tip-off
8:30 p.m. ET
TV
ABC
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
The league investigated the male fan after he allegedly heckled Brunson with profanities during Game 1 of the NBA Final. Brunson was so upset following the Knicks victory he was held back from approaching the fan by teammate Jose Alvarado and referee Scott Foster.
Now he doesn’t have to worry about that fan getting too close.
A fan accused of verbally harassing Knicks guard Jalen Brunson on Wednesday has been banned from sitting courtside for the rest of the NBA Finals. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Even though the fan could still sit elsewhere in the arena, a league source said he wasn’t expected to attend Friday’s Game 2 in San Antonio.
“The fan was not a season ticket holder and if he were to attend another game in this series, he would not be permitted to sit in courtside seats,” the league spokesman said.
After carrying the Knicks to victory with a clutch performance in Game 1, Brunson approached Foster to point out the heckling fan. The exchange went viral because Brunson appeared to get further angered by something said by the fan, and social media sleuths tried to implicate a courtside woman as the offending fan.
As The Post reported Thursday, the league was not investigating the woman. It identified the man as the heckler, investigated, and kicked him out of the front row until next season.
“I didn’t even see what happened,” Josh Hart said Thursday. “I heard something about it. I didn’t really see it. I don’t know. He’s always pretty calm, pretty composed. I’m sure the fans probably said something crazy to kind of get him going. I wish I could answer that a little bit better, but I didn’t see the interaction.”
Brunson wasn’t interested in discussing the exchange.
“I’m all good about talking about that,” Brunson said Thursday when asked if something was said that crossed the line. “All good.”
"Internet, help us find the banned fan. He can watch the rest of the finals at B-Dubs on us," Buffalo Wild Wings wrote.
Buffalo Wild Wings' response to the debacle drew widespread attention on social media; the post garnered 4.8 million views as of June 5. While some fans supported the restaurant, many people took issue with the chain's offer.
USA TODAY has reached out to Buffalo Wild Wings.
Social media rips Buffalo Wild Wings for offer to banned NBA fan
In response to Buffalo Wild Wings' post, many users criticized the chain for drawing further attention to the fan's actions.
"Bro what? I’ll never eat at BWW’s again if y'all reward this, one person said, calling the fan's actions illegal, dangerous.
Another user wrote: "This is completely insane and only empowering this behavior. Literally the exact opposite of what you should be doing."
Even retired NBA player Blake Griffin weighed in on the post, writing: "This ain’t it. @wingstop would never #notapaidpost." Buffalo Wild Wings competitor Wingstop replied and agreed with Griffin.
Not everyone was against the move. One user wrote, "sure he did something not cool but ay what a way to step in!"
Another responded: "It's amazing how many people are offended by a kid running onto a basketball court."
Fan arrested, banned from NBA arenas after running on court during Finals
In the fourth quarter of the game on June 3, a fan ran onto the court, interrupting play.
He was seen pulling his phone out to take a selfie with Wembanyama before security quickly swooped in and escorted him away. Wembanyama laughed, while nearby Knicks player Mitchell Robinson looked confused.
The next day, the NBA announced that the fan was arrested and is banned for life from all NBA arenas. A second individual involved in the incident was also banned from attending NBA games, the league said.
Contributing: Victoria Hernandez, Scooby Axson and Mark Giannotto, USA TODAY
Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. Keep up with her on X @melinakh and Instagram @bymelinakhan.
There's been a development in the investigation of the courtside fan who was heckling Knicks star Jalen Brunson during Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday.
According to SNY's Ian Begley, a league spokesperson said that the fan will not be banned from the arena, but their access to courtside seats will be taken away.
"The fan was not a season ticket holder and if he were to attend another game in this series, he would not be permitted to sit in courtside seats," the statement read.
The NBA's investigation was solely focused on one fan, per Begley.
In various points of the opening game, Brunson could be seen going back and forth with Spurs fans in the front row near the scorer's table. Once the game ended with the Knicks defeating San Antonio, 105-95, Brunson was shown on the television broadcast approaching the group. Referee Scott Foster and Jose Alvarado intervened before the Eastern Conference Finals MVP walked away.
During Thursday's media availability, Brunson was asked about the fan interaction and the guard declined to go into detail.
"I'm all good about talking about that," Brunson said.
The Knicks will look to take a 2-0 series lead in San Antonio on Friday night.
Source confirms NBA is investigating fans sitting courtside for what they said to Knicks star Jalen Brunson. @ChrisBHaynes 1st on it. Brunson was talking to ref Scott Foster about fans after NYK’s Game 1 win. Video by @NBA_NewYork presents timeline here: pic.twitter.com/RETGyrR8T5
Feb 5, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) reacts after a foul in the second half against the Philadelphia 76ers at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
One thing has been abundantly clear about Austin Reaves’ time with the Lakers: he loves Los Angeles.
He hasn’t exactly made it a secret that he wants to remain in LA. Every time he’s asked about free agency, he tries to take a stab at a diplomatic response, but somewhere along the way, he’ll make it known he loves being a Laker.
For fans who want to see him back, this is all great news. For Austin’s agents, it’s probably pretty awful!
All these comments haven’t exactly given Austin an edge in negotiations. If the Lakers know he badly wants to be in LA, how much are they going to leverage that in their contract offer?
It probably shouldn’t be a surprise, then, to see them trying to shift the narrative back around. On Thursday, Brad Turner of the LA Times appeared on Spectrum SportsNet and spoke about Austin’s impending free agency, revealing that he wants a max deal.
"Based on what I understand, what I keep hearing: Austin wants the max. Is he willing to give the Lakers a hometown deal? I'm not so sure about that" – @BA_Turner on Austin Reaves pic.twitter.com/tCMgicHEtY
Here’s a transcript of what Turner said for those without Twitter/X:
“He stands to make five years, $241 million, that’s from the Lakers if they offer him that deal. Or if he goes to a team like Chicago or a team like Brooklyn, he can get four years, $178 [million]. Those teams will kind of lurk around. Based on what I understand, what I keep hearing, Austin wants the max. Is he willing to give the Lakers a hometown deal? I’m not so sure about that. Maybe he does, but maybe he reps don’t want to.”
The end of this quote pretty accurately lays things out and shows where things stand. If it were up to Austin, it’d be much more likely that a hometown discount is on the table. But Austin’s agents are trying to do what’s best for him financially.
Given how things will shake out and the mechanisms of the CBA, it’s ultimately not really going to matter for the Lakers’ free agency plans what type of deal Austin takes. His cap hold is going to be so low relative to the deal he’s going to get that his deal is likely going to be one of the last things the team does in the order of operations this summer.
The only difference in his deal is how close it brings the Lakers to the second apron and how much money Mark Walter will have to fork over. The Lakers shouldn’t end up all that close to the second apron, so it’s only going to be the second part that matters all that much.
And if that’s the case, here’s to Austin getting as big a pay day as he deserves…and much bigger than the one he’s been angling for.
When the Knicks host the Spurs in Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Monday, it will be the most expensive game in NBA Finals history — and very nearly sports history.
The cheapest ticket for the game, according to Seat Geek, is $9,006 and that’s for the upper bowl.
While courtside seats are not offered on ticket platforms, folks looking for one can place a bid on the NBA website. The highest bidder at time of publish has offered $500,000.
The cheapest ticket at MSG for game 3 of the NBA Finals is going for $7,500 in section 420. This is the view from that seat. pic.twitter.com/MA7XanR9FT
Madison Square Garden lit up after the New York Knicks beat the Boston Celtics. Christopher Sadowski
The tickets aren’t comparable to anything else in NBA Finals history, with tickets in Dallas for the 2024 finals being the second highest with an average of $1,965, per SeatGeek.
The MSG average right now for tickets sold stands at $7,149 — and that number just keeps rising.
In sports history, only Super Bowl 2024 between the Chiefs and 49ers surpasses the Knicks tickets with an average cost of $10,497, per SeatGeek.
Games 1, 2, and 6 at MSG all rank among the top eight in all-time average ticket price.
The Knicks fans’ obsession for the franchise’s first championship in 53 years has been clear throughout this playoff run.
The Knicks haven’t made it to the NBA Finals in 27 years, meaning at least 25% of the population of New York City wasn’t yet born, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. And they haven’t won a title since 1973.
Actor Timothee Chalamet watches from court side during game five of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs. Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Ticket prices surged from their $3,900 starting point Monday, per Front Office Sports, to over the $10,000 minimum after the Knicks took Game 1.
New Yorkers are starting to taste a championship and want a piece of it.
This has created a scramble effect on Wall Street, in Big Law, in real estate and among celebrities to just pay $10,000 or more.
“If you’re not there, you’re a loser,” Jaclyn Sienna India, founder of concierge agency Sienna Charles, told the Wall Street Journal.
India’s team has already spent as much as a staggering $176,000 for a single ticket, she said.
President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani will both attend Game 3 of the series.
Other celebrities like Timothée Chalamet, Kylie Jenner, Spike Lee, Ben Stiller and Tracy Morgan could also make their usual courtside appearances.
While the prices have skyrocketed, the views remain the same from the regular season.
The aforementioned $10,000 seats have the following view.
Screenshot of seat view from Row B25, Section 210 of Madison Square Garden. seatgeek.com
Others won’t be as lucky, with many of the seats in the back rows of the 200 level considered obstructed-view tickets.
The Chase Bridge completely blocks the view of the center-court scoreboard.
If the series goes past four games, Knicks fans dying to watch an NBA Finals game in person would spend less on flying to San Antonio for the weekend to see Game 5: tickets on SeatGeek for Frost Bank Center start at $1,711, with round-trip flights under $600.
Knicks
Spurs
