This will be the 2nd time the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs have faced each other in the NBA playoffs. The Spurs hold a 1-0 series advantage and a 4-1 games advantage.
1999 Spurs won 4-1
NBA Finals rematches in NBA history
1952 & 1953 Lakers and Knicks: Minneapolis won both
1950 & 1954 Lakers and Nations: Minneapolis won both
1957 & 1958 & 1960 & 1961 Celtics and Hawks: Celtics won 3 of 4
1959 & 1962 & 1963 & 1965 & 1966 & 1968 & 1969 & 1984 & 1985 & 1987 & 2008 & 2010 Lakers and Celtics: Celtics 8-3
1964 & 2022 Celtics and Warriors: split 1-1
1970 & 1972 & 1973: Knicks won 2 of 3
1978 & 1979 Sonics and Bullets: Split 1-1
1980 & 1982 & 1983 & 2001 Lakers and 76ers: Lakers won 3 of 4
1988 & 1989 & 2004 Lakers and Pistons: Pistons won 2 of 3
1997 & 1998 Bulls and Jazz: Bulls won both
1999 & 2026 Spurs and Knicks: So far Spurs won the only meeting
2006 & 2011 Mavericks and Heat: Split 1-1
2012 & 2013 Spurs and Heat: Split 1-1
2015 & 2016 & 2017 & 2018 Cavaliers and Warriors: Warriors won 3 of 4
The Seattle Supersonics, Portland Trailblazers, Denver Nuggets , Oklahoma City Thunder and Milwaukee Bucks are the only Western Conference Teams to have ever won an NBA title that do not reside in California or Texas.
The only member of the New York Knicks roster to play in an NBA finals game is Jordan Clarkson. Clarkson played in 4 games with Cleveland in 2018.
The Spurs meanwhile have Harrison Barnes who played in two NBA finals with the Warriors including he 2015 championship team, and Luke Kornet who played with Boston in 2022 and their championship team in 2024. Kelly Olynyk also has NBA finals experience appearing with Miami in the 2020 bubble.
If the Spurs win the 2026 NBA title, and Harrison Barnes gets his 2nd NBA ring. It will be tied for the 4th longest period between NBA titles for a player in NBA history.
13 years Sam Cassell (1995-2008)
12 Rajon Rondo (2008-2020)
12 AC Green (1988-2000)
11 Robert Parish (1986-1997)
11 Earl Cureton (1983-1994)
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Worst NBA Arena's ever
1. North Side High School Gym (Fort Wayne)
2. Edgarton Park Arena (Rochester)
3. Kiel Auditorium (St Louis)
4. McNichols Arena (Denver)
5. Continental Airlines Arena (New Jersey)
6. Kemper Arena (Kansas City)
7. Delta Center (Utah)
8. Smooth King Center (New Orleans)
9. Bradley Center (Milwaukee)
10t. Cleveland Arena (Cleveland)
10t. State Fair Coliseum (Syracuse)