Knicks and Spurs set for 2026 NBA Finals rematch with historic scoring disparity
The 2026 NBA Finals feature a 14-inch height gap between leading scorers Jalen Brunson and Victor Wembanyama, marking the largest such difference in series history as the New York Knicks face the San Antonio Spurs.
The New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs are set to begin the 2026 NBA Finals on Wednesday night, marking the first championship series meeting between the two franchises since 1999. That previous encounter saw the Spurs defeat the Knicks in five games, and this rematch represents the 35th time in NBA history that a Finals series has featured a return matchup. Historical data indicates that the original winning team holds a 17-17 record in such rematches over the previous 34 instances.
The series is defined by a significant physical disparity between its leading scorers. Victor Wembanyama, standing at 7-foot-4, and Jalen Brunson, at 6-foot-2, present a 14-inch height difference, the largest in NBA Finals history. This exceeds the previous record of 13 inches set during the 2001 Finals between Shaquille O’Neal and Allen Iverson. Both players won their respective conference finals MVP awards and are the clear favourites for the Finals MVP award, with Wembanyama priced at -190 and Brunson at +200.
Sportsbooks have recorded substantial betting handles on both superstars, reflecting their central role in the series narrative. At BetMGM, Brunson is the highest-handled prop bet with 24.2% of bets, while Wembanyama holds the second-highest handle at 22.5%. Brunson’s odds have shortened significantly from +2800 entering the playoffs to +750 entering the conference finals, while Wembanyama moved from +7000 on opening night to +350 entering the Western Conference Finals. Karl-Anthony Towns is the third-most popular pick for Finals MVP at BetMGM, with 9.3% of tickets.
The Knicks enter the series with strong momentum, having won 11 consecutive games overall. They have also taken six straight road games by at least 10 points, a streak noted as the longest in NBA playoff history. In contrast, the Spurs hold a perfect 6-0 record in NBA Finals Game 1s. In three regular-season meetings, including an NBA Cup championship game, the Knicks won two contests, with Wembanyama averaging 24.7 points and 10.7 rebounds, and Brunson averaging 26.0 points.
Statistical milestones loom for both franchises. If the Knicks win, Brunson would join Isiah Thomas, Tony Parker, and Steph Curry as the only players 6-foot-2 or shorter to lead an NBA champion in playoff scoring. For the Spurs, a victory would see Wembanyama join Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, Kawhi Leonard, and Giannis Antetokounmpo as the only players to win both NBA Defensive Player of the Year and Finals MVP. San Antonio could also become the second team in league history to win a title two or fewer seasons removed from a 60-loss season, following the 1998-99 Spurs.
