Spurs end 12-year drought to reach 2026 NBA Finals
Victor Wembanyama leads young Spurs side to championship series against New York Knicks
The San Antonio Spurs have secured their first NBA Finals appearance since 2014, ending a 12-year drought after defeating the defending champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, 111-103 in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals. The decisive victory was secured on Saturday night at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, with Victor Wembanyama leading the charge with 22 points and seven rebounds.
Wembanyama was unanimously voted the Western Conference Finals MVP, averaging 28.2 points and 11.8 rebounds across the seven-game series. His performance included 19 blocks, the highest total in a conference finals since Alonzo Mourning in 2005. The Spurs’ success marks a significant shift from their 22-60 record in Wembanyama’s rookie season, culminating in 62 regular-season wins and a unanimous Defensive Player of the Year award for the centre.
The Spurs have become the first team in NBA history to reach the Finals with its two top scorers aged 22 or younger, alongside third-year guard Stephon Castle. Castle has averaged 19.2 points and 6.7 assists during the playoff run, while rookie Harrison Barnes contributed significantly in key moments. The team’s youth and cohesion have drawn praise from opponents, with Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander noting their strong makeup and ability to compete at the highest level.
San Antonio will now face the New York Knicks in the 2026 NBA Finals, with Game 1 scheduled for Wednesday night in San Antonio. The Knicks enter the series on an 11-game winning streak after sweeping their Eastern Conference opponents. The matchup presents a unique narrative for Spurs rookie Keldon Johnson, a New Jersey native who expressed his lifelong dream of playing in the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden during his first year in the league.
The victory completes a rapid ascent for a franchise that was previously rebuilding. Wembanyama described the achievement as the realisation of a childhood dream, highlighting the team’s resilience after early-season struggles. The Spurs will now look to translate their conference success into a championship, facing a Knicks side that has proven difficult to overcome, having won two of three regular-season matchups against San Antonio.
