The New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs are getting ready to party like it’s 1999.
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The two teams will meet in the 2026 NBA Finals after winning their conference titles. The Knicks steamrolled through the Cleveland Cavaliers for a sweep in the Eastern Conference Finals, while the San Antonio Spurs knocked out the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder in a seven-game Western Conference Finals.
The Knicks-Spurs showdown comes 27 years after the Knicks’ most recent Finals appearance — which also came against the Spurs. New York will hope for a different result this time around, while San Antonio is eying a similar outcome.
Here’s a look back at the history between the two franchises ahead of their 2026 NBA Finals clash.
Have the Knicks and Spurs ever played in the Finals?
The Knicks and Spurs will be meeting in the Finals for the second time.
The two franchises met up in an unlikely 1999 Finals matchup, which came after a lockout-shortened season that didn’t begin until February.
After going just 27-23 in the regular season, the Knicks made history by becoming the first No. 8 seed in NBA history to make the Finals. The roster also featured Rick Brunson, a current Knicks assistant who is also the father of the team’s star player, Jalen Brunson.
Though the Knicks had a magical playoff run, they were no match for the top-seeded Spurs in the ’99 Finals. San Antonio won the series in five games behind stifling defense and a Finals MVP performance from Tim Duncan.
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How many times have the Knicks made and won the Finals?
This will be the Knicks’ ninth trip to the Finals. The team won two of its first eight trips, with the last title coming in 1973.
Here’s the Knicks’ history in the Finals:
- 1951: Lost 4-3 against the Rochester Royals
- 1952: Lost 4-3 against the Minneapolis Lakers
- 1953: Lost 4-1 against the Minneapolis Lakers
- 1970: Won 4-3 against the Los Angeles Lakers, MVP Willis Reed
- 1972: Lost 4-1 against the Los Angeles Lakers, MVP Wilt Chamberlain
- 1973: Won 4-1 against the Los Angeles Lakers, MVP Willis Reed
- 1994: Lost 4-3 against the Houston Rockets, MVP Hakeem Olajuwon
- 1999: Lost 4-1 against the San Antonio Spurs, MVP Tim Duncan
How many times have the Spurs made and won the Finals?
The Spurs have won five championships, all with Duncan and head coach Gregg Popovich between 1999 and 2014. The team has made only one other Finals appearance, falling to the Heat in an unforgettable 2013 series.
Here’s the Spurs’ history in the Finals:
- 1999: Won 4-1 against the New York Knicks, MVP Tim Duncan
- 2003: Won 4-2 against the New Jersey Nets, MVP Tim Duncan
- 2005: Won 4-3 against the Detroit Pistons, MVP Tim Duncan
- 2007: Won 4-0 against the Cleveland Cavaliers, MVP Tony Parker
- 2013: Lost 4-3 against the Miami Heat, MVP LeBron James
- 2014: Won 4-1 against the Miami Heat, MVP Kawhi Leonard
Player connections between the Knicks and Spurs
Each team has one active player with experience playing for the other side.
Spurs center Luke Kornet began his career with the Knicks in 2017 and spent his first two NBA seasons in New York. He then split time with four teams from 2019 to 2025 and won the 2024 Finals with the Boston Celtics. The 7-foot-1 veteran joined the Spurs last offseason and is in his first year as Victor Wembanyama’s backup at center.
On the other side, Knicks forward Jeremy Sochan started his career in San Antonio. The Spurs drafted Sochan ninth overall in the 2022 NBA Draft and he made the 2022-23 All-Rookie second team. He was waived in February, signed by the Knicks and has appeared in five games so far in the playoffs.
Knicks vs. Spurs all-time record historically
The Knicks and Spurs have faced off 107 times in the regular season, with San Antonio holding a 60-47 advantage.
Despite being in different conferences, the teams have actually faced off three times this year already thanks to the NBA Cup. Their first matchup came in the NBA Cup Final, as the Knicks prevailed 124-113 in Las Vegas on Dec. 16. The home team won each of the two regular season matchups, with the Spurs winning 134-132 on New Year’s Eve at Frost Bank Center and the Knicks winning 114-89 on March 1 at Madison Square Garden.
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