The NBA Finals used to feel like a holiday. Whether you consider the 1998 Game 6, which drew in 35.856 million viewers, or the 2016 Game 7, which drew in 31.02 million viewers, the Finals have always been a show. Despite the excitement, we can’t ignore the fact that the NBA Finals viewership and appeal have been dropping. The 2020 Game 3 drew in an all-time low of 5.94 million viewers.

Even last year’s Finals series between the Thunder and the Pacers drew in an average of 10.1 million viewers. But Game 1 of the 2026 Finals brought in an impressive 19.63 million viewers. The Knicks trounced the Hawks, the 76ers, and the Cavaliers, while the Spurs defeated the Trailblazers, the Timberwolves, and the Thunder, creating a lot of hype for this Finals series. That led us to ask, have the Knicks and the Spurs recaptured the NBA Finals magic?

Brunson and the Crew

Jalen Brunson is the point guard and star of the New York Knicks, that is beyond question. But we cannot ignore the impact that the rest of the crew, including Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, and all the others, have. One of the most special things about the Knicks crew is the Villanova influence. Brunson, Hart, and Bridges led Villanova to an NCAA title in 2016. And now, they are well on their way to leading the Knicks to an NBA title, too.

The New York Knicks’ 2026 play-off run is one of the most impressive ones in recent memory. They beat the Hawks 4-2 in the series, then swept the 76ers and the Cavaliers. At the time of writing, they are 2-0 up against the Spurs, looking incredibly dominant. Brunson, as the star, is averaging 26.6 points, 6.3 assists, and 2.9 rebounds this playoff run.

Wemby and the Young Guns

Victor Wembanyama is the basketball phenom who impressed experts before he was even drafted. He stands at 7’4″ (224 cm) with a wingspan of 8 feet (243 cm), earning him the nickname: “The Alien”. He’s already won ROTY and a silver medal at the Olympics! Apart from his physical characteristics, Wembanyama has a very strong, team-first mindset, enabling him to lead his team to wins. Even when the Spurs are down 2-1 or 3-2 in the series, this young team still appears capable of winning.

Apart from Wembanyama at the center position, the Spurs are stacked with young guns. They have Stephon Castle, De’Aaron Fox, Dylan Harper, and Carter Bryant, among others. Castle’s 18.8 points, 6.4 assists, and 5.1 rebounds. The Spurs also have an experienced guard in De’Aaron Fox, with 19.3 points. 6.4 assists and 4.4 rebounds this postseason. With these stats and Wemby’s 23.6 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks per game, the Spurs are quite competitive. That leads us to ask, have the Knicks and the Spurs recaptured the NBA Finals magic? And to answer, yes, they have!