The San Antonio Spurs are returning to the NBA Finals after a 111-103 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals on Saturday. The win secured San Antonio’s first trip to the Finals since 2014, the season that produced the franchise’s most recent championship.
The Game 7 victory was only the second road Game 7 win in Spurs history. The series-clinching result prompted widespread reaction across the sports world, with former players and current NBA stars responding to San Antonio’s advance.
Rising star Victor Wembanyama played a central role in the Spurs’ run. According to ESPN Research, he became the second player in NBA history to both lead his team in points and rebounds per game and reach the Finals in his first playoff appearance. Wembanyama averaged 27.3 points, 10.9 rebounds and 2.7 blocks in the Western Conference finals series.
San Antonio will now face the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals, with Game 1 scheduled for Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC. The matchup sets the stage for the franchise’s first Finals appearance in a decade-plus and for Wembanyama’s first shot at a title in his first postseason run.
Reaction to the Spurs’ Western Conference championship included congratulations from longtime Spurs guard Manu Ginobili, who led the way in public responses. A pair of NBA players also posted reactions, including Boston forward Jaylen Brown and Minnesota center Rudy Gobert. Gobert, who has a close relationship with Wembanyama, and the Timberwolves were eliminated by the Spurs in the second round of the playoffs. French forward Nicolas Batum additionally offered a response as the Spurs prepare for the Finals.
