Gregg Popovich was in attendance Wednesday night for Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks. The longtime Spurs icon, now serving as the franchise’s president of basketball operations, watched as the team he coached to five NBA titles open their first appearance in the NBA Finals since 2014. His presence added another emotional layer to a matchup featuring the team he helped build into one of the NBA’s most successful organizations.
NBA on ESPN shared the moment on X, formerly Twitter, posting a clip of the Spurs legend watching Game 1 action from the stands.
“Coach Pop in the building ❤️🔥”
Coach Pop in the building ❤️🔥 pic.twitter.com/C22C9cFKx2
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) June 4, 2026
Article Continues Below
Popovich stepped down as Spurs head coach in 2025 after 29 seasons and five NBA championships, but his presence still looms over the franchise. He remains with San Antonio as president of basketball operations while the Spurs chase their first title since 2014.
The moment came during the first quarter of Game 1 as the Hall of Fame coach watched from the stands while the Spurs and Knicks opened the 2026 NBA Finals. San Antonio, led by Victor Wembanyama, entered the series as the Western Conference’s No. 2 seed after one of the league’s fastest rises back into contention.
The matchup also carries history. The Spurs and the Knicks last met in the NBA Finals in 1999, when Popovich coached the Spurs to their first championship.
Now, more than two decades later, Popovich watched from the stands as a new Spurs era opened another NBA Finals series vs. the Knicks. San Antonio currently leads New York 37-32 with 5:52 left in the second quarter of a low-scoring Game 1.
Gregg Popovich was in attendance Wednesday night for Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks. The longtime Spurs icon, now serving as the franchise’s president of basketball operations, watched as the team he coached to five NBA titles open their first appearance in the NBA Finals since 2014.