Knicks guard Jalen Brunson shoots as Victor Wembanyama defends in the NBA Finals
Knicks guard Jalen Brunson shoots as Victor Wembanyama defends in the NBA Finals
Christmas at Madison Square Garden was going to get a big game. The Knicks got the one that carries a little extra baggage: Victor Wembanyama and San Antonio will be in town on Dec. 25.
It is a Finals rematch, but it does not need to be sold with a bunch of fake drama. New York won the 2026 title. Wembanyama is the league’s most ridiculous problem to solve. Put those two facts on national television in the Garden and people will watch.
The Christmas meeting also comes early enough in the schedule that neither side will be able to hide behind playoff urgency. It will be a regular-season game with regular-season stakes, plus the memory of June still sitting right there.
Knicks center Mitchell Robinson battles Victor Wembanyama for a rebound in the NBA Finals
June 13, 2026: Knicks center Mitchell Robinson and San Antonio forward Victor Wembanyama battle for a rebound in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images via Reuters Connect.
The Knicks get a Christmas rematch with Victor Wembanyama
Wembanyama saw the Knicks up close in the Finals, and New York saw exactly how much one player can bend the floor at both ends. Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns and the rest of the champions will have a real early test of whether the matchup has changed.
San Antonio will not be showing up as a cute Christmas opponent. The Spurs will be looking at the date as a chance to remind everyone that the Finals did not settle anything for the next season.
Knicks Spurs is exactly what Christmas Day needs
There are plenty of reasons to be excited about a title defense. This is the fun part. Two teams with real history from June, a star with impossible length and a building that knows how to turn one game into a citywide event.
The Knicks wanted the biggest stage. They have it. Christmas Day against Wembanyama is about as big as a December game gets.