In a thrilling back-and-forth series that could’ve only been decided in seven games, it was the San Antonio Spurs that came out on top over the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals on Saturday night in Game 7.
Victor Wembanyama notched 22 points and seven boards while Julian Champagnie added 20 points with six made pointers to punch the Spurs’ ticket to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2014.
The Spurs will now meet the New York Knicks for a chance to be crowned NBA champions for the 2025-26 season.
Although the Golden State Warriors are deep into the offseason already, the matchup between the Spurs and Knicks in the NBA Finals will have some Golden State ties.
While the Knicks head coach, Mike Brown, spent several seasons on the sideline alongside Steve Kerr in the Bay Area, a pair of former Warriors are on the Spurs’ current roster.
Former Golden State wings Harrison Barnes and Lindy Waters III will make a trip to the NBA Finals as members of the Spurs. Barnes, initially drafted by Golden State, played from 2012 to 2016 with the Warriors. Barnes won an NBA Championship with the Warriors in 2015.
Barnes appeared in all seven games against the Thunder in the conference finals, averaging 2.3 points in 8.1 minutes per contest.
Waters played 38 games with the Warriors in the 2024-25 season. Waters has appeared in 40 games for the Spurs, averaging 2.4 points in 7.1 minutes per contest.
Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Knicks and Spurs is set for Wednesday.
This post originally appeared on Warriors Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
This article originally appeared on Warriors Wire: Pair of former Warriors punch ticket to NBA Finals with Spurs
Reporting by Tommy Call III, Warriors Wire / Warriors Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
