In this sun-baked Texan city, San Antonio Spurs players often bump into fans at the supermarket, mingling easily with a community that has embraced its young team, which has carried the franchise back to the NBA Finals. The Spurs are everywhere in this city of 1.5 million people, where Latinos form a majority of the population. The team's name adorns restaurant windows, cafes and bars. Black-and-silver pennants flutter from front porches while residents proudly wear jerseys bearing the iconic spur logo. On the city's south side stands a giant, 5.5 metre figure of Victor Wembanyama, unveiled in 2023 – the year the 2.24-metre French prodigy arrived in Texas and transformed the fortunes of the franchise. Read moreNBA: Wembanyama within sight of 'childhood dream' after Spurs stun Thunder Throughout San Antonio, confidence is high that a sixth NBA title is within reach as the Spurs prepare to face the New York Knicks on Wednesday in game one of NBA Finals, 27 years after defeating the same opponent to secure their first championship in 1999. 'A new time'
A man walks past a mural of French Spurs basketball player Victor Wembanyama by artist Alan Calvo in San Antonio, Texas ahead of the NBA Finals © RONALDO SCHEMIDT / AFP
