LeBron James believes the New York Knicks may have benefited from opening the 2026 NBA Finals on the road, and he used a playful jab at San Antonio to make his point.
Speaking on the “Mind the Game” podcast alongside Steve Nash, James argued that beginning the series away from Madison Square Garden helped the Knicks stay focused amid the frenzy surrounding the franchise’s first Finals appearance in decades.
“I think they definitely went in with more of a free-swing mentality,” James said. “I didn’t get an opportunity to catch the game, but just from my knowledge of playing in the postseason, but also just watching the game and knowing the game.… Them starting off on the road and just knowing that it’s keeping the main thing the main thing. The main thing is the game. Let’s just play the game.”
James pointed to the intense atmosphere surrounding New York basketball and suggested that opening at home could have created unnecessary distractions.
“I can only imagine if Game 1 started at Madison Square Garden,” James said. “People asking for tickets, people wanting to be in there, the fans, all that. City’s on fire.”
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Then came the punchline. “I think just them having a level of being in San Antonio. I mean, San Antonio, you know, we focus on basketball. You ain’t doing s**t in San Antonio. Nothing at all. Nothing. And I mean nothing.”
Nash joined the joke, mentioning the River Walk before James replied, “Hell no. On the River Walk, f*** around and fall in the water.”
Knicks’ road success supports LeBron James’ theory
While James was clearly joking about San Antonio, his broader point has matched the series. Every game of the Finals has been won by the road team. New York stole Games 1 and 2 at the Frost Bank Center, taking a 2-0 lead before San Antonio answered with a 115-111 victory at Madison Square Garden in Game 3.
Here, the Knicks’ structure has thrived in hostile environments. Jalen Brunson has continued to control pace, while OG Anunoby’s two-way impact has translated regardless of venue. New York entered Game 3 riding a 13-game postseason winning streak.
However, the Spurs reminded everyone why the series remains dangerous. Victor Wembanyama responded to a costly Game 2 turnover with 32 points, eight rebounds and six assists. “Here, it feels like five against six,” Wembanyama said of playing in New York.
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The Knicks still lead 2-1, but James’ comments highlight a real factor in playoff basketball: managing pressure. New York handled that challenge early. Now, after Wembanyama’s breakout Finals performance, the tougher test is maintaining control as expectations continue to rise.
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