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A former San Antonio mayor who moved to New York a decade ago said he loves the Knicks — but admitted his “heart is with the Spurs.”
Bill Thornton, the mayor of San Antonio from 1995 to 1997, moved to Manhattan in 2013 and has a home inside the The Continental building — within walking distance of Madison Square Garden.
“We can hear the crowds outside MSG from our windows,” said Thornton, who is also the resident representative on the board of the 34th Street Partnership Business Improvement District.
The native Texan attended Spurs games as mayor and witnessed the team’s dynasty as they racked up five NBA championships, including defeating the Knicks in 1999.
Thornton first gave a dodgy politically correct answer when asked where his allegiance now lies, telling The Post in an interview, “I’m for both teams. I can’t lose.”
But after prodding, he said, “If anyone asks where my heart is, it’s with the Spurs.”
The ex-San Antonio leader underwent knee surgery and did not see Monday’s game and said he did not know enough to comment on the controversy surrounding Spurs 7-foot-4 inch center Victor Wembanyama shoving Knicks captain Jalen Brunson, which many Knicks complained was an uncalled flagrant foul.
“I don’t think Wemby is a dirty player. I hope not. He’s so tall that his elbow is at the level of everyone else’s head,” he said.
The Spurs are the only major professional sports team in San Antonio and fans are passionate about them.
“The Spurs are the diamond in the diamond ring,” Thornton, 81, said.
He recalled a trip to Israel, when the mayor of Jerusalem asked him, “Say hello to “The Admiral!” — the nickname given to Spurs Hall of Fame center David Robinson, who served in the Navy.
But Thornton said he’s become a Knicks fan since moving to the Big Apple, and he refers to Brunson as “Mr. Clutch.”
The team is battle tested and plays well together, featuring three players who were teammates on the Villanova University NCAA championship team — Brunson, Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges, he said.
“They know how to play with each other. It’s an advantage for the Knicks,” Thornton said. “The Knicks are a great group of guys.”
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He also raved about the Spurs’ young stars Wemby and guard Stephon Castle.
“People who love basketball are seeing the best in the world.”
He said New York and San Antonio are different cities but share similarities with large immigrant communities — New York is an international gateway and San Antonio, on the southern border, has a huge Mexican-American and Hispanic immigrant population.
He said Gotham’s culture is what lured him from the Lone Star State.
“New York is the city of culinary, theater, museums, Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall,” he said. “You’re not going to find that anywhere.
“San Antonio is ‘Military USA,'” Thornton said, noting the large military base and one of the largest active and retired military populations in the country.
“It’s an orderly city, a fun city. It’s balanced.”
Both San Antonio and the city are sharing one thing, he noted — a great basketball series.
“You’re seeing two great teams from two great cities. The teams mean everything to fans in both cities,” he said. “Broadway and the River Walk share the same heartbeat.”
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