Stephen A. Smith gives Spurs a blunt warning after Game 1 loss

Stephen A. Smith gave the Spurs and their fanbase a blunt message after they lost Game 1 of the NBA Finals to the Knicks on Wednesday night.

“Y’all better win [Friday] night or we ain’t coming back,” Smith told Spurs fans who gathered outside the set of ESPN’s “First Take” in San Antonio.

NBA analyst for ESPN,Stephen A. Smith before game one of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center. Scott Wachter-Imagn Images

“I’m telling you, you better win tomorrow night,” he added.

Smith, a lifelong Knicks fan, is implying that the series won’t return to San Antonio if the Knicks take the second game at Frost Bank Center. Games 3 and 4 will be at Madison Square Garden, meaning the Knicks could win their first championship since 1973 on their home floor if they go up 2-0 Friday night.

Should the Knicks arrive back home with a 2-0 series lead, the Garden will be even more alive than anticipated.

“I know that what I’m going to experience on Monday at Madison Square Garden is unlike anything I have ever seen in my lifetime. I’ve been covering sports for 30 years, I will never experience what I know I’m going to experience Monday in New York City,” Smith said.

Karl-Anthony Towns #32 drives down court as San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama #1 gives chase during the second quarter. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

“And I’m telling you right now…If you [the Spurs] lose Game 2, you have let the New York Knicks know, ‘Wait a minute. We can go to the Garden and we don’t have to come back to the Alamo?’”

In Game 1, the Knicks pulled off a 105-95 victory after coming back from a 14-point third-quarter deficit.

Jalen Brunson put up 30 points, and his Knicks are now considered the favorites to win the title, flipping the odds prior to the series start.

Game 2 of the NBA Finals will tip off Friday at 8:30 p.m. ET.