San Antonio hosts Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals

2026 NBA Finals San Antonio celebrity attendance Charles Barkley controversy Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones

Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals was played at San Antonio’s Frost Bank Center. The event attracted a parade of celebrities, including Spike Lee, Tracy Morgan, Timothée Chalamet, Ben Stiller, John Turturro, former Knicks star Patrick Ewing, former Spurs legend David Robinson, ex‑coach Gregg Popovich and singer Tori Kelly, who performed the national anthem.

Ahead of the game, San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones publicly challenged former NBA star Charles Barkley for past remarks that San Antonio women were “not skinny.” During a live ESPN panel, the mayor presented Barkley with churros, prompting a light‑hearted exchange that also referenced Barkley's recent weight‑loss journey.

The NBA Finals draw highlighted both the on‑court competition between the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks and the off‑court cultural buzz surrounding the city’s first finals appearance in 27 years.

Sources

Charles Barkley Gets Strong Message From San Antonio Mayor [clutchpoints.com]

about 2 months ago

Every Celebrity Spotted at Game 2 of Spurs vs. Knicks NBA Finals [www.si.com]

about 2 months ago

San Antonio Mayor Confronts Charles Barkley After History of Saying the City Has ‘No Skinny Women’ [www.usmagazine.com]

about 2 months ago