Skip Bayless Backs Knicks To Upset Spurs In Six Games In NBA Finals

The 2026 NBA Finals have generated significant excitement as the New York Knicks prepare to face the San Antonio Spurs in a matchup featuring one of the league’s most historic franchises against one of its fastest-rising contenders. While San Antonio enters the series with considerable momentum, not everyone is convinced the Spurs will finish the job.

Most analysts and fans view the Spurs as the favorites, largely because of the presence of Victor Wembanyama and a young roster that has rapidly developed into a championship-caliber group. Their dominance throughout the postseason has reinforced the belief that San Antonio is on the verge of beginning a new era of success.

The Knicks, however, have embraced the underdog role throughout much of their playoff run. Led by a balanced lineup and a resilient team-first approach, New York has consistently found ways to overcome challenges and position itself four wins away from its first NBA championship since 1973.

Among those predicting a Knicks triumph is veteran sports commentator Skip Bayless. While many observers expect San Antonio to lift the Larry O’Brien Trophy, Bayless has gone against the consensus and publicly forecasted New York to win the series in six games.

1. Bayless Challenges The Spurs Narrative

Bayless shared his prediction on social media, making it clear that he believes New York has a legitimate chance to pull off the upset. His stance differs from many analysts who see the Spurs’ combination of youth, talent, and momentum as too much for the Knicks to handle. The longtime commentator admitted he initially wished to see his hometown Oklahoma City Thunder reach the Finals. Nevertheless, once the championship matchup was set, he quickly turned his attention toward evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of both remaining teams. A major factor behind his prediction is his skepticism regarding some of the expectations surrounding Victor Wembanyama. While Bayless acknowledged the Spurs star’s immense talent and defensive impact, he questioned whether Wembanyama currently possesses the physical dominance often associated with championship-winning superstars. According to Bayless, Wembanyama’s length and defensive instincts make him a unique player, but he believes the Knicks can challenge him physically throughout the series. That belief has become a central reason why he expects New York to outperform expectations on basketball’s biggest stage.

2. Looking Back At Regular-Season Meetings

To support his argument, Bayless pointed to previous meetings between the two teams during the regular season. Those contests provided examples of how New York was able to compete effectively against San Antonio despite the Spurs’ overall success. One game that stood out occurred during the NBA Cup competition, when the Knicks defeated the Spurs 124-113. New York closed the game strongly, outscoring San Antonio by a wide margin in the fourth quarter and pulling away down the stretch. Even though Wembanyama produced 18 points while dealing with a calf issue, the Knicks received significant contributions from multiple areas of their roster. OG Anunoby led the scoring effort, while Jalen Brunson and several key reserves helped maintain control during the decisive moments. For Bayless, that performance demonstrated New York’s depth and ability to withstand San Antonio’s strengths. Rather than relying on one player, the Knicks showcased the balanced attack that has defined much of their success throughout the season.

3. Why The Knicks Believe They Can Win

Bayless also referenced another regular-season meeting in March that resulted in a convincing 114-89 victory for New York. In that game, the Spurs struggled offensively and committed numerous turnovers, preventing them from finding any consistent rhythm. San Antonio finished with 21 turnovers and shot inefficiently from the field. Wembanyama still recorded impressive counting statistics, but he endured an uneven night that included seven turnovers and difficulties from three-point range. Those performances helped shape Bayless’ view that New York can force San Antonio into uncomfortable situations. He believes the Knicks’ defensive intensity and physical style could expose vulnerabilities that were evident during portions of the regular season. The Knicks won two of the three meetings between the teams before the Finals, a statistic that supporters of New York have frequently highlighted. While playoff basketball often differs dramatically from regular-season competition, Bayless sees those results as evidence that the Knicks possess a formula capable of slowing the Spurs and capturing the franchise’s first championship in more than five decades.