It's no secret that Adam Silver wants to continue expanding the NBA's reach. The league is even in talks with FIBA to form a 16-team league to operate in Europe in the not-so-distant future. World domination is clearly a big priority for Silver. The Spurs are a huge part of their overall marketing push, and with Victor Wembanyama already reaching global superstardom, it makes sense.
To that effect, the NBA released the Christmas Day schedule this morning, and San Antonio will be kicking off the holiday slate against the New York Knicks at 11:00 am CT. That translates to 6:00 pm in France. That's a remarkably convenient time for French fans of Wemby and the Spurs to watch a marquee NBA game.
Instead of staying up until the early hours to watch The Alien, those fans get him during the early evening on Christmas. And it's not just any game. It's a rematch of the NBA Finals. That's a global gift from the league if we've ever seen one.
French Spurs fans just got an ideal Christmas gift
The biggest thing here is the timing. A 6 p.m. start means French fans can watch live during the early evening instead of having to sacrifice sleep for one of the most anticipated rematches of the season. That's even more valuable on Christmas, when people are already gathered with family and looking for something to watch.
Now, they'll get to watch their hometown hero take on his biggest Eastern Conference rival while they devour full plates and share laughs with their loved ones.
San Antonio's December 25 appearance is becoming a tradition. This is the third year in a row that they've landed one of these spots. It's the second time their opponent will be the Knicks. The first holiday meeting between the two ball clubs brought fireworks. Wembanyama dropped 42 points, but Mikal Bridges poured in 41, and the Spurs lost by three points.
This meeting is sure to be just as electric, if not more, after what happened in the NBA Finals in June. The Spurs will be itching for revenge. The Knicks have been one of the most formidable opponents in the league for the Silver and Black for years now, and the entire fan base knows it.
The whole of Spurs Nation from San Antonio to France will be locked into this matchup on Christmas Day. It will either end up as a gift to us all or a lump of coal, but the French contingent has already gotten something worth celebrating: a Wembanyama Christmas game at a time they can actually watch and, hopefully, enjoy.
