Some of the best rivalries in the NBA have taken place across the two Conferences. In the 1980s, the league was dominated by Magic Johnson's Los Angeles Lakers and Larry Bird's Boston Celtics, who met in the Finals three times. In more recent years, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors offered fans a similar matchup, meeting in four straight Finals.

The New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs have yet to meet in the Finals. Since Jalen Brunson headed to the Big Apple and Victor Wembanyama got drafted to San Antonio, the Knicks and Spurs have played only three times, all in the regular season.

Much like Magic & Bird and LeBron & Steph, Wembanyama and Brunson play two very different styles. Physically, they could not be more different. Competitionally, they are two of the fiercest players in the NBA.

Brunson and the Knicks are 2-1 against Wemby and the Spurs, beating them in the first matchup in 2023 and the most recent matchup on Christmas last season.

In the very first showdown between Wembanyama and Brunson, the Knicks took a 21-point win in what was largely a forgotten showdown. Wembanyama scored 14 points, and there was no sign of bad blood. More than four months later, the Spurs and Knicks would meet again, this time at the Frost Bank Center.

Brunson would score 61 points, coming up one point shy of Carmelo Anthony's Knicks' single-game record. Wembanyama, meanwhile, posted 40 points and 20 rebounds. Brunson wanted the game ball, but Wembanyama instead threw it into the stands.

The Spurs won. It was Wemby's ball to do what he pleased, and he decided to give it away in celebration. The Knicks were not happy, and that was the start of the "beef" between the two teams.

In an effort to highlight the New York/San Antonio rivalry, the league scheduled the two to play on Christmas in 2024. Hype for the game was at an all-time high, and while the Spurs came up short, Wembanyama offered a 42-point, 18-rebound, four-block masterpiece. Brunson was no slouch, either, scoring 20 of his own and getting a win back.

Later that season, the Spurs would host the Knicks. Neither Brunson nor Wemby played, but the Knicks still got embarrassed. This time, it was Sandro Mamukelashvili who lit them up for 34 points in 19 minutes off the bench. He celebrated with Flavor Flav on the court after the game, rubbing some salt in the Knicks' wounds.

The stage is set for one of the league's greatest rivalries, and it's unfolding before fans' eyes. The Spurs beat the Knicks in the 1999 NBA Finals, starting a dynasty of their own while kickstarting a 26-year-long Finals drought in New York.

Adam Silver couldn't have written a better script. After knocking out the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Spurs made it to the NBA Cup Finals. The Knicks, meanwhile, overcame a slow start to their season and are 9-1 in their last ten games, beating the Orlando Magic and Toronto Raptors to reach the Cup game.

The Knicks are one of the best teams in the East, and the Spurs have arrived as title contenders. Before a possible '99 Finals rematch, the Spurs and Knicks will play the biggest game of the season thus far.

Wembanyama missed 12 games this season with a calf injury, but has averaged 25.8 points and 3.5 blocks while vastly improving as an offensive threat. Brusnon, meanwhile, is having one of the best seasons of his career, posting 28.8 points and 6.4 assists.

Of course, Brunson is surrounded by proven veteran talent in Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, and Mikal Bridges. 

Wembanyama has teamed up with De'Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper, and Stephon Castle has improved greatly from last season. The Spurs are the fastest-acending team in the NBA, and the Knicks have weathered a rocky start to return to their stable, elite selves.

The NBA Cup has player buy-in, and now it boasts an elite matchup in the final game. The Lakers vs. Pacers (4.6 million TV viewers) and Bucks vs. Thunder (2.6 million) matchups in years past made a splash, sure, but the game between the Spurs and Knicks has the potential to kick off the next great rivalry between two ghiustroc teams.