Disney and ESPN executives, including Bob Iger and ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro, were in the stands at the NBA Finals opener at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio on Wednesday as the Knicks beat the Spurs 105-95. Their presence prompted a lighthearted on-air momen
The NBA Finals opener in San Antonio started with a normal broadcast rhythm—until the camera’s world briefly widened beyond the court.
On Wednesday evening. a group of media heavyweights showed up at Frost Bank Center as the New York Knicks took on the San Antonio Spurs in the first game of the NBA Finals. Among those in attendance were Disney board member Bob Iger. Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro. ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro. and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.
Their presence didn’t stay private for long. It earned a shoutout on the ABC broadcast later in the night. The commentators—Mike Breen. Richard Jefferson. and Tim Legler—joked that the four men made up a “murderers’ row of executives” and said they looked extremely “handsome.” They also added they weren’t trying to “curry favor because they’re our bosses.”.
The arrangement matters: the NBA Finals are produced by ESPN and broadcast exclusively on ABC. and both ESPN and ABC are owned by The Walt Disney Company. The spotlight on the people behind the curtain landed right on schedule for a moment that already had stakes—especially for Knicks fans in a season that delivered their first trip to the NBA Finals in more than two decades.
That fan base showed up in force in San Antonio, with celebrity supporters Ben Stiller and Spike Lee in the stands as well. When the final buzzer came, it was a night Knicks supporters will remember: the Knicks defeated the Spurs 105-95.
Game 2 is scheduled to take place on Friday.
NBA Finals Knicks Spurs Disney Bob Iger Josh D'Amaro Jimmy Pitaro Adam Silver ESPN ABC Frost Bank Center Mike Breen Richard Jefferson Tim Legler Ben Stiller Spike Lee
So Bob Iger was at the game or whatever. Guess that’s how you buy a win now?
I don’t even watch basketball but if Disney execs are there then it’s just gonna be a big commercial. Like why are they even showing off on TV.
Wait, I thought it said Knicks-Spurs opener and then it mentions NBA Finals opener?? That’s confusing. Also “murderers’ row” sounds wild for executives but I mean they’re all rich so who cares.
Ben Stiller and Spike Lee being there feels like a guarantee somebody’s getting paid for it lol. If ESPN/ABC are owned by Disney, then of course they’ll zoom out on the bosses, like the game is a backdrop. Knicks fans probably love it but it just makes me suspicious.