Portnoy says – Barstool founder Dave Portnoy insists the Knicks should be favored over the Spurs in the NBA Finals, pushing back on sportsbooks that currently price San Antonio as the series favorite.
On Sunday morning, Dave Portnoy didn’t sound like a man watching history from the outside. He sounded like someone trying to correct the script before it hardens.
The New York Knicks are headed to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999. They have a chance to win their first championship since 1973—and they’re set to do it against the San Antonio Spurs. Yet even with the Knicks rolling, the betting market has been less sympathetic. Sports books currently view the Spurs as favorites to win the series.
At DraftKings Sportsbook in New York, the Knicks have attracted nearly half of all money wagered on the NBA Finals winner this season—almost as much as every other team combined. Still, Victor Wembanyama and the favored Spurs are what’s standing between New York and a title.
On Saturday night, the Spurs opened as high as -220 favorites to win the Finals, with the Knicks installed as approximately +180 underdogs. The price moved quickly toward the Knicks, and by Sunday morning the Spurs were down to -200 favorites.
Portnoy wasn’t buying it.
“I think the Knicks are gonna beat the Spurs,” Portnoy wrote in a tweet Sunday morning. “I hope I’m wrong but Brunson is an absolute nightmare for them. At best this series is a coin flip. Odds are way off. Real ball knowers know this.”
That line of confidence comes with a specific through-point: Jalen Brunson. Portnoy singled him out as the reason this matchup could tilt.
The belief is rooted in more than just bravado. The Knicks and Spurs have already met in a few different settings this season, and it hasn’t been one single, neat story.
On December 16, 2025, the Knicks defeated the Spurs in the NBA Cup, 124-113. OG Anunoby scored a game-high 28 points with nine rebounds and five three-pointers in 40 minutes for New York. while Jalen Brunson added 25 points and eight assists. But that game came with a major wrinkle: Victor Wembanyama came off the bench as he recovered from an early-season injury.
Since then, the Spurs’ look has changed. Wembanyama is now at the peak of his powers and still getting better. The Spurs also bring different momentum into the Finals—rookie Dylan Harper looks like a different player than he was months ago. and Stephon Castle has come into his own as a two-way star for San Antonio in his second year.
The regular season results have also split across matchups. On New Year’s Eve, the Spurs defeated the Knicks 134-132. Then, on March 1, 2026, the Knicks returned the favor by beating the Spurs 114-89.
With Game 1 of the NBA Finals set to tip off, Portnoy’s message lands in the space where hope meets math. The betting market has moved, but it still keeps San Antonio slightly ahead — and Portnoy is betting against that gap.
The Knicks, aiming to end a 27-year title drought since 1973, will carry that weight into the series opener with the Spurs priced as the favorite—despite Portnoy’s insistence that “real ball knowers” already know the outcome.
NBA Finals New York Knicks San Antonio Spurs Dave Portnoy Jalen Brunson Victor Wembanyama OG Anunoby Dylan Harper Stephon Castle NBA betting odds
Odds are always fake anyway.
I saw something about Portnoy and figured he’s just yelling cause he’s mad the Spurs are favored. Like betting lines can move, doesn’t mean he’s right though. Brunson being a nightmare sounds cool but basketball ain’t that simple.
Brunson gonna carry them right? I don’t even watch the Knicks that much but I heard Spurs lose games when the odds are against them? Idk if that’s true. Also Wembanyama is literally the whole Spurs and if he’s “favored” then why are they lowering the number… seems like Knicks are already winning somehow? anyway Portnoy says coin flip so i’m leaning Knicks.
Every time I hear Portnoy I assume he’s trying to sell bets or something, like “real ball knowers” lmao. Spurs were -220 and now -200, so what, like a whole 20 bucks changes everything? I guess they think Vegas is misleading, but sportsbooks aren’t psychic. Brunson nightmare?? Sure, but the Knicks haven’t won since 1999 or whatever, so I’m not convinced they just flip the script like that.