A group of San Antonio’s loudest, rowdiest supporters will be on hand to help cheer them on in Tuesday’s marquee matchup against the New York Knicks.
SAN ANTONIO — The last time the San Antonio Spurs faced the New York Knicks, a primetime Christmas Day matchup last year, Victor Wembanyama scored 42 points, tied for the second-biggest scoring output of his young career.
The next time the Spurs and Knicks face off – another marquee matchup Tuesday night, in the NBA Cup Championship from Las Vegas – a group of Spurs megafans will get their own turn in the national spotlight.
Fifty members of the Jackals, the newly formed pack of high-octane Spurs supporters who proved their mettle at daylong tryouts over the summer, were flown to Las Vegas by the team ahead of the title game, according to their “pack leader” Alex Peña.
He said the members, chosen at random to be invited, found out the news Sunday evening, a day after the Spurs handed the defending champion Thunder just their second loss of the season to punch their ticket to the final.
“There were only nine Jackals members who went to the semifinal (and) were scattered throughout the arena, and you still heard us rally the Spurs fans to chant and be loud enough to hear us through the TV,” Peña said. “Now imagine over half of our Jackals being there.”
Peña said the team offered to cover the Jackals’ travel, hotel and tickets to Tuesday’s game, set to tip off at 7:30 p.m. on Amazon Prime.
But this is also a “work trip” for some of the loudest, most passionate of Spurs faithful: They’ll be gathering at a meetup of Spurs fans and practicing chants ahead of the game. Anyone else in town to cheer on Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle and company are welcome to join; just keep an eye on the Jackals’ social media accounts.
As for everyone watching from home, here are some watch parties being held around the San Antonio area to cheer the team on from afar.