For the first time in decades, the New York Knicks have drawn first blood in the NBA Finals, thanks to a furious comeback led by Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Josh Hart against the San Antonio Spurs. But one WFAN host has already seen enough to call the series—and he's not holding back.
Tommy Lugauer took to the airwaves last night and declared the Knicks “unstoppable,” insisting that their Game 1 win in San Antonio is proof that destiny is on New York's side. The Knicks trailed by 14 in the third quarter before storming back to win by double digits—a feat that left Lugauer nearly speechless with confidence.
“They are a force; the likes we have never seen in this town,” Lugauer said on WFAN. “This is a historical… They won by double digits! They won by double digits! This game was tied about two minutes ago! They were down 14 in the third quarter! And they won by double digits!”
Lugauer's proclamation that “the Knicks are not going to be stopped” and that “this is destiny” has fans buzzing, but not everyone is ready to call the series over. Historically, teams that win Game 1 of the NBA Finals go on to win the title about 70% of the time—meaning there's still a 30% chance the Spurs can flip the script.
Game 2, set for Friday, will offer a much clearer picture. Teams that go up 2-0 win the series more than 85% of the time, but recent history shows that leads can vanish fast. Just ask the 2016 Warriors or the 2021 Suns, both of whom blew 2-0 advantages in the Finals.
For now, New York is riding high. Fans flooded social media to echo Lugauer's sentiment, with one declaring, “Call them all out Tommy. Rip their basketball knowledge. They have none.” Another simply wrote, “World champs.”
But beyond the noise, there are real concerns. Jalen Brunson's knee injury remains a looming question mark, and the Spurs have the talent to adjust quickly. Meanwhile, Victor Wembanyama pointed the finger at himself after Game 1, promising a better performance in Game 2.
Lugauer, for his part, is unbothered. “Put your feet up, kick back, relax, enjoy this with your family,” he said. “The sports gods and the basketball gods have given us this gift! Enjoy it!”
Whether the Knicks are truly a team of destiny or just got lucky will be tested soon enough. But for one night in New York, the confidence is at an all-time high—and Lugauer's bank account is apparently looking a lot better too.
