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The Spurs' return to the NBA Finals is putting the team's global fanbase on display.

Why it matters: It's not every day Spurs fans get to see just how far the team's reach extends.

Zoom in: Thousands of miles from San Antonio, Angus Hartmann in Canberra, Australia, and Kwon Tae Sung in Seoul proudly rep the Silver and Black.

State of play: Hartmann is spending a week in San Antonio to attend the first two NBA Finals games and experience the fan culture he's only known through screens and social media.

Hartmann tells Axios he's been a Spurs fan for nearly a decade. Thanks to the time difference, he typically watches games around 10am in Australia.

Midway through the season, he promised himself he'd travel to San Antonio if Wemby made the Finals. 

"I just didn't expect it to happen this early in his career," he tells Axios. 

Meanwhile, Sung is holding down the fort in South Korea, where local Spurs fans often gather to watch games together. They stay connected through a group chat of more than 200 people. 

"I truly hope more Spurs fans around the world can see that there is real love for this team here in Korea," he tells Axios.

The vibe: Hartmann says he admires the Spurs Jackals and intentionally chose a seat near their section at the Frost Bank Center.

"The atmosphere at Frost Bank just looks unbelievable and looks so loud, and I also love the Jackals. That's exactly what I aspire to be as a fan," he says.

"I genuinely think there'll probably be a tear come out of my eyes, because it's just a crazy experience to know that I'm actually there."

From Australia to Korea, Spurs fans rally for Finals

Some Spurs fans crossed oceans to be part of the Silver & Black energy.

Two photos: left, a man in teal selfies in a colorful, packed basketball arena with a large finals screen above the court; right, a man in Spurs gear near a giant Spurs logo outside Frost Bank Center.

Angus Hartmann at the Frost Bank Center for Game 1. Photos: Courtesy of Angus Hartmann

The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Spurs&#x27; return to the NBA Finals" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-antonio/2026/06/03/san-antonio-spurs-victor-wembanyama-emotions-cry" data-vars-content-id="5893f3a2-47f1-49e8-9a36-e4b83c321051" data-vars-headline="From Australia to Korea, Spurs fans rally for Finals" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-antonio/2026/06/03/san-antonio-spurs-victor-wembanyama-emotions-cry" target="_self">Spurs&#x27; return to the NBA Finals</a> is putting the team&#x27;s global fanbase on display.Why it matters: It&#x27;s not every day Spurs fans get to see just how far the team&#x27;s reach extends.

Sports

The Spurs survived a pivotal Game 3 on Monday and now have a chance to even the NBA Finals on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden.

Why it matters: San Antonio's 115-111 win over the Knicks showed the young Spurs aren't rattled by the Finals stage — or one of the league's toughest road environments.

State of play: After dropping the first two games at home, the Spurs were on the verge of falling into a nearly insurmountable hole.

Instead, they responded with their best offensive performance of the Finals, fueled by Victor Wembanyama's 32 points and Stephon Castle's 23.

They were the first pair of teammates age 22 or younger to each score 20 points or more in a Finals game.

What they're saying: "I think everybody was feeling good. I didn't want us to get too happy about one win," Castle told reporters. "I think since the end of Game 2 we've still been confident that we're gonna win this series. That's what we plan to do."

Violence that erupted after Monday's game has become an unexpected subplot heading into Game 4.

In a statement to Axios San Antonio, New York police said roughly 7,000 people attended a Knicks watch party near Bryant Park. Police reported multiple fights, traffic disruptions, 21 arrests, and injuries to five officers.

Videos circulating online that appear to show assaults on Spurs fans have drawn reactions from former athletes, actors, politicians and Wemby, who called the incidents "unacceptable."

Knicks coach Mike Brown criticized officials after Game 3, while star center Karl-Anthony Towns denied that the officiating cost them the game.

The question now is whether New York's complaints lead to a different whistle in Game 4 after San Antonio attempted 24 free throws in the second half of Game 3 while erasing a 7-point halftime deficit.

Harper finished with 13 points, nine rebounds and four assists in 32 minutes, continuing a Finals run that has already put the rookie in the NBA record books.

He led the Spurs with five fourth-quarter rebounds, helping San Antonio close out the win. 

Mike Brown criticized officials after Game 3

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Spurs back in NBA Finals fight ahead of crucial Game 4

From fan tension to officiating scrutiny, Game 4 will have plenty of drama.

Basketball player wearing jersey number 1 with name Wembanyama in a black uniform raises his arms on the court at Madison Square Garden; bright arena lights, banners and a crowd in the background.

Victor Wembanyama at the end of Game 3 at Madison Square Garden. Photo: Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Spurs" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-antonio/2026/06/02/spurs-knicks-finals-media-day-wemby-wembanyama-san-antonio" data-vars-content-id="854213e8-70fa-4961-9699-81c68ab7feac" data-vars-headline="Spurs back in NBA Finals fight ahead of crucial Game 4" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-antonio/2026/06/02/spurs-knicks-finals-media-day-wemby-wembanyama-san-antonio" target="_self">Spurs</a> survived a pivotal Game 3 on Monday and now have a chance to even the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="NBA Finals" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/06/09/trump-new-york-knicks-nba-game-booed" data-vars-content-id="854213e8-70fa-4961-9699-81c68ab7feac" data-vars-headline="Spurs back in NBA Finals fight ahead of crucial Game 4" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/06/09/trump-new-york-knicks-nba-game-booed" target="_self">NBA Finals</a> on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden.Why it matters: San Antonio&#x27;s 115-111 win over the Knicks showed the young Spurs aren&#x27;t rattled by the Finals stage — or one of the league&#x27;s toughest road environments.

The NBA draft, free agency and Summer League all arrive within weeks of the Finals, giving fans little time to catch their breath.

Why it matters: For years, Spurs fans spent months waiting for meaningful basketball moves after the regular season ended in April.

What we're watching: Free agency officially opens July 1, but don't expect the Spurs to be major players in the superstar market. 

The bigger questions are whether San Antonio retains veterans like Harrison Barnes and Kelly Olynyk, adds depth around Victor Wembanyama and its young core, or makes a trade to strengthen a roster coming off a Finals appearance.

📋 June 23–24: First and second rounds of the NBA draft. The Spurs hold the No. 20 pick via Atlanta, their latest first-round selection in years. They also have picks Nos. 35, 42 and 44 in the second round. 

Yes, but: San Antonio has a history of finding value outside the lottery, including Tony Parker and Manu Ginóbili.

⏳ June 29–30: Julian Champagnie watch. The Spurs must either pick up Champagnie's $3 million option for next season or decline it and negotiate a longer-term extension before he can hit free agency.

✍️ July 6: Wembanyama becomes eligible to sign a five-year extension projected at $251 million, with a path to $301 million.

🎰 July 9–19: The Las Vegas Summer League, likely fans' first look at the Spurs' 2026 draft class.

The bottom line: The Spurs' next chapter starts almost immediately.

Key Spurs dates to watch after the NBA Finals

The Spurs' next chapter starts almost immediately.

A Spurs basketball player in a white jersey with the number 1 raises a clenched fist on the court, with a blurred crowd in the background.

Victor Wembanyama during Game 5 of the NBA Finals. Photo: Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images

The NBA draft, free agency and Summer League all arrive within weeks of the Finals, giving <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="fans" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-antonio/2026/06/15/welcome-to-our-world" data-vars-content-id="973752d7-d086-4be2-9359-d414ca6a7ebe" data-vars-headline="Key Spurs dates to watch after the NBA Finals" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-antonio/2026/06/15/welcome-to-our-world" target="_self">fans</a> little time to catch their breath.Why it matters: For years, Spurs fans spent months waiting for meaningful basketball moves after the regular season ended in April.

San Antonians looking for a more active start to their Sundays will soon have a new option in the historic East Side: Run the Square.

Why it matters: The St. Paul Square-based club offers another entry point for both seasoned athletes and beginners looking to connect with San Antonio's growing running community.

Zoom in: Run the Square debuts Sunday at 8:30am. Participants are encouraged to arrive 15 minutes early for warmups and course instructions.

The club will offer three rotating route options each week: a 1-mile walking route and 2- and 3-mile running routes.

All paces are welcome, and the routes are stroller- and pet-friendly.

The inaugural run will include a post-run stretch session led by Neko Pilates.

What they're saying: "Run the Square is really about movement, community, and creating another reason for people to gather in St. Paul Square," Ananda Valles, co-founder and team lead of Run the Square, said in a statement.

"Whether you're a runner, a walker, a beginner, or just looking for a fun way to start your Sunday, this experience is meant to be welcoming for anyone trying to get up and get active together in San Antonio."

Between the lines: Organizers designed the run club to serve as a lead-in to Sundays at the Square, which includes the weekly farmers market that runs 9am–2pm.

What's next: Organizers plan to add 4- and 5-mile routes ahead of the San Antonio Marathon this fall, along with evening and weekday runs and additional community partnerships.

San Antonio's newest run club to debut at St. Paul Square

Walkers, runners, pets and strollers are all welcome.

Urban street at dusk: red brick storefronts on the left, vintage lamps, a leaning tree center, an arch reading St. Paul Square, parked cars on the right, and a tall building against a blue-yellow sunset.

St. Paul Square near downtown. Photo: Madalyn Mendoza/Axios

San Antonians looking for a more active start to their Sundays will soon have a new option in the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="historic East Side" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-antonio/2026/02/27/ellis-alley-san-antonio-black-history" data-vars-content-id="994d6791-faf8-4029-8bbb-42bfaad55316" data-vars-headline="San Antonio&#x27;s newest run club to debut at St. Paul Square" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-antonio/2026/02/27/ellis-alley-san-antonio-black-history" target="_self">historic East Side</a>: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Run the Square" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/runthesquaresatx/?hl=en" data-vars-content-id="994d6791-faf8-4029-8bbb-42bfaad55316" data-vars-headline="San Antonio&#x27;s newest run club to debut at St. Paul Square" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/runthesquaresatx/?hl=en" target="_blank">Run the Square</a>.Why it matters: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="St. Paul Square" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-antonio/2026/05/29/miles-st-paul-square-san-antonio-bar-menu" data-vars-content-id="994d6791-faf8-4029-8bbb-42bfaad55316" data-vars-headline="San Antonio&#x27;s newest run club to debut at St. Paul Square" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-antonio/2026/05/29/miles-st-paul-square-san-antonio-bar-menu" target="_self">St. Paul Square</a>-based club offers another entry point for both seasoned athletes and beginners looking to connect with San Antonio&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="growing running community" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-antonio/2025/12/03/san-antonio-marathon-maps-times-running-groups" data-vars-content-id="994d6791-faf8-4029-8bbb-42bfaad55316" data-vars-headline="San Antonio&#x27;s newest run club to debut at St. Paul Square" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-antonio/2025/12/03/san-antonio-marathon-maps-times-running-groups" target="_self">growing running community</a>.

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Culture

Health

It's a banner summer for San Antonio's historic theaters as the Aztec Theatre celebrates its 100th anniversary while the Majestic and Magik theaters prepare for celebrations of their own.

Why it matters: It's a reminder that some of San Antonio's most treasured cultural landmarks are still drawing crowds.

The latest: The Aztec is kicking off its centennial celebration with a concert series featuring 10 performances beginning July 29, including Coheed and Cambria, Gary Clark Jr., Juanes, Spoon, The Midnight and The Story So Far.

The venue is also expanding its partnership with San Antonio filmmaker Robert Rodriguez with a 30th anniversary screening of "From Dusk Till Dawn" on Friday and a "Spy Kids" 25th anniversary screening next month.

Flashback: Opened in 1926, the Aztec has evolved from showing silent films to "talkies" to becoming a concert venue. 

"It's been able to adapt to the needs of San Antonio while still showcasing the beautiful design elements of it," general manager Kevin Clutz tells Axios.

Designed by Meyer & Holler — the architectural firm behind Hollywood's famed Chinese Theatre and Egyptian Theatre — the Aztec remains one of the country's few surviving examples of Mesoamerican-inspired theater design.

"There's no other venue that represents the Mesoamerican culture and style quite like the Aztec," Clutz says. 

Interior scene with tall, carved stone pillars, a large colorful circular lantern hanging from the ceiling, and a mural of stylized figures on stone walls, bathed in warm lighting.

The Mesoamerican-inspired design. Photo: Courtesy of the Aztec Theatre

Inside an ornate theater, a grand multi-tiered chandelier lights a warm red-gold hall. Aztec-inspired columns and carvings line the walls, with a visible sign reading AZTEC THEATRE.

The lobby chandelier was installed a day before the stock market crashed in 1929. Photo: Courtesy of the Aztec Theatre

The Majestic Theatre will host a free birthday open house Sunday featuring backstage tours, live performances and behind-the-scenes access to the 1929 venue. Registration is encouraged. 

Zoom out: The Magik Theatre will unveil a $2.2 million renovation of its 130-year-old Beethoven Hall on Saturday, including expanded accessibility, increased seating and modernized infrastructure. 

The reopening celebration includes a free Hemisfair Park party (12:30pm-1:30pm) and a performance of "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" (2pm; ticket prices vary). 

The bottom line: Clutz hopes the Aztec's next century looks much like its first — preserving the historic charm that leaves first-time visitors in awe while continuing to evolve.

Historic San Antonio theaters celebrate birthdays and rebirths

The Aztec, Majestic and Magik all have reason to celebrate.

Black-and-white street scene outside a vintage theater with a bright 'AZTEC' marquee; a dense crowd in 1940s attire fills the sidewalk as storefronts advertise portrait studios and old photos.

The Aztec Theatre in the 1940s. Photo: Courtesy of the Aztec Theatre

It&#x27;s a banner summer for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="San Antonio&#x27;s historic" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-antonio/2026/06/05/old-school-san-antonio-favorites-still-roll-on" data-vars-content-id="bffd738f-b2f7-448f-a267-bf9a9fbc3709" data-vars-headline="Historic San Antonio theaters celebrate birthdays and rebirths" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-antonio/2026/06/05/old-school-san-antonio-favorites-still-roll-on" target="_self">San Antonio&#x27;s historic</a> theaters as the Aztec Theatre celebrates its 100th anniversary while the Majestic and Magik theaters prepare for celebrations of their own.Why it matters: It&#x27;s a reminder that some of San Antonio&#x27;s most treasured cultural landmarks are still drawing crowds.

Madalyn Mendoza

Featured stories

Key Spurs dates to watch after the NBA Finals

Historic San Antonio theaters celebrate birthdays and rebirths

Spurs back in NBA Finals fight ahead of crucial Game 4

San Antonio's newest run club to debut at St. Paul Square

From Australia to Korea, Spurs fans rally for Finals