Living in San Antonio, you can feel that the people here don't just like the Spurs basketball team; they are almost obsessed with it.

When I first moved to San Antonio, I thought, "What's so special about having an NBA team in every city?" But after living here for a while, I understood the reason.

People in Dallas talk about the Cowboys during the NFL season. During the NBA season, they talk about the Mavericks. Baseball fans follow the Rangers.

In Houston, there are the Astros, Texans, and Rockets, so the attention of home team fans is naturally spread out.

However, in San Antonio, the only major professional sports team is the Spurs. There are no NFL or MLB teams here.

So, the energy of the entire city of 1.6 million people supporting a sports franchise is concentrated solely on the Spurs.

It's almost like being the only child in a family, right? Haha

During the playoff season, everyone talks about the Spurs, and in restaurants and local bars, people don't leave in front of the TV until the game is over.

When you think about it, it makes sense.

If you ask Americans if they know San Antonio, many will think of the Spurs before the Alamo.

Since the Tim Duncan era, they have won five championships, and even those who don't watch the NBA have heard of the Spurs.

It's practically the strongest brand in this city. That's why this Finals appearance is even more special.

It's been a whopping 12 years since their last championship in 2014.

During that time, Spurs fans endured rebuilding, losing streaks, and just focused on draft rankings to get by.

When they drafted Wembanyama, many thought, "Maybe in about five years, we'll be competing for a championship."

But they got here much faster than expected.

When they secured their spot in the Finals by defeating Oklahoma City in Game 7, local news in San Antonio talked about the Spurs almost all day long.

Radio, TV, and social media were all about the Spurs.

Interestingly, if the Dallas teams are struggling, people can just wait for the Cowboys season.

Houston fans can go watch the Astros play. But in San Antonio, there's nothing else. Ultimately, the only team to cheer for is the Spurs.

So, many people in this city cried when Duncan retired, and when Coach Popovich gives an interview, it becomes the top story in local news.

It's also interesting that their Finals opponent is the New York Knicks. The Knicks were the team the Spurs faced when they won their first championship in 1999.

For long-time fans, it's not just about hoping for a championship. It's about saying, "Finally, it's our turn again."

The most anticipated event in this city right now is Game 1 of the NBA Finals. They need to win at least one of the two home games.

 I hope that the NBA stage returning after 12 years becomes a moment where the entire city of San Antonio shines once again.