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For a couple of New York Knicks, Game 1 of the NBA Finals in San Antonio isn’t just a work trip – it’s a homecoming.
Jordan Clarkson and Kevin McCullar Jr. both attended Wagner High School in San Antonio, just a ten-minute drive from where they’ll be tipping off against their hometown team tonight.
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It comes with a lot of memories – and Clarkson, who attended Wagner from 2006-2010 and grew up during a dominant, four-title era for the Spurs, remembers it well.
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“The energy is always amazing,” Clarkson told reporters about growing up during that era during a media availability on Tuesday. “My stepmom worked at the Westin so I would see the parades through the hotel balconies and stuff. I would sneak around there and…take pictures and run up on players for autographs. I was definitely that kid.”
That hasn’t slowed him down, however, when playing against his hometown team: he’s averaged 20 points per game when playing the Spurs across his career.
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He’s been a strong presence off the bench for New York this season, averaging 8.6 points per game during this regular season and 15.3 points per game across his 12-year NBA career. Back at Wagner, he led the Thunderbirds to back-to-back state semifinal appearances and was named the San Antonio high school player of the year his senior season.
McCullar Jr. made his own mark on the Wagner Thunderbirds years after Clarkson left, leading them to the 6A state title game as a sophomore in 2017. He’s been earning some more playing time for the Knicks this season, moving up the depth chart after a strong stint while Josh Hart was out with an injury. He’s averaged 2.2 points for the Knicks since being drafted in 2024.
Clarkson, McCullar Jr. and the Knicks will open the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs in San Antonio tonight, tipping off at 8:30 eastern.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: These Wagner High alumni return home for NBA Finals — as New York Knicks
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/york-knicks-went-same-high-180827227.html
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Publish date : 2026-06-03 18:08:00
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