This season’s NBA Finals are among the most anticipated in recent history and, this time, it will carry Jamaican flavour, with several individuals connected to the island set to be highlighted during franchise basketball’s premier showpiece.

Five-time champions San Antonio Spurs will host two-time champions New York Knicks in game one of the best-of-seven series, starting this evening at 8:30 pm at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio Texas.

The Spurs, in their first finals appearance since 2014, will be led by French superstar Victor Wembanyama who dominated during the Western Conference Playoffs.

However, he’ll have support from starting guard Devin Vassell, who could represent Jamaica in the near future. Vassell, who is averaging 13 points and five rebounds in the postseason, has a Jamaican father and told the Jamaica Observer last July that he was “100 per cent willing to play for the national team”.

Vassell’s teammate Julian Champagnie, who exploded against dethroned champions Oklahoma City Thunder, also has a Jamaican father and the Observer has learnt that discussions have been ongoing in committing his future to the national team.

As for the Knicks, in their first final since 1999, they will be led by All-Star Jalen Brunson whose maternal grandparents are Jamaican.

Brunson, who has averaged an incredible 27 points and six assists in the play-offs, has hinted he would play for Jamaica if they made the Los Angeles Olympics, but a source told the Observer that it would be very difficult, having played for the USA at the senior level.

With Jamaican heritage players at the forefront, Jamaica Basketball Association (JABA) Chairman of Commercialisation Chris Williams believes this is a significant moment for the country.

“The basketball surge is real. The NBA Finals is an amazing testimony to the deep athletic of all things Jamaica,” he told the Observer. “So this is not a normal NBA Finals — this is a celebration of Jamaica at these NBA Finals. So we want everybody locked in, appreciate the role that Jamaicans are playing in what is the NBA spectacle which is one of the top leagues in the world.”

“I’d love to see what we’re seeing for this NBA Finals happen every year where every year we have Jamaicans in the finals and we have Jamaicans on all teams, across Europe, earning a living and can contribute back to society,” he added.

Williams, though, says it’s not just the players that will make the NBA finals memorable. “Behind Brunson, across the entire New York Knicks operations are Jamaicans — all across the Knicks, all of that that we see on TV happening is because of hard work of Jamaicans up and down Madison Square Garden, just making sure the show is as spectacular as it is,” he noted.

New York will host games three and four next Monday and Wednesday.

JABA in partnership with Hennessey and Chandon will be hosting a watch party for the game at Usain Bolt’s Track and Records in St Andrew.

— Daniel Blake