Dave Portnoy questioned whether the FIFA World Cup starting in the United States has made the NBA Finals feel strangely smaller.
The timing has created an unusual American sports overlap, with the New York Knicks one win from a championship while soccer’s biggest tournament begins across North America.
Portnoy’s reaction captured a feeling many fans may recognize: the Finals are still massive, but the World Cup has suddenly taken over the wider conversation.
Dave Portnoy wonders if FIFA World Cup has swallowed NBA Finals buzz
In a post shared by Dave Portnoy on X, the Barstool Sports founder questioned whether the start of the World Cup had changed how the NBA Finals feel.
“Am I crazy or with the World Cup starting in America it kind of feels like the NBA Finals aren’t that important anymore. Like nobody cares anymore,” Portnoy tweeted.
The timing explains why the thought landed. The Knicks lead the San Antonio Spurs 3-1 and can win their first title since 1973, but the sports calendar has also been flooded by World Cup ceremonies, group-stage matches, and host-city attention.
That kind of overlap is rare, as an NBA Finals involving New York would normally dominate the week, yet the World Cup arriving on US soil has created a national event that pulls in casual fans, international visitors and people who only tune in when the tournament becomes unavoidable.
FIFA World Cup start gives NBA fans reason to feel distracted
The feeling Portnoy described is understandable because the World Cup is being staged in the same country as the Finals conversation.
The USA opened with a 4-1 win over Paraguay, a result that immediately pushed the tournament deeper into American sports debate.
Add Brazil playing Morocco near New York, celebrity-heavy crowds, and the novelty of a 48-team World Cup in North America, and the noise around soccer was always going to be loud.
The NBA Finals still have real stakes. Game 5 gives the Knicks a chance to close out the Spurs, while Victor Wembanyama, Jalen Brunson and a historic New York title chase remain major stories.
The difference is that the World Cup is bigger than one league’s championship series. It becomes a rolling global event, and when it starts in America, even a dramatic NBA Finals can suddenly feel like it is competing for attention rather than owning it.
Read more:
