Holy War Over Basketball

The NBA Finals are stirring up some spirited competition among nuns on the East Coast, who are fervently supporting the Knicks. This creates a sort of Biblical rivalry with their counterparts on the West Coast who back the well-known Spurs.

The Salesians of St. John Bosco are experiencing a geographical divide, with East and West Coast fans showcasing their enthusiasm on social media.

“We donned our T-shirts and made a little video. We’re here to cheer on the Knicks,” explained Sister Katie Flanagan, the Eastern Province Development Director for the Salesian Sisters.

“There’s so much excitement for the Finals. The Knicks haven’t been here in ages—it’s thrilling!”

Flanagan and her fellow nuns have recently caught the basketball bug as Knicks fandom sweeps through New York City.

Meanwhile, the Western Sisters have long cherished their ties to the San Antonio Spurs, often coming together to pray for players during games.

Though the East Coast nuns don’t share the same connection to the Knicks, Flanagan said they were inspired to rally behind their own team.

“In the past, an alumna of our school reached out to one of the older sisters and expressed her surprise that our sisters were supporting the Spurs. She asked, ‘What about my team?’” Flanagan recounted. “So while they’re in San Antonio cheering for the Spurs, we’re here rooting for the Knicks.”

Despite the geographical separation, Flanagan emphasized that the bond remains strong, and all support for the Knicks comes from a good place.

The sisters watch games together in their Knicks apparel, genuinely wishing the players all the best.

However, the bigger goal in participating in “finals fever” is to connect with the younger students at their school.

“It’s about understanding what the kids are excited about. If you’re involved in that, it builds stronger relationships. It really helps us connect with the youth we serve,” Flanagan noted.

Flanagan, who has a touch of social media influence herself, added that the appeal of Knicks-related content lies in seeing nuns engaged in what many consider “normal” activities.

“People enjoy seeing their nuns backing their teams. It’s like an icebreaker. When they see us as regular human beings, it creates a beautiful opportunity to share our message,” she explained.

“Discussing basketball helps us connect with the kids—like when we bring up that play where Wenby tossed the ball. When they hear us talk about it, they see our human side, and that bridges the gap between us.”