(RNS) — Religion has been all over the NBA Finals this year. Nuns have been blessing the Spurs in San Antonio. Knicks fans burned sage outside Madison Square Garden to ward off evil spirits after what has been dubbed “The Trump Game.” Sports journalists reported numerous stories about how Spurs’ phenom, Victor Wembanyama, spent time this past summer training with Buddhist monks at a Shaolin Monastery in China. And after Game 1, a new slogan took New York City and social media by storm: “My mayor’s Muslim/My bagel’s Jewish/My Christian Dior/Knicks in Four!”

I’m a Sikh who was born in San Antonio and now lives in New York City. Same with one of my brothers, Raj. We’ve both lived in New York for almost 20 years now. And we’re both massive Spurs fans. 

I flew down to Game 1 for the finals to watch my beloved Spurs take on the Knicks. My parents are diehard Spurs fans and longtime season-ticket holders. My mom gifted her ticket to me. It’s the biggest sacrifice anyone’s ever made for me. That’s the power of a mother’s love. 

I was back in Manhattan for Game 2. I wore my Spurs shirt while walking around town. Someone asked if I felt worried about being attacked. That question sparked a heartwarming reflection. I love living in a city where people don’t look at me twice for wearing a turban. People care less about the religion I follow and care more about the basketball team I support. 

Spurs fans GP Singh, left, and Parvinder Kaur, right, with Toronto Raptors fan Nav Bhatia, center, at a Spurs game in San Antonio, Texas. (Courtesy photo)

This feeling lasted an entire two days, until the Spurs won Game 3, their first for the series. After that game, some fans in New York City started assaulting Spurs fans. The videos of the violence circulated quickly, prompting players and other prominent New Yorkers — including Mayor Mamdani and Ben Stiller — to condemn the attacks. 

My daughter wanted to wear her Spurs jersey to elementary school the next day, and we discouraged her from doing so, just in case. So much for sports bringing everyone together. I guess every kind of tribe is vulnerable to having some people turn on “the other.”

For Knicks fans, true faith came in Game 4, when their team rallied from a 29-point deficit to come back and win by one point. It was the largest comeback in NBA Finals history. For Spurs fans, this sparked a crisis of faith. Do I even believe in God anymore? It’s a fair question after such a brutal loss. 

The Spurs being down 3-1 in the series has me praying anyway. My faith may be shaken, but it’s worth trying if it helps my team win. I’ve heard there’s a religious text that says it’s always darkest before dawn. Spoken like a true sports fan searching for hope, right?

Here’s some good news, though, that doesn’t rely on the outcome and can be celebrated by fans of both teams alike. This past week, I got a text from a friend. “Isn’t this your brother Raj?” I opened the photo, and it was my brother in Spurs gear, alongside Spike Lee in his Knicks hat. It turns out that this photo was on the front page for Nike.com. 

I shared it with my family immediately, and our group chat went nuts. It would be cool enough to see a Sikh featured on the site. How much cooler is it when it’s your own brother? 

I called Raj immediately, and we shared our excitement. He mentioned how his younger self would have loved to see a turbaned Sikh repping his beloved Spurs and how powerful this image could be for young Sikhs everywhere.

Spike Lee, left, and Raj Singh are featured on the Nike website. (Screen grab)

“I’ve loved basketball my whole life and would have never imagined being on Nike’s homepage representing the Spurs,” Raj told me. “It didn’t occur to me as a kid that a sardar could be featured on such a big platform. Now seeing it in reality, I’m excited for how it inspires the next generation. I know I won’t be the last.” 

I loved his reflection because it reminded me of a simple truth. Sports, at its best, brings people together. I see that happening in my city, and I love that for my fellow New Yorkers, even if it comes at the cost of my own team (and my own happiness). Whatever the outcome is, I hope that we continue to enjoy the awe and beauty of this incredible NBA Finals. And in the meantime, I’ll do my best to keep the faith.