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Elmo found himself at the center of an unexpected NBA Finals controversy after a seemingly harmless social media post drew a wave of reactions from New York Knicks fans.
Ahead of Game 1 of the NBA Finals on June 3, the beloved Sesame Street character shared a message on X expressing support for both teams competing in the championship series. Rather than choosing a favorite, Elmo simply wished the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs well before tipoff.
"Elmo hopes both teams have fun!" the character posted.
While the message reflected Elmo's famously cheerful and positive personality, many Knicks supporters were less than thrilled by his neutral stance. The post quickly gained traction online, collecting millions of likes and generating thousands of comments from fans who expected the New York-based character to back his hometown team.
Many users jokingly questioned Elmo's loyalty to the city. One fan wrote that Elmo should pick a side because he is from New York, while another suggested he did not understand the significance of the Finals for Knicks supporters.
Other responses ranged from playful criticism to humorous speculation about why the furry red Muppet refused to openly support the Knicks. Some comments included language and jokes that would not be appropriate for the family-friendly world of Sesame Street.
Despite the social media uproar, the Knicks gave their fans something to celebrate on the court. New York rallied for a 105-95 victory over the Spurs in San Antonio to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
The Knicks spent much of the game trailing and faced a deficit of as many as 14 points in the second half before mounting a comeback. Jalen Brunson led the charge with 30 points, while Josh Hart delivered a strong defensive performance that helped contain San Antonio's attack.
The Spurs received a standout effort from Victor Wembanyama, who finished with 26 points and 12 rebounds, but it was not enough to prevent New York from stealing home-court advantage.
Although no current Knicks or Spurs players have appeared on Sesame Street, both franchises have connections to the iconic children's program. Former Knicks stars Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire appeared on the show in 2011, while Spurs legend David Robinson participated in a memorable segment with Count von Count during the 1990s.
More recently, the Spurs celebrated the show with a Sesame Street-themed game earlier this season. Several players even shared their favorite characters, with Luke Kornet selecting Count von Count and Keldon Johnson naming Cookie Monster as his favorite.
