Victor Wembanyama’s Spurs fan club Jackals ready for NBA Finals 2026

Victor Wembanyama’s fan club Jackals energized Section 114 at Frost Bank Center during Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals.

Jackals fan club introduction As the pregame clock struck zero before Game 1 of the NBA Finals, the Jackals stood poised to bring Victor Wembanyama’s vision to life. Founded by the Spurs’ 7-foot-4 superstar, the group filled the top four rows of Section 114 at Frost Bank Center, positioned above the baseline near the visitors’ bench. They waved signs and wore eclectic hats, wigs, masks, and other imaginative costumes. Jacob Esquivel, a 24-year-old electrician with limited drumming experience, had already moved from the top row to just above the locker room tunnel, carrying his bass drum with him, joined by Mario 'Spurbarian' Moreno. ## Wembanyama’s preseason meeting with Jackals The Jackals’ tradition began after a midseason brainstorming session where Wembanyama met with the group at a two-hour gathering at the rooftop bar of Roca & Martillo, located at The Rock at La Cantera. He suggested this new pregame routine and rehearsed it with the fans during the event. The routine involved Esquivel striking his drum twice and Moreno clapping once, followed by the entire section repeating the sequence faster each round until ending in a prolonged roar. 'It baffles me that he gives up his time to even care about what we say, but he truly cares so much,' said Peyton Janssen, the chant leader. 'He is just addicted to getting better at anything possible.' ## Tifo banner and European influence After the starting lineups were announced, an 80-by-60-foot colorful banner unfurled over Section 114, passed row by row by Jackals members. Known as tifos in Europe, the banner was another idea directly from Wembanyama, inspired by the Paris Saint-Germain ultras he admired while growing up in France. 'He wanted to bring that European atmosphere, wanted to bring that European football energy to the states,' said Aidan Sterling, the Jackals president. 'That’s exactly what he did.' ## Redmond Carson’s rallying cry Once covered by the tifo, Redmond 'Big Red' Carson, one of the Jackals’ eight captains, turned to face the group and delivered a motivational speech. 'Hey Jackals! This is why you showed up on a Sunday!' Carson shouted, his day job selling ranches, as the rest of the group shook the tifo with their hands. 'This is why you went to 40 games, for this reason, for Game 1 of the NBA Finals! I want to hear it!' Carson then ripped his T-shirt from neck to bottom, continuing his shouts over the deafening noise of the section. ## Wembanyama’s personal selection process Wembanyama handpicked every member of the 83-person Jackals after judging auditions on a Sunday morning in September. Sitting on a replica ice throne—a nod to Spurs legend George Gervin—he took notes as fans shouted and danced for a spot. The group has eight captains, all chosen by Wembanyama, who notified them via FaceTime calls inviting them to a meeting at the Spurs’ practice facility, where he began with a PowerPoint outlining his goals. ## Jackals structure and naming During their first meeting in the film room at the Spurs’ practice facility, the eight captains voted on the group’s name, ultimately selecting 'Jackals' as Wembanyama suggested—a European twist on the franchise’s coyote mascot. Wembanyama listed specific roles for the captains on a whiteboard: president, vice president, chant leader, sign specialist, social media director, and drummer. He participated in the voting process to fill each position. Esquivel, the drummer, recalled, 'All of us thought he’d show up for a quick photo op. He was there for the whole 2½ hours. Not only was he present, but he led the conversation and involved us.' ## Membership costs and sponsors Jackals members pay a $1,000 fee covering tickets and parking for every home game. 'It’s the best deal in sports!' Moreno exclaimed, a sentiment echoed by other members. Additional expenses are supported by San Antonio’s jersey patch sponsor Ledger, a Paris-based digital security firm, which funds the tifo and folding signs. These signs feature the group’s six most-used chants, including 'Merci Wemby,' all European football-inspired adaptations with Spurs twists. ## Feedback and chant adjustments Wembanyama provided feedback throughout the season, often via texts from Spurs director of communication Jordan Howenstine. After the Spurs’ first-round playoff win over Portland, he met with Sterling for 15 minutes, emphasizing the need to shorten chants for the playoffs to encourage broader crowd participation. 'For the first 10 minutes, we talked about life and then we got into it,' Sterling recalled. 'He told me, ‘We’ve gotta keep it short and clean—sexy noise as opposed to forced noise.’ ## Joshua Jay Nieto and Abel Hernandez Jr. Joshua Jay Nieto stood beside Abel Hernandez Jr., shouting detailed play-by-play commentary into his ear to help the legally blind member of the Jackals follow the action below. Hernandez’s father, Big Abel Hernandez, previously performed this role but stepped back because 'his dad was very simple,' Nieto explained. Nieto described moves, shots, and strategies in real time at high volume as Hernandez Jr. listened with an awestruck expression. Nieto and Hernandez Jr. participated in all chants, including personalized ones for Spurs players at the free-throw line. ## Wembanyama’s two signature chants The Jackals have two dedicated chants for Wembanyama: 'Wem-V-P!' and 'Merci Wemby,' with Janssen choosing which to use each time. Janssen also emphasized the group’s unity, noting how Wembanyama’s dedication inspired the Jackals to take the role seriously. 'He takes it serious, so we take it serious, too,' said Alex Pena, the social media point person. 'This is something we’re trying to build. What NBA star wants to create something like this for his fans? We’ve got to carry it out for him.' ## Spurs organization support for Jackals The Spurs organization prioritized the Jackals, flying 50 members to Las Vegas for the NBA Cup final and providing tickets to a road game in Houston. HEB, the grocery chain and longtime Spurs sponsor, flew the Jackals’ eight captains for Game 7 of the Western Conference finals in Oklahoma City. 'With tremendous effort and results, they dominated the away court Game 7,' Wembanyama said, acknowledging the Jackals with their signature hand gesture during warmups before the win. ## Jackals’ game-day coordination During home games, some Jackals captains wear headsets and microphones to coordinate with the Spurs’ game presentation staff, avoiding conflicts with the public address announcer or jumbotron videos during breaks. They’ve adapted chants to the fast pace of NBA play through trial and error. Janssen, seated in the front middle of the Jackals, starts the chants and ensures the group follows along seamlessly. ## Mario 'Spurbarian' Moreno’s vocal care Mario 'Spurbarian' Moreno prepared for his vocal duties by unwrapping a cough drop just minutes before tipoff. 'I usually pop one now and another at halftime,' he said, sharing a tactic he learned from an opera-singing friend. 'Gotta protect your instrument.' Moreno also celebrated big Spurs plays by blowing a replica ancient warrior’s horn he purchased on Etsy, fulfilling one of the Jackals’ primary roles: being loud and passionate throughout every game. ## Freed from Desire chant and Knicks timeout When the Knicks called a timeout to disrupt a Spurs run, the arena’s sound system played Gala’s 1997 Eurodance hit 'Freed from Desire.' This was another request from Wembanyama, who frequently heard the upbeat tune at football matches growing up. The Jackals adapted the lyrics to fit the Spurs, singing at full volume: 'Spurs are on fire, your defense is terrified,' repeated four times with a 'na-na-na' chorus. The chant was part of Wembanyama’s PowerPoint presentation during the September meeting, though the Jackals modified the line about Devin Vassell to make it more versatile. ## Game 1 result and Elodie de Fautereau’s farewell Despite the Jackals’ efforts, the Spurs fell short in Game 1, losing 105-95 after rallying from a double-digit deficit. With 20.7 seconds remaining and the outcome decided, Elodie de Fautereau, Wembanyama’s mother, visited the Jackals’ section during the fourth quarter. She blew kisses with both hands multiple times before descending the stairs. After the final buzzer, Moreno rallied the disappointed but resilient group. 'It’s going to be a long series!' he shouted, standing in the middle of the section. ## NBA Finals schedule Game 1: Knicks 105, Spurs 95 Game 2: June 5 at Spurs Game 3: June 8 at Knicks Game 4: June 10 at Knicks Game 5*: June 13 at Spurs Game 6*: June 16 at Knicks Game 7*: June 19 at Spurs *if necessary. All games tip off at 8:30 p.m. ET.