Tori Kelly Kicks Off the NBA Finals With National Anthem and Fans Have Thoughts
The 2026 NBA Finals officially got underway on Wednesday night, but before the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks tipped off Game 1, it was Tori Kelly who had the spotlight.
The Grammy-winning singer performed "The Star-Spangled Banner" ahead of the championship matchup at San Antonio's Frost Bank Center on June 3, giving fans one more reason to tune in before the opening whistle.
The NBA announced Kelly's appearance ahead of the game, revealing that the national anthem and player introductions would be fully integrated into ABC's broadcast as part of an effort to elevate the Finals atmosphere.
Singer, songwriter, producer and actress Tori Kelly performs the National Anthem ahead of Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals! pic.twitter.com/W3mWxWt9f9
— NBA (@NBA) June 4, 2026
And it's safe to say, fans are obsessed.
"TORI KELLY JUST BODIED THE NATIONAL ANTHEM FOR NBA FINALS," one excited X user exclaimed.
"lowkey jealous of folks finding out about tori kelly for the first time tonight. my good sis is a REAL SINGER. LOVE HER DOWN," another X user wrote.
A third said, "Tori Kelly singing the anthem before game 1 of the NBA Finals is what (my) dreams are made of."
Others were quick to critique, saying the mic did her dirty.
"Yall failed Tori Kelly with the sound of the mic smh," one noted.
Another replied, "Tori Kelly can SING, as we know! But they did her dirty with that mic and the audio mixing for the TV broadcast. SMH."
The Finals matchup itself carries plenty of intrigue, with the Knicks making their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999. Led by Jalen Brunson, New York entered the Finals riding an impressive 11-game postseason winning streak after sweeping both the Philadelphia 76ers and Cleveland Cavaliers. Meanwhile, San Antonio is seeking to add another championship banner to their collection.
The NBA Finals performance also marks one of Kelly's biggest public appearances since welcoming her first child. The singer and her husband, André Murillo, became parents in November 2025 when they welcomed a son, Zayden Michael Murillo. Sharing the news on Instagram at the time, the couple wrote, "Zayden Michael Murillo. 11.11.25. we love you so much, sweet boy ♡"
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This story was originally published June 3, 2026 at 9:36 PM.