San Antonio Spurs fan Alyssa Pierce, center, holds up signs as the Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder warm up before Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Thursday, May 28, 2026.
Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News
San Antonio Spurs fan Alyssa Pierce, center, holds up signs as the Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder warm up before Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Thursday, May 28, 2026.
Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News
As fans streamed into Frost Bank Center for the Spurs’ win-or-go-home Game 6 against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night, Alyssa and Ryan Pierce had already become one of the most popular attractions in their section.
The longtime Spurs season-ticket holders arrived carrying a collection of handmade signs that quickly drew laughs, photos and double-takes from fellow fans.
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One sign declared, “Adam Silver prefers acting over sports.” Another labeled Thunder guard Alex Caruso as “evil Caillou.” A third took aim at Oklahoma itself, reading, “Oklahoma ranks #48 in education and #1 in unethical hoops.”
The signs weren’t random. The couple said they were created out of frustration with what they view as the Thunder’s style of play throughout the Western Conference finals.
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Sitting directly across from Oklahoma City’s bench, the Pierces intentionally positioned their message where players and coaches might see it.
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“It feels like they can hear you, but with a sign, you know they’re eventually going to see it,” Ryan said. “At some point, somebody on that bench is going to look over.”
Part of the fun, Ryan said, is knowing the signs that occasionally catch the attention of those on the court. During previous home playoff games, he noticed players glancing toward their seats.
For the couple, the issue is not the physicality of basketball itself, but what they see as the growing reliance on foul-baiting and exaggerated reactions to contact that can take away from the flow and authenticity of the game.
Alyssa said the constant whistles can be frustrating because they interrupt the flow of the game and halt momentum, particularly when the Spurs appear to be building a run. The signs, she said, are simply a humorous way to express what many fans around them have been feeling throughout the series.
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Ryan pointed to several moments in the series where play stopped during Spurs runs, saying those interruptions often feel bigger than a single foul call.
“When we’re finally making a run and then everything stops, it changes the game,” Ryan said. “That’s kind of where the frustration comes from.”
The crowd’s reaction suggested plenty of supporters agreed.
One of Ryan’s favorite targets was Caruso, a player he once admired.
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Coming from a family full of Texas A&M graduates, Ryan followed Caruso’s career long before he reached the NBA. He rooted for the former Aggie during his stops with the Lakers and Bulls, making this playoff rivalry feel especially personal.
“I loved him at A&M. I loved him with the Lakers. I loved him in Chicago,” Ryan said. “I don’t love what he’s become.”
That complicated relationship inspired the “evil Caillou” sign, which quickly became one of the most photographed posters in the section before tipoff.
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Despite the frustration stemming from the Spurs’ Game 5 loss in Oklahoma City, the Pierces remained optimistic about Thursday’s matchup.
Ryan predicted a strong response from the Spurs, particularly from Victor Wembanyama and the team’s young core.
“I think tonight’s one of those nights,” Ryan said. “I think Wemby’s going to come out ready to go. I think the whole team’s going to be ready.”
Alyssa agreed, saying the atmosphere inside Frost Bank Center should provide an extra boost.
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“This crowd always shows up when it matters,” she said. “I think they’re going to feed off that energy.”
Until then, the couple planned to keep their signs raised high and their message visible to anyone willing to look across the court.
By the time the ball tipped, the Pierces had already scored one victory: becoming a fan favorite inside Frost Bank Center.
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