San Antonio’s season ended with disappointment, but Keldon Johnson’s message after the Spurs fell to the Knicks in the 2026 NBA Finals was centered on pride, growth, and a belief that the franchise is only beginning to realize its potential.
The Spurs finished the regular season with a 62-20 record, the second-best mark in the Western Conference, before advancing to the Finals for the first time in the Victor Wembanyama era. Their postseason ended in five games against New York, including three losses by a combined eight points.
“It definitely sucks,” Johnson said during his end-of-season media availability. “It was right there. And I feel like every game, it was right there. It hurts. It hurts to be so close but so far.”
The veteran forward has experienced both extremes with San Antonio. Johnson played through several rebuilding seasons before helping the Spurs reach the NBA’s biggest stage. That perspective shaped much of his reflection.
“I’ve been through some of the worst seasons in Spurs history, and this year was special,” Johnson said. “The most addictive thing is winning. You just got to continue to build on that. We show that we’re more than capable and we just got to continue building.”
Johnson appeared in all 82 regular-season games, averaging 13.2 points and 5.4 rebounds while shooting 51.9% from the field and 36.3% from three-point range. He then appeared in all 23 playoff games as San Antonio reached the Finals.
While the championship slipped away, Johnson repeatedly emphasized the bond within the locker room.
“Special group,” he said. “I feel like we’re a close-knit group. One of a kind.”
Despite integrating new players and navigating roster changes throughout the season, Johnson believes the team’s chemistry became its defining trait.
“Our love for each other,” Johnson said when asked what made the team unique. “I feel like the love for each other, I feel like we had a group this year that loves each other genuinely. Like the love is genuine.”
“Through thick and thin, I feel like we had each other’s back. We was right beside each other through the thin moments and through the hardships, and we was right beside each other through the good.”
Johnson also praised head coach Mitch Johnson for guiding the team through a season that included significant expectations and playoff pressure.
“I’m proud of my guys. I’m proud of myself. I’m proud of our coaching staff. I’m proud of Mitch,” Johnson said. “He stepped into a big role and he led us all year through thick and thin. He stayed by our side. He believed in us.”
The Finals loss was especially painful because San Antonio held double-digit leads in every game of the series.
“Oh, for sure,” Johnson said when asked about that frustration. “We had double-digit leads every game, and we just had to execute better, learn, execute better from our mistakes.”
Still, Johnson made it clear that the disappointment will serve as motivation rather than discouragement.
“You can’t skip no steps,” he said. “We got to take it one step at a time, one building block at a time.”
“We show what we’re capable of as a group. We show tremendous flashes.”
Looking ahead to the offseason, Johnson believes the Spurs’ Finals experience revealed exactly what it takes to reach the next level.
“Every game is different,” he said of the playoffs. “Every possession matters. You’ve got to be locked in every possession, every detail.”
And despite the heartbreak of watching another team celebrate on San Antonio’s floor, Johnson remains convinced the Spurs have the foundation to return.
“You got to grind it out,” Johnson said. “You got to want it. That drive got to be here. That fire got to stay lit. And I feel like I have no doubt that that will be the case for our group.”
