With their 101-100 win over the Phoenix Suns, the San Antonio Spurs have clinched a playoff spot, but they all know that the job is far from over.
Keldon Johnson didn't hit the midrange jumpshot with 1.1 seconds left to propel the San Antonio Spurs over the Phoenix Suns, clinching their first playoff berth since 2019. Victor Wembanyama did.
When he swished his shot over Oso Ighodaro to win the game for the Spurs, the fans at the Frost Bank Center lost their minds. Leading the celebration from the bench was Johnson, of course.
Johnson is the longest-tenured Spur, arriving in San Antonio as a draft pick courtesy of the Toronto Raptors as a part of the trade for Kawhi Leonard. Once seen as a possible franchise centerpiece, Johnson has become the definition of a team player, taking a back seat as the Spurs finally find success.
For him, it's been a long time coming.
Winning Means More for Keldon Johnson
Johnson's rookie season, the 2019-20 campaign, was not only cut short due to COVID, but it was also the first time in 22 years that the Spurs missed the postseason.
Since then, the team hasn't really come close to making it back to the dance.
During his career with the Silver and Black, Johnson jumped between Austin and San Antonio, emerged as the ultimate source of energy, took over as a possible franchiuse cornerstone next to Dejounte Murray, and has been benched.
The entire time, he's remained the biggest fan of the Spurs and his teammates, despite becoming a fixture in trade rumors. He's long made it clear--even during the struggles--that there's nowhere he would rather be.
"It's my first time clinching a playoff, being in the playoffs."
"I feel like a long time coming," he said on Thursday night. "I think it feels surreal because I've been through every step. We couldn't skip no steps to get to where we at. And I feel like it really, it really means something to me. It's personal to be able to be in the situation that I'm in. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else and do it anywhere else than here and go through the process here with my brothers, with the Spurs. This is like, almost like a dream come true to be able to work through all the mishaps and work through the process and see the outcome of it. And knowing that we still going, that we still striving for greatness. We still, you know, trying to reach that next level. And I feel like, you know, this is a special group that we have. And, you know, I'm blessed to be a part of it."
Johnson is no longer the best player on the roster, but he remains a clear source of joy for the team, and should be able to give them both a locker room and on-court boost as they play in their first playoff series since 2019.