The San Antonio Spurs lost the NBA Finals to the New York Knicks, but their first-year head coach is well aware that the team's success is just getting started.
The San Antonio Spurs are reeling after falling to the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals, 4-1. The Spurs entered the series as heavy favorites and led by double digits in every single game. However, the Spurs were unable to hold onto their leads, resulting in a painful, albeit quick, first trip to the Finals for Victor Wembanyama.
The expectation around the league is that the Spurs will use the series loss to build and motivate the young roster.
During each blown lead, the Spurs showed a lack of confidence, and their inexperience snowballed, resulting in turnovers and hesitancy on both ends of the floor. As the young core gets better and gains experience, the team knows that its next playoff run will end with more success.
Spurs Promise to Come Back Next Season Even Better
Wembanyama has been branded as one of the more arrogant players in the NBA, although by now, it's safe to say that he can walk the walk, as well as talk the talk.
The rest of his team seems ready to follow suit, knowing that they're ahead of schedule and should enter next season as favorites to win the Western Conference.
"When you look at some of these core teams over time, they're typically a lot better in year two and year three," explained head coach Mitch Johnson. "And we have to get better individually, and that's as a coach and as a player, to continue to help them. And they have to continue to help themselves. And they'll continue to learn about each other and be better."
Johnson is in just his first season as the team's full head coach and has immediately established himself as one of the better skippers in the NBA. With Wembanyama setting the tone and Johnson holding everyone accountable, the Spurs are expecting more success next season.
"We know we'll do everything we can, scratch, fight to get back into this position and have a different outcome," added Devin Vassell. "But right now it's tough."
While the Spurs didn't make the playoffs last season, expect this offseason to feel much longer. Hungry and with the bitter taste of defeat still in their mouths, the Spurs now have plenty of motivation to return even better in the 2026-27 campaign.
