Mitch Johnson admits the Spurs were not yet ready to win an NBA championship

As one of the youngest teams to reach the NBA Finals, the San Antonio Spurs have been given a tough lesson by losing to the New York Knicks. It was a deserved win for the Knicks as they showed they can step up amidst all the pressure.

The Spurs might have disliked the narrative around their inexperience, but those points rang true in the Finals. They might have gotten past the obstacles earlier in the Playoffs, but the NBA Finals are a different beast.

Mitch Johnson and the Spurs were not ready for a championship just yet

As the head coach, Johnson was in charge of many important decisions. He made mistakes just like his players did across the entire five-game series. This is a lesson for him and the rest of the franchise.

Moving forward, they need to learn from this because they have a target on their backs now. They can't surprise other teams anymore because they are a known commodity as a team that reached the Finals.

MORE: Victor Wembanyama admits that this NBA Finals loss will be a learning experience for him and the Spurs

Inexperience was a huge factor in determining this Finals, as the Knicks were filled with veterans. Now, the Spurs have to go back to the drawing board and prepare for another run in the 2026-27 season.

"We weren't ready to win an NBA championship. The better team won, we did a lot of good things, and we didn't finish the job, and that's what it is," Johnson admitted after the Game 5 loss to New York.

It is a tough moment for the Spurs, but they will need to lock in and focus moving forward. This was a season that surprised a lot of people because they were outside the Playoffs a year ago.

Now that they are firmly established as contenders for years to come, the Spurs will be a top team again. This is a lesson for all the players, be it younger or older. Aside from that, Johnson and his staff will also learn from this.

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