Josh Hart Observes Spurs’ Celebration Mistake

New York Knicks player Josh Hart felt the San Antonio Spurs were already in a precarious position before facing off in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. He pointed out that the Spurs made a misstep during their celebration after winning against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals, noting that Victor Wembanyama was in tears after their victory.

“Everyone was buzzing about how they had to beat OKC, thinking it was a huge accomplishment,” Hart shared on a recent episode of the “Roommates Show” with teammate Jalen Brunson at Madison Square Garden.

He reflected on the Spurs’ excitement after beating the Thunder, contrasting it with how the Knicks responded after knocking off the Cleveland Cavaliers to make it to their first NBA Finals since 1999. Hart mentioned that, for the Spurs, that win might have felt like a peak moment, whereas for the Knicks, it was just another step in their journey.

“If you look at our reaction after we beat Cleveland, celebrating was tough because we were already focused on getting four more wins,” Hart said. “Winning the Eastern Conference felt great, sure, but we knew that this was just the beginning, not the end.”

His perspective seemed to hold up, as the Spurs struggled in the NBA Finals, falling behind by substantial margins in every game they lost to the Knicks. The Knicks’ composure and resilience were evident throughout the series, with three of the five biggest comebacks in NBA Finals history unfolding against San Antonio.

Interestingly, the Knicks didn’t truly begin celebrating until after clinching the series in Game 5. They consistently viewed each game as if it were a fresh start, insisting that the series was tied 0-0 after every match.

Hart’s performance in the finals was strong, as he maintained his defensive prowess while contributing on offense as well. Over the Knicks’ 19 playoff games, he averaged 10.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.7 steals per game.