Josh Hart Calls Out Spurs for Lack of Respect After Knicks Win NBA Finals
The New York Knicks are celebrating their first NBA championship in more than five decades, but not everyone in the organization has moved on from the intensity of the Finals.
Knicks guard Josh Hart recently shared his thoughts on the team’s championship series victory over the San Antonio Spurs, suggesting New York never received the respect it deserved during the series. Hart’s comments offered a glimpse into the mindset that helped fuel the Knicks throughout their championship run.
Josh Hart Says Spurs Never Gave Knicks Credit
During a live recording of The Roommates Show, Hart explained that he felt the Spurs consistently focused on their own mistakes rather than acknowledging what New York was doing well.
According to Hart, the New York Knicks always make an effort to recognize when an opponent impacts the game. He believes San Antonio failed to do the same throughout the Finals.
Hart noted that both teams had stretches where they didn’t play their best basketball. However, he argued that poor performances are often the result of an opponent imposing its will and disrupting what a team wants to accomplish.
From his perspective, the Knicks earned that respect but never received it.
Knicks Used Perceived Disrespect as Motivation
Whether the criticism was intentional or not, Hart made it clear that the comments coming from the Spurs became motivation for New York.
Championship teams often look for any edge they can find, and Hart suggested the Knicks embraced the underdog mentality even while competing on the NBA’s biggest stage.
Instead of dwelling on outside narratives, New York used them as fuel. The result was a championship performance that culminated in a series-clinching victory and the franchise’s first title since the 1972-73 season.
Spurs’ Postgame Actions Added to the Narrative
Much of the discussion following the Finals centered on San Antonio’s shortcomings rather than New York’s accomplishments.
The Spurs struggled with blown leads throughout the series, and many conversations focused on what went wrong for San Antonio instead of what went right for the Knicks.
Adding to the tension, several Spurs players, including superstar Victor Wembanyama, reportedly declined to shake hands with Knicks players following the conclusion of Game 5.
While emotions often run high after a championship loss, those moments only reinforced the feeling among some Knicks players that their achievement was being overlooked.
Championship Respect Is Earned
At the end of the day, the Knicks don’t need validation from anyone. They won four games, captured the NBA championship, and completed one of the most memorable postseason runs in franchise history.
Still, Hart’s comments show that players remember everything during a playoff series.
The Spurs may have viewed the Finals as a missed opportunity, but the Knicks viewed it differently. In Hart’s eyes, New York didn’t simply benefit from San Antonio’s mistakes—they forced them. And that’s why he believes the champions deserved far more credit than they received.
