Mike Brown Explains Why San Antonio Spurs Are So Dangerous
The New York Knicks enter the NBA Finals as the underdogs, and head coach Mike Brown knows firsthand just how difficult a matchup the San Antonio Spurs are going to be.
Brown, the first-year Knicks head coach, served as an assistant coach to legendary Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich from 2000 to 2003, winning his first NBA title when the Spurs beat the New Jersey Nets 4-2 in the 2003 NBA Finals. Brown also won three more NBA titles as an assistant coach to Steve Kerr with the dynasty Golden State Warriors.
All these years later, Brown still has family in San Antonio, so he maintains ties to the area, and he continues to keep up with what the Spurs are doing. He knows just how good this team is, and he told the New York media on May 31 that he is prepared for a true battle among giants when the Knicks face the Spurs for this year's NBA Championship.
It's going to be tough."
"It's going to be tough. They're well coached. They obviously have a tremendous player in 'Wemby' (Victor Wembanyama). They're quote-unquote young to a certain degree, but they have some veterans on the team that kind of uplift the young guys and give the young guys a lot of guidance. So they've got a nice mix of players on their team," Brown said.
Mike Brown Explains What Makes the Spurs so Dangerous
The Knicks and Spurs played three times this season, with the Knicks winning two of those games, including the NBA Cup Finals in December. But Wembanyama was on a minutes restriction for that game, something he won't be on for the NBA Championship. That changes things.
Brown knows that just because the Knicks have had success against San Antonio so far this season, it doesn't mean they will cruise past them in the finals. He knows how talented the Spurs are, and he knows he needs to have his Knicks prepared for a tough battle, especially since San Antonio has home-court advantage in the seven-game series.
"They're a team that comes out really aggressive and hits first. Their crowd is into it, and we just have to go and make sure that we try to match or exceed their physicality to start the ball game while leaning on our standards," Brown said.
While knowing the Spurs are a great team, Brown is confident the Knicks have what it takes to win the series if they can keep San Antonio in check.
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"The group has been resilient the whole year. We've got to keep sacrificing, we've got to keep playing with a competitive edge, we've got to stay connected. We've got to keep believing in each other and what we're trying to do out on the floor. If somebody's slipping in this area or that area, we've got to make sure that we help get them back on track by holding them accountable," Brown said.
"All those things are going to come into play, playing a talented, well-coached team like the Spurs."
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Spurs Haven't Missed a Beat With 'Pop' Retired
With Popovich now retired from coaching after suffering a stroke in 2024, the Spurs are back in the NBA Finals for the first time since 2014 under second-year head coach Mitch Johnson. In just his second season coaching the Spurs, Johnson led the team to a 62-20 regular season record, and he now has the Spurs four wins away from capturing the NBA Championship.
The 39-year-old Johnson has been pushing all the right buttons, putting the Spurs on the cusp of winning their sixth NBA title after they upset the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals. That hasn't been lost on Brown, who knows how difficult a matchup this is going to be for New York -- though the Knicks are certainly up for the challenge.
After sweeping the Cleveland Cavaliers in four games in the Eastern Conference Finals, Brown and the Knicks are riding a true high right now into the finals. They believe they have what it takes to beat the Spurs, and it's going to be exciting to see if they can overcome the odds when the 2025-26 NBA Finals begin on Wednesday, June 3, at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas.
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This story was originally published May 31, 2026 at 7:03 PM.