New York Knicks star Josh Hart anticipated trouble for the San Antonio Spurs long before their showdown in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Reflecting on the Spurs’ actions, Hart, 31, highlighted their celebratory demeanor after clinching the Western Conference Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Victor Wembanyama’s tears marked the end of that high-stakes face-off.

Everyone’s talking to them about, ‘Yo, they’ve got to beat OKC. OKC’s going to repeat,’

Hart mentioned during an episode of The Roommates Show with teammate Jalen Brunson. This discussion took place at Madison Square Garden.

The Knicks forward pointed out the difference in reactions between the Spurs and Knicks after victories. Following the Knicks’ sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Hart noted their reserved celebration, recognizing they still had more achievements ahead.

Knicks’ Winning Mindset

Hart explained that beating Cleveland wasn’t the ultimate achievement, and the team’s reaction reflected their continued focus on the finals. His observations proved accurate as the Spurs’ youthful squad blew double-digit leads in their four losses.

The reaction after Game 4 in Cleveland showed that, Hart noted.

The Knicks’ resilience was undeniable, demonstrated by three of the five largest comebacks in NBA Finals history happening in this series against the Spurs.

While the Knicks’ celebrations only began after their victory in Game 5, Hart emphasized their constant mindset that each game started with a fresh slate.

Hart’s Performance in the Playoffs

Throughout the NBA Finals, Hart upheld his reputation as a defensive powerhouse, contributing significantly as a rebounder and facilitator. Over the 19 playoff games, he averaged 10.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.7 steals per game.