Mitch Johnson isn’t scrolling through his mentions looking for advice. After the San Antonio Spurs blew a 29-point lead in Game 4 of the NBA Finals — the largest comeback in league finals history — social media erupted with demands for trades, firings, and a complete overhaul. But the Spurs’ head coach made it clear Friday that he doesn’t care what strangers online think.
“I don’t really get into social media,” Johnson told reporters before Game 5, via the New York Post. “I’ve probably been fired 212 teams, and we’ve probably traded [De’Aaron] Fox 72 times … People have their opinions. I don’t care.”
The Spurs now face a 3-1 series deficit against the New York Knicks, a hole no NBA team has ever climbed out of in the Finals. The collapse was brutal — a 29-point lead evaporating in the second half as the Knicks stormed back to steal the game and seize control of the series. Online discourse quickly turned into a firestorm, with vocal fans calling for drastic changes to the roster and staff.
But Johnson isn’t panicking. His tone was measured, almost amused, when asked about the noise.
What the Spurs lack, more than talent, is experience. This postseason marks the franchise’s first trip to the playoffs in seven years. The core of the team — including All-Star guard De’Aaron Fox — is navigating championship-level pressure for the first time. Fox has struggled for stretches of the Finals, leading to murmurs that the Spurs should consider moving him. According to reports, the team has not engaged in any trade discussions around Fox, and Johnson’s public votes of confidence suggest he’s not looking to blow things up.
The Knicks, by contrast, have been battle-tested through multiple deep playoff runs and heartbreaking exits in recent years. That seasoning matters in tight moments. The Spurs, for all their regular-season success — they notched their first 60-win season since 2016-17 — have looked lost when games get tight in the fourth quarter.
Game 4 was the most painful example. Up by double digits deep into the second half, the Spurs let the Knicks claw back with a mix of turnovers, missed free throws, and defensive lapses. It was a pattern: they survived a similar scare in Game 3, but couldn’t replicate the escape in Game 4.
“Late-game execution has been a problem,” Johnson acknowledged. He didn’t offer excuses, instead framing the issue as a natural part of a young team’s growth curve. The Spurs aren’t a veteran squad that has been through these wars. They’re learning on the fly, and the learning is painful.
Still, Johnson believes the process will pay off. “Once they get experience under their belts, they’ll learn how to close out games,” he said. It’s a rational perspective amid an emotional blow. Whether the fanbase — or the internet — has the patience to wait is another question.
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