The final buzzer had barely stopped echoing through Madison Square Garden when most of the San Antonio Spurs made a beeline for the locker room. The New York Knicks stood waiting. So did the cameras. And so did Draymond Green.
The Golden State Warriors veteran took to Threads moments after the Spurs’ Game 5 loss to call out what he saw as a glaring lack of sportsmanship: “Wow they didn’t shake their hands… that’s not good.”
A video later circulated online showing only veteran big man Luke Kornet sticking around to exchange courtesies with the Knicks. Kornet, who won a title with the Boston Celtics a few seasons ago, clearly understood the post-series protocol. Harrison Barnes, another player with championship pedigree from his Golden State days, was not spotted in the handshake line either. The team has not confirmed why the gesture was largely absent.
A Moment That Speaks Louder Than Words
Fans online quickly noted the contrast between San Antonio’s exit and the league’s unwritten rule: you shake hands, win or lose. It’s a staple of professional basketball, a sign of respect embedded in the sport’s fabric. But in the heat of a Finals defeat, emotions sometimes override etiquette.
Spurs interim head coach Mitch Johnson didn’t seem bothered by the visible frustration. “So, whatever they feel, that’s real,” Johnson said after the game. “That’s competitiveness. That’s what makes you better. That’s what pushes you to continue to improve in the dark, long hours when nobody’s around.”
Johnson made clear he wants his team to sit with the sting of the loss — even if it looks raw on national television. The Spurs improved dramatically this season, exceeding expectations to reach the Finals, and Johnson believes that pain is fuel for the offseason.
Context Matters — and So Does History
It’s worth remembering that Anthony Edwards took heat earlier in these playoffs for shaking hands with the Spurs early in the fourth quarter of a second-round series. At the time, it looked premature. Now, in retrospect, it reads differently — almost like an acknowledgment of respect before the final whistle.
Green’s comment taps into a broader NBA culture debate: where is the line between competitive fire and basic decency? Nobody expects a team to linger after a gut-wrenching defeat, but the cold shoulder toward the Knicks — a franchise that just won its first championship in decades — has sparked fresh conversation.
The Spurs are young, talented, and clearly hurting. But if they want to be champions, they’ll need to learn how to lose before they learn how to win. And part of that, as Draymond Green reminded everyone, starts with a simple handshake.
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