NBA FINALS: KNICKS VS. SPURS

June 2, 2026

Keldon Johnson

San Antonio Spurs

Media Day

Q. What have you seen from Carter Bryant these postseason games, just the way he's been able to learn, be a sponge? You've been in that position before as a rookie and trying to learn as much as you can?

KELDON JOHNSON: He's been amazing for us. He's been giving us that spark. His drive to want to get better and learn more has been off the charts. He's so locked in. He's taking notes. He's energetic, doing everything we ask him to do. It's been good to see CB, see his growth, see how far he's came this season and see how he's impacting basketball and impacting winning as well.

Q. You come off the bench with strong energy. How are you prepared to face the Knicks?

KELDON JOHNSON: You know, just be prepared for anything. They're a good team. They're here for a reason. They're tough. They're rugged. They're physical. Just coming in and matching that, doing whatever my team needs me to do to be successful. Just keeping the main thing the main thing, and that's winning the Finals.

Q. Face of the franchise, 20 points per game until now. What's the toughest part of switching from that role to the role you're in with this team?

KELDON JOHNSON: Honestly, I would say ego. Just being the guy and then you having to adjust. I feel like when you -- there's a point where you look in the mirror and you want to be a part of something special or you want to chase personal goals.

Being here and being throughout this season and winning has been an ultimate reward. It just shows that everything was worth it.

Obviously I went from being the guy to coming off the bench and being sixth man. I feel like winning is the most addictive thing in this league. This year is a testament to that, being able to win and contribute to us winning means more than anything that I've done in the past.

Q. (No microphone.)

KELDON JOHNSON: I feel like the energy of this group, the energy of this group is contagious. Knowing that I want to be a part of something special here and with this group, as well. These guys have had my back and believed in me since day one. Just replicating that and wanting to be a part of something great, and I feel like that's the main thing.

What we have here is special. Me being able to contribute to that, it's fun for me. It's exciting. It's what I love to do.

Q. Keldon, Jordan Clarkson, Sixth Man of the Year, you're Sixth Man of the Year. Do you feel a kinship with the other sixth man? And talk about his game and how he's been able to do what he's done for so long coming off the bench.

KELDON JOHNSON: Well, one, Jordan is an amazing player. I feel like when you talk about those sixth men, you have to bring his name into those conversations. I feel like he's been a spark on whatever team he's been on. It's just a testament to hard work.

I feel like somebody that -- he's honed his craft, and he's an exciting player to watch. I just tip my cap to him. Obviously he makes things happen when he has the basketball, and he's exciting.

Q. You guys seem to really love each other in that locker room. When did you first feel that building back in June, July last year, and how has Mitch taking over from Pop, who used to do dinners and all the different things, how has he helped foster that within you guys?

KELDON JOHNSON: I feel like we had everybody together, it was Summer League last year, and I feel like ever since then, it's just clicked. We all came together, and we experienced a lot of things together.

Having Mitch come in, it's been amazing. He lets us be ourselves. He just lets the group vibe. I feel like whenever he needs to step in, he steps in. He's been a tremendous leader for us, putting us in the right direction.

But I feel like yeah, the group loves each other. It's genuine. We're a tight-knit group. I feel like when you see one of us, you see all of us. That's how it's been from the start.

I don't know why, I don't know how, but it's been just like it clicked from day one.

Q. Keldon, Vic is starting to see every different kind of defense over the last couple of years. Is there anything that stands out to you about his ability to dissect these defenses in real time and how his mind works out there on the court?

KELDON JOHNSON: I feel like it's crazy because he's 22 years old, and to see how -- you send any coverage at him, he knows how to adjust on the fly.

It just shows how locked into the game of basketball he is, how much he gives to the game of basketball. I feel like he's seen every coverage. At times, people have thought that they had the answer. They thought they had Vic figured out, and it's like, one layer after another he continues to adjust and continues to evolve and continues to get better.

It's just a testament to hard work. I feel like you don't adjust to those things that easily or on the fly without putting that time into the game of basketball.

Q. The Knicks come into the series on pretty serious offensive roll. Some nights it's Brunson, some nights it's KAT, some nights it's Josh Hart. What's the challenge, if you've dug into looking at them, of a team that's got that many options?

KELDON JOHNSON: They're here for a reason. We're in the NBA Finals. But we've just got to continue to lock in. Play to our strengths, play to our strong points. I feel like we'll do that.

But they're a great team. We're in the NBA Finals, so can't take anything away from them.

Q. I remember in the midst of that 22-win season, you talked about how you were going to keep on smiling and it would come one day. Two short years later to be here, and I know the job is not done, but to put yourselves in this position, I'm wondering if I can get your thoughts on that.

KELDON JOHNSON: I mean, I don't really have any thoughts. We just know we have a task at hand. That's what's most important, keeping the main thing the main thing.

Anything else that you think of kind of just goes out the window. I feel like all my thoughts now are going out here, executing and trying to put my team in the best position to be successful come tomorrow night.

Q. I know there would be a number of Hong Kong fans flying in to support the Spurs or come to watch them. Do you have a message for a global fan base like that or Hong Kong fans specifically?

KELDON JOHNSON: We love all our fans worldwide. Hong Kong, wherever else fans that come in to support the Spurs, we love you. We can't wait to put on a performance for you guys. We can't wait to have you guys experience San Antonio, if you do come out here. I hope your experience is the best.

Q. I wanted to ask you, you've got your ranch outside of San Antonio. Who on the team would last the longest and who would call it quits the earliest if they had to live the same lifestyle?

KELDON JOHNSON: That's a good question. Who would adjust the quickest? I would say Vic because I feel like he's always intrigued by new things and nature, as well.

The quickest? I feel like they're going to see this, so -- but if I had to go -- I might say Bismack, though, would last the longest. I feel like him or Vic.

The quickest, though, Lindy might last -- that's a hard question. The quickest, though, I'm going to go Carter Bryant.

Q. Any reason?

KELDON JOHNSON: Carter is not really that outside type of person. That's not really his style right there. Yeah, I'm going to go Carter.

He may surprise me, though. He's been to the ranch a couple times. But I haven't really introduced him to the animals, so I've got to see how he reacts. But I'm going to come back to that question next time I see you. I'm going to have a valid answer.

I feel like I've got a three-way tie -- I'm going to go Vic, Bismack and Lindy for who could last the longest at my ranch if they had to change their lifestyle, and Carter definitely would not last at all. He would quit. He probably wouldn't want to feed the animals, do none of that. He'd probably just want to sit in the house, watch Netflix.