The 2026 NBA Finals took a stunning turn on June 10 at Madison Square Garden. The San Antonio Spurs blew a 29-point lead and lost Game 4 to the New York Knicks 107-106. It was the largest comeback in NBA Finals history, and it sent shockwaves far beyond the arena walls.
Now, four-time NBA champion Draymond Green is speaking up with a warning that Spurs fans need to hear. His message is not just about this series. It is about whether San Antonio can still become the dynasty everyone predicted it to be.
A night San Antonio will never forget
The Spurs came out blazing in Game 4, setting an NBA Finals record by hitting 14 three-pointers in the first half alone. Victor Wembanyama scored 13 of his 24 points in the first quarter. The Spurs looked completely in control heading into halftime with a commanding 76-49 advantage.
Then came the collapse. The Knicks outscored San Antonio 58-30 in the second half. OG Anunoby tipped in the winning basket with just 1.2 seconds remaining to complete the largest comeback in NBA Finals history. The final score read 107-106, and the Spurs were suddenly staring at a 3-1 series deficit.
Draymond drops the bombshell
Four-time NBA champion Draymond Green did not hold back after the game. Speaking on Inside the NBA, he warned that this loss could follow the Spurs for a very long time. “That’s the type of loss that can derail what you’re possibly gonna become,” Green said, connecting the collapse directly to the Spurs’ dynasty hopes.
Green doubled down on the same message on his podcast the very next day. “Now, there are more things that you have to overcome,” he said of San Antonio. His point was simple: losing in this manner creates wounds that go far deeper than a box score.
De’Aaron Fox and the play that broke hearts
With the Spurs leading by one and about 12 seconds left, De’Aaron Fox recovered the ball and attacked the rim instead of pulling it out to force a foul. OG Anunoby blocked the layup attempt, giving New York one final possession.
Green spread the blame beyond that one moment. Fox committed four turnovers in Game 4, all in the second half, finishing just 6-of-16 from the field. “The turnovers were worse than the attempted layup,” Green said on his show, making clear that Fox’s clutch struggles went much deeper than one bad decision.
Little-Known Fact: ESPN’s win probability model had the Spurs at a 99.6% chance of winning Game 4 at their peak lead, one of the rarest and most shocking collapses in sports analytics history.
The psychological warfare ahead
Green’s concern was not just about Game 5. He pointed out a dangerous pattern emerging throughout the entire series. In each of their three losses going into Game 5, the Spurs gave up a double-digit lead, a trend that signals real mental fragility under high pressure.
The Knicks, meanwhile, grew more and more confident with each second-half surge. Green argued that San Antonio had to win a psychological battle before they could even think about winning basketball games. As Game 5 proved, that battle never went San Antonio’s way.
Wembanyama goes cold when it matters most
Victor Wembanyama was brilliant early in Game 4 and then faded badly. He finished with 24 points and 13 rebounds but shot just 9-of-25 from the field, going 3-of-14 in the second half. He also missed two crucial free throws late when San Antonio needed them most.
Game 5 brought another late collapse. The Spurs led by as many as 16, but New York rallied again and closed out a 94-90 win behind Jalen Brunson’s 45-point night.
Game 5, Draymond’s warning comes true
The Knicks won Game 5 in San Antonio 94-90, completing their first championship since 1973. Jalen Brunson scored 45 points, including 13 straight in the fourth quarter, to personally destroy the Spurs’ last stand. It was the most points ever scored by a Knicks player in a Finals game.
The Spurs led by 16 points before the Knicks came roaring back, again. It was the fifth consecutive game in this series where San Antonio held a double-digit lead. And for the fourth time out of five games, New York wiped it out. Draymond Green’s warning looked sharper just days later.
Little-known fact: The Knicks rallied from double-digit deficits in all four of their wins, including a 16-point deficit in Game 5 and a 29-point deficit in Game 4.
What the future could still hold
Despite the elimination, writing off the Spurs entirely would be a mistake. Devin Vassell is under contract through the 2028-29 season, and the Wembanyama-Harper duo remains one of the most exciting young pairings in the entire NBA. The bones of a dynasty are still very much in place in San Antonio.
Coach Mitch Johnson said it plainly after the Game 5 loss. “We weren’t ready to win an NBA championship. The better team won.” That kind of honesty, combined with the talent on this roster, suggests the Spurs will be back. The question Draymond Green raised is whether this series will haunt them or harden them.
TL;DR
- The Knicks defeated the Spurs 4-1 in the 2026 NBA Finals, winning their first title since 1973.
- Draymond Green warned after Game 4 that the 29-point collapse could “derail” the Spurs’ dynasty potential.
- The Knicks came from behind in all four of their wins, including a 16-point deficit in the clinching Game 5.
- Jalen Brunson scored 45 points in Game 5 and was named Finals MVP.
- De’Aaron Fox drew heavy criticism for four turnovers and a late missed layup in the decisive Game 4.
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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
