On June 13 Beijing time, Game 5 of the NBA Finals will take place on June 14, with the Spurs currently trailing the Knicks 1-3 in the series. At today's Game 5 media day, Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson and players Victor Wembanyama, De'Aaron Fox, Devin Vassell, Ron Harper Jr., and Stephon Castle spoke to the media. Key highlights are as follows —

Victor Wembanyama Interview

On being hit with eggs after Game 4

"I didn't take it too seriously. I only saw the video of the egg being thrown; I'm not sure about the rest. It's not a good thing, but it doesn't bother me. We did hear some commotion outside. It seemed like someone threw a water bottle near the bus, and water spilled, but I didn't see it myself."

On adjusting his mindset and treating the series as starting over

"I'm keeping my daily routine, just putting more effort into practice and preparation. At this point in the season, we're willing to give everything we have for every game."

On the reasons for losing Game 4

"There are many ways we could have avoided the loss. We've already processed the disappointment and are no longer dwelling on the past. Overall, we could have avoided giving the opponent so many opportunities instead of relying on spectacular plays to turn the game around."

On whether to dwell on the loss or focus on the possibility of winning four straight

"The whole team is full of confidence. The Game 4 loss hurt more than any other, but we've moved past it. In the playoffs, you can't afford to stay in regret for too long."

On whether fatigue was a factor in the Game 4 loss

"Fatigue is real, but every team in the playoffs faces the same issue, so it's not an excuse. Now we have two days of rest, so energy won't be a problem."

On being targeted by the opponent's pick-and-roll offense

"The opponent spent a lot of energy setting picks against us, but it didn't create a clear matchup advantage. That wasn't the main reason we lost."

On gaining experience from the Finals stage

"We've stepped into every kind of trap along the way and learned from our mistakes. I believe we can summarize our experience and apply it before this series ends."

On growing chemistry with Coach Mitch Johnson during the playoffs

"The coach understands the players and knows how to communicate. The arena is noisy, so often we don't need words—just eye contact and gestures to understand each other. He knows what I need, and I can read his signals. Our coordination is getting better and better."

On the team's belief heading into Game 5

"The whole team firmly believes in a comeback. We're only focused on this one game; spreading our energy to later games would be counterproductive."

De'Aaron Fox Interview

On assessing his own and the team's performance in Game 4

"The problem lies in how we handled leads of 10 or 15 points. We built advantages in every game, yet now we're down 1-3. We have to learn to protect leads and close out games."

On distinguishing between on-court mistakes and overall team confidence

"These games have proven we have the ability to win. We're not being completely dominated. But every time we take the lead, the opponent finds a way to make winning plays in crucial moments."

On the situation before Game 5 and team morale

"Being down is frustrating, but we're still confident. There are plenty of examples in history where teams came back from 1-3 deficits. We have to win tomorrow to keep our hopes alive. The team won't cut corners; everyone is focused on preparing for the next game."

On how to counter the Knicks' five-out offensive system

"The key is defensive execution. If we stick to our game plan, we can force them into tough shots. Maintaining high-intensity defense for long stretches isn't easy, but as long as we stick to our defensive principles, we can keep creating problems for their offense."

On handling external pressure after losing Game 4

"Outside opinions don't affect us, and I don't read the comments. Dwelling on the past is meaningless. What matters now is learning from our mistakes and focusing on the next game."

Devin Vassell Interview

On the team's mentality when trailing 1-3 in the series

"One game at a time—just focus on the present. We watched the film and saw many things we could have controlled and improved. Nothing is certain on the court, but we know we have to win the next one first. Our goal is to take Game 5, and we'll give everything to win it."

"Everyone is fired up and ready. Losing feels terrible; the locker room was quiet after the game as we reviewed our mistakes. But after just 48 hours, our goal and original intent haven't changed. Our performance in the past four games wasn't bad—we just couldn't hold onto wins. The opponent played well, but we've had control of the series multiple times. Now we need to learn how to stabilize our advantages and close out games."

On difficulty stopping the Knicks' scoring runs

"Defense has been our foundation all season. Once we lose focus on defense, communication breaks down, and we lose the intensity that built our lead—then the game spirals out of control."

On moving past the Game 4 loss and turning it into motivation

"I reviewed the game that night and yesterday, but when I woke up today, I reset and started preparing for the next game plan. The whole team feels the same: no more dwelling on regrets; wondering won't change the outcome. In the end, we just need to execute the game plan, trust the coaching staff, and give our all."

On whether the possibility of making history motivates the team

"Of course it does, but we can't think about that now. We have to stay focused and win the next game first. The road ahead is uncertain, and we have no room to fall back. Just focus on the next battle, step by step."

Ron Harper Jr. Interview

On the team's mindset preparing for Game 5

"Everyone used the day off to rest, review, and fully reset. In 40 hours, we'll have another chance to prove ourselves, and that's our only focus right now."

On inspiration from the 2016 Finals comeback

"I watched that game—LeBron and Kyrie's incredible comeback left a deep impression on me. It's one of the earliest Finals series I remember. We've always held onto hope. The team values belief above all; no one can take that away from us, and it's why we've come this far."

On handling the Knicks' comeback surge in Game 4

"You can't let up on the court, especially when you have a lead. This is the NBA Finals—anything can happen. What we need to do now is stay united as a team."

Stephon Castle Interview

On coming back from a 1-3 deficit

"The first thing is to believe in yourself."

On the fact that the Knicks could clinch the title on our home court in Game 5

"Win or lose, we always keep a forward-looking mindset in every game. We played well in the first half last game, but we relaxed after taking the lead, which gave the opponent a chance to rally."

On how to stop the opponent from going on another run

"The problem isn't unsolvable. We made poor shot selections and had defensive lapses, allowing them too many open looks and getting them hot."

On the pattern of close games ultimately ending in narrow losses

"We've had double-digit leads in every game. After building a lead, we need to stay calm and maintain offensive intensity. We became conservative after getting ahead. Going forward, we have to stay aggressive throughout while keeping a cool head."

On the significance of completing a 1-3 comeback

"We've been creating surprises all season. The more desperate the situation, the more this team rises to the occasion. This time will be no different."

On not wanting to leave the series with regrets

"Looking back, losing good opportunities due to our own mistakes is disappointing. But it's not too late to fix things now. We have the ability to turn this around."

Mitch Johnson Interview

On reviewing the process of building and losing leads after the game

"Every game has its own flow. Watching the film, you can see that the shift in offensive and defensive momentum was set long before the shots or the opponent's runs. Winning and losing are never isolated moments."

On how to comfort the team and move past the loss after a series of close games

"We need to show fight, resilience, and confidence. There's no need to avoid reality: we had chances to win all four games, but we're down 1-3. Everyone on the team will acknowledge our shortcomings and take responsibility. That's always been our culture, and no difficulty will change that."

On Victor Wembanyama playing 44 minutes in a single game and concerns about his workload

"We've been monitoring his minutes all season. The intensity varies across different stretches of the game; timeouts, quarter breaks, and reviews also consume time—it's not every minute at full intensity. I'll manage his playing time wisely to ensure he can finish the game with enough energy."

On key takeaways from the Game 4 review

"The third quarter is the most regrettable part. We had a 22-point and 18-point lead, and our mentality loosened up. On the road in the Finals, it's hard to keep a team down forever. But we could have used our energy and focus in the right places. My own in-game adjustments were also lacking. That quarter is the part I regret most."

On the opponent's putback scores and external controversy around Fox

"I never pay attention to social media comments. The internet is full of negativity, but we have only one goal: to play well tomorrow. What really matters is the unity within the team—sharing honor and hardship together."

"From the play-in tournament all the way to the Finals, we've been through so much. Fox and I have both enjoyed All-Star glory, and now we've tasted the bitterness of Finals defeat together—it's all part of the journey. I don't care about outside opinions; I only value the voice inside our team. When it's crunch time tomorrow, the ball will still be in Fox's hands, and I have 100% faith that he will carry the team as he always has."