Stephen A. Smith's Spurs concern comes with an important question originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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Stephen A. Smith is not convinced the Spurs understand what awaits them when the NBA Finals shift to Madison Square Garden.
"We’ve seen veterans fold at the Garden," Smith said on The Hoop Collective podcast after Game 2. "What am I supposed to believe about youthful, exuberant, ignorant young dudes? They don’t know what they’re about to encounter."
Stephen A. Smith believes the Spurs' lack of experience will haunt them in New York
— NBA Base (@TheNBABase) June 6, 2026
"We’ve seen veterans fold at the Garden. What am I supposed to believe about youthful, exuberant, ignorant young dudes? They don’t know what they’re about to encounter."
(Via Hoop Collective) pic.twitter.com/3QPfYIz3Cj
His concern comes at a critical point in the series. The Spurs are heading to New York for Games 3 and 4 after dropping the first two games of the NBA Finals at home. With the Knicks now holding a 2-0 series lead, San Antonio faces enormous pressure as the series moves to one of the league's most intense environments.
Game 3 will mark the first NBA Finals game at Madison Square Garden in 26 years. If New York wins that contest, the Knicks will have a chance to clinch the championship in Game 4 and capture their first NBA title since 1973. That possibility is expected to create an electric atmosphere inside the arena.
Smith believes that the environment could be especially challenging for a Spurs team built around young players. Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper are all experiencing their first NBA playoffs, let alone their first Finals appearance. In San Antonio's current rotation, Harrison Barnes is the only player with extensive experience in championship-level situations, while De'Aaron Fox is appearing in just his second postseason and has emerged as one of the team's veteran voices.
The concern is not simply about talent. It is about how players respond when every possession carries championship implications and an entire arena is pushing against them. Smith argues that experience matters in those moments, particularly on the road.
The Spurs have shown throughout the postseason that they can handle pressure, but now they face their toughest test yet. Falling behind 2-0 has left them with little margin for error, and the challenge becomes even greater with the series shifting to Madison Square Garden.
That is why Smith's warning resonates. The Spurs are not just trying to beat the Knicks. They are trying to do it in front of a crowd that senses a championship is within reach. Whether San Antonio's young core can handle that stage may determine how long this Finals series lasts.
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