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San Antonio Spurs star gets brutally honest about team after ‘humbling’ loss to Utah Jazz

Originally posted on NBA Analysis Network
By Aaditya Krishnamurthy | Last updated Dec 28, 2025 8:55 AM ET

One San Antonio Spurs star was not holding back on himself and his teammates after their loss to the Utah Jazz.

The San Antonio Spurs may have gotten the better of the Oklahoma City Thunder on three occasions this season, but their loss to the Utah Jazz last night reminded them they’re not invincible.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander even admitted the Spurs are better than the Thunder right now, but that certainly wasn’t the case when the Spurs hosted the Jazz.

The Spurs had all the energy to mock the Thunder after beating them, but couldn’t keep that same pace against a much weaker Jazz team.

And after the game, one San Antonio Spurs star was perfectly candid about how his side misunderstood the assignment at hand.

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Keldon Johnson calls out San Antonio Spurs for lack of effort

Keldon Johnson spoke to reporters after the San Antonio Spurs lost to the Utah Jazz at home. The longtime Spurs rotation player didn’t hold back.

He admitted that the Spurs didn’t deserve to win because of their mentality. Johnson pointed to the internal standards the Spurs have and how he backs the team to bounce back.

“I felt like we tiptoed into the game. I felt like we didn’t deserve to win, honestly. It was a humbling loss.

“We know we’re not the perfect team, but we know we strive and we have standards. We’ve got to uphold those standards.

“I have the utmost faith in my teammates, my brothers. I feel like we’re gonna get back at it tomorrow, keep pounding the rock, keep trusting each other.”

San Antonio Spurs cannot afford to get complacent

The San Antonio Spurs find themselves in a really strong position right now, sitting second in the Western Conference with a 23-8 record.

They’re just three games behind the Oklahoma City Thunder. But what has been noticeable is the Spurs becoming more vocal and antagonistic toward their rivals.

Udonis Haslem called out Wembanyama for disrespecting the Thunder and other teams this season despite not having accomplished anything in the NBA just yet.

And while that might be considered harsh, it is a fair point to make. You need to walk before you run, and the Spurs haven’t learned to walk just yet.

This article first appeared on NBA Analysis Network and was syndicated with permission.

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