Landry Shamet and Keldon Johnson have both proven to be key contributors off the bench for the Knicks and Spurs.
New York Knicks guard Landry Shamet and San Antonio Spurs Forward Keldon Johnson answered questions about their first NBA Finals appearance at Game 2 Media Day.
Y’all’s success and execution against the Cavs for the sweep put you in a situation where you had the opportunity to both rest and begin preparing for your Finals opponent. What did that process look like? Outside of film, did you watch the games on your own and/or with teammates?
Shamet: Definitely watch the games at home. Obviously, when you have that much down time, the luxury in that is you’re able to take care of your body and rest a little bit, but you want to balance that with staying sharp. There’s value to staying in the rhythm of a playoff series and trying to maintain your competitive edge, which the other team has while they’re still playing. So you don’t want to completely unplug and relax, but it’s a good opportunity to do so. So kind of work in the balance there and watching games at home when you have a little time to relax.
Landry, you and Deuce off the bench have been letting it fly from 3 with confidence all year and you guys have taken it to another level in the playoffs. How do you stay ready and engaged before you even step onto the floor, and what goes through your head once you’re out there?
Shamet: It’s a process throughout the year. It’s not about the moment or deciding to do so come playoff time. Trial and error throughout the season. Your job remains the same throughout, whether it’s regular season or playoffs. Obviously, it’s heightened now, given that your role and job could change from night to night. So I think all of us, everybody on the bench, even our starters, we all do a great job of responding to the call of whatever’s needed on a night-to-night basis.
Landry, do you know you are a fashion and fitness icon?
Shamet: Fashion and fitness icon? No, but I’ll take it. Whatever y’all want me to be, I’m happy to be it, so we’ll take it.
How much resilience and support did it take to navigate going down with the shoulder injury in 2025, on a non-guaranteed contract, to getting back with the squad and now performing at the highest level in the Finals?
Shamet: Honestly, everybody was great. I was still obviously in tune and in the locker room and in film and then in games on the bench, the whole thing. So everybody was great and involved, and talking to me, and the coaches were fantastic. Coach Brown, everyone, just encouraging me throughout that. I’m grateful to have a group that I know has my back, and yeah, here we are.
What do you think needs to go differently in Game 2?
Johnson: I think just continue to play our brand of basketball and continue to be better. I think we could limit some mistakes that were self-inflicted and I think with all that being said, we still had a chance to win Game 1. So going into Game 2, I feel pretty confident. As long as we take care of business and make the proper adjustment, I think we’ll be in great shape.
What’s your favorite thing about San Antonio?
Johnson: My favorite thing about San Antonio is the people. People in San Antonio are wonderful. They’re loving, accepting, and are one of a kind.
Keldon, what are you saying to Victor Wembanyama on the court before each game?
Johnson: Just motivating him, telling them how I feel, telling him some things he already knows, but just being a good teammate. Feel like hyping him up. Doing what I do best.
Favorite fishing spots in/around San Antonio? Have you shown the rookies where to find good BBQ/Tex-Mex?
Johnson: I have not shown them any Tex-Mex or BBQ. I feel like they explore when it comes to food. They go and find the things that they like. My favorite fishing spots around San Antonio? I have a pond at my house but I can’t give all the hidden spots, all the hidden gems. I got a couple of good ones up my sleeve.
What is your go-to cowboy hat? And what is the story behind it?
Johnson: Go-to cowboy hat? Well, it depends on the season. In the wintertime, colder, I’m going Stetson. Just a felt Stetson hat. I have a couple of those and a summertime straw Stetson hat. So it just depends on the season. Definitely my go-to right now is Stetson.
What’s one habit or routine you developed that helped you stay confident during periods when you weren’t playing your best basketball?
Johnson: I just rely and fall back on my habits. I feel like I work extremely hard at my craft. I take basketball very seriously and take care of my body very seriously. And when things get tough, I feel like you fall back on those habits and those things. So I feel like when things don’t go well, I know that I deserve to be in the moment. I know I work hard to be in this moment. That’s why I don’t get discouraged. I just continue to believe in myself.
Looking back at your journey from the start of this season to now the NBA Finals, does any specific pivotal moment come to mind?
Shamet: Doing what we did last year, how we all felt last summer, coming into this season, I think we kind of knew what was in the room. It was just a matter of putting it all together. We found a way to do that and found ways to get better this season. Even throughout the year, we had a couple of little lulls where everybody was kind of talking about us as, you know, maybe we’re not that team and found a way to push through that and grow from it and get better. So I can’t point to one moment in particular, but we kind of always knew what we had in the room.
What does this moment mean to you personally, and what has the journey to get here been like?
Johnson: It’s a dream come true. It’s everything you work for as a kid. I feel like when you love the game of basketball and you watch the Finals growing up as a kid, you see all the players that come before you play in the Finals and hoping that you can be in a moment like this, and, it didn’t disappoint. Obviously we want to win, but it’s a magical moment being here in the Finals.
Shamet: I’ve been saying it all week, I don’t want to get too reflective yet. I’m not there yet, but nonetheless, super appreciative of this. This is a dream for myself and all of my teammates. We’re all doing something that we aspired to do as kids growing up watching on TV and dreaming about. So it’s pretty cool to be here now. I’ve got my AAU coach here who’s been in his program since the 4th grade. He’s helped me a ton. Having family, have my girlfriend, have my agent, people you want to be surrounded by supporting you It’s pretty cool.
Where do you get the self-discipline to do the things required to be/stay in the league, such as working out and practicing a lot, watching your diet, etc.?
Johnson: Once I got to the league, I wanted to stick in the league. I didn’t just want to be somebody that’s here four years and then they’re gone. I wanted to make this a career. I wanted my legacy to live on. Being here in San Antonio really taught me how to be a true professional, really taught me the ways of being a basketball player, not only on the court, but off the court. The discipline it takes to be able to stick in the league, taking care of your body, and how important diet and things like that are as well.
Does the pressure and spotlight make it more fun or less fun? How do you deal with the pressure and still have fun?
Shamet: I’m a person that likes to acknowledge emotions. I think people at home expect everybody on this stage to be like a superhuman version. Like I was incredibly nervous yesterday, nervous, anxious, all the feelings. Didn’t sleep a whole lot. I’m not going to act like I didn’t feel things that I’ve never felt before going into that game. You kind of talk to yourself prior, knowing that those emotions are going to be there. So it’s not a surprise. I’m probably going to feel a bunch of stuff that I’ve never felt before going into my first NBA Finals game. I think it’s good and important to acknowledge that stuff instead of running and hiding from it, acting like you’re above it. So that’s kind of how I like to handle it and continue to do that.
