Victor Wembanyama said the San Antonio Spurs were simply not ready to win the NBA Finals, as he bemoaned making "too many mistakes".

The New York Knicks claimed their first NBA Championship in 53 years as they won Game 5 94-90 on Saturday, sealing a 4-1 series triumph.

New York forged a historic comeback in Game 4, and they had to come from behind again this time out, with the Spurs leading by 10 points early on in the final quarter.

Yet San Antonio could not hold on, and Wembanyama said it must serve as a harsh lesson for the Spurs.

"We weren't ready. I wasn't ready to win a ring – that's clear," said Wembanyama, who finished with 19 points

"We're not lacking in talent or ability, but we make too many mistakes. I make too many mistakes.

"This is the biggest lesson of my life – the biggest learning moment," he said.

"It's painful but I'm not running away from that. I'm using it to fuel me. I'm not satisfied with not winning.

"As a team, there's no better experience than what we just lived."

There have been 48 total 5-game spans by teams in NBA history (reg or post) where they led by 8+ points at the end of the first quarter in all 5.

In 47 of the 48, the team had a winning record over the 5 games.

All except the Spurs in the 2026 NBA Finals.

They went 1-4. pic.twitter.com/86Wd5HtCHr

— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) June 14, 2026

NBA Finals MVP Jalen Brunson was the difference-maker once again, as he poured in 15 of his 45 points in the fourth quarter.

"I have no words. It's everything I dreamed of," he told ESPN.

"I'm in awe. It's why I came to New York.

"Whenever someone counted us out, we found a way to come back and do something about it.

"Whatever you put in front of us, we're going to find a way... every time we step on this court. Every time."

Brunson became only the fourth player in NBA history to score 45+ points in a title-winning game.

In fact, he is just the second player to score 45+ points on the road in a title-clinching victory, after Michael Jordan at Utah in 1998.