What You Should Expect from the Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are one of the most prestigious teams in the NBA. They have managed to attract generational talent, from George Gervin to Davis Robinson and Tim Duncan. Although they weren't able to keep hold of Kawhi Leonard, they were lucky enough to get the number one draft pick in the 2023 draft and draft Victor Wembanyama, one of the most hyped prospects since LeBron James. As Wemby develops, expectations are bound to get higher, so let's see what's reasonable for the 2025-2026 season.
Ever since the Spurs traded for De'Aaron Fox, it has been brought up that they may be ready to compete in the postseason. Wemby has been dominant since he stepped foot into the league. His defensive capabilities are generational, his long wingspan making him elite and blocking shots at the rim, and his agility and footwork mean he's just as dangerous a defender on the perimeter. Wemby has been leading the league in total blocks and blocks per game in his first two seasons, just showing his defensive dominance as a young player. The Spurs chose not to waste any time and traded for Fox, giving Wemby a reliable second option. In addition to having a solid second option, the Spurs have a solid roster overall. The Spurs have a young core, including Devin Vassell, Dylan Harper, and 2024-2025 Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle. These players fit the Wemby timeline and will reach their primes as Wemby does.
The Spurs should be able to make a run and steal a play-in spot for the 2025-2026 season. They'll only have to beat out five teams in total wins, and there are at least five teams in the Western Conference that they should be able to pass up. The Utah Jazz are still in a rebuilding phase and don't have a roster that fits well enough to pass the Spurs. They have a lot of young players that they'll want to focus on development first before aiming towards any regular-season success. The Phoenix Suns traded Kevin Durant, and as of now, Devin Booker has little to no support. Their roster lacks cohesion and dependable defenders. The New Orleans Pelicans have had atrocious luck with injuries and will now have to decide whether to trade Zion Williamson. They haven't had time to see if their roster fits well together, and that's a formula for a disappointing regular season. The Portland Trailblazers only finished with two more wins than the Spurs, and assuming that the Spurs will have a healthy Wemby this year, they'll be able to pass them up with little to no problems. That leaves the Memphis Grizzlies, after trading away Desmond Bane and firing their head coach, who will see an expected drop off this upcoming season. These five teams will no doubt make an effort to be competitive, but will fall short of the Spurs.
