What's Next for the Spurs?

By: Andrew Ferguson

The five boroughs in New York City have completely erupted since the Knicks beat the Spurs in the NBA Finals. A conversation about their crazy fans can be had another day. I already wrote about how annoying they can be and we will never hear the end of this. Don’t say I didn’t warn you when I said “Don’t Count the Knicks Out.” 

We just saw the San Antonio Spurs hand this fanbase an NBA title in 5 games. What’s next, the Browns win the Super Bowl in 2027? If you haven’t seen Good Morning America’s interview with the Knicks team, let’s just say I’m as amused at this title as OG Anunoby’s reaction was to one of the questions asked his way. Maybe he was a little more fried than I am right now. 

Although this series was only 5 games, every game felt like a game 7 where the average win margin through the entire series was only 4 points. This was the opposite of many blowout series we’ve seen in the recent past. And when I say the Spurs handed it over, I’m talking about the multiple double-digit blown leads they gave up in every game. This includes an all time record in the NBA Finals of throwing away a 29 point lead. Who is to blame for this? There are a lot of areas you can point your finger to like; youth/inexperience, Wembenyama, coaching, De’Aaron Fox (LOL, I’ve seen better shooting from a Stormtrooper), or how this roster is even constructed. Wembenyama clearly has a special career in front of him with this recent Finals run concluding, but it’s not going to be as easy as people think getting another shot to play for a title next year. So what happens next season? 

In the past 6 years, we’ve seen only 1 team (East or West) make it to the NBA Finals more than once. That was the Boston Celtics in 2022 and 2024. Adam Silver has worked his wonders to make the playing field competitive and the playoff format tough for teams to consistently make a run for a title. Are the dynasty days done? I’m not entirely sure but there is so much talent in the game today. So based on recent history and the teams lurking and waiting for their turn to make a run, I’m not sold on the Spurs being favorites to come out of the West next year. I’ll take my chances on the field and here’s why. 

The Spurs simply don’t have that ‘dog’ of a player on the team. Look what Brunson did. JUST LOOK! He’s not sitting on the perimeter jacking up 3’s hoping to get hot. He’s taking it straight to the basket and completely taking over a game. And he’s doing it while eating up the clock. Guard play like that at the right time can be the easiest recipe for teams to get hot and make a run. We just witnessed it. Wembenyama, as big as he is, doesn’t play like a big man when needed the most, at least not on offense. The Spurs blew leads by getting cold with their shots and nobody being physical enough to match what Brunson was doing. So the coach is to blame right? I think it might be. He’s only been an NBA head coach for 2 years now and his inexperience showed up just as much as his young roster did. The Spurs led 72% of the 5 game series but lost 4 games. You have to be able to put your players in better positions, call the right plays and not give up leads. This season better have been a learning lesson because he could easily be on the hotseat, early in his career. We’ve seen coaches like Michael Malone lose their jobs, even with a title under his belt. The NBA has proven to be a coaching carousel even with success. 

So how much of the loss can you put on Wembenyama? His numbers aren’t the problem here, it’s his play during clutch minutes. Wemby finished the series with 27.8 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 3.3 blocks per game. Pretty darn impressive. But it’s his style of play when it mattered that brings up my argument. At 7’4” I’m not sure I want a guy of his stature taking as many 3s and long range jump shots as he does shots inside the paint. I think his numbers in the paint need to shift towards being able to dominate more inside and be given more opportunities. When games are coming down to the wire, I don’t need him putting up bricks from 35’ out (where he shot under 30% in the finals), I need him getting to the rim. You can’t keep pace with a physical presence that New York showed with that style of play. San Antonio lived and died by the 3 pointer in the entire series. Eventually they just died. 

But even if Wemenyama does bulk up and play inside more, what about his supporting cast? I think even as the 2 seed this year in the Western Conference, the Spurs exceeded a lot of people’s expectations and are ahead of schedule. Let’s start with the elephant in the room. Or maybe the tiny fox. De’Aaron Fox was tough to watch during the finals. He had a couple of moments. But when you sign a player to a 4 year/$229 million extension, he better get you more than 12 points a game. His shooting was horrendous as he shot 34% from the field and 25% from the 3. Buckle those Spurs up Spurs fans, it might be a long 4 year contract for this guy. There is some hope on that front because he did average 18.6 points per game and his field goal percentage was much better at 49% in the regular season. Possibly a slump, but it came at the worst time and he couldn’t live up to the big moment. San Antonio did get good support from Castle and Vassell who averaged 16 and 17 points per game in the finals. Even rookie Dylan Harper outperformed Fox and averaged 15.8 per game and definitely shined and showed flashes of star potential and elite playmaking abilities. But again, when the deep shots were off, so was their entire game. 

So what do the Spurs do in the offseason? I don’t see them going out and revamping this roster and attempt to dump Fox off onto someone else. He has better days ahead (hopefully for his own sake). I think they keep this core and everyone will be one year older. This was the youngest average aged team to make the NBA Finals in history. Harper needs to be given more time and opportunities to bring the ball up, Wemby has to grow up a little (mentally and get in the paint), and the coach has to adapt and switch offensive play styles when things aren’t working and protect leads. I think the classic free agency route is to find some veterans that can play defense and shoot the 3 and maybe add a better big man in the middle to complement Wembenyama. 

We’ll see the Spurs make another deep run, but I don’t see this happening again for New York anytime soon. They had their one chance and they wanted it more. And they went out and got it. There will be roster shuffling around the NBA going into next season. And we’ll see where Giannis ends up. And if he ends up with a rumored team like Boston, look for them to be in the dynasty conversation and their 3rd finals appearance in the last 7 years. Also, OKC may have some revenge on their minds. Don’t forget the Joker is also coming off a first round bounce. There is quite a lot of anger brewing with even more talent already ready for next season to start. And even with all of this talent already in the league, this year’s NBA draft could be the best class since the 2003 Lebron class. A bold statement, but getting to the finals over and over is not going to be easy with where the game is today. All of this and between Lebron, Steph and Durant all in the West, none of them made it out of the 2nd round of the playoffs. A new era is among us. 

As painful as this Finals loss was, most franchises would trade places with San Antonio in a heartbeat. They have a generational superstar, a promising young core, and enough talent to be back in the conversation for years. The challenge now isn't only getting to the Finals. It's learning how to finish the job once they get there. The Spurs aren’t going anywhere. Unfortunately for everyone else, neither are the Knicks fans after this one.