The San Antonio Spurs are already championship contenders. They won 62 games, beat the defending champion Thunder in the Western Conference finals and reached the NBA Finals last season. The real question is whether they can finish the job in 2026-27. Here is the case.
The 2025-26 Breakthrough
San Antonio won 62 games and finished third in the NBA in defensive rating. In the West finals, the Spurs beat Oklahoma City 4-3 and won Game 7 on the road. Victor Wembanyama was named Western Conference finals MVP. Our look at Wembanyama’s defense covers his unanimous Defensive Player of the Year season.
A Finals Defeat That Taught a Lesson
The Knicks beat the Spurs 4-1 in the Finals, rallying from double-digit deficits in all four of their wins. San Antonio led by double digits in every game and held the lead for about 70 percent of the series, yet won only one game. Two games were decided by a single point. Analysts say those late-game lessons will carry into 2026-27.
The Cornerstone
Wembanyama averaged 25.0 points, 11.5 rebounds and 3.1 blocks last season, and finished third in MVP voting. He is the early MVP favorite this year, as we explain in our piece on his MVP case. Few teams have a player who changes both ends of the court as much as he does.
The Competition
The Thunder remain strong and are covered in our look at whether they can dominate for years, and the Knicks are the reigning champions. A league without repeat champions in eight years also shows how hard the path is.
The Verdict
Contender status is not in doubt. A title depends on closing games, staying healthy and beating teams that have already beaten them. Check the standings as the season unfolds.
Sources: Wikipedia, ESPN, NBA.com, NPR.
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