After the 2024 Paris Olympics concluded, I wrote a chunk entitled “Age doesn’t defeat pleasure, even in sports activities”. I talked about how among the “senior members” of the USA Olympic basketball groups, and specifically, Steph Curry and LeBron James, had conquered the world joyfully.
For me, that very same phrase “pleasure” describes the 2025-26 common season for the Spurs. No matter how the playoffs finish, Spurs followers ought to keep in mind the enjoyment all of us skilled watching our group this season, sport after sport after joyful sport.
At first of the season, we dreamed of the Spurs getting again into the playoff hunt, if every little thing went nicely. We hoped to be considered one of “these groups” — the decrease seeded group that nobody desires to play. Certainly, final September, a Pounding the Rock author wrote this:
”Whereas the 2025-26 Spurs can’t realistically count on to problem the highest 5 from final 12 months, they’ll set their sights on the subsequent three, together with Play-In losers Mavs and Kings.
“Let’s intention for that 6-spot. And perhaps face the Clippers in Spherical One. Does that sound about proper?”
That man’s hopeful outlook appears ridiculous now. The Spurs each challenged and exceeded the highest 5 from final 12 months, even going 4-1 in opposition to the mighty Thunder. 62 wins!! I’m positive glad I used to be not the man who wrote that the Spurs can be proud of a sixth place end and a first-round match-up with the third place Clippers.
Oh, wait. That man was me. I’ve just one excuse. The article was entitled: “The Spurs obtained higher this summer time, however so did a lot of the Western Convention. Wait, did all the great Western Convention groups get higher?”
I should have determined my conclusion ought to match the title.
Nonetheless, I did significantly better on one other preseason prediction. I wrote:
”The basketball universe unanimously authorised the Spurs’ choice on Dylan Harper because the clear second finest participant within the 2025 NBA draft. The one concern I’ve heard is that Harper’s abilities overlap with these of the anticipated beginning backcourt of De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Citadel.
“Having coached a bit, I do know that having three good guards for the 2 backcourt spots is an efficient factor, not a foul one. The reason being easy: gamers don’t play all 48 minutes. Certainly, the Spurs’ finest participant final 12 months (you understand his identify) averaged simply 33 minutes per sport. In 17 video games with the Spurs, Fox averaged 34 minutes whereas Citadel averaged 27. If Fox and Citadel play the identical quantity this season, they may play a complete of 61 minutes out of the 96 minutes obtainable. That leaves 35 minutes for Harper or others — as an example if Devin Vassell splits his time between the two and the three. Harper will likely be not be 20 years outdated till March 2026 — and 20 might be about the correct variety of minutes for such a younger participant in his rookie season. There most likely received’t be sufficient enjoying time for Harper to win the Spurs’ third consecutive Rookie of the 12 months award, however with that different rookie in Dallas beginning for the Mavs, Harper most likely received’t win the award anyway.”
I completely nailed that one. The Spurs’ three high guards have been nice, and sharing these 96 minutes was not a problem in any respect. Fox and Citadel mixed to common 61 minutes per sport, precisely the quantity I predicted, whereas younger Harper averaged 22 minutes – and people 22 minutes have been fabulous. Whereas I appropriately said that he wouldn’t win Rookie of the 12 months, Harper will virtually definitely be on the First Staff All-Rookie Staff. And he introduced Spurs followers a lot pleasure all through the season.
As did Citadel and Fox, Keldon Johnson, who thrived as Sixth Man (of the 12 months?), our capturing wings (Devin Vassell and undrafted and subsequently very Spursian Julian Champagnie), the back-up middle (and typically starter) Luke Kornet (additionally undrafted), unheralded rookie Carter Bryant (who performs with a joyful abandon, enthusiasm and talent), Harrison Barnes (who adjusted nicely to coming off the bench for the primary time ever), and the teaching employees — additionally basically rookies.
After a Spurs win in Miami, one of many extra joyous current video games to look at, our Frenchman mentioned this, which we may all see as we watched the group compete:
“It’s unselfishness,” mentioned Wemby postgame. “We get alongside tremendous nicely on and off the courtroom, and we see the outcomes.”
KJ, who lately had a bunch of reporters go to his ranch, simply had a chunk revealed in The Participant’s Tribune about his time with the Spurs and the way a lot of a house San Antonio has change into, had this to say:
One of the best ways I can describe our group is sort of a rodeo. All people on the group has their very own distinctive vibe and character, and when all of it comes collectively it’s simply wild. And we thrive off that. We thrive off that chaotic vitality of yelling and screaming, and laughing and joking 24/7. And on the ground, that turns into one thing particular.
They are saying it’s the journey, not the vacation spot. For this common season, I can’t think about a extra joyful journey, with out even figuring out the last word vacation spot. Maybe I ought to I’ve entitled this piece “Youth and inexperience don’t defeat pleasure, they improve it.”
Talking of journeys and locations, I meant this publish to be a glance again at my preseason over/below predictions for the Western Convention. Not like prior seasons, I’m very joyous about how my preseason predictions this time. Most significantly, I obtained the Spurs proper. My preseason prediction for the Spurs:
“Vegas has projected the Spurs to enhance extra in 2025-26 than each different group besides one . . . Who am I to disagree? I’m additionally contractually obligated to say OVER, and I do know higher than to breach my contract earlier than ‘the powers that be’ resolve on my Christmas bonus. OVER, OVER, OVER”
After all, although Vegas projected the Spurs to extend from 34 wins to 43.5, Vegas was wildly pessimistic. My “OVER, OVER, OVER” did so significantly better than Vegas.
I additionally went “UNDER, UNDER, UNDER” on the Clippers, who Vegas pegged for 48.5 wins. Mistaken! Clips received solely 42 video games, so I beat Vegas once more.
The Spurs’ loss to the Nuggets Sunday put Denver’s win whole at 54, simply over the 53.5 Vegas prediction — and I had the Nuggets as an Over. That introduced my total file this season to a outstanding 11-4. I’d a lot reasonably the Spurs received, which might have put me at 10-5, however I’d settle for that in a heartbeat reasonably than having to beat each Denver and OKC to get to the NBA Finals.
Sadly, shedding that final sport implies that the Spurs will doubtless have to undergo each Denver and OKC to get to the NBA Finals. However let’s not deal with that proper now. If I’d have predicted earlier than the season that as of the beginning of the Play-In Spherical, the Spurs would have completed 62-20 (62 wins!!), second place within the robust Western Convention, with residence courtroom for the primary two rounds of the playoffs (and the NBA Finals in the event that they get there), and dominate the defending champs of their common season match-ups, everybody would have understandably referred to as me loopy.
