Where They Stand
The Spurs open 2026-27 as defending Western Conference champions after a 62-20 season ended with a six-game Finals loss to the New York Knicks — and the entire operation is built around Victor Wembanyama's leap. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year signed a team-friendly extension in July, taking less than he could have commanded to keep the young core intact, and he opens the season as the early MVP betting favorite. Around him, Mitch Johnson (third season) manages the league's most fascinating puzzle: De'Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle and 2025 No. 2 pick Dylan Harper forming a three-guard rotation behind Wembanyama, with veteran forward Tobias Harris joining a frontcourt that already had Harrison Barnes.
The Finals run proved the timeline is now, not later. Harper's emergence and the arrival of Harris fueled the optimism, but Johnson has been blunt about the standard: he wants the Finals loss to leave the group "hungrier than they've ever been." The tests come fast — San Antonio hosts Oklahoma City on Oct. 20 on Opening Night, and a March 7 Finals rematch with the Knicks at Frost Bank Center looms as the season's emotional centerpiece. Sitting at +260 title odds as co-favorites with the Thunder, the question isn't whether the Spurs contend — it's whether this is the year Wembanyama officially becomes the best player in the NBA.
The Squad
Victor Wembanyama
De'Aaron Fox
Stephon Castle
Devin Vassell
Dylan Harper
Tobias Harris
Harrison Barnes
Julian Champagnie
Jayden Quaintance
Tarris Reed Jr.
Upcoming Games
Team News
"Good Problems": How Harper, Fox, and Castle Fit Together For Spurs
Mitch Johnson's biggest task is blending De'Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper into one backcourt. The trio logged just 25 minutes together in the regular season but 44 in the playoffs — and Fox says "the problems we have are good problems... the chemistry is there."
Why Did Tobias Harris Sign with Spurs This Offseason? "To Win a Championship"
Harris, who helped Detroit reach back-to-back postseasons, chose San Antonio for a ring chase and projects as the starting forward next to Wembanyama, Fox, Castle and Vassell: "Whatever opportunity is presented, I'm going to make the best of it."
Why Spurs Guard Dylan Harper Believes He's Being Shaped By Those Around Him
The 2025 No. 2 pick praised Johnson as "a player's coach" who understands what goes through a player's head, crediting Fox and Vassell for his seamless Finals run as a rookie.