San Antonio Spurs 2025-26 Season Preview: Wembanyama Returns Healthy and Ready to Lead
The 2025-26 NBA season is quickly approaching and San Antonio’s beloved Silver and Black have quietly built themselves a contender.
Spurs fans should be pleased with the product on the court this year. Victor Wembanyama is back after missing the latter part of last season due to a Deep Vein Thrombosis diagnosis that derailed a possible playoff position. More importantly however is his supporting cast is much improved.
New Additions Bolster Spurs Roster Depth
In addition to De’Aaron Fox whom the team acquired last year at the trade deadline and reining Rookie of Year Stephon Castle, the Spurs drafted Dylan Harper and Carter Bryant, both of whom are league ready and can contribute immediately. The team also addressed their lack of depth in the front court by adding veterans Luke Kornet and Kelly Olynyk.
Defense Remains the Spurs’ Calling Card
As with last season, on paper the Spurs should be a top ten defensive club. The team has several players that can defend multiple positions and with the threat of V-Dub always lingering, guards should be able to put maximum pressure on other team’s backcourts.
Based on what we’ve seen through three games this preseason, the team will be highly competitive in the West this year barring injuries of course.
The Spurs are 3-0 in this year’s preseason, with wins over Loong-Lions, Miami, and Utah. They finish the preseason schedule with a two game home-away split with the Indiana Pacers.
Vassell and Johnson Face Prove-It Seasons
Two players that I would expect big years from are Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson. Both players a carryovers from the Popovich era and have not lived up to expectations nor their hefty price tags; Vassell will make $27M this year and Johnson $17M.
Neither player, in my opinion, is worth the money so I fully expect each to prove their worth this season.
Prediction: Spurs End Five-Year Playoff Drought
With this mix of youth and veteran leadership I expect the team to finish 45-37 and end their five-year playoff drought by securing a sixth seed in the playoffs.
