A surging Spurs squad, powered by Wembanyama and rising team cohesion, is poised to challenge for the Western Conference's top seed.
The NBA All-Star Weekend has come and gone, which means the season is going to kick into high gear.
And with that, bold takes and predictions are going to start flying left and right, and Bleacher Report has a few of them already.
In a recent article by Grant Hughes, he makes some predictions now that the second half of the season has begun, and one of them is that the San Antonio Spurs are going to take over the No. 1 spot in the Western Conference before the season is said and done.
At first glance, that might sound like a stretch. After all, the Thunder have set the league’s pace for much of the season, built around a deep roster and championship expectations. But the Spurs have steadily established themselves as one of the NBA’s most exciting and ascending teams, blending talent, youth, and elite two-way play in a way few teams can match.
Central to San Antonio’s surge is Victor Wembanyama, who has emerged as a generational presence on both sides of the court. His ability to alter shots, control the paint, and generate efficient scoring has already turned heads around the league. When you pair Wembanyama’s impact with a Spurs offense now ranked among the NBA’s top 10, the foundation for a late-season push becomes undeniably compelling.
But it goes beyond just Wemby.
San Antonio’s trend lines — particularly in the two months leading into the All-Star break — indicate a team growing more confident and cohesive by the week. With depth across the roster and a mix of youth and savvy veterans stepping up, the Spurs are positioned to sustain their momentum down the stretch.
The Thunder, meanwhile, have battled injuries and might prioritize health and playoff readiness over regular-season seeding in these final weeks. That could open the door for a Spurs acceleration few would have predicted at the start of the campaign.
For Spurs fans, this isn’t just a flashy headline — it’s a statement about how far this franchise has climbed. After years of rebuilding and incremental progress, San Antonio isn’t merely contending for a high seed; it’s now in the conversation as a legitimate contender for the top spot in the West.
If this prediction comes true, it won’t just be validation — it’ll signal the arrival of a new contender era anchored by Wembanyama and a deep, well-balanced roster.