The San Antonio Spurs are on their way to a record-breaking NBA season, and the only thing shocking about it is that San Antonio teams of the past couldn't match the feat.
The San Antonio Spurs, historically, are one of the most accomplished franchises in the NBA. Built around dominant big men like David Robinson, Tim Duncan, and now Victor Wembanyama, the "Spurs Way" dictates that teamwork and ball movement is more important than individual stats.
This season, the new-look Spurs have embodied that, averaging 27.1 assists per game, well over league average.
While they aren't leading the league in assists, the Spurs are sharing the ball better than any other team, evidenced by the fact that they are on pace to be the first team to ever have eight 10PPG scorers.
Spurs to Set NBA Teamwork Record
Starters Victor Wembanyama, Devin Vassell, Stephon Castle, De'Aaron Fox, and Julian Champagnie are all posting over 10 points per game, and Dylan Harper, Harrison Barnes, and Keldon Johnson are all bringing double digits off the bench.
Wembanyama, of course, leads the Spurs, and Barnes is barely hanging onto the average, posting 10.2 points per contest.
No other team in NBA history has had eight players post those numbers before.
The most startling part of the Spurs being in uncharted waters? The fact that San Antonio squads of the past have never been here before.
In 2014, the "Beautiful Game" Spurs won 62 games, the NBA Finals, and led the league with 25.2 dimes per game. Only Duncan, Tony Parker, Kawhi Leonard, Manu Ginobili, Marco Belinelli, and Patty Mills posted ten or more points per game.
In 2012, the Spurs tied the Bulls for the best record in the league and posted a franchise-high 6.2 relative offensive rating. It was their best season ever in terms of offensive output.
Only four players averaged double digits that season.
If this season's Spurs can hang on to finish with the second-best record in the Western Conference and set a record for the most diverse scoring output in league history, it will continue to cement the Spurs as one of the most efficient and successful organizations in the league. Of course, it's worth noting that the roster is young and only getting better, so expect the franchise to set multiple league-wide records in the coming seasons and have plenty of hardware to show from it.