The San Antonio Spurs entered the 2025-26 NBA season with differing expectations, but have blown each and every one out of the water.
The San Antonio Spurs have clinched a top-two seed in a loaded Western Conference and won 60 games this season, exceeding any preseason expectations. Entering the season, the Spurs were largely expected to be frisky and fun, maybe taking a more experienced team to six or seven games in the playoffs, but that would be about it.
With the Thunder, Rockets, Nuggets, Timberwolves, and Lakers all expected to be better than the Spurs, San Antonio was projected to be in that second tier of teams with the Clippers, Suns, Warriors, and Mavericks.
Instead, they're the cream of the crop.
As the season wanes, we looked back on some of the preseason predictions and where the Spurs are now.
How San Antonio Spurs Exceeded Expectations
Even the league's most prominent experts didn't count the Spurs as a serious title contender at the start of the season, and now find themselves eating some crow.
"I thought the Spurs would sneak into the playoffs; they’re close to being the top seed in the entire conference," wrote The Athletic's Law Murray in his end-of-season wrap-up. "Mitch Johnson did a wonderful job of getting all of his guards (All-Star De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, and reserve rookie Dylan Harper) to work in concert with one another as well."
Before the season started, ESPN gave the Spurs a seven percent chance to make the postseason.
"In Year 3 for Wembanyama, the Spurs are expected to make a real push to end a six-year postseason drought," Michael Wright wrote in October. "Expect Wembanyama to join the top of the MVP conversation."
Wright and ESPN were correct about Wembanyama's individual performance, but seemed to undersell the team success they would go on to have. I also fell to the same fate.
In October, I defined success for the Spurs as "winning two playoff games." Not two series, but two games.
It's safe to say I've been impressed all season long.
Now, what would be a successful postseason for the Spurs? Considering they will face a play-in team in the first round, losing in six games doesn't exactly scream "success."
Despite the Spurs' 4-1 record this season against the Thunder, most fans agree that OKC will be the favorite in a possible Western Conference Finals matchup. If the Spurs can make things tough in the Conference Finals before falling to the eventual champion, I think most fans will be content with that, provided the Spurs come back with a vengence next season.