Unexpected contender status fuels a bold prediction: Victor Wembanyama's defense propelling San Antonio to a remarkable 58-win season.
The San Antonio Spurs have found themselves in second place in the Western Conference just 3.5 games back from the Oklahoma City Thunder, and it is safe to say that not a lot of people predicted that.
Many thought the team would be good this season, but the forecast did not call for the contention to come this soon in many people's eyes.
But the Spurs are here, and they seem to be here to stay for a while.
In a recent article by Bleacher Report's Grant Hughes, he predicts what each NBA team's final record will be when the season is said and done. For the No. 2 seed in the West, he thinks they will finish at 58-24, and he attributes that to the team's defense.
Especially Victor Wembanyama.
"Opponents are attempting 5.2 percent fewer shots at the rim with him on the court than off... Basically, Wemby's presence on the floor turns close-range shots into low-percentage jumpers or kickouts," Hughes writes. "Though their 11-game winning streak ended after a season-low 89-point output in a loss at Madison Square Garden on March 1, the San Antonio Spurs are playing well enough to add another handful of wins to their projected total."
San Antonio’s improvement hasn’t been limited to defense, though. The offense has taken a noticeable step forward thanks to lineup adjustments and improved chemistry across the roster.
One notable change has been inserting Julian Champagnie into the starting lineup in place of veteran Harrison Barnes at power forward. The 24-year-old is shooting a bit better from three, and he is doing so with one more attempt per game. His young legs might also let the team get out and run more than if the 33-year-old Barnes were in.
Not only could the team get to 58 wins, but they could also get all the way to 60. The Spurs have not been able to do that since the 2016-17 season, when guys like Kawhi Leonard, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginóbili were still on the roster.
That kind of finish would represent a massive leap from preseason expectations and further cement the Spurs as a legitimate contender in the Western Conference. More importantly, it would reinforce the idea that the Wembanyama era in San Antonio isn’t just promising—it may already be arriving faster than many expected.