The San Antonio Spurs are second in the West and with 28 games remaining in the regular season, one number stands out as the team tries to make history.
The San Antonio Spurs are the second-best team in the Western Conference according to record, and the best according to a recent power ranking.
Out West, it seems to be a two-horse race between the Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder. OKC boasts a better record overall, although the Spurs have won four of the five head-to-head matches.
Unlike their rivals, the Spurs are inexperienced, and their current core has not been to the postseason together, or at all, in most cases. That means the Spurs are in a prime position to be upset in an earlier round by a lower-seeded team, although fans and experts alike have San Antonio penciled in to make the Conference Finals.
For Victor Wembganyama, a deep playoff run could be the first major step on his GOAT journey, and one number stands out to solidify his spot as one of the league's best players.
San Antonio Spurs' Magic Number: 3
In his rookie season, Wembanyama was robbed of Defensive Player of the Year by Rudy Gobert. Last season, he was the clear frontrunner before blood clots ended his season well short of the 65-game threshold to qualify.
This season, he has already missed 14 games, meaning he can only miss three more before he is ineligible for a second season in a row.
This season, he is anchoring the third-best defense in the league, leading the NBA with 2.7 blocks per game, and is racking up a steal for good measure. What's most apparent is the fear he strikes in his opponents, who are scared to shoot in the paint at all when he's on the floor. Adversion can't be measured, but it's plainly obvious.
Unlike in seasons past, Wembanyama is also in the MVP race, although he is not a front-runner, in large part thanks to his narrow three-game window. According to Las Vegas oddsmakers, Wembanyama is fifth, behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, Cade Cunningham, and Luka Doncic. The NBA's MVP Ladder has Wemby in the same spot.
Averaging 24.4 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 2.8 assists for one of the top teams in the NBA is no easy feat, and Wembanyama could be the league's youngest MVP if he takes home the award in 2026.
This season, only Jokic's health has been as unreliable as Wembanyama's, but as long as he can make the 65-game threshold by playing in 25 of the Spurs' final 28 games, he should get votes for the first time in his career. The magic number is three.