Why Spurs Championship Run Depends Entirely On Internal Answers
· Yahoo Sports
Winning 62 games can make a regular basketball team look like it has absolutely everything figured out. Going all the way to the NBA Finals usually proves that the team is the real deal.
Why Spurs Championship Run Depends Entirely On Internal Answers
However, the San Antonio Spurs now have to face the most uncomfortable part of professional sports: figuring out what small adjustments are still needed when the razor-thin margin between winning a championship and just being a runner-up gets even smaller.
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Spurs Need Clearer Answers
The Spurs had a strong playoff run and do not need major changes. They need to clarify the roles of the players they already have.
The key concern is in thebackcourt. De’Aaron Fox is still the main veteran starter running the offense. Meanwhile, Dylan Harper’s strong postseason performance gives San Antonio great bench depth, which means they can avoid rushing any changes.
De’Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper Have More Than Minutes at Stake
San Antonio Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox (4) shoots a three-point shot against New York Knicks guard Landry Shamet (44) during game four of the 2026 NBA Finals in the second quarter at Madison Square Garden. Vincent Carchietta, Imagn Images via Reuters Connect.Fox missed Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals with right ankle soreness. Harper stepped into the starting lineup and delivered 24 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and seven steals as San Antonio won in double overtime. Fox returned in Game 3, and the Spurs eventually reached the Finals.
Harper’s performance did not make Fox expendable. It showed that San Antonio has another guard who can survive when the game becomes bigger and more physical.
Fox remains the safer choice because he has already led the offense through a 62-win season. Harper offers more size and a longer runway beside Stephon Castle. The Spurs need training camp to decide who gets the ball in important moments, not just who starts the game. Fox remains valuable even if his role changes.
A sixth-man role could give Fox control of the second unit while allowing Harper to grow. But asking a veteran star on a major contract to accept that job would test the relationship quickly.
The Finals Changed What San Antonio Must Build
New York showed the danger of running the same action too often. When Victor Wembanyama drew extra attention, San Antonio needed other players to move before the defense could recover.
That should shape the offense next season. When Wembanyama gets doubled at the elbow, Castle should cut behind the help instead of waiting outside. Tobias Harris can screen, drift into open space, or attack the closeout.
Wembanyama attracts two defenders, so someone else needs to take advantage of the situation right away. Harris gives San Antonio another veteran who can make that read without needing the ball every trip.
Coming off a season where he averaged 13.3 points and 5.1 rebounds with the Detroit Pistons, Harris signed a two-year, $31 million deal to provide that exact floor-spacing and scoring stability in San Antonio.
Tarris Reed’s Role Could Decide the Second Unit
The Spurs also changed their frontcourt depth this summer. Jayden Quaintance is recovering from knee surgery, while veteran options such as Kelly Olynyk and Mason Plumlee are no longer there to absorb difficult minutes.
With early injuries in the frontcourt, Tarris Reed Jr. is being thrust into the rotation earlier than expected. San Antonio acquired the rights to the UConn big man after Denver selected him at No. 26, sending the No. 35 pick and two future second-rounders to the Nuggets to finalize the deal.
Reed doesn’t need to copy Wembanyama’s unique skills. He needs to protect the rim, grab rebounds, and play good defense when the star is resting. His ability to stabilize those non-Wemby minutes makes him one of the Spurs’ most vital young role players.
San Antonio already knows it can stack up wins during the long regular season, but its next test will be much tougher. The coaching staff needs to determine who will be the primary playmaker and how the offense can remain effective when defenses focus on Wembanyama.
Additionally, they must assess whether the inexperienced backup big men can hold their own under the basket. The answers to these crucial questions will determine their next deep playoff run far more than just racking up another impressive regular-season record.
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Photo Credit: Scott Wachter, Imagn Images via Reuters Connect