The script was written. When the San Antonio Spurs opened the 2025-26 season with cautious optimism, everyone knew the potential was stratospheric. They finally had the perfect, yet fragile, blend: steady veterans, hungry young talent, and, right at the center of the universe, Victor Wembanyama—the alien, the generational unicorn [00:41].
A 7-foot-5 monster who erases shots like a cheat code and moves with the fluidity of a point guard [00:48], Wembanyama is the kind of player who can, and did, literally change a franchise overnight. After a sensational sophomore season that saw him flirt with MVP numbers—30 points, 14 boards, three assists, and nearly five blocks per game [01:43]—the Spurs did the unbelievable. A franchise built on decades of consistency and winning under Coach Popovich started the season 5-0 for the first time in its storied history, a feat that surpassed even the legendary Duncan and Parker eras [01:33].
They were tearing through the first week like a storm, dominating, looking, dare we say it, historic. This early run was made all the more staggering because they were doing it without their big-money acquisition and supposed floor general, De’Aaron Fox. Rookie phenom Dylan Harper, the number two pick, was seamlessly filling the secondary star role, while Stephen Castle, fresh off his Rookie of the Year campaign, turned his momentum into pure fire, stepping up as a powerful two-way force [02:11]. The hype was justified; the future was here.
Then, in a cruel twist of fate that is all too familiar to the San Antonio faithful, the injury curse struck again.
The Collapse That Never Came
On November 14th, the foundation of their success shuddered. Victor Wembanyama went down with a left calf strain [02:32]. Given his medical history, which included a severe scare with deep vein thrombosis that cut short his previous season, the team was rightly cautious. The last thing they would risk was another major setback for the face of their franchise [02:39].
The very next game, the unthinkable happened: Stephen Castle, the team’s other young star, got hurt too [02:45].
Suddenly, the cautious optimism evaporated, replaced by a deep, familiar dread. No Wemby. No Castle. Most teams in the league would simply fold right there. The assumption was simple: no stars, no chance [02:53]. Analysts across the country were preparing their obituaries for the Spurs’ promising season, expecting them to crumble, sink, and resume the tanking habits the franchise was so recently built on.
But this new group of Spurs—this unrecognizable, defiant team—never got that memo.
Instead of sinking, they kept swinging. They battled through the chaos, stacking up real, gritty wins, including a nail-biter against a tough Atlanta squad, and, most importantly, an eye-opening victory over the reigning Western Conference powerhouse, the Denver Nuggets [03:01]. The question hanging in the air was profound: How did a team missing its two best players turn disaster into a breakout statement?
The Quiet Genius of a New System
You cannot replace Victor Wembanyama. To even suggest a backup plan for a 7-foot-5 alien who is on pace to join Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and David Robinson as only the third player ever to average at least 25 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, and three blocks a game—and do it more efficiently than both—is ridiculous [03:31].
Since cloning Wemby is not an option, the Spurs built something else: a rugged, relentless system around one simple, old-school principle: possessions win games [04:05].
It sounds basic, but the execution is pure genius. This team decided to outwork, outrebound, and out-hustle every single opponent. Control the glass, force turnovers, and suddenly, you control the game. This philosophy is exactly how San Antonio has been shocking teams left and right. Take their grinded-out win over Portland—nothing flashy, no highlight reels, no hot shooting night, just grit and hustle. They took 14 more shots than the Blazers simply by dominating the glass and forcing extra possessions [04:22]. When you are missing your 25-point franchise superstar, every single possession becomes pure gold [04:43].
Fox: The Calm in the Chaos
The pivot point of this cultural shift was De’Aaron Fox. Stepping up like a true floor general, Fox took total control of the offense. With him running the show, San Antonio suddenly looks like a team that actually knows exactly what it’s doing out there [04:52].
The difference is control. The turnovers have plummeted, a shocking development for a young team facing adversity. In five of the seven games without Wemby and Castle, the Spurs have coughed it up 10 times or fewer [05:06]. That is not luck; that is leadership. Fox has been the calm in the chaos, keeping the tempo steady, reading defenses, and ensuring the ball moves with purpose. Without the wild swings that Wemby and Castle sometimes bring, the Spurs are playing smoother, smarter, and sharper basketball [05:28]. Fox is the steady hand holding this young squad together in crunch time [05:37].
The narrative surrounding Fox, after a rough ending to his Sacramento run and a frustrating injury in his first Spurs season, was dangerously close to decline. A lot of people quietly wondered: was this the start of Fox’s decline? The answer, however, is an emphatic, “Absolutely not.” Fox is thriving again, averaging 26 points, three rebounds, and seven assists without Wembanyama in the lineup [08:26].
His blazing first step and end-to-end burst still leave defenders spinning, and his court vision remains deadly. He’s putting relentless pressure on the rim, finishing 81% of his shots within three feet—elite efficiency [08:43]. Over 18% of his offense comes from those fearless drives to the basket, keeping defenses guessing [08:57]. But the true mark of a professional is adjustment. When his usually reliable mid-range jumper started struggling (hitting just 30%), Fox did what real pros do: he flipped the script, going straight to work from deep [09:11]. Launching 6.4 threes a game and hitting a wild 38% of them—career-high territory—he has fundamentally changed how defenses must play him [09:38]. The results speak for themselves: the Spurs have won eight of the 12 games Fox has suited up for during this improbable run. He’s been carrying the squad, and everybody in the locker room knows it [09:51].
Old-School Spurs DNA: Grit and Discipline
Beyond Fox’s heroics, this resurgence is fueled by the dirty work—the grind that wins games when the stars are missing. The Spurs are bullying teams on the offensive glass [05:43]. Their rebounding numbers have skyrocketed compared to last season. This is no coincidence; this is pure, maniacal effort. Jeremy Sochan is flying in from the corners like a man possessed, Luke Cornet is using every inch of his frame to battle inside, and Keldon Johnson is crashing the boards like he’s trying to earn a UFC contract [05:58].
Those second-chance plays are everything: missed shots turning into extra life, extra life turning into points, and points turning into wins. It’s not flashy, but it’s the old-school Spurs basketball Popovich instilled years ago: grit, hustle, and patience [06:19].
Defensively, they’ve been just as crafty. Without two of their best stoppers, San Antonio can no longer rely on raw talent. So, they’re doing what smart underdogs do: they outthink their opponents [06:28]. For years, the Spurs’ defensive playbook has been built on one simple principle: force your opponent into the most inefficient shot on the court—the mid-range jumper [06:43]. That identity is alive and well. San Antonio gives up more mid-range looks than any other team in the league—on purpose. Opponents are hitting them at just 41.8%, which, in reality, is one of the worst returns per possession in modern basketball [07:06]. This quiet, disciplined dominance shows how deeply this team still understands its defensive DNA [07:28].
The Statement Win Over Denver
No game proved the steel in this team’s spine more than their statement victory over the reigning champions, the Denver Nuggets. Early on, it looked disastrous. Denver came out swinging, running up a 23-8 second-quarter lead and walking into halftime up 74-59 [12:01].
The excuses were lined up perfectly: The Spurs were missing their top two defenders, facing Nikola Jokic—the best player on the planet—and Jamal Murray. Everything screamed mismatch. But the Spurs didn’t fold. They fought back like a team with something to prove [12:18].
The turning point was palpable: two four-point plays in the third quarter flipped the energy in the entire arena [12:34]. The vibe shifted. San Antonio clawed their way back, showing pure grit and focus. This wasn’t just a regular season win; it was personal—a loud message to the league that they can compete, right now, with or without their generational star. The dust settled on an insane 139-136 win over Denver—their fifth victory without Wembanyama [12:53].
Leading the charge were the two longest-tenured Spurs: Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson. Vassell was simply unreal, exploding for 35 points on 12-of-17 shooting, including seven of nine from three-point range [13:10]. Every time Denver tried to close the gap in the fourth, it was Vassell who stepped up with an ice-cold dagger [13:24]. For a player who had been labeled disappointing early in the season, this was redemption in real time, as he finally settled into his true role as a lethal off-ball shot maker [13:37].
Meanwhile, Keldon Johnson reminded everyone why he is the emotional heartbeat of this squad. His energy, alongside Julian Champagnie, fueled that massive third-quarter comeback with hustle plays, rebounds, and pure passion [13:51]. And the rise of Champagnie continues; he’s now a real weapon, spacing the floor with confidence and drilling threes like it’s nothing [14:15].
Even 33-year-old veteran Harrison Barnes has been vital, bringing wisdom, balance, and stability. He is “Mr. 100%”—the steady heartbeat in the middle of San Antonio’s chaos, shooting a blazing 42% from deep, creating the gravity that opens up driving lanes for Fox and rhythm for the young guns [14:44].
The Terrifying Future
The question now is not if the Spurs can survive, but what happens when Wembanyama and Castle finally return.
The ceiling for San Antonio could flat-out explode [19:15].
Rookie sensation Dylan Harper is already back and fitting in perfectly, complementing Fox with his ability to create, pass, and attack the rim when defenses overcommit [17:39]. Even after missing 10 games, Harper didn’t skip a beat, stepping back onto the court with the smooth control and confidence that screams future star [11:01].
The integration of the two injured stars into this new “possession-first” identity will be seamless, and, crucially, it will benefit them both. Castle, who led the league in turnovers earlier this year, won’t need to carry as heavy a load anymore with Fox and Harper sharing creation duties [17:19]. He can slide into the secondary playmaker role that fits him perfectly, calming his mistakes and letting him thrive doing what he does best: cutting, defending, and keeping the ball moving.
And Wemby? He stands to benefit the most. With Fox running the show and Harper emerging as a legitimate offensive threat, Wembanyama won’t have to create from the perimeter nearly as much [17:39]. This will clean up his turnovers and let him focus on pure dominance: catching lobs, crashing the glass, and murdering defenses inside. Imagine a more streamlined, efficient, and locked-in Wembanyama. That is nightmare fuel for the entire league [17:52].
Defensively, this team could level up instantly. Fox is already one of the league’s nastiest thieves, Castle has lockdown potential, and Vassell is quietly having one of his best defensive seasons yet. Add that trio together, and you have a blueprint built for chaos: more steals, more pressure, and more possessions [18:14]. And behind them, the ultimate safety net: Wembanyama himself, standing guard like a 7-foot-5 shadow that terrifies anyone even thinking about driving to the rim [18:22].
This new mindset is working. The Spurs still rank seventh in offensive rating after Thanksgiving—an absurd feat for a team missing its best player [18:38]. They are not surviving; they are evolving. They are closing games with confidence, all while missing their generational superstar. That’s not luck—that’s the birth of a winning culture [16:58].
The San Antonio Spurs were supposed to crumble, but instead, they forged a new identity in the fire of adversity. The rest of the NBA has been put on notice: this ain’t the same old San Antonio Spurs anymore. The future isn’t just bright; it’s terrifyingly good.
