For a storied franchise like the San Antonio Spurs, a six-year postseason drought feels like an eternity. This is, in fact, their worst stretch in franchise history as they have never missed the playoffs for more than a season even during their time in the ABA. 

That should end this season. 

The Spurs are entering the 2025-26 season with a more complete roster and a full offseason to assimilate everyone into San Antonio’s organization and the system it wants to run. From the head coach who stepped in for an icon to players who joined at various parts of last season, transition was a recurring theme the Spurs had to navigate through. Now, they have found their footing and are poised to push towards a return to glory. 

What’s new? 

Perhaps the most obvious change is at the head of the bench. 

Mitch Johnson is no stranger to San Antonio not only because he has been with the Spurs organization for almost a decade (starting out as an assistant coach for the NBA G-League’s Austin Spurs), but also because he already filled in for Gregg Popovich last season. Johnson was 32-45 during that stretch and managed to put up a decent fight with a depleted roster that saw some shuffling later in the regular season. 

With Popovich stepping down and moving into a front office role, Johnson is now the full-time head coach. The principles Popovich laid down will likely remain, but Johnson will have to find his own voice. Moreover, the 38-year old will have to learn how to make adjustments on the fly. Last season, Johnson didn’t really have much to lose given how he was thrust into the head coach role and was largely tasked with keeping the ship afloat. Now, all eyes are on him as he tries to move past a Popovich-sized shadow.   

Dylan Harper is another new face that will have to find his way within San Antonio. Along with Victor Wembanyama, De’Aaron Fox, and Stephon Castle, Harper will look to thrive while navigating through the rigors of an NBA season. The second-generation hooper was a star in college and he should have no problems transitioning to the pros given how he has Fox as a mentor and Wembanyama as a teammate. The opportunities to take over are there, but in Year One, Harper would be better off picking his spots before striking fear at his opponents’ hearts. 

When the Spurs selected Carter Bryant at 14th overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, many saw a defensive menace whose production cannot be measured by his numbers alone. The energy and effort Carter brings to the table will definitely earn him minutes. Calling him a Defensive Player of the Year candidate may be a bit of a reach at this point, but those in San Antonio can very well say they found this generation’s Bruce Bowen. 

Biggest Questions 

Talent is one thing, but can the Spurs stay healthy? Even if they’re the pioneers of load management, they don’t have an insane injury history like that of the Philadelphia 76ers. However, that doesn’t mean San Antonio is immune to freak injuries and nagging issues that can sideline their players. It’s likely we will see the Spurs preach caution and so the likes of Wembanyama and Fox will be eased back as they recover from their respective injuries. Even young players like Harper will be given the same treatment, as the organization tends to have a long-term lens. 

That being said, can Johnson get everything together this season? A postseason appearance should be a fair goal especially with the talent on San Antonio’s roster. The top four seeds may be a bit of a reach, but avoiding the Play-In Tournament is a must considering it’s an extra game the Spurs would like to avoid. 

Players to Watch 

It’s Year Three for Victor Wembanyama, but in reality, it feels more like Year 2.5. The deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder threw him and San Antonio off, especially as the Frenchman was looking to atone for an Olympic disappointment. A long offseason gave the 21-year old time to rest and recover and it’s looking as if Wembanyama hasn’t missed a beat. 

Stephon Castle was the man for the Spurs when Wembanyama went down and even as Fox was acclimatizing himself to San Antonio. With everyone healthy and assimilated into the Spurs organization, it remains to be seen where Castle fits within the grand scheme of things. How the former UConn Husky handles the changes will also be crucial because his ability to adjust will be handy for when San Antonio is down a few players. 

Reason for optimism/concern 

The San Antonio Spurs roster is coming into form, but can it hold up for the year? If so, then we can expect an end to the years of futility spent outside the postseason. Admittedly, the Spurs’ success depends on a few moving parts, but now that they have the benefit of time together, fans in San Antonio are eager to see what lies ahead in this new and hopefully successful era for their Spurs.