2026-27 Season Preview: San Antonio Spurs

Victor Wembanyama and Dylan Harper look to lead a hungry Spurs squad.

Offseason Recap

•

Last Season

: 62-20 (2nd in West, lost in NBA Finals)

• Key Additions

: Maliq Brown, Ja’Kobi Gillespie, Tobias Harris, Jayden Quaintance, Tarris Reed Jr.

Every Spurs move this offseason

Season Outlook

Their

2026 NBA Finals

foibles can only serve as a lesson, albeit a painful one, for the Spurs this season as they find themselves once again qualified to play deep into June.

This certainly applies to Victor Wembanyama; in his quest for greatness, Wemby resolves to return a stronger force, which is setting the bar high, considering his improved offense and stellar rim protection from a season ago.

If Stephon Castle is a first-time All-Star and others show growth on this deep and talented squad, there’s no question about it — the determined Spurs are in for a long season. In a good way.

Breakout Candidate: Dylan Harper

Harper was a steady contributor throughout his rookie season who especially gained traction during the Finals when – at times – he was the most reliable Spurs player on the floor. He was solid throughout the playoffs, averaging 14.1 points and 5.6 rebounds, elevated numbers from the regular season (11.8, 3.4, respectively). That experience can only fortify his confidence and boost his place in the rotation.

Harper could keep a sixth-man role because he has Manu Ginobili vibes, but if more minutes or a promotion becomes necessary, Harper has the faith of the locker room and coaching staff. He’s superb at attacking the rim and brings an improving outside jumper. He’s a potential star in the making.

1 Number To Know

+3.4

— Castle averaged 8.9 assists per 36 minutes, up from 5.5 as a rookie. That (+3.4) was the biggest jump among 290 players who played at least 500 minutes in each of the last two seasons.

Castle took a big step forward, both in regard to scoring and playmaking, after winning the 2024-25 Kia

Rookie of the Year award

. He’s also developed some terrific chemistry with Victor Wembanyama, having assisted the big man 130 times last season. That was 3.9 assists per 36 minutes on the floor together, the highest rate among 56 combinations where one player had at least 75 total assists to the other.

That duo is just 21 and 22 years old, so there’s more to come.

— John Schuhmann

5 Must-See Matchups

Oct. 20: Spurs vs. Thunder

— The season tipoff cuts to the chase and gives the Spurs a first look at their biggest threat in the West.

Oct. 31: Spurs vs. Timberwolves

— Another strong challenge in the West will be the new-look Wolves and, for Wemby, his countryman Rudy Gobert.

Dec. 25: Spurs vs. Knicks

— The rematch. In Madison Square Garden. On

Christmas Day

.

Feb 28: Spurs vs. Nuggets

— Clearly the two best centers in basketball, Wemby and Nikola Jokić are also projected as MVP contenders. They meet in this, the first of a back-to-back.

March 21: Spurs vs. 76ers

— Not only does Wemby get Joel Embiid, but this is the first of a tough four-game road stretch where the Spurs also play in Indiana, Boston and Detroit.

>

Complete Regular Season Schedule

Preseason Storylines

The hiring of assistant coaches usually falls off the radar, but there are exceptions. When the Spurs plucked Donovan,

the former Bulls coach

, away from his very short stay on the unemployment line, it was done with the purpose of making the offense flow better. That will be his primary role, and also to be an experienced voice next to Mitch Johnson.

The Spurs will also need to resolve the backup center situation, especially if they give Wemby limited playing time, as they did last season. Can Reed or other candidates push Luke Kornet, who struggled during the Finals, for playing time?

Complete Preseason Schedule

***

Shaun Powell has covered the NBA since 1985. You can e-mail him at

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