The San Antonio Spurs are heading into the 2026-27 NBA season with a starting five that turns heads right away.
Head coach Mitch Johnson said Friday that San Antonio will open Tuesday against the Oklahoma City Thunder with De'Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper all in the starting lineup together, forming a three-guard backcourt. Devin Vassell and Victor Wembanyama will round out the group.
"We're planning on starting that same crew [in the opener]," Johnson said, according to ESPN's Michael C. Wright.
It’s a notable choice, but not an untested one. The Spurs gave that look a run in Wednesday’s 123-103 preseason win over the Phoenix Suns, and the results were a mixed bag. The trio had a slow offensive start before San Antonio settled in and finished 10 points better than Phoenix during their 11 minutes on the floor together.
The numbers from that stretch show both the promise and the concern. San Antonio hit only two of nine shots from beyond the arc with Fox, Castle and Harper on the court at the same time, but the group still managed to control the glass by outrebounding the Suns 13-11.
That balance - potential on one end, questions on the other - is exactly why this lineup stands out. Johnson is clearly putting real weight on building chemistry among three ballhandlers who barely shared the floor last season. ESPN reported that Fox, Castle and Harper played together for just 69 minutes in 2025-26, including 25 minutes in the NBA Finals, and the Spurs were outscored by 47 points in those minutes.
Fox put the shooting issue plainly. "When we're making shots, it allows other guys to be able to get downhill," Fox said.
He also pointed to floor spacing as a key to unlocking what San Antonio can do offensively.
For the Spurs, the opener is more than just a first game. They’re coming off an NBA Finals appearance last season, when they lost to the New York Knicks, and now they’re trying to see how this new structure holds up against a Thunder team waiting right out of the gate.
Wembanyama’s ability to do damage on both ends gives San Antonio some cover in a smaller lineup. His defensive presence and outside range could help offset some of the size concerns, but the heavy lifting still falls on Fox, Castle and Harper to create offense without giving away too much at the other end.
Tuesday should give Johnson an early read on whether this group can work at the highest level. The Spurs have plenty of talent. The question is whether this particular mix can turn that talent into something much bigger.
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