Backcourt play can swing a season in a hurry, and the best guard pairings usually do more than just pile up points. They fit.
They cover for each other. They make the whole offense and defense hum a little louder.
That’s the standard San Antonio is measuring against as the 2026-27 season approaches.
The Spurs’ own duo has already forced its way into the conversation. De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle landed at No. 4 on a list of the NBA’s five best starting backcourts, a strong showing for a pairing that is still coming together.
Castle is only in his second season, but his playmaking, defensive ability and explosiveness have already made him a problem for opponents. Fox, meanwhile, remains one of the league’s quickest guards with the ball, and together they put constant pressure on defenses.
At No. 5, the Knicks’ Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart round out the list. Brunson is described as a true leader and an unbelievably clutch performer, while Hart brings the gritty, do-it-all style that fits winning basketball. The source frames it as a simple case of earning respect.
The Lakers check in at No. 3 with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Doncic is called an MVP candidate every season and an offensive savant, one of the greatest players ever on that side of the floor.
Reaves gives them a legitimate secondary scorer and a player who can catch fire on any night. The issue holding them back is defense.
At No. 2, the 76ers’ Tyrese Maxey and Jaylen Brown are included even though they haven’t played together yet. The expectation is that they’ll work well with Nick Nurse in the mix. Brown brings Finals MVP credentials and elite two-way value, while Maxey can explode for 30 or 40 points at a moment’s notice, even if defense isn’t his strong suit.
The top spot belongs to Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams. The pairing is described as proven, elite and championship-tested, with the ability to create, sacrifice and handle just about anything asked of them. The Spurs knocked them off, but the source notes that Oklahoma City was compromised and that it still wasn’t easy.
San Antonio’s place on the list leaves room for more. If Castle takes another step and Fox rebounds from what was called a disappointing postseason, the Spurs could move into the top three by the end of the season and even push for No. 1 by next spring.
In Other News...
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For Johnson, that shifts the focus from an easy long-term commitment to a more uncertain stretch ahead. The Spurs could keep him on the current deal and sort out the rest later, but the bigger picture now points toward a team that may be more willing to explore other paths than lock him in as a centerpiece. [Read more 🡒]
Mitch Johnson Faces A Spurs Problem Fans Once Would Have Loved
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Spurs May Have Finally Fixed What Cost Them In The Finals
The Spurs came out of the Finals with a clear diagnosis of what went wrong, and it was less about talent than about the final possessions. Against the Knicks, the games tightened late and San Antonio repeatedly came up short in the fourth quarter, a reminder that the margin between a title and a near miss can be decided by a handful of clean looks, one stop or a steadier hand when the pressure spikes.
That is why the front office spent the offseason looking for help that could ease the burden on Victor Wembanyama and give the offense another reliable option when the clock gets thin. Wembanyama carried a heavy load and looked worn down by the end of the series, so the Spurs added a veteran scorer with playoff experience to help them survive those closing minutes better next season. [Read more 🡒]