A Western Conference coach may have handed Oklahoma City the edge in completeness, but the Spurs have plenty of ammunition to argue otherwise.
The anonymous coach said, “The Spurs have great young players, but no one is more complete than the Thunder.” That might have sounded obvious in August 2025, when Oklahoma City was coming off an NBA title and San Antonio was still fresh from a lottery season.
A year later, the picture looks different. The Spurs have deepened their roster, while the Thunder have moved on from Luguentz Dort, Aaron Wiggins, and Isaiah Joe.
So the comparison isn’t just about the headline stars anymore. It’s about the first nine players in each rotation, stacked against each other by pecking order - and that’s where San Antonio starts to make its case.
At the top, the Spurs can hold their own and then some. Victor Wembanyama and Shai Gilgeous Alexander both tilt games, but in different ways.
SGA brings the MVP resume and the cleaner offensive creation. Wembanyama, though, is the more complete two-way force and the reigning unanimous DPOY.
Both lift the people around them, but Wembanyama’s defensive impact creates a gap Gilgeous Alexander can’t erase, something that showed up in the Western Conference Finals.
The next matchup is closer than it might look at first glance. Jalen Williams has the stronger offensive game right now and is already a bona fide two-way player.
Stephon Castle, meanwhile, is the better defender, has the more promising offensive growth, and is already the better passer. The reputation advantage still belongs to Williams, but the separation is smaller than people think.
De’Aaron Fox gives San Antonio another major advantage. He’s an explosive creator who can take over an offense, and when Wembanyama and Castle missed nine or more games last season, Swipa handled the load.
Chet Holmgren is a solid two-way big, but Wembanyama’s presence makes Holmgren’s defensive value less distinctive in this matchup. Fox can create his own offense in a way Oklahoma City doesn’t get from Holmgren.
Devin Vassell also swings things toward the Spurs. He’s one of the best role players in the league, doing real work on both ends.
Jared McCain can shoot, but his size and defense are issues. That edge is clearly San Antonio’s.
The one starter-level nod in this stretch goes to Oklahoma City with Isaiah Hartenstein over Julian Champagnie. Hartenstein’s size, rebounding, screening, and passing all carry real value.
Champagnie can stretch the floor, but when the shot isn’t dropping, he can fade from view. On different nights, either player can matter more.
Where San Antonio really starts to separate itself is in the depth. Dylan Harper, Tobias Harris, Luke Kornet, Carter Bryant, Keldon Johnson, and Harrison Barnes make up a second wave that looks every bit as threatening as Oklahoma City’s group of Ajay Mitchell, Cason Wallace, Jaylin Williams, Alex Caruso, Kenrich Williams, and Bennett Stirtz.
The Thunder still have plenty of talent, and they may well sit second on the list of the league’s most complete teams. But the Spurs have taken that crown.
Keldon Johnson wasn’t even mentioned until five names into the Spurs’ depth chart, and he’s the reigning Sixth Man of the Year. That says plenty about how much San Antonio can throw at opponents.
Both benches feature players who could start elsewhere. The difference, as laid out here, is that some of San Antonio’s reserves would be first-, second-, or third-option types on other teams.
Harper, in particular, is the kind of player who could be the best option on a handful of rosters. Oklahoma City’s second unit doesn’t have anyone with that same claim.
That’s why the idea of the Thunder as the league’s most complete team doesn’t hold up here. And if these two meet again on October 20, San Antonio figures to have more than enough to prove it.
In Other News...
Spurs Could Soon Face A Risky De'Aaron Fox Decision
The Spurs head into the new season with a backcourt that already looks crowded, and that is mostly a good problem to have. Stephon Castle and De'Aaron Fox are expected to open as the starters, giving San Antonio a pair of proven options while Dylan Harper, a promising rookie, keeps pushing the conversation forward with his early play.
Harpers development could eventually put coach Mitch Johnson in a tough spot if the young guard continues to improve at a rapid pace. The larger question for the Spurs is whether Fox would be comfortable with a reduced role if the lineup starts to shift, because any real backcourt reshuffling would have to account for more than just player performance. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Could Have A New Threat In The Sixth Man Race
Dylan Harpers rookie postseason gave the Spurs a promising look at what their backcourt future might hold. He averaged 11.8 points while chipping in on the boards and as a playmaker, the kind of well-rounded production that makes a young guard easier to project beyond just scoring. Around the league, that versatility is already starting to register, with ESPN pointing to Harper as a player whose role could grow into something far bigger over time.
The intrigue for San Antonio is how quickly that rise could happen and what it might mean for the roster around him. ESPNs view is that Harper could become a real Sixth Man of the Year candidate in 2026-27 if his development follows a path similar to James Hardens early ascent, and that kind of breakout would put even more pressure on the Spurs to keep the right pieces in place as the salary landscape tightens. [Read more 🡒]
Wembanyama Sees One Big Reason The Spurs Are Built To Rise
Victor Wembanyamas first deep playoff run gave the Spurs something more meaningful than a box score lesson. After reaching the postseason for the first time since 2019, San Antonio pushed all the way to the NBA Finals in 2026, a reminder of how far the franchise had come under Mitch Johnson and how much higher the ceiling can still be when the roster grows together. For a young core led by Wembanyama, the trip offered a clear look at what it takes to survive in May and June, and why the Spurs now look positioned to matter again in the West.
Wembanyama came away focused on the ingredients behind playoff success, with coaching, talent, sacrifice and execution all standing out in his view. That is the part San Antonio will carry forward, because the difference between a nice regular season and a real contender is often found in the details that only become obvious after a long spring. The Spurs already know they have the star power to belong in the conversation, and the next step is turning that experience into the kind of consistency that can keep them there. [Read more 🡒]