The San Antonio Spurs are heating up in a way we haven’t seen in years - six straight wins, their longest streak in six seasons, and it’s not happening by accident. For the first time all year, the full rotation is healthy, and now we’re seeing what this team actually looks like at full strength.
Spoiler: they’re good. Really good.
This version of the Spurs isn’t just scrapping out wins - they’re dominating on both ends of the floor. We’re talking about a team that’s knocking on the door of top-five status in both offensive and defensive efficiency.
That’s not just a fun stat to throw around - historically, teams that hit those marks are the ones still standing deep into May and June. It’s a formula that screams "title contender."
Balanced, Relentless, and Built to Last
Let’s start with the defense - the part of the game many expected San Antonio to hang their hat on, especially with Victor Wembanyama anchoring the paint. And while Wemby has missed nearly half the season so far (12 of 28 games), the Spurs haven’t missed a beat.
Stephon Castle has stepped up with poise beyond his years, and Luke Kornet has quietly become a rock-solid presence inside. The result?
A defense that’s not just surviving - it’s thriving.
But the real surprise has come on the offensive end. Coming into the season, the biggest question mark was whether this team could shoot the ball well enough to keep defenses honest.
That concern? Pretty much gone.
San Antonio’s perimeter shooting has turned into a legitimate strength, and it’s no fluke.
Shooting Their Shot - And Hitting
A big part of that transformation has come from head coach Mitch Johnson making a key rotation shift. By leaning more heavily on shooters like Harrison Barnes and Julian Champagnie - and dialing back minutes for Jeremy Sochan - the floor spacing has opened up. That’s given their playmakers more room to work, and the results have been eye-opening.
Devin Vassell is having the kind of shooting season that makes you double-check the stat sheet: 39.8% from three on seven attempts per game. That’s elite volume and elite accuracy.
And he’s not alone. De’Aaron Fox is right there with him, hitting 39.5% of his threes on over six attempts a night - a career-best clip for him as well.
But it’s not just about the long ball. Fox, Castle, and rookie Dylan Harper are relentlessly attacking the rim, collapsing defenses and creating chaos. Kornet, meanwhile, has emerged as a surprisingly steady contributor on offense, giving the Spurs a reliable big who can finish plays and keep the ball moving.
Wemby’s Impact and the Path Forward
Of course, Wembanyama is still doing Wembanyama things - altering shots, finishing inside, and stretching the floor in ways that very few bigs can. But what’s made this recent stretch so promising is how the team has grown even when he’s been sidelined. Now that he’s back, they’re rounding into form at just the right time.
San Antonio’s improved rebounding - especially on the offensive glass - and their ability to get to the free-throw line with consistency are two more signs that this isn’t just a hot streak. These are the kind of habits that carry over into the postseason.
And speaking of the postseason: the Spurs have climbed to the second-best record in the Western Conference. That’s not just a nice midseason headline - that’s positioning.
If they can hold onto a top-four seed, they’ll lock in home court for the first round. Even more importantly, finishing second or third would likely keep them on the opposite side of the bracket from the Oklahoma City Thunder until the Western Conference Finals.
That’s a big deal. Avoiding an early collision with OKC would give San Antonio a real shot at making a deep run.
And if they can keep up this two-way dominance - top-five in offense and defense - they won’t just be a playoff team. They’ll be a problem.
Bottom line: the Spurs are finally healthy, finally clicking, and finally showing the league what they’re capable of. And if this is just the beginning? The rest of the West should be paying attention.