The San Antonio Spurs are absolutely itching for another shot at the NBA title after getting so close last year, but first, they’ve clearly zeroed in on what went sideways. They infamously lost four of five games to the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals despite snagging early leads, with the Knicks consistently pulling off fourth-quarter comebacks. We’re talking about blowing a mind-boggling 29-point lead in Game 4 of that series, where the Knicks just leaned on their experience and physicality to push the Spurs to the brink. So, yeah, San Antonio knows they gotta be better prepared for that style of play, and that’s been the whole focus of the team’s offseason grind.
Hitting the Gym: The Spurs’ New Physicality Push
After that rough Finals exit, San Antonio is making a concerted effort to amp up its physicality for the 2026-27 season. When you play four of the most physical teams in the league, like they did last year, it’s gotta impact your game, especially when the chips are down. De’Aaron Fox himself said, “We played four of the most physical teams you’ll play in the league. And coming in here playing pickup, you can see guys are used to that physicality. So that’s probably the biggest difference coming into this year.” It’s not just about getting bigger; it’s about being ready for the grind.
Coach Johnson on Smart, Physical Play
This focus isn’t just coming from the players; it’s a top-down mandate. Head coach Mitch Johnson, who was in his first full season at the helm last year, saw his team go through an “evolution” during the regular season when it came to physical play. Johnson noted, “There was a time last year where some teams had the approach of trying to beat us by being physical with us.” He specifically pointed out that “conversations about Victor were at the top of that list,” referring to Victor Wembanyama, who the league obviously targets. Johnson stressed that even his younger, physical players needed to learn how to be “smart and physical.” That’s a huge distinction, right? It’s not just about muscle, it’s about intelligent aggression, and Johnson feels that element of their game grew tremendously last season. With players like Wembanyama, De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper leading the charge, this refined physical mindset could be exactly what they need.
The Spurs largely bring back the same squad, but they’re betting big that the experience from last year, combined with this new emphasis on smart physicality, will propel them forward. To make another playoff run, they’ll inevitably have to clash with the Oklahoma City Thunder again, who they beat in the Western Conference Finals last year. But what’s really at stake is what comes *after* that, because they certainly weren’t ready for it in the NBA Finals. The Spurs are still a championship favorite, and this commitment to a more physical, yet smarter, brand of basketball can only boost those chances.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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