Before the 2025-26 season, nobody saw the San Antonio Spurs as real contenders, but that changed FAST once they hit the court, taking their elite play all the way to the NBA Finals for the first time as a squad. Now, as they look ahead to the 2026-27 season, these guys are walking around with massive targets on their backs, because their surprise factor is officially GONE. The Spurs know it, and the rest of the NBA is on notice.
From Underdogs to Top Dogs: The Shift is REAL
What a ride the 2025-26 season was for San Antonio, right? They weren’t just playing well; they were on “another level” and kept that elite energy going the whole damn year. It’s easy to see why Victor Wembanyama is the star leading the charge, with his elite talent carrying the team on both ends of the floor. But let’s be real, Wemby isn’t doing it all by himself. The Spurs are rocking a fantastic roster around him, and that’s what makes them such a dangerous force heading into the new season. They’re not just a team on the rise anymore; they’re even better now, and the entire league is gonna be gunning for them in every single game. This ain’t about being a Cinderella story anymore; this is about maintaining that elite status.
Julian Champagnie Calls It Like It Is
One of the core players, Julian Champagnie, totally gets it. He knows the team has to be even sharper this time around, because that element of surprise is gone. “I just feel like coming into this year, we’re more of the hunted; we’re not the hunters,” Champagnie told SiriusXM NBA Radio. He stressed that while they’ll still “go out there to hunt wins, hunt games, and hunt wins,” there’s a definite “shift” in how teams see them. Last year, nobody was really expecting them to be that good. But this year? Champagnie says, “teams are coming in saying, ‘They’re gonna be that good.’” So, the message is clear: they better be ready to live up to that. These guys are the big dogs now, and they absolutely have to meet those expectations in the 2026-27 season.
The Roster is Locked, The League is Watching
The Spurs aren’t just relying on Wembanyama, either. They’ve already figured out how to play the trio of De’Aaron Fox, Dylan Harper, and De’Aaron Fox together, which is huge for team chemistry. De’Aaron Fox and Victor Wembanyama are boosting the Spurs’ team chemistry, and that kind of cohesion is what championship-level teams are built on. Every team in the league is gonna be putting their best foot forward to take down the Spurs. The first game of the 2026-27 season isn’t just another game for them; it’s the start of proving they belong at the top.
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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