Spurs advance to NBA Finals after stunning turnaround
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The Spurs with the Oscar Robertson Trophy after winning Game 7. Photo: Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images
The Spurs had one of the most dramatic turnarounds in franchise history a year after winning only 34 of 82 games and navigating Gregg Popovich's retirement from coaching.
Why it matters: San Antonio had roughly a 50% chance of making it to the playoffs this year. Now, the Spurs are four wins away from their sixth NBA championship.
Catch up quick: The Spurs on Saturday knocked off the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, clinching the Western Conference finals with a 111-103 road win in Game 7.
- The Spurs are the second-youngest team to make it to the NBA finals in recent history, with an average age of 25.06, per the league.
The big picture: Much of the conversation surrounding San Antonio, which hadn't made it to the postseason since 2019, centered on its players' lack of playoff experience, with the exception of veterans De'Aaron Fox and Harrison Barnes.
What they're saying: "What an accomplishment, what we just did — beating the defending champs on the road in seven games," coach Mitch Johnson told players after Game 7. "Sounds like a whole lot of experience to me."
Between the lines: A healthy Victor Wembanyama returned after a blood-clot diagnosis cut short his 2024-25 season. Wemby, 22, was named conference finals MVP on Saturday, averaging 27.3 points, 10.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.4 steals and 2.7 blocks in the series.
- Guard Stephon Castle followed up his Rookie of the Year campaign by averaging 18 points, 5 rebounds and 7.6 assists in the series.
- Rookie Dylan Harper became a trusted contributor, averaging 12 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists against OKC while stepping in when Fox was out with an ankle injury.
What's next: The Spurs face the New York Knicks in the Finals. Game 1 is Wednesday at Frost Bank Center.
- Tickets are on sale now.
Flashback: It's a rematch of the Spurs' first championship in 1999 against the Knicks, which marked Tim Duncan's first title. The Spurs won in five games.
The bottom line: The rebuild is over. Go Spurs Go.