The modern-day San Antonio Spurs have drawn comparisons to the Oklahoma City Thunder team from2011, but they won’t make the same mistakes that team made.
The resemblance between the two rosters is uncanny. Oklahoma City was spearheaded by three young superstars: Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden. At 22 and 23 years old, the trio took the league by storm despite their inexperience. They got all the way to the NBA Finals before LeBron James and the Heat took down the youngsters in five games.
This year’s San Antonio squad was led by Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper, all of whom are 22 years old or under. After winning the Western Conference Finals against the Thunder, the Spurs also lost in Game Five of the NBA Finals against the Knicks.
Both rosters consisted of veteran leadership and skilled role players to surround their core pieces. Oklahoma City had defensive anchor Serge Ibaka, experienced center Kendrick Perkins, and left-handed point guard Derek Fisher for a support system. San Antonio used sharpshooting wings like Devin Vassell and Julian Champagnie, with experienced big man Luke Kornet and left-handed point guard De’Aaron Fox rounding out the rotation.
The two teams stunned the public with exciting phenoms who were way ahead of schedule.
What Was The Thunder’s Mistake, That The San Antonio Spurs Need To Avoid?
After losing in the Finals, General Manager Sam Presti had a decision to make. Keep the support system or secure the big three. He chose the former, re-signing Ibaka while trading Harden to the Rockets for additional rotation pieces. The Thunder never made it back to the Finals with Westbrook or Durant.
Spurs General Manager Brian Wright has a different situation for this offseason compared to Presti’s. None of his stars are free agents or at risk of being traded this year, though Wembanyama is eligible for a luxurious extension. How Wright continues building the team in the near future will be how he avoids Presti’s mistake.
Wembanyama is the nucleus of San Antonio. The offense and defense run through him. Once he gets his potentially $300+ million extension, he will be locked in as a Spur for the foreseeable future. Who surrounds him will be a crucial part of the future.
The French center will be the first to sign an extension, but Castle and Harper will be due in the coming years. Fox has a four-year, $221.8 million contract that kicks in next season, and Champagnie will likely get a more expensive restructuring of his deal after a successful season. The key for Wright must be keeping the most important pieces on his roster while maintaining a strong support system.
In 2012, Presti chose the rotation over the star, and it failed. Harden changed the game in Houston, winning an MVP along the way, while Ibaka and the rest of the bench failed to make up for what Harden was able to do offensively. With no important unrestricted free agents, San Antonio will have a chance to solidify its most important players.
Wembanyama, Champagnie, Vassell, and Keldon Johnson are all extension-eligible this summer. Johnson is the only one who would be a free agent following the 2027-28 season and could be used as a trade piece next year if money gets tight. He is coming off a strong campaign where he won 6th Man of the Year, but the priority must be the core.
Just like Durant, Westbrook, and Harden in 2011, this is just the start for the Spurs’ trio. Wembanyama has already shown his superstardom, becoming an All-NBA First Team member. Harper and Castle showed flashes throughout the playoffs of what they are capable of.
The future couldn’t be brighter for a young San Antonio team. In order to continue finding success, though, Wright must find a way to keep intact his prodigies above all else. If that means sacrificing bench players like Johnson, then so be it.
Rotational guys can be drafted or replaced; franchise players cannot. Oklahoma City learned that the hard way and waited 13 years for another Finals appearance. Wright and the Spurs won’t make that same mistake.
