The 2024-25 San Antonio Spurs’ Season Preview
September 3rd, 2024
by Alan Lu
Victor Wembanyama had a terrific rookie season, and the 7-foot-4 French center proved to be a marvel in the NBA last year. He won Rookie of the Year honors, made the All-Defensive first team, and he showed off a tremendous set of skills that has cemented his place as the Spurs’ newest franchise player. His individual brilliance single-handedly gave both San Antonio and NBA fans across the world to root for the Spurs again, and it was really fun watching him play last season.
As a team last year though, the Spurs disappointed, and they went 22-60 in the 2023-24 NBA season. They were still largely an inexperienced team, and it showed throughout the season, despite being led by head coach Gregg Popovich and superstar big man Victor Wembanyama, as the talent around them still needs to develop. Jeremy Sochan proved to be a tremendous defender last year, but the Spurs will need a point guard that can consistently get Wembanyama the basketball, and they will need to make considerable gains for the upcoming season.
Victor Wembanyama is a young, superstar big man that has re-energized the Spurs franchise with his individual brilliance during the 2023-24 NBA season. (Photo: David Zalubowski/Associated Press, via Spectrum News)
Star Players:
Victor Wembanyama is a tremendously skilled and athletic, versatile 7-4 French center that can really score the basketball, is a terrific shot blocker and is a very good defensive big man that provides great rim protection. He had a really good rookie season, and he will look to help the Spurs build towards something better for the 2024-25 NBA season.
Additions:
G Chris Paul, F Harrison Barnes, G-F Stephon Castle, G-F Brandon Boston Jr., and G Malachi Flynn
Chris Paul is a smart, cerebral point guard that is a playmaking wizard, and though he’s been injury prone, he’s a very offensively skilled playmaker that will probably end up being a Hall of Famer in the future. Harrison Barnes is a versatile combo forward that excels as a 3 and D player in the NBA, and has won an NBA championship with the 2015 Warriors. Brandon Boston Jr. is a talented swingman that has been up and down in the NBA, and could use some playing time to find his footing in this league. Malachi Flynn is a talented backup point guard that once scored 50 points for the Detroit Pistons in the NBA.
Subtractions:
F Cedi Osman, F Dominick Barlow, and G Devonte’ Graham
All three of them were basically fringe rotation players, and amongst them, Osman and Barlow could’ve factored into possible rotation roles if the Spurs had elected to keep them. Graham had a very disappointing season in 2024. Overall, the impact of losing these three players seem to be pretty minimal, and the Spurs will be able to replace them with other talented players.
Rookies:
G-F Stephon Castle, F Harrison Ingram, and F Riley Minix
Stephon Castle is a very athletic, energetic player that can play the point or off the ball, and he has both solid playmaking skills and sterling defensive skills. He’s an athletic slasher that can drive to the hoop to score, and he had a very good freshman season as he helped UConn win the 2024 National Championship.
Harrison Ingram is a smart, skilled combo forward that has strong playmaking skills, has improved his jump shot considerably, and should fit right into San Antonio’s system. Riley Minix is an offensively skilled forward that can shoot and score the basketball, and while he’s on an Exhibit 10 contract, he could be an intriguing player for San Antonio if he makes their team.
Expected Rotation:
Jeremy Sochan (middle) and Keldon Johnson (right) are two players that will play key, pivotal roles on the Spurs’ team this season.
(Photo: Reginald Thomas II/San Antonio Spurs, via mySA)
Projected Starting Lineup:
Victor Wembanyama is a tremendously talented big man that can do a lot of things on the court. Chris Paul is the passing, playmaking wizard and a super-skilled offensive player when healthy that would give Wembanyama the point guard he needs to play with. Harrison Barnes is a solid role player that excels on both ends of the floor and makes winning team plays. Jeremy Sochan is an athletic, energetic combo forward that has solid defensive skills and plays with a lot of grit, energy, and toughness. Devin Vassell is an athletic, skilled swingman that can shoot and score the basketball.
Key Bench Players:
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Devin Vassell is an agile, sharpshooting swingman that could be a valuable role player for the Spurs this season.
(Photo: Matt Krohn/USA Today Sports, via SB Nation’s Pounding the Rock)
The Spurs gave made steps to improve the depth of their roster. Keldon Johnson is a solid player that can score and defend, and he’s a reliable veteran that can play a lot of games and shoulder the scoring load. Tre Jones is a pass-first point guard that can reliably run the team, and he will also play scrappy defense.
G-F Stephon Castle
The Rest of the Roster:
G-F Sidy Cissoko
F Harrison Ingram (Two-Way)
G Jamaree Bouyea (Two-Way)
G David Duke Jr. (Two-Way)
Others in Camp:
G-F Brandon Boston Jr. (Exhibit 10)
G Malachi Flynn (Exhibit 10)
F Riley Minix (Exhibit 10)
Team Options at the End of the 2025 Season:
Here I will project the likelihood of the San Antonio Spurs to pick up and accept or decline the team options for various players at the end of the 2025 season.
Victor Wembanyama – Team Option Will Likely Be Accepted (100% Certainty)
Jeremy Sochan – Team Option Will Likely Be Accepted (100% Certainty)
Malaki Branham – 50/50, Leaning Towards It Will Be Accepted (50% Certainty)
Blake Wesley – 50/50, Leaning Towards It Will Be Accepted (50% Certainty)
Head Coach:
Gregg Popovich is one of the best coaches of all-time, and the Spurs’ coaching legend will get the opportunity to coach Victor Wembanyama this year.
(Photo: LM Otero/Associated Press, via KFAE)
Gregg Popovich
2023-24 (SAS): 22-60, Missed the Playoffs
Coaching Career: 1388-821, 170-114 in the NBA Playoffs, 5 NBA titles
Gregg Popovich is one of the greatest coaches of all-time, and he’s led the Spurs to win five NBA championships. He did a great job of coaching Victor Wembanyama, and from that standpoint, the season could be considered a mild success. On the other hand, their team still went 22-60 and missed the playoffs.
Their team is still young and very inexperienced, so he has his work cut out for him, but Popovich will look to get the most out of his players, and will keep his team fresh and competitive for the upcoming season.
NBA Head Coach Rank: 11
Outlook:
Gregg Popovich and Victor Wembanyama will lead the Spurs into the 2024-25 NBA season.
(Photo: David J. Phillip/Associated Press)
The San Antonio Spurs were really lucky to land the first overall pick in 2023, which enabled them to get 7-4 French star center Victor Wembanyama, that allowed them to pair him with their Hall of Fame coach, Gregg Popovich. It still gets harder though, because they still will have to compete in a very competitive NBA and Western Conference, and as they were among the worst teams in the league last year, they will have to prove themselves to move up the ladder.
The Spurs might struggle again this year, but they will probably be more competitive than some of the worst teams fared in previous seasons. They may struggle this season, but they’ll gain a valuable amount of experience and wisdom that should help them in the future.
Projected 2024-25 Finish:
Expected Win-Loss Record: 33-49
Projected Regular Season Finish: 13th in the Western Conference
Expected Playoff Finish: Projected to miss the playoffs
Preseason NBA Power Ranking: 23
I went to Basketball-Reference and SalarySwish to look up some information for this write-up. It will be an exciting basketball season this year, and I’m looking forward to seeing the upcoming NBA season to see how that will unfold. Anyways, that is my write-up on my preview of the 2024-25 San Antonio Spurs. Thanks for reading.