What Happened to San Antonio Spurs?
The San Antonio Spurs have undergone a dramatic resurgence, transitioning from a rebuilding phase to an NBA Finals contender by 2026. Led by generational talent Victor Wembanyama and back-to-back Rookies of the Year Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper, the team reached the 2026 NBA Finals under new head coach Mitch Johnson, marking a significant return to elite status.
Quick Answer
The San Antonio Spurs have experienced a remarkable turnaround, culminating in a 62-20 record and an appearance in the 2026 NBA Finals, where they ultimately lost to the New York Knicks. This rapid ascent was fueled by the emergence of Victor Wembanyama, who won Defensive Player of the Year, and consecutive Rookie of the Year winners Stephon Castle (2024) and Dylan Harper (2025). Mitch Johnson took over as head coach in 2025 following Gregg Popovich's retirement, guiding the team to its first playoff berth and division title since 2019 and 2017, respectively.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline13 events
Gregg Popovich Takes Leave of Absence
Longtime head coach Gregg Popovich experienced a minor stroke, necessitating an indefinite leave of absence five games into the 2024-25 season. Assistant Mitch Johnson stepped in as acting head coach.
Eliminated from 2025 Playoff Contention
The Spurs were officially eliminated from playoff contention for the sixth consecutive season after a loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, finishing the 2024-25 season with a 34-48 record.
Mitch Johnson Named Head Coach
Mitch Johnson was officially named the 19th head coach in Spurs history, succeeding Gregg Popovich, who retired after 29 seasons.
Dylan Harper Drafted No. 2 Overall
The Spurs selected guard Dylan Harper as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, adding another dynamic young guard to their roster.
Best Start in Franchise History
The San Antonio Spurs opened the 2025-26 regular season with their best start in franchise history, going 5-0.
2025 NBA Cup Runner-Up
The Spurs finished as the runner-up in the 2025 NBA Cup, winning West Group C and eliminating the Lakers and Thunder before losing to the New York Knicks in the championship game.
Undefeated Month and All-Star Selections
The Spurs went undefeated for the entire month of February 2026. Victor Wembanyama and De'Aaron Fox were selected as All-Stars, and Mitch Johnson earned a coaching spot in the 2026 NBA All-Star Game.
Clinched Playoff Berth
The Spurs clinched their first playoff berth since the 2018-19 season with a win against the Phoenix Suns.
Clinched Division Title
San Antonio clinched its first division title since the 2016-17 season with a victory over the Miami Heat.
Victor Wembanyama Named DPOY, Keldon Johnson Sixth Man of the Year
Victor Wembanyama was named the unanimous NBA Defensive Player of the Year, and Keldon Johnson was named NBA Sixth Man of the Year for the 2025-26 season.
Associate Head Coach Sean Sweeney Departs
Associate Head Coach Sean Sweeney left the Spurs to become the new head coach of the Orlando Magic, a move celebrated by the Spurs organization.
Reached NBA Finals
The San Antonio Spurs reached the 2026 NBA Finals, ultimately losing to the New York Knicks in five games (4-1).
Return of Silver Dancers Announced
The San Antonio Spurs announced the return of the Silver Dancers, an all-women's dance team, for the upcoming 2026-2027 NBA season to enhance the fan experience.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
The San Antonio Spurs, a storied NBA franchise, entered a significant rebuilding phase in the early 2020s, marked by several losing seasons. However, their fortunes dramatically shifted with strategic draft picks and a coaching transition. The 2024-2025 season saw a pivotal change in leadership as legendary head coach Gregg Popovich experienced a minor stroke in November 2024, leading to assistant Mitch Johnson stepping in as acting head coach. Popovich subsequently retired, and Johnson officially took over as the 19th head coach in Spurs history in May 2025. The team finished the 2024-25 season with a 34-48 record, missing the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season.
The 2025-2026 season marked an extraordinary resurgence for the franchise. The Spurs, under Mitch Johnson, achieved their best start in franchise history with a 5-0 record and finished the regular season with an impressive 62-20 record, placing second in the Western Conference. This marked their first 60-win season since 2016-17 and their first playoff berth since 2018-19. Key to this success was the continued development of Victor Wembanyama, the No. 1 pick in 2023, who was unanimously named NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2026. The team also benefited from back-to-back Rookie of the Year winners: Stephon Castle (No. 4 pick in 2024) and Dylan Harper (No. 2 pick in 2025). Keldon Johnson was recognized as the NBA Sixth Man of the Year, and both Wembanyama and De'Aaron Fox were selected as All-Stars.
San Antonio's strong performance extended to the 2025 NBA Cup, where they finished as tournament runner-up. In the 2026 playoffs, the Spurs advanced past the first two rounds for the first time since 2017, ultimately reaching the NBA Finals. Despite a hard-fought series, they fell to the New York Knicks 4-1. The team's rapid ascent was attributed to a combination of lottery luck in the draft and effective player development. As of June 2026, the Spurs are considered a formidable contender for years to come, possessing a championship-level young core and a significant cache of future draft picks. Off-court, the organization announced the return of the Silver Dancers for the 2026-2027 season, aiming to enhance the fan experience.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if San Antonio Spurs made different choices?