San Antonio returns the group that beat Oklahoma City twice last season and still lost the championship series to New York in five games. The roster is set, the payroll sits close to the tax threshold, and six rookies have yet to play a minute with the core.
Can this core finish what it started against New York?
Last season San Antonio went 62-20, the best record in a decade, with a top-three offense and a top-three defense. San Antonio beat Oklahoma City in the 2025 NBA Cup semifinals and again in a seven-game Western Conference finals, then lost the championship series to the Knicks in five games despite winning Game 3 in front of the largest Finals television audience since 1998. Nothing in that path has been replaced.
Where do six rookies fit in a group that already has a job to do?
Dylan Harper, Carter Bryant, Jones Garcia, Ja'Kobi Gillespie, Jayden Quaintance and Taelon Peter all made it through camp, with Quaintance now out with a knee injury into December. None has logged a minute with Wembanyama, Fox, Vassell or Castle. Minutes behind that group were already thin before Harris and Brown turned up day-to-day this week.
Does the payroll leave room to add after this group plays?
San Antonio carries $198.3M in payroll, over the $165.0M cap and $2.1M under the $200.4M tax threshold, led by Fox at $49.8M, Vassell at $27.0M, Keldon Johnson at $17.5M and Wembanyama at $16.9M. The Spurs owe their 2027 first-round pick to Sacramento and hold swap rights on three more first-round picks through 2030. There is little margin to add without moving money out first.
Can Wembanyama close the gap on the one team still ahead of him?
San Antonio has already solved Oklahoma City twice, in the 2025 Cup semifinals and the 2026 conference finals. New York is the opponent still unbeaten against this group, having won the Cup championship game and then the title series in five. The opener comes against Oklahoma City on October 20, televised on NBC/Peacock, before any rematch with New York is scheduled.
Is the roster actually finished, or still moving?
The group settled after R.J. Davis joined on September 25, with Jon Elmore and Malik Williams arriving the same week. Jayden Nunn and Miles Barnstable each came and went within days in September. Since then, the only moves have been injury updates: Brown and Harris went day-to-day this week, and Jones Garcia cleared whatever had him day-to-day before. That is the version of the roster that opens camp games against Atlanta.
When do the Spurs open the regular season?
San Antonio opens the regular season on October 20 against Oklahoma City, televised on NBC/Peacock.
Are the Spurs over the luxury tax this season?
No. San Antonio's $198.3M payroll is over the $165.0M salary cap but $2.1M under the $200.4M tax threshold.
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