From the Archives: What Spurs History Asks of This Team

By the Spurs Nightly Desk · Thursday, October 15

San Antonio's identity was built on defense, patience and continuity across just three head coaches since 1988. This season's three-guard lineup, six unproven rookies and a Finals loss to the Knicks test all three at once.

Spurs Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

Does Wembanyama's rim protection connect to Robinson and Duncan?

Wembanyama ranked third in the league in defensive rating last season, the same trademark David Robinson and Tim Duncan built the franchise's identity on for a quarter century. Mitch Johnson, who took over permanently from Gregg Popovich in May 2025, now runs that same defensive culture day to day, with Wembanyama as its anchor instead of its architect.

Why does the three-guard lineup feel new for San Antonio?

The Athletic called the debut of Fox, Harper and Castle sharing the backcourt against Phoenix a 'natural evolution.' It is a guard-heavy answer, not the post-up basketball Gervin and Duncan built titles around. It reflects the roster Johnson inherited more than any change in system, with Fox, Harper and Castle each finishing with a positive plus-minus.

Has this franchise lost a title it was supposed to win before?

Yes. San Antonio blew a 3-1 conference finals lead to the Washington Bullets in 1979, then lost further playoff series to the Celtics, Rockets and Lakers before Robinson's 1989 arrival turned the roster over. Last season's Finals loss to the Knicks, after San Antonio won Game 3 in front of the largest Finals audience since 1998, is the modern version of that same unfinished business.

Can six rookies get real minutes the way past Spurs builds needed patience?

Robinson served in the Navy before the 1989-90 turnaround built this era's identity, and the championship run with Duncan did not start until 1999, two years into his career. Harper, Bryant, Quaintance and three more rookies still have little or no regular-season game action, with patience the only model the franchise has offered so far.

Does replacing Popovich on the bench change what the Spurs are?

Not by design. Popovich remains president of basketball operations, and Johnson has kept the same accountability and ball-movement principles since taking over in May 2025. That culture has survived coaching changes before, from Larry Brown's 1989-90 turnaround through five Popovich championships to the current roster now built around Wembanyama.

The verdictHistory says this franchise wins through defense and patience, not shortcuts. This season asks both qualities of a roster built differently than any Spurs team before it.

Who is the Spurs' head coach now that Gregg Popovich stepped down?

Mitch Johnson has been head coach since May 2025, with Popovich staying on as president of basketball operations.

Have the Spurs won a championship with Victor Wembanyama on the roster?

No. San Antonio's five titles came in 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2014, all before Wembanyama joined in 2023.