3 biggest questions for San Antonio Spurs heading into 2026

The San Antonio Spurs (23-8) have been one of the top teams in the league entering 2026. Their first season post-Greg Popovich and they have become one of the top title contenders.

The team has been anchored by Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox, along with a solid supporting cast such as Stephon Castle, Harrison Barnes and Devin Vassell. The Spurs have also found diamonds-in-the-rough early in the season, like Dylan Harper and Keldon Johnson.

Entering 2026 as one of the top contenders for the title, here are the three biggest questions for the Spurs in the upcoming year.

---

Explore the NBA Draft 2024 with our free NBA Mock Draft Simulator & be the GM of your favorite NBA team.

1. Can the Spurs build a true championship contender around Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox?

Victor Wembanyama has established himself as a potential MVP contender already in his third season in the league. De’Aaron Fox came to San Antonio with a point to prove and has led enough to earn a massive four-year max extension.

De'Aaron Fox and Victor Wembanyama - Source: Getty

The question now remains, will Wembanyama stay fit long enough to fulfill his potential as the franchise’s centerpiece? If the team is built around the Frenchman, will Fox be okay playing second fiddle, or can he share the spotlight with Wemby?

Most championship-winning teams have their elite duos. Think of LeBron James and Kyrie Irving or Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal. The Spurs have a duo that will challenge for individual honors in the future, but their biggest test will be how long it takes them to click as the season moves to 2026.

---

2. Is the supporting cast good enough or do they need star-level help?

San Antonio have quietly built a solid supporting cast around their core duo with a mix of experience and youth. Vassell, Castle, Johnson, Barnes, Harper and Julian Champagnie have all proved in 2025 that they can be solid contributors.

Dylan Harper (2) and Stephon Castle (5) - Source: Imagn

However, can the likes of Harper and Castle develop fast enough to become reliable scorers? Also, can the bench come up big when needed? Heading into 2026, the front office will have to decide if they’re to bring in a third star at the next trade deadline or offseason.

---

3. How will the post-Popovich coaching transition impact identity and consistency?

The 2025-26 season marked the first full season of Mitch Johnson in charge since the departure of long-time coach Gregg Popovich. While Johnson has led the Spurs brilliantly, with eight wins in the last 10 games, cracks have appeared here and there.

Coach Mitch Johnson - Source: Imagn

They have lacked consistency. Recent wins against the defending champions, only to suffer a defeat against the Utah Jazz on Saturday has seen fans call on the team to show more consistency. Johnson needs to prove that long-term he can lead the team back to the glory days of Popovich and make them strong contenders heading into 2026 and beyond.

Edited by Ubong Richard