Spurs receive surprising placement in Bleacher Report’s starting lineup rankings

Following their first NBA Finals appearance since 2014, the San Antonio Spurs are widely considered to be one of the NBA’s top contenders entering the 2026–27 season. However, some questions may remain regarding the Spurs’ starting lineup.

Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz released his latest starting lineup rankings Sunday, and San Antonio’s projected starting five ranked just No. 6 overall. The top five teams on the list were as follows:

1. Philadelphia 76ers
2. Oklahoma City Thunder
3. New York Knicks
4. Indiana Pacers
5. Denver Nuggets

Swartz’s projected starting lineup for San Antonio featured De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell, Julian Champagnie, and Victor Wembanyama. The group was the most commonly used combination by Mitch Johnson last season, and the Spurs were 21–3 in games where that five started.

Swartz highlighted the uncertainty surrounding the group, particularly in the backcourt. He pointed to Castle and Dylan Harper as representing "the backcourt of the future" for the Spurs but noted that current starting point guard De'Aaron Fox "may not like the idea of being a sixth man." He also wrote that recent free agent addition Tobias Harris could challenge Champagnie for the starting power forward role.

While it’s understandable why some of those teams were ranked ahead of San Antonio, critics of the ranking could point to the Spurs’ run to the NBA Finals last season as evidence they should have been ranked higher. The teams ranked ahead of San Antonio are all extremely talented and have compelling cases for their spots on the list. However, several of them will also have to reintegrate key starters who missed significant time due to injuries, including Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun for Denver, Isaiah Hartenstein and Jalen Williams for Oklahoma City, and Tyrese Haliburton and Aaron Nesmith for Indiana.

With Wembanyama leading the way, the Spurs have one of the league’s highest ceilings. Their overall rotation is undoubtedly a strength, with pieces like Harper and Harris set to have huge roles regardless of their starting status. Whether San Antonio’s starting five remains the same or evolves throughout the season, the Spurs appear poised to contend for a title, making their ranking one of the more debatable placements on the list.

MORE San Antonio Spurs News:

• Spurs receive strong marks for offseason moves as championship pursuit continues
• Victor Wembanyama’s status for FIBA qualifiers revealed ahead of 2026–27 NBA season
• Victor Wembanyama joins NBA 2K history with reported cover athlete selection
• Karl-Anthony Towns reveals why he said Victor Wembanyama can't guard him in the Finals