New season tour of the Spurs: The Spurs in the post-Pop era, a young storm driven by dual cores

With the upcoming 2025-2026 new season, the Spurs' new season is also full of highlights. With an offseason of tinkering and the selection of two rookies, the entire lineup looks more substantial and more competitive.

1. Tactical system and new coach

Let’s talk about the coach first. With Popovich suddenly retiring from illness in the middle of last season and Mitch Johnson taking over as coach, the team's tactical system is undergoing changes. Last season, the proportion of three-point shots increased from 33.8% in the Popovich era to 37.2%. More emphasis was placed on three-pointers. After Fox joined the Spurs in mid-season, he used him as the starter to launch the offense and cooperated with Wenban Yama to drive the outside to increase the proportion of three-point shots.

For Mickey Johnson, this is the first coach in the post-Pop era. It is conceivable that he is also under tremendous pressure. Whether the coaching effect is satisfactory remains a question mark.

2. Fox + Wenbanyama

In February, the Spurs acquired Fox through a trade. He is the most powerful defender in the team's backcourt in recent years. In August, he completed a contract extension with the team, confirming that he can become the core of the team's long-term backcourt. Last season, he averaged 19.7 points and 6.8 assists in 17 games for the Spurs.

Wenban Yama is definitely an important part of the transformation of this team from a weak team to a team that is aiming for the playoffs. The 22-year-old averaged 24.3 points, 11 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 3.8 blocks per game last season. He has already demonstrated certain superstar abilities. Being young enough also means that he can have more room to grow and become a unicorn in the league. In the new season, he needs to stay healthy, play steadily, improve his offensive skills and shooting ability on the offensive end, and increase his confrontation and defensive awareness on the defensive end. He will be the cornerstone of the Spurs' future.

For these two players, there is no doubt that this combination will lead the Spurs forward in the next few years. And can their best pick-and-roll be successfully adapted in the new season? Can 1+1 be greater than 2? This will be a problem.

3. Reinforcement of the player lineup

In the offseason trade market, the Spurs acquired veteran insider Olynyk. Not only has the ability to shoot three-pointers, but he can also grab rebounds and protect the frame, averaging 8.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game. Center Cornet, signed in the free market, is 2.18 meters tall and has excellent frame protection ability. He can be a good substitute for Wenbanyama and help him guard the inside. McLaughlin has a lot of game experience. Although the statistics are not dazzling, his court experience may help the team become a surprise player at critical moments.

4. Draft reinforcements

They selected Harper with the second pick of the first round. This rising star not only has excellent scoring ability, but also has excellent organizational vision. The addition of Harper can make the Spurs' defense line more competitive. How Harper will integrate into the new season is one of the things to watch. If he can integrate perfectly, he will bring more offensive options to the team. Forward Carter Bryant, selected with the 14th overall pick, is hailed as the best 3D player this season, and he can defend from 1 to 4 in college. The Spurs also need this. Their current forward defensive capabilities are not that strong. The arrival of Carter Bryant helped them make up for this at a low cost. But a lot of fouls are areas where he needs to improve. How to defend well without fouling is the first problem before him.

5. Conclusion

The Spurs have successfully completed the reconstruction phase, and the basic team has been established. Based on Bunyama and Fox, and with young players as the core framework, the team has shown its competitiveness. For the team in the 2025-26 season, it is too early to say that it will hit the championship, and more running-in and growth are needed. Further polish the tactical system, stay patient, and wait for the moment of flowering!