Draft guru says exactly what all Spurs fans are thinking about their title odds

Despite the disheartening loss to the New York Knicks in the NBA Cup championship, the Spurs were a resounding success throughout the tournament, so much so that many media members have started making serious claims about the team.

One example of the media's newfound bullish outlook on the Spurs comes from Sam Vecenie on the Game Theory podcast. The analyst stated the Spurs are genuine title contenders this season and belong in the same category as the Houston Rockets and Denver Nuggets. While still below the Thunder for now, this is a significant leap for the Spurs.

The Spurs have proved their worth as title contenders

The NBA Cup tournament gave the Spurs the perfect opportunity to prove their validity as title contenders.

Entered into the group of death to start the tournament, the Silver and Black made their way out with a handful of obviously impressive victories over the Houston Rockets and Denver Nuggets. From there, they took down the Luka-led Lakers and, most impressively, slayed the giant that is the Oklahoma City Thunder.

This selection of teams is the one currently shaping the top of the Western Conference. As they say, to be the best, you have to beat the best, and the Spurs did just that. And you can't forget to mention that San Antonio got the very best from these squads. The tensions were high, and they still delivered.

You couldn't ask for a better supporting cast in San Antonio

Even outside of tournament play, the Spurs were dominating the rest of the NBA even without their superstar, Victor Wembanyama. This impressive stretch proved that the Spurs have exactly the pieces they need around their nucleus to propel them through the Western Conference gauntlet.

Depth is critical when the playoffs come around. As much as people like to believe it is a star-driven league, you need to have support around your superstar. Whether it's the do-it-all Dylan Harper, stout defender Devin Vassell, hype man Keldon Johnson, or shooters in Julian Champagnie and Harrison Barnes, the Spurs have it all.

No matter what you want out of a role player, the Spurs have it. With Wemby on the court, they boast one of the league's best defenses, and the cast of guards gives the team the edge on offense.

The rising squad has the weapons you want to help decipher a 7-game series. Players like De'Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle can be the difference when pulling hairs between two teams in a playoff series.

No matter how you look at it, the Spurs check all of the boxes of a championship contender. Age and experience are not one of those boxes. This team is ready and has proved that. The timeline has reached its championship window, and there is no doubt that this team will be making its presence felt in the playoffs.