Overlooked Spurs fact should terrify the rest of the NBA

The San Antonio Spurs took home a hard-earned victory over the Orlando Magic on Wednesday, and that served as a stark reminder of one thing about this team: that the Spurs haven't had a fully healthy roster for even one game this season, and yet they're still outdoing expectations.

Victor Wembanyama remains sidelined with a calf strain, and the fanbase is also still waiting for the return of Stephon Castle as well. But even without those key pieces, San Antonio has continued their winning ways against all odds. That proves that this group has the kind of intangibles that should terrify the rest of the league. Once they get healthy, those good qualities will only be amplified.

Since Wembanyama has been out of the lineup, De'Aaron Fox has been performing at a high level. He's been picking up the scoring load and playmaking well with a lot of pressure on him. It's exactly the kind of thing the organization envisioned him doing when they acquired him, and his production is the perfect example of a second option who can masquerade as a first option in a pinch.

The Spurs have been winning in Wembanyama's absence

On top of Fox stepping up, younger players and role guys are also showing they belong. The franchise’s youth, which includes rotation players beyond the big names, has proven capable of handling big minutes and contributing to wins. That depth will certainly benefit even more once the roster is healthy again.

Once Victor comes back, the Spurs are going to become much more potent on both sides of the ball. His return will raise the ceiling of this group dramatically. A full season with a deep rotation, plus the mix of veteran leadership and young energy, could position the Spurs as one of the West’s most dangerous teams come playoff time.

The fact that San Antonio is not only staying afloat but also taking down talented teams like the Magic proves this isn’t just a hopeful young core waiting for a star to come back. They’ve shown resilience and execution under pressure.

Other teams are watching this unfold. If the Spurs get healthy and maintain this baseline of defensive effort and offensive balance, a lot of contenders may soon be looking over their shoulder. The fanbase has reason to feel as confident in this group as they want to be.