21 Reasons for Spurs Fans to be thankful despite rough year

Things aren't looking very promising for the San Antonio Spurs this season, but it's time to put all that aside for a day.

Thanksgiving is here, and there are plenty of things to be thankful for as fans of the team despite their rough start to the season. Of course, this may fall on deaf ears if you're the impatient type -- the kind that expects a team to somehow rebuild and contend for a title at the same time.

When it comes down to it, the Spurs' front office finally made some moves that have been necessary for a couple of years now, and the process will be painful but beneficial in the end. Will there still be mistakes from them and the coaching staff? Of course, -- that's the case with all 30 teams in the league.

But there are plenty of things to appreciate with this new era of Spurs basketball.

1. Dejounte Murray has arrived in a big way.

The brightest spot in an otherwise forgettable start to the season has been Dejounte Murray, who's been playing like an NBA All-Star all season.

While the Spurs will need to rack up wins in a hurry to help his cause for a trip to the big game, it's become clear the fifth-year point guard is one of the most special two-way players in the entire league.

2. This group's off-court chemistry is off the charts.

While they definitely need a season to build chemistry on the court, the Spurs seem to have one of the most harmonious locker rooms in the league.

With most of the roster in their 20s and all of them being stand-up guys, it's hard to envision any kind of drama happening with this team off the court, which is more important than you might think.

3. The Spurs don't have to call their home Crypto.com Arena.

Seemingly out of nowhere, the Staples Center is about to be a thing of the past. In my lifetime, the Spurs have gone from the Alamodome to the SBC Center to the AT&T Center. None of these are anywhere close to as ridiculous as Crypto.com Arena.

Everyone's favorite NBA comedian, Robin Lopez, had the perfect tweet soon after the news was announced.

Interestingly enough, the Spurs have a chance to be the last team to defeat the Lakers while the arena is still called the Staples Center, much as they did when they shut down the Great Western Forum with a win in 1999.

With the naming rights to the AT&T Center now for sale, let's hope I didn't jinx San Antonio and ensure they end up with a similarly bad name for their home arena.

4. The Spurs are on a shrinking list of teams not under recent investigation.

Be as unhappy with some front office moves if you'd like, but at least they're not one of about six in recent memory to come under fire by the NBA.

From tampering investigations into the Milwaukee Bucks, Miami Heat, and Chicago Bulls to allegations of workplace misconduct within the Mavericks, Trail Blazers, and Suns, it hasn't been the greatest stretch for the league. In fact, probes into NBA leadership have been so abundant that general managers are looking to start their own union to support executives.

From CEOs being kicked to the curb for sexual misconduct to owners currently being investigated for inappropriate behavior, let's all be thankful the San Antonio Spurs are never involved in anything like that.

5. Another lottery pick in a stacked NBA Draft class is looming.

From Paolo Banchero to Chet Holmgren to Jabari Smith Jr, the 2022 NBA Draft class should have plenty of talent in the first round. The way things are going in the Alamo City, it's looking like the Spurs could have their highest pick since they took Tim Duncan in 1997.

The Spurs have found plenty of gems throughout both rounds of the draft in the past, so having such a high pick should be an interesting change for a team that's still getting used to selecting that soon.