5 Teams that will give the Spurs the most trouble in 2023–24

2.) Phoenix Suns

The Phoenix Suns arguably had the best offseason of any team after adding Bradley Beal to the core of Devin Booker and Kevin Durant. They also added three former Spurs, including Keita Bates-Diop, who might play a big role with the Suns, as well as other key additions for the vet minimum.

Building out a good team around three high-scoring perimeter players and Deandre Ayton took some doing, and that depth will help their best players over a long season. That is bad news for the Spurs who have the misfortune of playing them four times. They have back-to-back games in Phoenix near the start of the season and back-to-back games in San Antonio near the end of the season.

Those two game sets could cost the Spurs ground early on and potentially late if they are still in the race for the playoffs. After all, the Sun will be among the toughest teams to guard, with Booker, Beal, and Durant playing point guard, shooting guard, and small forward, leaving opposing teams, including the Spurs, to try and guard each player one-on-one. Even on an off night, Phoenix's big three could still put up 70.

They may also be able to defend well enough to avoid shootouts with a jumbo-starting lineup that includes Durant, Bates-Diop, and Ayton, allowing them to cover ground contest shots and defend the rim. The Spurs might have success playing small with Jones, Vassell, Johnson, Sochan, and Wembanyama, but it's far too early to say how good that lineup could be.