Predicting the San Antonio Spurs stat leaders for the 2024-25 NBA season

The beginning of the 2024-25 NBA season is drawing closer, with the San Antonio Spurs beginning training camp later this month. That will then be followed by the preseason, which will give fans their first glimpse of the new-look Spurs, who made several smart moves to improve their roster around Victor Wembanyama.

NBA legend Chris Paul, veteran Harrison Barnes, and 2024 fourth overall pick Stephon Castle are the notable additions, and each will hopefully help the Spurs make it back to the playoffs for the first time in five seasons. With several new faces and a changing rotation, it's anyone's guess who will lead the team in points, rebounds, blocks, steals, assists, and 3-point percentage next season, but we'll predict just that, starting with 3-point percentage.

3-point percentage

At first glance, it looks as though Devin Vassell should run away with this category given that he led the team last season and 3-point percentage. Despite that, both Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes could challenge him for that distinction. Paul is much more known for his mid-range game but has been an above-average shooter over the course of his career, with him shooting in the high 30s over three of the last four seasons.

Meanwhile, Barnes has been an underrated shooter for most of his career and has averaged 37.9% from beyond the 3-point line. Compare that to Vassell, who shot 37.5% from three and there is a chance that he may not repeat as a leader in this category.

Fortunately for him, Paul's addition to the starting lineup should help him get easier looks, which could make him a more accurate shooter. Last season, Vassell actually shot far better on contested shots than on uncontested attempts.

But with Paul and Wembanyama running pick and roll and Vassell possibly playing more off-ball, he could benefit from easier shots from outside. That should make him the slight favorite to lead the team in 3-point percentage next season, with him possibly shooting around 38% from three.

Prediction: Devin Vassell-38% 3pt

Steals per game

Steals may be the most up-for-grabs category next season. This after Wembanyama narrowly edged out Devin Vassell for the top spot last year by averaging 1.2 steals to Vassell's 1.1. Tre Jones even made it interesting, averaging a steal per game, although he came off the bench 29 times last year.

Jones will likely see his minutes cut with the addition of Chris Paul. Paul could give Wembanyama a run for his money after averaging 1.5 steals two seasons ago and 1.2 steals last season. Paul will probably play around 25 minutes a game and probably average 1.2 steals per game like last season. Meanwhile, Wembanyama could play more than the 29.4 minutes he averaged last season, which means he may possibly play closer to 33 minutes per game.

Based on that, he will probably lead the team in steals again, and I expect him to average at least 1.3 per game next season. His length makes it easier for him to play the passing lanes and deflect passes. Considering how teams tend to shy away from shooting over him, they are likely to pass the ball near him, allowing him to rack up steals.

Prediction: Wembanyama-1.3 steals per game

Blocks per game

Unsurprisingly, Wembanyama is expected to lead the team in blocks per game next season. As a rookie, he led the NBA in blocks, swatting 3.6 per game, which exceeded even the wildest of expectations. While he was an elite shot blocker prior to joining the NBA, he has arguably been even better and has shown the potential to be a game-changing rim deterrent.

Next season, teams will likely adjust so it's questionable whether he can have as many blocks per game as he did last season. Even so, he has more experienced teammates who should help the Spurs shore up their defense, with fewer players getting blown by.

Having possibly better defenders on the perimeter should make Wemby's job easier, with him having a bigger impact on that end of the floor next season. Wembanyama helping to turn the 22nd-ranked Spurs into a top-10 defense would go a long way to him winning his first Defensive Player of the Year award.

As a result, I expect him to average around 3.5 rejections per game. That should still be more than enough for him to again lead the Spurs and lead the NBA in blocks.

Prediction: Wembanyama- 3.5 blocks per game

Rebounds per game

With San Antonio only playing two traditional bigs next season, who will grab the most rebounds per game will come down to Wembanyama and Zach Collins. Wembanyama obviously has the edge, however, with him likely to play around 33 minutes per game next season, nearly doubling up Collins' projected minutes.

That should result in Wembanyama leading the team in rebounds per game. Last season, he averaged 10.6 rebounds in 29.6 minutes and should average closer to 11.1 boards next season. Playing with more spacing on offense should help him snag offensive rebounds with only the opposing big man in the paint to coral boards.

If that is the case, then he could be not only the team's leading rebounder but also rank in the top five in the NBA in rebounds per game next season. That would be a surprising development.

This is considering that many expected him not to be ready to play center due to the position's physicality for at least the first couple of seasons of his career. Be that as it may, he could be one of the league's best rebounders by then, proving that he is already ahead of schedule.

Prediction: Wembanyama- 11.1 rebounds per game

Assists per game

There are only a couple of viable options on the Spurs to lead the team in assists per game, with Chris Paul and Tre Jones being the most likely candidates to do so. Paul and Jones will likely split the minutes at point guard next season, with both playing around 24 minutes per game due to Paul's age at nearly 40 years old.

Paul will have the benefit of spending most of his minutes with Wembanyama, giving him the perfect pick-and-roll partner, which should give him an advantage. On the other hand, he will probably sit at least 10 games next season and Jones will probably average around 30 minutes in those games and be able to help make up the difference.

Be that as it may, Paul is still probably the safer choice to lead San Antonio in assists per game, with him averaging 7.5 in 25.6 minutes per game off the bench for the Warriors last season. He will play similar minutes with a better offensive weapon so he should average at least that per game for the Spurs next season.

Prediction: Chris Paul- 7.5 assists per game

Points per game

After averaging 21.4 points per game as a rookie last season, Wembanyama is the clear favorite to lead the Spurs in that category again in 2024-25. Vassell has an outside chance of leading the team in scoring after averaging 19.5 points per game last season. However, if the Spurs want to get back into playoff contention, then Wembanyama should be the team's leading scorer.

Especially with him playing center full-time next season. The difference between him playing power forward and him playing the five was night and day, with him averaging 22.4 points while shooting 34.5% on 5.7 threes. On the other hand, he averaged 18.9 points per game playing power forward last year.

His playing center, in addition to him playing with Paul, could help him average around 25 points per game in the best-case scenario. That would have a huge effect on the Spurs offense, which ranked 26th in offensive rating last season.

If that is the case, and Vassell also makes a big offensive leap, then the Spurs could be well on their way to making it back to the playoffs with Wembanyama leading the postseason push.

Prediction: Wembanyama- 25.1 points per game