Dreaming up the Spurs' ultimate starting 5, 5 years from now
By Cal Durrett
Few teams have as much potential as the San Antonio Spurs. They not only have the future face of the NBA in Victor Wembanyama but several talented prospects and plenty of picks. That should put them in a great position to contend in the near future and potentially for the next decade.
That is dependent on a number of factors, including if Wembanyama can become one of the best players in the NBA and if the Spurs can build around him. But for now, we'll take a look at the team's dream starting five years from now, starting with center.
Center: Victor Wembanyama
If Victor Wembanyama develops the way that many expect him to, he may be the best player in the NBA well before the 2029-30 season. By then, he will be 25 years old and hopefully taking the NBA world by storm. Unsurprisingly, having the best player in the league usually leads to perennial success and often trips to the NBA Finals.
With several teams in the West, such as the Denver Nuggets and Dallas Mavericks, built to win now, the Spurs will be well positioned to lead the West in a few years. They will have competition from teams such as the Oklahoma City Thunder but they will have to stop Wembanyama in a seven-game series. That increases the need for the Spurs to build around him to make sure that the Thunder or another can't double-team him without consequence.
The team's hopes over the next five years rest primarily on his shoulders and his reaching his full potential. Even so, he will need above-average teammates in the starting lineup to help him get the Spurs back into contention. Up next, we will see who makes for the ideal front-court partner in five years.