This season should make one thing crystal clear for Spurs fans

There's always next year for the San Antonio Spurs, who have suffered through a disappointing 2024-25 season. Fortunately, they have all of the players they need to emerge as a playoff team next season with Victor Wembanyama, De'Aaron Fox, and Stephon Castle.

Exactly how good they'll be will depend on the health and development of Wembanyama and Castle as well as Fox living up to expectations as a second star. They also must have a strong offseason if they hope to make a big leap next year, but that is entirely possible. Even so, they will be thrust into the normally ultra-competitive Western Conference.

The Oklahoma City Thunder appear to be the team to beat in the Western Conference going forward and the giant the Spurs would have to slay to make the NBA Finals. They will no doubt be hard to beat and could possibly play spoilers much like the Thunder of the 2010s did. Luckily, the Spurs may actually have an easier path going forward than previously expected.

This season proves that the Spurs won't have as much competition in the West as first thought

OKC aside, there isn't a clear second team in the West that could pose them problems going forward. Sure, the Minnesota Timberwolves have Anthony Edwards. Nevertheless, they have a very expensive roster and have some big question marks about how they will be able to afford players such as Julius Randle, Naz Reid, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker.

The New Orleans Pelicans have taken a big step back this season and are at the mercy of Zion Williamson's health and the roll of the ping-pong balls to get back into contention. The Houston Rockets appear poised to become serious contenders for years to come.

However, there is still a debate over whether they have the guy on their roster that can carry them. Or whether they will have to package their prospects to go out and get a star like Kevin Durant.

The Dallas Mavericks lost their collective minds by trading Luka Doncic, only to see Kyrie Irving tear his ACL afterwards, likely forcing them to rebuild. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers appear to be set up well with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, but they don't have any other long-term pieces post-LeBron James.

San Antonio has the highest ceiling if they reach their full potential

The Memphis Grizzlies fired their head coach with nine games remaining, likely due to Ja Morant struggling in his newly installed offense. There have been behavior issues involving Morant and even trade rumors, leading to uncertainty surrounding the Grizzlies.

Lastly, the Denver Nuggets are still contenders in the West, but Nikola Jokic is over 30. They are stuck with their core with few draft picks to improve their roster and they just fired their coach. Their future is just as uncertain as the other teams in the West.

All that is to say that the Western Conference isn't nearly as daunting as it once appeared. The Thunder and likely the Rockets may be the Spurs' biggest competition going forward. But if Wembanyama, Fox, and Castle all live up to expectations, then they should be able to hold their own with the West's elite.