Spurs are halfway to forcing the NBA to acknowledge the obvious truth

Before the NBA season began, the projected placement of the San Antonio Spurs was all over the place. Some analysts placed them in the Play-In range, while others gave them the respect of a top-six seed. But, to the amazement of many, this Spurs team has blown the roof off their expectations.

Off to an 8-2 start, the Spurs have truly looked like one of the best teams in the NBA. Whether it be their awe-inspiring defense or hot-handed shooters, this team has got it all. With their magical start, the Spurs have sprinted to the top of the conference, and a serious question has begun to emerge.

Are the Spurs true contenders yet?

Above all, the NBA and Spurs fans alike would love to know the answer to this question. Only ten games into the regular season, it is impossible to know what this team will look like when the playoffs roll around.

Furthermore, this squad is fresh off the block and still finding its footing. We need to see how they fare in a grueling 82-game season and what challenges they may face along the way. As always, hurdles are bound to pop up, and challenges that weren't obvious before become that way later on.

Not to mention, a select few Spurs, including Julian Champagnie and Harrison Barnes, have been off to irregularly hot starts to begin the year. It will be crucial for the complimentary players to perform as the season goes on and the Spurs will need them to be prove their seriousness if they want to be dubbed as contenders.

The Spurs will prove their contender status over the rest of 2025

Still new to the 2025-26 season and this novel Spurs construction, it is evident that we need to hold our horses in making any huge claims about this team. There is a boatload of talent across the NBA that the Spurs have yet to prove themselves against, and we have no idea how they will produce when things get difficult.

While the electric start to the season has painted a very optimistic outlook for the remainder of the year, we can't yet pronounce them as genuine contenders in the Western Conference. However, it may not be long until we do.

If the Spurs continue along exactly how they have played to begin the season, there's no reason why they can't become contenders as soon as this year. It is certainly not impossible for such a young team to become championship hopefuls early in their blossoming. Just look at what the Oklahoma City Thunder did last year.

An excellent barometer for the Spurs' status as a contender will be their record when the calendar changes in January. If the Spurs enter the new year equally as hot as they are now, with a defense as great as they have been, then heck yeah, the Spurs are contenders. But for now, we need to learn some patience and give this team time.