Spurs' new Big 3 is already channeling the clutch gene of legendary trio

The Spurs' former Big 3 of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili had a knack for elite clutch execution. That unique trait is being passed down to San Antonio's next trio of stars: Victor Wembanyama, Dylan Harper, and Stephon Castle, who showed some serious poise late in games last season.

Their Game 7 performance against Oklahoma City was the best example of that. They shared the court for most of the final minutes of that matchup and made several timely plays to close out a more experienced Thunder team itching for its second consecutive championship.

There are still some adjustments to make in the near future, but San Antonio's new Big 3 already has that special clutch gene. Harper, Wembanyama, and Castle can each play big roles in the deciding stretches of games, and that's a crucial skill to have for a group trying to become the NBA's next dynasty.

Clutch execution wins championships

Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili made a total of five NBA Finals appearances and collected four championships together. That's a rare feat for any trio, and it's why they're among the best the league has ever seen.

They reached this level of success because they knew how to close out games. It's that simple; you don't accidentally make this many deep playoff runs and win such a hefty number of championships without having the IQ and poise to execute late in the fourth quarter.

We hear the old saying "defense wins championships" every year. There's a lot of truth to that sentiment, but the same goes for clutch play. There isn't a team in the world that can sustain long-term success in the regular season or the playoffs without staying sharp in the deciding moments of big games.

That's a concept that San Antonio's new Big 3 has to embrace. If they're serious about becoming the league's first dynasty of the post-Warriors era, they must continue to showcase that clutch gene.

The New Big 3 is about to be even better next season

There's a lot to be excited about if you're a Spurs fan. Victor, Stephon, and Dylan were already impressive in the clutch last season, and you can expect them to be even better throughout the 2026-27 campaign.

Think about it: a core that young and inexperienced closed out fourth quarters at an elite level in their first playoff appearance while they still had some severe limitations in their game. Imagine what they can do next season. Wemby will be a better shot creator, Castle will turn the ball over less, and Harper's three-point shooting will be more reliable.

Last season would likely be the worst version of this new Big 3, and they were still extremely clutch in big games. It's why they made it to the Finals. They're about to take it up a notch next season, and that's a big reason why they're a favorite to become the next NBA champion.

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