Spurs Eye Historic 5-0 Start Behind Wembanyama’s Dominance

The San Antonio Spurs are poised to achieve a monumental milestone as they aim for a 5-0 season start, a feat never accomplished in the franchise’s 53-year history. The Spurs will host the Miami Heat on March 7, 2024, after winning their first four games by an impressive average of 16.5 points. Despite a legacy that includes five NBA championships and a record 22 consecutive playoff appearances, the franchise’s best opening record to date is 4-0, achieved on four separate occasions.

Spurs star Victor Wembanyama, who has quickly emerged as a leader on and off the court, expressed his astonishment at the fact that the team has not previously started a season with five consecutive victories. “The Spurs never went 5-0? I’m surprised,” Wembanyama stated. “I’m really surprised because the Spurs have the highest winning percentage in the last 30 years or whatever. Wow. Let’s beat that record.”

The Spurs, along with the Miami Heat and Sacramento Kings, are the only NBA teams that have yet to achieve five straight wins to start a season. Wembanyama, a 7-foot-4 sensation from France, has played a pivotal role in the team’s success. He was named the inaugural Western Conference Player of the Week and made history by becoming the first player to score at least 100 points and record 15 blocked shots in a team’s first three games.

His teammate, Sandro Mamukelashvili, praised Wembanyama’s performance, noting, “He’s been amazing. He’s using his size a lot more, driving harder, using his length, (and) that extra step. Wemby is Wemby. Fearless.”

Wembanyama’s leadership is especially significant given the youthful nature of the Spurs’ roster, which averages just 25.6 years old. Without the seasoned presence of players like Harrison Barnes, Kelly Olynyk, and Bismack Biyombo, the average age drops to 24. This starkly contrasts the veteran teams that dominated from 2000 to 2017, featuring legends like David Robinson, Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker.

Wembanyama has set high standards for his teammates, emphasizing the importance of defense. “Defense is non-negotiable,” he stated. “If you want to be a part of our team, we’re going to hold each other accountable, and it doesn’t matter your status.” This commitment to defense has led the Spurs to allow the fewest points per game in the league, averaging just 104.5, 3.3 points fewer than the NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Spurs have faced challenges in recent seasons, culminating in a franchise-record 18-game losing streak during Wembanyama’s rookie year in 2024. This difficult period resulted in the Spurs securing two consecutive Rookie of the Year winners—Wembanyama and Stephon Castle—as well as the second and fourteenth overall picks in the most recent draft, selecting Dylan Harper and Carter Bryant.

Despite the struggles, the team’s current trajectory has instilled a renewed sense of hope and ambition. “We’re not hiding our expectations,” Keldon Johnson stated. “Our expectations are to win. We’re not running away from that. We’re not avoiding it.”

As the Spurs prepare for their upcoming matchup against the Heat, the spotlight will remain firmly on Wembanyama and his teammates, who are eager to make history. A victory would not only mark a significant achievement for the franchise but also solidify the foundation for a promising future.