San Antonio’s rebuild just hit the fast-forward button. Three years after selecting Victor Wembanyama No. 1 overall, the Spurs are bound for the Western Conference finals with a roster even younger than their 22-year-old franchise cornerstone.
The Spurs closed out the Minnesota Timberwolves on the road Friday night, winning Game 6 by 30 points to claim the series. Head coach Mitch Johnson said preseason forecasts never came up in the locker room. “I understand the expectations in October weren’t aligned with where we are now,” Johnson told reporters. “We never talked about what we were going to be; we just tried to be the best team we could be.”
Rookies Lead the Charge
First-year guard Stephon Castle, the No. 4 pick in the 2024 draft, paced San Antonio with 32 points, 11 rebounds and five three-pointers. Fellow rookie Dylan Harper, selected second overall in 2023, added 15 points off the bench, continuing a productive postseason run.
“We’re a really talented group that plays together and plays very selfless,” Castle said. “I think we can beat anybody on any given night.”
Next Stop: Oklahoma City
San Antonio now prepares for a Western Conference finals matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Despite the higher stakes, the youngest team left in the playoffs appears unfazed.
Game 1 of the conference finals is scheduled for early next week in Oklahoma City.
Source: Hoops Wire
