The San Antonio Spurs entered the 2024-25 season as the third-youngest team in the NBA, and their lack of NBA experience, at times, has been painfully clear. While the Spurs are not a winning team yet, especially without Victor Wembanyama and De'Aaron Fox in the lineup, they have left their mark on the season as a team.
Despite having only a 30-39 record and a mediocre 13th-ranked offense, the Spurs are exceptional at moving the ball. This season, they average 29.2 assists per game, good for the third-most in the NBA, and in their last two games, which mark their first winning streak since January, they upped that average to 32 dimes per game.
In the Spurs' most recent 128-120 win over the Philadelphia 76ers, rookie Stephon Castle set a new career mark with 14 assists, and Devin Vassell added seven of his own for good measure.
However, the passing success hasn't come without a downside. On the season, the Spurs give up 13.9 turnovers per game, which is right in the middle of the pack.
The willingness to make an extra pass is there, and this season's team has looked similar to the "Beautiful Game" squad of 2014, but they miss the precision and decisiveness that made that team so great.
The blueprint is in place, now they just need to polish their game before they take things to the next level.
"That's part of the team aspect of understanding it's our possession, it's our pass, it's our shot, and I think a lot of times the intention is there," explained acting head coach Mitch Johnson. "It's just continuing to clarify, learn, educate, and feel that stuff out. Or we score this way this time, so now they may take that away, so now what's the next thing that will be open? And that's just part of the progression."
Next season, Castle will have a second offseason under his belt and less of a learning curve. De'Aaron Fox should be fully integrated into the lineup, and Victor Wembanyama, who is a solid passer in his own right, will also be playing again.
Related: Castle and Sochan Push Spurs Past Depleted 76ers
While the Spurs still have a long way to go before they reach the championship-worthy ball movement that let them dominate the Miami Heat in the 2014 NBA Finals, the culture in San Antonio is still based on giving up a good shot for a better shot.
Check out the Inside the Spurs home page for more news, analysis, and must-read articles.
Related: One Necessity for Next Season Revealed to San Antonio Spurs
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This story was originally published March 22, 2025 at 8:16 PM.