Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs are expected to win more games this year (Photo via X)
After a busy offseason, the San Antonio Spurs have all the markings of a team on the rise. From exciting draft picks to wise free agent signings, it appears as if the Spurs have put themselves in the position to once again get back to the playoffs. San Antonio, home of one of the most successful franchises in NBA history, hasn’t made the playoffs since the 2018-19 campaign.
From an unbiased perspective, what can we expect from the Spurs this season? From watching live games to playing craps online to betting on NBA win totals for the 2025-26 season, the power of the internet is unlimited. Let’s take a look at those projected win totals to figure out where the Spurs stand.
Projected Win Totals for Western Conference Teams
While the Spurs have undoubtedly improved since we last saw them on the court, the Western Conference will remain highly competitive in the 2025-26 season. According to the betting odds, the Spurs are currently expected to finish eighth in the West. That means that the Spurs are projected to be forced to make the playoffs via the Play-in Tournament.
Who is ahead of the Spurs in the eyes of prognosticators? To nobody’s surprise, the Oklahoma City Thunder are at the top of the pile with 62.5 projected wins. After winning 68 regular season games last season and going on to win the championship, it’d be a massive surprise if OKC isn’t the first seed next season. Reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is in his prime and the Thunder have the depth to rack up the wins, even if they take their foot off the gas.
The Houston Rockets and Denver Nuggets are projected to finish second and third in the standings in the West, with 55.5 and 53.5 wins respectively. The Rockets finished second last season and have added Kevin Durant to a stable of up-and-coming youngsters. The Nuggets, with superstar Nikola Jokic in the middle, will again be a force to be reckoned with.
Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves are projected to be the fourth seed with 50.5 wins. To round out the top seven, the next three teams are out of the state of California: Luka Doncic, LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers (47.5 wins), Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors (47.5 wins), and Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers (46.5 wins). All seven of the above teams finished in the top seven in the West in the 2024-25 NBA season.
Next up in the eyes of the betting experts are the Spurs. Prognosticators have the Spurs finishing with 43.5 wins next season. That doesn’t sound like a ton of wins for this proud franchise, but it’d mark the most wins since the 2018-19 season. It’d also be the first time since that season that San Antonio finishes with a record above .500.
Completing the Play-In Tournament is projected to be the Memphis Grizzlies in the ninth seed with 40.5 wins and the Dallas Mavericks in tenth seed with 39.5 wins. The next closest team to the playoff picture is the Sacramento Kings with 36.5 wins.
Why the Spurs are Expected to Improve
While the draft picks and free agent signings get a lot of attention, the biggest reason why the Spurs are expected to improve is the return of Victor Wembanyama. A blood clot in his shoulder limited the French phenom to only 46 games last season. If the Spurs can get a full season out of their superstar, San Antonio’s win total will naturally increase.
Secondly, a full season out of De’Aaron Fox is bound to help. After being acquired from the Sacramento Kings, Fox only played 17 games for the Spurs last season before undergoing finger surgery. To show their commitment to the star point guard, San Antonio signed him to a four-year, $229 million contract extension this offseason.
After another round of lottery luck, the Spurs moved up to the second pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and selected Dylan Harper. The teenage guard is expected to make an impact during his rookie season. Later in the lottery, the Spurs picked Carter Bryant, who illustrated his vast defensive upside during summer league.
In free agency, the Spurs filled the hole in their roster behind Wembanyama by signing center Luke Kornet away from the Boston Celtics. The defensive expert is expected to help the Spurs remain competitive defensively when Wembanyama is on the sidelines.
Adding in even more size, the Spurs acquired Kelly Olynyk from the Washington Wizards. Olynyk gives the Spurs a veteran who can help space the court while also providing toughness in the middle.
What Would be a Successful Season for the Spurs
While Spurs fans are itching for a return to championship contention, if San Antonio is able to make it to the playoffs, that would have to be considered a success for the franchise. The Spurs have missed the playoffs the last six seasons so the first step to being a contender would be to get a taste of the postseason. In the big picture, the Spurs still have a really young core headlined by Wembanyama (21), Harper (19), Carter (19), Stephon Castle (20), Jeremy Sochan (22), Devin Vassell (24) and Keldon Johnson (25). Add in the 27-year-old Fox and the Spurs have a wide open window to compete with this squad for a handful of seasons. Winning 43 or 44 games this season and making the playoffs should be an outcome that makes everyone in the organization smile