The San Antonio Spurs are in the NBA Finals for the first time since 2014. They have a well-built roster that has a nice mix of young talent and veteran leadership, which has allowed them to make a lot of noise in the Western Conference. Regardless of how far they get in the championship series, this group will be a force for many years to come, and every other team in the NBA needs to be prepared for it.
San Antonio has a history of winning. Under the leadership of Gregg Popovich, the Spurs won five championships. So, when the team struggled to win games in a few of their more recent seasons, it was certainly difficult for the fanbase, players, and organization as a whole.
The Spurs have a very loyal and dedicated fanbase that rallies behind their small-market squad. Sound familiar, Grizz fans? Memphis' southwest division foe has found a way to rebuild after some difficult seasons by bringing in talent and developing chemistry, and Spurs fans have been there through the ups, the downs, and everything in between. Now, the Grizzlies are the ones rebuilding, and behind them is a fanbase that has shown its continued support no matter where the journey leads.
The luck of the draw
Did the Spurs get extremely lucky with their recent draft picks? Yes, they did. Would the current San Antonio roster have been possible with the new anti-tanking rules implemented by the NBA? No, this team would’ve looked very different. So yes, Memphis doesn’t have the exact same situation on hand, but there are parallels here that are important for fans to understand.
It can be hard to go through a rebuild knowing the future is uncertain, but watching the Spurs does provide a little bit of hope for other small-market teams that are trying to establish themselves as contenders. Why? Because it's possible.
The bigger picture
In the past decade, the Grizzlies have been to the postseason several times, but they have not played in the NBA Finals. Now the organization is in a position to hopefully change that. They have the third pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. This pick will not only shape the upcoming season, but it could also play a major role in the direction of the franchise for years to come.
Given there are numerous talented players who could potentially be wearing Memphis blue next season, Grizzlies fans have plenty of reasons to be optimistic. The Spurs may have taken a different path to get there, but their success serves as a reminder that small-market teams can still rise to the championship level and compete in the NBA Finals.
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