The San Antonio Spurs entered the 2024-25 season as the NBA’s third-youngest team, and their lack of NBA experience was brutally obvious at times. While the Spurs are not yet a winning club, particularly without Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox, they have made an impact on the season as a whole.
Despite their 30-39 record and subpar 13th-ranked offense, the Spurs excel at moving the ball. This season, they average 29.2 assists per game, which ranks third in the NBA, and in their last two games, which marked their first winning streak since January, they increased that total to 32 assists per game.
In the Spurs’ most recent 128-120 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers, youngster Stephon Castle set a new career high with 14 assists, while Devin Vassell added seven more.
However, the passing success has not been without its drawbacks. On the season, the Spurs allow 13.9 turnovers per game, ranking them in the middle of the pack. The willingness to make an additional pass is present, and this season’s club resembles the “Beautiful Game” group of 2014, but they lack the precision and decisiveness that made that team so outstanding.
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.”
Castle will have completed his second offseason and will face less of a learning curve next season. De’Aaron Fox should be completely integrated into the lineup, and Victor Wembanyama, a capable passer, will also return.
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