Across the modern-day NBA, championship-contending teams mostly rely on their superstars to secure wins.
The Denver Nuggets often depend on Nikola Jokic’s nightly triple-doubles, whereas franchises like the Los Angeles Lakers and the Oklahoma City Thunder require Luka Doncic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, respectively, to lead them to wins.
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In contrast, the success of the San Antonio Spurs in the 2025-26 season hasn’t entirely depended upon Victor Wembanyama. And while some believe that might be causing the French phenom to not attain his ceiling, Robert Horry credits that aspect for San Antonio to be so consistent this campaign.
Horry on why the Spurs have been so successful
Although there is no denying that the Spurs have several talented young players on their roster, no one expected them to perform at such an elite level this season. Not only are they now just 2.5 wins away from securing the best record in the regular season, but they have been a top-eight team – both offensively and defensively – this year.
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While Wemby has remained the team’s best performer, averaging 23.7 points, 11.2 rebounds, and a league-leading 3.0 blocks per game, there are six different players who are averaging points in double digits.
Moreover, not only are five players shooting better than 80 percent from the free-throw line, but six players are even shooting better than 34 percent from the three-point line. These stats show how the Spurs’ offensive approach relies on collective contribution rather than just Wemby having stellar nights.
Thus, for Horry, the Spurs’ structure allows different players to take charge and shine as leaders. So, rather than having an ego-driven system where one player is expected to shine on most nights, the Spurs have developed multiple game winners and thus, no matter which star is out of the lineup, different players who know just when to take over.
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“You know what’s really good about a young team like that? You can see that in OKC, they (Spurs) don’t mind who gets to eBay. If you’re the best player tonight, be the best player, imma step back,” Horry said on his podcast. “There’s a lot of teams, ‘You’re getting yours? S—t! Let me get some of that, and that’s what teams have to understand – if someone’s cooking, let them cook.”
Spurs can contend for a championship
As the playoffs approach, this balanced and unified system could prove invaluable. Though critics might argue that the Spurs’ youthful roster may lack the experience required to compete for a championship just yet, coach Johnson’s team’s unselfish playing style and habit of sharing offensive responsibilities could help them overcome those doubts.
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Because the roster is accustomed to distributing the workload, they might be able to beat more experienced teams even when Wembanyama isn’t at his best.
With many still questioning the winning gene of this team, surely Horry is backing them to make extensive noise in the coming months because of their collective approach on the court.
Of course, the Playoffs are a completely different brand of basketball, but San Antonio certainly seems prepared for the challenges that lie ahead.
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Related: Victor Wembanyama discussed his candidacy for MVP: “I need to press the gas”
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Mar 7, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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