13 days, 3 victories over the Thunder! The Spurs may have become the best team in the league

On December 26th Beijing time, during the year-end battle, the Spurs defeated the Thunder again, marking their third win over the league's best record team this season. The prominent media The Athletic wrote an analysis, believing the Spurs may now be the league’s top team. Details follow—

The NBA’s power structure is subtly changing right in front of us. Schedule arrangements rarely cause such rapid shifts in the competitive landscape; usually, only injuries or trades can bring about a fundamental change in league dynamics.

But the Spurs’ feat of beating the Thunder three times in 13 days is undoubtedly significant. This extended playoff preview between the Western Conference’s top two teams clearly proves: the Spurs are ready to stand alongside the defending champions at the summit of the league.

Thunder star Alexander admitted, "Losing to the same team three times in a short period only shows they are better than you.So we must improve, reflect seriously—from top to bottom, everyone. If we want to achieve the ultimate goal, changes must be made."

The Spurs are proving through their performance that they might currently be the best team in the league.They have dominated the Thunder in two consecutive games, both entering garbage time early—one at home, one on the road in Oklahoma City. They have three guards capable of effectively running the offense for 48 minutes, and none of these three are even the team’s best player. Newly returned from a calf injury, Wembanyama is still limited in playing time and far from his peak form.

After the year-end 117-102 victory over the Thunder, Wembanyama said, "We never let individual talent overshadow the team, and that is the key to beating strong teams."

The Spurs’ current lead is not just due to a few weeks of strong play but stems from continuous growth since the season began, with still vast room for improvement.

Not long ago, the Thunder had the best start in NBA history. But after this tough stretch, their lead over the Spurs has shrunk to just 2.5 games.

The Spurs have injected suspense into the league’s second half of the season—This season finally has an undisputed challenger for the throne.Although the Spurs’ rise has exceeded expectations, their success appears sustainable.

During Wembanyama’s one-month absence due to a left calf strain, Fox made his season debut, giving the Spurs a chance to shape their offensive system. After Wembanyama’s return, he seamlessly integrated into this well-functioning team without disrupting the rhythm. Ultimately, the Spurs built a team without obvious weaknesses, avoiding slumps that allow opponents to mount comebacks—even against the consistently stable Thunder.

The Spurs have downplayed the significance of this winning streak, but before maintaining humility, they briefly acknowledged their own strength. They know the Thunder rely on steady and enduring performances to defeat opponents.

And that is exactly the weapon the Spurs use to turn the tide.

"The scary thing about the Thunder is not just that they win, but how they win—they wear opponents down little by little," said Fox, who led the game with 29 points. "We managed to withstand their pressure, survive their runs, then launch our own surge. That’s the proudest and happiest part for us."

In this game, Wembanyama scored 19 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in 26 minutes. He explained,The Spurs’ strength lies in exploiting opponents’ weaknesses: "The key is to find defensive soft spots and deliver lethal blows."

As the season progresses, Wembanyama’s role within the team is becoming clearer.

The trio of Fox, Castle, and Harper as primary ball handlers allows Wembanyama to take a secondary role on offense, giving him more time to study opponents’ defenses and consider how to leverage his presence. Sometimes he signals teammates to initiate quick plays; other times, he improvises, prompting other Spurs players to respond accordingly.

An interesting moment occurred near the end of the game: Wembanyama casually dribbled near the corner, headed straight to Barnes, and when trapped, lobbed the ball to Barnes before clapping his hands and sprinting to the basket. The veteran forward tossed the ball high over defenders, accurately finding Wembanyama cutting to the rim. Though Wembanyama mishandled the catch initially, he recovered and finished with a dunk only he could execute.

This seemingly chaotic play actually concealed cleverness.

Wembanyama said, "Sometimes I still have moments that look out of control, but they happen much less now. I’m more focused and clear-headed on the court."

This seemingly casual yet efficient scoring happens multiple times each night. The process might not always be smooth and can even be confusing, but it works. His extended body finish on the floor evokes memories of Thunder MVP Alexander—the ability to reach areas others cannot.

Spurs coach Mitch Johnson compared this to the playing styles of Jokic, Doncic, and Alexander—they always perform moves teammates have never seen before. Understanding these stars’ instincts requires time to adjust.

These improvisations perfectly illustrate Wembanyama’s fit within the Spurs system: many guards weave through the paint, wings lurk in the corners, and Wembanyama controls space, becoming the team’s connecting link.Now the Spurs no longer fix him in the low post; he has found more ways to integrate into the offensive flow, giving the team enough stability to suppress the Thunder’s trademark steadiness.

Johnson commented, "What impresses me most is his focus on the game and execution of tactics. Over time, his ability to read the game will improve—recognizing opponents’ defensive intentions and figuring out how to create advantages, opening opportunities for himself and the team."

This chemistry was established even before the games began. Wembanyama said victories are the result of all the team’s behind-the-scenes efforts. The Spurs players enjoy the process of training and competing, and this joyful atmosphere breeds highly competitive basketball.

Now, Wembanyama is experiencing feelings like never before. His winning percentage in the NBA has reached a career high, and he is experiencing the dopamine rush from victories more frequently than ever.

"Every game is incredibly intense, requiring full commitment and huge energy," Wembanyama said, "so the reward of winning feels especially wonderful. I don’t know if it’s some molecule in the brain or a hormone in the blood, but the feeling is truly amazing."