The last time the San Antonio Spurs lost more than 60 games in a season was in 1996–97. That year, the team lost superstar center David Robinson to a back and foot injury, and his loss turned a perennial playoff team into one of the worst in the league.
However, this bad luck quickly turned into good fortune when they won the Draft Lottery and the right to select the consensus number one pick, Tim Duncan. Suffice it to say, that pick worked out for the Spurs; Duncan became one of the greatest players in the sport’s history, and San Antonio never won less than 50 games in a season (excluding the strike-shortened 1998-99 campaign) and collected five NBA championships during his tenure there.
Fast forward to 2023, and the stars have aligned again for the Spurs, as the team appears set to acquire the biggest player in this year’s draft class. Even though this year’s 22-60 team wasn’t the result of injury misfortune, their success in the lottery remained the same. As a result, they are primed to sign French phenom Victor Wembanyama.
The projected top pick could turn around a Spurs team that has struggled since losing Kawhi Leonard.
Hyped as a “generational talent”, the Spurs hope that the multi-talented 7-footer lives up to expectations. If he does, then they are getting someone who could fill a lot of gaping holes for them.
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Author: Christopher Jeter
June 1, 2023 | 9:00 am
