TBT San Antonio Spurs
Highlight: Surging to the Finals (Heart of a Champion)
The San Antonio Spurs stunned the league with a remarkable late-season surge, powered by the dominant play of Giannis Antetokounmpo, the clutch brilliance of Jamal Murray, and the unexpected spark of Luke Kornet. GM Nels showed he still has what it takes to play the trade game by his own genius evaluation points and lean into the 2k engine as the basis of building a champion - not the real life stature and performance of players. Once sitting on the playoff fringe - heck, even looking like a play-in team for most of the season - the Spurs found their rhythm after the All-Star break and came home with a wet sail, rolling into the playoffs with regained swagger.
Giannis anchored the offense, defense, playmaking, being huge… everything aside from shooting. Jamal Murray, oft-maligned for missing games and inconsistent play, caught fire, making clutch shots and plenty of buckets as the Spurs began kicking ass as they dispatched team after team in the playoffs. A genius move was adding Luke Kornet - a lesser name but a big with glitch capabilities. Their chemistry clicked at the perfect time, propelling San Antonio past all other Western Conference contenders to reach the NBA Finals, where they would face the talented, eventual champion Washington Wizards.
This is where I have to credit Nels for being a relentless competitor and champion of our league. He has no quit in him and continues to reinvent his team build and find trades that keep his team at the top of the league. I am quick to pin the success on Giannis, but there are two Formula 1 engines that make the Spurs go, and the Greek Freak is just one of them.
Lowlight: Losing streaks and Discord meltdowns
Can’t have highs without lows, right!? For a while there, the Spurs looked like that ageing fighter that doesn’t know, or doesn’t want to believe, that he is past his best. Nels tried all the rotation tricks that he has developed over the past few seasons to maximise Giannis, to no avail. Some tough losses and randomly bad stretches of play made Nels look like he was losing his mind (he was). Since those dark times, he has learned some humility and mellowed, becoming a pillar of the community instead of a pit of despair. Spurs survived and grew.
Best trade:
The Oklahoma City Thunder send Sam Merrill to the Toronto Raptors. The San Antonio Spurs send Taj Gibson to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The San Antonio Spurs send James Wiseman to the Toronto Raptors. The Toronto Raptors send Luke Kornet, Jaylen Nowell and Vit Krejci to the San Antonio Spurs.
Wiseman is no longer in the league. Taj is no longer in the league. And Luke Kornet is a glitch big on a four year deal. Toronto hook the Spurs up once again with a quality big, and this is astute dealing by Nels, to find impact and fit on the fringes.
Worst trade:
The Phoenix Suns send Jerami Grant to the San Antonio Spurs. The San Antonio Spurs send Khris Middleton to the Phoenix Suns.
The Phoenix Suns send Myles Turner to the San Antonio Spurs. The San Antonio Spurs send Jakob Poeltl to the Phoenix Suns.
It seems the Spurs double-downgraded here as they looked to try and answer their chemistry issues. In the end, Turner was moved on again after a lacklustre stint and Jerami Grant continued to be expensive for what he does.
Other trades of note:
The Brooklyn Nets send Jamal Murray and Jevon Carter to the San Antonio Spurs. The San Antonio Spurs send Zach LaVine to the Brooklyn Nets.
Stylistic pivot to Murray proved to be a massive win, helping the Spurs surge to the Finals.
Free Agency:
Luke Kornet (UFA) - the aforementioned glitch big is coming back to Spurs, if you ask Nels. Or if you don’t. He has made it his business to segue that statement into as many Discord posts as possible.
‘Yeah, it’s super exciting you having a child. Congratulations on the addition. Speaking of additions, Luke Kornet is a foregone conclusion to return after I drop 99 GMs. Yep, 99 GMS. Hope your wife is doing well.’
Josh Minnot (RFA) - A salary throw in in a deal becomes a long, athletic wing that might be playing himself into an NBA role. Good value, guaranteed return.
Ryan Rollins (RFA) - Another bargain basement body turned into a useful player. At the moment, he is playing big minutes for the NBA Bucks and putting up some gaudy numbers.
(Mega-Ultra) Star: Giannis (well, duh!)
Giannis Antetokounmpo is a force of nature on the court. There is no one better, which has allowed the Spurs to still remain a title threat after all these seasons. Every game, he brings unmatched energy - charging down the floor like a freight train, throwing down monster dunks, and blocking shots that look impossible to reach. His combination of power, speed, and agility makes him a nightmare for defenders; he can go coast-to-coast in just a few dribbles and finish through anyone. I don’t think 2k has ever built a better player. What’s wild is how much his game keeps evolving - he’s added a smoother jumper, better passing, and smarter decision-making, which he has demonstrated in his torrid start to the 25-26 NBA season. Whether he’s Euro-stepping past defenders or swatting shots into the stands, or dunking from anywhere in the paint, Giannis plays with pure intensity and passion every single possession, and it makes it hard to hate the guy (even though he is a Spur). He makes taking over games and stuffing the stat-sheet look routine, due to the sheer ease in which he does it, and how often.
Future outlook:
Bright. Competitive. As long as Giannis is wearing black, white and teal, and Nels is in charge, the Spurs will compete for titles.
NBA SIMS LEAGUE 