Plenty of teams, such as the Charlotte Hornets, saw success in the draft and during Summer League. Nevertheless, the San Antonio Spurs arguably left the draft with the best overall outcome, and Las Vegas only confirmed that. In drafting Dylan Harper and Carter Bryant, they were able to get fantastic talent that fit with their current core and Victor Wembanyama. Here are three reasons why the San Antonio Spurs won the 2025 NBA Draft.
3 Reasons Why The San Antonio Spurs Won The 2025 NBA Draft
#1: Gaining A True Partner For Victor Wembanyama
San Antonio struck gold in getting the second overall pick in this year’s draft. They now have a true long-term co-star to pair with Wembanyama: Harper. While De’Aaron Fox is on the roster, Harper fits far more closely to Wembanyama’s timeline. He’s the best guard prospect in the 2025 class and can be the Spurs’ second-best player. His skills as a playmaker and slashing ability fit nicely next to Wembanyama and the rest of the roster. Plus, the 19-year-old has shown potential as a shooter and defender. Overall, the Spurs get a player who has star upside and can be Wembanyama’s partner for the long haul. With Harper, San Antonio has the final piece they need to rise again as a Western Conference threat.
#2: Adding Frontcourt Security
Not only did the Spurs find a true long-term partner for Wembanyama, but they also found a long-term fit on the wings. Bryant has the potential to be a high-level 3-and-D guy and has the skills defensively to be impactful immediately. San Antonio has lacked true 3-and-D wings on the roster besides Harrison Barnes, who is 33. As for Bryant, he is 19 years old and is part of the Spurs’ young core. On the court, his strong defensive abilities will bolster San Antonio’s overall defense. Furthermore, Bryant can provide great defense while remaining a shooting threat, something which Jeremy Sochan cannot offer. The size, defense, and shooting are exactly what the team needs as they push for the postseason.
#3: Prioritizing The Future
Most importantly, the Spurs won the 2025 NBA Draft because they prioritized the future. Specifically, they chose not to trade their picks to push up their timeline for contention. They made the right choice in building a long-term core around Wembanyama, allowing them to contend for years to come. Plus, San Antonio can get production from a young core while not having to pay them max contracts until years later.
While Wembanyama is clearly ready to win now, building a team through the draft offers the team the most flexibility. In particular, San Antonio won’t have to lose all their assets in trades to improve the roster. To be sure, this process will take time, but there is higher upside in letting a team grow organically. Furthermore, the Spurs will build up years of continuity for their core, which is highly important for deep playoff runs. Prioritizing the future was the right call for the Spurs and can pay off big time for them.
Featured image: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
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