I know exactly what everyone was thinking about the Spurs coming into the season. While they were extremely talented, they lacked the experience necessary to contend for a championship. Sure, it was cool that they had a 7'4" demigod, a dynamic young backcourt made up of two lottery picks, and a handful of other talented players, but was it enough to make up for their youth?
Well, we can put those questions and concerns to rest. San Antonio spent the entire season slapping a muzzle on their biggest doubters, stepping up to the plate against the toughest teams in the NBA. It ultimately resulted in a run to the NBA Finals that people will talk about for years.
The Spurs don't care about your doubts or expectations, nor do they want to be that young team that has to wait for years to find success. Their sights were set on contention from the beginning of the year, and everything is coming to fruition.
The Spurs are a part of a larger trend across the league
Title contention now isn't the same as it was through the 2010s into the early 2020s. Teams that gunned for championships were led by proven stars who were well into their careers. LeBron was in his late 20s when he led the Heat to the Finals. The same went for Stephen Curry, Giannis, and others.
If I told you in 2016 that we'd soon see a world where a 22-year-old would put together an iconic playoff run while leading a shockingly young core, you probably would've called me crazy. But here we are.
This Spurs team is a perfect contrast to what we saw in the previous decade. Youth is no longer a disqualifier when it comes to making a deep postseason run. The right coaching, culture, and combination of players can yield success regardless of how many years they've put in.
It's not just San Antonio. Last season, the OKC Thunder won their first title in franchise history as the youngest team in the NBA. We're in a new era where youth reigns supreme. No longer is it an ailment. The energy young players provide can actually be a significant advantage.
The Spurs' inexperience can still cause some slip-ups
Now, it's important to understand that San Antonio isn't perfect, and their inexperience can lead to some mistakes. We saw that in the Western Conference Finals a handful of times. Stephon Castle, for example, found himself in foul trouble and struggled with keeping control of the basketball in the first few games.
But their front office made the right decision by pairing their young core with a veteran who can temper things a bit. De'Aaron Fox has been perfect playing that role for the Spurs, assisting with ball-handling and shot creation when things get out of control.
San Antonio's decision-making and maturity are being put to the test once again in this Finals series against the Knicks. But they've already given fans the utmost confidence that they can handle any challenge thrown their way, regardless of experience.
