Can the Spurs Turn Their NBA Cup Momentum Into a Finals Push?

The NBA Cup continues to establish itself as more than a midseason showcase. For young teams, it has become a pressure-filled testing ground — one that can accelerate growth and reshape expectations. The Indiana Pacers proved that point two seasons ago, using an NBA Cup Finals appearance as a springboard to a deep playoff run and an eventual trip to the NBA Finals. Now, the San Antonio Spurs are hoping to follow a similar blueprint.

San Antonio’s path to the NBA Cup final was anything but easy. The Spurs won four straight must-win games from the group stage onward, three of them without franchise centerpiece Victor Wembanyama. Even though their run ended with a 124–113 loss to the New York Knicks, the experience gained may prove more valuable than the result itself. For a team that hasn’t made the playoffs since 2019, learning how to compete — and survive — in high-stakes games is a major step forward.

The comparison to Indiana is fitting. When the Pacers reached the inaugural NBA Cup final, most of their roster had never played a playoff game. That exposure paid dividends. The following season, Indiana added key veterans, tightened its rotation, and transformed Cup lessons into postseason success. The Spurs are now at a similar crossroads, blending elite young talent with experienced pieces who understand the moment.

For San Antonio, the NBA Cup served as a coming-out party for its young core. Wembanyama, already one of the league’s most anticipated stars, delivered some of the most meaningful performances of his career during the knockout rounds, including a statement win over the defending champions. Rookie standouts like Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper were also tested against seasoned playoff teams, gaining invaluable reps that can’t be replicated in regular-season games.

The stabilizing force behind it all has been De’Aaron Fox. Acquired to bring leadership and late-game reliability, Fox has looked increasingly comfortable as the season has progressed. Since returning to full health, he’s averaging 24 points per game on the most efficient shooting of his career and has repeatedly stepped up in momentum-swinging moments. His presence gives San Antonio something it has lacked in recent years: a proven closer.

Unlike Indiana at the time of its Cup run, the Spurs still have flexibility. Their roster is stocked with future draft assets, and they have the option to either pursue another major addition or trust that internal development is enough to push them into playoff relevance. San Antonio’s Cup performance may even suggest that patience is the smarter play — that surrounding Wembanyama with shooting, athleticism, and a steady veteran guard could be sufficient for a postseason breakthrough.

The Orlando Magic, another young Cup contender, may have a smoother road in the Eastern Conference, but San Antonio’s upside remains undeniable. While projections still place the Spurs as a long shot to reach the conference finals this season, the NBA Cup run signals that the rebuild is ahead of schedule.

Whether the payoff comes this spring or a year down the line, history suggests that teams don’t forget moments like this. If the Spurs eventually take the next step, their NBA Cup run will be remembered as the moment when potential turned into belief — and belief turned into real postseason expectations.