Are The Spurs Tanking?
A deep dive into their recent moves.
The San Antonio Spurs entered the NBA All-Star break with a tough 116-103 loss to the Boston Celtics. With a record of 23-29 at the time of writing, their chances of securing a spot in the play-in tournament or playoffs seem to be slipping away. Questionable decisions by the coaching staff have led many fans to wonder: Are the Spurs quietly tanking?
This conversation gained momentum after Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor called the Spurs’ recent lineups “a joke” on X, sparking widespread debate among fans and analysts alike.
Examining the Spurs’ Decisions
There’s plenty of evidence to support O’Connor’s claim. Let’s break down the key decisions that suggest the Spurs may be prioritizing draft positioning over immediate success.
Chris Paul’s Role in the Starting Lineup
O’Connor’s criticism directly pointed at veteran point guard Chris Paul. At 39, Paul is one of the league’s oldest players, yet before De’Aaron Fox joined the team, he was widely viewed as a positive addition. However, since Fox’s arrival, many Spurs fans have turned on Paul, calling for him to move to the bench.
Benching Paul, however, may not be the right move. When Paul signed with the Spurs, he made it clear that if he was going to be away from his family, he needed to be in a starting role. This was reinforced during Spurs Media Day. While acquiring Fox changed the team dynamic, reneging on their agreement with Paul could hurt the Spurs’ reputation among future free agents.
Paul is the first star veteran to willingly join San Antonio in nearly a decade—since LaMarcus Aldridge in 2015. As a respected player, future Hall of Famer, and former NBPA president, pushing him to the bench could negatively impact the Spurs’ ability to attract star players in the future.
Fox himself has praised Paul’s mentorship. In a recent media availability, Fox shared:
“One thing he keeps saying to me is that he hasn’t been used to getting so many catch-and-shoot opportunities. But he’s like, ‘Man, I’m going to be ready for it.’ CP is a legend, man. He could have stopped playing a couple of years ago and he’d still be a Hall-of-Famer. For me, being able to soak up what he’s telling me is great. I’m enjoying every moment and we’re trying to build something.”
O’Connor may be right that keeping Paul in the starting lineup suggests tanking, but I’d argue the Spurs would have him starting regardless of their intentions.
Jeremy Sochan’s Move to the Bench
Another puzzling decision is moving Jeremy Sochan to the bench and using him as a small-ball center. While Sochan initially sat out after straining his back on New Year’s Eve, he has since returned to full health—yet remains a reserve.
Despite coming off the bench, Sochan is still the team’s best point-of-attack defender. In a recent article on the Spurs’ long-term core, I highlighted Sochan as a key player for the team’s future. His chemistry with Victor Wembanyama is undeniable, and the Spurs—historically a defense-first team—have struggled with early double-digit deficits in games.
National analysts often emphasize that defense is essential to earning minutes on a Gregg Popovich-led team. Yet, the Spurs repeatedly prioritize offense-heavy rotations, raising the question: Has the franchise abandoned its defensive identity, or is this a sign of intentional development over winning—aka tanking?
Why Isn’t Stephon Castle Starting?
Spurs rookie Stephon Castle has made huge strides this season. Heading into the All-Star break, he ranks at the top of the KIA NBA Rookie Ladder, has earned a Rising Stars selection, and will compete in the Dunk Contest. In a recent game against the Charlotte Hornets, he scored a career-high 33 points.
Given his performance, it’s hard to justify Castle coming off the bench. Back to O’Connor’s point—Castle playing fewer minutes than Chris Paul is questionable at best. Even if the Spurs aren’t intentionally tanking, keeping Castle out of the starting lineup makes it difficult to argue that they’re fully committed to making a playoff push.
Questionable Rotations and Lineup Choices
Since acquiring Fox, the Spurs have stuck to a strict nine-man rotation featuring:
Victor Wembanyama
Harrison Barnes
De’Aaron Fox
Chris Paul
Devin Vassell
Keldon Johnson
Stephon Castle
Julian Champagnie
Jeremy Sochan
Sandro Mamukelashvili occasionally gets minutes, but Charles Bassey, even before his injury, would go multiple games without playing. Normally, teams trim rotations like this when making a deep playoff push, not when sitting in 12th place.
Adding to the confusion, most of the starting lineup is playing out of position:
Fox is at shooting guard instead of point guard.
Vassell is playing small forward instead of shooting guard.
Barnes is filling in at power forward.
It seems that the coaching staff intentionally assigns players roles that don’t maximize their strengths. This raises the question: Is this part of a long-term development plan, or is it another indication that winning isn’t the top priority this season?
The Bigger Picture
With all these decisions in mind, it’s easy to see why O’Connor and others suspect the Spurs are tanking. At Media Day, every player emphasized that making the playoffs was the goal. But their recent moves suggest they may be positioning themselves for one final high-value draft pick before shifting into true contender mode.
The good news for Spurs scouts? The NCAA Final Four is being hosted in San Antonio, giving them an up-close look at some of the best college prospects.
What do you think—are the Spurs tanking this season? Drop your thoughts in the comments, follow us on X, and subscribe to our Substack to stay updated on all things Spurs.