The NBA is weird right now. If you haven't checked the San Antonio Spurs standings lately, you might think they're still stuck in that "rebuilding and hoping for the best" loop. But honestly? They've flipped the script.
As of mid-January 2026, the Spurs aren't just hovering near a Play-In spot. They are sitting comfortably at 29-13, holding down the #2 seed in the Western Conference.
It's wild. They're only 5.5 games behind the juggernaut Oklahoma City Thunder. Remember when people said this would take five years? Well, Victor Wembanyama and a very specific front-office strategy had other ideas.
The Current Western Conference Landscape
Look, the West is a bloodbath. It always is. But seeing San Antonio ahead of the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves feels like a glitch in the matrix.
Basically, the San Antonio Spurs standings reflect a team that has figured out how to win the games they're supposed to win. They just came off a gritty 126-123 win against Minnesota on January 17th. That wasn't a fluke.
Where They Sit Right Now
- Record: 29-13
- Conference Rank: 2nd in the West
- Division Rank: 1st in the Southwest
- Home Record: 15-5 at the Frost Bank Center
- Road Record: 14-8
They’ve got this weirdly balanced profile. Usually, young teams crumble on the road. Not these guys. They are actually 14-8 away from San Antonio, which is sort of the "tell" that a team is legitimate.
Why the San Antonio Spurs Standings Aren't a Fluke
People love to talk about Victor. And yeah, he’s a 7-foot-4 alien who is currently averaging 24.5 points and 10.9 rebounds. But the real reason they are second in the West is the defense.
The Spurs are currently sporting the 3rd best Defensive Rating in the league (112.4). Mitch Johnson, who took over the coaching reins, has them playing a style that is suffocating. It’s not just Wemby blocking shots—though he does that plenty, averaging 2.7 a game. It's the perimeter pressure from guys like Stephon Castle and De'Aaron Fox.
🔗 Read more: Manchester United vs Copenhagen: Why This Fixture Always Ends in Chaos
Wait, De'Aaron Fox?
Yeah, if you missed the news cycle, the addition of Fox (averaging 20.5 PPG) changed everything. He gave them the "clutch" gene they were missing. When the game slows down in the fourth quarter, they actually have someone who can create a shot that isn't just a lobs-to-the-ceiling prayer.
The Supporting Cast is... Actually Good?
- Stephon Castle: The second-year guard is basically a defensive menace. He’s putting up 17.3 points and nearly 7 assists. He just had a 10-assist, zero-turnover game against Milwaukee.
- Keldon Johnson: He’s moved to a bench role and he’s thriving. 13.4 points off the pine? That’s Sixth Man of the Year territory.
- Julian Champagnie: He has quietly become one of the most reliable 3-and-D wings in the conference.
Misconceptions About the Spurs' Success
Most fans think the Spurs are just "Wemby and friends." That’s a mistake. Honestly, the San Antonio Spurs standings are high because the team has depth.
When Devin Vassell went down with that left adductor strain—missing ten games and counting—everyone expected a slide. They didn't slide. They went 7-3 in their last ten.
✨ Don't miss: How Many Canadian NHL Teams: What Most People Get Wrong
They’ve stopped relying on "potential" and started relying on "production." The net rating is +5.1. That’s top-tier. It means they aren't just winning close games; they are outscoring people consistently over 48 minutes.
What to Watch for in the Second Half
The schedule gets a bit "kinda" heavy in February. They have the Rodeo Road Trip coming up, which is historically where Spurs seasons go to live or die.
If they can maintain a top-3 seed through the end of February, we are looking at home-court advantage in the playoffs. In San Antonio. That’s a scary prospect for anyone else in the West.
They play Utah next on January 19th, then a back-to-back against Houston. If they sweep those, they might actually start nipping at the Thunder’s heels for that #1 spot.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
- Monitor the Injury Report: Devin Vassell’s return is huge. If he comes back at 100%, their floor spacing becomes elite again.
- Watch the Turnover Rate: Stephon Castle is great, but he’s young. In their losses, the turnover numbers spike. If they keep that under 13 per game, they win.
- Betting Value: The Spurs' preseason over-under was 44.5. They are almost 30 wins in before the All-Star break. If you took the over, you're looking smart right now.
Keep an eye on the San Antonio Spurs standings every Monday. The West is so tight that a three-game losing streak can drop you from 2nd to 6th. But with the way this defense is locked in, don't count on a collapse anytime soon.
Check the local broadcast on FanDuel Sports Network Southwest or tune into 1200 WOAI for the radio calls. This is the most exciting Spurs basketball we've seen since 2014. Enjoy the ride.