The San Antonio Spurs defied expectations by winning 62 games and reaching their first Finals since 2014.
Victor Wembanyama's extraordinary offseason training and stellar play anchored their unexpected rise to championship contention.
New NBA anti-tanking rules mean no team will likely replicate how the Spurs built their roster through consecutive top draft picks.
AI-generated summary was reviewed by a CNN editor.
As Game 1 of the NBA Finals concluded with the New York Knicks stealing a win in Texas in a back-and-forth contest against the Spurs, much of the chatter on social media and among some league commentators centered on the disappointing performance from San Antonio. But rewind to the end of last season and it would have seemed impossible for this team to even be in the Finals. That is, until the Summer of Wemby.
