The San Antonio Spurs ended February without a loss and are the first team to do so while scoring at least 110.0 points per game for the entire month.

The Spurs are closing in on the No. 1 seed that the Oklahoma City Thunder currently possess in the West. It should be noted that although February is the shortest month of the year, the Spurs had no easy task, as they faced primarily winning teams. This includes the most challenging game of the month against the top east team in the Pistons. Seven of the Spurs’ eleven opponents had winning records. The Raptors came the closest to beating the silver and black after only losing by three points.

San Antonio Spurs Make History After Undefeated February
How Did They Do It?

Despite this consistent domination, the Spurs stars actually had down months offensively. Surprisingly, center Victor Wembanyama‘s shooting percentage and scoring saw a decline this month when compared to his season average. Importantly though, his defensive stats have seen some improvement. This is likely due to his increase in minutes due to being consistently healthy. All-Star guard De’Aaron Fox‘s scoring has also decreased. However, their lower production is a sign of several excellent things.

First, the Spurs are extremely healthy. After dealing with injuries to key rising stars Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper, both players are healthy and contributing. This includes a historic 40-point triple double for Castle. Victor Wembanyama and his back-up Luke Kornet have also been without much issue. Additionally, the role players are stepping up. Not only are players like forwards Julian Champagnie and Devin Vassell increasing their scoring, but they are also leading games in scoring, including, for example, Vassell’s highly-efficient 28-point game against the Pistons.

Most importantly this young team is playing like veterans. “It feels like the players are finding different ways to win, that’s a sign of growth.” head coach Mitch Johnson said after the team’s win over the Brooklyn Nets Thursday. The Spurs are closing out games with the leadership of De’Aaron Fox (who at 28 is one of the oldest players on the team) and trust in each other. 

The Spurs Are Returning To Their Standard Of Success

Compare the Spurs to a team like the Los Angeles Lakers. Currently, the Lakers are a team that is expected to compete for a championship. Their roster is expensive and features current and former All-Stars. However, the team’s defense is messy and players often times can be seen arguing after a failed-switch or an offensive bucket.

Worst of all, there is drama surrounding the Lakers constantly. LeBron James could be leaving this offseason with or without his son. Deandre Ayton recently said, “They’re trying to make me Clint Capela,” referring to the veteran known for being an excellent role-player in his prime. However, this is not praise. It is Ayton openly criticizing his team, and the vagueness of his statement points to him blaming more than just the coaches.

Compare this to what the Spurs have. Young players who have a shared identity and have grown with each other. An efficient defense. A lack of drama. The Spurs have recreated their ideal environment even after some errors (looking at you, Josh Primo). The entire team is made up of rare talents not just in the NBA, but in the athletic world at large. Players who, in the most competitive circumstances, want to see their team succeed more than themselves. Mitch Johnson has mostly succeeded in his first season in keeping San Antonio an environment that players are lucky to be in.

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