Before the 2025-26 NBA campaign, it was easy to think that the San Antonio Spurs would at least be a playoff team, but it felt too early to call them contenders.

But the prospect of the Spurs winning the title is no longer inconceivable. In fact, one NBA scout told ESPN’s Brian Windhorst and Tim Bontemps that San Antonio is their “favorite.”

“They’re my favorite now,” the scout told ESPN. “I’ve been thinking a lot about it. His game is going to be even more dominant in the playoffs and every game he’s going to get more and more into your head. In Game 1, your players will think about him on some of their shots. By Game 4, they’ll be having full-on nightmares.”

Another executive praised the Spurs’ coaching and roster makeup, adding that star center Victor Wembanyama is “unguardable.”

“They’re a very good team,” an executive whose team has played San Antonio recently said. “They’re very well-coached. They’re very well put together. The combination of the group of guys they have is impressive.

“And Victor is absolutely unguardable.”

One of the main knocks against the Spurs has been their age. After all, Wembanyama is just 22 years old, and starting guard Stephon Castle is in his second year. But there’s a bit more experience on the team when you take a closer look.

“Everyone says they don’t have experience, but they have a lot more than anyone gives them credit for,” one East executive said of the Spurs, per Windhorst and Bontemps. “Harrison Barnes and Luke Kornet have championship rings. De’Aaron Fox is one of the league’s best clutch players and he’s been in the playoffs.

“Do you think Victor is going to be intimidated by the moment? Good luck with that.”

The biggest threat to the Spurs is the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, but one Western Conference coach pointed out that Wembanyama can take away the key part of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s game.

“That’s fine, but you realize that Victor can take away their biggest weapon,” the coach said. “When games are close Shai [Gilgeous-Alexander] gets to his spot at the elbows and kills you with his midrange jumper or gets you to foul him. Well Victor has a f—ing 8-foot wingspan and he can defend that jumper and the rim at the same time and be far enough away that Shai can’t draw contact from him.

“Shai says he’s got the answers to the test. Well he’s right, but Victor breaks all the rules.”

The Spurs are currently 55-18 on the year, sitting in second place in the Western Conference, two games back from the first-placed Thunder. San Antonio will have a tough road to the NBA Finals, but few would be surprised to see the team hoisting the Larry O’Brien Trophy in June.