NBA Report Cards: Spurs Flunking 2022-23 Season?

The San Antonio Spurs fizzled out in 2022-23 and were appraised for it, but are there brighter days ahead for the franchise?

Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

The San Antonio Spurs are recovering after bottoming out in the NBA Western Conference with a 22-60 record. 

Though much of their high-end talent were moved between the offseason and the deadline, they've had few bright spots in an otherwise dim season, garnering criticism from the media.

Bleacher Report published report card grades for all 30 teams across the Association as the 2023 campaign came to a close, giving the Spurs a 'D+', narrowly escaping a failing grade.

"The San Antonio Spurs finished within striking distance of their preseason over/under, but they still fall shy of a C thanks to posting the league's worst net rating. It wasn't all bad for the Spurs this season, though," Bleacher Report writes. "Keldon Johnson averaged 22.0 points, 2.9 assists and 2.1 threes. Devin Vassell averaged 18.5 points, 3.6 assists and 2.7 threes, while shooting 38.7 percent from deep. Jeremy Sochan looks capable of developing into a defensive menace. And Zach Collins averaged 16.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.6 threes, 1.1 steals and 1.1 blocks after Jakob Poeltl was traded."

Johnson, Vassell and Collins produced in the statistical department and Sochan as well as Tre Jones put on display unteachable talent and feel for the game.

Encouragingly, the Spurs were one of the fastest teams in the NBA, notching the second-highest pace behind only the Golden State Warriors, as well as the highest average speed. 

They were also dominant in the painted area, ranking third with 49.2 percent of their points coming in that part on the basketball floor. 

Further, San Antonio's bench stepped up to the task, averaging 41.9 points per game -- the second-best offensive reserve unit in the league. As a team, they even finished in the top-five in assists. So why do all of these redeeming stats come with the second-worst record among all franchises?

Inexperience played a part. Additionally, all but three of their losses came by four or more points, evidence that the Spurs could not hang in close down the wire even through their defeats.

A favorable draw in the lottery hopes to improve their performance in 2023-24 and lead to more wins. Calculated decisions in the trade and free agency markets come this offseason will be vital in surrounding their young core with the right supplementary pieces.

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