San Antonio Spurs’ young stars set to challenge high-octane Miami Heat
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Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs blocks a shot against Jacob Poelti of the Toronto Raptors.
PHOTO: AFP
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SAN ANTONIO – The San Antonio Spurs, who are off to their first 4-0 start since 2017-18, will be seeking to extend that run when they host the in-form Miami Heat on Oct 30 (Oct 31, Singapore time).
In Spurs history, four players have won the National Basketball Association (NBA) Rookie of the Year award – legends David Robinson and Tim Duncan, as well as current stars Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle.
Wembanyama won the award in 2024 and Castle followed in 2025, making the Spurs just the sixth NBA franchise to earn that honour in consecutive years.
Listed at 2.24m, although there are suggestions that he has grown even taller since last season, Wembanyama is a versatile superstar who is off to a great start, averaging 31.0 points and 13.8 rebounds while leading the league in blocks (4.8).
He is shooting 80.0 per cent from the foul line, 60.3 per cent from the field and 36.4 per cent on three-pointers.
“He has such a good feel,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said of Wembanyama. “It feels like he can block every shot.”
Castle is San Antonio’s second-leading scorer (18.3), and joint-top in assists (4.8). He averaged 14.7 points as a rookie.
San Antonio’s fast start is noteworthy given that point guard De’Aaron Fox has yet to play this season due to a hamstring injury. A key trade acquisition last season, Fox has elite speed and a career scoring average of 21.5 points.
Fox is listed as day-to-day and the same goes for their three front-court players who figure to be in the rotation once they return: Luke Kornet (ankle), Jeremy Sochan (wrist) and ex-Heat forward Kelly Olynyk (heel).
Johnson, a 38-year-old who succeeded Gregg Popovich as coach, is hoping to end San Antonio’s six-year play-off drought, the longest in franchise history.
So far, he has done a stellar job handling rookie guard Dylan Harper, the second pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Harper, the son of former NBA star Ron Harper, is averaging 14.8 points.
Meanwhile, the Heat are also playing well. After a season-opening loss to Orlando Magic, they have won three straight games.
The Heat lead the league in scoring (131.5 points). Last season, they finished 24th in scoring.
In addition, the Heat are tied for third in three-point percentage (40.8) and fifth in overall field-goal percentage (50.8).
All-Star guard Tyler Herro, whose career-high 23.9 points per game led the team last season, has yet to play in this campaign following ankle surgery. He is expected to miss at least eight more weeks.
Norman Powell, acquired in an off-season trade, leads Miami in scoring (24.0). However, he missed Miami’s 144-117 home win over the Charlotte Hornets on Oct 28 and he is day-to-day due to a groin injury.
In addition, rookie first-round pick Kasparas Jakucionis, 19, has yet to make his debut due to a groin injury. The 1.96m shooting guard was the 20th pick in the draft.
Similar to Spurs, Miami are thriving despite the key injuries. Against Charlotte, reserve Jaime Jaquez Jr scored a game-high 28 points, Bam Adebayo added 26 points and Andrew Wiggins had 21.
For the season, Jaquez – Miami’s first-round pick in 2023 – is averaging 18.8 points and shooting 68.9 per cent from the floor.
Last season, Jaquez averaged 8.6 points on 46.1 per cent shooting.
“I liked my ability to get downhill, attack, get in the paint and create,” Jaquez said after the Charlotte game. “Going eight for eight from the foul line was my biggest joy.” REUTERS
