Team of the Week: San Antonio Spurs
Victor Wembanyama missed 12 games due to a calf injury, yet the Spurs only lost three of those. It’s proof that this franchise can hold its own without its French star, but with him, they become a different team entirely. They showed that in the NBA Cup semi-finals, becoming just the second team this season to defeat the Oklahoma City Thunder.
A message to the entire league: the Spurs are legitimate contenders to be the season’s (semi-)surprise package. Fourth in the East, they’re in a great position for a direct playoff spot (with a four-game lead over seventh place). Most impressively, they’ve only lost seven games since the start of the season.
That’s the pace of a team with real ambitions, and they didn’t hide their satisfaction after Saturday’s statement win. Of course, Wembanyama’s health remains a concern, and while they probably won’t be champions this year, the foundation they’re building looks solid. And their first trophy, the NBA Cup, could be within reach as soon as this week...
Underperformers of the Week: Toronto Raptors
The situation is far from hopeless for the Canadian franchise, still sitting fifth in the East and well within reach of a direct playoff berth. But the slowdown is real. Four straight losses, six in their last seven games - there’s no room for a dip in form in the NBA, and the Raptors are going through a tough patch.
The absence of RJ Barrett is one thing, but Scottie Barnes’ slump is another. Even with back-to-back 30 and 31-point games from Brandon Ingram, Toronto was knocked out of the NBA Cup, missing a great chance to chase their first trophy of the season. Fortunately, the upcoming schedule is relatively forgiving. Will that be enough to turn things around after this rough stretch?
Player of the Week: Jalen Brunson
"I hope you, in the media, and the fans, will keep talking about him as a potential MVP in this league, because that’s exactly what he is. This isn’t a campaign speech. I’m just telling the truth, and he hasn’t gotten enough credit. When I hear MVP debates, I see a lot of other candidates - who are excellent and deserve it - but I never hear Jalen’s name. When you’re first or second in your conference and putting up the numbers he is, his name should be one of the first mentioned."
Those words came from New York Knicks coach Mike Brown, speaking about his star Jalen Brunson in a press conference after their win over the Magic in the NBA Cup semifinals. In that game, Brunson dropped 40 points to lead his team to victory - a clear sign he remains among the NBA’s elite.
On a streak of four games with at least 30 points, the All-Star is in top form for a team widely seen as the favourite in the East before the season began, and they’re living up to expectations so far, sitting in second place. If they win the final against the Spurs on Wednesday, he’ll be the frontrunner for NBA Cup MVP. Could even bigger trophies be on the horizon by season’s end?
Play of the Week: LeBron James
There were plenty of questions when LeBron James returned. Not only have the LA Lakers kept their momentum, still in the top six in the West, but the 'King' is still going strong, as shown by this poster dunk against the Spurs. It was a highlight, though it couldn’t prevent their NBA Cup elimination.
Story of the Week: The Thunder’s Record
On Saturday night, the Thunder suffered just their second loss of the season, falling to the Spurs in the NBA Cup semifinals. Still, they started their campaign with a 24-1 record, matching the 2015/2016 Warriors, who posted the best regular season in history with 73 wins and nine losses.
That’s what’s at stake here. OKC, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, have repeatedly stressed how important winning is, and that if chasing this record is possible, everyone will give their all. This team has already made history, but let’s not forget the Warriors didn’t win the title that year, so a tough choice may lie ahead. For now, OKC won’t be lifting the NBA Cup, but they remain the team to beat in the NBA this season.