Look at Adam Silver. Giving the Spurs another chance to right the wrongs of the past, and this time on opening night. According to Marc Stein, the boys will be playing the Dallas Mavericks on October 22, the very first night of NBA basketball for the 2025-26 season. Last year, San Antonio had to wait until the 24th for their first game against the same ball club. It resulted in a 120-109 loss.
Actually, this will be the third year in a row that the Silver and Black will be playing their North Texas rivals in the first game of a new campaign. They lost both games. Victor Wembanyama’s rookie season opened by facing Luka Doncic, and while I get the hype, the team was nowhere near ready at the time. They were still competitive, but they lost 126-119; a terrible defensive effort.
Well, the tables have turned now. And while I would have said the same whether Luka remained in Dallas or not, Nico Harrison ensured some furniture flipping all on his own. The other issue the Mavericks are dealing with is a major injury to their star point guard. Kyrie Irving isn’t expected back until much later in the season, giving the Spurs an opportunity to start on a good foot.
This is the first schedule benefit for the Spurs new season
It’s a long year, and players will be in and out of the lineup across the league. It’s never felt more inevitable that a bunch of guys will end up in street clothes, cheering from the sidelines. The hope is that the injuries aren’t season-ending, but it’s still a physical sport with an 82-game season, so it’s to be expected.
I say that because there’s no reason to be ashamed of looking forward to beneficial circumstances to get some wins. The team needs to stack as many as they can and get their confidence up. After so much losing, it will only help the squad to see some early wins build up.
Now, don’t get me wrong. There are no guarantees in sports, even if guys are out. Anthony Davis is recovering after having surgery to repair a detached retina (ouch), but he’s expected to be ready to go by the time the season starts. The Mavericks still have a talented roster, and they’ll be motivated to stay afloat until their floor general returns. Defending home court will be a big sticking point for that mission.
We can’t forget that Klay Thompson, Dereck Lively II, and Daniel Gafford are there, along with the number one overall pick Cooper Flagg. The Spurs will have their work cut out for them, but they’ll also be bringing a new sword to this fight, not the rusty mop handle they’ve been fighting with in years past.
The league sees that. They see Wemby, Fox, a reigning Rookie of the Year, and a deep roster of talented players, who, if they take the necessary steps this offseason, will be a force to reckon with. Yeah. We know that the NBA sees what’s happening in San Antonio because they’re acting accordingly.