There is finally a light at the end of the tunnel. Today was officially Spurs Media Day for the 2025-26 season, which means training camp starts tomorrow, and preseason is just a week away. There was a new vibe this year, with some new faces (at least to media day) and a new pep in the team’s step as they aim to bust their playoff drought and take on a new identity, particularly on the defensive end. Below are some key moments and takeaways.
Mitch Johnson’s first media day
For the first time since 1996, someone else was in the head
coaching seat. After Gregg Popovich retired in May, having missed all but the first five games of the 2024-25 season after suffering a stroke, the reigns were passed to his lead assistant Mitch Johnson. Naturally, there were going to be questions about his mentor (who, reminder, is still with the team as President of Basketball Operations), and Johnson confirmed they are still constantly in touch and giving/receiving advice.
He also discussed renewed winning expectations for the team and how they plan to handle it:
Injury updates
From an injury standpoint, Johnson confirmed what we knew back in July, that Victor Wembanyama is cleared to play. He also gave updates on some offseason injuries. Dylan Harper (torn thumb ligament) is back on the court and in the process of getting back into shape, although it did not sound like he is cleared for contact. He also said that both De’Aaron Fox (hamstring) and Jeremy Sochan (calf discomfort while training with Team Poland for the Euros) will be practicing in training camp, although they will take a “mindful approach”.
While vague, nothing there seemed to imply there was a chance anyone other than maybe Harper could miss any playing time. As a result, Fox (who went last) surprised everyone in attendance by stating that while he feels he can play now, he doesn’t expect to be cleared for the preseason and possibly even opening night.
That definitely caught everyone off guard and is the news of the day, but it’s important to note that nothing about his status has been officially announced, so you never know. The good news is even if he’s not ready on opening night, he is healthy now and is just ramping back up, and the aim is reportedly November 1, which would mean he’d miss five games at the most. Better he be fully healthy when he returns than re-aggravating anything that would force even more missed time.
Emphasis on Defense
You know the old tried and true saying: defense wins championships. It’s how the Spurs’ dynasty was built, and it’s something the entire team is honing in on this season. Several players, including Jeremy Sochan, Stephon Castle and Devin Vassell all emphasized how important that side of the ball this season. Wemby also said playing hard on that end is a “non-negotiable” for this team.
Wemby’s return
The most anticipated moment of the entire day came when Wemby made his triumphant return from a scary deep vein thrombosis diagnosis last season, which helped him see the world in a new light.
It also led to his many adventures this offseason, including training with monks at the Shaolin Temple in China.
But don’t think that means he neglected his basketball duties or workouts. He has put on noticeable muscle mass and assured this was the most productive summer he’s ever had, and no one worked out harder than him.
Also of note, the Spurs will reportedly list Wemby as 7’4” this season, so an inch taller than last season, but allow me to direct you to my “because I was bored” offseason masterpiece about why I think they’re underreporting his height and he’s 7’5” at the absolute minimum.
Dynamic Guard Trio
As previously mentioned, Fox gave a slightly surprising answer to his health by revealing he may miss a little time early, and with Harper’s status also in question, it may be just Castle on opening night. Regardless, the trio all got opportunities to speak and discuss how they will work together, which has been a big question coming into the season considering their similar strengths, weaknesses and style of play.
These are just some of the more interesting tidbits, but there was plenty more to Media Day than just that, as it took an entire 3 hours to get through everyone (with long pauses in between). If you’re interested, you can rewatch the entire thing below.
We’ll have some deeper dives into Media Day later, so stay tuned. In the meantime, what did you hear that made you the most excited? Any surprises or something that wasn’t covered? Feel free to discuss in the comments, and in the meantime, welcome to a new season, Pounders!
