One of the top storylines of the upcoming NBA playoffs involves the San Antonio Spurs and their potential to make a deep run. Spurs star Victor Wembanyama is on a mission to become recognized as the best player in the world sooner rather than later and has a potentially elite supporting cast around him.
However, some around the NBA believe the expectations and hype are a little too high, something Houston Rockets guard and NBA champion Fred VanVleet addressed.
Fred VanVleet Believes Spurs Have To Prove It in the Playoffs
VanVleet attempted to pour some cold water on the Spurs’ current hype, saying on the latest episode of the “Unguarded” podcast that the team still has a lot to prove.
“We were better than them the last two years. Have they had a playoff series? Everybody slow the f*ck down. It’s a marathon, it’s not a sprint. They in front of us right now in the standings,” he said.
“Yeah, Wemby’s an alien. Castle’s a really good player. Harper looks like a really good player. Yeah, I like they team, but, like, Fox was a great addition, they rolling. They having a good year, but, like, what’s the finish line though?” VanVleet added.
Fred VanVleet tells people to ‘slow the f*ck’ down on the Spurs hype 👀
“Have they won a playoff series? Everybody slow the f*ck down. It’s a marathon. Not a sprint… Yeah Wemby is a alien. Castle is a really good player, Harper looks like a good player. They’re have a good year… pic.twitter.com/5p92v0MfGC — NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) March 14, 2026
VanVleet’s comments will add fuel and anticipation for a potential playoff series between the Spurs and Rockets. The Spurs are currently second in the Western Conference standings, while Houston sits third, tied with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Both teams are jockeying for position alongside the Lakers and the Minnesota Timberwolves in a tightly packed race behind the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Spurs hold a 3-1 edge in the regular-season series, with VanVleet having a front-row seat on the bench, as he will miss the entire season after suffering a torn ACL last September.
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VanVleet believes the Spurs have a lot to prove in the playoffs, as their core hasn’t done anything. NBA champion Harrison Barnes is on the roster, but provides veteran leadership at this point in his career more than on-court production. It’s unlikely Wembanyama will be afraid of the moment.
Two-time All-Star De’Aaron Fox got a small taste of the postseason with the Sacramento Kings but wanted to be traded to the Spurs because he knew teaming with Wembanyama would lead to consistent playoff success.
The 2023 NBA Clutch Player of the Year, Fox, averaged 27.4 points and 7.7 assists per game in his lone playoff series with the Kings and will also be unafraid of the moment.
While 16-time All-Star and two-time NBA champion Kevin Durant is battle-tested, the rest of VanVleet’s core teammates in Houston are also relatively unproven in the playoffs. All-Star center Alperen Şengün, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason, and Reed Sheppard also have a lack of playoff success.
Ultimately, VanVleet is laying the foundation for what could potentially become one of the NBA’s top rivalries over the next few years.
