Are the Spurs still the Spurs?
The San Antonio Spurs have served as the hallmark of a successful sports franchise. They have won 50 or more games for the past 20 seasons. They have the greatest coach in the game in Gregg Popovich, flanked by a multiple Executive of the Year winner R.C. Buford and possibly the deepest coaching staff in the league. The organization has seamlessly transitioned from David Robinson to Tim Duncan to Manu Ginobli and Tony Parker to Kawhi Leonard. They turn undrafted free agents like Danny Green, Patty Mills and Bruce Bowen into championship contributors. The Spurs run a somewhat comically tight ship. They won't even reveal what they put in their players' juice smoothies. They decline hundreds of interview requests a year. Think about it: when is the last time you read an in-depth profile on a current Spurs player? Their stoic culture, however maddening it may be for reporters and fans, has brought undeniable success. Five championships over the course of those 20 years, with