The last two years for the San Antonio Spurs have been peppered with unusual circumstances and some break from their glorious recent history. A golden stage that returned 22 uninterrupted playoff appearances and five champion rings.
The 2014 title was followed by the inevitable decline of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. The natural heir to the empire, Kawhi Leonard, would end up declaring in absentia and it would be DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge who would be in charge of prolonging the dynasty a couple of years more. The departure of the guard, as well as Rudy Gay and Patty Mills, this summer would confirm the definitive slam of that past and the beginning of a new era full of uncertainty and renewed airs.
This scenario had begun to take shape since 2016 through decisions made on draft night. Although it would not be until the 2020 edition when the Spurs were able to recruit their first lottery pick from Tim Duncan in 1997: Devin Vassell.
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