Can Spurs finally make return to playoffs? Hey, why not?

The  Spurs have missed the postseason six years in a row. Six. For a franchise that once made the playoffs 22 straight times, that number feels wrong. But this season? This season actually feels different.

The roster is younger, deeper and more talented. The Spurs spent money in the offseason, landed their point guard of the future, and will finally get Victor Wembanyama back at full strength. Add in Stephon Castle’s promising rookie year and the arrival of No. 2 overall pick Dylan Harper, and San Antonio looks more like a team trying to climb the standings than sit in the lottery.

So what’s changed? Three big things.

1. A new era on the bench

For the first time since 1996, Gregg Popovich wasn’t on the sideline last year. Health issues forced him to step away, and longtime assistant Mitch Johnson stepped in. Johnson inherited a mess — midseason trade for De’Aaron Fox, Wembanyama’s scary blood clot issue, and a roster that shifted from “play-in push” to “tank mode” overnight.

Now Johnson gets a clean slate and a deeper roster. He even has help on the staff, with former NBA champion Rashard Lewis joining as a player development coach. It’s the most stable environment the Spurs have had since Popovich’s final playoff run.

2. Wembanyama’s health, and ceiling

The Spurs’ season ended when Wembanyama’s did. In 46 games, he put up 24.3 points, 11 rebounds and a league-leading 3.8 blocks, all at age 20. He made the All-Star team but wasn’t eligible for awards due to games missed. If he plays 70 games? He’s in the MVP conversation. It’s really that simple.

3. Real depth, at last

This offseason, the Spurs didn’t just tinker. They added Harper at No. 2, paired him with Fox in the backcourt, and signed Luke Kornet and Kelly Olynyk to stabilize the center rotation behind Wembanyama. Castle returns for Year 2, and guys like Devin Vassell, Jeremy Sochan and Carter Bryant give the roster layers the Spurs haven’t had in years.

Sure, some will question the glut of guards. But when the alternative is too few, the Spurs will take the problem of too many ball-handlers every time.

Six years without a playoff game in San Antonio already feels like six too many. If Wembanyama stays healthy and the rotation comes together the way the Spurs believe, that streak ends in 2026.