Since beginning their season 3-2 with two thrilling wins over the Phoenix Suns, the San Antonio Spurs have looked like one of the worst teams in the NBA.
The Spurs sit at 3-8 and are now on a six-game losing streak following Tuesday's 123-87 blowout loss at the Oklahoma City Thunder. Losing close games is one thing, but getting blown out by 40-plus for already the third time this season has many questioning if the Spurs' exit from rebuild mode will take longer than expected.
Spurs second-year guard Malaki Branham has experienced a ton of defeats early in his NBA career, but he's continuing to remain positive of what's to come from the youngest team in the league.
"Just keep pounding the rock," Branham said Wednesday. "We're doing a good job. We're doing everything right, we just have to do some things better, come out of the game stronger, stuff like that. We're gonna be alright."
Of course, some will argue that there's nothing "right" about another embarrassing loss, and they'd be correct. But from Branham's point of view, the Spurs are preparing and practicing the right way, yet aren't getting the results they've been working toward.
The Spurs have reason to feel confident based on what they did to begin the season. Following the two wins over Phoenix, San Antonio had a 22-point lead over the Toronto Raptors on Nov. 5, and looked set to move to 4-2 in the early going of the season. Instead, that loss seemed to have sent them spiraling.
As for Branham, he's continuing to show flashes of that first-round talent that the Spurs saw when they took him at No. 20 overall in the 2022 draft. He's made three starts this season and is averaging nine points, 1.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists.
"I feel good, I feel confident," Branham said. "Just trying to be consistent every game and try to grow."
Branham and the Spurs will have their next chance to end the losing streak when they host the Sacramento Kings on Friday for an In-Season Tournament matchup. Tip-off is at 6:30 p.m. CT.
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