The Thunder are the reason the Spurs don’t need to trade Giannis Antetokounmpo

The Giannis Antetokounmpo/San Antonio Spurs trade speculation is not at the forefront these days. Funny how beating the undefeated Oklahoma City Thunder in NBA Cup game at a neutral site that most of the people involved admit that it came with slightly higher stakes will do so.

Is that an overreaction? Especially considering that the author of this piece wrote about how OKC could prove a reason why the Silver and Black should pull the trigger for a greek freak?

Maybe.

But the reality is that Spurs have picked up a few wins in the last week and their latest triumph has made a thunderous noise.

In conversation with@JeffGSpursZone @LockedOnSpurs a few days ago there was a future Giannis trade

In what now seems like it might be particularly timely, my response didn’t focus on #Spurs or Bucks, but OKC

Last night gave us reason to believe that we have better sense⬇ pic.twitter.com/KOVlVJSKEJ

— Hector Ledesma (@HectorLedesmaTV) December 14, 2025

The Spurs find ways to win

Entering the semi-finals of the NBA Cup, San Antonio defeated a healthy Los Angeles Lakers unit in the City of Angels without Victor Vembanyama. That Cup quarterfinal came on the heels of a road win at the New Orleans Pelicans in which the Spurs played poorly in the second half, but still hit big shots down the stretch. The two wins were part of a 9-3 streak without their generational talent.

It showed that instead of falling apart, they are thriving the first correct steps the candidate takes. They’ve been winning shorthand – consistently and at the highest level – as well as finding ways when they’re not at their best.

The Silver and Black began the season without De’Aaron Fox. Just before making his All-Star debut in 2023, second-round pick Dylan Harper suffered a calf strain. About two weeks later, Wemby and Stefon Castle played back-to-back games. As much as there was talk of the Spurs’ young core and their pieces and means to make a legitimate bid for Antetokounmpo, they weren’t whole until the Cup semifinals against Oklahoma City.

Spurs send message in win against Thunder

Vembanjama played only 21 minutes against OKC with 22 points, nine rebounds and two blocks. Harper, who has stood out as a rookie even three weeks out from injury, didn’t play particularly well with eight points on 3/13 shooting. Harrison Barnes had a rare night with six points on 2/10 from the field, and the Spurs went just 41% from the floor, including 31% from three-point range.

They still do beat the current team 24-2 which tied the best 25-game start in NBA history.

Will it prove to be a one-off?

Odds say probably not.

While Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams are 27, 24 and 23, Wemby, Fox, Castle and Fox are 21, 27, 21 and 19. Although Oklahoma City has more draft capital until the end of the decade war, the Spurs have their picks.

It was the semi-finals of the NBA Cup it should show that San Antonio is still a long way off. That would provide further insight that acquiring Antetokounmpo would help put an unproven team over the top.

Instead, Fox and Castle each scored 22, while Devin Vassell added 23 and Wemby dominated in limited action while shaking off the rust.

It won’t be long until they meet again; Dec. 23 in Alamo City and Christmas Day in Oklahoma. Maybe by then things will change again, and the Giannis trade talk will be revived.

After all, it didn’t take long for one shift to happen.