Greatest NBA Turnarounds in History: Where Do Wembanyama's Spurs Rank?

So who picked the San Antonio Spurs to make the NBA Finals prior to the 2025-26 season getting underway? Whoever cashed those tickets enjoyed a nice payout as betting sites set San Antonio’s preseason odds of winning the West at +3300. With or without an NBA title, this Spurs team has made tremendous strides. 

The Spurs missed the playoffs five straight seasons and won just 34 games last year. Heading into the ‘25-26 campaign, BetMGM set San Antonio’s preseason win total at 44.5. Victor Wembanyama and Co. blew that number out of the water by going 62-20, good enough for the second-best record in the league. 

Since the NBA Draft Lottery began in 1985, there have been some amazing success stories. Granted they don't usually include a generational talent like Wemby. With this in mind, here’s a look at five of the greatest turnarounds during the NBA lottery era.

Hard to ignore the Wemby factor

Wembanyama and the Spurs have already accomplished more in three seasons than Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers have achieved in a decade. While Embiid has been named league MVP, his team has yet to advance beyond the Eastern Conference semifinals. 

Wemby is getting his first taste of the NBA Playoffs this season. The Spurs punched their NBA Finals ticket by defeating the Thunder in seven games. San Antonio’s big man is averaging 24.1 points, 10.6 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game during the postseason.  

Factors considered for NBA quickest turnaround list 

We weighed several factors when putting together this list, including:

• Win total increase following most recent lottery season
• Roster makeup
• Key transactions  
• Deep playoff run 
• How team performed against veteran squads

2007-08 Boston Celtics 

Highlights: Won 66 regular season games and ended a long Finals drought 

Win differential from previous season: +42

How far did the Celtics go: Won the NBA championship

This Celtics squad proved that ANYTHING IS POSIBLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLE!!!!! It also inspired LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh to later team-up in South Beach. GM Danny Ainge acquired Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen to pair with Paul Pierce. It completely flipped the script on the C’s future. 

Boston went from lottery land to the league’s best team in one season. Unlike the other teams highlighted here, this squad went on to defeat the Lakers in six games and win the title.    

2004-05 Phoenix Suns 

Highlights: Finished with a NBA-best 62-20 record 

Win differential from previous season: +33

How far did the Suns go: Made it to the Western Conference finals 

Shaquille O’Neal still hasn’t forgiven Steve Nash for winning the MVP in 2005. Despite averaging only 15.5 points, the Canadian Kid was awarded the top individual honor for being the engine of the Seven-Seconds-or-Less Suns team. 

The ‘04-05 team that included Nash, Amar’e Stoudemire, and Shawn Marion accomplished something special. The franchise went from a 29-53 team with no chance of making the playoffs to 62-20 the next. 

The players excelled in new head coach Mike D’Antoni’s system. They finished with the league’s best offense and the second-best net rating. The Spurs ousted Nash’s crew in the Western Conference finals.

1989-90 San Antonio Spurs 

Highlights: Won the Midwest Division 

Win Differential from previous season: +35 

How far did the Spurs go: Lost in Western Conference semifinals 

Yes, the Spurs have made this list twice, and they could even have made the list three times. No need to “well actually” us. We know the ‘97-98 Spurs had a bigger single-season turnaround. But that’s what happens when your best player comes back from a complete missed season and you add Tim Duncan to the mix. 

That best player we’re referring to is, of course, David Robinson. The Spurs drafted him first overall in ‘87 but had to wait two years for the Admiral to finish his service with the Navy. Robinson put together an all-time rookie season that year and finished sixth in MVP voting.  

2024-25 Detroit Pistons 

Highlights: Made postseason for first time since 2018-19 season

Win differential from previous season: +30

How far did the Pistons go: Faced Knicks in first round and lost in six games

This Pistons team remains a work in progress. Detroit earned its spot on the list for going from a franchise worst 14-wins to 44-38 the following season. 

The Pistons were going through a multi-year rebuild that included taking point guard Cade Cunningham No. 1 overall in the 2021 NBA Draft. A year later, Detroit made a draft night trade that landed them big man Jalen Duren. 

However, the 30-win reversal of fortune was simply a starting point as this season the Pistons secured the Eastern Conference’s No. 1 seed after going 60-22. The franchise did advance one round further before losing to the Cleveland Cavaliers in seven games.   

2025-26 San Antonio Spurs 

Highlights: Defeated the Thunder in Western Conference Final 

Win differential from previous season: +28 

How far did the Spurs go: TBD as Knicks lead NBA Finals 3-1 

The future for the San Antonio Spurs is looking extremely bright being that this is the second youngest team to reach the NBA Finals. Wemby, the NBA Defensive Player of the Year, is only 22. Stephon Castle is 21 while Dylan Harper is 20. These are the players San Antonio selected with a top-four pick.

OK, taking Wembenyama, the 7-foot-4 superstar Frenchman, No. 1 overall in 2023 might have sped up the turnaround process just a tab. This year was his best season yet with career best averages of 25 points and 11.5 rebounds a game. More importantly, he wants to lead the Spurs to the title. It seems to just be a matter of when.

What’s the secret formula for making a NBA turnaround?

The reality is there is no set-in-stone formula for going from a 34-win team in one season to a legitimate NBA championship contender the next. Staying healthy, winning playoff games, and building a roster around one or two star players all factor into the equation. 

It also helps landing the No. 1 overall pick the same year that a global basketball talent like Wembanyama is available.