'They call 'em vitamins': The Spurs are finally learning what's good for them

On the backs of veteran leadership and developing talents, things are starting to click into place in San Antonio.

Photo credit: Reginald Thomas II / Spurs Sports & Entertainment

Chris Paul looked more proud than excited during his two podium games this week. After all, he’s been through a million closely fought victories before.

The majority of his new teammates, however, have more often than not found themselves holding the short end of the stick after these types of contests. Whether it was the inability to maintain the grasp of a lead as it slipped away, or a failure to get over the final hump in a comeback bid, it’s a brutal feeling for a young group to endure such letdowns over and over again. Sometimes not even a balanced perspective of the bigger developmental picture is enough to relieve the pain in those moments.

But over the past couple of games, with eyes fixed on the scoreboard after an improbable 110-104 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder and a 126-118 come-from-behind victory against the Utah Jazz, Paul could point out to his running mates that it can be done — even with Victor Wembanyama, Jeremy Sochan and Devin Vassell enjoying the game in street clothes from the bench.

“I think that's what's really dope about this team, is to see guys get rewarded for the work they've been putting in,” Paul said Tuesday. “If you see our practices, I mean, guys are working every single day. Guys were out there working at shootaround this morning. Guys are working before shootaround.

“They call 'em vitamins.”

They do call ‘em vitamins, and they’ve called ‘em vitamins for years around these parts. The physical training, the mental preparation, the extra drills designed with a focus on each matchup — all in place to help support a healthy performance on the court that night. And for the first time in a while, that additional bit of self-care is starting to produce real results in San Antonio.