The San Antonio Spurs faced a challenging season opener against the reigning champion Dallas Mavericks, led by Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving. Despite the upbeat mood, Victor Wembanyama struggled to find his rhythm, finishing with a near double-double but shooting poorly and committing turnovers.

In contrast, Julian Champagnie shone in the starting lineup, contributing significantly to the team's offense. Coach Gregg Popovich highlighted his growth, while the Spurs recognized the need to improve their perimeter defense moving forward.