It is no mystery that the OKC Thunder have their hands full this year with the feisty young Spurs. San Antonio sits just three games behind Oklahoma City in the standings and already claimed the season series between the two squads.
Thunder fans are deservedly concerned about an inevitable rematch in the playoffs, and a recent take by NBA sports writer Bill Simmons may turn that apprehension into sheer panic.
"I don't know if this is the '90 Bulls or the '91 Bulls, but we're in that vicinity now with [the Spurs], where you have a potential generational star, and you have a loaded young cast, and the only question is: When is this all going to come together?" Simmons said.
For context, the 1990 Bulls finished 55-27, while the 1991 Bulls finished 61-21 and won the NBA Championship.
Thunder are all too familiar with the Spurs' generational talent
Simmons' comparison between the two franchises centers around Victor Wembanyama, who, in this case, is being compared to none other than Michael Jordan. He explains how the third-year big just seems "a little different" than everybody else on the court.
In terms of standing out, Simmons has a point. Already considered by many as a top-five or six player at age 22, Wemby affects the game with his lethal combination of length and agility like nobody else in the league.
The Thunder witnessed this first-hand in their five games against San Antonio this year. In such a role, Wemby came off the bench and took over offensively in the NBA Cup.
In the games that followed, he blocked shots, altered offensive possessions with his mere presence, and led the Spurs to a regular series win against the reigning champs.
OKC also struggled mightily with the young depth around the big man.
Players like De'Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper, and Keldon Johnson all had signature performances in one game or another, and the Thunder couldn't seem to predict where the points were going to come from on a given night.
Thunder should be fearful of Bill Simmons' dynastic allusion
What is most concerning about Simmons' comments is that he was torn between which version of the Bulls the Spurs are this year.
The fact that he couldn't decide between a young team that came up short of a title and a more experienced team that won their first of three straight means he has a clear vision of what the Spurs are destined to become: a dynasty.
Simmons is inadvertently making the argument that the Spurs are either on the cusp of, or have already begun, an extended reign of terror over the rest of the league.
Such high praise is exactly what Thunder fans don't want to hear, as their team is in the middle of trying to establish its own dynasty.
While it is still just a bold take, it is clear that many NBA pundits believe the Spurs are here to stay. Only time will tell which of these two heavyweights will be able to top the other when it matters most.