It's no secret that the OKC Thunder are currently experiencing unmitigated dominance. They have their sights on a second straight title push and are set up to contend for many years to come.
Of course, now in their third year as the Western Conference's top dog, one team has been keeping pace with them.
As of Tuesday, the San Antonio Spurs are just three games behind OKC in the West and have looked like a potential title threat from day one.
Since taking the first three games of the season series, the Spurs have been a widely regarded favorite to upset Oklahoma City in the West.
Even NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal picked San Antonio to beat OKC in the Conference Finals.
Spurs are reminiscent of Thunder a few short years ago
Still the clear favorite to win the title, the Thunder have built their juggernaut through laborious player development and shrewd front office work.
All the while, the Spurs were taking notes.
They've struck gold in recent drafts, lucked out by winning the first overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft, where they snagged Victor Wembanyama, and have impressed later in drafts as well.
Sixth man Keldon Johnson was the 29th overall selection back in 2019, while sharpshooter Devin Vassell was chosen 11th in 2020.
Most recently, back-to-back lottery picks Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper are looking like homerun selections.
Though most of their core is homegrown, their big acquisition to date is De'Aaron Fox, whom they acquired last season in a trade with the Sacramento Kings.
Spurs are hoping to bypass Thunder's growing pains
Having done their due diligence of building a contender the right way, the Spurs now find themselves in the same situation the Thunder were in three years ago.
In 2024, OKC was a spirited young team with a chip on its shoulder. Led by their 25-year-old superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, it seemed like nothing could stand in their way on their quest to win a title.
That was until they were humbled in six games by a more experienced Mavericks team.
A few critics have pointed this factor out with this year's Spurs team, the most recent being Stephen A. Smith on an episode of First Take.
"[The Spurs' recent loss] does bring into question how reliable all the other dudes around Wemby are going to be come playoff time... They're a relatively young team, and when you look at it from that standpoint, and see them exposed at the presence of the Garden... it seemed to overwhelm them," the analyst said.
Stephen A.'s concerns about San Antonio's youth are valid. While the Spurs have risen to the occasion multiple times during the regular season, there is the question of how their young role players will fare in a heightened atmosphere, where every possession means that much more.
Spurs' long game may be the kryptonite to a Thunder dynasty
The Spurs aren't counting themselves out of this year's championship hunt yet, and they shouldn't, as they are as good as any team in the league on paper.
What should strike fear in Thunder fans, though, is how they will fare long term.
With stars locked down and an abundance of picks in their pocket, Sam Presti has had "dynasty" aspirations on his mind for a while.
However, the Spurs might have something to say about that.
Their young core rivals that of any team in the NBA, including OKC's.
Victor Wembanyama is only 22 and is already looking like a top-five player in the league. He is surrounded by impressive young talent that will only get better with each passing season.
Wembanyama is eligible for a max deal soon, and De'Aaron Fox signed an extension last year for a pretty penny. But electric young talents like Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper are playing on rookie deals, providing room for financial flexibility if the Spurs' front office wanted to follow in the Thunder's footsteps even more and sign a veteran presence in the offseason.
If San Antonio finds the perfect combination of youthful exuberance and veteran wisdom, it could prove just as capable of a dynastic run as the Thunder.
If they continue taking notes from their big brother in Oklahoma City, Thunder fans might be praying to avoid a playoff date with San Antonio for years to come.