Rockets' Fred VanVleet Offers Cautious Take on Surging Spurs

VanVleet's comments about not crowning the Spurs yet draw ire from fans, but his logic is sound based on the team's playoff inexperience.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 8:34pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a basketball game or match, with sharp planes of color and form representing the dynamic action on the court between the two teams.A cubist interpretation of the ongoing rivalry and competitive tension between the Rockets and Spurs, as seen through the lens of VanVleet's commentary.San Antonio Today

Houston Rockets star Fred VanVleet has drawn the ire of San Antonio Spurs fans for his past comments criticizing the city and coach Gregg Popovich. However, his recent take about not rushing to crown the young Spurs team as a title contender, despite their strong regular season, is actually a logical assessment based on the team's lack of playoff experience.

Why it matters

VanVleet's comments highlight the difference between regular season success and postseason performance, especially for inexperienced teams. While the Spurs have surprised many this year, history shows young squads often struggle to translate regular season wins into playoff success on their first try.

The details

In 2019, VanVleet made controversial comments about San Antonio and Popovich during the Raptors' championship parade. This has made him a target for Spurs fans, who are quick to criticize anything he says about their team. However, VanVleet's recent take that the Spurs shouldn't be crowned yet based on the regular season is a fair assessment. The Spurs, led by rising star De'Aaron Fox, have had an impressive campaign, but VanVleet points out they lack significant playoff experience, which is a different beast. The Rockets themselves are an example, surging to 52 wins in 2024-25 without a superstar before a tough playoff exit due to their collective inexperience.

  • On March 8th, the Spurs beat the Rockets 145-120 in a nationally televised game.
  • On January 28th, the Spurs defeated the Rockets 111-99.

The players

Fred VanVleet

A star point guard for the Houston Rockets who has drawn the ire of Spurs fans for past critical comments about the team and city.

Gregg Popovich

The legendary head coach of the San Antonio Spurs, who VanVleet criticized in 2019.

De'Aaron Fox

The rising star point guard for the San Antonio Spurs, who is making his first career playoff appearance this season.

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What they’re saying

“It's not personal. It's logical and sensical. VanVleet even gave this Spurs ball club their credit, noting that 'they beat our ass.'”

— Fred VanVleet, Houston Rockets Point Guard

What’s next

The Spurs will look to prove VanVleet wrong by making a deep playoff run and showing their regular season success was no fluke.

The takeaway

VanVleet's cautious take on the Spurs, while unpopular with their passionate fanbase, is a fair assessment grounded in the reality that young, inexperienced teams often struggle to translate regular season wins into postseason success on their first try.