After two seasons of “meaningless” hoops, the San Antonio Spurs are somewhat in an elimination game next week. With just one game left in the group stage of the 2024 NBA Cup, the Spurs are in pole position to win Western Conference Group B.

The Phoenix Suns are still in the hunt to clinch the NBA Cup’s West Group B and advance to the quarterfinals. San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder and Suns are each 2-1 in group play of the in-season tournament.

The Los Angeles Lakers will need a little luck to break their way if they hope to get back to the Emirates NBA Cup championship game this year. Last season, L.A

Though the Spurs made the playoffs once in DeRozan’s tenure, falling in the first round to Denver in 2019, the multi-time All-Star became a favorite throughout the organization. When DeRozan published his memoir, “Above the Noise,” in September, he asked Spurs coach Gregg Popovich to pen the foreword.