The Mistake That Broke the Spurs: How Losing Chip Engelland Crippled San Antonio’s Shooting and Stalled Their Rise
As the San Antonio Spurs look ahead to a pivotal offseason, one issue looms large: shooting. Despite a roster full of young talent and rising potential, the team continues to struggle with one of the game’s most essential skills—a flaw that’s been festering for years and could derail their hopes of a quick rebuild.
The root of this problem can be traced back to a crucial decision in 2022: the failure to retain legendary shooting coach Chip Engelland. Known as the “shot whisperer,” Engelland was instrumental in transforming the shooting mechanics of stars like Tony Parker, Kawhi Leonard, and Dejounte Murray. His absence has been felt deeply across a Spurs squad that continues to lack consistency and confidence from beyond the arc.
Without Engelland’s expertise, player development in the shooting department has visibly stalled. Despite drafting promising prospects and showing flashes of brilliance—particularly with generational talent Victor Wembanyama anchoring the team—the lack of reliable perimeter shooting remains a glaring weakness.
Now, with ample cap space and draft capital, the Spurs are poised for a big summer. However, any moves they make—whether in free agency or through trade—must address their shooting deficiencies. Whether that means hiring a new shooting specialist, revamping the player development staff, or targeting elite shooters, something must change.
The Spurs have the foundation of a contender, but until they fix this one major flaw, they’ll remain on the outside looking in. The decision not to bring back Chip Engelland might have seemed minor at the time—but it’s a mistake that continues to haunt them.
