SAN ANTONIO – The Spurs begin the regular season this week after a major roster overhaul during the offseason.
Tim Duncan is gone and while he can never be replaced, the Spurs managed to keep the core of the team together while also bringing in a good mix of veterans and young players.
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There are seven new players on the roster. Here's a quick look at this year's team in alphabetical order.
LaMarcus Aldridge - 2nd season with Spurs
Aldridge struggled early last season fitting into the Spurs offense, but turned things around and played well enough to make the West All-Star team.
Aldridge averaged 18 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, and was a mid-range force during last season's stretch run. Aldridge did well in the playoffs, averaging nearly 27 points per game in the Spurs' series loss to the Thunder
Not only will he be asked to continue his offensive output but also fill some of the leadership void left behind from Duncan's retirement.
It will also be interesting to see how he responds early in the season with trade rumors swirling around him.
Kyle Anderson - 3rd season with Spurs
Anderson enters his third year with the Spurs and will be asked to contribute more off the bench and possibly take over Boris Diaw's role in the Spurs offense.
Anderson averaged 4.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game while playing 78 regular season games.
More important he played in every playoff game after sitting out the 2014 first round series against the Clippers.
Anderson's minutes and overall numbers should increase as Coach Gregg Popovich looks for him to become a vital part of the bench.
Davis Bertans - 1st season with Spurs
Bertans is in his first season with the Spurs and was part of the draft day deal that brought Kawhi Leonard to San Antonio in 2011.
Since then, Bertans has become one of the best outside shooters in Europe. At 6-10, Bertans will be asked to stretch defenses and his primary role will be as a shooter off the bench.
Bryn Forbes - 1st season with Spurs
Forbes made the final roster after an impressive showing during the Spurs' training camp.
Forbes' biggest asset is his outside shooting ability and that was on display during camp.
Forbes shot lights out in the summer league and preseason. He could get some early playing time with Danny Green out for the start of the season.
Manu Ginobili - 15th season with Spurs
Ginobili enters his 15th year with the Spurs after another productive season where he averaged nearly 10 points and three rebounds per game.
Manu is now 39 years old but remains effective off the bench and will take on the task of mentoring the Spurs revamped bench.
His leadership is second to none on the team and he was given a big contract in the offseason. This could be the final season for the San Antonio sports icon.
Danny Green - 7th season with Spurs
Green's play earned him a big contract prior to last season, but his stats took a sharp decline as he became a lesser part of the offensive game plan with the emergence of Leonard and Aldridge.
Green is still one of the Spurs best outside shooters and defensive guards in the league.
With the loss of Duncan and overhaul of the roster, the Spurs will need Green to get back into the form that made him one of a very good two-way shooting guard.
Nicolas Laprovittola - 1st season with Spurs
Laprovittola was the second surprise player to make the Spurs' final roster behind Forbes.
The Argentinian point guard impressed the Spurs front office during the Rio Olympics this summer and adds depth to the back court.
Laprovittola has played professionally in three other countries and is an experienced backup who may be asked to spell Tony Parker at times during the season.
David Lee - 1st season with Spurs
The Spurs signed Lee during the offseason to give them another experienced player along the frontcourt.
Lee is no longer the All-Star player he was in New York and Golden State, but he is a savvy veteran who can help the Spurs especially when they face a small ball lineup.
Lee finished last season strong with the Mavericks and will be a key rotation player.
Kawhi Leonard - 6th season with Spurs
There's no better two-way player in the league than Kawhi Leonard, who has put himself in the yearly MVP conversation with the likes of LeBron James, Steph Curry, Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant.
Leonard's player efficiency rating (PER) is off the charts and his ascension from a defensive force to all-around threat is remarkable when you consider what was expected of him coming out of the draft.
All that being said, Leonard's final step to being an all-time great will have to be the ability to take over big games when the Spurs need it the most.
Leonard averaged a solid 23 points per game against Oklahoma City in the playoffs, but was outshined by Durant and Westbrook in the series.
Duncan's greatest quality during his prime was his ability to take over games either on the offensive or defensive end.
Leonard needs to get there for the Spurs to have their best shot at winning the franchise's sixth title.
Patty Mills - 6th season with Spurs
Mills enters his sixth season with San Antonio and has settled into a solid role of playmaker and key contributor off the bench.
Mills can be streaky and inconsistent at times, but when he's on his game, it brings energy to the team and fans in a unique way.
Mills averaged 8.5 points per game and shot well from 3-point range last season, but struggled in the playoffs, especially on defense.
He is the true definition of an energy player and is now one of the veterans this inexperienced backcourt will look at to lead the way.
Dejounte Murray - 1st season with Spurs
The Spurs wanted to get younger and more athletic this offseason and took a giant leap in that direction by drafting 20-year-old rookie Dejounte Murray.
Murray was considered to be one the steals of the draft, but is also very raw. He only played one season at Washington and put up good all-around numbers.
His length and defense could earn him playing time this season, but he still has a way to go before being considered a rotational player. His development will be fun to watch this season.
Tony Parker - 16th season with Spurs
Hard to believe but Parker is now the longest-tenured Spur as he enters his 16th season in San Antonio.
Parker's drop in offensive production has been well documented, but at 34 years old, he is still one of the more savvy point guards in the league and last season displayed some of the quickness that made him an All-Star player.
Parker is expected to average double figures in points this season but his role has changed from first or second offensive option to setting the table for Leonard and Aldridge.
Above all, he will be needed to also fill the leadership void with Duncan gone.
Jonathon Simmons - 2nd season with Spurs
Simmons enters his second season after a year that saw flashes of big-time athleticism mixed with mental lapses on both ends of the court.
The Spurs will need Simmons to be a consistent performer off the bench. He averaged six points per game last season, but will be asked to perform better in bigger spots throughout the year.
That first major challenge will come against Golden State and its so-called super team. A positive start for Simmons could set the tone for a breakout season.