While the entire league has been mesmerized by Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and the Golden State Warriors it is the San Antonio Spurs who are yet again flying under the radar — and they would not have it any other way. Despite signing arguably the best free agent in LaMarcus Aldridge this summer, the Spurs have been an afterthought in comparison to teams like Golden State or Oklahoma City. To the casual NBA fan, the Spurs look like a boring, no frills team whose roster is aging quickly but in reality the 32-6 Spurs are one of the most exciting teams. The Spurs are the best team in basketball thanks to Kawhi Leonard‘s emergence as a top five player, LaMarcus Aldridge accepting his new role, and an incredible bench unit.

There are few players in the league that are as complete and on the verge of superstardom like Kawhi Leonard is. When he was sent to San Antonio via a draft-day trade with the Indiana Pacers no one knew that he would develop into a premier player in the toughest conference and division in basketball. Each season has seen large increases in just about every statistical category, but what is most impressive is how he has transitioned from a defensive stopper to a two-way star in just four years and change.

Leonard has already accomplished so much in his career, earning Finals MVP and Defensive Player of the Year honors but has really turned heads this season with his killer instinct on offense. He is currently averaging 20.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists, two steals, and almost one block-per-game. What really sets him apart is that he is shooting just under 50 percent from distance, a feat that is even more remarkable considering that his jump shot was the biggest fault in his game. Leonard’s ability to separate himself as the star on a squad that has always been about a team effort and a sacrifice of individual stats is inspiring, but the sacrifice is really what makes this team so special. This Spurs are loaded with stars that play secondary roles like Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker, David West, and LaMarcus Aldridge who is just entering his prime as an NBA player.

He is one of the all-time greats to put on a Trail Blazer uniform and holds several major records with the team but was never appreciated like he should have been. After always being viewed as a piece and not a cornerstone he decided to come back to his home state of Texas to be closer to family and chase rings. His sacrifice might be the greatest on this team. He left Portland to become the main option for a team but with so much talent on this team he has been forced to play second fiddle to a budding Kawhi and Tim Duncan riding off into the sunset. On the year he is averaging 16.1 points, 8.9 rebounds, and one block-per-game in only 29 minutes of action — the lowest since he was a rookie.

“Guys are telling me to shoot it and take my shots, but then you go to a new team, and you’re always going to try to be a guy to make the extra pass and be unselfish,” Aldridge told SB Nation back in November. “So I think I’m trying to figure out my way of being unselfish and take my shots.”

Even though he is still learning the system he is always a threat to teams, just last night he exploded for 25 points and 11 rebounds in Brooklyn. The 30-year-old is in his prime and will soon have the most impressive system in basketball figured out — just imagine how dangerous this team will be when that happens.

What has always made the Spurs so dangerous is how deep they are. Their bench unit could outplay most starting units around the league, and with guys like David West, Patrick Mills, Kyle Anderson, Boris Diaw, and Boban Marjanovic it is easy to see why. With the exception of Boban, these players could be starters on just about any team but instead of chasing individual goals and more money they have come together to make something special happen — and the numbers do not lie.

Danny Green, Jonathon Simmons, West, Mills, Anderson, Diaw, and Marjanovic combine for 43.1 points, 19.4 rebounds, and 11.2 assists-per-game on a very efficient .507 average from the floor. This unit is experienced and most especially dangerous. When LMA, Kawhi, Parker, Duncan, and Manu come off the floor teams will not get a break, but instead an efficient and veteran bench unit that can run with the best of them. Plus, have you seen Boban’s hands? Good luck getting a rebound away from a guy that makes a basketball look like a softball.

At the end of the day the Spurs win because they are truly unselfish. Every ego is checked at the door, or else you’ll be run out-of-town. The only want a certain type of player to create a certain type of team, and that team is set to dominate the league this year. No, they will not get the top overall seed; and no, they won’t produce an MVP or scoring champion — but they will produce an NBA championship. This is the best team they have had in a long time, and that is saying something.

*Image Credit: (Oct. 29, 2015 – Source: Chris Covatta/Getty Images North America)