The Spurs are using Summer League for more than just reps with Carter Bryant. After his rookie season, San Antonio sent the second-year wing back to the summer stage with a clear message: use the experience, help the new guys, and start turning practice voice into game-day presence.
That part has shown up behind the scenes. Bryant has been vocal in practice. The next step is making it carry over when the games begin.
Summer League coach Corliss Williamson said that’s the area he wants Bryant to attack most.
"The area I want to see him improve in is leadership," said Summer League coach Corliss Williamson. "He's done that in the practices he's been in.
Now, he's just got to start the game off, set the tone defensively for us to get us going. And then, it's just decision-making.
Decision-making out there. Just try to give him opportunities to play in different spots he won't play in the regular season and see if he can improve in those areas."
Bryant played in the Spurs’ latest Summer League action, while 20th overall pick Jayden Quaintance did not suit up. Bryant finished with 12 points, though it came on inefficient shooting. Even so, he kept firing from deep, the kind of willingness San Antonio wants to see more of.
The Spurs were led by 26th overall pick Tarris Reed Jr., who put together a 14-point double-double. Asa Newell, who played for the Hawks last year, topped Atlanta and all scorers with 15 points.
San Antonio’s offseason roster already has plenty of veteran voices. The Spurs signed Tobias Harris, re-signed Harrison Barnes, and have not traded either De'Aaron Fox or Keldon Johnson. Even with that group in place, the team still wants Bryant to become more confident and more vocal.
"The more he can grow his voice, the more he can look at the game from a different aspect as far as being a leader and helping others," Williamson added. "That's just going to help him improve."
Last season, Bryant showed the kind of streaky shooting that can make a young player hard to pin down. At times he got hot.
At others, he passed up pull-up chances from deep. The Spurs want summer games to help sharpen that edge and build more trust in his game.
For now, the expectation is that Bryant stays on the bench next season but takes on a larger role. San Antonio has made it plain that he remains a long-term project, and any growth this summer would only strengthen his place in the plan.
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