SAN FRANCISCO - The Spurs were short-handed again at the California Classic on Sunday, and the biggest absence belonged to Tarris Reed Jr.
After making his Summer League debut against the Miami Heat two days earlier, the No. 26 pick sat out San Antonio’s 98-69 loss to Golden State. Summer Spurs coach Corliss Williamson said the decision was simple: no back-to-backs this early.
"We didn't want to play him in any back-to-backs right now," Williamson said of Reed, drafted with pick No. 26, Sunday night, "but he'll be back tomorrow."
Williamson added that the staff had already met before the team’s first Summer League game in San Francisco and decided Reed would be held out of back-to-backs. Reed is expected to return Monday afternoon against the Los Angeles Lakers to finish the California Classic, though his availability for the back-to-back set against the New York Knicks and Milwaukee Bucks on July 11 and 12 at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas is still up in the air.
The caution makes sense given Reed’s path to this point. He wrapped up his final season at UConn under Dan Hurley on April 6, then went about three months without organized basketball before getting into Summer Spurs action. San Antonio also has him penciled in behind Victor Wembanyama and Luke Kornet once the regular season starts, which only adds to the patience.
"We're just trying to monitor him," Williamson said. "Make sure he gets a proper rest."
Reed didn’t sound bothered by the measured approach. During the Summer Spurs’ minicamp, he said, "(I want to) get my feet wet," Reed said during the Summer Spurs' minicamp.
"Not putting too much pressure and expectations on myself. I'll play hard, and live with the result."
His first outing showed both the promise and the rust. In 27 minutes against the Heat, Reed posted 10 points, seven rebounds and a block while shooting 3-for-10 from the field. He looked comfortable as a pick-and-roll target and showed real instincts on the glass, but he also missed several floaters around the rim.
"I think a lot of it is shaking off rust," Williamson began, "and maybe some jitters. Finally making it to the NBA, you miss some of the chippy shots that you're capable of making."
Reed has also had to adjust to the space on an NBA court, something he said became obvious even before he got here.
"Even just watching on TV," Reed said, "there's so much. Guys score at such elite levels. I think that's going to be the biggest thing ... once I get used to it, I'll be just fine."
For Reed, the sit-and-watch approach fits with what he sees as a Spurs standard.
"I feel like the Spurs just (have) this winning culture," Reed said during his introductory rookie press conference. "This is such a blessing to be part of. I'm just so thankful for it."
The other first-round center, Jayden Quaintance, remained on the sideline as well. The 18-year-old, selected No. 20 in the 2026 NBA Draft, is still recovering from the torn right ACL and meniscus he suffered in February 2025. He has not played since being drafted, and his Summer League experience in both San Francisco and Las Vegas has been limited to watching from the bench.
Williamson said Quaintance still has not taken part in on-court practices. The Spurs are keeping the process deliberately slow and focused on the long term.
"He's been engaged," Williamson said. "He's been in film sessions.
He's there. He's asking questions, and that's the good thing about it right now.
He's engaged and wants to continue to learn, and when he's ready to play, he'll be ready to play."
Quaintance said on draft night that being sidelined has given him a different view of the game and taught him how to help teammates without being on the floor. He also said he trusts the Spurs’ medical staff as they work through a recovery plan that includes one more "clean-up" procedure on his meniscus.
"(They) said their priority is making sure I'm 100 percent," Quaintance said. "I'm trusting the medical staff, that they're going to put me in the best position to be successful."
That patient route matches what Spurs general manager Brian Wright said after the pick was made last month. The organization knew Quaintance would need time, but Wright made clear the upside was worth it.
"He's someone that will have a long career," Wright said, "and we can help him get there."
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San Antonio ultimately had to pivot after missing out, and the answer came in the form of veteran forward Tobias Harris, a steadier addition who helps address the same area of need. The Spurs would have liked to land Hachimura and keep building around a younger, more versatile look, but the search for frontcourt help did not end with one swing. [Read more 🡒]
Spurs Send Tarris Reed Jr. A Tough Message Right Away
Tarris Reed Jr. already has a clear early-career assignment in San Antonio, and it has little to do with putting up points. The Spurs took Reed alongside Jayden Quaintance in the 2026 NBA Draft, bringing in the former UConn and Michigan big man with the expectation that his value will come from defense, rebounding and a physical presence around the basket.
In Summer League, coach Corliss Williamson made the message plain: Reeds lane is the gritty stuff, not a featured offensive role. For a Spurs roster that already has plenty of scoring to go around, the rookie will need to earn his way by doing the dirty work and showing he can hold up in the details, with a chance to push into the regular rotation if those traits translate once the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]
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Champagnies case is rooted in how well the Spurs looked with him in the first unit, where the group around De'Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell and Victor Wembanyama clicked at a high level. Harris still has value, especially as a scorer who could change the tone of a second unit, but the bigger question for San Antonio is whether it keeps the chemistry it found or makes room for experience at the expense of continuity. [Read more 🡒]