Mitch Johnson isn’t waiting to ease into the season. The Spurs coach confirmed Friday that San Antonio will open with a three-guard look featuring De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper alongside Devin Vassell and Victor Wembanyama, according to Michael C. Wright of ESPN.
The lineup has been a topic of speculation for months, especially with Harper drawing buzz as a candidate for a starting job after his strong rookie season. Johnson made it official, and Fox likes the shape of the group.
“We have a talented group, especially in the backcourt,” Fox said. “When we’re making shots, it allows other guys to be able to get downhill.
We can spread the defense out, and teams know what we want to do. There’s no secret about it.
So a lot of our season, a lot of how special that first group can be, it’s going to be predicated on how we shoot the ball.”
San Antonio already got a look at that exact five-man unit in Wednesday’s win over Phoenix, and the early returns were encouraging. The group was plus-10 in 11 minutes together.
The shot-making was the one obvious sore spot - the Spurs went 2-of-9 from deep as a unit - but only one of those misses came from the three guards. Even with the size disadvantage, San Antonio managed to control the glass and out-rebound the Suns while the starters were on the floor.
Wembanyama said the fit has a clear appeal.
“When it clicked, it clicked,” Wembanyama said. “The biggest thing is I’ve got handlers all around me, guys we want to put the ball in their hands and pick and roll around me.”
Fox also addressed the high ankle sprain he suffered against Minnesota in Game Four of the second round, saying in an interview with Marc J. Spears of Andscape that it lingered through the rest of the playoffs.
The injury normally takes four to six weeks to heal, but Fox said he didn’t want to pass on a chance at a title run. His play in the NBA Finals drew heavy criticism, but Fox said the decision was simple from his perspective.
“Why did I play? I felt like I could help the team,” he said.
“Seeing the OKC (conference finals) series, I thought there were things I could come out there and help with. If you ask any player - and you could use Tyrese (Haliburton) as the biggest (example) for that - you know there is a chance you could get hurt if you have a calf strain.
And he was like, ‘Oh, this is Game 7 of the Finals. And for me, there is nothing more I want to do than play in this game.
This is my first time being in the conference finals, first time being in the Finals. So, of course I want to play.”
Keldon Johnson said he spent the summer trimming down, telling reporters after Friday’s game that he lost between 15-20 pounds, per Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express-News. He believes the work has already shown up in how he feels on the court.
“I feel like I’m better,” he said. “I feel like all-around game I’m faster, just as strong.
… I’m moving good, my body feels good. And, overall, I just feel like I’m better.”
Tobias Harris is dealing with a left calf strain.
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Preseason numbers offer a mixed read on that front, which is why the experiment feels both intriguing and fragile at the same time. There is also the practical issue of how the Spurs hold up on the glass against bigger teams, and Mitch Johnson has already left himself room to adjust if the look starts creating more problems than it solves. [Read more 🡒]
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For the Spurs, it is another reminder of just how rare Wembanyama is, even in a league that keeps finding new ways to stockpile size. Jamarion Sharp, who measures 7-5, was waived by Toronto and could wind up in the G League, so the coming season still has room for more height drama, even if the spotlight on the tallest player in the sport is about to shift. [Read more 🡒]