The Spurs are taking a careful approach with Tarris Reed Jr. after his promising debut, and that means he’ll sit out Sunday’s California Classic game against the Golden State Warriors.
Summer Spurs head coach Corliss Williamson said the staff decided early on not to overload the rookie this soon into his development. Reed will not play in back-to-back games right now, though Williamson made it clear the plan is for him to return the next day.
"We're just trying to monitor him, make sure he gets the proper rest, didn't want him to play any back to backs right now. But he'll be back tomorrow,” Williamson said.
That caution comes after Reed turned heads in his first appearance, even in the Spurs’ 88-87 loss to the Miami Heat. The 26th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft posted 10 points on 3-of-10 shooting and hit all three of his free throws. He also added seven rebounds and a block in 27 minutes.
San Antonio’s interest in Reed fits the bigger picture of its offseason work. The team went into 2026 looking to beef up its frontcourt and bring more size behind Victor Wembanyama, and Reed is already seen around the league as a real contender for the top backup center job.
That path looks a little clearer with Jayden Quaintance also out of the mix for now. Quaintance is scheduled to have a second surgery to deal with a lingering meniscus issue in his right knee, and that injury is expected to keep him sidelined at the start of the season. With that opening in place, Reed has a chance to make an early case for himself behind Wembanyama.
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The concern, though, is what happens when the stage gets bigger. Johnsons scoring dipped once the playoffs arrived, and the slide became more noticeable as the postseason wore on, leaving the Spurs with a reminder that regular-season consistency does not always translate cleanly when the pressure rises. Even so, he remains a central part of where this team is headed, which is why his next step matters so much. [Read more 🡒]