When the San Antonio Spurs grabbed Carter Bryant with the 14th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the move raised some eyebrows. Not because of a lack of talent-Bryant’s athleticism was never in question-but because he was viewed as a bit of a project.
A high-upside forward who needed time to develop into a consistent contributor. Well, if Saturday night’s Slam Dunk Contest was any indication, Bryant’s timeline might be moving faster than expected.
On All-Star Saturday inside the electric Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, Bryant gave fans a taste of the explosiveness that made him a top prospect. The 20-year-old lit up the dunk contest with a jaw-dropping East Bay slam in the second round, earning straight 50s from the judges and sending the crowd into a frenzy. It was a moment-a flash of brilliance that showed exactly why the Spurs were willing to bet on his upside.
Though he ultimately finished second to Miami’s Keshad Johnson in the final round, Bryant didn’t leave empty-handed. He delivered arguably the best dunk of the night-one that had the potential to seal the win-only to come up just short on execution.
Still, walking away with a perfect score and the respect of the crowd in his home state of California? That’s a win in its own right.
CARTER BRYANT ALL 50’s!
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 15, 2026
Carter Bryant went up HIGH for this dunk 😤
pic.twitter.com/BJ6aNtTBnS
But Bryant’s weekend wasn’t just about high-flying theatrics. Quietly, he’s starting to carve out a role in San Antonio’s rotation.
February has been kind to the rookie, who’s averaging 9.0 points and 3.8 boards while knocking down 44 percent of his threes-all in just under 17 minutes per game. It’s a small sample size, sure, but there’s something there.
The game is beginning to slow down for him, and the confidence is starting to show.
This is the kind of development you like to see from a young player: flashes of star potential mixed with steady, tangible growth. Bryant was a McDonald’s All-American in 2024, and while accolades like that don’t always translate to NBA success, his recent play suggests he’s starting to figure things out at the next level.
The Spurs are known for playing the long game when it comes to player development, and Bryant looks like another promising piece in that puzzle. He’s not all the way there yet-but he’s trending in the right direction. And after putting himself on the national radar with a dunk contest performance that had social media buzzing, he may have just earned himself a few more fans-and maybe a few more minutes.
Keep your eyes on Carter Bryant. The athleticism is real, the confidence is growing, and the best may be yet to come.