The Spurs got useful answers from their rookies this preseason, and the early takeaway is pretty clear: several first-year players already look capable of helping in real minutes.
Tarris Reed Jr. headlined the group with an A grade after doing the kind of work that travels. He may not have filled the highlight reel, but he gave San Antonio something more practical - boards, rim protection and a sturdy presence in the paint.
Reed pulled down 46 rebounds across five games, including a huge 17-rebound effort against the Utah Jazz. He also flashed as a shot-blocker, swatting three shots against the Phoenix Suns, and added strong screen-setting plus hints of passing upside.
With that mix, he already looks ready to make an immediate impact once the regular season starts. The preseason showing also pointed to a possible role similar to the one Mitch Johnson leaned on from rookies like Dylan Harper and Carter Bryant in the 2025-26 campaign, especially with Reed’s physicality and competitiveness addressing one of the team’s biggest playoff issues: interior play off the bench.
Ja'Kobi Gillespie earned an A as well, and for a very different reason. The Spurs drafted him expecting shooting, and he delivered it with force.
Gillespie hit 12-of-24 from three, doing damage both off the dribble and off the catch. He also made life miserable for opponents defensively, piling up five steals.
Monday’s game against the Utah Jazz marked the second time he outplayed Darryn Peterson since being drafted, another reason Spurs fans have plenty to like about his upside. Even so, carving out steady rotation minutes won’t be simple with so many guard options in Mitch Johnson’s mix.
Still, his shooting and disruptive defense give him a path to be useful whenever his name gets called.
Maliq Brown comes away with a B after showing why his defensive versatility matters. At 6'9", he has the size and mobility to handle multiple spots, and he showed enough of that in preseason by working both inside and out on the perimeter.
He did get beat a few times, but the broader picture was encouraging. Brown also knocked down 4/7 from deep in four preseason appearances, which stands out after his shooting struggles at Duke.
Like Gillespie, his route to regular rotation minutes is crowded, but he has the makings of a real two-way option when the opportunity arrives.
It’s probably unrealistic to expect any of these rookies to run away with Rookie of the Year. But preseason showed they can help win games if Mitch Johnson decides to lean on them, and that’s a pretty nice problem for a team with championship aspirations.
In Other News...
Spurs Young Core Finally Gave Fans Something Real To Believe In
The final preseason tune-up gave San Antonio a cleaner look at what this group can be when the pieces start clicking. In a 126-97 win over Sacramento, the Spurs closed camp on a two-game winning streak, with Dylan Harper leading the scoring at 19 points and Victor Wembanyama adding 14 points and eight rebounds in just 17 minutes. The overall picture was even more encouraging than the box score: San Antonio controlled the glass from start to finish and spread the floor well enough to keep the Kings chasing all night.
For a fan base that has spent the last few seasons waiting for signs that the next version of the team is actually taking shape, those details matter. The Spurs 17 made threes and 63-38 rebounding edge suggested more than preseason energy, it hinted at a roster with real size, pace and shot-making potential. It is still October, and the tests only get tougher from here, but this was the kind of game that can make a young core feel less theoretical and a lot more real. [Read more 🡒]
Spurs Just Sent A Clear Message About Their Young Core
The Spurs sent a pretty clear signal about where they want this thing to go by locking in the next step for Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper and Carter Bryant. Exercising Castles fourth-year option and the third-year options on Harper and Bryant guarantees their salaries for the 2027-28 season, and it keeps three recent draft picks on the same developmental track as San Antonio continues to build around its young talent.
Castle already has the Rookie of the Year hardware from 2024-25, Harper landed on the All-Rookie first team, and Bryant is expected to take another step in his second season. For a franchise that has made no secret of its long-term approach, this kind of roster housekeeping matters because it shows the Spurs are not just collecting prospects, they are committing to a core they believe can grow together. [Read more 🡒]
Wembys Next Spurs Leap Could Make This Defense Even Scarier
Victor Wembanyama is heading into his fourth NBA season with the Spurs looking for more than just another step forward in his production. San Antonio already knows what his size, instincts and rim protection can do for a defense, but the next stage of his growth is about sharpening the details around those gifts, especially his communication and overall awareness on the floor.
Around the team, the expectation is that Wembanyamas development will not only make him more complete, but also help the Spurs raise the level of everyone around him. Coaches and teammates have stressed the value of his vocal leadership, and the organization plans to lean into his defensive ability while still trying to preserve the identity it wants to build for the season ahead. [Read more 🡒]