The San Antonio Spurs are heading into Monday night’s preseason matchup with the Utah Jazz without a long list of familiar faces, including Victor Wembanyama, De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper and Devin Vassell.
Nine players were ruled out for pre-planned rest: Wembanyama, Fox, Castle, Harper, Vassell, Tobias Harris, Carter Bryant, Jayden Quaintance and Malik Williams. Of that group, Julian Champagnie is the only Spur who has started the last two games and will be available.
Utah will also be missing two big pieces. Kyle Filipowski is out with a lower-back issue, while Jusuf Nurkić is expected to miss at least four weeks after suffering a partial plantar plate tear in his right foot during the Jazz’s first preseason game against the Denver Nuggets on Oct. 4.
Bryant’s absence comes after he hurt his right ankle Saturday against the Phoenix Suns. The second-year forward landed awkwardly after stepping on Vassell’s foot while defending a play in the second quarter and left the game before being ruled out for the night.
“I don’t know any details,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said after that game, "but he stepped on Devin’s foot. Hopefully he’s okay, but yeah, I’m not quite sure.”
San Antonio listed Bryant among the players who won’t suit up at Delta Center, but stopped short of saying whether his absence is part of the planned rest or tied to the ankle issue.
Fox still hasn’t made his preseason debut. He was scratched just before the Spurs’ opener against the Atlanta Hawks last Thursday, first described as dealing with soreness in his hip before Johnson later called it general tightness.
Johnson said the decision was made out of an abundance of caution for the All-Star guard entering his 10th NBA season. That also means San Antonio’s three-guard starting look - Fox alongside Castle and Harper - has yet to take the floor together.
"They are extremely dynamic and talented," Johnson said of the trio. "It's as much of allowing them to be on the court and learn how to complement and play with each other (as it is) us as a staff ... to put them in situations and environments to be successful."
Harris will miss the entire preseason after suffering a left calf strain in training camp. The 16-year veteran is scheduled to be re-evaluated after San Antonio’s five-game exhibition schedule and remains QUESTIONABLE for the regular season opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
An official injury report is due by 5 p.m. Central on Oct.
Quaintance is still working back from the torn ACL and meniscus he sustained in February 2025. He had another procedure in July, and the Spurs continue to take the slow route with his rehab.
"The plan for him is to get it right," Johnson said during Media Day, emphasizing no rush for the rookie to take the floor anytime soon. "To take it slow and to make sure we get it right."
With so many rotation players unavailable, Monday gives San Antonio a chance to look harder at the rest of the roster, including rookie Tarris Reed Jr., before the team returns to Frost Bank Center to face the Suns on Wednesday.
The Spurs finish their five-game preseason slate on Friday against the Sacramento Kings, then open the regular season against the Thunder on Oct. 20.
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Spurs Suddenly Need De'Aaron Fox For More Than Just Preseason Minutes
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De'Aaron Fox's return to the starting lineup is now expected to matter for more than just getting him back into game shape. The Spurs need a little more edge and urgency in these exhibition games, and Fox brings a level of competitiveness that can sharpen the group while the staff evaluates how the guard rotation should settle. For now, he and Harper are the two names to watch as San Antonio decides what the pecking order looks like. [Read more 🡒]