Tarris Reed Jr. is bringing a fresh NBA start to San Antonio, but he’s not leaving disappointment behind.
The former UConn big man said the loss that ended his college career still sits with him, and he sees the same kind of edge in his new Spurs teammates. Reed finished as a national championship runner-up after the Huskies fell to Michigan, 69-63, in the NCAA Men’s Tournament title game in April. San Antonio, meanwhile, came up short in the NBA Finals last month, losing to the New York Knicks in five games.
That shared pain, Reed said in an interview with News 4 in San Antonio that aired Monday, is part of what makes the fit feel right.
“Having a group of young guys that stays humble and hungry,” Reed said of his fit with the team. “And having a chip on their shoulder, you know, like it's different when you, like, you're really trying to reach something, like a big huge goal.
“Sometimes you don't even know if you could go for it, then you end up there. Like they (the Spurs) ended up in the finals, we ended up in the national championship, and then you come up short. Like that really is a tough. tough feeling to deal with.”
Reed said he can picture exactly how he would have approached another year at UConn, if he had one.
“Coming into the next season, like if I had another year at UConn, oh my gosh, I would just …” Reed said, his voice trailing off. “Just I'm going for the natty, you know? So, I know these guys are going for it to go for a finals.”
Reed entered the NBA after being picked in the first round of last month’s draft, going No. 26 overall to the Cleveland Cavaliers before being traded to San Antonio.
He said the Spurs were on his radar well before draft night. During the pre-draft process, Reed worked out for San Antonio and quickly felt the connection.
“It was my third workout, and I loved it here. It was one of the most fun, most competitive workouts I had,” Reed said.
“Just talking with guys. … I was able to talk, talk with the whole front office, meet with them.”
Reed added that the people around the team made a strong impression.
The entire staff, he said, “was just so fun to be around. And I always knew I wanted to end up here.”
Now Reed is getting his first taste of Spurs basketball in summer league. The traditional NBA summer league starts Thursday in Las Vegas, but San Antonio has already gotten a head start by playing in the California Classic, which gave teams three games in Northern California before moving on.
The Spurs will wrap up that stretch Monday night against the Los Angeles Lakers. San Antonio has dropped its first two games, while Los Angeles is 1-1. Reed did not play in the second game, a 98-69 loss to the Golden State Warriors Gold.
In Other News...
Arizona State Just Entered A Recruitment That Could Change Everything
Kaleena Smiths recruitment is starting to look like one of the defining storylines in the 2027 cycle, and UConn is firmly in the mix. The five-star point guard, the consensus No. 1 overall prospect in the class, has lined up a busy fall of official visits across the country, a list that includes bluebloods and national contenders who all want a chance to sell her on their vision.
For UConn, the timing matters as much as the name value. Smith is known for her scoring, playmaking and feel for the game, traits that fit the kind of lead guard the Huskies have long pursued, and her visit schedule now puts the program in the same conversation with several of the sports biggest brands. With the process moving into a more serious phase, every stop on the calendar carries extra weight. [Read more 🡒]
UConn's Biggest Question Could Decide How Far This Team Goes
UConns backcourt should again be a strength, but the real swing factor for next season may be what happens around the rim. The Huskies have spent the offseason trying to answer that question, adding Najai Hines from Seton Hall along with Oskar Giltay from Stanford and Elmir Dzafic from Arkansas as they look to replace the size and production that left with Tarris Reed Jr. and Eric Reibe.
Hines, who is set to join the program for the 2026-27 season, brings a useful baseline from his time at Seton Hall, where he averaged 6.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.2 blocks in 18 minutes per game. The bigger issue for UConn is whether that trio can give the Huskies enough scoring and resistance inside to match the quality they expect on the perimeter, because that gap could end up deciding just how far this team can go. [Read more 🡒]