Tarris Reed Jr. gave the Spurs exactly the kind of Summer League bounce-back they were hoping to see Monday night.
After a rough first outing in San Antonio’s opener, the former UConn center delivered his first double-double in a Spurs uniform, finishing with 12 points, 12 rebounds, an assist and a block in an 88-84 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. Reed was more efficient this time around, going 6-for-10 from the field after opening Summer League by shooting 3-for-10.
He also missed a 3-point attempt. The Spurs had already held him out of Sunday’s second game in the California Classic to manage his rest.
Spurs Summer League coach and full-time assistant Corliss Williamson said Reed is still settling in, but the early signs are encouraging.
“Tarris is going to continue to get better. He brings a physical presence; that’s one of the areas that we talked about addressing once our season was over and we’ve talked to him some, I’m sure our guys on the team will talk to him when they have a chance to see him,” Williamson told reporters after the game.
“But for him it’s gonna be about bringing energy, effort, and it’s gonna be a short stint when he gets to the big show. That’s one of the things we talked about out here, like, ‘Hey, give us everything you have whether it’s a hard two minutes or a hard five minutes.
Whatever you can give us, give us that energy so that you can get accustomed to playing that way.’ And he’s done that.
I think he’s gonna bring some physicality that we need. He definitely competes, and that’s what we need from him.”
The Spurs drafted Reed at No. 26 overall with a clear purpose in mind: add physicality after the breakdowns they saw during their run to the NBA Finals last month. Since arriving in San Antonio less than two weeks ago, the message has been consistent, and the role has already been laid out.
Williamson spelled it out plainly: “The conversation I’ve had with Tarris is just, ‘Hey, if you’re gonna be out there with Victor and these other guys we have, you’re not gonna get a lot of shots. So the way you impact the game is through your physicality, crashing the offensive glass,'”
Reed said he understands what the Spurs want from him.
“What the team needs and what’s going to be required for me down the road is just physical screening, rebounding, defensive presence and just overall having my presence felt on both ends of the floor,” Reed said. “You want to play at the highest level, you want to play and be in the game… Whatever the coach, whatever the guys need me to do, I’m gonna do.
I feel like just having that chip on your shoulder and just being selfless and relentless at times. Whatever is called for… Gritty, rebounds, physical screens, things that I do pretty well.”
In Other News...
UConn Fans Have A New Summer League Reason To Watch Closely
UConn fans have plenty of reason to keep one eye on Las Vegas this month, where several former Huskies are set to take part in NBA Summer League. The group includes first-round picks Tarris Reed Jr. and Alex Karaban, along with Tristen Newton and Liam McNeeley, giving the program another showcase on a stage that has become a familiar summer stop for its alumni.
The draw is not just seeing who gets on the floor, but how each player fits into the next step of his pro path. Summer League can be a proving ground for roster hopefuls, a chance to build momentum after a strong G League season, or simply a reset after an injury-marred first year, and UConn followers will have a full slate of games to track as those storylines unfold in Las Vegas. [Read more 🡒]
Why UConns Guards Are Suddenly Driving Title Buzz Again
With Alex Karaban and Tarris Reed Jr. off to the NBA Draft, UConn is heading into the new season with a different look, and the conversation around the Huskies is shifting toward the backcourt. Silas Demary Jr. and Braylon Mullins are the names drawing the most attention, with their combination of skill and upside giving this roster a chance to stay in the national title mix even as the frontcourt turns over.
Braylon Mullins is also positioned to take on a larger role, which only adds to the intrigue around how high this group can climb. And while the immediate focus is on the guards, UConn is still working the future too, having advanced in the chase for five-star 2027 wing Demarcus Henry, who has trimmed his list to eight schools, including the Huskies. [Read more 🡒]