Spurs Summer League Roll Call
Who are the Silver and Black taking on their annual offseason excursion?
The San Antonio Spurs commence their Summer League schedule tonight against the Charlotte Hornets in their first matchup of the California Classic in Sacramento. Fans are itching to catch Stephon Castle and Harrison Ingram make their unofficial debuts, but those recent draftees are far from the only exciting names on the exhibition roster.
Gregg Popovich, Brian Wright, and the rest of the front office braintrust have charged Head Video Coordinator Kenny Trevino with the duty of serving as the lead playcaller, a role that has passed through the hands of Becky Hammon, Mitch Johnson, and Matt Nielsen. So, which players will be at his disposal when the good guys take centerstage?
The Main Attraction
Stephon Castle | Guard | #5 | Rookie
Summer League is the first test for the fourth overall pick of the 2024 NBA Draft. Can he dispel his outside shooting concerns? Does he have the necessary ball skills to play as a full-time point guard? Spurs fans will soon see exactly what the talented teenager brings to the table in his opening act for the Silver and Black.
Featured Players
Harrison Ingram | Forward | #55 | Rookie
San Antonio snagged Ingram near the end of the second round, but there is no doubt the coaching staff will offer him a longer leash than most of the players on the roster. Will the Spurs run much offense through the 21-year-old? Probably not. However, he should shine as a stationary shooter and connective-tissue passer.
Sidy Cissoko | Forward | #25 | Sophomore
Though there were doubts about whether Cissoko would be healthy enough to suit up in the California Classic, he recently told reporters that he will play this Saturday. The Spurs stashed him in the G League for most of his rookie season, but he demonstrated promising defensive versatility and transition playmaking in April.
Roster Hopefuls
Jamaree Bouyea | Guard | #15 | Third-Year
Diehards might recognize the name Jamaree Bouyea, but Sacramento will likely be his first opportunity to leave a lasting impression on Spurs fans. The spindly floor general is a disruptive defender who piles up steals and blocks with his massive wingspan and uncanny defensive instincts. He also doubles as a steady table setter.
David Duke Jr. | Guard | #7 | Fourth-Year
Get your laughs out of the way now because Duke is a serious candidate to earn one of the final roster spots in the 2-1-0. The 24-year-old only made four appearances for San Antonio last season, but he always delivered hard-nosed defense, selfless extra passes, and purposeful off-ball movement. Expect more of the same from him.
RaiQuan Gray | Forward | #41 | Third-Year
Much like everyone else in this category, Gray is fighting for his future in the NBA. As positionless as basketball has become over the last decade, you must still have an elite trait that helps create an advantage on at least one end of the court. The burly tweener can theoretically space the floor and switch onto guards—time to prove it.
Two-Way Candidates
DJ Horne | Guard | #18 | Rookie
DJ Horne was the engine of the offense for a North Carolina State program that made a momentous run through their conference tournament that carried them to the Final Four of March Madness. The fifth-year senior is a dangerous three-point shooter who can catch fire instantaneously and make defenders pay for going under screens.
Jameer Nelson Jr. | Guard | #17 | Rookie
Do you feel old yet? Jameer Nelson Jr. has followed in his father’s footsteps and carved a path to the NBA. While the second-generation hooper went undrafted, he has all the tools to earn an extended audition from a team that understands what he provides as a well-rounded defender and electric event creator with an inconsistent shot.
Riley Minix | Forward | #34 | Rookie
Minix is a dark-horse contender to snatch a two-way contract from one of the existing signees once the dust settles. Though he will be one of the oldest rookies in the league this season, he profiles as a Swiss army knife. The 23-year-old owns a buttery stroke, a nose for boards, a post-up game, and a penchant for making defensive plays.
Supporting Cast
Tyson Ward | Guard | #35 | Rookie
At 26 years old, Ward is the elder statesman for this rendition of the Silver and Black. He is fresh off a season in which he was a significant contributor for Paris Basketball on their journey to winning their first EuroCup and LNB Pro A Leaders Cup titles in franchise history. The veteran spaces the floor, defends, and screens well.
Tyrece Radford | Guard | #37 | Rookie
How can Radford differentiate himself on a roster that houses nine other guards? The answer lies in his outlier rebounding and defensive motor. Unfortunately for the A&M alumnus, he faces an uphill battle to find minutes in a crowded backcourt.
Nathan Mensah | Center | #31 | Sophomore
Unless San Antonio rolls with an unprecedented small-ball lineup, Mensah should see plenty of court time as the lone center on the squad. While that might earn him starter status, he was unproductive for the horrendous Hornets last season.
Setric Millner Jr. | Guard | #36 | Sophomore
Millner has returned for a second straight Summer League stint with the Spurs, but he provides little more than depth, rebounding, and defense to this group. Despite inking a two-way contract last offseason, he won’t be a priority for San Antonio.
Luke Avdalovic | Guard | #27 | Rookie
Avdalovic is a three-point specialist for the Austin Spurs, but he will be hard-pressed to break into the rotation at Summer League. The 25-year-old swingman is mostly an afterthought who might have some situational utility on set pieces.
Darin Green Jr. | Guard | #29 | Rookie
It sure feels like San Antonio has a soft spot for Florida State products. With how well Leonard Hamilton ingrains the fundamentals into his players, it’s no shock that Green found his way onto the Summer League itinerary. He is lights out from beyond the arc and a serviceable perimeter defender, but will that warrant minutes?
Yauhen Massalski | Forward | #19 | Rookie
Tied for the tallest player on the roster, Massalski could receive substantial run for the Silver and Black. The 25-year-old is another Austin Spurs regular, but he is a long shot to make enough of an impact to attract any legitimate NBA suitors.
Notable Exclusions
Dominick Barlow: Fans have asked about Barlow on social media, so here is a speedy explainer. The 20-year-old forward is still an unrestricted free agent, and therefore, he is ineligible to play for the Spurs at Summer League.
Malaki Branham and Blake Wesley: How about we lump these two together? Wesley and Branham have graduated from the Summer League experience, but their future is beginning to look murky. This season will be pivotal for them.
Juan Nuñez: The second-rounder is on international duty for Spain as they attempt to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Nuñez also reportedly inked a multi-year contract with Barcelona that seals his fate as a draft-and-stash prospect.
I’m really hoping Sidy shows something in summer league. It’d be great if he could pop at the 3 where we need better depth. If we could combine Blake and Malakai into one player, we’d have a really great combo guard. That’s not a good sign for either one of them making it long term.
Appreciate the work you put into this Noah. One suggestion: could you include a picture or graphic that has their faces on it? I'm not sure about everyone else, but that would be super helpful in learning who to look for on the court. Great writeup though.