Few groups have had as robust of a summer time because the San Antonio Spurs, who’ve dramatically improved their expertise round celebrity Victor Wembanyama. That has been on full show at NBA Summer season League, the place rookies Dylan Harper and Carter Bryant have been exhibiting out.
Carter Bryant being a whole menace on protection for 1 minute and 43 seconds: pic.twitter.com/d0ShjlQjjq
— Bala 💫 (@BalaPattySZN) July 11, 2025
Throughout NBA Summer season League, Spurs GM Brian Wright dropped an fascinating nugget about his offseason objective for the workforce. He particularly talked about that he focused gamers who might assist the Spurs defensively within the second unit.
Brian Wright says the principle offseason emphasis was protection, particularly when Wemby sits: pic.twitter.com/4v2XRX0w46
— Josh Paredes (@Josh810) July 11, 2025
Whereas the Spurs posted a terrific protection when Victor Wembanyama was on the ground, they have been a trainwreck when he was off it.
That ought to change subsequent season, with the addition of seven’1 behemoth Luke Kornet to anchor their second unit. He’ll be joined by different strong defensive gamers corresponding to Julian Champagnie, Jeremy Sochan, Harper, and Bryant.
Spurs have quietly crafted a defensive juggernaut to problem OKC
Harper has the potential to be a very good defender given his measurement and size, whereas Carter is understood for his defensive versatility, motor, and athleticism. That was on show throughout his Summer season League debut, with him seamlessly switching onto a number of gamers in a single possession after which having a giant chase-down block after initially getting beat.
He was additionally disruptive guarding the primary total decide, Cooper Flagg. With the ability to string collectively a second unit that options 5 good defensive gamers is a luxurious, and that offers them mix-and-match potential.
De’Aaron Fox is not an elite defender however has good positional measurement at level guard, is lightning fast, and racks up loads of steals. Stephon Citadel confirmed the potential to be a lockdown defender who has the flexibility to protect one via three successfully.
Devin Vassell has taken a transparent step again defensively however was a gifted workforce defender in his first two seasons within the NBA. A smaller offensive workload might hopefully get his thoughts proper defensively. Barnes is not a very good defender, however at 6’8 and enjoying energy ahead, he is not as simple to take advantage of defensively as, say, a small guard.
Spurs can experience an elite protection to playoff matchup with the Thunder
All that’s to say that San Antonio might craft a nine- or 10-man rotation that options few weak hyperlinks. Then, after all, there’s Wembanyama, who has led the league in whole blocks and blocks per recreation and may have gained Defensive Participant of the Yr in each his first two seasons within the NBA.
Higher perimeter defenders imply that he will not have to scrub up as many errors, and the Spurs might craft a suffocating protection round him. Groups are already cautious of attacking him and should not even get the possibility with San Antonio’s measurement and size.
They may theoretically trot out a closing lineup that options Fox, Citadel, Vassell, Sochan, and Wembanyama, giving them greater than sufficient offense to hold however protection too. Sochan is without doubt one of the greatest iso defenders within the NBA and might legitimately guard one via 4 and has even accomplished so in the identical recreation.
That may clearly come in useful in a seemingly inevitable playoff matchup towards the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder. Sochan might guard Shai-Gilgeous Alexander, Citadel might guard Jalen Williams, Fox would possibly match up towards Alex Caruso, Vassell on Lu Dort, and Wemby on Chet Holmgren.
There would not be any apparent weak factors defensively, although the Spurs might have certainly one of Citadel or Sochan to enhance as shooters to make that dying lineup extra viable.
Finally, Wright has accomplished an awesome job of upgrading the Spurs second unit by stocking it with defensive gamers. If it is because it seems on paper, then the Spurs might have a top-5 protection, which might nearly assure them a visit to the playoffs subsequent season.
