In the 2025 NBA Draft, the San Antonio Spurs had a luxury. With the second overall pick, they nabbed the best player available: Dylan Harper. Later on, 14th overall, they could roll the dice a bit, taking a risk and adding Carter Bryant.
In his freshman season, Bryant came off the bench and averaged only 6.5 points per game. In his rookie season, he remained in a small role for the Spurs, although he showed great promise as an athlete and defensive maestro.
Bryant still has a long way to go, but with Julian Champagnie, Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, and Harrison Barnes all playing on the wings, the Spurs can take their time developing him.
Bryant is already an above-average defender, and if the offense comes around, he will force his way into the starting lineup. After a rookie season full of ups and downs, he clearly has a long way to go, but at least one person is in his corner.
Gregg Popovich is the ultimate believer in Bryant, and compared him to two of the best defenders the NBA has ever seen.
Carter Bryant Earns Legendary Praise
David Robinson, Tim Duncan, and Victor Wembanyama are all among the best defenders to ever grace the court. Less celebrated, although no less elite, are the wing defenders.
Between Kawhi Leonard and Bruce Bowen, the Spurs have had more than their fair share.
During their time in San Antonio, Bowen and Leonard combined for four titles and 12 All-Defensive Teams. Bowen was one of the first 3-and-D players, at least in a modern sense, although the 2000s didn’t see nearly the same amount of shooting volume as the present day.
Leonard, meanwhile, added an elite offensive arsenal and became a perennial MVP candidate on the Spurs. If Bryant can live up to either player, drafting him 14th would be a smashing success.
Apparently, Popovich believes he has what it takes.
“He was just telling me stories about stuff with Kawhi or when he was coaching Bruce Bowen, or he’s coaching certain guys that ended up being hell of players, and he’s like, ‘Yo, it’s going to take time. Just stay ready, you’re going to be a good player,’” Bryant revealed. “And when you hear somebody like that telling you that you’re going to be a great player and you’re going to play in this league for a long time, you’re like, ‘Oh, okay, like just relax a little bit.’”
Of course, fans would love Coach Pop to be right. More often than not, he is.
If Bryant develops into anything close to Bowen and Leonard, then the Spurs should easily have the best defense in the NBA for the long-term. Wembanyama is already the best defender in the league. Stephon Castle isn’t too far behind. Dyaln Harper is certainly above-average. Plus, rookies Jayden Quaintance and Tarris Reed are expected to be positive defenders, as well.
The Spurs rode suffocating defense to five titles. Bowen or Leonard was on the roster for four of them. With a rich history of building with a certain type of player, Bryant fits right in.
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