The San Antonio Spurs picked up their first win of the season on Saturday night, beating the Dallas Mavericks 112-106. In the final quarter especially, the Spurs finally looked like themselves, getting downhill, attacking the rim, and playing with pace.
Victor Wembanyama led the way with 23 points, catching endless lobs from the Spurs’ guard core. However, it was Tarris Reed Jr., the third-string center, who stole the attention. He made his NBA debut in the fourth quarter, getting an offensive rebound and a layup just a minute after checking into the game. He finished with two points and three rebounds, along with a plus/minus of -1, the best of any bench player.
Playing Reed at all was not a part of the Spurs’ game plan heading into Saturday, although Luke Kornet was simply unplayable down the stretch. His mark of -18 was the worst of anyone on the team, and with Wembanyama needing rest and the Spurs needing to stay afloat, Mitch Johnson opted to go with the rookie.
The gamble paid off, and he’s expected to work his way into a bigger role moving forward.
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Spurs Shower Rookie Tarris Reed Jr. With Praise
Picked 26th overall in the 2026 NBA Draft, Reed had more college experience than most guys in the class. He started his career in Ann Arbor, playing two seasons for Michigan before transferring to UConn, where he spent two seasons playing for Dan Hurley’s squad.
Reed is a physical force and already one of the better rebounders in the league. The Spurs aren’t expecting him to be a superstar, but if he can outplay Kornet, then there shouldn’t be an issue in increasing his role.
As soon as Reed checked in, the Spurs seemed to flip a switch.
“A lot of that effort, energy, and it’s amazing,” summed up Johnson. “Obviously he’s a great kid, and guys probably are a little bit more engaged when it’s a young player getting minutes for the first time, or it’s not consistent, but all I saw was the whole bench stand up the guys on the court, getting fired up. Tarris wasn’t out there shooting step-back between-the-legs 3s, he was just playing his ass off and playing hard and being physical and trying to do the right stuff. It’s contagious when you play the right way.”
After losing to both the OKC Thunder and Houston Rockets to kick off the season, Wembanyama questioned the Spurs’ effort and mentality. After seeing Reed take over, Wemby is no longer doubting that.
“I think he understands it,” said Wembanyama. “His intensity shows that he understands what it takes to be on the court.”
The Spurs have a simple question to answer: who is Wemby’s backup? Obviously, that answer can change game-to-game. For now, it’s Kornet, who is under contract for two more seasons, with a team option after that. Reed, however, is cheaper, and with an admittedly small sample size, might be better. He certainly will be once he adjusts to the NBA, if he isn’t already.
The Spurs will next take on the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday. Expect Reed’s number to be called.
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