The San Antonio Spurs lost their most recent preseason game to the Utah Jazz, falling 119-109. For various reasons (soreness, injuries, rest), Stephon Castle, Victor Wembanyama, Carter Bryant, De’Aaron Fox, Tobias Harris, Dylan Harper, Jayden Quaintance, and Devin Vassell did not suit up.
That allowed the Spurs’ reserves and rookies to get more run than usual. The Jazz, meanwhile, played a nearly full roster, treating the first half like a regular-season game.
Keldon Johnson, Harrison Barnes, and Julian Champagnie all looked the part of NBA veterans with the promotion to the starting lineup, although it was the rookies who stole the show.
As the season gets closer and closer, two guys are making a case for more minutes and a bigger role, and the players ahead of them on the depth chart aren’t doing a great job of holding onto their spots.
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Overlooked Rookies Shine in Preseason Loss
As with any other Jazz game, Darryn Peterson was the headliner. Drafted second overall out of Kansas, there were very real concerns surrounding his durability and commitment to basketball, although his talent is undeniable.
Against the Spurs, he scored an efficient 14 points to go with five assists and only one turnover. He looks like the type of guy the Jazz can build around for the next 15 years. But he wasn’t the best–or even second-best–rookie in the game.
42nd overall pick Ja’Kobi Gillespie led all scorers with 25 points, getting to the rim with ease and looking confident from deep. He’s currently on a two-way deal, but knows that the preseason is his chance to prove that he deserves a standard contract.
“This is my opportunity to show what I can do,” he said. “A lot of guys sat, so I just wanted to make the most of it…I just wanted to play aggressively, knowing I’ll make mistakes, just leave it all out.”
So on offense, Gillespie had Peterson beat. On defense and in the paint, Tarris Reed looked spectacular, too. Picked 26th overall by the Spurs, he was expected to be the third-string, garbage-time center.
Instead, he’s rivaling Luke Kornet for the backup job.
“He’s just a dog out there,” Gillespie said of his teammate. “I think he had, what, 17 boards? That’s just insane to me. He’s doing his job. He knows that’s what we need in being physical. He’s doing a great job.”
Reed’s 17 rebounds easily led all players, and his eight offensive rebounds provided plenty of second-chance looks for the Spurs, which is something they sorely needed in the NBA Finals. For now, the backup spot is still Kornet’s, although Reed is knocking at the door, and the veteran went scoreless despite being elevated to the starting lineup.
“I love the physicality and the motor he’s playing with, and he just has a nose for the basketball,” said Mitch Johnson. “Typically, that’s a very valuable skill set in this league.”
Once the season starts, fans can expect Reed and Gillespie to fall into smaller roles, although their spot on the roster should be cemented. Having high-value guys on the end of the bench on team-friendly contracts is what elevates contenders into frontrunners.
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