April 9, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n“We saw it (his hesitation to shoot) a little bit in that 76ers game,” Bryant said. “I had a few catches where I was wide open and I’m pump faking for no reason and nobody’s closing out to me. So (Spurs coach) Mitch (Johnson) told me about five times today, if I’m open, shoot the ball, if (the defender) is playing off me, shoot the ball. And then all my teammates, they’re empowering me to shoot the ball.<\/p>\n
“So it’s like if my teammates have faith in me, there’s no reason not to shoot it. And if I miss, I miss.”<\/p>\n
“Carter was just confident,” said Fox, who finished with a team-high 25 points, seven assists and five rebounds. “We want him to be confident if teams are going to put their fives on him. We want him to be able to take those shots with confidence because then it makes them take one step out and it helps our offense.”<\/p>\n
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The 14th overall pick of the 2025 NBA draft also had five rebounds, a season-high four assists and a steal in his best all-around performance of the season. Wembanyama is the only other rookie in franchise history to finish a game with five 3s, five rebounds and four assists.<\/p>\n
Bryant also played center in the small-ball lineup when Luke Kornet, who started in place of Wembanyama, subbed out.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“He played within himself in terms of things we’ve been talking about practicing and training on,” Johnson said. “And the ball found him and he shot in rhythm with confidence when he was open, but he also had five rebounds, four assists, a steal, a couple of appropriate fouls playing with physicality.”<\/p>\n
The Spurs hope to see more confident play from Bryant in the postseason.<\/p>\n
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“He’s doing great. … He will play in the playoffs,” Johnson said.<\/p>\n
Bryant, 20, said it was “amazing” to know his coach has that kind of confidence in him.<\/p>\n
\u00a0“Like I said, my teammates, they’ve empowered me so much just throughout the course of the season,” the Arizona product said. “I’m grateful.”<\/p>\n
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San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson (3) reacts to a 3-pointer made by San Antonio Spurs forward Carter Bryant (11) during the fourth quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. The Spurs defeated the Trail Blazers 112-101.<\/p>\n
Sam Owens\/San Antonio Express-News![\"Spurs]()
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Spurs forward Carter Bryant defends Blazers guard Scoot Henderson during the first half of San Antonio’s 112-101 win over Portland at the Frost Bank Center.<\/p>\n
Darren Abate\/AP![\"San]()
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San Antonio Spurs forward Carter Bryant (11) talks with Chuck Cureau following the Spurs\u2019 112-101 win over the Portland Trail Blazers at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. Bryant finished with 17 points, five rebounds, and four assists.<\/p>\n
Sam Owens\/San Antonio Express-News<\/p>\n
The bench also got another big game from forward Keldon Johnson. In 29 minutes, he bolstered his case for the sixth man of the year award with 20 points on 8-of-15 shooting and eight rebounds, including four on the offensive end.<\/p>\n
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“That’s what we’ve been getting from our bench all season, especially KJ, who I think has been the best bench player in the league this year,” Fox said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Spurs also got a strong performance from rookie guard Dylan Harper against the Blazers. Starting in place of Castle, the No. 2 overall pick had 13 points, six rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks in a season-high 33 minutes.<\/p>\n
“He’s always had great instincts and anticipation,” Mitch Johnson said when asked how Harper has improved defensively over the course of the season. “He’s gotten a lot better at being disciplined and consistent in being in the stance, being switched on mentally, getting ready to go from the jump. And as he continues to improve his fitness and just being switched on all the time, he will be very, very tough.”<\/p>\n
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