Spurs fans got their first look at the new roster on Friday at the Chase Center in San Francisco. Ahead of the game, San Antonio announced that all four of their recent draft picks are now officially under contract.
The California Classic opener proved to be a nail-biter. After a sluggish offensive first quarter, the Summer Spurs found life through their defense and new additions, ultimately falling just short in an 88-87 loss to the Miami Heat. Without calling a timeout in the final seconds, San Antonio’s final buzzer-beating attempt missed the mark.
In-Game Highlights & Player Notes
Tarris Reed Jr.: Anchored the team early on, making his presence heavily felt on the defensive end during a slow offensive first quarter.
Ja’Kobi Gillespie: The former Tennessee point guard started and played 29 minutes. After a quiet start, he heated up in the second quarter, hitting back-to-back triples to cut the deficit to six. He finished with 10 points, 8 assists, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals against just one turnover (despite a tough 3-for-17 shooting night).
Myles Kelly: Provided an instant spark, jumping out to a quick start to log 11 first-half points. He finished as the team’s leading scorer with 16 points.
Maliq Brown: Showed off unexpected range, stepping outside to hit an early three-pointer in the third quarter.
What’s Next for the Summer Spurs
San Antonio continues its run at the Chase Center with two more games:
Sunday: vs. Golden State Warriors
Monday Night: vs. Los Angeles Lakers
NBA Landscape: The LeBron James Sweepstakes
While the Summer Spurs focus on development, the rest of the NBA is focused on free agency. The Los Angeles Lakers are preparing for the very real possibility of life without LeBron James.
According to reports from his agent, James has narrowed his focus: His camp has spoken with 27 teams, though only 10 to 12 teams are considered legitimate contenders to sign him.
Spurs Out: For fans hoping for a veteran superstar pairing in San Antonio, reports confirm that James is not considering joining the Spurs.