Spurs’ biggest players of preseason so far

Who impressed the most in the first three preparatory matches?

Mark Barrington: Obviously it must be Wembanyama, right? He didn’t play his best and had too many turnovers, but he’s just at a different level than every other player on the court, and in Game 3 it looked like he was putting it all together. I think Carter Bryant showed that he is much more ready to make an impact than I thought given his limited play in Summer League. Small sample size, but Dylan Harper is really good and already has a polished game. But I think the best player of the preseason is probably Keldon Johnson, who knows how to use his strength and size to make things happen on both ends of the floor.

Devon Birdsong: Wemby has always had a lot of talent, and you could see flashes of something monstrous, but it’s the ease with which he does everything that impresses me. As gifted as he is, his game has never seemed as simple as it seems right now, and I think that’s a sign that the mental side of the game has finally started to fully integrate with the athleticism. There’s barely any hesitation in his decision-making, but not in a reckless way – it seems perfectly calculated and it honestly reminds me of Jokic’s fourth season in the league. This was the first season I clearly remember seeing Jokic play opponents regularly, and I distinctly remember thinking that if he ever became a more consistent shooter/scorer, he would be a beast. The crazy thing is that Wemby is already a higher scorer than Jokic was back then. If he is able to start dictating things in the same way, there is no limit. And I’m starting to think he could almost be there.

Jeje Gomez: Julian Champagnie is 11 of 19 from beyond the arc for a team in need of shooting. Sure, he still can’t really dribble, but that level of shooting accuracy, coupled with his solid defense, could land him a spot in the rotation. The preseason is about proving you can contribute, and few others fill a role as cleanly as the sharpshooting wing. A lot of these looks are assisted and from the corner, but that’s exactly what a complementary player’s shot profile would look like. Others might get more highlights, but Champagnie makes his case for a few minutes, which is impressive.

J.R. Wilco: I love what we’ve seen from Bryant and Champers so far, but it has to be Wemby for me. His aggression and decisiveness stood out, as did his decision-making, but the biggest difference (and the most impressive thing from preseason) was how obvious it is that he now knows how to use his body. It’s fun to be a fan of a player that defenders seem to bounce off of, and over the summer it seems like Vic has become one of those guys. It’s not just about the weight he’s added, but also the way he moves and the timing of his movements that has been so breathtaking. Even though it’s only pre-season and the competition hasn’t been the toughest, I can’t wait to see this version of Wemby develop.

Do you like what you see so far from Mitch Johnson’s first year as head coach?

Barrington: There’s not much you can learn from preseason about coaching, in my opinion. Mitch would bring all the guys out and let them play. The defensive rotations were sloppy, but that’s to be expected with so many guys out and young players on the floor. I like that he called timeouts whenever the team was a little disrupted, but that’s not exactly elite coaching; It’s basic stuff. I expect Mitch to do really well this season, but the preseason isn’t really going to tell us much about his coaching style yet.

Bird song: This might just be wishful thinking, but I think Johnson looks a lot more relaxed on the sidelines. Not in a way that doesn’t scream fully engaged, but rather in the sense that it’s fully his show now. Gregg Popovich’s figure no longer looms the same as it did last season (although, wait until the Spurs are on a losing streak), and Mitch simply seems more authoritarian. If the regular season’s X’s and Os match this attitude, we might find out that he really is Pop’s true successor.

Gomez: There’s not much to judge Johnson on, since so many guys have been out. Wembanyama’s playful touches are fun. There are set plays which are intelligent. But the jury is still out on Mitch, which is normal for a rookie coach.

Wilco: Pop has always made season adjustments clear from the start of the preseason, and it appears Johnson is doing the same. Here is the first play made by the Wemby team on the first possession of the first action (the team scrimmage) that we have seen this season. Hopefully this means an end to dribbling while Vic fights for position while waiting for the ball to be delivered to him. One play is a small thing, but as someone who begs to see the team prioritize movement in order to prevent defenses from focusing all five guys on Wemby, I see good early signs that Johnson is putting a solid foundation under the offense.

Do you think some of the fringe guys are gaining rotation minutes?

Barrington: Carter Bryant isn’t exactly a fringe guy, as he’s a lottery pick, but he wasn’t expected to contribute right away. He’s still a very raw player, but I don’t see how you can keep him out of the rotation after showing how much he can impact the game on defense and how he can make key plays in critical moments. David Jones-Garcia stepped up late in preseason games, but I don’t see how that translates to regular season playing time since he’s mostly playing against guys who won’t be on the roster in a few weeks. He still deserves to be seen longer and have some chances to compete in the big leagues this season.

Lindy Waters III has a nice shot and is solid with the ball in his hands. He could get some reps if the senior guards (Fox, Harper, Castle) continue to have health issues or simply need rest. The guard rotation is going to be interesting with so much talent on the roster, and either him or Jordan McLaughlin will be the odd one out.

Bird song: I’ve been high on Champagnie for a while now, but I no longer consider him a fringe player on the roster either. He’s going to see 20 minutes per game, maybe more. Carter Bryant, on the other hand, threatens to spend little to no time in Austin at this point. I really liked his appearance during Summer League, and he continues to look like he has the makings of a defensive threat, using every inch of his body to hamper opposing players. He’ll need an injury or two to get any real minutes, but it’s not out of the realm of possibility.

Gomez: I mentioned Champagnie, who is not really a fringe guy, since he played last season. Apart from him, I don’t see anyone who impresses at the moment. Some guys do what they’re supposed to do, but few stand out. Which is good, of course. There are only a limited number of minutes left to play, and players who haven’t found a rotation spot elsewhere shouldn’t expect to break out just because they’re wearing silver and black. That said, I still want to see what Kelly Olynyk can do, because if there’s anyone who can surprisingly break down the rotation, I have a feeling it might be him.

Wilco: I think Waters III has earned solid consideration with his excellent shooting and solid ball handling. If there’s one position where the team seems set, it’s this one, but it needs to be calming to bring in a vet who knows the game and won’t make rookie mistakes while providing outside shooting (something the team does NOT have in abundance) if the need arises.