The Spurs are in the course of a incredible stretch. They haven’t solely received 10 of their final 13 video games, but in addition gotten Stephon Citadel and Victor Wembanyama again, and defeated the Thunder to succeed in the Emirates NBA Cup championship sport towards the Knicks.
With so many massive issues occurring, some smaller however removed from insignificant information can slip by. So right here’s what you might need missed whereas celebrating the good stretch of Spurs play.
The Spurs’ schedule will proceed to be tough for some time
After a pleasant, five-game homestand, the Spurs have performed 9 of their final 10 video games on the highway. Their final dwelling sport was on Dec. 2 towards the Grizzlies, nevertheless it was the primary sport of a back-to-back that took San Antonio to Orlando. Since they made the Cup quarterfinals, considered one of their unscheduled video games ended up being in Los Angeles. Then they travelled to Las Vegas to face the Thunder and can play towards the Knicks within the championship sport. In whole, they’ve performed in 10 completely different states of their final 10 video games. The crew has tracked the schedule and it’s been brutal.
Sadly, issues received’t get significantly better for some time. They’ll return dwelling to face the Wizards on Dec. 18, however will instantly leap on a airplane to Atlanta to face the Hawks on the second sport of a back-to-back. They’ll journey to Washington after that earlier than coming dwelling to host the Thunder. After which, they’ll journey to Oklahoma Metropolis for his or her Christmas matchup with the reigning champions. As Marilyn Dubinski identified, exterior of the 2 Vegas video games, the final time the Spurs didn’t journey between video games was Nov. 20.
Each crew has powerful stretches of their season. Issues ultimately normalise. The excellent news is that this yr the schedule has change into harder as a result of the Spurs superior within the cup, they usually have responded nicely to travelling and taking part in away video games. However everybody, from teaching workers to gamers, might be counting the times earlier than the following homestand by now.
The Spurs waived Riley Minix and signed Kyle Mangas to a two-way contract
On Friday, Dec. 12, the Spurs introduced that that they had signed Kyle Mangas to a two-way contract after waiving Riley Minix.
Minix, who went undrafted in 2024, has been with the Spurs for some time, as he had his contract transformed right into a two-way on October 2025 and suited up for one sport with the massive crew that yr. He entered restricted free company after his first season and was retained by San Antonio on a two-way deal, suiting up for 3 video games within the present season. The sharpshooting ahead frolicked in Austin, averaging 15.5 factors on 39.4 % from past the arc to go together with 6.4 rebounds for the G League affiliate. He additionally had a incredible second in Summer time League, when he hit a game-winner.
There was some dialogue in regards to the transfer in The Feed, after reader txinlaca shared the information:
It’s a considerably unusual transfer, as Mangas is a top quality participant however lacks the dimensions that made Minix intriguing. The guard, who additionally frolicked in Austin final yr, has been terrific this season, to be honest. He’s averaging 18.5 factors, 2.9 rebounds and 5 assists whereas capturing 41.1 % from past the arc in 10 G League video games. The problem is he’s a 6’4 combo guard and the Spurs have a youthful model of that participant in a two-way contract in David Jones-Garcia. He’s clearly value a more in-depth look, however the positional general is actual.
There’s additionally the query of the Emirates NBA Cup prize pool. If the Spurs lose to the Knicks, each participant on a normal contract will get over $200,000. In the event that they beat them, they recover from $500,000. Two-way gamers get half of that sum every. That’s some huge cash on the whole, however particularly for the perimeter guys on the roster. Does Minix get that cash? Does Mangas? Do they break up it? It’s unclear, however hopefully the entrance workplace thought-about it earlier than waiving Minix.
All people loves Dylan Harper
Dylan Harper has been having a incredible rookie season. A lot in order that the questions on his match with the opposite guards have largely subsided and have been changed with reward. His teammates have been fast to level out simply how massive of an impression he’s making as a rookie, with De’Aaron Fox evaluating him to some spectacular names.
The media has additionally taken discover. The Ringer’s Invoice Simmons and Rob Mahoney couldn’t comprise their pleasure about Harper in a latest podcast.
Harper was the second general decide, so he was by no means going to fly below the radar, particularly with the Spurs doing nicely. But it surely’s good to see that regardless that he doubtless received’t get the minutes or touches to be Rookie of the Yr is getting reward not just for his potential but in addition his contributions to a successful crew.
Mitch Johnson and Jeremy Sochan are cool
Jeremy Sochan has fallen out of the rotation. His position has been shrinking because the finish of final season however he was nonetheless getting minutes. Then, because the crew obtained more healthy, that stopped. He’s not seen the courtroom within the final two video games and solely performed below 4 minutes within the sport prior.
It may trigger chemistry points to bench a man who was a full-time starter for the primary two years he was within the league, however plainly Mitch Johnson is on high of it.
It’s good to listen to there have been no locker room points resulting in Sochan’s demotion, nevertheless it’s not shocking. Sochan has been cheering for his teammates in these previous few video games. Hopefully, he’ll get one other likelihood to show he can contribute earlier than reaching restricted free company in the summertime.
