David Jones-Garcia Continues to Shine in Summer League

With the third overall pick, Dylan Harper sidelined for the first four games due to injury, G League standout David Jones-Garcia stepped up in his place, averaging an impressive 23 points per game.

But with Harper making his official debut yesterday against the Mavericks at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, it seemed he might steal the spotlight, especially since Jones-Garcia was moved to the bench for yesterday's game.

Even so, Jones-Garcia didn’t let that faze him. Coming off the bench, he poured in 21 points against Cooper Flagg and the Mavericks, while Harper also contributed a solid 16 points in his debut, helping secure the 76–69 win.

Is there a realistic chance Jones-Garcia earns an NBA contract?

If Jones-Garcia doesn’t get signed by the Spurs, it would be surprising if another organization doesn’t offer him at least a two-way contract. He has been one of the best performers in the summer league so far, and his consistent production, even coming off the bench, makes him an attractive option.

Especially for a team in need of backcourt depth. Due to his smaller stature for a forward, it’s likely teams would slot him into the shooting guard position rather than small forward.

Could Jones-Garcia outproduce highly-touted rookies Dylan Harper and Carter Bryant this season?

It’s unrealistic to judge rookies solely based on Summer League performances. Most first-round picks are eased into action, often on reduced minutes to avoid injury.

That said, it would also be foolish to ignore what Jones-Garcia has done over the past five games with the Spurs, especially compared to someone like Carter Bryant, who has struggled mightily in Summer League.

Even with Dylan Harper finally debuting and playing well, Jones-Garcia still outscored him off the bench and even recorded more assists. With the final two Summer League games approaching, comparing their stat lines down the stretch will be an intriguing storyline to watch.

Bryant, on the other hand, has yet to show he deserves meaningful minutes, posting underwhelming stats in each game so far. At this rate, he may find himself buried at the end of the bench, fighting for garbage-time opportunities.

Could Jones-Garcia realistically see more playing time than Harper and Bryant during the Regular Season?

With veterans like De’Aaron Fox and last year’s Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle already holding down the point guard and shooting guard spots, the Spurs will likely ease Harper into the sixth-man role — though there’s a chance Castle could slide down to small forward to create room for Harper in the backcourt on the starting rotation.

And being such a high draft pick, Harper will come with the expectation of significant playing time and likely won’t view Jones-Garcia as direct competition for minutes. 

Bryant, on the other hand, given his underwhelming Summer League showing, is likely to remain at the bottom of the Spurs’ rotation. Meanwhile, Jones-Garcia’s efficient production and potential fit at shooting guard — thanks to his size and versatility — could make him a strong candidate to earn more minutes than Bryant.

Still, without a contract, Jones-Garcia has plenty left to prove as he fights for an NBA roster spot. Now sharing the court with Harper for the final two Summer League games, he’ll need to demonstrate that his scoring isn’t simply a result of extended opportunities in Harper’s absence, but that he can also thrive alongside top-tier talent in a more limited role.

If he continues to produce efficiently, defend well, and accept his role off the bench without losing his edge, he could cement himself as one of the most intriguing undrafted players of the summer. Whether it’s with the Spurs or another team in need of a gritty, scoring guard, Jones-Garcia has a real opportunity to turn heads and earn his place on an NBA roster.