Oct 7, 2024; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Aaron Wiggins (21) drives to the basket while defended by San Antonio Spurs forward Sandro Mamukelashvili (54) during the second half at Frost Bank Center. Scott Wachter-Imagn Images

Spurs Preseason: 3 Biggest Contributors Heading into San Antonio's Final Tune-Up

Originally posted on San Antonio Spurs on SI
By Quentin Corpuel | Last updated Oct 16, 2024 4:57 PM ET

Although the San Antonio Spurs haven’t been perfect through four preseason games, there’s been a lot to like with the Silver & Black.

San Antonio is only a few possessions away from being 4-0; the only undefeated teams right now are the Warriors (5-0) and the Knicks (4-0). Heading into its final preseason game against the Rockets on Thursday, plenty of Spurs have put together strong performances.

Here are three standouts from San Antonio’s first four preseason games:

Julian Champagnie

Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

If Champagnie can translate this success into the regular season – especially the catch-and-shoot aspect — that’d be a huge bonus for the Spurs, who were one of the worst 3-point shooting teams in the league last season (34.6 percent, T-29th).

Sandro Mamukelashvili

Speaking of hot shooters from the Big East, Mamukelashvili has also lit up opponents from downtown during the preseason.

The fourth-year New York native only played five minutes in San Antonio’s last preseason game against the Heat, but in the three games prior, Mamukelashvili was averaging just under 13 points per game and was shooting a ridiculous 56.3 percent from downtown on over five attempts per game.

Mamukelashvili has never shot the 3-ball at this high of a volume; in his 65 games with the Spurs, he has averaged two 3-pointers per game. Like Champagnie, a potential ascent from Mamukelashvili from beyond the arc would immensely help San Antonio.

Keldon Johnson

Despite a wave of newcomers shining for San Antonio, one veteran has continued rolling from last season.

After scoring just eight points in 23 minutes against the Thunder and not dressing against the Magic, Johnson has turned up over the past two games, combining for 35 points on 15-of-23 shooting against the Jazz and Heat.