Spurs reveal Summer League plan for Jayden Quaintance

While many may have assumed that San Antonio Spurs rookie Jayden Quaintance wouldn’t play in the NBA Summer League considering he’s still in the process of recovering from a torn ACL and meniscus, a couple of indicators appeared to keep that door open.

Team general manager Brian Wright essentially gave a wait and see answer when asked if the 20th overall pick would see game action in July. And on the morning of their first practice, Quaintance’s name appeared on the team’s summer roster.

But following the squad’s first practice, summer head coach Corliss Williamson set the record straight.

“He’s not playing.”

“He’s here, he’s engaged, he’s at every practice. Good young man,” the former NBA standout continued. “Like his talent and look forward to seeing him for some years.”

When Williamson, who’s an assistant coach on the Spurs staff, was asked if he’ll travel with the team to Sacramento, California and then Las Vegas, Nevada, the former national champion with the Arkansas Razorbacks answered affirmatively.

Spurs summer league team taking shape without Jayden Quaintance

Like with Quaintance, the Spurs have high hopes for their other first round pick from the 2026 draft. They chose Tarris Reed Jr. with the 26th selection after a trade with the Denver Nuggets.

“Shoot, it’s been going well. I mean, I’ve been loving it out here in San Antonio,” the former Connecticut Husky said following the squad’s first workout. “First day of practice was pretty high-end intensity, kind of like a UConn practice, you know, with I’ve been in that system for two years. But, it was really fun being able to come out here and compete and meet all the guys.”

Seeing where Reed and fellow draft picks this summer Ja’Kobi Gillespie and Maliq Brown (both second-round picks) are is step one for Williamson. Though a Spurs organization coming off an NBA Finals run doesn’t have many spots open on the roster, summer play provides an opportunity to see what they might have in the fold.

“These guys are anxious to be in the NBA, to play; the ones who were drafted, the ones who have been in the G League, or whether it’s just a free agent that’s here,” Williamson said. “That does give you some excitement as a coach, ’cause you get an opportunity to reteach some of the things that you’ve done throughout the year. It’s definitely a fun time for me.”

Following his first season in San Antonio, Williamson is looking to grow within the organization as well. It appears to be a good match for the former three-time All-SEC First Team performer in the mid-1990’s and NBA Sixth Man of the Year in 2002.

“It’s very exciting. These young guys have had good college careers and we had a good season this year for us as the Spurs,” Williamson continued when asked about the excitement level around the team. “So to get them acclimated to our culture, the things that we want to do is definitely fun and exciting to get those guys ready.”