Spurs rookie admits to big adjustment during Summer League

Ja’Kobi Gillespie talks early transition to NBA with Spurs

Throughout a decorated college career, Gillespie appeared in 130 games with 105 starts at Belmont (2022-24), Maryland (2024-25) and Tennessee (2025-26), averaging 15 points, 4.5 assists and 1.9 steals while shooting 45.8 percent from the field. As a senior with the Volunteers last season, he averaged 18.4 points, 5.4 assists and 2.8 rebounds in 37 games – all starts – earning SEC Newcomer of the Year honors, First Team All-SEC recognition and a spot on the NCAA Midwest Region All-Tournament Team.

Prior to his stint with the Volunteers, the Greeneville, Tennessee, native spent his junior season at Maryland, averaging 14.7 points, 4.8 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.9 steals while helping lead the Terrapins to their first Sweet 16 appearance in nine years. Gillespie began his collegiate career at Belmont, where he was named to the MVC All-Freshman Team in 2022-23 before earning Missouri Valley Conference All-Defensive Team honors as a sophomore.

“It’s super fast,” Gillespie said of the turnaround from the draft to summer league. “We’ve got to get settled in for a couple days before the [summer league] training camp and get some workouts in with the coaches, so I think they helped us definitely get ready for it.”

Maliq Brown, a 6-foot-9 post, is the Spurs’ other 2026 second-round pick. Like Gillespie, he also scored ten points in the loss to Miami, though Brown did it on 4-7 shooting, including 2-4 from 3-point range. The 44th overall pick pulled down three rebounds in just shy of 22 minutes.

“I think a lot of it is shaking off rust and maybe some jitters, finally making it to the NBA, you’re missing some of the chippy shots that you’re capable of making,” Williamson said when asked about the performances of his two second-rounders.

“But, again, I thought Ja’Kobi played well for us. He did some good things there as far as trying to organize the team and then get us into spots and get us organized,” the Spurs summer coach reiterated.

As the Spurs navigate the rest of the summer, Gillespie’s opportunity to impress is greater with the organization’s top pick, Jayden Quaintance, sidelined while recovering from knee surgery.