San Antonio Spurs rookie Carter Bryant impresses with standout defense during Summer League.
SAN ANTONIO — San Antonio Spurs rookie Carter Bryant may need time to get his offense flowing in the NBA.
In his Summer League debut at the California Classic versus Miami, he went 3-of-8 from the floor and 1-of-6 from the 3-point line.
But one aspect of his game that is translating immediately is his defense, which has been on display this summer.
Against the Lakers, he locked up his defender using his agility and length, much to the approval of team General Manager Brian Wright.
“Defensively, he is a menace. He is active with his hands, and he is guarding all over the floor, blocking shots, and protecting the rim. So we’re really excited about his growth and development and what he can add to our team long term,” Wright said to ESPN.
The No. 14 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft put on a defensive clinic in the team’s Vegas Summer League opener against the 76ers.
He chased down his opponents, put pressure on the ball, and swatted shot attempts.
He recorded three blocks in 30 seconds, one steal, two rebounds, and that was just in the first half against Philadelphia.
“I don’t care if you’re 7-foot, 280 (pounds). I don’t care if you’re 6 feet and 120 pounds,” Bryant said to ESPN about his defensive mentality.
This is not to say the rookie’s learning curve is over.
He picked up seven fouls (allowed 10 in Summer League play) versus Miami at the California Classic. He struggled offensively (23% from the three-point line and 31% from the field in California), but the team must appreciate his aggressiveness during summer play.
“A lot of them (fouls) were dumb, aggressive mistakes. The biggest thing for me is making that adjustment moving forward,” Bryant said.
As for his offense, Wright isn’t worried about it. He sees how Bryant isn’t going to force things on the offensive side of the court.
“You see, young guys, they come to Summer League and they’re very focused on the offensive end of the floor. I think you saw tonight, he has a very mature approach, where he doesn’t force things offensively. He takes what the defense is giving him.”
Carter finished the Vegas Summer League match versus the 76ers, stuffing the box score with five points (1-of-6 shooting), three blocks, five rebounds, two assists, and one steal.