- The San Antonio Spurs went 22-60 last season and missed the playoffs for the fourth straight season
- The Spurs drafted Victor Wembanyama with the first overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft
- San Antonio’s projected starting lineup for 2023-24 is young and talented
The San Antonio Spurs struggled last season, going 22-60 and missing the postseason for the fourth consecutive year. However, the losing paid off in the end.
The Spurs won the 2023 draft lottery and drafted Victor Wembanyama with the first overall pick. Head coach Gregg Popovich got to coach David Robinson and Tim Duncan, two players who went first overall in their respective drafts. Now he gets to coach Wembanyama.
Wembanyama headlines the Spurs’ projected starting lineup for next season. Let’s take a look at the four other players who will likely start alongside him.
Point Guards
Starter: Tre Jones
Reserve: Devonte’ Graham
Tre Jones appeared in 68 games last season. He averaged 12.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 6.6 assists while shooting 45.9% from the field, 28.5% from beyond the arc, and 86.0% from the free-throw line. The Duke product recorded six double-doubles and two triple-doubles.
The 23-year-old Jones has career averages of 7.9 points, 2.4 rebounds and 4.1 assists in 174 games with the Spurs. He’s the younger brother of Washington Wizards point guard Tyus Jones.
The Spurs signed Tre to a two-year, $19 million contract in July. The deal includes $1 million of incentives, bringing the maximum value to $20 million.
Shooting Guards
Starter: Devin Vassell
Reserve: Malaki Branham
Devin Vassell only played in 38 games last season due to injuries. The guard averaged 18.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.6 assists while shooting 43.9% from the field, 38.7% from 3, and 78.0% from the foul line.
The Spurs drafted Vassell with the 11th overall pick in the 2020 draft out of Florida State. The 23-year-old has career averages of 11.2 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 171 games.
If San Antonio wants to make a surprise playoff berth next season, Vassell will have to stay healthy.
Small Forwards
Starter: Keldon Johnson
Reserves: Reggie Bullock, Doug McDermott
Keldon Johnson averaged 22.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.9 assists last season while shooting 45.2% from the field, 32.9% from beyond the arc and 74.9% from the free-throw line. The 23-year-old recorded five double-doubles and led the Spurs in points per game.
Johnson has career averages of 16.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 224 games with the Spurs. The Kentucky product signed a four-year, $74 million rookie-scale extension with San Antonio in July 2022. Johnson will make $20 million next season.
Johnson told Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express-News on July 27 that he’s willing to come off the bench next season if that’s what head coach Gregg Popovich deems fit. However, most people around the NBA expect Popovich to start Johnson, who started 63 games last season.
Power Forwards
Starter: Victor Wembanyama
Reserves: Jeremy Sochan, Cedi Osman
Victor Wembanyama played two games against the Charlotte Hornets and Portland Trail Blazers in Summer League. He put up nine points, eight rebounds, three assists, and five blocks while shooting 2-for-13 from the field versus the Hornets but bounced back in a big way against the Blazers, finishing with 27 points, 12 rebounds, and three blocks on 9-of-14 shooting overall.
Wembanyama will start his rookie season playing power forward, according to NBA insider Shams Charania of Stadium. The 7-footer is scheduled to make his NBA debut on October 25 against Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, and the Dallas Mavericks.
“The ideal start would already be the playoffs,” Wembanyama said in an interview with Lequipe. “For the rest… the best thing is not knowing. I hope it will surprise me and it will be beautiful. It’s no secret that it’s hard to win a ring. But I’m patient, and I know it will happen. Not winning my first few years is no barrier to becoming a Hall of Famer or winning five later.”
Centers
Starter: Zach Collins
Reserve: Khem Birch
Zach Collins will start for the Spurs at center, according to Shams Charania. The veteran averaged 11.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.9 assists last season in 63 games while shooting 51.8% from the field, 37.4% from beyond the arc and 76.1% from the free-throw line.
Collins has career averages of 7.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 245 games with the Blazers and Spurs. He missed the entire 2020-21 season with the Blazers, recovering from a serious ankle injury.
The 25-year-old Collins is averaging 10.4 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 91 games with the Spurs.
