[SAEN] 解析圣安东尼奥马刺队 2024-25 赛季深度阵容

By Nick Moyle, Staff writer | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2024-07-08 13:18:17

由生成式人工智能翻译,译文内容可能不准确或不完整,以原文为准。

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图:2023 年 10 月 20 日星期五,在旧金山大通中心举行的 NBA 季前赛后,圣安东尼奥马刺队中锋维克托·文班亚马 (1 号) 与金州勇士队后卫克里斯·保罗 (3 号) 互相致意。马刺队以 122-117 获胜。

为了围绕着 20 岁的球队基石维克托·文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)打造更具竞争力的阵容,马刺队在休赛期的运作中选择了精明而非阔绰。

总经理布莱恩·赖特(Brian Wright)保留了球队最具吸引力的资产——即在未来个赛季中拥有大量首轮选秀权和诱人的选秀权互换权——同时为球队注入了实用老将(克里斯·保罗(Chris Paul)、哈里森·巴恩斯(Harrison Barnes))和新秀(斯蒂芬·卡斯尔(Stephon Castle)、哈里森·英格拉姆(Harrison Ingram)),这些新援与这位年度最佳新秀的成长时间线相吻合。

以下是马刺队在 10 月份开始的 2024-25 赛季的深度阵容预测。

控球后卫:克里斯·保罗、特雷·琼斯、布雷克·韦斯利

马刺队与未来的名人堂成员保罗签署了一份为期一年的合同,以加强控球后卫位置。尽管他在 5 月份年满 39 岁,但这位 12 届全明星球员仍然可以运筹帷幄,并以最佳状态送出精准的吊球,而且他的老将经验对于联盟中最年轻的球队之一来说将是无价的。

这位未来的名人堂成员上赛季主要担任斯蒂芬·库里的替补,在 58 场比赛中有 40 场替补出场。作为首发球员,他场均贡献 11.9 分、7.3 次助攻、4.3 个篮板、1.4 次抢断、1.3 次失误、1.9 记三分球和 30.7 分钟。根据 NBA 跟踪数据,这位经验丰富的后卫在助攻率 (41.1) 上领跑联盟,在助攻失误比 (5.2) 上排名第三,在每场比赛的潜在助攻数 (12.9) 上排名第八,在每场比赛创造的助攻得分 (17.3) 上排名第 15(至少出场 50 次的球员中)。

当保罗完成 NBA 首秀时,琼斯还在上幼儿园,他现在可能会被调回替补席,为联盟中年龄排名第三的球员让路。即使是替补出场,这位 24 岁的球员也将是球队重返季后赛征程中不可或缺的一部分。

在“索汉控球”实验失败后,这位身高 6 英尺 1 英寸的杜克出品后卫为球队提供了必要的稳定性,在上赛季的 48 场首发比赛中,他场均贡献 11.3 分(命中率 53%)、7.0 次助攻和 4.3 个篮板,仅有 1.6 次失误。2023-24 赛季,当琼斯不在场时,圣安东尼奥队每百回合要输掉 11.9 分,这是所有马刺球员中上下场分差最大的。

布雷克·韦斯利将在上赛季场均得到 4.4 分和 2.7 次助攻(61 场比赛)后,回到球队开始他的第三个赛季。

得分后卫:德文·瓦塞尔、斯蒂芬·卡斯尔、马拉基·布拉纳姆

瓦塞尔本赛季的薪水将达到全队最高的 2930 万美元,他的五年 1.35 亿美元的合同即将生效。尽管他在赛季初因腹股沟受伤缺席了一段时间,并且因脚伤缺席了最后八场比赛,但这位 6 英尺 5 英寸的得分后卫在 2023-24 赛季的得分、助攻、三分球总数和投篮命中率都创下了职业生涯新高,分别为场均 19.5 分、4.1 次助攻、166 记三分球和 47.2% 的投篮命中率。

瓦塞尔是马刺队最佳阵容中的关键一员,与他并肩作战的还有文班亚马、琼斯、杰里米·索汉(Jeremy Sochan)和凯尔登·约翰逊(Keldon Johson)。这套阵容每百回合净胜对手 20.8 分,在所有共同出场时间至少达到 100 分钟的阵容中排名联盟第五。

卡斯尔在上个月的选秀大会上以第四顺位被选中,作为一名新秀,有保罗、瓦塞尔和琼斯在身边,他不会承担太大的压力。他是一位身材修长、防守强悍的球员,臂展达到 6 英尺 9 英寸,可以防守身材矮小的后卫,并在需要时换防身材高大的侧翼球员,这些特点将为格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)提供丰富的阵容选择。这其中包括让卡斯尔出任一号位,在帮助康涅狄格大学赢得 2024 年全国冠军的过程中,他展现出了一些初露锋芒的控球后卫技巧,并且渴望迎接挑战。

布拉纳姆上赛季在 75 场比赛中场均得到 9.2 分、2.1 次助攻、2 个篮板和 1.2 记三分球。他的角色可能会被削弱。

小前锋:哈里森·巴恩斯、凯尔登·约翰逊、西迪·西索科

31 岁的巴恩斯来自萨克拉门托国王队,作为三方交易的一部分加盟马刺,这笔交易还涉及芝加哥公牛队。他在侧翼位置上身高 6 英尺 8 英寸,体型出色,职业生涯三分球命中率为 38%,并且已经连续三个赛季至少命中 130 记三分球。马刺队上赛季的三分球命中率 (34.7%) 排名联盟第 28 位,场均三分球命中数 (12.6) 排名第 16 位,他们需要另一位可靠的射手,而巴恩斯至少可以做到这一点。当防守强壮的大前锋和侧翼球员时,巴恩斯往往会陷入挣扎,但与索汉和文班亚马并肩作战应该能让波波维奇为这位征战联盟 12 年的老将安排更有利的对位。

在 2022-23 赛季以场均 22.0 分领跑马刺队得分榜后,约翰逊在经历了三个赛季的首发位置后,在适应替补角色的过程中表现起伏不定,尽管他每场比赛仍然能打近 30 分钟。这位 6 英尺 5 英寸的前锋在 69 场比赛中场均得到 15.7 分、5.5 个篮板、2.8 次助攻和 1.8 记三分球。

20 岁的西索科是圣安东尼奥队在 2024 年选中的另一位法国球员,他在新秀赛季仅出场 12 次,场均得到 3.8 分和 1.8 个篮板。他在 5 月份接受了一次膝盖小手术,目前正随马刺队在加州参加夏季联赛。

大前锋:杰里米·索汉、朱利安·尚帕尼、哈里森·英格拉姆

索汉在上赛季初客串控球后卫的尝试,掩盖了他原本令人鼓舞的二年级表现。这位个性鲜明的锋线球员场均得到 11.6 分、6.4 个篮板、3.4 次助攻和 0.8 次抢断,同时凭借不知疲倦的防守,从凯文·杜兰特到卢卡·东契奇,他都不依不饶地进行着防守。

对手们仍然会挑战索汉的远投能力(三分球命中率 30.8%)。幸运的是,今年他身边将围绕着一群更优秀的射手。索汉也给人留下了深刻的最后印象,在 3 月 29 日对阵纽约尼克斯队的比赛中遭遇赛季报销的脚踝伤病之前,他在 3 月份场均得到 13.7 分、8.4 个篮板、3.2 次助攻、1.2 次抢断和 1.1 次盖帽。

马刺队可能需要裁掉尚帕尼,以便为巴恩斯腾出薪资空间,但他现在仍在球队名单上。这位 6 英尺 8 英寸的前锋在上赛季进入了波波维奇的轮换阵容,在 74 场比赛(59 场首发)中,他场均得到 6.8 分、2.8 个篮板、1.4 次抢断、1.4 记三分球,出场时间为 19.8 分钟。

马刺队在今年的选秀大会上用 48 号签选中了北卡罗来纳大学的大前锋哈里森·英格拉姆。这位达拉斯人在北卡罗来纳大学效力的唯一一个赛季里,就展现出了全面性,场均得到 12.2 分、8.8 个篮板、2.2 次助攻、1.8 记三分球和 1.4 次抢断。英格拉姆可能会在马刺队位于奥斯汀的 G 联赛附属球队中度过相当长的时间。

中锋:维克托·文班亚马、扎克·科林斯、查尔斯·巴斯

文班亚马就是文班亚马。在这位身高 7 英尺 3 英寸的天才球员度过了令人难以置信的新秀赛季后,已经没有太多其他话需要说了。他将在第二个赛季成为最有价值球员的热门人选,并将在场均得到 21.4 分、10.6 个篮板、3.9 次助攻、联盟最高的 3.6 次盖帽、1.8 记三分球和 1.2 次抢断后,成为最佳防守球员的最有力竞争者。

科林斯是一名可靠的替补中锋,即将在圣安东尼奥开始他的第四个赛季。这位 6 英尺 11 英寸的中锋在上赛季的 69 场比赛中场均得到 11.2 分、5.4 个篮板、2.8 次助攻和 0.8 次盖帽。在 4 月份,科林斯在最后阶段挺身而出,场均得到 13.4 分(命中率 52%)、6.9 个篮板和 2.4 次助攻,帮助马刺队取得了 4 胜 3 负的战绩。

**更新 *:为了完成哈里森·巴恩斯的交易,马刺队在 7 月 8 日裁掉了巴斯。《快报新闻》的资深记者杰夫·麦克唐纳报道称,如果巴斯被裁后无人认领,球队有兴趣让他回归。这位 6 英尺 10 英寸的中锋在 12 月份遭遇赛季报销的十字韧带撕裂伤病之前,在 19 场比赛中场均得到 3.3 分、4 个篮板和 0.9 次盖帽。

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德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥市 - 3 月 3 日:2022 年 3 月 3 日,在德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥市的 AT&T 中心,萨克拉门托国王队的哈里森·巴恩斯 (40 号) 在比赛结束后与圣安东尼奥马刺队的主教练格雷格·波波维奇以及萨克拉门托国王队的主教练阿尔文·金特里(右)握手致意。(摄影:Ronald Cortes/Getty Images)

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2024 年 4 月 9 日星期二,在田纳西州孟菲斯市举行的 NBA 篮球赛上半场,圣安东尼奥马刺队后卫特雷·琼斯 (33 号) 控球,对阵孟菲斯灰熊队。(美联社照片/Brandon Dill)

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2024 年 4 月 9 日星期二,在田纳西州孟菲斯市举行的 NBA 篮球赛上半场,圣安东尼奥马刺队后卫布雷克·韦斯利 (14 号) 控球,对阵孟菲斯灰熊队后卫扎伊尔·威廉姆斯。(美联社照片/Brandon Dill)

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2024 年 3 月 9 日星期六,在旧金山举行的 NBA 篮球赛上半场,金州勇士队后卫克里斯·保罗(右)在圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋杰里米·索汉的防守下投篮。(美联社照片/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

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2024 年 3 月 29 日星期五,在弗罗斯特银行中心举行的 NBA 比赛上半场,圣安东尼奥马刺队后卫德文·瓦塞尔 (24 号) 在纽约尼克斯队中锋米切尔·罗宾逊身边传球。圣安东尼奥队在加时赛中以 130-126 击败了尼克斯队。

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田纳西州孟菲斯市 - 4 月 9 日:2024 年 4 月 9 日,在田纳西州孟菲斯市的联邦快递广场,圣安东尼奥马刺队的马拉基·布拉纳姆 (22 号) 带球突破孟菲斯灰熊队的乔丹·古德温 (4 号) 的防守。

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2024 年 4 月 10 日星期三,在俄克拉荷马城举行的 NBA 篮球赛下半场,圣安东尼奥马刺队后卫西迪·西索科 (25 号) 在俄克拉荷马雷霆队中锋俾斯麦·比永博 (15 号) 和前锋林迪·沃特斯三世 (12 号) 面前抢下篮板。(美联社照片/Kyle Phillips)

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加利福尼亚州洛杉矶 - 2 月 23 日:2024 年 2 月 23 日,在加利福尼亚州洛杉矶市的加密货币网体育馆,圣安东尼奥马刺队的凯尔登·约翰逊 (3 号) 在比赛下半场突破了洛杉矶湖人队的斯宾塞·丁威迪 (26 号) 的防守。

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2024 年 3 月 27 日星期三,在盐湖城举行的 NBA 篮球赛下半场,圣安东尼奥马刺队的扎克·科林斯 (23 号) 和杰里米·索汉 (10 号) 防守犹他爵士队前锋劳里·马尔卡宁 (23 号)。(美联社照片/Rick Bowmer)

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2024 年 4 月 14 日星期日,在圣安东尼奥举行的 NBA 篮球赛上半场,圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋朱利安·尚帕尼 (30 号) 在底特律活塞队中锋詹姆斯·怀斯曼 (13 号) 面前扣篮。(美联社照片/Michael Thomas)

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马刺队新秀哈里森·英格拉姆周六上午在胜利资本训练中心为媒体和受邀嘉宾投篮,马刺队的新秀们也纷纷亮相。

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俄克拉荷马州俄克拉荷马城 - 4 月 10 日:2024 年 4 月 10 日,在俄克拉荷马州俄克拉荷马城的 Paycom 中心,圣安东尼奥马刺队的扎克·科林斯 (23 号) 在上半场对阵俄克拉荷马雷霆队的比赛中投篮。

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2023 年 12 月 1 日星期五,在新奥尔良举行的 NBA 篮球赛上半场,圣安东尼奥马刺队中锋查尔斯·巴斯在新奥尔良鹈鹕队中锋约纳斯·瓦兰丘纳斯 (17 号) 面前扣篮。(美联社照片/Gerald Herbert)

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2024 年 4 月 12 日星期五,在圣安东尼奥的弗罗斯特银行中心,圣安东尼奥马刺队中锋维克托·文班亚马 (1 号) 在与丹佛掘金队的 NBA 比赛前兴奋不已。

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2024 年 4 月 12 日,在弗罗斯特银行中心举行的 NBA 比赛上半场,圣安东尼奥马刺队中锋维克托·文班亚马 (1 号) 在丹佛掘金队中锋尼古拉·约基奇的防守下投篮。文班亚马得到全队最高的 34 分,帮助马刺队以 121-120 击败丹佛掘金队。

点击查看原文:Breaking down the San Antonio Spurs' 2024-25 depth chart

Breaking down the San Antonio Spurs’ 2024-25 depth chart

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From left: San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) and Golden State Warriors guard Chris Paul (3) greet each other following the NBA preseason game at Chase Center in San Francisco on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023. The Spurs won 122-117.

The Spurs have opted for savvy over splashy in their offseason quest to build a more competitive roster around 20-year-old franchise anchor Victor Wembanyama.

General manager Brian Wright has retained the team’s most appealing assets – namely, a trove of future first-round picks and attractive pick swaps over the next seven seasons – while injecting the roster with both functional veterans (Chris Paul, Harrison Barnes) and rookies (Stephon Castle, Harrison Ingram) who jibe with the reigning Rookie of the Year’s timeline.

Here’s a look at what the Spurs’ depth chart could look like once the 2024-25 season begins in October.

Point guard: Chris Paul, Tre Jones, Blake Wesley

The Spurs signed future Paul to a one-year deal to fortify the point guard position. Though he turned 39 in May, the 12-time All-Star can still sling the rock and toss pinpoint lobs with the best of them, and his veteran savvy will be invaluable on one of the league’s youngest teams.

The future Hall of Famer largely operated as Stephen Curry’s backup last season, coming off the bench in 40 of 58 games. He averaged 11.9 points, 7.3 assists, 4.3 rebounds, 1.4 steals, 1.3 turnovers, 1.9 3-pointers and 30.7 minuets as a starter. The grizzled guard led the league in assist ratio (41.1) and ranked third in assist/turnover ratio (5.2), eighth in potential assists per game (12.9) and 15th in assist points created per game (17.3) among players with at least 50 appearances, per NBA tracking data.

Jones, who was in kindergarten when Paul made his NBA debut, will likely be shuffled back to the bench to make way for the league’s third-oldest player. Even off the pine, the 24-year-old will be an integral part of the team’s hopeful voyage back to the playoffs.

The 6-foot-1 Duke product provided needed stability after the failed “Point Sochan” experiment, averaging 11.3 points on 53% shooting, 7.0 assists and 4.3 rebounds and just 1.6 turnovers in 48 starts last season. San Antonio was 11.9 points worse (per 100 possessions) when Jones sat in 2023-24, which represented the most dramatic on/off split of any Spur.

Blake Wesley will be back for his third season with the team after averaging 4.4 points and 2.7 assists in 61 appearances.

Shooting guard: Devin Vassell, Stephon Castle, Malaki Branham

Vassell will make a team-high $29.3 million this season with his five-year, $135 million contract set to kick in. Though he missed time early on with a groin injury and sat out the final eight games with a foot ailment, the 6-5 shooting guard posted career highs in scoring average (19.5), assist average (4.1), total 3-pointers (166) and field goal percentage (47.2%) in '23-24.

Vassell was a key component of the Spurs’ best lineup alongside Wembanyama, Jones, Jeremy Sochan and Keldon Johson. That group outscored opponents by an eye-popping 20.8 points per 100 possessions, the fifth-best mark in the league among units that played at least 100 minutes together.

Drafted fourth overall last month, Castle won’t be overly burdened as a rookie with Paul, Vassell and Jones around. He’s a rangy, tough-as-dirt defender with a 6-9 wingspan who can harass smaller guards and switch onto bigger wings when needed, traits that will grant Gregg Popovich plenty of lineup options. That includes playing Castle at the one, a challenge he’s eager to tackle after showcasing some nascent point guard skills while helping Connecticut win the 2024 national championship.

Branham averaged 9.2 points, 2.1 assists, two rebounds and 1.2 3s over 75 games last season. He will likely have a reduced role.

Small forward: Harrison Barnes, Keldon Johnson, Sidy Cissoko

Barnes, 31, arrives from Sacramento as part of a three-team trade that also involved the Bulls. He provides good size on the wing at 6-8 and is a career 38% 3-point shooter who has knocked down at least 130 triples in three straight seasons. The Spurs needed another reliable shooter after ranking 28th in 3-point percentage (34.7%) and 16th in 3s per game (12.6) last year, and Barnes can at least provide that. Barnes tends to struggle when guarding strapping forwards and brawny wings, but playing alongside Sochan and Wembanyama should allow Popovich to put the 12-year veteran into more favorable matchups.

After leading the Spurs in scoring in 2022-23 (22.0 per game), Johnson ran hot and cold while adjusting to a bench role following three seasons as a starter, though he still played nearly 30 minutes a game. The 6-5 forward averaged 15.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.8 3s in 69 appearances.

The other Frenchman drafted by San Antonio in 2024, 20-year-old Cissoko played in just 12 games and averaged 3.8 points and 1.8 rebounds as a rookie. He underwent a minor knee surgery in May and is currently with the Spurs for Summer League competition in California.

Power forward: Jeremy Sochan, Julian Champagnie, Harrison Ingram

Sochan’s trial run as a point guard to start last season overshadowed what was otherwise an encouraging sophomore campaign. The colorful forward averaged 11.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 0.8 steals while badgering everyone from Kevin Durant to Luka Doncic with his tireless, physical defense.

Opponents will still dare Sochan to hoist it from deep (30.8% from 3). Fortunately, he’ll be surrounded by a better cadre of shooters this year. Sochan also left a strong final impression, tallying 13.7 points, 8.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.1 blocks in March before sustaining a season-ending ankle injury on March 29 against the Knicks.

The Spurs may need to waive Champagnie to create cap space for Barnes, but he’s on the roster for now. The 6-8 forward cracked Popovich’s rotation last season, posting 6.8 points 2.8 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 1.4 3s and 19.8 minutes in 74 games (59 starts).

The Spurs used the No. 48 pick in this year’s draft on North Carolina forward Harrison Ingram. The Dallas native boasts a well-rounded game, having averaged 12.2 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.8 3s and 1.4 steals in his lone season with the Tar Heels. Ingram could spend a good chunk of time with the Spurs’ G League affiliate in Austin.

Center: Victor Wembanyama, Zach Collins, *Charles Bassey

Wembanyama is Wembanyama. Not much else needs to be said following the 7-foot-3 wunderkind’s mind-boggling rookie season. He will enter Year 2 as a legitimate All-NBA candidate and the frontrunner for Defensive Player of the Year after averaging 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds 3.9 assists, a league-leading 3.6 blocks, 1.8 3s and 1.2 steals.

Collins is a serviceable backup big entering his fourth season in San Antonio. The 6-11 center averaged 11.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 0.8 blocks in 69 games last year. Collins stepped up down the stretch by posting 13.4 points on 52% shooting, 6.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists to help the Spurs go 4-3 in April.

*Update: The Spurs waived Bassey on July 8 in order to complete the trade for Harrison Barnes. Express-News beat reporter Jeff McDonald reported the team is interested in bringing Bassey back if he clears waivers. The 6-10 center averaged 3.3 points, four rebounds and 0.9 blocks in 19 games before suffering a season-ending ACL injury in December.

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SAN ANTONIO, TX - MARCH 3: Harrison Barnes #40 of the Sacramento Kings greets Gregg Popovich head coach of the San Antonio Spurs at the end of the game along with Alvin Gentry head coach of the Sacramento Kings,right, at AT&T Center on March 3, 2022 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images)

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San Antonio Spurs guard Tre Jones (33) handles the ball in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies Tuesday, April 9, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

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San Antonio Spurs guard Blake Wesley (14) handles the ball against Memphis Grizzlies guard Zavier Simpson in the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, April 9, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

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Golden State Warriors guard Chris Paul, right, shoots over San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 9, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

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San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell (24) passes around New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson during the first half of their NBA game with the New York Knicks at the Frost Bank Center on Friday, March 29, 2024. San Antonio beat the Knicks 130-126 in overtime.

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MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - APRIL 09: Malaki Branham #22 of the San Antonio Spurs drives the lane against Jordan Goodwin #4 of the Memphis Grizzlies \d2h at FedExForum on April 09, 2024 in Memphis, Tennessee.

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San Antonio Spurs guard Sidy Cissoko (25) grabs a rebound before Oklahoma City Thunder center Bismack Biyombo (15) and forward Lindy Waters III (12) in the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)

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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 23: Keldon Johnson #3 of the San Antonio Spurs drives past the defense of Spencer Dinwiddie #26 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half of a game at Crypto.com Arena on February 23, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.

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San Antonio Spurs’ Zach Collins (23) and Jeremy Sochan (10) defend against Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 27, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

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San Antonio Spurs forward Julian Champagnie (30) goes up for a dunk against Detroit center James Wiseman (13) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, April 14, 2024, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Michael Thomas)

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Spurs draft pick Harrison Ingram hoists a few shots for the media and invited gursts Saturday morning at the Victory Capital Performance Center Saturday as the Spurs draft picks were introduced.

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OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - APRIL 10: Zach Collins #23 of the San Antonio Spurs shoots in the first half against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center on April 10, 2024 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

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San Antonio Spurs center Charles Bassey slam dunks over New Orleans Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas (17) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Friday, Dec. 1, 2023. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

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San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) gets hyped up before their NBA game with the Denver Nuggets at the Frost Bank Center on Friday, April 12, 2024 in San Antonio.

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San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) shoots over Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic during the first half of their NBA game with the Denver Nuggets at the Frost Bank Center on Friday, April 12, 2024. Wembanyama led the Spurs with 34 poina to help them beat Denver 121-120.

By Nick Moyle, Staff writer, via San Antonio Express-News