By Tom Orsborn, Staff Writer | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2025-10-07 11:57:38
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。
在 2025 年 10 月 6 日星期一于霜冻银行中心举行的马刺队对阵广州龙狮队的季前赛揭幕战中，圣安东尼奥马刺队新秀卡特·布莱恩特 (Carter Bryant) (1) 获得老将俾斯麦·比永博 (Bismack Biyombo) (18) 的拥抱。
迈阿密电 – 对马刺队新秀卡特·布莱恩特 (Carter Bryant) 而言，进入 NBA 至今最大的惊喜，莫过于得知格雷格·波波维奇 (Gregg Popovich) 竟然知道他的名字。
“连名带姓都知道，”布莱恩特说道，他至今仍对这位传奇的前马刺主帅了解自己感到震惊。
“我本以为他对我一无所知。我的意思是，在他关注的人里我可能完全排不上号，所以即便他不知道我，我也丝毫不会往心里去。”
但事实是，已经有很多人注意到了布莱恩特。
事实上，一些人相信，他注定会成为 NBA 最顶级的防守大闸之一。今年六月，这位年仅 19 岁的前锋在亚利桑那大学度过一个赛季后，在选秀中以第 14 顺位被马刺队选中。
“展望未来，也许五年后，我认为卡特·布莱恩特最终会成为这个联盟的年度最佳防守球员，”ESPN 首席 NBA 分析师蒂姆·莱格勒 (Tim Legler) 在一档播客节目中表示。
莱格勒的预测部分基于布莱恩特在夏季联赛中的表现，其中包括当马刺在拉斯维加斯对阵达拉斯时，他对状元秀库珀·弗拉格 (Cooper Flagg) 的严防死守。
“他在拉斯维加斯的运动能力远超其他球员，简直令人难以置信，”莱格勒说。
当被告知莱格勒的评论时，布莱恩特明智地对这些高期望保持了低调。他深知，要将这些言论变为现实，自己还有很长的路要走。
“我只是日复一日，一步一个脚印地前进，”布莱恩特说。“我很感激（这样的评价）。没有无缘无故的称赞。对我自己而言，关键在于要明白每天需要付出什么才能达到那个高度。我还有大量的工作要做。”
马刺队相信布莱恩特能够迎接挑战。毕竟，他在南加州长大，从小就崇拜着科比·布莱恩特 (Kobe Bryant) 那令人难以置信的职业精神。
“他是个聪明的年轻人，我认为他具备我们所寻求的那种品格和精神面貌，”马刺队总经理布莱恩·莱特 (Brian Wright) 说。
经过一周的训练营，布莱恩特的教练和队友们已经在他球场两端的表现中看到了巨大的潜力。在周一于霜冻银行中心进行的季前赛揭幕战中，马刺队以 119-88 大胜中国广州龙狮队，布莱恩特替补出场 23 分钟，11 投 6 中得到 15 分，展现了他的进攻才华。
但他最引人注目的还是防守。周三晚上，当马刺对阵热火时，迈阿密主帅埃里克·斯波尔斯特拉 (Erik Spoelstra)——他在过去 17 年里执教出 13 支联盟防守前十的球队——看到马刺主帅米奇·约翰逊 (Mitch Johnson) 的阵容中不仅有常年位列年度最佳防守球员候选人的维克托·文班亚马 (Victor Wembanyama) 坐镇，如今又增添了布莱恩特，想必会心生羡慕。
2025 年 10 月 6 日星期一，在霜冻银行中心举行的马刺队对阵广州龙狮队的季前赛揭幕战前，圣安东尼奥马刺队的卡特·布莱恩特 (1) 正在热身。
“他打球拼搏，不遗余力，敢于拼抢，不惧身体对抗，”约翰逊在被问及布莱恩特的防守时说道。“现在他需要学习的是防守的细节、原理、对手习惯、战术体系以及覆盖范围，如何与队友保持联动。这个过程是无法一蹴而就的。即便是最顶尖的新秀，也需要在这方面花时间。”
“但是，是的，他无疑在球场防守端持续展现出潜力。”
前锋凯尔登·约翰逊 (Keldon Johnson) 对这位来自加州河滨市、身高 6 英尺 6 英寸、体重 220 磅的少年所展现出的运动能力赞叹不已。
“他还是个新秀，他只会变得更强壮，”这位在联盟效力七年、也是马刺队目前效力时间最长的球员说道。“他会变得更快，身体会发育得更成熟。他非常年轻，但我感觉他会成为一个非常、非常、非常优秀的球员。他具备一切天赋。”
这其中就包括他顶级的干扰投篮能力。在五月的联合试训中，他凭借 39.5 英寸（约 100.3 厘米）的成绩创下了第四佳的垂直弹跳纪录。
“他能干扰到的那些投篮，真的令人印象深刻，”文班亚马谈到布莱恩特时说。“我当然知道他跳得很高，但我没想到他在没有太多助跑的情况下能跳这么高，你明白我的意思吗？他不需要太多助跑就能起跳。他可以成为一个巨大的场上威胁，我想他面临的最大挑战将是识别何时何地去引导这股力量和能量，因为一旦你跳到空中，就无法再移动了，只能停在那里。所以，对于像他这样弹跳出众的球员来说，这始终是一个挑战。”
布莱恩特的品格和比赛态度同样出众。
“他渴望学习、渴望进步、乐于提问的态度给我留下了非常深刻的印象，”凯尔登·约翰逊说。“看到他作为一个拥有如此多天赋和身体条件的年轻球员，所展现出的专注度、驱动力、决心以及他对胜利的渴望，这真的非常令人兴奋。”
布莱恩特表示，他渴望吸收老将们愿意分享的所有知识。
“最重要的事情就是向每一个人学习，”他说。
这其中就包括波波维奇，他在最近一次训练后对布莱恩特进行了辅导。
“我想我跟他坐了有 15 到 20 分钟，甚至可能有 25 分钟，就是向他进行了一连串的问题轰炸，”布莱恩特说。他出生五个月后，波波维奇在 2005 年带领马刺队夺得了队史五座总冠军中的第三座。波波维奇长达 29 年的执教生涯在今年五月因一次中风而被迫画上句号。
布莱恩特表示那次交流是他主动发起的，但也有其他时候，是波波维奇主动找到他。这位联盟历史上最伟大的防守战术大师之一，目前仍在管理层担任篮球运营总裁。
“他会主动走过来跟我交流，我当时的感觉就是，这太疯狂了，太不可思议了，”布莱恩特说。“我记得有一次我正在训练，蒂姆·邓肯 (Tim Duncan) 和他在一起，他走进球场对我说，‘我希望你专注于这几件事。如果你做到了，你会变得很出色。’”
“所以，能将他视为我的秘密武器库，我找不到一个恰当的词来形容，但这真的是一件美妙的事情。我真的非常感激。能拥有像他这样一位拥有强大篮球智慧的导师，我感激不尽。”
San Antonio Spurs Carter Bryant (1) battles Guangzhou Loong-Lions forward and Brennan High graduate George King (94) during the Spurs preseason opener against the Guangzhou Loong-Lions on Monday, Oct. 6, 2025 at the Frost Bank Center.
San Antonio Spurs Carter Bryant (1) drives for two in a Spurs preseason opener vs. Guangzhou Loong-Lions on Monday, Oct. 6, 2025 at Frost Bank Center.
San Antonio Spurs Carter Bryant (1) drives for two against of the Guangzhou Loong-Lions in a Spurs preseason opener vs. Guangzhou Loong-Lions on Monday, Oct. 6, 2025 at Frost Bank Center.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - OCTOBER 06: Carter Bryant #11 of the San Antonio Spurs prepares to practice before the start of their pre-season game against Guangzhou Loong-Lions at Frost Bank Center on October 6, 2025 in San Antonio, Texas.
点击查看原文：Tutoring sessions with Gregg Popovich aid Spurs rookie Carter Bryant
Tutoring sessions with Gregg Popovich aid Spurs rookie Carter Bryant
San Antonio Spurs rookie Carter Bryant (1) gets a hug from veteran Bismack Biyombo (18) during the Spurs preseason opener against the Guangzhou Loong-Lions on Monday, Oct. 6, 2025 at the Frost Bank Center.
MIAMI – Spurs rookie Carter Bryant’s biggest surprise in the NBA so far came when he learned that Gregg Popovich knew his name.
“First and last,” said Bryant, still stunned the legendary former Spurs coach had knowledge of him.
“I was expecting for him not to have any idea who I was. I mean, I’m probably at the absolute bottom of his totem pole, so I wasn’t going to take it personally at all.”
Truth is, plenty of people are aware of Bryant.
Some, in fact, believe he’s destined to be one of the best lock-down defenders in the NBA after the Spurs selected the 19-year-old forward 14th overall in June following his one season at Arizona.
“Down the road, maybe five years from now, I think Carter Bryant’s eventually going to be the Defensive Player of the Year in this league,” ESPN lead NBA analyst Tim Legler said during a podcast.
Legler based his prediction in part on Bryant’s Summer League play, which included harassing No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg when the Spurs opened play in Las Vegas against Dallas.
“He was so much more athletic than the next closest guy in Vegas, it was mind blowing,” Legler said.
Informed of Legler’s comments, Bryant wisely downplayed such high expectations. He knows he’s got a long way to go before he’s in position to make such talk reality.
“I’m just day by day, taking every step left to right,” Bryant said. “I’m grateful. You don’t get that compliment without any reason. I think for myself, it’s just understanding what it’s going to take every day to get there. It’s a ton of work I’m going to have to do.”
The Spurs are confident Bryant is up to the challenge. After all, he grew up in Southern California admiring the incredible work ethic of one Kobe Bryant.
“He’s a smart young kid and I think he’s got the right character and makeup we look for,” Spurs general manager Brian Wright said.
After a week of training camp, Bryant’s coaches and teammates already see plenty of promise in his play on both ends of the court. In Monday’s 119-88 win over over China’s Guangzhou Loong-Lions in the preseason opener at the Frost Bank Center, Bryant flashed his offensive skills by scoring 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the floor in 23 minutes off the bench.
But it’s his defense that stands out most. On Wednesday night when the Spurs face the Heat, Miami coach Erik Spoelstra, who has coached 13 top-10 defenses in the past 17 years, surely will be envious knowing that Spurs coach Mitch Johnson, in addition to having perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate Victor Wembanyama heading his roster, has Bryant now.
San Antonio Spurs Carter Bryant (1) warms up before Spurs preseason opener vs. Guangzhou Loong-Lions on Monday, Oct. 6, 2025 at Frost Bank Center.
“Plays hard, gives multiple efforts, not afraid to put his body on the line,” Johnson said when asked about Bryant’s defense. "And now it’s just learning the details and the why and the tendencies and the schemes, the coverages, how to be connected with your teammates. And that’s just something you can’t expedite. Even the best rookies still need time in that area.
“But, yeah, he’s definitely continued to show potential on that side of the court.”
Forward Keldon Johnson marveled at the athleticism the 6-foot-6, 220-pound Riverside, Calif., native is displaying as just a mere teen.
“He’s a rookie and he’s only going to get stronger,” said the seventh-year pro, the Spurs’ longest-tenured current player. “He’s going to get faster. He’s going to grow more into his body. He’s very young, but I feel like he’s going to be a really, really, really good player. He has all the tools.”
That includes the ability to contest shots with the best of them after recording the fourth-best vertical leap at the combine in May with a 39.5-inch effort.
“He’s very impressive, the shots he manages to contest,” Wembanyama said of Bryant. “I knew he jumped high, of course, but I didn’t think he would be jumping this high off of not a lot of momentum, if you know what I mean. He doesn’t need a lot of momentum to jump high. He can be a huge presence, and I guess his big challenge would be recognizing when and where to channel all this power and this energy because once you’re up in the air, you can’t move anymore. You’re just there. So, it’s always the challenge for guys who can jump high like this.”
Bryant’s character and approach to the game also stand out.
“I’ve been very impressed by his willingness to learn and get better, to ask questions,” Keldon Johnson said. “Just seeing his engagement and his drive and determination and how hungry he is as a young player with all the tools and attributes he has, it’s something to really be excited about.”
Bryant said he’s eager to soak up all the knowledge the veterans are willing to share.
“The biggest thing is just learning from everybody,” he said.
That includes Popovich, who tutored Bryant after a recent practice.
“I think I sat with him for 15 to 20, maybe even 25 minutes, just kind of bombarding him with questions,” said Bryant, who was born five months after Popovich guided the Spurs in 2005 to the third of the five championships they would win in his 29 years as coach, a run that ended in May after a stroke forced him to retire.
Bryant indicated he initiated the session, but there have been other times when Popovich, one of the greatest defensive minds in league history who continues to work in the front office as president of basketball operations, approached him.
“He’s come up to me and I’m like, this is insane, this is ridiculous,” Bryant said. "I remember I was working out one time, and in the middle of workout, Tim (Duncan) was with him, he walked on the court and was like, ‘I want you to focus on these things. If you do this, you’re going to be good.’
“So, just having him in my utility belt in a sense, I can’t think of the right way to explain it, but it’s a beautiful thing. I’m so grateful. I’m so grateful to have a powerful basketball mind like him.”
By Tom Orsborn, Staff Writer, via San Antonio Express-News
