The Spurs are in the course of a implausible stretch. They haven’t solely gained 10 of their final 13 video games, but additionally gotten Stephon Citadel and Victor Wembanyama again, and defeated the Thunder to achieve the Emirates NBA Cup championship recreation towards the Knicks.
With so many massive issues occurring, some smaller however removed from insignificant information can slip by. So right here’s what you might need missed whereas celebrating the good stretch of Spurs play.
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The Spurs’ schedule will proceed to be tough for some time
After a pleasant, five-game homestand, the Spurs have performed 9 of their final 10 video games on the highway. Their final dwelling recreation was on Dec. 2 towards the Grizzlies, nevertheless it was the primary recreation of a back-to-back that took San Antonio to Orlando. Since they made the Cup quarterfinals, one among their unscheduled video games ended up being in Los Angeles. Then they travelled to Las Vegas to face the Thunder and can play towards the Knicks within the championship recreation. In whole, they’ve performed in 10 completely different states of their final 10 video games. The group has tracked the schedule and it’s been brutal.
Sadly, issues gained’t get a lot better for some time. They’ll return dwelling to face the Wizards on Dec. 18, however will instantly soar on a aircraft to Atlanta to face the Hawks on the second recreation of a back-to-back. They’ll journey to Washington after that earlier than coming dwelling to host the Thunder. After which, they’ll journey to Oklahoma Metropolis for his or her Christmas matchup with the reigning champions. As Marilyn Dubinski identified, exterior of the 2 Vegas video games, the final time the Spurs didn’t journey between video games was Nov. 20.
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Each group has powerful stretches of their season. Issues ultimately normalise. The excellent news is that this yr the schedule has grow to be harder as a result of the Spurs superior within the cup, and so they have responded nicely to travelling and enjoying away video games. However everybody, from teaching employees to gamers, might be counting the times earlier than the following homestand by now.
The Spurs waived Riley Minix and signed Kyle Mangas to a two-way contract
On Friday, Dec. 12, the Spurs introduced that that they had signed Kyle Mangas to a two-way contract after waiving Riley Minix.
Minix, who went undrafted in 2024, has been with the Spurs for some time, as he had his contract transformed right into a two-way on October 2025 and suited up for one recreation with the large group that yr. He entered restricted free company after his first season and was retained by San Antonio on a two-way deal, suiting up for 3 video games within the present season. The sharpshooting ahead frolicked in Austin, averaging 15.5 factors on 39.4 p.c from past the arc to go together with 6.4 rebounds for the G League affiliate. He additionally had a implausible second in Summer season League, when he hit a game-winner.
There was some dialogue in regards to the transfer in The Feed, after reader txinlaca shared the information:
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Report: Riley Minix waived from ATX Spurs – Kyle Mangas signed to 2-way deal | Pounding The Rock
It’s a considerably unusual transfer, as Mangas is a high quality participant however lacks the dimensions that made Minix intriguing. The guard, who additionally frolicked in Austin final yr, has been terrific this season, to be honest. He’s averaging 18.5 factors, 2.9 rebounds and 5 assists whereas taking pictures 41.1 p.c from past the arc in 10 G League video games. The difficulty is he’s a 6’4 combo guard and the Spurs have a youthful model of that participant in a two-way contract in David Jones-Garcia. He’s clearly price a more in-depth look, however the positional general is actual.
There’s additionally the query of the Emirates NBA Cup prize pool. If the Spurs lose to the Knicks, each participant on a regular contract will get over $200,000. In the event that they beat them, they recover from $500,000. Two-way gamers get half of that sum every. That’s some huge cash basically, however particularly for the perimeter guys on the roster. Does Minix get that cash? Does Mangas? Do they break up it? It’s unclear, however hopefully the entrance workplace thought-about it earlier than waiving Minix.
All people loves Dylan Harper
Dylan Harper has been having a implausible rookie season. A lot in order that the questions on his match with the opposite guards have largely subsided and have been changed with reward. His teammates have been fast to level out simply how massive of an impression he’s making as a rookie, with De’Aaron Fox evaluating him to some spectacular names.
The media has additionally taken discover. The Ringer’s Invoice Simmons and Rob Mahoney couldn’t include their pleasure about Harper in a current podcast.
Harper was the second general decide, so he was by no means going to fly underneath the radar, particularly with the Spurs doing nicely. However it’s good to see that regardless that he doubtless gained’t get the minutes or touches to be Rookie of the 12 months is getting reward not just for his potential but additionally his contributions to a profitable group.
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Mitch Johnson and Jeremy Sochan are cool
Jeremy Sochan has fallen out of the rotation. His function has been shrinking for the reason that finish of final season however he was nonetheless getting minutes. Then, because the group obtained more healthy, that stopped. He’s not seen the court docket within the final two video games and solely performed underneath 4 minutes within the recreation prior.
It might trigger chemistry points to bench a man who was a full-time starter for the primary two years he was within the league, however it appears that evidently Mitch Johnson is on prime of it.
It’s good to listen to there have been no locker room points resulting in Sochan’s demotion, nevertheless it’s not stunning. Sochan has been cheering for his teammates in these previous few video games. Hopefully, he’ll get one other probability to show he can contribute earlier than reaching restricted free company in the summertime.
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