The 2024-25 NBA regular season tips off in just under 13 hours, but the Spurs will have to wait a little bit longer before their season begins when they take on the Dallas Mavericks this Thursday at 6:30 p.m. (CDT) on TNT. That gives fans some extra time to look back on the preseason hoops.
Preseason is the time for players to break the rust off their bodies, but it’s also some of the most critical basketball played to some players looking to prove themselves to NBA teams in hopes of establishing a new role or earning a roster spot entirely. Here are three surprising Spurs whose stock skyrocketed through preseason play and into the regular season.
3. Stephon Castle
There were mixed opinions when the Spurs selected the former UCONN guard with the No. 4 overall pick. But his preseason play should put all the negative ones to rest, as Castle’s limited time showed fans what he is capable of.
The biggest question regarding the 19-year-old would be how efficiently he could score the basketball and how confident he would be. While 25% from three is less than ideal, he remained confident when shooting from downtown by attempting 16 threes in the preseason.
Confidence is key because if he continues to attempt shots from behind the arc, more will begin to fall, and the number of attempts will increase.
From inside the arc, he displayed his ability to create shots with the ball in his hands and get buckets from mid-range, but he was eye-popping in attacking the basket and scoring with his elite ability to decelerate through traffic.
His scoring game has plenty of room to grow, but his stock rose by seeing his ability to do it all on the court. His perimeter defense will be elite for years to come, and his defensive tendencies from navigating the floor, picking pockets, and executing switches are things you don’t see from rookies.
Lastly, his ability to control the offense was better than expected. Since he didn’t play much point guard at UCONN, there was some concern about how his game management would go. Surprisingly, Castle ran the offense well. He knows how to find open teammates, make extra passes, and get the ball to Victor.
2. Keldon Johnson
In what may be the most pivotal year for Johnson’s career, he has gotten off to a bright start through preseason play. His weight transformation and new number are a fresh start for him, and his on-court play is proving it.
Johnson led the team in points per game in preseason action with 14.3, scoring with high efficiency. He averaged 9.7 field goal attempts per game and knocked in six a night for a shooting percentage of 62.1%, which would be a career-high if it were regular-season play.
Last season, Johnson saw a decrease in minutes mid-season after Pop wanted to see better consistency from the fifth-year forward. His decision-making was quite irrational, and he hindered the Spurs offense by attempting to play more “hero ball” than needed.
During his preseason play, the no longer “big body” saw improved efficiency as 25 of his 29 shot attempts came from inside the paint. He wasn’t jacking up threes, and he was back to his physical play of drawing and finishing through contact around the rim.
This style of play from Keldon is what the Spurs could’ve used from him last season. He’ll just have to carry this over to the regular season. This much-improved roster will also benefit Johnson, as he won’t feel the need to play a lot of “do it myself” type of basketball.
1. Riley Minix
The rookie from Morehead State may be the most surprising development from this preseason. He didn’t see much time on the court, but in his 7.8 minutes per game, Minix stole the show.
The 24-year-old came in every game and lit it up from the field as he went 8-12 on shot attempts (66.7% avg.), and more importantly, he went 4-7 from three-point range (57.1% avg.). He’s capable of catching fire, as he averaged 20.9 points per game in his one season at Morehead State and had shooting percentages of 54.1% from the field and 34.5% from three.
It’s not about how many minutes a player gets; it’s how they use them, and Minix used them to the best of his advantage by shining in his little time on the court. His play was enough to earn him a two-way contract for the season.
The sample size could’ve been bigger, but Minix looks like a player who can carve out a rotational role on an NBA team. If he continues to shine in limited action, Coach Pop may have to consider increasing his minutes.
