Camp Nears, Roster Set at Nineteen: The Spurs' Open Questions

By the Spurs Nightly Desk · Sunday, September 20

Jayden Nunn's arrival rounds the roster out to nineteen, but the real work starts when preseason opens October 8 against Atlanta. Between now and then, health, rotation battles and last season's late-year shooting slumps are the open threads worth tracking.

Spurs Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

What was the actual roster move this week?

Jayden Nunn joined the Spurs on September 18, per a Paul Garcia report that grouped several teams' minor moves together without spelling out contract terms or an expected role. It brings San Antonio to nineteen players. Air Alamo's Ty Small used the moment to sketch out full camp lineups and rotations, a preview with no games yet to test it against.

Who's hurt heading into camp?

Jayden Quaintance is out with a right knee injury and isn't expected back before December 1. David Jones Garcia is day-to-day with a right ankle issue, targeting an October 1 return — before San Antonio's preseason even tips off. Neither absence changes the frontcourt picture much yet, since no games have been played to test replacements.

When do the Spurs actually play again?

Preseason starts October 8 at home against Atlanta, followed by road trips to Phoenix on October 10 and Utah on October 12, then a home game against Phoenix on October 14. The regular season opens October 20 against Oklahoma City on NBC and Peacock — the first real measuring stick since last season's Finals loss to New York.

What's the one number worth watching?

Last season, Victor Wembanyama scored 20 or more points in four of his last five appearances off the bench, well above his season pace — a sign that extra bench minutes fueled a real scoring jump. With Luke Kornet still projected at center, how San Antonio uses that bench window again is one of camp's real questions.

Did anyone else fade down the stretch last season?

De'Aaron Fox's true shooting dropped 13.3 points to 42.7 percent over his final ten games last season, and Keldon Johnson's fell to 45.8 percent over the same stretch, both well below their season marks. Neither slump has been addressed publicly since; whether it was matchups, fatigue or role changes remains unanswered heading into a new year.

The verdictCamp is close and the roster is full, but last season's late-year efficiency dips for Fox and Johnson are unresolved questions San Antonio hasn't addressed publicly.

When do the Spurs play their first preseason game?

October 8, 2026, at home against Atlanta.

Who is out for the start of training camp?

Jayden Quaintance, with a right knee injury and no expected return before December 1; David Jones Garcia is day-to-day with a right ankle issue.