The First Health Checkpoint of Spurs Camp

By the Spurs Nightly Desk · Thursday, October 1

San Antonio's record is still 0-0, but October 1 marks the estimated return date for David Jones Garcia's ankle injury, and the preseason opener against the Hawks is eight days away. The camp roster looks set after R.J. Davis signed September 25, leaving rotation questions as the only unfinished business before games begin.

Spurs Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

Does David Jones Garcia return today?

Jones Garcia's ankle injury carried an estimated return of October 1, which lands today. San Antonio has not confirmed he's fully cleared, and no practice report has followed the estimate. The issue is tracked under leg, right side. Until he actually suits up, treat the date as a target, not a confirmation.

What's keeping Jayden Quaintance out of camp?

Quaintance is out with a right knee injury, with an estimated return of December 1. That timeline keeps him out through the entire preseason and well into the regular season. He's still part of San Antonio's camp group, one of six rookies still waiting for an on-court sample, but his recovery clock is now the longest of the group.

When do the Spurs actually play?

Preseason opens October 8 at home against the Hawks, then away to the Suns on October 10 (ESPN2), at the Jazz on October 12, and host the Suns again October 14. The regular season opener airs October 20 against the Thunder, carried by NBC and Peacock, with Oklahoma City now central to San Antonio's rivalry picture after last season's Cup and conference finals meetings.

Where do the Spurs stand financially heading into camp?

Payroll sits at $198.3M across 15 contracts, over the $165.0M cap but $2.1M under the $200.4M luxury tax line. Fox's $49.8M leads the books, with Vassell, Keldon Johnson, Wembanyama and Harris rounding out the top five. San Antonio owes its 2027 first-round pick to Sacramento and holds swap rights on three more first-round picks through 2030.

Is the camp roster actually finished?

Hoopsrumors called the roster set after R.J. Davis signed September 25, joining Jon Elmore and Malik Williams from the same week. That followed two short-term adds, Jayden Nunn and Miles Barnstable, who each left within days of arriving. The roster looks stable now, but how six rookies and a deeper camp group pare down before games remains unanswered.

The verdictThe record stays 0-0, but the calendar is no longer abstract: Jones Garcia's return target lands today, and the preseason opener against the Hawks is eight days away. San Antonio's camp roster looks finished; whether the rotation holds through a full season is the real test ahead.

When do the Spurs play their preseason opener?

October 8, 2026, at home against the Atlanta Hawks.

When does the Spurs' regular season start?

October 20, 2026, at home against the Oklahoma City Thunder.