The Clock Starts October 8: Spurs' Preseason Slate Is Set

By the Spurs Nightly Desk · Saturday, October 3

San Antonio's preseason begins October 8 against the Hawks, with the regular-season opener against the Thunder set for October 20 on NBC/Peacock. The roster looks settled after San Antonio signed R.J. Davis on September 25, though injuries to Jones Garcia and Quaintance will shape early minutes.

Spurs Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

When do the Spurs actually start playing?

Preseason opens October 8 against the Hawks, then shifts on the road to the Suns on October 10 (ESPN2) and the Jazz on October 12, before a rematch with the Suns on October 14. The regular-season opener is October 20 against the Thunder on NBC/Peacock, the first real measuring stick after last season's five-game Finals loss to the Knicks.

Is the roster settled heading into camp?

It looks that way for now. San Antonio signed R.J. Davis on September 25, and Jon Elmore and Malik Williams joined that same week. Two short-term adds, Jayden Nunn and Miles Barnstable, each lasted only a few days before moving on, and no further additions have followed since Davis signed.

Who's dealing with injuries right now?

Jones Garcia remains day-to-day with an ankle issue and could be ready for the preseason opener on October 8. Quaintance has a knee injury that is expected to keep him out until December 1, a long absence that will shape frontcourt minutes behind Wembanyama through camp and the preseason schedule.

What does the payroll situation look like?

Payroll sits at $198.3M across fifteen contracts, over the cap and about $2.1M under the $200.4M luxury tax line. Fox's $49.8M is the largest number on the sheet, followed by Vassell at $27.0M, Keldon Johnson at $17.5M, Wembanyama at $16.9M and Harris at $15.0M rounding out the top five.

What's still unresolved before the games start?

The rookie class — Harper, Jones Garcia, Gillespie, Peter, Bryant and Quaintance — still has no game action to show how minutes will split. The Spot Up Shot reported that San Antonio is looking to assistant coach Billy Donovan's experience running three-guard lineups in Oklahoma City, a sign the staff is testing combinations before the games count.

The verdictThe pieces are in place and the schedule is set; what camp and four preseason games answer now is how the minutes actually split.

When is the Spurs' preseason opener?

October 8 against the Hawks, the first of four preseason games before the regular season.

When do the Spurs open the regular season?

October 20 against the Thunder, broadcast on NBC/Peacock.