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Spurs Fans Panic Over Carter Bryant’s Bad News In Summer League Debut? originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
With third-overall pick Dylan Harper sidelined for the San Antonio Spurs’ Summer League opener due to a groin injury, all eyes shifted to Carter Bryant, the forward selected 14th in the recent NBA Draft.
Bryant became the player to watch in San Antonio’s first Summer League game of the season. … and there wasn’t much to see.
Rhe Spurs lost 82-69 in their debut game staged in San Francisco.
To their credit, San Antonio stuck around with a Miami Heat squad that played multiple NBA rotation players in Kel’El Ware and Pelle Larsson until the fourth quarter, when sloppy play did in the Spurs’ summer team. Ware dominated later in the game with his interior size. He finished the game with 14 points and seven rebounds plus a handful of steals and blocks.
And Bryant? A bit of bad news here …
Bryant got off to a strong start, scoring the first points of the game with a fadeaway three-pointer that gave Spurs fans an exciting early moment. However, he soon enough went quiet for the rest of the night. Despite playing nearly 30 minutes, Bryant finished with just 7 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 assist. He shot only 37.5 percent from the field, going 3-for-8 and missing all five of his three-point attempts after that opening shot.
So, should Spurs fans panic or remain calm about Bryant’s performance?
Of course not. It’s far too early to draw any big conclusions from a single Summer League outing, especially for a 19-year-old taking his first steps into NBA-level competition. Many young players struggle in their debuts as they adjust to the speed and intensity of the game, not to mention the nerves of being an anticipated prospect playing under the spotlight for the first time. Spurs fans should already know this: even Victor Wembanyama didn’t dominate his Summer League debut, finishing with just 9 points.
That said, while there’s no reason to panic, there are areas of concern moving forward in Summer League play. With the 6-8 Arizona product Bryant on the court for most of the game, fans naturally expect improved production in the coming matchups: more points, a higher shooting percentage from three, and a stronger defensive presence. These are key to Bryant having a solid four-game stretch, starting with today’s matchup against the Warriors.
With reports indicating that Dylan Harper will remain out for at least the next two games, Bryant will continue to be the focal point for Spurs fans, who are eager to see him make a meaningful impact this week. Harper is expected to return Thursday, when the Spurs will face fellow top-three pick V.J. Edgecombe and the Philadelphia 76ers, a matchup that could showcase the future of the NBA in a single game.
Get more from Hayden Pustejovsky here.
Related: Spurs Free Agent Chris Paul Makes Major Decision on NBA Future
Related: Cooper Flagg Already Has Victor Wembanyama Beat in Key Area
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
