Spurs Welcome 2026 NBA Draft Class. Jayden Quaintance and Tarris Reed Jr. Headline the Haul
The San Antonio Spurs are loading up around Victor Wembanyama. The franchise officially welcomed its 2026 NBA Draft class this week, headlined by first round picks Jayden Quaintance and Tarris Reed Jr., along with second round selections Jakobi Gillespie and Maliq Brown.
Spurs general manager Brian Wright told local media he was “super excited” about the class. The fit makes sense. Quaintance and Reed are both 7-footers with mobility, the kind of frontcourt depth that lets Gregg Popovich rest Wembanyama without losing rim protection.
Quaintance is the most fascinating pick. He played one year at Arizona State at age 17, then transferred to Kentucky for his sophomore season under John Calipari. He is one of the youngest players in the draft at age 18 with elite defensive instincts and a frame that projects to add real strength. The Spurs love that kind of long term play.
Reed comes in with a different profile. He spent three years at Michigan and one at Mississippi State, where he averaged 12 points and 8 rebounds. He is older, more polished, and ready to contribute in year one. Pairing him with a rookie like Quaintance gives San Antonio a true win-now and develop-later combination in the frontcourt.
The second round picks are interesting projects. Gillespie is a Maryland guard with elite shooting numbers in college and a tight handle that should translate. Brown is a versatile forward who could carve out a defensive role with proper development.
The Spurs continue to operate with a clarity of vision few teams have. Pop and Wright know exactly what they need to do around Wembanyama, and they keep adding it through the draft. De’Aaron Fox and Devin Vassell already give the team an All-Star backcourt. Now the frontcourt has reinforcements.
Wembanyama is the unicorn this is all built around. He is coming off a season that should have ended in his second All-NBA selection. With the frontcourt now stocked, San Antonio can play him at the five for stretches and unlock the kind of small ball lineups that turn into nightmares for opposing offenses.
The bigger picture is what San Antonio is trying to do this summer. Adding Kawhi Leonard via trade has been a real consideration. Reports indicate Leonard is open to an extension with the Spurs if the Clippers trade him. Pairing Kawhi with Wemby and Fox would put the Spurs in the contender conversation immediately.
This draft class is part of the plan either way. If Kawhi happens, the rookies become depth. If he does not, they become foundational pieces. San Antonio is in the rare position of having both options available.
Brian Wright and Pop have built one of the most enviable young cores in basketball. The 2026 NBA Draft was another step toward what could be a Wembanyama era dynasty. The rest of the West should be paying attention.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
