While the NBA preseason is often dismissed as a mere tease of things to come, it serves as an invaluable platform for young talent to showcase their summer development. For San Antonio Spurs forward Carter Bryant, the upcoming exhibition games represent a critical stage to prove he is ready to take a massive second-year leap and carve out a permanent role in an increasingly crowded rotation.
Following a rookie campaign that featured brilliant flashes of postseason defensive versatility under Mitch Johnson—where he locked down opponents, forced turnovers, and acted as a small-ball offensive hub—Bryant enters training camp facing fierce internal competition. With the arrival of veteran forward Tobias Harris further crowding the Spurs’ forward rotation, Bryant must seize every preseason minute to prove he belongs in the primary rotation.
Proving Ground: Expanding Three-Point Volume and Efficiency
The primary question surrounding Bryant’s offensive profile heading into his sophomore season centers on his perimeter consistency.
After enduring a shaky start from beyond the arc during his rookie year, Bryant managed to find a rhythm down the stretch. Following the All-Star break, he knocked down 35% of his long-range attempts, a number that spiked to an impressive 41% during San Antonio’s deep playoff run. However, the catch lay in his volume: he hoisted just 2.8 three-pointers per night post-All-Star break, a number that dropped to 1.3 during the postseason.
To justify a larger role on a team boasting elite talents like Victor Wembanyama and Dylan Harper, Bryant cannot merely be a reluctant spot-up shooter. He must prove he can maintain that high-level efficiency while handling a heavier volume. With rotation players expected to shoulder the load early in exhibition matchups, Bryant will have ample opportunity to be aggressive, test his extended range, and show that he can reliably punish defenses capitalizing on the gravity of his All-Star teammates.
Unlocking New Dimensions as a Slasher and Playmaker
Beyond his perimeter shooting, Bryant has plenty of room to expand his offensive repertoire. During his rookie season, his efficiency as an interior scorer and interior finisher left something to be desired. The preseason will give him an immediate chance to silence those concerns, with upcoming matchups—such as tests against Utah’s physically imposing frontcourt—putting his progression as a slasher under a microscope.
Furthermore, if Bryant can translate extra training camp touches into refined playmaking and decision-making, it will elevate his value exponentially. Exhibiting growth as a short-roller or secondary playmaker in small-ball lineups will give Mitch Johnson endless tactical flexibility.
As training camp gets underway, the Spurs’ coaching staff has plenty of rotation puzzles to solve. But if Carter Bryant puts his offensive evolution on full display over the coming weeks, he can make that decision-making process significantly easier, setting the stage for a breakout sophomore campaign in San Antonio.
