The San Antonio Spurs are actively refining a game-changing tactical adjustment during the 2026 preseason that promises to elevate their high-octane offense into an unstoppable force.
Head coach Mitch Johnson is making a aggressive, concerted push to turn offensive rebounding into San Antonio’s ultimate weapon—a strategy designed specifically to conquer their primary championship rivals: the Oklahoma City Thunder and New York Knicks.
While the Spurs boasted the fourth-ranked offense in the NBA last season, they finished 15th in offensive rebounding. By transitioning into a high-volume, glass-crashing unit, San Antonio is taking a page out of the Houston Rockets’ playbook, using extra possessions to neutralize cold shooting nights and punish undersized defensive schemes.
The Tarris Reed Jr. Factor and Wing Rebounding Surge
San Antonio’s offensive glass revolution is being fueled by rookie sensation Tarris Reed Jr., who has turned in a staggering preseason display by pulling down 16 offensive rebounds in just 72 total minutes of action.
Combined with veteran backup center Luke Kornet and generational superstar Victor Wembanyama, Reed gives San Antonio an overwhelming frontcourt rotation. However, the true secret to this tactical shift lies in the aggression of San Antonio’s non-big men:
- Dylan Harper: Demonstrated an elite instinct for swooping in from the perimeter, grabbing three or more offensive boards in seven games off the bench as a rookie.
- Keldon Johnson: A relentless glass cleaner who recorded three or more offensive rebounds 19 times last season.
- Stephon Castle & Julian Champagnie: Physical wings capable of punishing defenders who turn their backs to leak out in transition.
Countering the Knicks and Thunder Blueprint
Crashing the offensive glass serves as the direct counter-strategy to the tactical problems presented by New York and Oklahoma City.
During the NBA Cup Finals against the Knicks, San Antonio’s half-court offense ground to a halt after being out-muscled on the boards. By committing Harper, Castle, and Wembanyama to the glass, San Antonio can generate crucial second-chance points while forcing New York’s physical defenders into foul trouble.
Against the Thunder, the strategy has already proven lethal. In Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, Oklahoma City attempted to guard Wembanyama with physical guard Alex Caruso. Wembanyama responded by brutally punishing the matchup, tearing down nine second-chance offensive rebounds and forcing OKC to completely abandon its small-ball defense.
Possession Control for Championship Glory
In addition to boosting second-chance scoring, aggressive offensive rebounding doubles as an elite transition defense. When opponents are forced to send two or three defenders to box out Wembanyama and Reed, they cannot leak out for fast-break opportunities.
As the Spurs eye the Western Conference’s number one seed and an NBA Championship return, converting from an average rebounding team into a top-five glass-clearing powerhouse could be the final piece of their title puzzle.
