When the San Antonio Spurs pushed all the way to the NBA Finals last season, their pursuit of championship glory ultimately exposed a glaring, catastrophic weakness: a severe lack of dependable physical depth at the center position behind Victor Wembanyama.
After trading Zach Collins mid-season and watching Charles Bassey succumb to injuries, San Antonio relied heavily on veteran Luke Kornet during the 2025-26 campaign. However, as deep postseason series against heavy-hitting frontcourts took their toll, Kornet’s limitations forced Wembanyama into grueling, high-fatigue minutes that ultimately contributed to their Finals defeat.
Enter 23-year-old rookie Tarris Reed Jr.—the 26th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft who is rapidly proving to be the ultimate solution to San Antonio’s back-up center dilemma.
The 265-Pound Enforcer: Moses Malone-Style Rebounding
Acquired via trade on draft night following two seasons under Dan Hurley at UConn, Reed brings a 6-foot-11, 265-pound battle-tested frame that looks instantly NBA-ready.
Through early preseason action, Reed has posted staggering, high-efficiency numbers—averaging 5.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 1.0 block per game in limited minutes. His standout moment came against the Utah Jazz, where he pulled down an astounding 17 rebounds (including 7 offensive boards in a single minute-and-a-half stretch) alongside 4 steals in just 24 minutes of action.
Unlike raw teenage prospects, Reed’s four years of collegiate experience and physical maturity make him an ideal, hard-nosed bruiser who refuses to be pushed around by the league’s most imposing interior forces.
Threatening Luke Kornet’s Spot in the Rotation
While veteran Luke Kornet provided solid regular-season minutes during his first year in San Antonio, Reed’s explosive physical profile and glass-clearing dominance are already putting pressure on head coach Mitch Johnson’s rotational hierarchy.
With fellow first-round big man Jayden Quaintance recovering from knee surgery, Reed has seized total control of the backup center audition.
- Physical Versatility: Gives Johnson a low-post enforcer to deploy against physical, heavy-set centers that give Kornet trouble.
- Roster Flexibility: Eliminates the necessity of forcing undersized wings like Harrison Barnes, Julian Champagnie, or Carter Bryant into de facto center roles when Wembanyama rests.
- Cap-Saving Potential: Provides high-value, cost-controlled insurance that allows San Antonio flexibility as they manage second-apron luxury tax thresholds.
Insurance Policy for a Championship Run
While preseason success always warrants measured expectations, Reed’s rapid emergence provides immense comfort to a Spurs front office focused on returning to the NBA Finals.
Whether Reed immediately steals Kornet’s backup minutes or serves as situational match-up insurance, San Antonio has effectively erased its single biggest vulnerability from last season. With Tarris Reed Jr. patrolling the paint, Mitch Johnson finally possesses the interior muscle needed to protect Wembanyama and sustain a championship-level defense across an 82-game grueling campaign.
