Carter Bryant is not one for excuses. After the San Antonio Spurs got blown out 93-66 by the Atlanta Hawks in their Las Vegas Summer League opener, the 20-year-old forward stood in front of a microphone and did what most players won’t do. He called himself out.
“I feel like I had to knock the rust off a little bit,” Bryant said. “I haven’t played a basketball game since Game 5 of The Finals, so just understanding that every night’s not going to be your night.”
He wasn’t done. He went right into the numbers — four turnovers, missed defensive coverages, a lack of intensity on that end of the floor. He even admitted he didn’t know what his shooting percentage was, which is the kind of honesty that tells you he knows exactly what it was and didn’t like it.
Bryant finished with 12 points, tied for second on the team. That stat line looks fine on paper until you remember the Spurs lost by 27. The 14th overall pick in the 2025 draft didn’t try to spin it.
“Losing is unacceptable, especially like that, especially for this franchise,” he said. “I’m going to be better as we move forward. So when we play next on Saturday, it’ll be a lot better.”
Corliss Williamson had the same read
Spurs Summer League head coach Corliss Williamson didn’t sugarcoat anything either. He saw the same rust Bryant described, and he said so plainly.
“For his first game back you saw a little rust there, so it was just good for him to be out on the court and get a feel for the game again,” Williamson said. “Hopefully, we know he’ll be better next game.”
Williamson did point out that Bryant played better in the second half, especially defensively. But the coach isn’t looking for just scoring from a guy who already saw playoff minutes as a rookie. He wants more from Bryant’s voice.
“The areas I want him to see improve in is leadership,” Williamson said. “He’s done that in the practices he’s been in. Now he’s just got to start the game off, setting the tone defensively for us to get us going.”
This is what Summer League is actually for when you’re a second-year player who has already been part of a Finals run. It’s not about proving you can score against rookies and undrafted free agents. It’s about expanding your game in areas the regular season doesn’t give you room to explore.
Williamson said the coaching staff is trying to put Bryant in spots he won’t see during the regular season, testing his decision-making and shot-making in different roles. And with Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper and De’Aaron Fox all sitting these games out, the pressure to win isn’t really the point.
Bryant gets that. He also hates losing, which is probably the best sign for the Spurs. He’s not treating Summer League like a vacation.
“The more he can grow his voice, the more he can look at the game from a different aspect as far as being a leader and helping others,” Williamson said. “His knowledge of being a rookie and getting through the season and what we do as Spurs is definitely gonna help those guys.”
Bryant and the Spurs will try to get their first summer win on July 11 against the New York Knicks. If he plays half as hard as he criticizes himself, they’ve got a shot.
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