The San Antonio Spurs dropped their California Classic opener to the Miami Heat 88-87 on Saturday. And Corliss Williamson, the guy running their Summer League team, didn’t waste time getting real about what he saw.
Williamson, who just finished his first season as an NBA assistant after a long playing career, is coaching a summer squad for the first time. His roster in Sacramento is almost entirely rookies and unproven guys. That showed against Miami.
“You’re going to have your struggles. Every rookie does, even the great ones,” Williamson said. “They go through a spell where they struggle a little bit. But, it’s just a matter of them, as we talk about in San Antonio, continuing to pound the rock and eventually things work out.”
The Spurs didn’t have Victor Wembanyama on the floor. Obviously. He’s not playing Summer League. But Williamson pointed out that the young guys also don’t have the benefit of playing alongside him yet, which changes how much space and attention they get.
“Of course, they may get more shots now, and they don’t have Victor on the floor right now and some of our other guys,” Williamson explained. “But, for them just to learn our terminology, to learn our reads offensively; if they get that corporate knowledge throughout the summertime, it’s definitely going to help me make that transition a lot easier once we hit training camp in the fall.”
Williamson knows what success looks like at both levels
The guy they called “Big Nasty” won a national title at Arkansas in 1994 and was named SEC Player of the Year. He spent 12 seasons in the NBA and took home Sixth Man of the Year honors in 2002. So when he talks about what it takes to make it, he’s speaking from experience.
“I think the main thing is when you do come into this league, number one thing is respecting the league,” Williamson said. “You may have done a lot of great things in college and high school, but this is the best league in the world and a lot of grown men. It’s coming in respecting, ready to work, ready to understand what it takes to be a professional.”
His Summer League roster is missing first-round pick Jayden Quaintance, who’s still recovering from a torn ACL and meniscus he suffered in 2025. But the Spurs did have Tarris Reed Jr. (the 26th pick this year), along with second-round selections Ja’Kobi Gillespie and Maliq Brown. All three scored 10 points in the loss to Miami.
Williamson said he’s encouraged by the group’s attitude so far.
“Our guys, I’m proud of their attitudes and their personalities that when they come in and they’re willing to accept coaching,” he continued. “They’re willing to adjust and do the things they need to do to be successful at this level. But it’s all about being open-minded, ready to learn.”
The Spurs head to San Francisco next to face the Golden State Warriors in the second leg of their Summer League schedule.
Leave a Comment