Spurs Rookie Tarris Reed Jr. Renews College Rivalry With Zuby Ejiofor in Las Vegas

The San Antonio Spurs' Las Vegas NBA Summer League opener was ... not great. 

San Antonio fell behind by 12 points in the opening frame, and the Atlanta Hawks proceeded to down the Spurs, 93-66. 

But let's shift the focus away from the final box score and instead highlight 2026 first-rounder Tarris Reed Jr.

Reed has now posted consecutive double-doubles after tallying 14 points and 10 rebounds in San Antonio's blowout loss — doing so against his old college rival, St. John's product Zuby Ejiofor, who added 12 points and four rebounds of his own. 

The big men met six times throughout their collegiate careers, dating back to Ejiofor's Madison Square Garden debut with the Red Storm in 2023, when Reed was still at Michigan under head coach Juwan Howard. 

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Ejiofor claimed the seventh rendition of the rivalry thanks to Atlanta's victory in Las Vegas, but their individual battles have always told a more nuanced story.

Reed got the better of Ejiofor in the pair's first meeting back on Nov. 13, 2023, finishing with five points, 11 rebounds and three blocks as Michigan spoiled Rick Pitino's Madison Square Garden debut with the Red Storm.

The rivalry only intensified once Reed transferred to UConn and joined the Big East.

Their first conference meeting came on Feb. 7, 2025 ... with Reed helping the Huskies secure a victory behind a double-double performance where he grabbed 15 rebounds.

Ejiofor responded later that month, posting 18 points, nine rebounds and six assists as St. John's completed the season sweep of UConn.

The following season featured the rivalry's most memorable exchanges.

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Ejiofor erupted for 21 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists in an 81-72 victory over the Huskies at Madison Square Garden on Feb. 6, 2026, turning in arguably the finest offensive performance of the series — up to that point.

"The Bear" would answer emphatically less than three weeks later.

In a 72-40 demolition of the then-No. 15 Red Storm, Reed overwhelmed St. John's with 20 points, 11 rebounds and six blocks while limiting Ejiofor to just six points in one of the most dominant performances of his collegiate career.

And Thursday night's matchup in Vegas merely added another chapter.

The uniforms have changed from Michigan, UConn and St. John's to San Antonio and Atlanta.

The battle in the paint, however, remains exactly the same. 

If both big men reach their full potential, basketball fans may be watching Reed and Ejiofor battle for rebounds and loose balls for years to come.

San Antonio's next Summer League contest is July 11 at 5 p.m. CT in an NBA Finals rematch against the New York Knicks.