Beyond the star power of Victor Wembanyama, the 2025 lottery pick offers elite defensive versatility and floor spacing that could solidify San Antonio’s future championship rotation.
The San Antonio Spurs have assembled one of the NBA's brightest young cores, but one sophomore could be primed to break out even more after his first year in the league.
In a recent article by Bleacher Report's Greg Swartz, he picks the player he believes is every NBA team's "hidden gem". For the reigning Western Conference champions, he thinks that player is 2025 lottery pick Carter Bryant.
"There's a ton of young talent to like in San Antonio. Just don't forget about Carter Bryant," Swartz writes. "The Spurs are going to need wings between Victor Wembanyama and guards like Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle. While there's plenty of options on the roster already, Bryant has all the right tools to become the long-term starter at either small or power forward in San Antonio."
Bryant was selected by the Spurs with the 14th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft after spending one season at Arizona. While much of the spotlight for last year's rookies was on Dylan Harper, Bryant quietly impressed with the type of skill set that could make him an important long-term contributor.
What makes Bryant particularly intriguing is his versatility. He has the size to defend multiple positions, the mobility to stay in front of quicker players, and the length to disrupt passing lanes. On offense, he's shown flashes of becoming a reliable floor spacer, an important skill alongside stars who command defensive attention.
The Spurs have emphasized adding long, switchable defenders who can complement Wembanyama's rim protection while providing enough shooting to keep opposing defenses honest. Bryant checks each of those boxes, even if he's still a work in progress offensively.
His development won't need to happen overnight. Unlike many lottery selections expected to carry a heavy workload immediately, Bryant is on a roster with established young talent, allowing him to grow without the pressure of becoming a primary scoring option.
If Bryant continues to refine his outside shot and gains more of the offensive confidence he showed flashes of in his rookie season, it could turn out that San Antonio got one of the steals of the 2025 draft.
