The Spurs continue bolstering their roster around Victor Wembanyama, snagging the defensive-minded guard to provide backcourt depth and high-IQ playmaking for a team eyeing another championship run.
San Antonio's busy draft continues ...
After adding Kentucky's Jayden Quaintance with the No. 20 pick and UConn's Tarris Reed Jr. with the No. 26 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, the San Antonio Spurs continued surrounding Victor Wembanyama with young talent, selecting Tennessee product Ja'Kobi Gillespie with the No. 42 pick in the second round.
Standing at 6-foot-1, Gillespie brings shooting, defensive toughness and high-IQ decision-making to a Spurs team fresh off its first NBA Finals appearance of the Wembanyama era. During his time at Tennessee and Maryland, he showcased his ability to space the floor and impact winning on both ends of the court, giving San Antonio another intriguing piece as it continues chasing the franchise’s first title since 2014.
While Wembanyama’s historic rise has turned the Spurs into immediate contenders, San Antonio’s ability to sustain success will depend on the pieces around him.
The combination of Wembanyama, Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle already gives the Spurs one of the NBA’s premier young cores, but championship teams are built through finding value beyond their stars.
That was the goal in selecting Quaintance, Reed, and now Gillespie, who gives San Antonio another player capable of outperforming his draft position.
Gillespie’s path to San Antonio was far from traditional. After beginning his collegiate career at Belmont, the Tennessee native steadily developed into one of college basketball’s more reliable guards, eventually proving his game could translate against high-major competition.
While he may not possess the same physical upside as San Antonio’s earlier selections, his shooting ability and defensive instincts give the Spurs a possible plug-and-play option in a backcourt already loaded with young talent.
For a team no longer picking near the top of the draft, selections like this become even more important. The Spurs’ days of rebuilding appear to be over, meaning GM Brian Wright and San Antonio’s front office must now find ways to improve the roster without relying on lottery selections.
Finding hidden gems in the second round is an often-overlooked yet effective way of doing so.
Whether Gillespie becomes an immediate contributor or carves out a role over time, adding another young player capable of impacting winning is exactly how San Antonio can continue maximizing the early stages of Wembanyama’s prime
The foundation has already been built. Now, it’s about finding the pieces that help turn a Finals appearance into the Spurs’ sixth championship.
