The San Antonio Spurs fell 116-123 to the Atlanta Hawks in their NBA preseason opener on October 8, but the game offered several encouraging developments for Coach Mitch Johnson's team. The final score from the exhibition contest is less important than the individual growth on display, particularly from second-year guard Dylan Harper and franchise cornerstone Victor Wembanyama.
Dylan Harper looked like a different player against the Hawks. The guard, who saw limited action as a rookie, played 19 minutes and scored 16 points. He shot an efficient 5-of-7 from the field and, most notably, hit 3 of his 5 three-point attempts. That 60% mark from deep is a huge leap from his rookie-year three-point percentage of 34.3%.
Harper wasn't just a scorer. He added four rebounds, four assists, and a steal. His aggressive play helped the Spurs grab 13 offensive rebounds, a number that tops their season average from last year. If he maintains this level, Harper could force his way into the starting lineup. His development gives San Antonio another dynamic option alongside Wembanyama.
Victor Wembanyama's presence alone changes the game. In just nine minutes of action against Atlanta, he pulled down six total rebounds. One of those was an offensive board, which might seem small but points to a larger trend. Scaled to his usual playing time, that rate would project to over three offensive rebounds per game.
Last season, the Spurs ranked just 11th in offensive rebounding percentage. Wembanyama grabbing more of his own misses is a direct path to more possessions and easier points. His work on the glass, combined with his defensive prowess, remains fundamental to any championship aspirations in San Antonio. Improving this area is a clear focus.
The preseason schedule moves quickly. The Spurs don't have long to review film from the Hawks game before facing another test. Their next fixture is an away game against the Phoenix Suns on October 10. It's another chance for Coach Johnson to experiment with rotations and for players like Harper to build on their strong initial performances.
Fans wanting to track the team's progress can look ahead to the full slate of games on our schedule page. The immediate goal is building cohesion and identifying the most effective player combinations before the regular season tips off. The loss to Atlanta provided valuable data, and the response against Phoenix will be telling.
