Spurs Bask in True 'Team Win' After Las Vegas Summer League Opener

LAS VEGAS — With only ten minutes to catch the team bus back to the hotel, San Antonio Spurs Summer League coach Mike Noyes kept it brief.

"Really good team win," he said. "We showed how prepared we were. I was really proud of the style (of basketball) we played."

"That style" of basketball resulted in a 111-70 blowout victory over the Philadelphia 76ers to close out Day 1 of NBA 2K26 Summer League at Thomas & Mack Center. David Jones-Garcia led the way with a 24-point showing, but it was Spurs rookie Carter Bryant who stole the show defensively.

Noyes made clear his lack of scoring was moot.

"Carter played excellent," the coach said. "I don't care how many points he scored. He was worried about the right things."

Jul 5, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; San Antonio Spurs rookie Carter Bryant (11) jogs down the court after a 3-point shot against the Miami Heat in the California Classic at Chase Center. | Photo courtesy of the San Antonio Spurs

Bryant logged three blocks after a technicality stripped away his fourth, come-from-behind block in the first half, but made his presence felt, even while out.

"Good s***, boy!" he yelled several times across the floor from the bench.

The Spurs' rookie seldom kept quiet — a trend followed by the entire bench. According to Noyes, it's the standard for his Summer League roster on both ends of the court.

"Communication is huge," he said. "His talk was great, but it wasn't just him. Our bench energy ... everyone was locked in today."

If you asked Bryant before the trip to Las Vegas, he would have told you his 3-pointers were too short. After Game 1, and a talk with Noyes about self criticism, his tune might have changed.

"I'm treating everything as a learning process," Bryant said. "Every game, everything we're doing at shootaround and practice ... we've got to learn from it. Whether good, bad or indifferent."

The Summer Spurs followed that trend, too.

"Our starting lineup really set the tone," Noyes said. "I thought everyone who checked into the game was on the same page."

"It was great basketball," Riley Minix added. "We made simple plays, found the open man and did that all night."

#Spurs Summer League coach Mike Noyes said Cater Bryant is worried about the right things, even when on the sidelines.

Added that the rookie cares "so much," but learned to take a step back and have fun Thursday night. #PorVida

Here's part of my exchange with him: pic.twitter.com/kgtKtIHWOP
— Matt Guzman (@mattgzman) July 11, 2025

With one game in Las Vegas out of the way, the Spurs are now preparing for the rest of their slate beginning Saturday afternoon against Cooper Flagg and the Dallas Mavericks. While Dylan Harper's official status remains in the air, his teammates are preparing for battle either way.

They remain optimistic about what he brings.

“We're expecting a great point guard," Minix said. "Someone who can make great decisions with the ball … find the open man, but also put pressure on the rim and impact winning.”

Even without Harper, San Antonio has preached team basketball since the California Classic in San Francisco, mimicking the style of "Big Team" that's earned it a distinct reputation around the NBA.

And back before Bryant was playing for the Spurs, he watched them.

"You dream so big," he said of his childhood self, "and all of a sudden, you're here. I used to watch this every year."

Getting on the bus back to the hotel, he was living it. And for perhaps the first time since he was drafted, he was able to smile after a subpar shooting performance. He certainly had more to learn. But no matter.

His Spurs had just won by 40.

"He cares so much," Noyes said. "Not about his success, but helping the team. He did that tonight. He was terrific."