Spurs Announce Roster Move Before Pelicans Game

The San Antonio Spurs have assigned Malaki Branham to the G League before facing the New Orleans Pelicans

Apr 9, 2024; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Malaki Branham (22) reacts with center Victor Wembanyama (1) after a basket during the second half against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images / Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Ever since they announced the loss of Victor Wembanyama for the rest of the 2024-25 season, the San Antonio Spurs have struggled.

Since the All-Star break, the Spurs have lost nine of 13 games, including four of their last five. After losing to the Charlotte Hornets on Friday night, the Spurs now head into the second leg of a back-to-back series against the New Orleans Pelicans.

The Pelicans are just 18-49 heading into Saturday's game but could catch the Spurs sleeping with minimal rest. In a game where many would assume San Antonio will give their young guys a shot to play, the Spurs are opting to send a 21-year-old guard to the G League.

The Spurs have announced that they are sending third-year guard Malaki Branham to their G League affiliate, the Austin Spurs, on Saturday.

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that the team has assigned Malaki Branham to the Austin Spurs.⁰⁰Branham will be available for Austin when they play the Valley Suns tomorrow at 3 p.m. CT at the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park.

— Austin Spurs (@austin_spurs) March 15, 2025

Branham will miss Saturday's game against the Pelicans but will play in Sunday's G League game against the Valley Suns instead.

The former 20th overall pick went from averaging 23.5 and 21.3 minutes per game through his first two seasons, respectively, to just 8.2 minutes per game this year. The Spurs must not be seeing the progression they were hoping for from their young guard, so sending him to the G League for the first time since the 2022-23 season could fare well.

MALAKI BRANHAM 🤯 pic.twitter.com/rTFS431CZd

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) February 24, 2024

Branham is averaging just 3.9 points per game this season with 43.8/40.7/81.8 shooting splits but has gotten very minimal opportunity. Rather than having him sit on the bench, the Spurs are opting to give him some run in Austin.

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