Former UConn center Tarris Reed Jr. made his NBA Summer League debut for the San Antonio Spurs at the California Classic on Friday night.
Just over a week after he was introduced in San Antonio as its No. 26 overall draft pick, Reed showed what kind of force he can be on defense and on the glass in his first time playing in an NBA uniform. With the Spurs still figuring out the flow of their offense, he struggled to find a rhythm out of the post and around the rim, scoring 10 points on just 3-for-10 shooting, but his screening proved to be an asset coming out of Dan Hurley’s system as he cleared lanes and opened space for his teammates.
“I think a lot of it is shaking off rust, maybe some jitters,” Spurs Summer League coach Corliss Williamson told reporters after the game. “You finally make it to the NBA, you’re missing some of the chippy shots that you’re capable of making.”
Tarris Reed Jr. tonight:
• 10 PTS | 7 REB | 1 BLK pic.twitter.com/TwycAT2mgc
— Bala (@BalaPattySZN) July 4, 2026
Starting the game with a miss on a rare 3-point attempt, Reed recovered with an early block on a layup attempt from Trevor Keels and snared seven rebounds, three on the offensive end, in an 88-87 loss to the Miami Heat. He went a perfect 3-for-3 from the foul line, including a clutch pair that brought the Spurs to within one with 31 seconds to play.
“There’s a lot to clean up,” Williamson said. “We expected there to be some rough patches there, but overall I was pleased with the way they tried to compete, tried to execute. We’ll try to clean some of the things up.”
Former UConn star Alex Karaban looks to bring winning culture to Sacramento Kings
Karaban to miss time with sprained ankle
Alex Karaban will not make his debut for the Sacramento Kings on Saturday. The former Huskies’ captain and No. 29 overall pick went down in practice on Thursday after contesting a mid-range jumper. It was reported Friday as a right ankle sprain, which will cause him to miss the California Classic. He is set to be reevaluated in one week.
