On Feb. 20, Victor Wembanyama was surprisingly shut down for the remainder of the season due to a blood clot in his shoulder.
A few weeks later, the San Antonio Spurs announced they were shutting down De’Aaron Fox for the remainder of the season as he planned to get surgery on his finger to repair tendon damage.
While the Spurs’ postseason hopes recently ended, many players have continued to play at a high level. With the two best players out for the season, many players saw increased minutes and opportunities.
After trading for Fox earlier this season, the Spurs are looking to contend for a title next season. They may also trade for another star player, which means that everyone on the Spurs is competing to secure their roster spot for the upcoming season, as nothing is guaranteed.
From veteran players to rising stars, let’s see who has stood out for the Spurs over the last few weeks.
Stephon Castle
Drafted No. 4 overall, Castle came into the league with high expectations. Even before the injuries to Wemby and Fox, Castle found himself at the top of the Rookie of the Year leaderboard, meeting his expectations.
With the way he has been playing as of late, the Rookie of the Year Award should be a lock.
Since Fox was ruled out for the season nearly a month ago, Castle has averaged 18.7 points, 6.3 assists, and 5.5 rebounds per game. This includes his 15-rebound and nine-assist performance in a win over the Nuggets. He also had a career-high 14 assists to go with 17 points as the Spurs took down the 76ers.
Castle was Rookie of the Month in March, making it his second recognition of the season. He has stood out throughout the campaign, but now has shined in his new role with the team.
Keldon Johnson
While Johnson’s scoring has stayed similar in the last month, his rebounds and assists have seen a slight increase. He has been consistent and has proven he can have big games, having previously led the team in scoring two seasons ago.
Johnson has adapted to his role coming off the bench and is willing to do whatever to help the team win. He recently passed the Spurs’ all-time great Manu Ginobili for most points off the bench in a season in franchise history.
He is currently experiencing his lowest points average in a season since his rookie year. However, his willingness to sacrifice his starting position for the betterment of the team makes him stand out. Keldon is a fan favorite, and if he continues his current role, he will help the organization in upcoming years.
Chris Paul
CP3 is another player whose stats remained similar. With Wemby and Fox out, Paul gets more playing time with the young players on the team. One of the reasons the Spurs brought him in was to make the guys around him better and he is doing just that.
At 39 years old, CP3 is one of the oldest players in the league. His hard work and love for the game are clearly shown, as he’s yet to miss a game for the Spurs. With the season shortly coming to a close, that is extremely impressive and says a lot about a player for his age during a time when load management is common.
Paul has continued to make history this late in his career. This late in the season, there is no way he misses a game the rest of the season. His leadership and availability to the team really stand out, and many people respect him for it.
Sandro Mamukelashvili
With Wemby’s absence, Mamu has seen more playing time. Before the injuries, he averaged 4.5 points per game. However, since Fox was ruled out in early March, Mamu’s average has risen to 9.5 points and 4.7 rebounds per game.
His most notable performance came against the Knicks on March 19, where he scored a career high 34 points to go with nine rebounds. In the game, he shot a near-perfect 13-for-14 from the field and was a perfect 7-for-7 from three. Mamu has also put up a few double-doubles in his increased minutes.
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Harrison Barnes
Barnes has been one of the Spurs’ best players all season. He’s been very consistent not only this season but throughout his career,, which makes him a great asset to the team. Barnes averages 12.4 points a game this season, but has improved greatly in the last month.
- Last 15 games: 15.1 points per game
- Last 10 games: 16.6 points per game
- Last 5 games: 20.8 points per game
He has even shown up and hit much-needed shots in big moments. On Apr. 9, with no Wemby or Fox, the ball was in Barnes’s hands as he knocked down the game-winning three to beat the Warriors.
Barnes’ veteran presence stands out. He knows how to impact winning and always makes the right play for the team.
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