Carter Bryant is finding his footing at the right time for the Spurs’ deep rotation

The San Antonio Spurs extended their winning streak to 10 games with a massive comeback victory on the road against the Chicago Bulls. There were plenty of positives in this game, including Carter Bryant putting on his best individual performance of the season. The young forward had some solid offensive moments, showcasing a version of himself that the Spurs need every single night.

Bryant scored a season-high 10 points while shooting 4-7 from the floor and knocking down two of his four three-point attempts. He also did a great job defending without fouling and kept control of the basketball, playing 17 minutes without a single foul or turnover.

After a slow start to his sophomore season, Bryant is beginning to find his footing, proving to Mitch Johnson that he deserves playing time in this deep Spurs rotation.

Bryant's decision-making in this game was sharp

Bryant won't be asked to create his own shots on this Spurs roster, so to put points on the board, he must make himself available off the ball and capitalize on others' gravity. In their win against the Bulls, he did just that.

In the second quarter, De'Aaron Fox pushed the ball down the court and pitched it to the deep left corner for Bryant, who drained his first three-pointer of the evening. Later in the fourth, Julian Champagnie drove it to the paint and found him on the outside for another make beyond the arc.

There was a beautiful late-game sequence where Keldon Johnson attacked the lane off a Victor Wembanyama handoff, and Bryant made an amazing read by cutting from the opposite corner and getting open for a baseline dunk. They ran the same action the next possession, and this time it turned into a layup for the second-year forward.

This is exactly what the Spurs need to see from him. As an off-ball player, he must be prepared to take advantage of his teammates' ability to draw defenders out of position. Knocking down his catch-and-shoot threes and finding those cutting angles are the best ways for Bryan to contribute to the Spurs' offense.

Bryant's offense is trending upward

Bryant struggled to find his offensive groove in the first few games of the season, but lately, he's been making things work. Over his last three outings, he's averaging eight points off the bench while draining 55% of his long-distance attempts.

He's heating up at just the right time. Mitch Johnson is working with one of the deepest rosters in the league, so Bryant must prove that he can be an asset on the court to avoid falling out of the rotation once Tobias Harris returns.

If he can have more nights like Wednesday's, that would be perfect for his individual development and the Spurs' offense as a whole.

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