Carter Bryant's next leap could make him impossible for the Spurs to bench

Stephon Castle had one of the best second-season leaps in recent memory, turning into a do-it-all hybrid guard for San Antonio. We could see a similar dynamic for Carter Bryant. If he can further cement himself as a legitimate two-way threat, Mitch Johnson would have no choice but to increase his minutes and consistently call his number to close out games.

Bryant showed some intriguing flashes throughout his rookie campaign. Despite not starting in a single game throughout the regular season and averaging just 11.5 minutes, he displayed some staunch, versatile defense. He also progressed as a three-point shooter as the year went on.

He also had some good moments in the playoffs, generating some stops against elite scorers like SGA. The Spurs have a special player on their hands with Bryant; now it's on him to take a big second-year leap and prove that he deserves more time on the floor.

Carter Bryant is already showing signs of becoming an elite 3&D weapon

The 3&D archetype is still extremely important in today's game. Take a look at the last few championship teams. Each of them had wings who could space the floor on offense while causing mayhem defensively.

For example, the Knicks had OG Anunoby last season, who came up big in the NBA Finals. In 2025, the Thunder had Lu Dort. His numbers weren't as impressive as New York's star forward, but he still played that 3&D role at a high level, helping the Thunder capture their first title.

You can't win without players like that on your roster. Carter Bryant can take those duties for San Antonio next season. He's already proven that he can defend several positions, whether he's floating around the perimeter to slow down guards or covering bigger players on the interior.

Bryant's also shown promise as a long-range shooter. After the All-Star Break, he made 35.1% of his threes. In the playoffs, that number increased to 41%. Now, his volume was relatively low, but it's obvious that he's on the brink of becoming a legitimate 3&D player.

Bryant's improvement could force Mitch Johnson's hand

If Carter Bryant can stay disciplined on defense and make his three-point shots at an efficient clip, Mitch Johnson will have no choice but to play him more than last season. With how important two-way wings are in the modern NBA, it would be impossible to keep his minutes down. That would be a disservice to the Spurs' attack on both ends of the floor.

Coach Johnson could also feature him more in closing lineups. Defensive-minded players are only tough to keep in the final minutes of games if they struggle to shoot. That won't be the case for Bryant if he makes the offensive leap he's expected to.

The Spurs have a deep roster, but their second-year forward has a chance to work his way through it and become impossible to keep off the floor. It's going to come down to how much he can polish his game on both ends. If that happens, he'll be one of San Antonio's most lethal weapons.

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