3 Spurs who have been pleasant surprises to start the season

2. Charles Bassey

The Spurs have always had some grit to them. They’ve always had talent too, of course, but if teams don’t have those sandpaper-type players, they won’t win titles. Most Spurs fans would know names like Malik Rose, Kevin Willis, Fabricio Oberto, and Nazr Mohammed.

The player who fits that mold this season and has done surprisingly well in his limited action is Charles Bassey. The 6’10” Center from Western Kentucky was initially drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2021. He signed a contract with them shortly after but was waived in 2022 and signed by the Spurs to a two-way contract.

Bassey has seen limited action over his career thus far, with just 77 games in three seasons, but has asserted himself of late in a second-unit role.

Charles is averaging 4 rebounds per game in just 10.8 minutes per game this season. Stretched out over 36 minutes per game, he would be averaging 13.3 rebounds per game—that number would lead the NBA.

Bassey’s chipped in on the offensive end as well, with a career-high field goal percentage of 72.5%. Forecasting over 36 minutes per game, Bassey averages 11.1 points per game.

Any Spurs fan would gladly take 11/13 per game to go along with the physicality and ferociousness Bassey plays with.

Bassey blocks shots and rebounds with tenacity. Any good rebounder knows rebounding is about desire more than any other aspect. Positioning is important, but the effort that Bassey displays on each possession provides a spark for the players on the defensive end of the floor.