Grading Victor Wembanyama's preseason debut (and 3 other standout Spurs)

Zach Collins

There has been a ton of chatter about how the Spurs would station Zach Collins at center to make life easier for Wembanyama, and he played that role to perfection on Monday night. The spirited big man racked up 15 points, five rebounds, five assists, one steal, and one block in his first minutes since San Antonio decided to rest him for their final two games of last season. He directed traffic on both ends, was sharp as a decision-maker, and looked well-conditioned during his 22 minutes on the court.

Collins set solid screens, created space for teammates on dribble handoffs, and gave ballhandlers a reliable target in the pick-and-roll. He exhibited patience when multiple defenders converged on him around the basket, leaning on fakes, footwork, and physicality to score or get to the free-throw line. Perhaps his most impressive showing came as a playmaker, where the seven-footer led cutters to the hoop with precise bounce passes and delivered pinpoint dimes to open three-point shooters.

Grade: B+