San Antonio Spurs: Final media mock draft round-up 3.0

With the 2021 NBA Draft just a few days away, we're getting closer to finally seeing who the San Antonio Spurs will be selecting with their two picks. Barring any draft-day deals, the Silver and Black will have the 12th and 41st overall picks in the most loaded class in years.

Media outlets have predictably been all over the place when it comes to who the Spurs will select, as the talent pool is so vast that there are multiple great options at any spot in the draft. With the NBA Draft taking place in three days, I collected one final round-up of all the major media outlets to see who they're settling in on at 12. Let's get started.

The Athletic - Jalen Johnson, F, Duke

Mock Draft date: 7/21
Previously mocked: Jalen Johnson on 7/16 & 7/9, Kai Jones on 6/23

After mocking Kai Jones to the Spurs early on, The Athletic has chosen Jalen Johnson to be their first-round pick in three straight mock drafts. In the latest one, (subscription required), Sam Vecenie admits Johnson is "extremely polarizing" among scouts.

Vecenie evens states several executives have already ruled him out as being their selection due to questions surrounding his one-and-done career at Duke and sudden exit.

Our own Damien Bartonek broke down whether Johnson is worth the risk back in early July, analyzing both positives and negatives of his game. While he would bring point forward qualities and playmaking in the open court, he still has work to do shooting the ball and in halfcourt sets.