10 San Antonio Spurs that never played a single minute

The San Antonio Spurs are the winningest franchise in NBA history by percentage, but that has not stopped them from making some regrettable moves. Even during the Big 3 era, the Spurs had a few head-scratching starters and multiple failed transactions. Having Gregg Popovich helps make up for that, but it just shows how fragile contending can be.

Becoming the model franchise means limiting mistakes. The Spurs give players chances but are quick to move on if things are not going as planned. Sometimes, that means before the player has even taken the court. San Antonio knows what they want, and the front office is never shy about doing what they believe is best.

The NBA has some quirky rules that can make a stay with a franchise brief. Draft night trades are not finalized until after the event, meaning teams select for each other. There are also instances where players get rerouted in trades or never quite make the regular season roster. It makes them part of a franchise, but even some famous players never see a second on the floor.

San Antonio Spurs that never played a single minute

10. Jimmer Fredette

Fredette became a star at BYU and was the consensus college Player of the Year in 2011. The phenomenal scorer drew plenty of excitement and praise.

After his senior year, Fredette was the tenth overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft and traded to the Sacramento Kings. He was a bench player before being waived in his third season.

The 6’2 guard played for the Bulls and Pelicans before signing a deal with the Spurs in the summer of 2015. Fredette seemed like a strong offensive fit, but was waived before the start of the regular season because of his defensive struggles. 

He played six years in the NBA, but averaged just 6.0 points and 1.4 assists in 13.3 minutes per game for his career. Jimmer Fredette appeared for five different teams, and only lasted three months with the Spurs where he never saw the floor. He played overseas after leaving the NBA and helped Team USA win the silver medal in the 3x3 World Cup in 2023.