9 Players the San Antonio Spurs held onto for too long

The San Antonio Spurs have won five championships and own the NBA's best winning percentage. They are in the midst of the longest playoff drought in franchise history, but drafting Victor Wembanyama has them back on track. How quickly can they transform the generational talent into a superstar? That is the only question.

Gregg Popovich is one of the best coaches in NBA history, and the Spurs front office is known for their culture, but there are still mistakes. Some are most costly than others, and San Antonio has done a fantastic job of limiting them since joining the NBA in 1976.

One of the most common errors across the league is holding onto a player too long. Whether it is believing for longer than they should or being unwilling to cut their losses, front offices do this frequently, and the Spurs are no exception.

Players San Antonio Spurs held onto for too long

9. Bryn Forbes

Forbes went undrafted in 2016 out of Michigan State, despite shooting 48.1 percent from 3-point range as a senior. The 6’2 guard was an absolute marksman, but questions about his defense and playmaking gave teams pause. The Spurs signed him as a free agent after he shined in summer league.

Forbes cracked the rotation in year two and spent four years in the Alamo, despite consistently being one of the worst defenders in the NBA. He twice fell out of the rotation in the playoffs, and the 6’2 guard was constantly picked on. Forbes shot 38.8 percent from 3-point range with the Spurs, but his defensive shortcomings were always problematic.

Bryn Forbes was a role player on the Milwaukee Bucks championship squad in 2021, but his playing time decreased after leaving San Antonio. The Spurs brought him back in the summer of 2021 only to trade him to the Nuggets in January 2022. The 29-year-old is currently a free agent and his NBA career appears over.

The Spurs struggled to let him go because they were always searching for shooting, but the rest of his game was detrimental to the team.