Ranking Spurs’ players by how frustrating they’ve been this season

With the first third of the NBA season nearly through, trends are starting to emerge for the San Antonio Spurs. We have gotten an extended look at the team and the players and have a good idea of how their season is going. 

Some Spurs are having better seasons than others, and there are a few that have been frustrating to watch, while others have been way more exciting. Let's go through and rank each player based on the frustration factor, going from most to least.

 Tier 3) Frustrating

INC) Sidy Cissoko 

14) Zach Collins

13) Malaki Branham

12) Tre Jones

11) Keldon Johnson

This tier features several of the Spurs' most frustrating players—Cissoko aside, with him barely playing— including Zach Collins and Keldon Johnson. Collins hasn't impressed thus far, and the Spurs should strongly consider demoting him and replacing him in the rotation with Charles Bassey.

Doing so would help the Spurs shore up their weakest spot off the bench, though it would mean that one of their highest-paid players would now collect DNPs. That could make it harder to trade him, and they may be trying to showcase his value should a deal materialize. However, he has weighed the team down with this play.

Prospect Malaki Branham is beginning to look like he might not have a future with the Spurs. He's been squeezed out of the rotation by the likes of Stephon Castle, and when he has played, he hasn't given coach Mitch Johnson enough reason to give him more playing time.

Jones has been mostly missing in action thus far this season, with injuries sidelining him for 16 of the team's first 24 games. When he has played, he's been solid, though his weaknesses as an offensive player have limited his impact. 

He still isn't a threat from the outside, and he often passes up open threes to drive, often leading to a pass to another non-shooter. Jones is a good backup, but his flaws aren't offset by playing in the second unit, which is full of other non-shooters.

Johnson has had several big games, including dropping 28 points off the bench against the Chicago Bulls. Then again, there have been plenty of other games where he hasn't made much of an impact. While he isn't going to go off for 20 every game, more consistency would be helpful.

Tier 2) Exceeding expectations

10) Sandro Mamukelashvili

9) Blake Wesley

8) Charles Bassey

7) Devin Vassell

6) Harrison Barnes

Mamukelashvili has been in and out of the team's rotation but has mostly played well, all things considered. He can space the floor, knock down open threes, and is terrific at cutting to the basket for easy layups, giving him and the Spurs a decent offensive option at power forward.

Third-year player Blake Wesley has continued to develop nicely. He has improved his form as a shooter, and though it hasn't translated to a better percentage yet, he's taken the first step to doing that, and he's only 21. He's also improved as a passer and has emerged as an impressive defender.

Although he is currently third on the Spurs' center depth chart, Bassey is the team's second-best center. His rim protection, rebounding, and scoring at the rim have been a plus, but he needs to play more.

Vassell has been in and out of the lineup, but he's looked great when he's played. He is a bucket and has reminded fans of his offensive skill even in limited minutes.

After being acquired by the Spurs to help facilitate the DeMar DeRozan trade to the Sacramento Kings, Barnes has played surprisingly well. His shooting has been useful, especially on a team without much of it, and he is a skilled cutter, allowing him to get easy points playing off the ball.

Tier 1) They can do no wrong 

5) Julian Champagnie 

4) Stephon Castle

3) Jeremy Sochan

2) Chris Paul

1) Victor Wembanyama

Lastly, we get to the least frustrating players on the Spurs, headlined by Victor Wembanyama, who is having a strong sophomore season. Legend Chris Paul has been well worth his contract, providing a stable option at point guard while also making big plays to help win games. 

Sochan was a candidate for Most Improved Player of the Year before his injury and has begun to pick up right where he left off. Rookie Stephon Castle has steadily improved, and his defense and physical drives to the basket on offense have made him exciting to watch. 

Then there is Julian Champagnie, who has seemingly established himself as a full-time starter with the Spurs. He has improved as a defensive player, and his outside shooting has been a big plus on a poor shooting team.

All in all, the .500 Spurs roster is a mixed bag. There are definitely some frustrating players, but also ones who have exceeded expectations at every turn.