Ranking the Spurs' 2026 draft picks by rookie year impact

The Spurs had a very successful offseason, especially with what they did in the NBA Draft. They added Jayden Quaintance, Tarris Reed Jr., Ja'Kobi Gillespie, and Maliq Brown to their roster, giving them more depth at a multitude of positions.

But as we know, every rookie's role will look different, especially for a title contender like the Spurs. Here's a ranking of these four draftees based on the impact they'll make in their debut season for the Silver and Black.

#4 Maliq Brown

The Spurs chose Maliq Brown with the 44th pick, enamored with his defensive versatility. He was one of the best players on that side of the floor at the collegiate level, winning the 2026 ACC DPOY award while coming off the bench for Duke.

He fits perfectly into San Antonio's defensive culture, but whether or not he'll consistently play is the big question. This team already has an extremely stacked frontcourt, so it will be very difficult for him to carve out big minutes to put his skill set to the test.

Luckily, he's on a two-way contract, so he'll still have opportunities to grow and develop his game in the G League. Getting those reps will be important if the Spurs decide to utilize him in key moments at some point this season.

#3 Ja'Kobi Gillespie

Last season, the Spurs were just decent from three-point range, ranking 15th in percentage. There's still room for them to grow on that front, and Ja'Kobi Gillespie could have his number called by Mitch Johnson to help.

While his percentages weren't flattering during his senior year at Tennessee, he made 40.7% of his threes as a junior and 38.7% as a sophomore. He knows how to create his own long-distance looks off the dribble and can also spot up.

Despite being undersized at 6'1, Gillespie is an aggressive on-ball defender. So the Spurs could use him as a 3&D guard who can provide support alongside whoever leads their second-unit offense.

#2 Jayden Quaintance

Jayden Quaintance has the perfect skill set for San Antonio's system. He's a versatile defensive juggernaut who can protect the rim at a high level and step out to guard in space.

On offense, the young forward is tough to contain in the paint, using his athleticism and overwhelming physical tools to finish amongst the trees.

The biggest concern is his health. Quaintance tore his ACL in February 2025, and it's affected his availability ever since, even limiting his playing time at Kentucky last season. He underwent a successful knee surgery this summer, but you can't help but wonder how often we'll see him take the floor during his rookie campaign.

If healthy, Jayden is definitely a player who can make a colossal impact in his debut season. But the most important word there is "if."

#1 Tarris Reed Jr.

Tarris Reed Jr. has all the makings of a rookie who can immediately contribute to a title contender. He's a strong interior force on both sides of the ball, but more importantly, he has the perfect mindset.

Reed has made it clear that he's ready to embrace whatever role Mitch Johnson needs him to play. His number could be called in some big moments, especially if Luke Kornet can't step up and hold things down when Victor Wembanyama is resting. So essentially, there's a chance Tarris emerges as San Antonio's first option as a backup center.

This year's draft meant a lot for the Spurs. They didn't select players whom they could put on the back burner for later; each of them could have their number called at any given moment. This team has always put its rookies to the test, and that won't change this season.

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