Spurs drafted Victor Wembanyama's new best friend with biggest steal of first round

The Spurs just pulled off a massive heist on the NBA.

Nathan Rogers

2025 NBA Draft - Round One / Sarah Stier/GettyImages

The San Antonio Spurs just committed highway robbery. Staying at the 14th overall pick, the Spurs selected University of Arizona forward Carter Bryant.

Prior to the draft, Bryant was expected to go within the top 10. While he was evidently one of the Spurs' top choices, it was believed that they wouldn't have had the chance to get him. Instead, the draft board shook out perfectly in the Spurs' favor, and they now land a potential star.

Bryant fills two massive needs for the Spurs

Bryant holds his hat on the defensive end. He is an absolute monster on the court and will instantly ignite fear into his opponent whenever he steps on the court. The 19-year-old creates havoc all over the court and produces loads of turnovers with his lengthy 7-foot wingspan. He is a shockingly dominant athlete, able to jump out of the gym.

Needing perimeter defense, Bryant perfectly fills the Spurs' needs. Whether he starts or comes off the bench, Bryant can guard the opposing team's best player and lock them up. Next to Jeremy Sochan and Victor Wembanyama, the Spurs will have a dangerous defense that no one will want to play.

While Bryant is a superior defender, his jump shot makes him even more intriguing. Although Carter didn't get many opportunities in college, he has proven to have a solid stroke. The Arizona product made 1.1 threes per game on an enticing 37.1%. The Spurs hope that his three-point shot carries over into the NBA.

Should he continue shooting with a hot hand, Carter will instantly help the Spurs' three-point shooting woes. The Spurs have suffered through a massive three-point drought compared to the rest of the NBA, and now Bryant is here to save the day.

General manager Brian Wright and the crew trust Bryant and believe that his massive growth through the college basketball season will carry over into the NBA. The youngster will have a great supporting cast around him that can maximize his abilities and open opportunities for him to showcase his talents.

Nonetheless, the Spurs got an absolute steal and one that will help the team immediately.

Nathan Rogers

Nate is a Senior Contributor at Air Alamo. Specializing in front office moves, he loves to cover trades and free agency. A student of the game, Nate has been analyzing the NBA since he was a teenager and can never take his eyes off the game. Traveling to Denver from Seattle for college, he began his writing career in his junior year and has been writing for the past three years. In his free time, Nate loves to explore his home state of Washington and plans to travel across the world.