Spurs rookie preseason grades: Tarris Reed Jr. already looks rotation-ready

I'm never one to overreact to the preseason because, guess what? It's the preseason! This is just the tune-up for the real thing, and an opportunity for young players to get solid early reps. San Antonio Spurs fans should be celebrating because this team had some impressive performances from its rookies.

We'll grade each first-year player based on their production during this exhibition stage for the Spurs. Pay close attention, because you never know which one of these guys can bring their preseason play into the regular season.

Tarris Reed Jr.: A

Tarris Reed Jr. didn't make a ton of jaw-dropping highlight plays during the Spurs' exhibition games like some of his teammates, but he still gave them exactly what they needed. He was a beast on the glass, snagging 46 boards in five games. That included a massive 17-rebound performance against the Utah Jazz.

Additionally, he showed some great flashes as a rim protector, blocking three shots against the Phoenix Suns. When you combine all of that with his strong screen-setting and glimpses of playmaking upside, he already looks ready to make an immediate impact for the Spurs once the regular season kicks off.

During the 2025-26 campaign, we saw Mitch Johnson turn to rookies like Dylan Harper and Carter Bryant to help make pivotal plays on both sides of the floor. Judging by his preseason performance, a similar dynamic could play out for Reed. His physicality and competitiveness in the paint are the best answer to one of their biggest playoff issues: interior play off the bench.

Ja'Kobi Gillespie: A

The Spurs knew they had another three-point sniper on their hands when they drafted Ja'Kobi Gillespie, and he lived up to the hype. He buried 12-of-24 long-range shots, mixing it up off the dribble and off the catch. He was also a pest on the other side of the floor, picking off five steals.

To make things even more impressive, Monday's game against the Utah Jazz was the second time he outplayed Darryn Peterson since being drafted. Spurs fans should be excited to know that they have another young guard who isn't scared to step up to the competition.

We can be honest: his path to becoming a consistent rotation player for this will be tough, given how many guard options Mitch Johnson has in his Rolodex. But his ability to space the floor and be a defensive nuisance will make him a solid contributor when his number does get called.

Maliq Brown: B

The biggest thing Maliq Brown brings to the table for the Spurs is defensive versatility. At 6'9", he can guard multiple positions, and he's proven that by covering the interior and stepping out onto the perimeter. He was beaten a few times in the preseason, but it was still great to get an idea of his capabilities on that side of the floor.

His three-point shooting was also solid, draining 4/7 long-distance shots in his four preseason appearances. That's a highly positive sign, as he struggled in that area during his time at Duke.

Similar to Gillespie, it'll be a challenge for him to crack the Spurs' rotation, but when the time does come, he can emerge as a good two-way threat.

It'll be hard to imagine one of these guys winning Rookie of the Year this season. But they can still impact winning if Mitch Johnson decides to put them on the floor. It's a luxury to have a set of first-year players who can come right in and contribute to a team with championship aspirations.

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