OCTOBER 19, 2023 • USATODAY.COM
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich 'thought about getting booted' so he could watch WNBA finals With former assistant Becky Hammon on verge of leading Las Vegas Aces to WNBA title, Gregg Popovich says he was "close" to early exit vs. Ro...
Jeremy Sochan - Stuffs stat sheet as point guard Sochan racked up six points (2-5 FG, 1-1 3Pt, 1-2 FT), six rebounds, four assists and a steal across 21 minutes in Wednesday's 117-103 preseason win over the Rockets.
Impact Sochan started at point guard once again, and coach Gregg Popovich was pleased enough to name him the starting floor general for Opening Night. Sochan averaged 9.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.0 steals per game in three preseason contests, and it remains to be seen how he'll handle the rigors of playing as a point forward once the regular season begins next week. However, he has the potential to become a stat-filling machine.
OCTOBER 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Devin Vassell - Carries San Antonio to victory Vassell notched 25 points (8-14 FG, 5-10 3Pt, 4-5 FT), three rebounds and an assist across 25 minutes in Wednesday's 117-103 preseason win over the Rockets.
Impact Vassell carried the Spurs to victory in this one and led the team in scoring by a sizable margin -- the only other player who reached the 15-point mark was Victor Wembanyama. Vassell is fresh off signing a massive new deal in the offseason and is expected to operate as one of San Antonio's main scoring weapons once the regular season kicks off next week alongside Wembanyama and Keldon Johnson.
OCTOBER 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Victor Wembanyama - Solid line despite shooting woes Wembanyama ended with 15 points (3-10 FG, 2-5 3Pt, 7-8 FT), six rebounds, an assist, a steal and two blocks across 21 minutes in Wednesday's 117-103 preseason win over the Rockets.
Impact Wembanyama didn't have his best shooting performance, and thus, his scoring figures were not on the same level compared to what he posted in previous preseason contests. Regardless, he has shown he has the talent to contend for the Rookie of the Year award in 2023-24, and the Frenchman should have a prominent role on offense for San Antonio starting Opening Night.
OCTOBER 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Alperen Sengun - Poor shooting display in loss Sengun recorded five points (1-10 FG, 0-3 3Pt, 3-4 FT), five rebounds, three assists and a block across 24 minutes in Wednesday's 117-103 preseason loss to the Spurs.
Impact Sengun is locked in to open the season as the Rockets' starting center, and one lackluster outing in the preseason is not going to change his status as a core piece in the long-term picture of the franchise. He struggled massively from the field in this one, but he has plenty of fantasy upside due to his ability to contribute across the board on a regular basis. He averaged 14.8 points, 9.0 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game during the 2022-23 regular season.
OCTOBER 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Jabari Smith Jr. - Scores team-high 20 points Smith posted 20 points (7-14 FG, 2-6 3Pt, 4-4 FT), five rebounds and a block across 24 minutes in Wednesday's 117-103 preseason loss to the Spurs.
Impact Smith was one of two projected starters -- the other being Alperen Sengun -- who featured in the first unit in this one, and he responded by leading the team in scoring. Smith improved massively as the 2022-23 season progressed, and he should be in line to have a prominent role once again in 2023-24. Smith averaged 12.8 points and 7.2 rebounds per game as a rookie, and he shouldn't have problems topping those numbers as a sophomore.
OCTOBER 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Cam Whitmore - Struggles from field again Whitmore finished with 17 points (4-15 FG, 1-7 3Pt, 8-11 FT), six rebounds, two assists, six steals and a block across 30 minutes in Wednesday's 117-103 preseason loss to the Spurs...
Impact Whitmore has shown encouraging traits in both the Summer League and the preseason, but all signs point to him opening the 2023-24 season on a bench role, and he will have to work hard -- and improve his shooting -- to compete for a starting nod. Whitmore has scored at least 15 points in three of his four preseason appearances.
OCTOBER 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
