Head coach Mitch Johnson was ready to present a new starting line-up during Spurspreseason game against Atlanta on Thursday, writes Jared Weiss of The Athleticwith Dylan Harper replacing Julian Champagne in the starting five.
It would be noted for the first time that the guards De’Aaron Fox, Castle Stefan and Harper started together, with playoff star Harper starting just six times in 92 games (regular season and postseason combined) as a rookie in 2025/26. Wing Devin Vassell and Defensive Player of the Year Victor Wembanyama were the other two starters.
However, Fox was sore from Thursday morning’s practice and was rested, so Champagne started in his place. Harper excelled in his 2026 preseason debut, finishing with 16 points (on 5-of-7 shooting, including 3-of-5 from 3-point range), four rebounds, four assists (for zero turnovers) and one steal in 19 first-half minutes, according to Weiss.
Johnson didn’t make any commitments about whether he plans to use the expected starting lineup going forward, but it would be pretty surprising if Harper isn’t part of the group. Jeff McDonald of The San Antonio Express-News. McDonald notes that last year’s No. 2 overall pick was announced first during pregame introductions.
For his part, Harper is optimistic about how the trio of guards will mesh together, according to Weiss.
“It will be very difficult to guard us. When Steph and I go downstairs, Fox has the same ability” said Harper.So, I mean, I think all three of us can be tough to guard and there’s going to be a lot of mismatches on the floor and just playing with each other. And we’re all selfless, and we all understand where we’re going to get our footage.
“… We understand what we all have to do to win. So I mean it’s going to be great.”
Here’s more from the Southwest:
- Both Johnson and Wembanyama praised Vassell’s growth as a leader ahead of Thursday’s contest, as Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express-News writes. “Devin is in a place where we’ve seen him grow from a young player to a young veteran and he’s established himself as a veteran on this team with his play last year and in the playoffs and the way he’s held himself and carried himself in the offseason and in camp.” Spurs– said the coach. “He is now the leader without a doubt.”
- In his first game since May 2025, the veteran guard Fred VanVleet According to reports, there were no signs of rust Varun Shankar of the Houston Chronicle. VanVleet, who missed all of last season recovering from a torn ACL, helped lead the team Rockets 17 points (5-of-12 shooting, all three) and seven assists in 24 minutes in a 135-117 preseason win over Dallas. Shankar writes that more important than his individual stats was the smooth manner of Houston’s offense with VanVleet acting as both a distributor and a stopper. Several players — including Alperen Sengun (16 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists in 22 minutes) — benefited from VanVleet’s presence.
- Mavericks forward PJ Washington acted as a veteran lottery pick teacher Morez Johnson Jr Grant Offset of the Dallas Sports Journal has history and quotes.
