Head coach Gregg Popovich announces that the Spurs will
When the Spurs signed Charles Bassey, they hoped he would develop into a reliable defensive backup in a limited role. Though he had already dealt with injuries—appearing in just 23 games as a rookie with the Sixers—that wasn’t necessarily a red flag. Early career injuries are common and don’t always indicate a long-term issue.
However, three seasons into his time with San Antonio, he has only played 88 games, proving that durability is a serious concern. It’s an unfortunate reality, as no player chooses to be injury-prone, but it’s clear that Bassey struggles to stay on the court. Given this, the Spurs should consider moving on from the Nigerian big man.
Spurs Not at Fault for the Bassey Experiment
Signing Bassey to a low-cost contract was a reasonable gamble. There was logic behind the move—he had the potential to become a solid rotational center. When healthy, he provides strong rim protection, contesting shots with the intensity of a rabid rottweiler.
At times, Bassey has flashed his shot-blocking ability and even displayed a soft touch around the rim. But his biggest issue is availability. He has played in just 34 of the team’s 67 games this season and has never surpassed 35 games in a season during his four-year career. With only 15 games left in what has been a lost season, it’s unlikely he’ll reach that mark now—though even if he did, it wouldn’t be much of an accomplishment.
Last summer’s free agent market was underwhelming, leaving the Spurs with limited options at center. Bringing Bassey back on a cheap one-year deal was a low-risk decision, allowing them to keep their options open.
However, the 2025 free agent class offers stronger backup center candidates, and the upcoming draft class is filled with prospects who could better complement Victor Wembanyama. Given Wemby’s potential to dominate for years to come, the backup center role in San Antonio should be viewed as a prime position—after all, who wouldn’t want to be Batman’s sidekick?
