Quintance wants to wear the Spurs' No. 21! Four rookies officially introduced: building a defensive fortress around Wembanyama

On June 26, Beijing time, in the recent NBA Draft, the Spurs went all-in on players who possess explosive physicality, strong inside presence, and top-notch defensive instincts. Ultimately, they picked four newcomers, assembling a highly disciplined defensive squad. The team will build a fortress in San Antonio around Victor Wembanyama.

Malik Brown (44th pick): Pure defensive specialist

At Syracuse University, Malik Brown developed into an elite switch defender, earning a spot on the ACC All-Defensive Team and claiming the conference's steals leader title.

His most outstanding trait is his composure. Standing at 2.03 meters, he has a lean, muscular build. After four years of high-level college competition, he is filled with power and exudes a calm, confident presence.

Brown grew up in a sports family in Culpeper, Virginia, and won four straight state championships at Blue Ridge High School. He began his college career at Syracuse, where he became a versatile defensive stopper, making the ACC All-Defensive Team and leading the league in steals. He then transferred to Duke University. In his senior season, he exploded, sweeping the ACC Defensive Player of the Year, Sixth Man of the Year, and the prestigious Lefty Driesell National Defensive Player of the Year award.

Having experienced major life events in the past 48 hours, Brown still feels like he's dreaming, but he's already fully immersed in adapting to the team's system.

“Dreams have finally come true. I always look forward. Last night I was celebrating with family and friends back home, and today I'm walking into the gym, meeting new teammates—everything is incredibly beautiful.”

He is a pure defensive player, obsessed with studying court positioning and finding ways to cut off passing lanes.

“Defense has always been my foundation. I've always kept an eye on the Spurs' culture and style. This team plays tough, gives full effort on defense, and I can fit right in.”

One morning while eating breakfast, several core players unexpectedly walked through the arena, and at that moment he truly felt he had joined this storied franchise.

“It was really surreal. We were having breakfast and suddenly ran into the team's stars—I didn't expect them to be here today. Today's schedule is packed and fulfilling, and I'm so happy to meet the veterans.”

He can't wait to learn from the veterans and plans to soak up as much knowledge as possible. “I want to learn desperately, ask plenty of questions from the older guys—not just about basketball, but also about life on and off the court. I'll find my role and do everything I can to help the team.”

Watching the Spurs fight hard in the playoffs last season from afar, his blood was already boiling. “After watching the Spurs' entire season, I felt incredibly excited and full of fighting spirit.”

Jakhobi Gillespie (42nd pick): Tough backcourt enforcer

Years of being undersized in height have already forged Jakhobi Gillespie's fierce confidence to compete at the professional level.

The engine of this new defensive backcourt is Gillespie from the University of Tennessee. The Spurs selected this explosive playmaker with the 42nd pick in the second round. He grew up in Greenville, Tennessee, and dominated local leagues in high school. Along the way, he moved through multiple colleges, refining a highly mature backcourt game.

He began his college career at Belmont University, earning Missouri Valley Conference All-Freshman and All-Defensive honors while putting up big scoring numbers. He then transferred to the University of Maryland, earning All-Big Ten Third Team honors and surpassing 1,000 career points. In his senior season, he returned home to play for Tennessee, averaging 18.4 points and 5.4 assists, leading the team to the Elite Eight.

Gillespie appears relaxed, but carries an unyielding, combative energy. This guard has always been driven by a chip on his shoulder, competing hard against opponents since childhood.

“Backup plan? Not a chance. Being selected—my family, my hometown, everyone is incredibly excited. I'm full of gratitude and happy to meet everyone.”

Standing 1.85 meters and weighing 82 kilograms, to thrive at the highest level, he has to outwork and outfight his opponents. When asked about his biggest trait, he answered without hesitation.

“Play with full effort, be selfless on the court, and do whatever it takes to help the team win.”

Being undersized for years has actually prepared him well for entering the NBA.

“I think three core things: athleticism, physicality, and an never-give-up mentality. I've been the shortest player on my team since I was a kid, and that experience has molded me to handle higher levels of competition. In the NBA, you have to be tough enough not to get pushed around.”

Modeling his game after idols Kobe Bryant and Chris Paul, he can both initiate offense heavily and guard full-court. Coming to the Spurs, he wants to immediately bring stability to the rotation.

“Like I said, I just want to make an impact and help the team win. Full-court pressure defense, hit threes—whatever the team needs me to do, I'll do it.”

Before the draft, he completed an intense workout in San Antonio, and at that time he had a feeling he might end up with the Spurs.

“The workout went well overall. I can't make the decision for the front office, but I played really hard. It was during that workout that I felt convinced I might have a chance to come here.”

Moving through multiple schools made him more mature and taught him to always be thoroughly prepared.

“The biggest takeaway is mental maturity. Constantly changing environments, meeting all kinds of people, learning new things—you have to stay grounded and keep a stable mindset. That's been the biggest growth in every step of my journey.”

He made a promise to the fans: “Spurs fans, I'm extremely honored to join this top-tier franchise, and I can't wait to start this new journey.”

When asked if throwing lobs to Wembanyama would be easy, he joked with a smile: “What else? Just toss the ball up in the air and it's done.”

Tarris Reed (26th pick): Tough inside enforcer

Tarris Reed plays with a simple, no-nonsense style, going all-out every time he battles.

The interior stopper among this year's rookies is Tarris Reed Jr. This 2.11-meter, 120-kilogram powerhouse from St. Louis, Missouri, played high school ball at Chaminade College Prep before transferring to Link Year for his senior season, earning all-state honors.

He started at the University of Michigan for two years, then transferred to the University of Connecticut, playing two seasons under legendary coach Dan Hurley and going through tournament battles. In his senior season, he made the All-Big East First Team, anchoring the interior and winning the Big East Tournament Most Outstanding Player.

Now wearing a Spurs uniform, he reflected on this transition.

“Still carrying some blue from UConn—I have to make my alma mater proud,” Reed said with a smile. He has already received a message from former teammate and Spurs core player Stephon Castle. “We'll definitely talk a lot. It's amazing to play alongside an old UConn teammate again. We can laugh about all of Coach Hurley's crazy coaching moments and share old stories.”

Learning that the Spurs traded into the first round to select him, Reed felt deeply grateful. “It's a huge blessing. Joining a legendary franchise with such deep roots as the Spurs—I'm ready to step on the court and battle anytime.”

Reed loves his blue-collar, hard-nosed playing style. “Simple game, tough physicality—that's the foundation of winning. Especially after going all the way to the national championship game in my senior year, I fully embraced this unheralded role. Boxing out, grabbing rebounds, fighting in the paint, protecting the paint on both ends. I'd do this dirty work a thousand times.”

He also shared a funny anecdote from Hurley's practice sessions.

“A lot of people have seen Coach Hurley get emotional in practice. Sometimes he'd grab his head, shout my name, lie down on midcourt, kick the ball away, and yell nonstop from the sideline. But everyone understands—we're all competitors. He'll push you to your absolute limit, and you'll genuinely appreciate having such a demanding coach.”

There was also a small hiccup on draft night. Reed was hosting a draft party at his home in St. Louis when his phone signal dropped, and he couldn't receive any messages.

“I was sitting with my family, and my teammate texted me saying the Spurs and Nuggets made a trade to bring me to San Antonio.”

“I stared at my phone, but I didn't get a call from the team for a while. I thought my phone was broken. Pick after pick was announced, and I was holding my head, my heart sinking—I was afraid the deal fell through. Then my name popped up on the screen, and I was overjoyed instantly. That excitement was completely genuine. I couldn't believe I was about to put on a Spurs jersey.”

He has tasted the bitterness of falling short in a championship run, which is why he understands the disappointment the Spurs squad felt last season.

“Losing the national championship final was definitely the toughest moment of my life. Fighting all the way to the end and falling short at the finish line—that frustration is hard to describe. Even now, I haven't fully gotten over it. But I see that the Spurs players have experienced a similar heartbreak, and everyone is eager to come back stronger. That will be a huge motivation for us next season.”

Off the court, Reed is a completely different person from his fierce on-court persona. “On and off the court are two different worlds. I'm naturally good at communicating with people, I like to spread positive energy to those around me, and I'm always grateful for what life has given me.”

Jaden Quintance (20th pick): Defensive genius

The final piece of the defensive puzzle is Jaden Quintance, the 20th pick of this year's draft. This 18-year-old is hailed as a brilliant defensive tactician.

Quintance was born in Cleveland, Ohio. He attended several top prep schools in high school, was a five-star recruit and McDonald's All-American. He reclassified and entered college early. Standing 2.08 meters tall, weighing 115 kilograms, with an impressive wingspan, he entered the NBA at just 18 years old.

Basketball runs in his family. His father, Hamin Quintance, was a star at Jacksonville University and Kent State. Jaden played his freshman year at Arizona State, earning Pac-12 All-Defensive Team and All-Freshman honors, averaging 9.4 points and 7.9 rebounds before a knee injury cut his season short. He transferred to Kentucky for his sophomore year, but a meniscus injury flared up again, and after playing only four games, he declared for the NBA Draft.

Off the court, he is calm and rational, and loves playing chess. In his view, chess and basketball tactics share the same logic.

“In private, I'm easygoing. I prefer staying home reading and taking walks. I love playing chess most—the moves are flexible and full of strategic battles.”

It is this deep curiosity about tactical variations that makes him admire the Spurs' switch-heavy defensive system. This compact scheme can completely lock down the paint, leaving opponents no room to operate.

“Defense decides games—it's half of basketball. To win, half the credit goes to defense. We can collapse the floor and make it very hard for opponents to score inside.”

His tough character comes from his family upbringing. “The most important thing my father taught me is to face challenges head-on. He suffered through injuries and adversity during his playing days. I moved around a lot as a kid, changing schools often, which also taught me to deal with hardships. Since I was six or seven, I've always carried a basketball wherever I go, always ready to get back on the court.”

This rookie is already well-versed in team history. When asked about his favorite player in franchise history, his answer amused veteran fans. “Tim Duncan—my grandfather's favorite player was him.”

He admitted he wanted to wear Duncan's legendary No. 21 jersey, but the team quickly shot him down. “Honestly, they shut that door immediately,” he said with a laugh. “Right after I was drafted, the staff gave me a few alternative numbers. There's no way I'm getting No. 21.”

Finally, he sent a message to the passionate San Antonio fans: “I'm excited to be here, to be a part of this team. I've seen the whole city gather to watch playoff games together—that strong fan support will be our driving force. This city has friendly neighborhoods and a warm atmosphere. I've fallen in love with it.”