SALT LAKE CITY – Spurs coach Mitch Johnson is a big fan of first-round rookie center Tarris Reed Jr.’s physical play.
“You don’t always get young guys that seek contact, that thrive or look for contact,” Johnson said before Saturday’s night’s 102-98 preseason loss at Phoenix. “He definitely is one of those guys.”
The 6-foot-10, 270-pound Connecticut-ex has also made an impression on his veteran teammates.
“Tarris is going to be real good in this league,” forward Julian Champagnie said after the 26th overall pick of the 2026 NBA Draft finished Saturday’s game with 10 points on 4 of 4 from the field and five rebounds in nine minutes.
“Big body. He’s hungry,” Champagnie added. “Obviously he went to UConn (as a junior and senior) and Michigan (as a freshman and sophomore), four years. He’s got experience with being physical and playing hard. I’m impressed with Tarris.”
In addition to his physicality, Reed has something else that makes him unique: His age. At 23, the St. Louis native stands out after the Spurs have drafted so many teens in recent years, including Reed’s fellow first-round rookie, forward Jayden Quaintance, 19.
“There was a time in a different cycle of my life here where we’d get all these 18-year-old punks,” Johnson said. “(Reed) is a little bit older, so it’s fun. He’s obviously been around the wringer of college so it’s a little bit different. He got coached really hard at UConn. He’s been great to have in camp. He’s a big young man. He does things naturally that makes him a good addition for what we’re looking for.”
Reed said he believes his physicality will help prepare Victor Wembanyama for his battles with big men intent on pummeling him.
“He knows that he’s going to have guys just attacking his body all the time,” Reed said of the 7-4, 240-pound All-Star. “So really just challenging him on the offensive glass when I’m crashing defensive glass.”
Wembanyama, in turn, is helping Reed.
“He’s probably the tallest person I’ve ever seen and played against,” the rookie said. “When I go against guys that are 6-10, 6-11, 7-1, it’s like, OK, I’m playing against the best defender in the world, so I can adjust to it.”
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This article originally published at Why rookie Tarris Reed Jr. has caught the eye of Spurs coach Mitch Johnson.