Did Carter Bryant just hint at a Spurs bounceback after their Summer League collapse?

San Antonio Spurs rookie Carter Bryant was in the starting lineup for Thursday's NBA Summer League matchup against the Atlanta Hawks. However, it proved to be a difficult outing for both Bryant and the Spurs, who suffered a lopsided 93-66 defeat during the 2026 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.

Following the game, Bryant offered an honest assessment of his performance while acknowledging that he is still working his way back into game rhythm after a long layoff.

“I think the biggest thing for me is in that first game I feel like I had to knock the rust off a little bit. I ain’t played a basketball game since Game 5 of The Finals, so just understanding every night's not going to be your night,” Bryant said.

“Like I think I shot, I don't know what I shot, but, I had four turnovers. I'm missing coverages defensively. I'm not being as intense defensively, like I've just got to be better on that side of the basketball. Losing is unacceptable, especially like that, especially for this franchise. I'm going to be better as we move forward.”

Bryant finished the game with 12 points, two rebounds, one assist, two steals, and four turnovers while shooting 31% from the field in the 27-point defeat. As a team, San Antonio struggled throughout the night. The team connected on just 33.8% of its field-goal attempts and an abysmal 11.8% from beyond the arc.

Meanwhile, Atlanta received balanced production across the roster, with seven different players scoring in double figures. Asa Newell led the way for the Hawks with a team-high 15 points as they cruised to a convincing victory.

Bryant is expected to return to action when the Spurs take on the New York Knicks on Saturday at the Thomas & Mack Center. The young star will have another opportunity to build momentum and bounce back from a disappointing Summer League opener.

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