San Antonio Spurs basketball is back…sort of. The Spurs will play their first preseason game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. It will be the first opportunity to see this new-look Spurs squad. The additions of Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes have raised expectations for the Silver and Black division. You’ll see on Monday what it looks like against NBA competition.

Last season began a budding rivalry between the Thunder and Spurs. A pair of rookie unicorns made the games between these two even more heated. Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren have been compared to each other for most of their careers. Wembanyama edged out Holmgren in the first year, but Holmgren is in a squad with realistic finals expectations. Holmgren is likely to play limited minutes while Wembanyama will sit out the first preseason game.

Both teams will rest several rotation players so younger players can prove they deserve a spot on the roster.

San Antonio Spurs (0-0) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (0-0)

October 7, 2024 | 7:00 p.m. CT

Watch: CW35/NBA TV | Listen: WOAI (1200 AM)

Spore injuries: Devin Vassell – DNF (foot), Charles Bassey – DNF (knee), Zach Collins – DNF (unknown), Chris Paul – (unknown), Victor Wembanyama – DNF (unknown), David Duke Jr. – DNF (unknown)

Thunder injuries: Kenrich Williams – Questionable (Knee), Luguentz Dort – (Break), Shai-Gilgeous-Alexander – Out (Break), Jaylin Williams – Questionable (Thigh), Nikola Topic – Out (Knee), Alex Ducas – Questionable (Hip)

What you should pay attention to

Who starts?

The preseason start doesn’t necessarily mean who will be in the top five on opening night, but it does provide a glimpse into Gregg Popovich’s thought process. With Devin Vassell expected to miss at least the first five games of the season, there is a significant gap in the Spurs’ starting lineup. Figuring out who steps in will be difficult with other starters like Wemby and Paul sitting. If Malaki Branham, Stephon Castle or Julian Champagnie start, it could be a sign that one or two of the players are ready to replace Vassell while he is out.

Can the fringe rotation players earn a living?

Preseason ball means we won’t see much of the Spurs’ rotating mainstays. Instead, we will see some players trying to secure a spot in the rotation or get plenty of playing time on the roster. That means guys like Blake Wesley, Sidy Cissoko and Harrison Ingram will get plenty of minutes. Players with training camp contracts like Brandon Boston Jr., Malachi Flynn and Riley Minix should get a chance to build on what they showed in practice.

Keldon Johnson’s new look

One of the biggest stories of Spurs training camp was Keldon Johnson’s body transformation. He skipped the Bucc-ee trips and got into great shape this summer. It will be interesting to see how his physical changes affect his game. Will he have the same attack power downhill as before? How will his defense improve? If KJ is solid defensively and quicker, it would be a game-changer for the sixth-year winger.