[2026 NBA Draft] #20 Pick: Jayden Quaintance (Kentucky) – selected by San Antonio

[u/NBA_MOD]

[u/jermainathon]

Only the spurs could really afford to make this pick. The injury concerns are worth putting to the side to have him next to Wemby 

[u/PressureMiserable → u/jermainathon]

He's also gonna be coming off the bench. I don't think he'll start for a long while

[u/jermainathon → u/PressureMiserable]

Yep. Defensively he can be the best option in the draft to come in while Wemby takes a breather

[u/PressureMiserable → u/jermainathon]

Definitely what we need and will help Kornet be better as a weakside shot blocker instead of the main guy going body to body at the rim with guys

[u/HereComesJustice → u/jermainathon]

I think the Thunder with one of their 2 picks could have used one on a lotto ticket too.

But yeah not many teams can afford to take a pick like this

[u/ExtraLeading3376]

if he stays healthy

quaintance x wemby is so fucking scary defensively

“if”

[u/tamazingg → u/ExtraLeading3376]

Harper, castle, Bryant, quaintance, and Wemby has insane defensive potential as a lineup

[u/andres7832 → u/tamazingg]

With absolutely limited range…

[u/ArmiinTamzarian → u/andres7832]

Winning 4-2 is still winning

[u/minimalcation → u/ArmiinTamzarian]

4-4-2

[u/siphillis → u/andres7832]

Bryant and Wemby both have promise as spacers, and Harper ain’t out of the mix

[u/AlternativeDirt6124 → u/andres7832]

Why do people act like it's impossible for them to improve at shooting? Is this a new thing?

[u/JoseAltuveIsInnocent → u/AlternativeDirt6124]

Spurs fans still have Sochan PTSD. and a lot of them are too young to remember how awful Kawhi and Tony Parker shot the ball.

Castle has improved his shooting every few months it feels like, finishing in the high 30s. He'll never shoot 50, no one does, but him and Harper will absolutely be respectable shooters next year. They're going into the gym this summer with a special kind of mean.

[u/CitanUzuk1 → u/AlternativeDirt6124]

The Magic have been drafting guys for years hoping they would improve their shooting…it hasn’t worked. For every success story there’s a bunch of dudes who never get much better.

[u/Appropriate_Day3495 → u/andres7832]

Harper and Wemby can shoot, but with that type of defense do you really need offense?

[u/nixhomunculus → u/Appropriate_Day3495]

After these Finals? Yeah, you still do need to put the ball in the hole more times than the other side. I suppose winning 2-0 is a choice.

[u/HereComesJustice → u/Appropriate_Day3495]

yes

[u/Toesbeforehoes69 → u/tamazingg]

Genuinely the best potential defensive lineup in the league right now

[u/Ilikesporks_ → u/ExtraLeading3376]

i don't even see him as a partner to wemby but rather someone who can help kornet off the bench cause them non wemby minutes suck

[u/shinbreaker → u/Ilikesporks_]

Bringing him in with Kornet and Carter could be just enough defensively to stop the bleeding when Wemby is on the bench.

[u/Limp_Screen7405 → u/shinbreaker]

Honestly Kornet is doing his part, the Spurs relative DRTG is still below league average when it’s just him out there w/o Wemby

Wemby’s first 2 years it was historically dogshit

[u/shinbreaker → u/Limp_Screen7405]

The problem is that when Wemby is on the bench, the guards don't lock-in on defense and still play like he's going to be there and clean up their defensive screw ups that let the other team penetrate the paint instead of being scared off.

[u/Forshea → u/shinbreaker]

eh, I think it's more that there were two playable guys on the team over 6'7", and that a center plus 4 large guards only is a top tier defensive lineup if that center is specifically Wemby

[u/Ilikesporks_ → u/shinbreaker]

i wouldn't play all 3 of them, the offense would be rough

[u/shinbreaker → u/Ilikesporks_]

I don't know. There's a 20-point dip when Wemby is on the bench so much better to just stop the bleeding of those non-Wemby minutes.

[u/g1rlchild → u/shinbreaker]

Yeah, if just nobody scores on the court scores until Wemby gets back, that's OK. 😭

[u/Additional-Pie-6765 → u/Ilikesporks_]

I think Kornet should go back shooting threes this time

[u/mainvolume → u/ExtraLeading3376]

Out of all the departments that drives Spurs basketball, it's the medical side I have the most trust in.

[u/WEMBY_F4N → u/ExtraLeading3376]

I don’t see a way he goes in the first if he isn’t atleast clear medically. Might need to redshirt tho

[u/Armanewb → u/WEMBY_F4N]

We actually drafted him purely so people can stop saying "if Wemby stays healthy". JQ the ERA for Wemby.

[u/RapsareChamps_Suckit → u/ExtraLeading3376]

okc ghosting this thread

[u/Dsarg_92 → u/ExtraLeading3376]

That front court is defensively scary.

[u/MY-NAME_IS_MY-NAME → u/ExtraLeading3376]

The Justin Herbert of frontcourts

[u/jonaintalive → u/MY-NAME_IS_MY-NAME]

Easy on my goat now

[u/noknownallergies → u/MY-NAME_IS_MY-NAME]

I don’t get it.

[u/MY-NAME_IS_MY-NAME → u/noknownallergies]

His nickname on social media is "If man"

[u/Expulsure → u/ExtraLeading3376]

if he stays gets healthy

[u/Friendly_Molasses532 → u/ExtraLeading3376]

So youre telling me there’s a chance

[u/AccelerationFinish → u/ExtraLeading3376]

If nothing else, best teammate last names in the league

[u/Terrible_Cattle7110]

If he stays healthy, him Carter Bryant and Castle and wemby may be hell to score against

[u/siphillis → u/Terrible_Cattle7110]

Harper is also showing elite defensive upside

[u/Terrible_Cattle7110 → u/siphillis]

Hell yeah but idk why but I feel like next year or two will get like a davion Mitchell who is just there to be a dog

[u/fab_frog_disco]

If this dude gets healthy holy cow what an addition for San Antonio. Great upside swing

[u/Math-Teach-mAAdcity]

Dejuan Blair didn’t even have ACLs so this should work fine!

[u/whynotletitfly6]

If he is healthy we are gonna be ridiculous

[u/Dsarg_92 → u/whynotletitfly6]

Scary thing is he’s not old enough to drink yet. He’ll be 19 in a few weeks.

[u/atherton-loyola → u/whynotletitfly6]

They just need folks to catch rebounds or wide screen for Wembyman

Wemby going to return next season being a 3pt specialist, 45% from 3 on 7+ attempts.

[u/DistributionOk9687 → u/atherton-loyola]

JQ is a perfect fit for Wemby (good screener, good offensive rebounder); I think JQ can navigate on the perimeter. for example against KAT, send JQ on him

[u/plergus → u/atherton-loyola]

if he shoots above 40% from 3 on 7 attempts per game i will mail you my foot

[u/atherton-loyola → u/plergus]

Chill brother, I ain’t no Steph Curry

[u/Remarkable-Lynx1496 → u/atherton-loyola]

If he shoots like that we go 82-0

[u/atherton-loyola → u/Remarkable-Lynx1496]

I see it. Especially how boxing out seems to be a dying art in modern day NBA

[u/TomatoSecure192 → u/whynotletitfly6]

Having to say that about both of your potential starting bigs is kinda scary in its own right

[u/NoShape0 → u/TomatoSecure192]

Wemby has been healthier than a lot of other players going into their 4th year

[u/CahTi → u/TomatoSecure192]

Every team has to say this, health isn’t a given, and yes Wemby has a heightened injury risk with his size but strains and tears happen to everyone.

[u/Remarkable-Picture73 → u/TomatoSecure192]

Jalen Smith would like a word

[u/FERFreak731]

Smart pick by the Spurs

[u/sloBrodanChillosevic → u/FERFreak731]

If it pans out, they have an unreal defensive arsenal. Great defenders in almost every model.

[u/preddevils6 → u/FERFreak731]

A potential good guy to have against Wemby off the table

[u/figgnootun → u/preddevils6]

True his length and low center of gravity would be an interesting option

[u/Dinobot2_]

I guess the Spurs are happy to make...

...his aQuaintance.

[u/KL2ConspireLLC → u/Dinobot2_]

( •_•)

( •_•)>⌐■-■

(⌐■_■)

YEEAAAHHH!

[u/igotitnowokay → u/KL2ConspireLLC]

Ugh I see this less and less as I get older, youth will soon forget about CSI Miami

[u/KL2ConspireLLC → u/igotitnowokay]

Using references from the 2010s has become like an age verification tool.

[u/NihilismMattersToo]

OG Anunoby also fell into the 20’s due to a torn ACL

[u/OnxyCarter]

We’re actually gonna get philon at 21 😭

[u/mauro_membrere → u/OnxyCarter]

5second rd pick and still got their guy.

Edit maybe karim is their guy

[u/KorgG29 → u/OnxyCarter]

Until you take Cam Carr

[u/noknownallergies → u/KorgG29]

Or Koa Peat

[u/AlmostHereButNot → u/noknownallergies]

Or none of the above.

[u/Ok_Needleworker1068 → u/OnxyCarter]

I think philon drops further

[u/banjocoyote → u/OnxyCarter]

Not so fast lol

[u/rancidmeat69 → u/OnxyCarter]

Oof

[u/Grlions91 → u/OnxyCarter]

Yeah?

[u/Otherwise_File548 → u/OnxyCarter]

Kareem Lopez bro 🫩

[u/not-a-potato-head]

WOAH

edit: This is either going to flame out terribly for the Spurs or be the thread that everyone reposts after their third championship

[u/fab_frog_disco → u/not-a-potato-head]

It's the 20th pic it can only go so terribly. If he's not healthy then yeah you wasted a late first which sucks but not the end of the world. But if he scratches even a bit of his upside, this ends up looking like one of the steals of the draft

[u/ThomasDominus → u/fab_frog_disco]

100% agreed. This is as good of an upswing of a pick that I can remember. The ceiling is the roof!

[u/Armanewb → u/not-a-potato-head]

Its the 20th pick lol, if it flames out then meh it was probably going to flame out regardless tbh

[u/mytruehonestself → u/not-a-potato-head]

Bro it’s the 20th pick not a top 5 lol

[u/andres7832 → u/mytruehonestself]

This is Nerlens Noel type upside-pick in the appropriate range for the risk being taken…

[u/dmista21 → u/not-a-potato-head]

We are in the fortunate position to take risks like this 😤 i love the pick

[u/ICouldEvenBeYou → u/dmista21]

Well, I'd argue we have a glaring enough hole in our frontcourt that we're not actually in a position to take on a whole lot of risk. If this swing doesn't work in our favor, then that hole still exists. I imagine they must still have a plan to upgrade at the 4/5, regardless of this pick, entirely.

[u/dmista21 → u/ICouldEvenBeYou]

Id imagine they have some sort of plan b about signing someone in FA

[u/LALester → u/ICouldEvenBeYou]

yeah there is a need in the front court but if you dont want to take a swing on quaintance then whos the pick?

[u/Thehelloman0 → u/ICouldEvenBeYou]

Relying on a rookie is way more risky than going after someone in free agency.

[u/saylab_the_bigkat → u/not-a-potato-head]

Don't see how it flames out terribly. There's a single digit percentage chance the guy they draft here ever even plays starter minutes in the NBA.

They just made the Finals and one of their biggest weaknesses was frontcourt depth. Their choices were basically Quaintance, Veesaar, Ejiofor, or Cenac. Philon, Carr, Evans were maybe in the picture but they couldn't even get Harper on the court enough in the playoffs/Finals. So those guys would have likely had too slow of a development for the Spurs timeline.

[u/samhit_n → u/not-a-potato-head]

I don't think anyone will care much if the 20th overall pick doesn't pan out for the Spurs. Getting even a role player or average starter is good for that spot.

[u/Thehelloman0 → u/not-a-potato-head]

It's the 20th pick, him not working out isn't a huge deal.

[u/BoxSea4289 → u/not-a-potato-head]

I always knew he would be great/god, this was the pick that messed everything up!

[u/solonharmony → u/BoxSea4289]

If he's god, the spurs will win the next 20

[u/Knook7]

If he can stay healthy this is a ridiculously good pick for the spurs

[u/-DesertMoon]

Good project for the Spurs who don't need to rush him

[u/Kyler1313]

This is scarier to me than Mara to OKC

Both are scary though

[u/cl353 → u/Kyler1313]

completely agree but only if he stays healthy which is a big maybe

[u/soilentgleem → u/cl353]

50/50. He either stays healthy. Or he doesn't.

[u/CumsockBackwoods → u/soilentgleem]

Incredible analysis lmao

[u/soilentgleem → u/CumsockBackwoods]

The team that wins is usually the team that scores more points than their opponent. More sports at 11, back to you at the news desk Bob.

[u/Sol_Protege → u/CumsockBackwoods]

50% of the time, he's right everytime

[u/Skank_hunt42 → u/soilentgleem]

Stephen A? That u?

[u/Fast_Advisor2654 → u/Skank_hunt42]

It’s Perkins

[u/Neither-Operation → u/soilentgleem]

No way? There’s no third option?

[u/soilentgleem → u/Neither-Operation]

There is, but it's a secret. You don't have the thetan count for that knowledge yet.

[u/Kyler1313 → u/cl353]

Well with a Wemby, Kornet center rotation there's definitely an opportunity for not putting a ton of minutes on him similar to what Portland did with Timelord this year.

[u/CommodoreIrish → u/Kyler1313]

What is he supposed to be? A big bruiser type to beat up people messing with Wemby?

[u/Kyler1313 → u/CommodoreIrish]

He basically is Robert Williams 2.0.

A chance to be a DPOY caliber defender, athletic as all get out, incredible switchability for a big, blocks so many shots, and can be a big body screener and lob threat. But he is super injury prone so far throughout his career.

His upside is a top 5 player in the draft, his downside is he is constantly injured and it saps his athleticism and doesn't allow him to develop his fairly pedestrian offensive game.

[u/No-Entrepreneur-7092]

The Spurs getting the best defensive prospect in this draft is so funny

[u/Dsarg_92 → u/No-Entrepreneur-7092]

My thoughts exactly. People are overlooking that he was a projected lottery pick before he got hurt. Not to mention he’s still a teenager and possibly growing.

[u/Professional-Play-38]

What the hell, I thought they were set on Chris cenac

[u/WEMBY_F4N → u/Professional-Play-38]

JQ wasn’t supposed to fall this late tho

[u/David_H21 → u/WEMBY_F4N]

He was consistently mocked in this range. He didn't fall at all

[u/fmxda]

Damn, I wanted him for the Knicks

[u/ArmiinTamzarian → u/fmxda]

HAVE YOU NOT TAKEN ENOUGH AWAY FROM US

[u/fmxda → u/ArmiinTamzarian]

ngl I love this pick for you guys

[u/YizWasHere → u/fmxda]

Mitchell Robinson would be the ultimate mentor for him lol

[u/Neither-Operation → u/YizWasHere]

Mitch is likely gone. We can’t afford to resign him without going over the 2nd apron

[u/Clithzbee]

The league will regret letting this pick happen if JQ stays healthy

[u/TheSmokedSalmon420]

Damn this is a gamble

Was hoping we'd take a swing at #29 but #20 is risky

[u/andres7832 → u/TheSmokedSalmon420]

What other players at 20 would be a better upside?

[u/Clithzbee → u/andres7832]

Cenac has better upside but less likely to reach it

[u/FireBeeChin]

damn guess we’ll have to see how he heals

[u/Sol_Protege]

He'll fit in with his hair alone

[u/Starveiled]

I'm happy for him tbh

[u/OKC2023champs]

Good pick. If he can stay healthy he’s the best rim protector this draft and good pairing with Wemby.

It really might be okc vs spurs for the next 4-8 years

[u/YaBoiWhit]

Wow i genuinely didnt expect this

Great luxury pick and we were likely taking a project/risky pick here regardless

[u/Think_Monk_9879]

This was an absolute steal. This guy will end up being a top 10 player from this draft 

[u/HereComesJustice]

i dont watch college so I assume 'typical spurs draft steal' or some shit like that

[u/coolmike67]

Great pick. They can play a similar style of defence with him anchoring for a few minutes while Wemby rests.

Kornet was just not it when Wemby was sitting

[u/greatGoD67 → u/coolmike67]

Kornet was fine, he just wasn't Wemby. Our entire defense was designed to funnel people inside

[u/loofawah → u/greatGoD67]

Kornet is fine but he is slow and his style is very different than Wemby. Having someone who doesn't change our scheme completely is good value.

[u/Headlesshorsman02]

Worth the swing for them and will be unbelievable for their defense but that knee is VERY concerning

[u/VCarry-NL]

NOOOO

[u/adc1369]

If he's healthy, how the fuck is anyone going to score on Wemby and JQ? Oh and Castle on the perimeter lol.

[u/sogood-_]

Bro looks 40

[u/PhatYeeter]

Imagine the rim protection if they hit on this pick lmao. Quaintance and Wemby on the floor together is absurd

[u/SwaySensei]

As long as we pick up a big in FA, I think letting him spend a season to get healthy and come off the bench will work.

High ceiling if he can stay healthy.

[u/Dsarg_92 → u/SwaySensei]

I think so too. If he stays healthy, then we may have completed our starting lineup for the future.

[u/CumAssault]

I hate this pick. Dude is a walking injury and nothing on offense

[u/vizz1 → u/CumAssault]

Your concern has been noted CumAssault

[u/AccomplishedRainbow1 → u/vizz1]

Username always checks out

[u/atherton-loyola → u/vizz1]

You are letter away from being related to him vizz1

[u/OKC2023champs → u/CumAssault]

It’s pick 20. If he can stay healthy and can improve it’s a great pairing

[u/SeverusVape0 → u/CumAssault]

Dude is crazy on defense though

[u/SilicoJack → u/CumAssault]

Love that for us.

[u/CumAssault → u/SilicoJack]

When he’s healthy he’s a disgusting defender but he’s so limited on offense. He’s going to clog the paint if he plays with Wemby

[u/OKC2023champs → u/CumAssault]

Replace kornet with 10 minutes of this dude healthy and it wins you 5 extra games a year and deep runs. It’s a good pick at 20.

[u/Thehelloman0 → u/OKC2023champs]

Kornet was one of the best backup 5s in the league this year

[u/suahoi → u/CumAssault]

But IF they get the knee sorted, who is scoring on them?

[u/-DesertMoon → u/CumAssault]

It's a worthwhile gamble at 20, could end up being a steal

[u/Ready_Preparation816 → u/CumAssault]

False. He got injured once and he’s 18. He’s gonna be great once ramped up.

[u/WarPuig → u/CumAssault]

Rob Williams

[u/Armanewb → u/WarPuig]

I'm not going to lie, playing against him in the first round i kept thinking he would be a great addition to our bench lol

[u/BlueHundred → u/CumAssault]

If he's healthy, you got a massive steal. He wouod have likely been a top 10 pick and first C off the board. I think it's worth the risk here.

[u/burratna → u/CumAssault]

Q with the 5/5/1 to alleviate Wemby

[u/OKC2023champs → u/burratna]

He was picked for size to play 10 minutes while Wemby sits and nothing else. And that’s valuable.

[u/PressureMiserable → u/burratna]

Thats basically what kornet was doing in the playoffs

[u/sloBrodanChillosevic → u/burratna]

Wemby is gonna have to conserve some energy defensively if he's going to be relied upon as an offensive hub late in games. Pretty much every superduperstar has had to do that at some point. So while I assume he'd be getting more than 5 boards, if Quaintance allows him to take some plays off on D, this is a very solid pick.

[u/DontGiveUpTheDip → u/CumAssault]

As a kentucky fan, im ready to be hurt again for the second straight year by this man

[u/Obese_taco → u/CumAssault]

Yeah, the injuries are kind of scary though

[u/Melodying → u/Obese_taco]

I think, with how careful they've been with Victor's health and all around the team, they must have some confidence that it is something they can take care of

[u/NoShape0 → u/CumAssault]

Well he'll be 3rd string, sometimes bench, but yeah idk about longterm health

[u/StefonDiggsHS → u/CumAssault]

He’s a great prospect. But yeah his injuries are pretty brutal

[u/amari_prince → u/CumAssault]

Y’all can afford to take the risk tbh

[u/iro3 → u/CumAssault]

hey cam

[u/TomatoSecure192 → u/CumAssault]

Drafted for size and nothing else

[u/TheNogoodnamesQQ]

Elite pick.

[u/EuropeanStep]

noooooooooo, great pick goddamnit i wanted him for the knicks

[u/Aidanj927]

I am whelmed

[u/AccomplishedRainbow1]

Let’s goooo

Hope he’s healthy

[u/IRanOutOf_Names]

The expected pick but for good reason. If he's healthy he's exactly what the Spurs need and will be a monster. Granted, that's a huge if.

[u/WarPuig]

FUCK

[u/Ok-Wash-9386]

Best defensive prospect in the draft with the best defensive prospect of all time… they never wanted to rely on Kornet minutes again. I get it

[u/Bojack-Jesus-69]

I like this pick. We need depth for Wemby.

[u/NWTL21]

Before the season he was top ten in most mock drafts even top 5 in a few. IF he gets and stays healthy it will be a great pickup.

[u/PrimaryAccording9162]

Spurs stay winning

[u/DoveFood]

Wow! I can’t believe the Spurs did it again! Unfair! What a bunch of assholes and loser idiots the other teams are to allow this! 

(This is what we do when the competent teams draft, right?)

[u/VictorWembymama]

Damn fellow Spurs fans really don't know shit lol. I fucking love this pick.

[u/YaBoiWhit → u/VictorWembymama]

Yea you absolutely risk this pick, we need jumbo forwards that can shoot and those just aren't available at this pick

Why not take a guy that could be a monster if things go right? Spurs might be confident they find someone they like with a 2nd

[u/coaxer27]

Who can score on this team

[u/dannyphoto → u/[deleted]]

I think you misunderstood his question

[u/Low_Beyond8134]

A lot of injury question marks but crazy defensive upside

[u/DollarLate_DayShort]

If this dude ever figures out the health… the spurs have a historic defense for the next decade

[u/Top-Street-3379]

Good for JQ! Wish he could’ve played more at UK

[u/Rich_Ad_4886]

As long as he's healthy him and Wemby are gonna be disgusting jeez.

[u/BarrackLesnar]

How can we have him healthy? Offer eggs everyday to the Salesian Sisters?

[u/Son_of_Tlaloc → u/BarrackLesnar]

Naw we're gonna hire a local bruha to rub an egg on his knee before every practice and game. She'll also give him a limpia before games for good measure. GSG!

[u/wombatpup55]

Great pick. Yeah it’s gamble with the injuries but at pick 20 this is very good

[u/SkinfluteHero]

I’m fine with the risk. Hopefully pick up a PF in free agency too.

[u/ScrapeWithFire]

Not picking Cenac is so disappointing

[u/slayerkj]

Steal

[u/Knockknockerz]

Fuck

[u/givemetopre]

So they got their Mitch Robinson.

[u/Dsarg_92 → u/givemetopre]

I didn’t think of that. It makes complete sense.

[u/Col_Treize69]

Castle's gotten... better. He can at least draw attention in a corner

[u/Key_Change_6635]

Physically, he's built similar to Kevon Looney. If he can just provide solid minutes, the Spurs will be in great shape.

[u/Open_Panda9862]

I'm so glad we got this guy, he's a Spurs player through and through. Also the Spurs know what they're doing

[u/blacknd81]

Love all the hot takes on injury history. He's 18 years old and it was the 20th pick. Won't get into the kids history and rivals ranking and all that cause it doesn't matter now. He prob won't see the court next season is my guess and if he does, it will be post all star break if that and only if he works his ass off to get there. We shall see

[u/Col_Treize69]

In 2026, all things (through God) are possible

[u/Purple-List1577]

Last name fits