San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson carried his trademark high-energy style both on and off the court following a 126-97 preseason-ending victory over the Sacramento Kings at the Frost Bank Center.
Johnson finished Friday night’s contest with 15 points, five rebounds, and two assists in 20 minutes of play. Afterward, the eighth-year pro and longest-tenured current Spur entertained reporters, team staffers, and teammates in the locker room before leaving the arena with plenty of stamina remaining.
The 6-foot-6 forward dropped at least 15 pounds during the offseason by focusing on eating at home and skipping snacks. Now listed at 215 pounds, the 2026 Sixth Man of the Year is looking to prove that a leaner physique can maintain the physical robustness that helped him become the only NBA player in 2025-26 to appear in all 82 games without making a single start.
Reflecting on his physical transformation, Johnson noted that he feels faster and just as strong, emphasizing that maintaining discipline at his current weight is his primary focus. This is not his first summer shedding significant weight; he entered the 2022-23 campaign 21 pounds lighter after hiring a personal chef.
Spurs coach Mitch Johnson praised the veteran’s sustained strength and expects the weight loss to translate into improved vertical explosiveness and endurance. The coach noted that Johnson’s current energy level reflects the positive physical changes.
Johnson enters the final year of a four-year, $80 million contract extension signed in July 2022, earning $17.5 million this season. Last year, he averaged 13.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game.
Meanwhile, second-year guard Dylan Harper is carrying strong momentum into the regular season. The 20-year-old, selected No. 2 overall in the 2025 draft, led the Spurs in preseason scoring with a 14.8 average, capped by a 19-point performance against Sacramento where he shot 7 of 12 from the floor, including 3 of 6 from beyond the arc.
Harper connected on a team-high 57.1 percent of his 3-point attempts on 3.5 tries per game during the preseason. That performance marked a substantial leap from his rookie campaign, when he shot 34.3 percent from distance on 2.6 attempts while averaging 11.8 points.
Preparing for a nationally televised season opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder—a rematch of the 2026 Western Conference finals won by San Antonio in seven games—Harper stated he feels entirely confident in his perimeter shot after a busy summer of development.
Mitch Johnson highlighted Harper’s incremental shooting progress and growing maturity, noting that the young guard is establishing solid professional habits. With San Antonio deploying a speedy, downhill three-guard lineup featuring Harper, De’Aaron Fox, and Stephon Castle alongside Devin Vassell and Victor Wembanyama, reliable outside shooting from Harper is vital to spacing the floor.
Ahead of Tuesday night’s matchup at the Frost Bank Center, the Spurs finalized their 17-man opening-night roster while leaving one standard contract spot open. The franchise also announced the exercise of fourth-year team options for Castle and third-year options for Harper and Carter Bryant ahead of the 2027-28 season.
