San Antonio Spurs rookie Harrison Ingram remains a basketball unknown to coach Popovich
SAN ANTONIO — San Antonio Spurs rookie Harrison Ingram has played in all four of the team's preseason games, averaging 23 minutes per contest.
But despite being on the floor for three games, the forward is still unknown to coach Gregg Popovich.
"I don't know yet," he said before the team's preseason match versus Miami. "He just got here."
Obviously, Pop knows who Harrison is personally, but what he can do on the floor is an open question.
The rookie was selected in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft out of North Carolina. In one season at UNC, he appeared in 37 games, averaging a career-high 12.2 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.40 steals in 32.8 minutes as a junior.
He had a strong showing during Summer League play, averaging 10.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.0 steals in 28.6 minutes in Las Vegas. In the Sacramento California Classic, he averaged 10.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in three games.
"I don't know his game, really," Popovich added.
Through the preseason, Harrison has given a glimpse of what he can bring to the floor in time. In seven minutes, he averages 1.3 points per game to go with 40% shooting and 3.0 rebounds.
That's not a large sample size for Popovich to use to make a correct basketball evaluation of the Dallas, Texas, native though he does have the intangibles to make it in the NBA.
"He's a hard worker," he said. "He's willing."
Even his teammate, Sandro Mamukelashvili, sees Ingram's basketball upside.
"He's figuring out where to be. Great guy. Works hard," Mamukelashvili added.
Ingram inked a two-way contract with San Antonio and will more than likely see a bulk of time spent playing for the G League's Austin Spurs.
There, like many Spurs before him, he'll learn what it takes to make it in the league, get a better understanding of the Spurs' system, and get valuable playing time rather than sitting on the San Antonio bench.
"I'm happy to be here," he said during Summer League play. "Whether it's G League or staying on the main team, whatever it is, I'm ready to do it to achieve my dreams."
In Austin, he will be able to show off his offensive versatility with his scoring, playmaking, and ability to guard multiple positions as he did in the ACC.
And the Spurs head coach will be watching.
"He'll play in the G League then I'll find out more when I watch him play," Popovich said of Harrison.
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