Who is the Spurs' Secret Weapon?

Despite missing Victor Wembanyama, Jeremy Sochan, and Devin Vassell, the San Antonio Spurs were able to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday, 110-104. The Spurs' scoring effort was led by Keldon Johnson's 22 points, but seven players scored in double digits. Charles Bassey, who has only played in eight games this season, received his second-straight game with at least 20 minutes.

Against the Dallas Mavericks, he secured six rebounds and blocked two shots, but failed to score. Against the Thunder, he added 12 points, eight rebounds, and two blocks in one of the best games of his career. © Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images The Spurs have a very strong next-man-up mentality, which means bench players might go several games without suiting up but have to be willing and able to get in on the action when needed.



Bassey certainly answered the call and has been a bright spot for the Spurs amid their poor injury luck. "Great energy, activity, I thought he imposed his will and was very influential around the rim on both sides," said acting head coach Mitch Johnson. Bassey and Stephon Castle shared the floor for extended time for the first time this weekend, but the rookie point guard was not surprised by his teammate's performance.

"Me and Bassey work out together all the time, so it wasn't anything new for us," said Castle. "I'm really happy for him, happy he got the opportunity to really go out there and show it because he has those abilities to go out there and do that every night." Bassey only played in 19 games last season before tearing his ACL.

He was shut down for the season and had an arduous recovery process that bled into the offseason. "[Coaches have] been preparing me the whole summer," said Bassey. "I was in the gym.

I didn't go anywhere, no vacation." Once Wembanyama returns to the lineup, Bassey will once again become an end-of-the-bench player, but his ability to bring some hustle, physicality, and paint presence has quickly made him a fan-favorite. "If I don't bring energy, who will?" Bassey asked.

"This is what I do, and I love this team." Related: No Wemby, No Problem for Spurs vs. Thunder The Spurs, when healthy, utilize a four-man center rotation of Wembanyama, Zach Collins, Sandro Mamukelashvili, and Bassey.

However, there have been calls to trade Collins and make room for both Mamu and Bassey to see an increase in playing time. Bassey excels on the defensive side as a rebounding anchor, and Mamukelashvili's ability to space the floor, handle the ball, and defend fairly well on the perimeter allows the Spurs to play him next to their other bigs, adding a touch of versatility to the frontcourt. Related: What Numbers Support Stephon Castle's Elite Defense?.