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Spurs Select Jayden Quaintance with No. 20 Pick in NBA Draft First Round
Quaintance slid after a knee injury limited him to four games, and the Spurs added another former Kentucky player in the first round.
- On Wednesday, June 24, 2026, the San Antonio Spurs selected former Kentucky center Jayden Quaintance with the 20th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, securing a high-upside frontcourt prospect.
- Quaintance's draft stock fluctuated due to limited collegiate playing time, as a right knee injury stemming from a 2025 torn ACL restricted him to four games during his lone season at Kentucky.
- The 18-year-old, 6-foot-9, 253-pound forward-center previously earned Big 12 All-Freshman and All-Defensive honors at Arizona State, where he averaged 9.4 points and 2.6 blocks during his freshman season.
- San Antonio envisions the defensive-minded prospect as a long-term backup to Victor Wembanyama, prioritizing his rim protection and short-roll passing abilities to bolster the team's second unit.
- Selecting Quaintance represents a calculated gamble for the 2026 NBA Finals runner-up, as the team leverages its established core to develop the young big man's raw potential.
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After an injury-filled Kentucky season, Jayden Quaintance is selected in NBA draft
LEXINGTON, Ky. — For the first time, a player who Mark Pope has coached in college has been selected in the first round of the NBA draft. But this milestone will carry an asterisk alongside it. On Tuesday night, former…
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Total News Sources19
Leaning Left3Leaning Right1Center7Last UpdatedBias Distribution64% Center
Bias Distribution
- 64% of the sources are Center
64% Center
L 27%
C 64%
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