The San Antonio Spurs were well represented at All-Star Weekend. Victor Wembanyama was voted as the starter for the All-Star Game. Stephen Castle and Dylan Harper competed in the Rising Stars competition, with Harper also being a part of the returning Shooting Stars event. And rookie Carter Bryant, who has recently started playing regularly with the Spurs, was one of the headliners of the slam dunk contest.
Bryant was selected late as a replacement for the Rising Stars Tournament due to an injury to Memphis Grizzlies rookie Cedric Coward. He was impressive during his first All-Star Weekend appearance, showing some of the defensive ability that the Spurs knew they were getting when they drafted him.
In the first Rising Stars game as part of Team Vince, Bryant finished with four points, one rebound and one blocked shot in a little over five minutes. In the second game, as Team Vince won the Rising Stars championship, Bryant finished with five points, one rebound and one steal, while shooting a perfect 2-of-2, including 1-of-1 from 3-point range.
For Bryant, being able to participate in All-Star Weekend as a rookie was a testament to the hard work he has put in since being drafted.
"On my side, I feel like the work I've put in is being seen and my teammates have held me to a standard that's allowed me to perform a certain way," Bryant told ClutchPoints in an exclusive interview. "Obviously with injuries, it took something for that to happen, but I'm fortunate enough to be in a position where I've performed well enough this season, whether it's the last few games, to get a chance to play in the Rising Stars game. It's an honor."
Not only was Carter Bryant given the opportunity to participate in the NBA's premier weekend, but it was a homecoming for the Spurs rookie. His father D'Sean has been a longtime prominent figure in the Southern California basketball scene, having played in college at Long Beach State before moving into coaching high school basketball.
Bryant grew up in Southern California and played his senior year of high school at local powerhouse Corona Centennial. He also played for his father at Fountain Valley and Sage Hill, two other local high schools. One of the greatest things for him about attending All-Star Weekend was the presence of his family.
Bryant said, "Growing up, All-Star Weekend is everything to a kid, especially when you love the game. The best players in basketball get together and make things happen." "But for it to be in my hometown, and to be a part of something I've always dreamed of, I'm so happy. Just being able to be with my family, being able to have my loved ones supporting me, it means everything."
And as a local kid, it was former Los Angeles Lakers superstar, the late Kobe Bryant, who provided him with his favorite All-Star memory.
Bryant said, "I would say the one that really stood out was Kobe's last All-Star Game. Being a Southern California kid, being a kid growing up with Kobe, when he got to the All-Star Game in Toronto last year." “That whole weekend in general, from the dunk contest to the All-Star Game, having the iconic moments in that whole thing, it was dope.”
Carter Bryant's having a party with the Spurs
The Rising Stars Game was not the only event Carter Bryant attended during All-Star Weekend. He was also selected for the Slam Dunk Contest. He made it to the final round of the competition where he ultimately lost to Keshad Johnson of the Miami Heat.
Although Bryant did not win the dunk contest, he had a good performance overall. He explained how the event has served as a rising party for young players in the past. As he begins his rookie year with the Spurs, he feels like his All-Star Weekend participation could be a springboard for his own career.
"I think the one thing that's been missing over the years is the swagger and confidence that a lot of the great guys had that originally did it. ... It was kind of a coming out party for a lot of guys. A lot of young guys came in, they were really young players, but they wanted to do the dunk contest," Bryant said, "kind of bringing that energy back to the dunk contest, having confidence in myself that I'm confident in the work that I do. I have a God-given ability because of my athletic talent and being able to display it.”
It was just before the All-Star break when Bryant got his first real opportunity in the Spurs rotation. Selected 14th overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, he played consistently during the first few months of the regular season, but did not receive consistent playing time until February.
In the six games played just before the break, he scored in double figures three times, including a career-high 16 points in a blowout win against the Los Angeles Lakers. During that time, Bryant showed signs of being a reliable 3-point shooter. He shot a combined 44 percent from distance, a huge increase from his season average of 32.9 percent.
As far as what it takes to succeed in the NBA, one thing he has learned is patience.
Bryant said, "Patience is everything. I would say that's the biggest thing I've learned. Understanding that not everything is going to be on your terms, what a great lesson that's been." "Having good vets and a great coaching staff, being able to sit down with a lot of the guys on the coaching staff... even in the video room, talking to the training staff about how to properly take care of my body. They've seen guys who have done this for a long time and had a chance to play 20 years."
Bryant added, "That's the ultimate goal, to play a long time and be a great player." "Being able to pick those brains and not dwell in those moments when you feel like you can't do anything right."
But in addition to his offensive abilities, the defensive end of the court has been an area where Bryant has shined in his rookie season. When it comes to the Spurs' regular rotation players, Bryant is top-10 on the team in defensive rating, according to Statmuse.
Offense in the NBA sometimes comes and goes, and the number of shots and opportunities players get often varies from game to game. But the defensive end of the court, is something that cannot be compromised. Defensively the effort and energy must always be there, no matter how many shots the player attempts.
This is a part of Bryant's game that he is 100 percent confident he can make an immediate impact on.
Bryant said, "I don't think you can put anybody in front of me that I can't compete with. I embrace the competition. That's what I grew up on. I grew up watching Kobe. I grew up watching those guys attack each other every night." "When I grew up watching NBA basketball there were no buddy-buddy guys. It's just the mentality, I'm trying to bring the understanding that every night is an opportunity to show what you're made of."
At the time of the All-Star break, the Spurs were in second place in the Western Conference standings, and were being mentioned among potential title contenders. As it stands, they are 40-16 in the West, have won eight straight games and are only two and a half games behind the No. 1 seeded Oklahoma City Thunder.
Players always have goals they want to achieve during the season, especially young players who are experiencing the NBA for the first time. But not Bryant. For him, all personal things will come in time. Right now, it is about maximizing his potential to help the team win.
Bryant said, "Making the playoffs, and with the talent that we have and the team that we have, we're capable of making the finals. I think we're there. I think we have a lot of guys that really work to their potential, and I think we have a good balance of vets and young guys." "We all go to work understanding what the chances are for us as a team. I think that's the thing for me, I'm not worried about any individual things."
Bryant added, "Things like this come with time and come with winning." "Winning is the first priority."
