Guangzhou Loong-Lions vs San Antonio Spurs

The game was the preseason opener for the San Antonio Spurs, taking place Monday, October 6, 2025, at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio. The Spurs hosted the Guangzhou Loong-Lions, a team from the Chinese Basketball Association that features several former NBA players on its roster.

San Antonio entered the matchup short-handed, with several key players ruled out. De’Aaron Fox (hamstring), Stephon Castle (bruised knee), Dylan Harper (thumb), Kelly Olynyk (heel), Devin Vassell, and Jeremy Sochan were all unavailable for the preseason opener. Many of these absences were precautionary or related to recovery from offseason injuries. The Loong-Lions did not report any major absences before tip-off. As a result, San Antonio planned to rely heavily on its bench unit and developmental players, including Luke Kornet, Carter Bryant, and Lindy Waters III, to handle extended minutes.

With so many regulars sidelined, the Spurs coaching staff approached the game as a developmental exercise. Coach Gregg Popovich and his assistants aimed to experiment with lineups, test spacing and defensive rotations, and evaluate younger talent under game conditions. Victor Wembanyama’s return was one of the main storylines, with attention focused on his conditioning and how he integrated into the team’s offensive flow. San Antonio Spurs were expected to test two-big lineups and adjust defensive coverages throughout the night. The Loong-Lions, featuring experienced players like Frank Kaminsky and Victor Oladipo, looked to challenge San Antonio’s less experienced rotations with physical play and high-tempo offense.

Media coverage leading up to the game centered on San Antonio’s chance to assess its depth and the return of Wembanyama following minor health concerns earlier in the offseason. Local outlets emphasized the importance of this preseason matchup for evaluating chemistry, especially with new guard rotations and limited veteran presence. Analysts pointed out that the Spurs’ focus would likely be on execution and rhythm rather than the final score. Coverage in both the U.S. and China also highlighted the international aspect of the contest, noting how games like this reflect the NBA’s global outreach and growing basketball influence in Asia.

Studio analysts discussed which players could capitalize on the opportunity created by the Spurs’ injury list. They spotlighted Carter Bryant and Lindy Waters III as potential standouts looking to earn rotation minutes. Analysts also discussed how the coaching staff would manage Wembanyama’s minutes, speculating whether he’d play in short bursts to build conditioning gradually. On the Loong-Lions’ side, the focus was on how veterans like Kaminsky and Oladipo could measure up against NBA competition and help their younger teammates gain experience. The overall tone from analysts before tip-off was one of patience and observation, emphasizing development, health management, and team cohesion over the result.