Spurs' Charles Bassey: Out for season with ACL tear
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The Spurs announced Tuesday that Bassey will miss the remainder of the season after tearing the ACL in his left knee while playing for the G League's Austin Spurs on Sunday, Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News reports.
After rejoining the Spurs following his appearance for the G League club over the weekend, Bassey was sent in for an evaluation Tuesday, which confirmed initial fears of a serious injury for the 23-year-old. Bassey had served as the NBA club's No. 2 center for much of the season and was productive on a per-minute basis, averaging 3.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 0.9 blocks in 10.8 minutes per game while shooting 72.5 percent from the field over his 19 appearances. However, after suffering a non-displaced patellar fracture in his left knee late last season and also sustaining a tibial plateau fracture to the same leg during his college days at Western Kentucky, Bassey's NBA future may be in flux in light of his latest injury. Sandro Mamukelashvili and Dominick Barlow will likely move up a rung on the depth chart while Bassey is done for the season, but neither may become a rotation player after the Spurs recently moved Victor Wembanyama over from power forward to center. Zach Collins has come off the bench for both of the past two games and should soak up the majority of the minutes at center when Wembanyama is off the court.
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Spurs' Charles Bassey: Could miss extended time
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Bassey will be re-examined in San Antonio on Tuesday and appears to be at risk of missing extended time, Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News reports.
Bassey rejoined the Spurs on Monday, one day after he suited up for the G League's Austin Spurs and recorded 30 points (12-24 FG, 2-2 3Pt, 2-2 FT), 13 rebounds, five assists, four blocks and two steals in a 115-111 loss to the Texas Legends. He apparently sustained the left knee injury at some point during Sunday's appearance with Austin and wasn't available Monday for the NBA team's loss to the Rockets, and the third-year center now looks as though he could be in danger of a long-term absence. Bassey notably saw his 2022-23 season come to an early end in mid-March after he suffered a non-displaced fracture of the patella in the same knee.
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Spurs' Charles Bassey: Dealing with knee injury
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Bassey has been ruled out for Monday's matchup against Denver due to a left knee injury, Paul Garcia of ProjectSpurs.com reports.
Bassey held an inconsistent role to start the season, appearing in 19 straight contests and averaging 10.7 minutes per game. He was sent to the G League at the beginning of December to get more consistent playing time, but he appears to have suffered an injury. Bassey's next chance to suit up will come Wednesday versus the Lakers.
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Spurs' Charles Bassey: Grabs 11 boards sans Wembanyama
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Bassey contributed eight points (4-4 FG), 11 rebounds, three assists and three blocks in 19 minutes during Friday's 121-106 loss to New Orleans.
Spurs standout rookie Victor Wembanyama (hip) didn't play Friday, opening more of an opportunity for Bassey to get on the court. His 19 minutes were a season high, and Bassey responded with a strong performance that included a team-high 11 rebounds and three blocked shots. Bassey came into the contest averaging just 10.3 minutes per game, and despite Friday's strong effort, he'll likely return to that level of playing time when Wembanyama is able to return.
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Spurs' Charles Bassey: Picks up slack in paint
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Bassey ended Monday's 124-99 loss to the Clippers with two points (1-3 FG), 12 rebounds, three assists and four blocks over 18 minutes.
Bassey is locked in behind Victor Wembanyama on the depth chart, but he enjoyed some extra time during the rookie's lackluster game. Bassey has the skills to start on an NBA team, but he's in the worst position imaginable as a backup to a once-in-a-generation player. He signed a four-year contract with the team before Wembanyama was selected, and if he can make the most of his limited opportunities, teams in need of interior support might give his agent a call.
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Spurs' Charles Bassey: Solid garbage-time production
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Bassey produced 10 points (5-5 FG), three rebounds, one assist and three steals over 17 minutes during Monday's 152-111 loss to the Pacers.
San Antonio trailed by 32 points entering the fourth quarter Monday, so benches were emptied early in the contest. Nonetheless, the 23-year-old capitalized to the fullest with perfect shooting from the field and admirable defensive activity.
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Spurs' Charles Bassey: Hauls in five rebounds
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Bassey racked up two points (1-1 FG), five rebounds, two assists and one steal across 13 minutes during Wednesday's 126-119 loss to the Mavericks.
Bassey had minimal shot volume off the bench Wednesday, but he was effective on the boards during the narrow defeat. The 22-year-old has limited fantasy upside during the 2023-24 campaign after the Spurs drafted Victor Wembanyama during the offseason, and he can be safely left on waiver wires as long as the team's frontcourt is healthy.
Bassey is not in the starting lineup for Monday's preseason contest against Houston.
Bassey will reprise a bench role while Zach Collins rejoins the starting unit. Bassey has averaged 6.0 points, 9.0 rebounds and 3.0 blocks in 19.6 minutes per game across two preseason appearances.
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Spurs' Charles Bassey: Pounds glass in loss
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Bassey supplied six points (3-5 FG), 12 rebounds, four assists and two blocks in 16 minutes during Monday's 122-121 preseason loss to the Thunder.
Bassey has an argument to be San Antonio's most physical rebounder, which could help him carve out a platoon roll when Zach Collins isn't on the court. Bassey was sharp in the G League last season, averaging 22.6 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.5 blocks per game across 10 starts.
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Spurs' Charles Bassey: Healthy for start of camp
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Coach Gregg Popovich said Thursday that Bassey (kneecap) has been "full speed" in practice to begin training camp, Tom Osborn of the San Antonio Express-News reports.
Bassey missed the end of last season due to a non-displaced fracture of his left patella, but he appears to be healthy as the Spurs prepare for the preseason. He was limited to just 35 appearances in the NBA while splitting time between the G League and parent club last year, but he averaged 5.7 points and 5.5 rebounds in 14.5 minutes per game with San Antonio.
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Spurs' Charles Bassey: Likely done for season
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Bassey is likely out for the rest of the 2022-23 campaign after the Spurs confirmed Wednesday that the big man suffered a non-displaced fracture of his left patella during Tuesday's win over the Magic, Tom Osborn of the San Antonio Express-News reports.
Bassey was set to undergo further testing Wednesday after an initial diagnosis Tuesday presumed the fracture, and the second-year center didn't get positive news from those scans. Before the injury, Bassey had carved out a nice backup role in San Antonio, posting 8.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.0 blocks and 0.7 steals in 17.2 minutes over his past 10 appearances (one start). However, he'll now have to turn his sights on preparing for the 2023-24 campaign. Bassey signed a four-year, $10.2 million deal with San Antonio in February, so the Spurs have faith they can develop the 23-year-old into a solid rotational piece over the next few years. In his absence, more minutes could be in store for Sandro Mamukelashvili and Gorgui Dieng.
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Spurs' Charles Bassey: Suffers knee fracture
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Bassey will undergo additional tests Wednesday after an initial diagnosis of the injury he suffered in Tuesday's 132-114 win over the Magic revealed a non-displaced fracture in his left patella, Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News reports.
Bassey scored two points (1-2 FG) and added two assists, one steal and one block in eight minutes before exiting the contest with the left knee injury. Heading into the contest, the second-year big man was averaging 8.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.0 blocks in 17.2 minutes across his last 10 appearances. The Spurs will presumably put Bassey through additional tests before confirming the diagnosis, but he looks as though he could be in danger of missing the rest of the season.
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Spurs' Charles Bassey: Won't return with knee issue
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Bassey will not return to Tuesday's game against Orlando due to a left knee injury, Tom Osborn of the San Antonio Express-News reports.
This is a tough blow for the Spurs, as Bassey has been solid off the bench in recent weeks. He'll finish the game with two points, two assists, one steal and one block in eight minutes. If Bassey misses additional time, the Spurs could turn to Sandro Mamukelashvili.
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Spurs' Charles Bassey: Returns to bench
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Bassey isn't in the starting five for Friday's game versus Denver.
Zach Collins will replace Bassey in the starting lineup Friday. Bassey is averaging 8.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.0 blocks in 16.7 minutes across his previous seven outings coming off the bench this season.
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Spurs' Charles Bassey: Efficient from field in loss
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Bassey closed with 14 points (7-10 FG, 0-1 FT), six rebounds, two assists and one block across 25 minutes during Sunday's 142-110 loss to the Rockets.
Bassey missed only three of his 10 shots and was one of the team's top scorers in a game where the entire offense sputtered, as San Antonio ended up suffering a massive 32-point loss. With Zach Collins (undisclosed) and Jeremy Sochan (knee) sidelined Sunday, Bassey started for the first time since Dec. 14, and he's now scored in double digits in three of his last six contests.
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Spurs' Charles Bassey: Starting Sunday
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Bassey will start Sunday against the Rockets, Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News reports.
Bassey will earn the second start of his career with Zach Collins out with an undisclosed injury, and he looks like an attractive streamer with a favorable matchup against the Rockets. In his only previous start this season (Dec. 14 vs. POR), Bassey put up six points, five rebounds, two assists and two blocks in 20 minutes.
