Tobias Harris, the San Antonio Spurs’ $31 million offseason signing, still hasn’t hit the court for the defending Western Conference champions. He’s been sidelined since the very first week of training camp with a left calf strain, and it sounds like it could be a minute before we see him in action. Spurs coach Mitch Johnson is being crystal clear: they are taking Harris’s rehab “very, very methodically.”
Why the Spurs Are Pumping the Brakes on Harris
Coach Johnson isn’t messing around when it comes to Harris’s return, emphasizing the need for patience. “We need to just be patient and make sure we get it all the way right and get him all the way right in terms of being ready to prepare to play an NBA game at the (fast-paced) style of play we want,” Johnson said before their recent game against Minnesota. It’s not just about getting Harris back, it’s about getting him back 100% and ready for the specific, high-octane game the Spurs want to play. This isn’t a quick fix, and Johnson stressed that this methodical approach is “appropriate.”
The Real Stakes Behind the Calf Strain
This isn’t just any injury, and the Spurs know it. Johnson pointed out that calf strains “can be tricky,” and studies have actually shown they can crank up the risk of a nasty Achilles tendon rupture in NBA players. Yikes. That’s a huge factor in why the medical staff is being so incredibly cautious. Harris signed a two-year, $31 million contract in the offseason, so the investment is real, and the last thing anyone wants is to rush him back and risk a bigger setback. Johnson summed it up perfectly, knowing they have “70 whatever games left”: “So we just need to keep ourselves and mostly Tobias from ourselves and himself.” It’s about protecting the player from himself, which is honestly smart long-term thinking for the defending champs.
Even without Harris, the Spurs kicked off their season with a 116-104 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on October 20. They were facing Minnesota at Frost Bank Center when Johnson provided this update. Everyone’s gotta be itching to see Harris debut, especially after dropping that kind of cash on him. For now, we wait, knowing the Spurs are prioritizing his long-term health and the team’s future.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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