VFL, San Antonio Spurs draft pick Ja’Kobi Gillespie. Photo via Tennessee Athletics.
Former Tennessee guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie posted a game-high scoring number during the Spurs preseason game against the Jazz on Monday night.
Gillespie had 25 points on 9-of-14 shooting off the bench. He also went 4-of-8 from the three-point line and 3-of-3 from the free-throw line, and had three steals, three assists, and one rebound. Gillespie’s 25 minutes off the bench were the most of any of the Spurs’ backup players.
He recorded 15 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter as San Antonio tried to claw its way back from a big deficit.
Darryn Peterson, a guard out of Kansas who was the No. 2 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, had 14 points on 5-of-10 shooting and 1-of-2 three-point shooting. In one more minute on the court than Peterson, Gillespie had more points, more steals, and shot the ball more efficiently.
Spurs rookie Ja’Kobi Gillespie can really score the basketball, impressive showing tonight.
25 PTS, 3 AST, 3 STL, 9/14 FG, 4/8 3FG, 82 TS%
Spurs drafted another shifty guard 👀 https://t.co/omlmxArefo
— Basketball Performances (@NBAPerformances) October 13, 2026
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“He’s a guy that in terms of what we’re looking for from every single person on our roster, the way that he’s guarding and competing, sharing the basketball, playing with pace, being aggressive, attacking, (is doing a good job),” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said about Gillespie after the game, via Yahoo Sports. “He’s not perfect, but he’s playing with confidence and putting his energy in the right spots. The next thing you know, he has a lot of opportunities and advantageous spots that he finds himself in.”
Gillespie was selected with the 42nd overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft by the Spurs. During his lone season at Tennessee, Gillespie averaged 18.4 points, 5.4 assists and 2.8 rebounds on his way to earning All-SEC honors. The Greeneville, Tennessee native also broke the Vols’ single-season steal record with 79 steals during the 2025-26 season.
Gillespie’s showing against the Jazz was the best of his three preseason games to date. He scored nine eight points in nine minutes during the Spurs’ first preseason game and three points in 11 minutes in the Spurs’ second preseason game.
In four NBA Summer League games for the Spurs in July, Gillespie averaged 16.0 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 4.2 assists in 26.5 minutes per game.
Gillespie and the Spurs will be back in action on Wednesday night for their final preseason game against the Suns.
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