The San Antonio Spurs will enter the 2025-26 season nearly at full strength, with their only major injury concern being second overall draft pick Dylan Harper, who underwent surgery for a thumb issue earlier this offseason.
While Harper is expected to make a full recovery, he is not the only recent Spurs’ draft pick with injury issues.
FC Barcelona announced that point guard Juan Nunez will have an arthroscopic procedure on his left knee, which has given him issues his entire career.
Nunez was picked 36th overall by San Antonio (via IND) in the 2024 NBA Draft and was stashed in the European league.
GettySpain’s Juan Nunez receives a trophy of Player of the Game after the FIBA Basketball World Cup group G match between Brazil and Spain at The Indonesia Arena in Jakarta on August 28, 2023. (Photo by Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP) (Photo by YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP via Getty Images)
Juan Nunez to Undergo 2nd Surgery
Nunez ruptured his meniscus in March, sidelining him for the summer, and is facing a setback before the European season begins.
The Spurs still own the NBA rights to the Spanish point guard and could bring him stateside at any time, although the injury news doesn’t help his chances.
“After his return to the team dynamics, the player presented an inflammatory reaction in his right knee, operated on for a rupture of the external meniscus on March 11,” the team announced in a statement translated by EuroHoops.Net.
“The evolution has not been favorable under conservative treatment, which is why it has been decided to perform an exploratory arthroscopy next week, at the Hospital de Barcelona, by Dr. Joan Carles Monllau and under the supervision of the Club’s Medical Services. Once this is completed, a new medical statement will be made.”
In 20 Spanish League games last season, Nunez averaged 5.1 points, 3.4 assists, and 0.9 steals.
GettyNEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 27: Juan Núñez speaks to the media after being selected by the San Antonio Spurs with the 36th pick during the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft at ESPN Seaport District Studios on June 27, 2024 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)
How Injury News Impacts San Antonio Spurs
When the Spurs drafted Nunez 36th overall, it was immediately clear that he would remain in Spain, which offers better developmental systems than the G League.
The Spurs have found success with the “draft and stash” strategy before, most notably picking Manu Ginobili 57th overall in 1999. He would remain in Italy for three years before making his NBA debut, eventually becoming a four-time champion and first-ballot Hall of Famer.
While fans knew it was a pipe dream, there were hopes Nunez could be a similar success story.
Nunez is a high-level facilitator who can play solid defense, although his offense is limited by a shaky shot. With De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, and Harper all in town and more than capable of playing point guard, it looks like this injury is just another obstacle on Nunez’s unlikely path to the NBA.
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