Carter Bryant, who once idolised Kawhi Leonard, is making a name for himself. Leonard remembers Bryant as a youngster mimicking older kids in a Riverside, California gym. He was too young to envision his future, but Leonard believed Bryant was destined for big things.
Bryant’s Impact on the Game
Bryant played a role in a 25-point comeback, surprising even Victor Wembanyama. He managed to steal a pass, block a shot, slam home an alley-oop, and swish a 3-pointer. After the Spurs’ 116-112 victory over the Clippers, Bryant said he hasn’t been a winner at any level.
Julian Champagnie credited Carter Bryant for the Spurs erasing a 75-50 third-quarter deficit. Wembanyama noted Bryant “had the loudest five points and three rebounds” he’d ever seen. Bryant said that making winning plays gives him a different feeling and a different confidence.
The Path to Becoming a Winner
Bryant’s father, D’Cean, coached Leonard as a development assistant at Martin Luther King High School from 2007-’09. Bryant followed San Diego State religiously as a youngster, Leonard’s former college program. He played at three different high schools in the Inland Empire area of California. In his lone college season at Arizona, he mostly came off the bench for a squad that fell out of the Top 25 early and wound up losing in the Sweet 16.
Embracing the Winning Mentality
Bryant is starting to feel like a winner. He is becoming one, even if the 20-year-old rookie isn’t sure of that yet. Bryant said that winning gives you a different swag and it’s something he’s never experienced before.