Tennessee has already had a big NBA Draft night with Nate Ament being selected in the first round by the Milwaukee Bucks, and Rick Barnes’ development of players is on display once again in the second round.
With the No. 42 overall pick, the San Antonio Spurs have drafted Ja’Kobi Gillespie, who was a star for Tennessee last season, playing a big role on both sides of the floor.
The Bucks pick comes with draft grades that are underrating Nate Ament’s upside
How does Gillespie fit with the Spurs
On a team with championship aspirations, Gillespie has a big role to fill and if he's expected to play right away. Best-case scenario, he runs the second unit for the Spurs, who had some guard issues with De’Aaron Fox during their playoff run. However, he will have to earn that role because Dylan Harper is the star rookie from last season. Still, Gillespie could move into a more off-ball role if he earns it.
The good news is that Gillespie doesn’t need to be the focal point of the offense right away. He can come in and develop, because San Antonio already has a core in place.
What does Ja'Kobi Gillespie bring to the NBA?
As a senior at Tennessee Ja'Kobi Gillespie was the heart and soul of the 2026 Tennessee team making First Team All-SEC while providing scoring, defense, and passing for the Vols. Rick Barnes noted the improvements that Gillespie has made throught the season, and when the time came he played his best basketball in March. What stands out most about Gillespie is that he’s a two-way guard with a reliable jump shot.
During his junior season, he shot over 40% from three on 5.9 attempts per game, though that percentage dipped slightly as his volume increased during his senior year. He can score at all three levels and also defend, as he averaged two steals per game last season. While not an elite decision maker, Gillespie improved his passing and IQ mightily over the course of last season. He has good potential to run a second unit in the NBA.
The biggest concerns about his game are age and size. Gillespie is only 6-foot-1 and already 22 years old. In a league that values young players with size and length, that doesn’t bode particularly well for him. However, with Gillepsie's ability to score and play defense, he should be able to carve out a role.
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