Spurs Rookie Carter Bryant’s Unexpected All-Star Weekend Double Duty

LOS ANGELES (Azat TV) – San Antonio Spurs rookie Carter Bryant has unexpectedly taken on a prominent role at the 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles, stepping in for the injured Memphis Grizzlies guard Cedric Coward in the Castrol Rising Stars game. The 20-year-old forward is also slated to compete in the AT&T Slam Dunk contest, marking a significant and multi-faceted debut on the league’s grand stage that highlights his recent surge in confidence and unique journey to the NBA.

Bryant’s All-Star Weekend Debut and Dual Role

Bryant’s inclusion in the Rising Stars challenge came as a surprise, with the announcement made while he was engaged in a morning workout. ‘It was amazing. I found out while I was working out this morning, I was in the middle of a workout and got the opportunity, so I’m grateful for it,’ Bryant stated, according to KENS5. This opportunity follows a period of notable growth for the rookie, who has averaged 9.6 points and 4.2 rebounds in 16.9 minutes over the Spurs’ last five games, appearing in 43 games this season.

His participation in both the Rising Stars game and the Slam Dunk contest represents a ‘double-duty’ weekend, offering him multiple platforms to showcase his evolving game. In the Rising Stars game, Bryant will face off against his San Antonio teammates, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper, who are playing for Team Melo. Bryant expressed excitement about this friendly competition, noting, ‘You compete against every day in practice. It’s going to be dope to get to that in the game.’

Shaped by Silence: Bryant’s Unique Path

Bryant’s journey to the NBA is marked by a distinctive upbringing that profoundly influenced his playing style. As a GODA (grandchild of deaf adults), he grew up in a household where American Sign Language (ASL) was the primary language. His mother is an ASL interpreter, and his father coached at the California School for the Deaf in Riverside (CSDR). While Bryant himself is hearing, the deaf community is deeply ingrained in his identity, with his maternal grandmother serving as an administrator at CSDR and his maternal grandfather, Mike “Doc” Torres, a USA Deaf Basketball Hall of Famer.

This environment led Bryant to develop his game in a unique way, learning defense without verbal communication by playing pick-up with deaf children. He explained to The Athletic how this experience enhanced his peripheral vision, footwork, and natural feel for the game, senses often taken for granted by hearing players. He adopted the ‘all-out’ mentality he observed in deaf basketball, believing that ‘if you put effort towards something, it is going to save you 90 percent of the time.’ Bryant sees being deaf as a ‘super power,’ enabling a profound sense of trust and dedication on the court.

Rookie Growth and Rising Stars Challenge

Bryant’s rookie season has been a testament to his dedication. After being selected 14th overall in last summer’s NBA Draft, he initially struggled to find consistent minutes, admitting he was ‘overthinking everything’ and moving ‘like a robot.’ A brief stint with the Austin Spurs in the G League, following advice from Spurs coach Mitch Johnson to ‘stop caring’ and ‘have fun,’ proved to be a turning point. He returned to San Antonio with newfound confidence, daring more in post-practice scrimmages and translating his enhanced trust in teammates to in-game performance.

Since then, Bryant has seen an uptick in his performance, hitting 3-pointers at 38.5 percent over his last 15 games and making impactful defensive plays. Even his dunking, which he jokingly admitted to his teammates needed improvement, has become more consistent. His selection for the Slam Dunk contest, despite his relatively low number of in-game dunks, signals the league’s recognition of his athletic potential and the need for fresh talent in the event.

Ambition Beyond the All-Star Stage

For Bryant, the All-Star Weekend is not just an opportunity to shine but a stepping stone toward his ambitious long-term goals. ‘I don’t want to play the game of basketball to just be a role player. I want to be amongst the greatest that ever played the game,’ he told The Athletic. He hopes his participation in the Rising Stars game will ‘set the tone’ for future appearances in the main NBA All-Star Game.

His unique background and the lessons learned from the deaf community continue to ground him. He actively engages with deaf schools in Texas and helps translate when needed, reinforcing his deep connection to his community. As he navigates the high-pressure environment of the NBA, Bryant relies on the trust and dedication he cultivated in silence, now bringing that distinctive strength to the forefront of the league.

The confluence of Carter Bryant’s unexpected All-Star Weekend call-up and his deeply personal journey, shaped by the resilience and unique communication of the deaf community, underscores a pivotal moment in his burgeoning NBA career, signaling not only his athletic potential but also the profound impact of his identity on his professional trajectory.