Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images San Antonio kicks off the preseason against a budding rival. San Antonio Spurs basketball is back... kind of. The Spurs will play their first preseason contest against the Oklahoma City Thunder. It will be the first chance we have to see this new-look Spurs squad. The additions of Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes have added some loftier expectations for the Silver and Black. They’ll get to see how it looks against NBA competition on Monday. A budding rivalry started between the Thunder and Spurs last season. A pair of rookie unicorns made the games between these two more heated. Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren will be compared to each other for most of their careers. Wembanyama edged out Holmgren in year one, but Holmgren plays on a roster with realistic Finals expectations. Holmgren will likely play limited minutes, while Wembanyama will sit out the first preseason matchup. Both teams will rest several rotation players, letting younger players prove they deserve a spot on the roster. San Antonio Spurs (0-0) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (0-0) October 7, 2024 | 7 PM CT Watch: CW35/NBA TV | Listen: WOAI (1200 AM) Spurs Injuries: Devin Vassell – Out (foot), Charles Bassey – Out (knee), Zach Collins – Out (undisclosed), Chris Paul – (undisclosed), Victor Wembanyama – Out (undisclosed), David Duke Jr. – Out (undisclosed) Thunder Injuries: Kenrich Williams – Questionable (knee), Luguentz Dort – (rest), Shai-Gilgeous-Alexander – Out (rest), Jaylin Williams – Questionable (hamstring), Nikola Topic – Out (knee), Alex Ducas – Questionable (hip) What to watch for Who starts? Starting in the preseason does not necessarily indicate who will be in the first five come opening night, but it will give a glimpse into Gregg Popovich’s thought process. With Devin Vassell expected to miss at least the first five games of the season, there is a clear hole in the Spurs starting lineup. Finding out who steps in will be tough with other starters like Wemby and Paul sitting. If Malaki Branham, Stephon Castle or Julian Champagnie get some run with the starters, it could be a sign that one or two of the players are in line to replace Vassell while he’s out. Can the fringe rotation players earn their keep? Preseason ball means we won’t see much from the Spurs rotation mainstays. Instead, we’ll get to see some players trying to earn a spot in the rotation or on the roster get plenty of playing time. That means guys like Blake Wesley, Sidy Cissoko and Harrison Ingram will get plenty of minutes. Players on training camp contracts, like Brandon Boston Jr., Malachi Flynn and Riley Minix, should get a shot to build upon what they’ve shown in practice. Keldon Johnson’s new look One of the biggest stories of the Spurs training camp has been Keldon Johnson’s body transformation. He cut out the Bucc-ee’s trips and got in great shape this summer. It will be interesting to see how his body changes impact his game. Will he be the same downhill attacking force he was beforehand? How will his defense improve? If KJ is locked in and quicker on the defensive end, that would be a game-changer for the sixth-year wing.