Kentucky F Jayden Quaintance selected No. 20 in 2026 NBA Draft
By David Wasson
Published:
The San Antonio Spurs dipped into the SEC on Tuesday night in an effort to reload for another NBA Final run, selecting former Kentucky sophomore forward Jayden Quaintance with the No. 20 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
The 6-foot-9 Quaintance was a critical cog in Kentucky’s 2025-26 season despite scoring just 5.0 points and grabbing 5.0 rebounds over just four games before feeling the effects of ACL surgery he underwent as a freshman. Quaintance excelled at Arizona State in 2024-25, scoring 9.4 points and grabbing 4.9 rebounds per outing in 24 starts.
Quaintance, who has yet to turn 19, carries plenty of physicality and a strong defensive upside into the NBA. In addition, Quaintance’s rim-running ability and shot blocking instantly make San Antonio’s frontcourt even more athletic. Still, he did not earn a green room invitation for Tuesday night, as teams expressed concern over his health despite the physical tools as a vertical spacing 5-man and major upside if he can get back to full strength.
Carried by standout big man Victor Wembenyama, San Antonio peaked in the 2025-26 NBA Playoffs – following up a 62-20 regular season with a run through the Western Conference before falling short to the New York Knicks in five games of the NBA Finals.
An APSE national award-winning writer and editor, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.
