NBA injury update: Spurs coach drops latest status on $31 million forward ahead of NBA season opener

Tobias Harris' injury update from San Antonio came with no timetable attached. Coach Mitch Johnson told reporters Sunday that the Spurs will let a left calf strain heal at its own pace, even with the season opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Oct. 20 getting close.San Antonio signed Harris this offseason to share the frontcourt with Victor Wembanyama, and his first camp has been interrupted by a strain with no firm return date. The $31 million forward sat out the weekend scrimmage and will be checked again once the preseason wraps up.Tobias Harris injury update: Spurs coach says there is no rush on the calf strainTobias Harris, 34, strained a left calf muscle in training camp, and the Spurs made the news public Sunday. The team lists Harris as questionable for the Oct. 20 opener and says a fresh evaluation will come after the preseason. Roughly two weeks separate the announcement from opening night.The Spurs announced the strain, Tom Orsborn of the San Antonio Express-News reported that Harris would not suit up for the scrimmage, and Johnson addressed it afterward at Frost Bank Center, "We won't rush him at all."The coach added that the staff sees no cause for alarm at this level of seriousness, though he stopped short of rating the strain. Asked about the opener, Johnson said Harris' availability is very much in doubt and the team will not push him toward that game. San Antonio has not given a return date or a number of weeks, so the next real update comes when Harris is reevaluated after the preseason, which opens Oct. 8 at home against the Atlanta Hawks and runs five games.How the Spurs lineup could look without himThe 6-foot-8 forward is not an easy piece to replace. Harris spent the past two seasons in Detroit, and last year the Pistons won 60 games and finished first in the East while Harris averaged 13.3 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists over 63 appearances. Harris also shot 46.9% from the field and 36.8% from three in 27.7 minutes a night.San Antonio saw a big offseason pickup in those numbers. The idea was to add veteran presence and versatility to a team coming off a historic run to the 2026 NBA Finals. Harris was projected as the main frontcourt partner for Wembanyama, and the two-year, $31 million contract makes this more than a depth issue. Harris lists at small forward and power forward, so the injury touches more than one spot in the rotation.Without Harris, the Spurs will likely turn to the group that carried them last year, including Wembanyama, De'Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell and Julian Champagnie, with Dylan Harper coming off the bench. Carter Bryant, Harrison Barnes and Keldon Johnson give the staff extra options while Harris heals.Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news, check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.