Spurs' Malaki Branham Trying to Avoid Being 'Lost in the Mix'

Malaki Branham is among the San Antonio Spurs who will be under strong evaluation this season.

SAN ANTONIO - It's no secret that there's a certain pressure on the young core of
San Antonio Spurs players not named Victor Wembanyama. 

Who fits in best with the incoming phenom? Who might be potential trade bait? Who has a chance to show something new? Who is going to fall out of favor because they don't fit in with Wemby?

Young swingman Malaki Branham definitely feels that pressure. 

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Despite playing the most of any of last season's rookies and averaging 21 points a game in the Las Vegas Summer League, Branham knows that everyone is in uncharted waters. It's part of why he chose to spend some time in Spain recently. He went on an annual NBA organized retreat for players to the Andulucian region of that beautiful country. Part get away, part bonding experience, Branham also put in grueling workouts with a handful of NBA players including Celtics star Jaylen Brown and Cavs star Donovan Mitchell.

Making sure Branham can show the Spurs that he deserves to be part of the Wembyian region of South Texas is important as training camp nears. He told the San Antonio Express-News that it's certainly at the top of his mind. 

"It's definitely part of my motivation to keep up with the rise," Branham said. "I don't want to be lost in the mix."

Outside of Wembanyama's own development the most fun part of training camp and the early regular season will be to see just who stays in and out of that mix.