Sidy Cissoko to Have Quiet Rookie Season for San Antonio Spurs

With all the hype surrounding Victor Wembanyama, the San Antonio Spurs have outlined the plan for their other rookie Sidy Cissoko.

In the 2023 NBA Draft, the San Antonio Spurs selected two 19-year-old Frenchmen. The first, Victor Wembanyama, is a household name around the NBA. The second, selected 44th overall, is oversized guard Sidy Cissoko. Cissoko spent one season with the G-League Ignite, where he started in 28 games and posted 12.8 points, 3.6 assists, and played solid defense.

In the Summer League, he received very high praise due to his unwavering confidence and ability to do everything well even if his shots weren't falling. In seven games, the youngster posted only 4.3 points but added five rebounds and played suffocating defense. 

His ceiling is a solid defender who can knock down shots but looks to find the open man first and foremost, similar to Keldon Johnson. His floor, as with most second-round picks, is hardly cracking an NBA rotation. Given that he is a very raw talent and still a teenager, it should come as no surprise that he will be spending the majority of his rookie season in the G League.

Brian Wright introduces Sidy Cissoko after selecting him with the 44th pick.  / Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

The G League Ignite team was heralded as an alternative to college for pro-ready teens, but aside from Scoot Henderson and Jalen Green, it has yet to produce any high-level talent. Role players like Jonathan Kuminga and Jaden Hardy came out of the Ignite, but the AAU-style play is detrimental to any young talent. Cissoko is heralded as a passing wing, but he was not able to crack four assists in his season, despite paying with an elite scorer in Henderson.

After spending the better half of a season in Austin, Cissoko could be called up to be on the playoff roster should the Spurs make it that far, or he could come in strong in 2024-25. By then, he will only be 20 years old, added even more muscle, and polished his shot. There is no reason to expect him to crack the starting rotation until 2026, but with his athletic upside and ability to get to the hoop, he could be the return of Jonathon Simmons that fans have been waiting for.