The San Antonio Spurs have waived center Nathan Mensah as the team works to finalize its roster before the upcoming season. According to a report from San Antonio Express-News’ Tom Orsborn, Mensah was slowed during the preseason due to an injury and did not get many opportunities to showcase his talents.
Mensah, a 6-foot-10 center, appeared in just one preseason game for the Spurs. In that contest, a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, he went scoreless in four minutes of play. The decision to waive him comes as San Antonio looks to reduce its roster to meet the NBA’s 18-man requirement by October 21.
Mensah, who made a name for himself as a standout defensive player during his college career at San Diego State, has been on a journey to secure a long-term spot in the NBA. In college, Mensah averaged 8.1 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. He was recognized for his defensive prowess, earning Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year honors as a senior. He was instrumental in helping the Aztecs reach their first-ever Final Four and national championship game in 2023.
Despite his strong college resume, Mensah went undrafted in the 2023 NBA Draft. However, he quickly attracted attention in the NBA Summer League while playing for the Charlotte Hornets. His performance earned him a contract with the Hornets on September 5, 2023. Though he was waived before the regular season began, forcing Mensah to continue his development in the G League with the Greensboro Swarm.
Mensah’s G League stint with the Swarm allowed him to refine his game. He signed a two-way contract with the Hornets in December 2023, making his NBA debut shortly afterward. In 25 games with Charlotte, Mensah averaged 1.3 points and 2.6 rebounds in 12.3 minutes per game. He also contributed significantly to the Greensboro Swarm, averaging 5.7 points and 5.3 rebounds in nearly 18 minutes per contest.
