Jon Elmore played his first official preseason game in the NBA at 30 years old during the San Antonio Spurs’ 123-116 loss to the Atlanta Hawks, Infobae reported. Standing 6-foot-3 and out of Marshall University, the veteran guard logged six minutes on the court without scoring a point, but recorded one block in his first appearance within the league’s official structure.
“What a moment! At 30 years of age, Jon Elmore checked into his first NBA preseason game after spending the last four years in the G League!” the Spurs posted in a congratulatory message to the veteran guard.
Summer League Performance Earns San Antonio Contract
Elmore arrived in San Antonio on a contract following a standout performance in the 2026 Summer League with the Los Angeles Lakers, a developmental tournament for rookies and free agents where games do not count toward official league records. In 19 minutes of action, Elmore tallied five assists, four rebounds, three steals, two blocks, and a plus-16 rating, according to Sporting News. That production convinced the Spurs, reigning Western Conference finalists, to offer him his first formal training camp contract.
Before breaking into the NBA preseason, Elmore built a professional career spanning five European countries—Italy, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, and Turkey—alongside several seasons in the NBA G League. He played for the Sioux Falls Skyforce, Cleveland Charge, Stockton Kings, and the Canadian affiliate Calgary Surge. With Stockton, he won a league championship in 2025 and returned to the finals in 2026.
Draft Disappointment and Exhibit 10 Deals
Despite starring at Marshall University, Elmore went unselected in the 2019 NBA Draft. Over the subsequent seasons, he signed a series of low-risk Exhibit 10 preseason agreements with franchises including the Miami Heat and Sacramento Kings, most of which ended in brief training camp stints and returns to the G League.
The invite from San Antonio marks his first formal training camp deal with an NBA club. Elmore joined a Spurs roster coming off a 2026 Finals appearance against the New York Knicks. During an October 4 practice session at the Frost Bank Center, team star Victor Wembanyama drew up a play on the whiteboard specifically for Elmore to take the final shot, though he missed the attempt, as described by The New York Times.
Next Steps in the Preseason Schedule
Elmore’s next opportunity comes on October 11, when the Spurs travel to face the Phoenix Suns in their second preseason contest. San Antonio opens its regular season schedule on October 20 against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Worth a look
