Ja’Kobi Gillespie Selected No. 42 by San Antonio Spurs in 2026 NBA Draft

Image: Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics

By Aidan Sidoti

BROOKLYN – Tennessee senior point guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie was selected with the No. 42 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft by the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night in Brooklyn, becoming the second Volunteer taken in this year’s draft, joining Nate Ament, who went No. 13 to the Milwaukee Bucks.

Gillespie, a native of Greeneville (TN), started all 37 games for the Vols during his lone season on Rocky Top, helping lead Tennessee to its third straight Elite Eight appearance. He averaged 18.4 points, 5.4 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 steals while shooting over 40% from the field.

A transfer from Maryland, Gillespie was named the 2025-26 SEC Newcomer of the Year by the Associated Press and earned First-Team All SEC honors. He also set the Tennessee single season steals record, finishing with 79.