VFL Tobias Harris is taking his talents to a young team in need of a veteran leader. According to a report from ESPN’s Shams Charania on Wednesday afternoon, Harris is signing with the San Antonio Spurs as an unrestricted free agent. Harris is reportedly taking a two-year, $31 million deal.
The Spurs made it to the NBA Finals this past season by defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals. But with multiple blown leads against the New York Knicks, the Spurs looked like a young team that was still learning to grow up. Inserting a veteran presence like Harris is a strong move.
Harris is entering his 16th season in the league after being selected 19th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2011 NBA Draft. He’s spent time with the Bucks, Magic, Pistons, Clippers, and 76ers during his career, and recently just wrapped up his second season in his second stint with Detroit this past year.
The 33-year-old started all 63 games that he played in for the Pistons last season. He averaged 13.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game for Detroit, helping the team receive the 1-seed in the East Region during the playoffs. Harris shot 46.9% from the floor and 36.8% from three-point range this past season.
Harris upped his game for Detroit’s 14 playoff games this past spring, averaging 18.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game. He was a crucial figure in Detroit’s Game 7 win over the Magic in Round 1, but the Pistons ultimately fell to the Cavs in seven games in Round 2.
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Tobias Harris spent one season at the University of Tennessee, where he averaged 15.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game for the Volunteers. He started in 33 of the 34 games that he played in.
Harris won’t be the lone Volunteer in the Spurs’ organization. San Antonio drafted Tennessee guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie in the second round of the NBA Draft last week. Additionally, the Spurs’ NBA Summer League team will consist of three former Vols: Gillespie, Zakai Zeigler, and Igor Milicic Jr.
Harris spent the 2025-2026 season on a Detroit squad that had a rookie Chaz Lanier on the roster, making this the second straight year that he’s been with a Tennessee rookie.
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