Jonathon Simmons destroys Stephen Curry’s attempted layup (Video)

Spurs guard Jonathon Simmons swatted away this attempted layup of Stephen Curry’s on opening night.

Jonathon Simmons emerged as a surprise contributor for the San Antonio Spurs last season. He filled in as a role player off the bench, playing 55 games and hitting at a 38-percent clip from three-point range. He also shot 50-percent from the field.

With the Spurs having multiple players leaving after the 2015-16 season, more time may have opened for Simmons. He already has 18 points in over 18 minutes, which crosses his 14.8 minutes per game mark from last year. Having Danny Green out gives the second-year pro an opportunity as well to break into the Spurs rotation as a key member.

Making highlight plays will help Simmons get on the radar, especially against players like Stephen Curry. The 27-year-old stuffed the two-time NBA MVP’s attempted layup in the third quarter, which preserved a large lead for the Spurs over the Golden State Warriors.

This huge block can be seen below.

Simmons joins Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James in the opening night block party.

This play and others have helped the Spurs take a surprising double-digit lead on the Warriors. They even led by 20 points after three quarters. Golden State’s new roster, led by free agent acquisition Kevin Durant, isn’t going to gel together off the bat. However, to be losing by this much on opening night is surprising. This shouldn’t cause concern, but it’s worth noting how it will take time for a handful of new pieces to work together. Having few big men to battle LaMarcus Aldridge and Pau Gasol doesn’t help either.

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Players like Jonathon Simmons will be key in making the Spurs a deep team. They have a fair amount of bench talent as it is, but any extra production will help them to keep a high spot in the Western Conference.