Spurs’ Jonathon Simmons is going to get himself paid this summer

Jonathon Simmons was the lone bright light in what was a dark Golden State Warriors clobbering of the San Antonio Spurs, 136-100, on Tuesday night. The Kawhi Leonard-less Spurs were largely lifeless from the get-go, trailing 33-16 after the opening quarter.

Somehow it could have been even worse without Simmons, who was the only Spurs player to score double-digit points aside from Davis Bertans in garbage time. Simmons scored 22 points on 8-of-17 shooting, coming up big again with Leonard sidelined. He also helped close out Game 6 against the Houston Rockets with 18 points.

And while LaMarcus Aldridge showed up to finish off the Rockets, he was nowhere to be found on Tuesday night and finished with just eight points on 4-of-11 shooting. San Antonio had to lean on the former D-Leaguer instead.

With Leonard promptly ahead of him in the depth chart, the Spurs may not be the team to pay him, but someone will. When he does, it’ll be a heartwarming tale of a man who once paid $150 just to try out in the D-League, working to earn his big payday.

The 27-year-old small forward averaged merely six points in 18 minutes off the bench this year, but his postseason performance shows he’s ready for a larger role.

He hardly played in the Spurs’ first-round series against the Memphis Grizzlies, but ever since, he’s scored 14 points per night on 47 percent shooting from the field. That’s up against the Rockets and Warriors defense.

Teams are sure to have taken notice with Simmons set to become a restricted free agent this summer.

With money invested in Leonard, Aldridge, Tony Parker, Pau Gasol, and Danny Green, there isn’t much left to pay Simmons, nor a ton of room for him to grow. He was the teams’ best-kept secret until Leonard’s injury, but his potential has been exposed and he’s in his prime playing years.

Even if Simmons wanted to stay in San Antonio, he shouldn’t. He’s made just over $1 million in his two years in the league as an undrafted free agent. Now’s the time to collect, and that’ll probably involve moving on, unless San Antonio matches the money he signs for elsewhere. That is unlikely.

Simmons’ phone is sure to blow up this July.