DALLAS — Any old basketball won't do. Tarris Reed Jr. wants the one he played with.

As Reed settled into a seat facing the San Antonio Spurs' lockers at American Airlines Center Saturday night, De'Aaron Fox put his hand on his shoulder. The veteran point guard had already promised the rookie something of great value. Now he had to follow through.

"Fox said he's going to give me the game ball," Reed said, smiling in the Spurs' locker room after their 122-106 win over the Dallas Mavericks. "I'm waiting on my game ball."

After Fox assured Reed he'd receive the real game ball, the rookie continued fielding questions about the first real minutes — and points — of his NBA career. Granted, he saw the floor against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the team's regular-season opener, but only for one minute before the final buzzer after Mitch Johnson decided the game was a wash.

This time, Reed checked in to begin the fourth quarter of a three-point road game.

"I mean, it's surreal," Reed said. "It's a blessing.…