Category: San Antonio Spurs Blog

Spurs blog – San Antonio Spurs blog, with news, rumors and more

Austin Spurs coach Scott King named 2025 G League Coach of Year

Austin Spurs head coach Scott King has been named the 2025 NBA G League Coach of the Year.

In his first season, King led Austin to the NBA G League playoffs as the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, finishing the regular season 22-12 (32-18 overall) tying with the Stockton Kings for the best record in the Western Conference.

Austin ended the regular season ranked first in defensive rating (102.3), third in steals per game (10.1), and fourth in both blocks per game (6.6) and rebounds per game (48.4). The Spurs also set a league record this season, posting the highest margin of victory in league history (+23.5).

This season marks the Spurs first Western Conference Semifinals appearance since 2018, when they won the NBA G League Championship against the Raptors 905.

Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox out for season with finger injury

San Antonio Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox will undergo surgery to repair the extensor tendon in his left fifth finger and will miss the remainder of the 2024-25 season.

Fox sustained the injury during training camp in October while with the Sacramento Kings and has played through the tendon damage all season, including since being acquired by San Antonio on February 3.

The surgery will be performed on Tuesday in Los Angeles.

Fox is expected to make a full recovery and be ready for the start of next season.

Spurs sign Bismack Biyombo for remainder of 2024-25 season

The San Antonio Spurs have signed center Bismack Biyombo for the remainder of the 2024-25 season.

Biyombo originally signed a 10-day contract with San Antonio on Feb. 9, followed by a second 10-day deal on Feb. 21. In eight games (seven starts) with the Spurs, he has averaged 5.3 points and 4.6 rebounds in 16.5 minutes per game, including back-to-back double-doubles in New Orleans on Feb. 23 and 25.

In 847 career games (358 starts), the 13-year veteran holds career averages of 5.1 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.30 blocks in 19.5 minutes with Charlotte, Toronto, Orlando, Phoenix, Memphis, Oklahoma City and San Antonio.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich will not return to coaching this season

STATEMENT FROM SAN ANTONIO SPURS HEAD COACH GREGG POPOVICH:

“I’ve decided not to return to the sidelines this season. Mitch Johnson and his staff have done a wonderful job and the resolve and professionalism the players have shown, sticking together during a challenging season, has been outstanding. I will continue to focus on my health with the hope that I can return to coaching in the future.”

Spurs sign Bismack Biyombo to second 10-day contract

The San Antonio Spurs have signed Bismack Biyombo to a second 10-day contract.

Biyombo, 6-8/255, signed his first 10-day contract with San Antonio on Feb. 9 and has appeared in two games since. In his one start, Biyombo finished with 8 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal in 16 minutes, helping the Spurs to a win vs. the Suns on Feb. 20.

The 13-year NBA veteran was originally drafted with the seventh overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft and has spent time with Charlotte, Toronto, Orlando, Phoenix and Memphis. In 841 games (352 starts), he holds career averages of 5.1 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 19.5 minutes.

Victor Wembanyama out for season due to medical issue in shoulder

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that Victor Wembanyama has been diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder.

The condition was discovered when Wembanyama returned to San Antonio following the All-Star Game in San Francisco.

Wembanyama is expected to miss the remainder of the 2024-25 regular season.

Per the Mayo Clinic website, “deep vein thrombosis (DVT) occurs when a blood clot (thrombus) forms in one or more of the deep veins in the body, usually in the legs.”

Per the Washington Post, “the Spurs hope Wembanyama will be ready to return for the start of the 2025-26 season, according to people with knowledge of the situation. Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram and Detroit Pistons guard Ausar Thompson received similar diagnoses in recent years, and both returned to the court after making full recoveries.”

Per the San Antonio Express-News, “the 7-foot-3 center, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2023 NBA Draft who is a leading candidate to become the face of the league after LeBron James retires, competed in his first All-Star Game last weekend in San Francisco. Wembanyama was averaging 22.5 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists, a league-best 3.8 blocks and 1.2 steals per game this season and was the leading candidate in the race for Defensive Player of the Year honors.”

Three-team trade sends Zach LaVine to Kings, De’Aaron Fox to Spurs

The Sacramento Kings announced today that the team has acquired Zach LaVine, Sidy Cissoko, three first-round draft picks, (one protected and two unprotected) and three second-round round draft picks. As part of a three-team deal with San Antonio and Chicago, the Spurs received De’Aaron Fox and Jordan McLaughlin from the Kings and Chicago acquired Kevin Huerter from Sacramento.

“De’Aaron has played a pivotal role with our franchise, and we are deeply grateful for everything he did to support the organization on and off the court,” said General Manager Monte McNair. “We appreciate Kevin’s many contributions to the team, especially as a key member of the 2023 playoff team. We also thank Jordan for his hard work and commitment during his time with the Kings.”

“As we look to the future, I am excited to welcome Zach to Sacramento. He is a gifted scorer, and his athleticism will make an impact on both ends of the floor. We also look forward to Sidy joining the Kings.”

A two-time All-Star (2020-21, 2021-22), LaVine is averaging 24.0 points (51.1 FG%, 44.6 3pt%, 63.7 TS%), 4.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 34.1 minutes per game over 42 games (42 starts) in his 11th season in the NBA. He is one of four players this season averaging 24.0 points or more while shooting 50.0% from the field and 40.0% from 3-point range with a true shooting percentage of 60.0% or higher. During the 2024-25 season, LaVine ranks fifth in 3-point shooting percentage and holds the highest field goal percentage from behind the arc among players with at least 100 3-pointers made this season. He is also 19th in points per game, 20th in total scoring (1,007), and tied for 11th in 3-point field goals made (136).

LaVine has posted career averages of 20.7 points (46.8 FG%, 38.7 3pt%, 83.1 FT%), 4.1 rebounds and 4.0 assists in 622 career games (533 starts) with Minnesota (2014-17) and Chicago (2017-25). During his eight seasons with Chicago, LaVine averaged 24.2 points (47.4 FG%, 39.0 3pt%, 83.4 FT%), 4.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game in 416 career contests (413 starts), ranking third in Bulls franchise history in scoring average. Among the Bulls all-time leaders lists, he ranks sixth in points (10,056), first in 3-pointers made (1,130), 12th in assists (1,808), 15th in steals (388), and seventh in field goals made (3,545).

Fox, 6-3/190, has appeared and started in 45 games for the Kings this season, averaging 25.0 points, 6.1 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 1.47 steals in 37.0 minutes per game. The Houston native holds career averages of 21.5 points, 6.1 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.42 steals in 514 career games (500 starts) across eight seasons with the Kings. Fox enjoyed a breakout year in 2022-23, being named to the All-NBA Third Team, the NBA All-Star team and winning the NBA’s inaugural winner of the Clutch Player of the Year Award. In the same season, he led the Kings to their first playoff berth since 2006, averaging 27.4 points, 7.7 assists and 5.4 rebounds in seven postseason games.

Since being drafted fifth overall in 2017 out of the University of Kentucky, only five other players have had 10,000 points, 3,000 assists and 700 three-pointers: Luka Doncic, LeBron James, James Harden, Trae Young and Damian Lillard. Fox is also one of three players in the NBA to have posted 11,000 points, 3,000 assists and 700 steals since 2017, along with Nikola Jokic and Harden.

McLaughlin, 6-0/185, spent five seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves from 2019-24 before joining the Kings in 2024 and has averaged 4.2 points, 2.9 assists and 1.5 rebounds in 14.5 minutes in 270 career games. Originally from Etiwanda, California, McLaughlin played four seasons at the University of Southern California.

Fox will wear No. 2 for the Spurs and McLaughlin will wear No. 11.

A 6-8 forward, Cissoko has made 29 career appearances with San Antonio since joining the NBA during the 2023-24 season.

Huerter holds career averages of 11.5 points (44.1 FG%, 37.5 3pt%, 76.2 FT%), 3.4 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 28.0 minutes per game in 456 career games (356 starts) with Atlanta (2018-23) and Sacramento (2023-25). He averaged 11.7 points (45.9 FG%, 36.9 3pt%), 3.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists per contest in 182 games (149 starts) with Sacramento.

Victor Wembanyama named West Defensive Player of Month for October and November 2024

San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama has been named the NBA’s first-ever Western Conference Defensive Player of the Month for October/November.

Kicking off the inaugural season of the award, Wembanyama is joined by Hawks guard Dyson Daniels in the East.

In 16 games to start the season, Wembanyama led the league with 3.56 blocks per game and 57 total blocks while averaging 1.31 steals in October/November. He also accounted for 45.9% of the Spurs total blocks. The sophomore’s 103.8 defensive rating helped anchor the Spurs to an eighth-ranked defense and has put them among the top three shot-blocking teams in the league.

A season after becoming the first rookie in NBA history to be named All-Defensive First Team, opponents shot 104-262 from the field last month when guarded by Wembanyama as he held a 39.7% defended field goal percentage. Within four feet of the rim, teams took 3.3% fewer shots when Wembanyama is on the floor and shot just 38.2% within four to 10 feet.

Spurs sign Riley Minix to Two-Way contract

The San Antonio Spurs have signed Riley Minix to a Two-Way contract.

Minix, 6-7/230, has appeared in three preseason games for the Spurs, averaging 7.7 points and 2.0 rebounds in 7.8 minutes while shooting 70.0% (8-12 FG) from the floor. In three NBA 2K25 Summer League games, he posted 12.0 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 20.8 minutes for the Silver and Black.

Prior to joining the Spurs, Minix played four seasons at Southeastern State University before transferring to Morehead State for the 2023-24 season. In one season at Morehead, he started all 28 games, averaging 22.4 points, 10.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 34.9 minutes, earning Ohio Valley Conference Male Athlete of the Year as well as Lou Henson Mid Major All-American while leading MSU to the OVC regular season co-championship and tournament title. At Southeastern State, he played in 99 total games (83 starts) and averaged 20.7 points, 10.6 rebounds and 1.4 blocks on his way to being named NAIA and NABC All-American, two-time Sun Conference Player of the Year (2020, 2022) and First-Team All TSC honors as a freshman.