San Antonio Spurs Blog – Page 24 – NBA Blog

Spurs hire Jacque Vaughn as pro scout

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that Jacque Vaughn has been added to the front office. The former Spurs player and assistant coach will return to San Antonio as a pro scout.

Vaughn spent the last three seasons as head coach of the Orlando Magic (2012-15) and was the second-youngest head coach in the league when he was hired in 2012. Prior to leading Orlando, he spent two seasons (2010-12) as an assistant coach under Gregg Popovich for the Silver and Black.

In his 12-year NBA playing career, Vaughn appeared in a total of 776 games and averaged 4.5 points and 2.5 assists. The former Kansas Jayhawk was drafted by the Utah Jazz in the first round of the 1997 NBA Draft (27th overall) and played his first four seasons in Salt Lake City. He then made stops with the Hawks, Magic and Nets before signing with the Spurs on July 12, 2006. Vaughn played his final three seasons in San Antonio and was part of the Spurs 2007 NBA Championship team before retiring after the 2008-09 season.

Spurs will institute wait list for season tickets

After retaining their core players while adding LaMarcus Aldridge and David West, the San Antonio Spurs are still an NBA championship contender. Their fans, of course, know this. Here’s the San Antonio Express-News blog reporting:

Want season tickets to watch the new-look Spurs play in the renovated AT&T Center this fall?

Get in line. Or rather, put your name on the list.

For the first time in club history, the Spurs will institute a waiting list for season tickets next week after selling out of their allotment of 13,200.

Current season-ticket holders will be given first priority, should they want to add to their personal inventory.

Video: Top Spurs plays of the season

Enjoy these video highlights of the best San Antonio Spurs plays from the 2014-15 NBA season:

Danny Green expects Popovich to stick around

There was no fear of Spurs coach Gregg Popovich leaving the team while Tim Duncan is still out there hitting bank-shots, but what about when The Big Fundamental hangs up his sneakers? Danny Green feels new additions to the roster will keep Pop on the sideline for seasons to come. Which is good news for everyone other than reporters interviewing him during the middle of a game. Here’s the San Antonio Express News reporting:

Like many Spurs players and fans, Green always had presumed Popovich would depart the Spurs bench as soon as team captain Tim Duncan opted for retirement. But with the signing of free agent power forward LaMarcus Aldridge and the new, five-year contract for teammate Kawhi Laonard signed in mid-July Green now believes Popovich will stick around past the end of 39-year-old Duncan’s career — whenever that comes.

“Without LaMarcus and Kawhi (Leonard) I think he’s out the door when Timmy leaves,” Green said on Wednesday after an appearance at the Spurs youth camp at George Gervin Academy. “Them being here I think extends his tenure just a little bit longer.

Spurs sign Jimmer Fredette

The San Antonio Spurs have signed guard Jimmer Fredette.

Fredette, 6-2/195, spent last season playing for the New Orleans Pelicans. He appeared in 50 games, averaging 3.6 points and 1.4 assists in 10.2 minutes.

After a celebrated college career, Fredette hasn’t made his mark in the NBA yet. Even as a reserve, he hasn’t solidified himself as a definite rotation player. In San Antonio, minutes will continue to be limited. He’ll need to make the most of every second of court time.

A four-year NBA veteran, Fredette was originally drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks with the 10th overall pick in the first round of the 2011 NBA Draft. He was dealt to the Sacramento Kings in a draft night trade where he spent two-plus seasons. In March 2014 he signed with the Chicago Bulls where he played out the remainder of the 2013-14 season. In 229 NBA career games, Fredette is averaging 6.1 points, 1.4 assists and 1.0 rebounds in 13.7 minutes while shooting .412 (514-1,248) from the field, .381 (192-504) from beyond the arc and .878 (187-213) from the foul line.

Fredette enjoyed a four-year career (2007-11) at Brigham Young University where he led all Division I players in scoring (28.9 ppg) as a senior. In his final season with the Cougars, he won nearly every National Player of the Year honor including the Naismith, Wooden and Associated Press awards. The New York native finished his career averaging 18.7 points, 3.7 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game in 139 outings for the Cougars, and set BYU career records for points (2,599), three-pointers (296), games played (139) and total wins (112).

Spurs sign Jonathon Simmons

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have signed shooting guard Jonathon Simmons.

Simmons, 6-6/195, played on the Spurs 2015 Summer League team in Las Vegas where he helped lead the team to the Summer League Championship, averaging 17.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.71 steals in 24.6 minutes while shooting .519 (41-79) from the field and .700 (35-50) from the foul line in seven games. He was named MVP of the championship game, finishing with a team-high 23 points (7-14 FG, 9-12 FT), 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals in 24 minutes.

The 25-year-old Simmons has spent the past two seasons playing for the Austin Spurs, the NBA D-League affiliate of the San Antonio Spurs. The Texas native made the team after attending an open tryout in Austin in 2013. Last season Simmons was named to the NBA D-League All-Defensive Third Team while appearing in all 50 games, averaging 15.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.00 steals in 33.8 minutes. Simmons shot .494 (277-561) from the field, .398 (51-128) from three-point range and .750 (153-204) from the charity stripe.

During his two years with Austin, Simmons appeared in 94 games, averaging 12.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.00 blocks in 28.8 minutes while shooting .506 (446-882) from the field, .352 (76-216) from beyond the arc and .736 (22-303) from the foul line.

Prior to turning pro Simmons played one season (2011-12) at the University of Houston. The former Cougar appeared in all 30 games as a redshirt junior, averaging 14.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 30.1 minutes. Before transferring to Houston, Simmons played his sophomore season (2009-10) at Midland Junior College and his freshman season (2008-09) at Paris Junior College.

Spurs win 2015 summer league championship

Spurs win 2015 summer league championship

Here’s the Arizona Republic reporting on the Spurs and Suns, who Monday in Las Vegas battled for the 2015 summer league championship:

The Suns’ Summer League rotation of hot scoring hands turned to rookie free agent Mike James on Monday night, but even his 32-point game was not enough to bring the league tournament’s championship trophy to Phoenix.

James scored 23 second-half points, but San Antonio overcame an early 10-point hole to down the Suns 93-90 at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

The Suns ended the 24-team tournament with their sloppiest game. They committed 18 turnovers and had three players – T.J. Warren, Archie Goodwin and Devin Booker – foul out as the Summer League’s first female head coach, Becky Hammon, led the Spurs (6-1) to a win with two roster players – league MVP Kyle Anderson and championship-game MVP Jonathan Simmons.

James, an explosive 6-foot-1 point guard, hit 10 of 18 shots with 3-of-6 shooting from the 3-point line and 9-for-11 free throw shooting. He also had eight rebounds, four assists, three steals and five turnovers.

Spurs re-sign Manu Ginobili

The San Antonio Spurs have re-signed guard Manu Ginobili.

At this point in his career, Ginobili remains a key member of the Spurs’ supporting cast but is not counted on as a leader the way he used to be. And with the fantastic additions to the team’s frontcourt this offseason, there will be even less pressure on Manu than ever before.

The upcoming season will mark Ginobili’s 14th campaign with the Silver and Black. Over the course of his NBA career, he has appeared in 865 games, averaging 14.3 points, 4.0 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 1.39 steals in 26.7 minutes. He has shot .450 (4,015-8,925) percent from the field, .368 (1,272-3,457) from three-point range and .827 (3,093-3,739) from the charity stripe.

Ginobili, who was drafted by San Antonio with the 57th overall pick in the second round of the 1999 NBA Draft, is the Spurs all-time NBA leader in three-pointers made (1,272), second in steals (1,201), fourth in games played (865) and free-throws made (3,093) and fifth in total points (12,395) and assists (3,478). He has twice been named to the All-NBA Third Team (2008, 2011). The 2008 NBA Sixth Man of the Year and two-time All-Star (2008, 11), Ginobili currently owns the best winning percentage of any active player in the NBA (.723, 625-240).

The four-time NBA champion has appeared in 187 career playoff games, averaging 15.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.40 steals in 29.4 minutes. Last postseason, he passed Michael Jordan for 11th all-time in postseason wins (120). That total gives Ginobili, along with teammates Tim Duncan and Tony Parker, the most playoff victories by a trio in NBA postseason history. The trio has also set an NBA record for most regular-season games played together (730) and is second all-time in league history for its 539 shared victories.

The Argentina native is one of only eight players in NBA postseason history (Kobe Bryant, Scottie Pippen, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, LeBron James, Clyde Drexler) with at least 2,500 points (2,836), 750 rebounds (793), 700 assists (747) and 250 steals (261) in the playoffs.

Ginobili has been a member of the Argentinian National Team since 1998. He led his home country to the Gold Medal at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, becoming one of only two players to have won a Euroleague title, an NBA championship and an Olympic gold medal (Bill Bradley). In 2010 he was awarded the Diamond Konex Award, given to the most important sportsman of the decade in Argentina.

Spurs sign center Boban Marjanovic

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have signed center Boban Marjanovic.

Marjanovic, 7-3/290, is from Serbia and last played for Crvena Zvezda in 2014-15. In 24 Euroleague games, he averaged 16.6 points, 10.7 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 27.3 minutes. A professional since 2006, Marjanovic was named All-Euroleague First Team in 2015 and has been named Serbian Super League MVP on three occasions.

In 19 Serbian League contests last season, he averaged 13.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 19.6 minutes.

The 26-year-old’s debut on the Serbian National Team came at the EuroBasket 2011.

Spurs officially sign David West

The San Antonio Spurs’ signing of rugged power forward David West became official today.

According to KSAT San Antonio, “West took a big paycut to join the Spurs. He was scheduled to make $12 million this season with the Indiana Pacers. West reportedly will make $1.4 million with the Spurs.”

It’s been an amazing offseason for the Spurs, who retained Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard and Tim Duncan while adding amazing frontcourt pieces in star LaMarcus Aldridge and former star West. They could use another shooter in the backcourt with Marco Belinelli gone, but their frontcourt is easily one of the best in the league.

West, 6-9/240, joins the Spurs after spending the past four seasons with the Indiana Pacers. Last season he appeared in 66 games, averaging 11.7 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 28.7 minutes while shooting .471 (323-686) from the field and .739 (119-161) from the foul line. In Indiana, West appeared in 285 total games, averaging 14.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 30.6 minutes while shooting .487 (1,632-3,350) from the field and .776 (701-903) from the charity stripe.

A 12-year NBA veteran, West was originally drafted by the New Orleans Hornets with the 18th overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft. He spent eight seasons (2003-11) in New Orleans where he was named an All-Star in 2007 and 2008. The New Jersey native appeared in 530 total games for the Hornets, averaging 16.4 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 32.4 minutes.

For his career, West has appeared in 815 NBA games, averaging 15.5 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 31.8 minutes while shooting .489 (5,108-10,441) from the field and .820 (2,405-2,933) from the foul line. The former Xavier Musketeer has seen action in 73 playoff games, averaging 15.6 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 35.2 minutes.