San Antonio Spurs Blog – Page 35 – NBA Blog

Spurs sign Shannon Brown to 10-day contract, release Othyus Jeffers

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have signed guard Shannon Brown to a 10-day contract. At the same time the Spurs released Othyus Jeffers from his 10-day contract.

Brown, 6-4/210, most recently played for the Phoenix Suns from 2011-13. In two seasons with the Suns he appeared in 118 games, averaging 10.7 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 23.7 minutes per game.

The seven-year NBA veteran has also played for the L.A. Lakers (2009-11), Charlotte (2008-09), Chicago (2007-08) and Cleveland (2006-08). For his career Brown has appeared in 374 games, averaging 8.1 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 18.7 minutes. The Illinois native was originally drafted by the Cavaliers with 25th pick in the 2006 NBA Draft.

In addition to his NBA career, Brown has spent time in the NBA Development League with the Iowa Energy (2008), Rio Grande Valley Vipers (2008) and the Albuquerque Thunderbirds (2007).

Collegiately, Brown played three seasons at Michigan State University (2003-06), appearing in 97 career games, averaging 12.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 28.0 minutes.

Brown will wear No.1 for the Spurs

Gregg Popovich hates hack-a-Shaq foul strategy, but will keep using it

Here’s ESPN Chicago reporting fun stuff on Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, who is a great quote when he’s actually willing to really speak his mind:

Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich dislikes employing a “Hack-a-Shaq” type fouling strategy, but he’s going to do it anyway.

Popovich, who ordered his team to foul Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard seven straight times in the fourth quarter of Tuesday night’s 97-90 loss, is not a fan of sending guys to the line — but concedes it’s part of the game.

“I hate it,” Popovich said of the strategy before Wednesday night’s game against the Chicago Bulls. “I think it’s awful. I hate doing it. Seriously. I think it’s a pain in the neck, fans don’t like it, I don’t like it, nobody likes it. It disrupts the flow of the game. If there’s an equitable way to get rid of it, I’m all for it.

Spurs sign Othyus Jeffers to 10-day contract

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have signed guard/forward Othyus Jeffers to a 10-day contract.

Jeffers, 6-5/200, most recently played for the Iowa Energy of the NBA Development League. Through 22 games this season, Jeffers was averaging 22.8 points, 11.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.50 steals in 38.3 minutes per game while shooting .501 (176-351) from the field. Prior to his call-up, Jeffers ranked sixth in the D-League in scoring, third in rebounding and second in steals per game.

The Robert Morris University product previously saw action in one game for the Spurs during the 2010-11 season. He has also suited up for the Utah Jazz (2009-10) and the Washington Wizards (2010-11) during his NBA career. In 31 career NBA games, the Illinois native has averaged 4.2 points and 2.8 rebounds in 12.7 minutes.

In between NBA stints, Jeffers has played in 162 D-League games, all with the Energy, averaging 19.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.97 steals in 35.8 minutes.

Jeffers will wear jersey No. 7 and will be available tonight when the Spurs begin their three-game road trip in Atlanta.

Kawhi Leonard out 3-4 weeks with hand injury

Kawhi Leonard out 3-4 weeks with broken hand

San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard underwent a CAT scan earlier today in San Antonio. Results confirmed he has a non-displaced fracture of the fourth metacarpal in his right hand. Leonard suffered the injury in the first half of the Spurs-Thunder game on Wednesday night. He is expected to be out three-to-four weeks.

Leonard is averaging 11.6 points and 6.1 rebounds per game this season, shooting 51.7 percent from the field and 32.7 percent from three-point range.

The Spurs are having a fantastic season. Their 32-10 record is the third best in the league and again look like a championship contender.

Spurs waive forward Malcolm Thomas

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have waived forward Malcolm Thomas.

Thomas was originally signed by San Antonio on Dec. 3. He appeared in one game with the Silver and Black posting 2 points, 9 rebounds and 2 blocks in 14 minutes vs. Milwaukee on Jan. 19.

Thomas appeared in 10 games with the Spurs D-League affiliate Austin Toros, averaging 15.2 points, 9.4 rebounds and 2.40 blocks.

Center Dexter Pittman now on Austin Toros in D-League

The Austin Toros today announced that they have acquired center Dexter Pittman from the Springfield Armor in exchange for the Toros third round pick in the 2014 NBA D-League Draft. Kyle Hunt was waived as a result.

Pittman was selected by the Miami Heat in the second round (32nd overall) of the 2010 NBA Draft. He played three seasons with the Heat before being traded to the Memphis Grizzlies. In 48 NBA games, Pittman averaged 2.4 points and 1.8 rebounds in 7.2 minutes of play. While on the Heat roster, Pittman was assigned to the D-League Sioux Falls Skyforce (10-11, 12-13) where he averaged 13.6 points and 8.4 rebounds in 37 games played (34 starts). He participated in the 2013 NBA Summer League with the San Antonio Spurs followed by a training camp invite from the Chicago Bulls.

The 6-11, 285 pound center played four seasons at the University of Texas. He appeared in 134 games (59 starts) averaging 6.6 points and 4.0 rebounds in 12.2 minutes.

Tony Parker apologizes for photograph of him making controversial gesture

Here’s the Associated Press reporting:

San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker is apologizing for a photograph that shows him making the same gesture with anti-Semitic connotations also made by French soccer star Nicolas Anelka this weekend. The photograph shows Parker and a French comedian making a gesture known in France as a “quenelle,” which critics describe as inverted Nazi salute. Parker said Monday in a statement released by the Spurs that the photograph was taken three years ago.

And from InsideHoops.com:

Tony Parker released the following statement earlier today: “While this gesture has been part of French culture for many years, it was not until recently that I learned of the very negative concerns associated with it. When l was photographed making that gesture three years ago, I thought it was part of a comedy act and did not know that it could be in any way offensive or harmful. Since I have been made aware of the seriousness of this gesture, I will certainly never repeat the gesture and sincerely apologize for any misunderstanding or harm relating to my actions. Hopefully this incident will serve to educate others that we need to be more aware that things that may seem innocuous can actually have a history of hate and hurt.”

More from InsideHoops.com:

We believe Tony Parker simply made an innocent mistake. Parker’s a good guy.

That aside, Dieudonne M’bala M’bala’ is a disgusting, vile bigot. He is an “activist” and former “comedian” in France who basically runs around promoting hate.

Anyway, back to basketball!

DeJuan Blair plans to have fun against Spurs

Here’s the Fort Worth Star-Telegram on DeJuan Blair of the Dallas Mavericks, who may be quite excited to battle his former team:

DeJuan Blair plans to have fun tonight against the Spurs

If there’s ever a player who wears his emotions on his sleeves, it’s DeJuan Blair.

And right now, the Dallas Mavericks’ center is walking around with a lot of pin-up emotions.

Blair is still steamed at the way the San Antonio Spurs treated him last season. Especially since they barely played him at all against Miami during the NBA Finals in a series Blair believes he could have helped the Spurs win if given the chance to play.

Thus, when Blair became a free agent, signed a one-year, $884,293 contract with the Mavs, and then saw that their first game against the Spurs was today, he made a big fat circle around it on his calendar.

Spurs vs Timberwolves game in Mexico City postponed due to smoke in arena

The National Basketball Association game scheduled for tonight between the San Antonio Spurs and the Minnesota Timberwolves has been postponed due to a generator malfunction which produced smoke inside Mexico City Arena.

The date for the rescheduled game, which will be played at Target Center in Minneapolis, will be announced at a later time.

Here’s a video clip of the smoke problem that prevented the game from happening:

San Antonio Spurs sign forward Malcolm Thomas

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have signed forward Malcolm Thomas.

Thomas, 6-9/225, most recently played for the Los Angeles D-Fenders of the NBA Development League. Through two games this season, Thomas was averaging a league-best 33.5 points and 15.5 rebounds.

The San Diego State product previously saw action in three games for the Spurs during the 2011-12 season. He has also suited up for the Chicago Bulls (2012-13) and the Golden State Warriors (2012-13) during his NBA career. In 15 career NBA games, the Missouri native has averaged 1.1 points and 1.3 rebounds in 4.8 minutes.

In addition to the D-Fenders (2011-12, 2012-14), Thomas has played for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers (2011-12), Austin Toros (2011-12) and the Santa Cruz Warriors (2012-13) of the NBA Development League. In 29 career D-League games, he holds averages of 14.7 points, 10.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 2.17 blocks in 33.3 minutes.

Internationally, Thomas has played for Mobis Phoebus of the Korean Basketball League (2011-12) and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel (2012-13).