Category: San Antonio Spurs Blog

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San Antonio Spurs sign Josh Howard

San Antonio Spurs sign Josh Howard

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have signed forward Josh Howard. We assume this is a non-guaranteed contract, as the veteran has had multiple surgeries in recent seasons, and staying healthy has been a challenge.

This is potentially a nice move, as Howard will only be expected to provide a bit of help in limited minutes off the bench.

Howard, 6-7/210, was originally drafted 29th overall in the first round of the 2003 NBA Draft by the Dallas Mavericks where he played for seven seasons (2003-10). He has also suited up for the Washington Wizards (2010-11), Utah Jazz (2011-12) and the Minnesota Timberwolves (2012-13).

In 507 career NBA games, the Wake Forest University product has averaged 14.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 30.3 minutes.

Spurs waive Courtney Fells and Dan Nwaelele

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have waived guard/forward Courtney Fells and guard Dan Nwaelele.

Fells appeared in three preseason games, averaging 4.7 points and 3.3 rebounds in 12.4 minutes of action.

Nwaelele saw action in three preseason games, averaging 3.7 points and 1.7 rebounds in 12.3 minutes.

San Antonio’s roster now stands at 14.

San Antonio Spurs waive Corey Maggette, Marcus Cousin and Myck Kabongo

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have waived center Marcus Cousin, guard Myck Kabongo and forward Corey Maggette.

Cousin appeared in two preseason games, averaging 1.5 points and 2.0 rebounds in 8.5 minutes of action.

Kabongo saw action in one preseason game finishing with six points in five minutes at Denver on Oct. 14.

Maggette appeared in two preseason games, averaging 6.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 24.0 minutes.

San Antonio’s roster now stands at 16

Matt Bonner lands himself a new Chevy Impala

NBA players live the lives few people can even dream of. Here’s an example:

Matt Bonner lands himself a new Chevy Impala

Matt Bonner had been hoping to squeeze at least another 60,000 miles out of his 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix.

Alas, the Red Mamba’s sweet ride was put out of commission near the end of last season. Bonner declined to reveal details, but an exclusive Express-News investigation has learned that it was totaled in an accident. (Chalk up another one for the shmohawks.)

After making do for several months with an El Camino, he finally settled on a full-time replacement: the 2014 Chevy Impala, which beat out a slew of luxury competition to become the Official Car of Matt Bonner.

“Love it,” he said.

Reported by Dan McCarney of the San Antonio Express-News (Blog)

I realize that the luxury described here sounds like something out of a movie. But I assure you, it’s real.

San Antonio Spurs hire Dave Telep as draft scouting coordinator

Spurs hire Dave Telep

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that Dave Telep has been hired as the team’s draft scouting coordinator.

Telep joins the Spurs organization after most recently serving as ESPN.com’s senior national recruiting analyst. He also spent time as a sideline reporter for ESPNU and a studio analyst for Recruiting Nation. During the past year, Telep has also served on the USA Developmental National Committee for the USA National Team.

He has been covering basketball recruiting for 16 years and in 2001 launched Dave Telep Scouting Services, which has been utilized by 230 Division I college programs around the country.

Anthony Carter is now a D-League assistant coach

Anthony Carter is now a D-League assistant coach

The Austin Toros today announced the hire of NBA veteran Anthony Carter as an assistant coach for the team. Carter will join recently named Head Coach Ken McDonald.

“We are pleased to have Anthony on staff with the Toros,” said Coach McDonald. “He brings a great deal of energy and a wealth of experience to our group. He’s familiar with the Spurs culture and what we are trying to build in Austin.”

In 14 NBA seasons, Carter suited up for the Miami Heat (1999-03), San Antonio Spurs (2003-04), Minnesota Timberwolves (2004-06), Denver Nuggets (2006-11), New York Knicks (2010-11) and the Toronto Raptors (2011-12). In 623 career games, the Wisconsin native averaged 4.8 points, 2.1 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 19.6 minutes. Carter suited up in 39 playoff games, averaging 4.5 points, 3.2 assists and 2.5 rebounds in 18.0 minutes.

D-League news: Ken McDonald named head coach of Austin Toros

Spurs Sports & Entertainment today announced that they have named Ken McDonald as head coach of the Austin Toros.

McDonald served as an assistant last season for the Toros under head coach Taylor Jenkins, where he helped lead the team to a 27-23 overall record and to the semifinals of the 2013 NBA D-League Playoffs.

Prior to the Toros, McDonald served as head coach at Western Kentucky University from 2008-12 where he accumulated a 67-48 overall record. In his first season with the Hilltoppers, McDonald guided the school to the Sun Belt regular season and tournament championships, and to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

The Rhode Island native served as an assistant coach for the University of Texas (2004-08) where he helped guide the Longhorns to four straight NCAA Tournament appearances. During his four seasons on the Texas bench the Longhorns posted a 106-35 (.752) record. The 106 wins are still the most victories in a four-year period in school history. Texas captured Big 12 Conference regular-season championships in both 2005-06 and 2007-08 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament “Elite Eight” in both of those years as well.

McDonald also served as an assistant coach at the University of Georgia (2003-04), Western Kentucky University (1998-2003) and Clemson University (1994-98).

A Providence College graduate, McDonald played two seasons with the Friars before playing professionally for the St. Paul Revelles in Killarney, Ireland from 1993-94. Before transferring to Providence he played two seasons at the Community College of Rhode Island, where he was a first-team junior college All-American, setting school records for single season scoring as well as three-pointers made in a game, season and career.

The Toros are scheduled to open the 2013-14 NBA D-League season on the road Nov. 22 when they visit the Santa Cruz Warriors. The team will open its home slate on Dec. 1 against the Delaware 87ers at 3 p.m. inside Cedar Park Center.

EuroBasket semifinals: France beats Spain 75-72 in OT

Tony Parker

France ended Spain’s reign as European basketball champion Friday with a 75-72 overtime victory behind 32 points from Tony Parker and set up a final against Lithuania.

Two-time defending champion Spain led by 14 points at halftime, but Parker led France’s comeback after the break. His 3-pointer with 2 minutes left gave France its first lead of the second half at 64-63.

“We wanted to be aggressive, but until halftime we weren’t really playing,” France coach Vincent Collet said. “We talked about it during the break and we came back very different. They couldn’t score for five minutes in the third and even when they started hitting shots again, our spirit stayed the same.”

Parker had a chance to put France ahead in regulation with the score tied at 65-65, but his drive to the basket was blocked by Rudy Fernandez with 11 seconds left. Jose Calderon then missed a 3-point attempt at the other end.

In overtime, Parker and Antoine Diot scored France’s last eight points from the free-throw line to keep France in front. Marc Gasol missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer after Rodriguez had missed a previous attempt to tie it.

Reported by Nesha Starcevic of the Associated Press

Spain looked home and dry at the interval. France had missed their first 10 attempts from three-point range while Parker scored 14 of his team’s 20 first-half points as his colleagues appeared overawed by the occasion.

The tide turned after the break as France hit nine of the next 10 shots from behind the arc with the unstoppable Parker producing blistering lay-ups, lethal perimeter shots and defense-splitting passing having also racked up six rebounds.

Reported by Reuters

Sean Marks is now a San Antonio Spurs assistant coach

Sean Marks is now a San Antonio Spurs assistant coach

The San Antonio Spurs today announced several front office promotions and additions entering the 2013-14 NBA season. Sean Marks assumes the role of assistant coach for the Spurs after serving the past season as director of basketball operations/Toros GM. Brian Pauga, currently director of scouting, adds Austin Toros general manager to his duties. Additionally, Will Hardy has been promoted to video coordinator, Anthony Falsone joins the Spurs as the athletic performance coordinator and Matt J. Herring assumes the role of athletic performance associate.

Marks, a native of New Zealand, began in the Spurs front office in 2011 as a basketball operations assistant before being promoted to director of basketball operations/Toros GM prior to last season. An 11-year NBA veteran, Marks played for San Antonio from 2003-06 and was a part of the Spurs 2005 NBA Championship team. He joins new assistant coach Jim Boylen and Ime Udoka on Gregg Popovich’s staff.

Pauga adds Toros general manager duties to his title after spending the past year as the director of scouting. The Michigan State graduate began his career in the Spurs front office as a basketball operations intern during the 2007-08 season before being elevated to scouting team coordinator.

Hardy takes over the role of video coordinator after spending the past two years as the assistant video coordinator for San Antonio. Hardy, who attended Williams College in Massachusetts, began with the Spurs as a video intern in 2011.

Falsone spent 10 seasons as the strength and conditioning coach for the Houston Rockets from 1995-2005. He also served as the personal strength coach for Hakeem Olajuwon from 1993-95 and for Yao Ming from 2005-06. While assisting Ming, Falsone worked with the Chinese men’s basketball team in preparation for the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece and for the 2006 FIBA World Championships in Sapparo, Japan.

Herring comes to the Spurs after spending the past year in Bermuda as the principal, strength and conditioning coach and fascial stretch therapist for Rhino Training. In the past year he has also worked for the Peak Performance Project in Santa Barbara, Calif., where he assisted with strength and conditioning preparation for athletes prior to the 2013 NBA Draft.