Category: San Antonio Spurs Blog

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San Antonio Spurs sign forward Malcolm Thomas

spurs sign 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).

San Antonio Spurs exercise contract options on Kawhi Leonard and Cory Joseph

kawhi leonard

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have exercised their fourth-year options on forward Kawhi Leonard and guard Cory Joseph. Both players are now signed through the 2014-15 season.

In two seasons with the Spurs, Leonard has appeared in 122 games, averaging 9.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.49 steals in 32.8 minutes. In 35 career playoff games, the California native has averaged 11.6 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.54 steals in 33.0 minutes. Leonard joined the Spurs in a 2011 draft night deal that saw the Silver and Black send George Hill to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for Leonard’s rights, along with the rights to Davis Bertans and Erazem Lorbek.

Now entering his third season in San Antonio, Joseph has averaged 3.2 points, 1.5 assists and 1.4 rebounds in 11.5 minutes in a total of 57 games during his first two NBA campaigns. The University of Texas product was drafted by San Antonio with the 29th overall pick in the first round of the 2011 NBA Draft.

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.