San Antonio Spurs Blog – Page 71 – NBA Blog

Spurs hire Jacque Vaughn as assistant coach

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that Jacque Vaughn has been added to the team’s coaching staff. He will join the Spurs as an assistant coach.

“We are thrilled to welcome Jacque back to the Spurs family,” said Spurs Head Coach Gregg Popovich. “The same attributes that made him the ultimate pro as a player will make him an outstanding coach. He has a great work ethic, is very intelligent and has an extremely high basketball IQ. He’ll be a wonderful addition to our coaching staff.”

Vaughn played 12 seasons in the NBA, retiring after the 2008-09 campaign.

After an outstanding collegiate career, Vaughn was selected by the Utah Jazz in the first round of the 1997 NBA Draft, with the 27th overall pick. During each of his four seasons at Kansas he led the Jayhawks in assists. He was named a Second Team All-American in both his junior and senior seasons. Vaughn was named the 1996 Big Eight Player of the Year as a junior and he was the 1997 GTE Academic All-American of the Year (thanks to a 3.72 GPA). He ranks second on KU’s all-time list in career assists, handing out 804 in his four seasons with Kansas.

Vaughn spent his first four NBA seasons with the Jazz. He then enjoyed stints with Atlanta, Orlando and New Jersey before signing with the Spurs on July 12, 2006. He played his final three seasons with the Spurs and was the back-up point guard on the Spurs 2007 NBA Championship team. In his 12-year NBA career he averaged 4.5 points and 2.5 assists in 776 games.

Vaughn and his wife, Laura, have two sons, Jalen and Jeremiah.

Popovich says Tim Duncan in great shape

The AP reports:

San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said Thursday that Duncan returned this summer for his 14th season perhaps in even better shape than a year ago, when the perennial All-Star reported to training camp 15 pounds lighter.

“He’s trim and slim. I think he’s even slimmer than he was last year,” Popovich said. “He’s really serious about this. He knows his responsibilities. He wants to win again.”

Popovich met with reporters in San Antonio for the first time since Phoenix swept the Spurs from the Western Conference semifinals in May. He’ll open training camp Sept. 27 with Duncan, who turns 35 this season, leading what is a mostly unchanged Spurs roster.

San Antonio Spurs' Tim Duncan (L) collides with Phoenix Suns' Channing Frye (R) as he drives to the basket in the second half during Game 1 of their NBA Western Conference semi-final playoff series in Phoenix May 3, 2010. REUTERS/Joshua Lott (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASKETBALL)

David Robinson’s private equity firm targets property

Eben Novy-Williams of Bloomberg reports:

Admiral Capital Group, the private- equity firm of former San Antonio Spurs All-Star David Robinson, entered into a joint venture with United States Automobile Association Real Estate to invest in property.

San Antonio-based USAA’s $50 million investment will be matched by investors including Admiral Capital, Covenant Multifamily Offices and Spurs owner Peter Holt.

The group will make investments between $25 million and $100 million in office buildings, lodging, multifamily dwellings and retail properties.

Spurs hire Danny Ferry as VP of basketball operations

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that Danny Ferry has been named the team’s Vice President of Basketball Operations. This is his second stint with the Spurs. Ferry played for the Spurs from 2000-03 and served as the team’s Director of Basketball Operations from 2003-05. During his tenure in San Antonio, Ferry captured an NBA Championship as a player (2003) and as a member of the front office (2005).

“We are thrilled that Danny has decided to rejoin the Spurs organization,” said Spurs General Manager RC Buford. “He has a great basketball mind and brings a vast amount of NBA experience and expertise to our program. It is a true pleasure to be able to welcome Danny and his wonderful family back to South Texas.”

Ferry was selected by the Los Angeles Clippers with the second overall pick in the 1989 NBA Draft. On November 16, 1989, he was traded by the Clippers to the Cavaliers. After playing the 1989-90 season in Italy, Ferry spent 10 seasons with Cleveland before signing with the Spurs, as a free agent, on August 10, 2000. Ferry spent his final three NBA seasons with the Spurs before retiring in the summer of 2003. In his 13-year NBA career, Ferry averaged 7.0 points and 2.8 rebounds in 19.8 minutes in 917 regular season games.

After retiring, Ferry moved into the Spurs front office as the team’s Director of Basketball Operations. On June 27, 2005, Ferry was named the Cleveland Cavaliers General Manager. During his five seasons in Cleveland, the team posted a 272-138 (.663) record. Cleveland advanced to the 2007 NBA Finals, marking the franchise’s first, and only, trip to the NBA Finals. Ferry left his post with the Cavaliers on June 4, 2010.

Danny Ferry returning to Spurs front office

Mike Monroe of the San Antonio Express-News reports:

Danny Ferry, who earned championship rings both as a Spurs player and a member of the team’s basketball operations department, will return to the franchise to try and help the club position for another title run.

Ferry, who resigned as general manager of the Cleveland Cavaliers ahead of LeBron James’ free agency defection in July, officially will be announced as a member of the Spurs’ front office by week’s end…

Ferry will re-join R.C. Buford, president of sports franchises for Spurs Sports and Entertainment, and vice-president and assistant general manager Dennis Lindsey in the club’s front office. Lindsey was hired in 2007 after Sam Presti left the club to become general manager of the then-Seattle SuperSonics.

InsideHoops.com editor quick-take: The Spurs front office almost always makes perfect decisions. That they want Ferry back says a lot about Ferry.

Full 2010 preseason schedule

The NBA today released its 2010 preseason schedule, which is highlighted by a comprehensive international slate of games that includes seven contests in China, Europe and Mexico. The preseason slate tips off on Oct. 3, when the New York Knicks visit Armani Jeans Milano – the former team of Knicks forward Danillo Gallinari and head coach Mike D’Antoni – in Milan, Italy, and the New Jersey Nets host Maccabi Haifa.

As is the case these days, the action starts overseas, with a few NBA squads heading to Europe.

I’ve always had mixed feelings about teams playing preseason ball overseas. Because generally it’s just a warmup. I think if NBA fans overseas are going to get a rare taste of live NBA action, it should be the best basketball possible, and we usually don’t see that before the regular season begins.

See the complete 2010-11 NBA preseason schedule.

WNBA: Chamique Holdsclaw out with torn Achilles tendon

San Antonio Silver Stars forward Chamique Holdsclaw suffered an injury during the Stars game at Minnesota on Sunday, Aug. 15; after further evaluation, an MRI revealed a torn right Achilles tendon.

Holdsclaw will miss the remainder of the 2010 season. She is expected to have surgery, but a date has not yet been set.

For the season, Holdsclaw was averaging 13.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. It’s the lowest scoring average of her career.

Knicks sign Roger Mason

New York Knickerbockers President of Basketball Operations Donnie Walsh announced today that the team has signed guard Roger Mason, Jr. as a free agent. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Mason Jr., 6-5, 212-pounds, has career averages of 7.2 points, 1.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 19.2 minutes in 346 games (88 starts) over six NBA seasons with Chicago, Toronto, Washington and San Antonio. The Washington, D.C. native averaged 6.3 points, 2.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 19.2 minutes in 79 games (five starts) with San Antonio during the 2009-10 season. Originally selected by Chicago in the second round (31st overall) of the 2002 NBA Draft, following his junior season at University of Virginia, Mason averaged career-highs of 11.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 30.4 minutes while playing in all 82 games (71 starts) with the Spurs during the 2008-09 campaign.

Mar. 29, 2010 - East Rutherford, NEW JERSEY, UNITED STATES - epa02098167 The Spurs' Roger Mason (L) drives past the Nets' Terrence Williams (R) during the first half of the game between the San Antonio Spurs and the New Jersey Nets at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA, on 29 March 2010.

Dennis Rodman OK after car flips on highway

The AP reports:

Former NBA star Dennis Rodman walked away unhurt after riding in an SUV that flipped over on an interstate in South Florida.

Sgt. Mark Wysocky of the Florida Highway Patrol said Rodman and another passenger weren’t injured in the single-vehicle crash on Saturday on Interstate 95 near Fort Lauderdale. The driver was taken to a hospital.

Wysocky said the Land Rover flipped over after having a tire problem. No charges are expected…

Rodman had just returned to the U.S. from the Caribbean island of St. Tropez, where he had a disc-jockey gig.

Spurs release Malik Hairston

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that, per his request, the team has released Malik Hairston from his contract.

The guard is reportedly set to sign in Italy.

“We’ve enjoyed having Malik in our organization,” said Spurs General Manager RC Buford. “He is a hard-worker, a talented basketball player and an outstanding young man. After Malik approached us we were happy to honor his request as it will, after he clears waivers, allow him to pursue an excellent overseas basketball opportunity.”

Hairston was selected by the Phoenix Suns, with the 48th overall pick, in the second round of the 2008 NBA Draft. In a draft night deal he was then traded to San Antonio – along with a 2009 second round pick – in exchange for the draft rights to Goran Dragic.

In two seasons with the Spurs, Hairston appeared in a total of 62 games, averaging 2.4 points in 7.6 minutes. During each of his two seasons with San Antonio he also saw action with the Austin Toros (the Spurs NBA Development League team). With the Toros he averaged 24.9 points and 5.2 rebounds in a total of 45 regular season games.