Inside Kyle Andersons triumphant Spurs return
SAN ANTONIO — Kyle Anderson completed the same pregame shooting regimen he's completed countless time on the court in the city where his NBA career began as a 21-year-old reserve.
Then he ran off the court — down the other tunnel.
Before he could reach the safety of the Grizzlies' locker room, a few Spurs fans hanging over the tunnel railing called Anderson's name. He stopped, smiled and obliged a series of photo requests before resuming his trot off the court.
He's not Tony Parker, Tim Duncan or Manu Ginobli, but the Spurs fans — and their legendary coach — showed their respect on Wednesday night for Anderson, who apprenticed under those alltime greats the past four seasons.
But the respect from the Spurs extended only so far this summer, when they declined to match the Grizzlies' four-year, $37.2 million offer to Anderson.
“It was beyond the pale for us," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said before his team's 104-103 loss to Anderson's Grizzlies at AT&T Center. "We couldn’t do it. But I’m happy for him.”
Anderson tamped down the significance of his return to San Antonio, saying in the days before the trip that it would be great to see familiar faces but that, ultimately, it would be just another game. His teammates did not buy it. "He really wanted this one," Mike Conley said. "He told me before coming in here, he said, ‘man, go off for me so we can get this win.’ You could tell it meant a whole lot to him. We were really just playing for one another, and it showed down the stretch.”
Conley obliged with a game-high 30 points, while Anderson turned in a vintage Anderson stat-line.
He played a low-key but vital role, posting nine points and nine rebounds in a team-high 38 minutes for Memphis while alternating between small forward and power forward and taking on tough defensive assignments.
"He’s a pro," Grizzlies coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. "He’s where he’s supposed to be. He’s talking to guys, he’s helping younger guys. He’s just overall being a great teammate.” Grzzlies assistants have experience with Anderson
The Grizzlies knew that would be the case, because assistant Chad Forcier coached under Popovich from 2007 to 2016 and joined Bickerstaff in Memphis several weeks before the Grizzlies and Anderson reached their deal.
Popovich credited Forcier and Spurs assistant Chip Engelland for Anderson's development from a 21-year-old who split time between the G-League and the Spurs as a rookie to the player who started 67 games in place of two-time All-Star Kawhi Leonard last season.
Forcier's prior experience with Anderson helped solidify the Grizzlies' interest in Anderson.
"We spend so much time worrying about our team that we don't watch guys every single night," Bickerstaff said. "There may be certain nights where you see a guy and he's just really hot. There may be other nights where he's down. It's a roller-coaster and you end up with an average but you don't see the highs and lows. So the more information you can have on guys, things that you just see in a locker room, things that you just see of your own players and their personality every day.
"Those types of things are important. To have a guy like Chad who also spent time with Kyle, it gives you that information and makes your decision easier."
Anderson said before Wednesday's game that he wasn't sure whether the Spurs would match the Grizzlies' offer or not, adding that half of his family thought they would and the other half thought they wouldn't.
He also expressed appreciation for how Popovich and Spurs general manager R.C. Buford handled the breakup.
But Anderson showed up with his rebound on Wednesday and left with a win that was just a little beyond the pale for his old team.
"I think this game was good," Anderson said. "It was kind of like closure, you know what I’m saying? They’re on this side and I’m on the other side. It’s over. It’s no bad blood or anything like that. It’s just good to come in here and get another win.”
Reach David Cobb at david.cobb@commercialappeal.com and on Twitter @DavidWCobb.