San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
Writers’ roundtable
Each week, Express-News sportswriters discuss the current sports news. This week, Jeff McDonald, Nick Moyle and Tom Orsborn weigh in on the Spurs and Team USA basketball.
What will Tim Duncan bring as an assistant coach?
McDonald: All-time great players don’t always make great coaches — hello, Magic Johnson — but Duncan has a chance to be different. The Big Fundamental was always known as a thinking man’s player whose basketball brain outmatched his physical skills. He also brings a wealth of championship-winning experience to the table. More than that, Duncan is still close enough to the end of his playing career that he can still relate to the modern player. Plus, he has been around the Spurs’ gym regularly in the three years since retirement and has already formed relationships with most of the players on the roster. I’m surprised Duncan wanted to subject himself to the grind of being an assistant coach, but once he signaled interest, hiring him was something of a nobrainer.
Moyle: I imagine having Duncan around all the time will provide a sense of comfort and continuity, even if he’s no longer in uniform. He hasn’t exactly been a ghost since retirement, showing up at the facility now and then to get some work in with the team. But now that he’s officially a part of the organization again, he’ll be an excellent sounding board and mind to pick, especially for the younger players. But I expect even someone such as LaMarcus Aldridge will be thrilled to have one of the game’s greatest big men on the sideline.
Orsborn: From rookies Luka Samanic and Keldon Johnson to grizzled vets Aldridge and Rudy Gay, all the players can learn so much from Duncan. In addition to ranking as the greatest power forward in NBA history, he was one of the greatest teammates and leaders in all of sports. What’s not to like about having him around full-time? And let’s not forget he earned a degree in psychology at Wake Forest, which should serve him well in this new calling. Bottom line: He’ll be a great addition to what already was a strong staff even with the departures of Ettore Messina and Ime Udoka.
How does Brian Wright fit in his new role as GM?
McDonald: This will be an interesting subplot to follow as the days and weeks and years move along. Widely regarded as an upand-coming young executive, Wright certainly has large shoes to fill as longtime GM R.C. Buford moves up the chain of command at Spurs Sports & Entertainment. Wright has been on board for all the big decisions of the past few years, from draft nights to the blockbuster Kawhi Leonard trade last summer. He was an early cheerleader of Derrick White, the team’s first-round selection in 2017 and a player who now looks poised to jump another level next season. I’m not saying the transition to Wright will be seamless, but he’s already got a good head start.
Moyle: Wright is at least familiar with the “Spurs Way,” having joined the organization in 2016 as assistant general manager under Buford. The 37-year-old grinded his way from Orlando Magic intern to successor of one of the best GM’s the NBA has even seen. I expect he won’t stray drastically from the organization’s standard approach, but Wright is also going to be his own man. I’m not expecting a Buford 2.0, though I’m sure the new CEO of Spurs Sports & Entertainment will still have plenty of input on roster moves.
Orsborn: Wright has paid his dues and is ready to take this big step in his career. He’s learned from one of the best in Buford, who I’m sure will still have plenty of say in personnel matters even while juggling all the other demands that come with being the club’s CEO. But Wright is well equipped for this role after serving as director of college scouting with the Magic and assistant GM with first the Pistons and then the Spurs.
Gregg Popovich returns to the sidelines next week at the USA Basketball national camp, but it’s not the roster he might have expected. Does that matter to him?
McDonald: This is a question that is difficult to answer. Unlike an Olympic squad, the Team USA roster Popovich takes to China later this summer is going to be somewhat star-free. Obviously, the job is more difficult when potentially guys like Bam Adebayo and Brook Lopez replace the likes of Anthony Davis and James Harden. Still, I think Popovich will enjoy the job and the team will qualify for the Tokyo Olympics next year, where the Team USA roster should be more starstudded.
Moyle: I’m sure Popovich would have preferred a more star-studded roster heading into his first tournament as head coach of Team USA. Still, I don’t think he’ll lose much sleep over it. And it could be the case that this younger, somewhat unproven collection of players will operate with more to prove than a group of uninterested veteran All-Stars. That’s an optimistic take, but if any coach can make more from less, it’s Popovich.
Orsborn: While it’s true the World Cup usually attracts less star power than the Olympics, this current roster Popovich is working with is indeed thin. Still, there’s no reason to believe he can’t get the job done with a core that includes Kemba Walker, Khris Middleton, Kyle Lowry and Donovan Mitchell. The key, though, will be making sure the final 12 are a mix of guys whose skills complement each other. It’s a young collection of largely fringe-level All-Stars, but Pop and his staff should still be able to guide them to gold.
How important is Derrick
White’s addition to the USA Basketball camp as a member of the select team?
McDonald: It will be a good experience for White, who is still young in his NBA career, to work out against the big boys gunning for a spot on the U.S. national team. To be clear, White will be participating on the “select team,” which is something of a practice squad for use in the Team USA training camp process. Any more defections from the Team USA pool, and White might find himself running point guard in China (I’m kidding, but only sort of ).
Moyle: It never hurts to spend some time around some of the game’s best coaching minds and most talented players. The latter might not technically apply this time around, but White will still get to go up against some All-Star caliber guards and pick their minds off the court. Getting added to the team is also a nice bit of recognition for the former 29th pick.
Orsborn: It’s a no-brainer that being in that environment and having Jeff Van Gundy as a coach will further enhance the development of White, who has already put in a lot of time in the gym this summer working to become more consistent. Already a near-elite defender, White should be even better after he goes up against the likes of Walker, Lowry and Mitchell in Vegas.