Big Three are back together — for HEB ads
HOUSTON — The Spurs’ Big Three is set to be reunited — on the television screen.
Having retired from the NBA last summer, Tony Parker is scheduled to return to the cast of HEB’s iconic Spursthemed TV commercials to air this season.
He will join a “legends” cast that already includes former championship running mates Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili to tout goods from the local grocery chain.
The slate of active players set to appear in the HEB spots has changed by one, with Bryn Forbes replacing the nowdeparted Pau Gasol.
Rudy Gay, DeMar DeRozan, LaMarcus Aldridge and Patty Mills are the returning members of the active cast.
Last week, Mills shared a photo on social media that depicted himself, Forbes and Gay decked in pirate garb as part of the commercial shoot.
Mills said he thought Forbes held his own as a firsttime actor.
“He subbed in and did good,” Mills said. “You could tell he was nervous at first.”
Forbes has a big role to fill, joining in the proud legacy of Spurs HEB commercial stars. The offbeat series began in the 2000s, with the ads growing into an essential part of Spurs fans’ viewing experience.
“I love it,” Mills said. “It’s a way to show who we are, just as much as we do on the court. I’m all about it.”
When Duncan retired from playing in 2016, a spinoff series of sorts was created with the big man joining a “retirees” cast that included David Robinson, Sean Elliott, George Gervin and Bruce Bowen.
Ginobili joined that troupe upon his retirement last season, which Parker spent playing what turned out to be his final NBA campaign in Charlotte.
DeRozan and Gay sit as a precaution
The Spurs were without a pair of rotation regulars for Wednesday’s preseason game in Houston, with DeRozan and Gay both sidelined.
DeRozan sat out after bruising his chest Sunday against New Orleans. Gay skipped his second consecutive game while dealing with a minor hamstring issue.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said he did not think either player would be out much longer.
“None of it is serious,” Popovich said. “DeMar’s is not for sure. Rudy’s has lingered a little bit, but I don’t think it’s going to be longterm.”
With DeRozan out, secondyear player Lonnie Walker IV made his second start of the preseason at small forward.
When the Spurs wing rotation has been at full strength this preseason, Walker has been running as a thirdstringer behind veteran Marco Belinelli.
“I’m still earning Pop’s trust,” Walker said. “Until I crack second team or get a good amount of minutes, I still have stuff to prove.”
Aldridge plays center, at least for the night
Wednesday’s game also saw Popovich experimenting with his frontcourt for the first time this season, with Aldridge starting at center instead of power forward.
It was partly in response to a Houston smallball starting five that included 6foot6 P.J. Tucker at power forward.
Instead of starting a second true big man, Popovich deployed newcomer Trey Lyles, who is 6foot10 but plays most often outside the paint.
Though Aldridge says he still prefers starting with a second big man, he has come to accept that he often will be a center in the modern NBA.
“I always like starting big and then go small if you have to, force teams to match you,” Aldridge said. “The NBA is different now. A five isn’t a five anymore. It’s really a four. You’re only a (traditional) five maybe two or three times a year.”
Team to honor fireman killed in line of duty
San Antonio firefighter Greg Garza will be remembered with a moment of silence before Friday night’s preseason Spurs game against Memphis at the AT&T Center.
The 17year department veteran was responding to an electrical fire around 7 a.m. Tuesday at the downtown Comfort Suites when he apparently stumbled getting off the truck and was struck by a passing vehicle, fire Chief Charles Hood said.