Mcdermott spreading cheer during ‘favorite time of year’
As a veteran nursing an ankle injury, Spurs forward Doug Mcdermott could have bowed out of his commitment to participate in the club's latest “NBA Season of Giving” charitable event.
But there he was Tuesday, wearing his Spurs winter beanie as he cheerily lugged Christmas trees to the cars and trucks of residents on the economically depressed West Side.
“Growing up, this was always my favorite time of the year,” Mcdermott said. “Not just because it's basketball season, but because it's the season of giving, a time to make an impact on the community.”
If the Spurs gave out an MVP award for the league's five-week campaign to spread cheer to those in need and other marginalized groups in the community, Mcdermott would be a strong candidate for the honor.
The ninth-year pro has participated in two of the four charitable events held so far: a joint Spurs, H-E-B and San Antonio Food Bank distribution on the East Side and the Christmas tree giveaway in conjunction with Methodist Healthcare and Methodist Healthcare Ministries.
At the same time, Mcdermott is supporting a blanket drive benefiting Childsafe, which, according to its website, is Bexar County's “most advanced trauma-focused care center for child victims and child survivors of abuse and neglect and their non-offending family members.”
“This is way more important than basketball,” he said.
Mcdermott, 30, has done “Season of Giving” work in several of the six NBA cities he's called home.
“I just really enjoy this time of year, putting smiles on peoples' faces, everyone is in a good mood, it's a beautiful day out here, and it's great to have (forward) Isaiah (Roby) out here too,” he said. “We are just
really into doing this.”
Mcdermott's comments came at the 10th annual Christmas Tree Giveaway at the Methodist Healthcare Ministries' Wesley Health & Wellness Center, where he teamed with Roby and Spurs staffers to distribute 120 decorated trees.
The Wesley Health & Wellness Center addresses the medical and dental needs of people who cannot afford health insurance.
“We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to share the Christmas spirit and holiday cheer with our community,” said Jaime Wesolowski, Methodist Health Care Ministries' president and CEO.
With three children ages 7 through 12 and a husband faced with work-related challenges, Claudia Espinoza was thrilled to get a tree to brighten her home.
“It's a huge joy for my children,” the Spanish-speaking Espinoza said through a translator.
“It's a blessing and a joy for them to see a Christmas tree in their house.”
Mcdermott's “Season of Giving” mission for the next few days will focus on inviting Spurs fans to donate blankets and other requested items through Friday to Childsafe.
The blankets can be dropped off at the nonprofit's headquarters at 3730 Interstate 10 E. Monetary donations can also be made Childsafe-sa.org with a note added in the comment section signifying the gift is for the “Spurs Winter Workshop.”
“The blanket drive is very special to me,” Mcdermott said. “That is something I discussed with them for a long time. I visited their facility last year, and it was really sad for me to be there, seeing what some of these kids go through. To be able to help out by getting thousands of blankets delivered to them, it means a lot to me, to our whole organization, and I know the fans are rallying behind it.
“It's going to be really special to the kids.”
Key reserves are set to return from injury
The Spurs' bench is about to get a significant boost with the expected returns of guard Josh Richardson and Mcdermott after they missed the past six and two games, respectively, with sprained ankles.
Both players practiced Wednesday in preparation for Thursday's home game against Houston.
“I am feeling pretty good,” Richardson said. “Foot is holding up. I got in a good practice. Played pickup a little bit the last couple of days, so hopefully I am getting back into it.”
Mcdermott said his ankle is “good.”
“It's the same ankle I had some issues with last year (when he missed the final 15 games of the season),” he said. “I kind of just got unlucky a few times this year, but it's feeling really good now, so I think I will be ready to roll going forward.
“You just have to be smart with these things because it's a long season.”
Guard Devin Vassell, the Spurs' leading scorer, is expected to be listed as questionable after sitting out practice. He tweaked his knee late in Sunday's loss to Phoenix.
Center Jakob Poeltl (bruised knee) and Jeremy Sochan (bruised quad) are expected to miss their fourth games in a row.
But the return of Richardson and Mcdermott is welcome news to a team that has lost 11 in a row for the second-longest skid in franchise history.
“It's great to have them back on the court,” forward/center Zach Collins said. “It brings a level of confidence around the whole team. On top of that, they're really good players who play super hard.”