In a turn of events, San Antonio Spurs' Tiago Splitter has decided to play for Spanish team Valencia (which also has Spurs draftee Nando De Colo on the roster) for the duration of the NBA lockout according to tubabasket.com.

The report goes on to say Splitter and Valencia are in the final stages of negotiations and a deal could be finalized today.

As for the reports he was on his way to Unicaja Malaga, the report states the team's sports director, Manolo Rubia, has stated the team did not sign Splitter and a reason given was due to the high costs associated with bringing Tiago to the team.

I am sure an opt-out clause will be given but adding Splitter will do wonders for Valencia. The team lacks size and Florent Pietrus needs help in the paint. Not only that, Splitter could also help De Colo in his basketball development and give Nando some pointers on what the Spurs expect from their players.

What do you have to say Spurs fans? Chime in on this turn of events.

Aside from being listed as a plaintiff in the N.B.P.A's suit against the NBA, San Antonio Spurs rookie Kawhi Leonard was recently honored by his alma mater San Diego State University before the Aztec's game against UC Davis.

Leonard was showered with applause from the fans in attendance for his stellar play with the Aztecs and received his Mountain West Conference championship ring.

And although Leonard doesn't have any regrets leaving the Aztecs early to enter the NBA draft, I am sure the next championship ring he wants to wear is an NBA championship ring the Spurs will hopefully get if and when the NBA returns.

I don't even know where to begin with this video but here I go.

Dallas Mavericks and former San Antonio Spurs player Ian Mahinmi is apparently "superfly."

And by "superfly" I mean Ian is parading around in a robe, working out with very light weights, kissing his biceps, getting a massage on a rooftop and more in a promotional video for One Million Dollar Film production company.

As if getting verbally blistered by Tony Parker wasn't enough, I am sure this will just give Spurs fans more fodder to point and laugh at Ian.

Sure I get it, it's supposed to be a jokey video and Ian is being a good-sport but come on! Ian did you really have to kiss your biceps for the camera while working out in a towel-shorts?

Check out Mahinmi being "superfly" and being a pretty-boy in the video below including Ian meeting up with clones of himself in a bar. It's a very cringe-worthy video so you have been warned.

San Antonio Spurs' Tony Parker keeps racking up the awards while playing with French club Asvel-Villeurbanne. After being voted as the October MVP by the fans, Parker has now been voted this weeks Eurocup MVP.

In  game one of the Euroucup, Parker led Asvel to a win over Spurs draftee Nando De Colo and Valencia 87-78. Parker finished with 34 points off 8/15 shooting, 3/4 three pointers, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists.

Parker has been playing outstanding ball since joining Asvel and after the win over Valencia, head coach Paco Olmos had nothing but praise for Parker.

"We weren't able to stop him," Valencia coach Paco Olmos said.

"And when he wanted to dominate the game, he did."

Olmos added that Parker "is potentially the best player of the tournament right now".

In case you missed it, click HERE for the full recap of Asvel's win over Valencia. Parker and Asvel will next face Lukoil Academic in the first round of Eurocup.

• San Antonio Spurs' Kawhi Leonard is among the lead plaintiffs listed in the N.B.P.A's suit against the NBA.

• The mayor of San Antonio expresses his concern over the NBA lockout.

• Former Spurs' sports psychologist David Cook during some of the Spurs' championship years released a new book.

• Spurs legend David Robinson invests in some property in Houston.

• Pounding the Rock has another solid weekly European basketball update for all Spurs fans.

• Express News' Tim Griffin has info on Shaquille O'Neal taking a shot at Chris Bosh.

The on-going NBA lockout is going to be devestating on many people outside the arenas and lockerrooms.

It's a fact, NBA cities rely on revenue from NBA games. From restaurants, outside vendors, arena employees to bars, the longer the lockout rages on, more money will be lost which could mean an estimated loss of $90 million for the city of San Antonio without the San Antonio Spurs playing in the AT&T Center.

The following NBA cities have estimated their losses: Portland would lose $59 million;  Oklahoma City $60 million; and San Antonio a whopping $90 million.

I'm sure more events will fill the AT&T Center with no Spurs games to host but such events are only temporary. Those events are not for a set amount of months. 

Once again, this just proves it's the little guys that get trampled and forgotten. Let's just hope this lockout is resolved soon.

San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker kicked of the first day of EuroCup with a 87-78 win over fellow Frenchman and San Antonio Spurs draftee Nando De Colo and Valencia.

Asvel went on a 9-0 run in the second quarter to take a 28 to 17 lead and at the half were up 34 to 27.

DeColo and Valencia got as close as two points before Parker hit two three-pointers to push ahead. Asvel needed Parker's fourth quarter heroics to pull ahead for good late in the game after the teams stayed close throughout the game.

Parker's defender had his work cut out for him as Parker showed off a very versatile offensive game scoring from the outside and getting to the basket easily on his way to 34 points.

Knicks center Ronny Turiaf added 12 points off several Parker assists.

De Colo struggled throughout the game and finished with just seven points in Valencia's loss.

Parker and Asvel will play their next game in the first round of Eurocup against Lukoil Academic, while De Colo and Valencia look for their first win against BC Oostende.

As we reported here, Spanish team Unicaja Malaga has been interested in signing San Antonio Spurs' Tiago Splitter for the duration of the NBA lockout and reportedly offered him a huge amount of money.

According to solobasket.com, Splitter will sign with Unicaja for the duration of the NBA lockout.

Gradually, the movement has taken shape that has been brewing in recent weeks: Tiago Splitter will play for Unicaja until the end of the NBA lockout.

Poco a poco ha tomado forma el movimiento que se ha ido gestando en las últimas semanas: Tiago Splitter será jugador de Unicaja hasta el final del cierre patronal de la NBA .

The report went on to state the on-going lockout hastened Splitter to make the decision to play with Unicaja and the reason, given by the report, why he declined to return to his former team Caja Labroal was because he did not agree with coach Dusko Ivanovic's methods.

If the report is true, then this would mean Splitter has went back on his statement that he would not play for any team during the lockout and instead rest up and heal nagging injuries. However, with no end in sight for this NBA labor impasse, perhaps it is wise for Tiago to get time on the court and be ready if and when the NBA returns.

The news also shouldn't come to a huge shock. As we reported, Splitter's Brazilian national team coach Ruben Magnano did state Splitter was leaning towards signing with Unicaja.

But it will be interesting if true. Aside from Unicaja, reportedly there are other teams such as Milano, Valencia and other European teams which are in the hunt for Splitter's services.

What do you have to say Spurs fans? If the report is true, how do you feel about Splitter playing during the lockout?

While the NBA lockout raged into nuclear winter yesterday, arguably the league's best player was in London on a promotional tour.

While there, our friends at HoopsFix.com got a few minutes to chat with Maimi Heat's LeBron James about a hypothetical one-on-one game between he and Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant. LeBron was asked who would win in said match up and before saying he would always take himself in a game of one-on-one, he said it will never happen because basketball is a team sport. Check out the video.

I loved 90% of this answer. The last sentence was awfully crass, though. But at the same time I still liked this response. It showed self confidence but it also showed an understanding of something larger than oneself.

Kobe had a very different version of how it would work. Kobe said one-on-one is what he does, but added that LeBron is more of a Magic Johnson type of player.

LeBron's right, it'll never happen unless they decide to mess around during practice for the 2012 Olympics. Hopefully someone has a camera handy in case that does happen!

On this special episode of the Spurscast, Jeff and I talk about what exactly could come from the players rejecting the last deal and disbanding from the union.

Aside from a very high possibility of the 2011-12 season being cancelled, we talk about the ripple effect, which probably means more San Antonio Spurs players will be heading overseas.

We also talk about losing one of Tim Duncan's final seasons, the Spurs' chances at winning a championship looking even slimmer as another year goes by and what the loss would mean to team staff, gameday staff and local business.



Song: "Sad but true" Metallica

Download