Spurs sign Anderson

Written by Jeff Garcia on .

The San Antonio Spurs have signed their 2010 NBA Draft pick, James Anderson:

The San Antonio Spurs announced today that they have signed James Anderson. The Spurs drafted Anderson with 20th overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft. Per team policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.

It's been a busy off-season for the Spurs as they have signed Tiago Splitter, Richard Jefferson, Gary Neal, and now Anderson.

Parker teaching kids the Lakers are the enemy

Written by Jeff Garcia on .

San Antonio Spurs' guard, Tony Parker, recently made a guest appearance for children in France. After taking some questions, Parker proceeded to instruct the children on which team they should clap for and which team they shouldn't:

After lunch, drive up to a real, provided by coach "TP": "In basketball, you must listen to instructions. When I say "Spurs" (the team of San Antonio which is the basketball player), you clap twice, and Lakers (Team Los Angeles) you clap not because they are our enemies!"

Way to increase Spurs fandom and spread Lakers hate to the children of France Parker!

(source sudouest.fr)

Spurscast #217: Jefferson re-signs and Summer League recap

Written by Jeff Garcia on .

On this episode of the Spurscast, Project Spurs welcomes back to the show News 4 WOAI's sports reporter, Humberto "Humbie" Cervera, to discuss the latest news on the San Antonio Spurs.

On the show, we discuss the news of Richard Jefferson re-signing with the Spurs and if Spurs fans will see a different Jefferson than the one last season. We recap the Spurs Summer League and discuss the newest Spur, Gary Neal.

Also, Mike and Humbie decide to put me under the spotlight and try to find out if I got married to some random woman while I was in Las Vegas covering the San Antonio Spurs at the 2010 NBA Summer League.

Thanks to Humbie for taking time out to join us. Make sure to check out Humbie's Blog for more Spurs news.

The Spurscast, the first and original Spurs podcast!

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Music: "Kickstart my heart" by Motley Crue

DeJuan Blair the singer

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Check out San Antonio Spurs' forward, DeJuan Blair, singing in this video which is dedicated to his friend Antonio Hampton.

P.O.P. Featuring DeJuan Blair
2 Hard Living

Spurs preseason home games announced

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The San Antonio Spurs have announced their preseason home games for the 2010-2011 season.

The home preseason games kicks off in style as the Spurs will face the new look Miami Heat with LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade on October 9, 2010. Then on October 16, the Spurs will host Tiago Splitter's former team, Caja Laboral.

The rest of the home preseason schedule is as follows:

  • October 18 versus the Oklahoma City Thunder.
  • October 21 versus the Houston Rockets.

Make sure to make it out to the AT&T Center for these games to get a look at the new players such as James Anderson and Splitter and to welcome back familiar faces such as Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker.

For more information on tickets visit Spurs.com.

Mahinmi knows where it all began for him

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LAS VEGAS -- In the 2005 NBA Draft, the San Antonio Spurs selected Ian Mahinmi from France with their first round pick. This left many Spurs fans scratching their heads. Many questioned who he was and why the Spurs drafted him. He even wasn't listed among the 128 players in the league's draft guide.

As Spurs fans got to see him play in the 2006 Rocky Mountain Review and in the D-League with the Austin Toros, they saw an atheletic freak which left them yearning for him joining Tim Duncan in the post.

Then came the injuries, the constant send backs to the Austin Toros, fouling out of games, all which led to the frustration of Spurs fans and may have led to the Spurs announcing they would not be picking up the last year of his contract.

With things not working out well for Mahinmi in San Antonio, he made the decision to sign with the Dallas Mavericks as a free-agent this summer and is ready to begin a new chapter in his NBA career.

While I was at the 2010 Summer League, I got a chance to talk to Mahinmi about his time with the Spurs, joining the Mavericks, and more.

During my interview with him, I did notice that despite how things turned out for him with the Spurs, he knows where it all began for him and appreciated every moment, "Those three years with the Spurs were unbelievable," Mahinmi said when I asked him about his time in San Antonio, "I improved a lot every year. Even though I broke my ankle three years ago, I still improved. Its been a long process and I think the main thing I learned from the Spurs is that toughness, that mental toughness of the game. To make sure what you are doing on defense and do it everyday."

Though Mahinmi has been in the NBA for three years, he is fully aware the journey to becoming a better player is still a work in process and that process couldn't have started better for the young player than to have Spurs forward, Tim Duncan, to learn from.

Now he will be playing with another great forward in Dallas, Dirk Nowitzki, and he is looking forward to that learning experience, "Its great for me. It's great to be around those guys and I think that will pay off. If I keep working and I keep listening to those vets. It’s a very great experience for me being able to play alongside two great guys like that."

Credit Mahinmi for knowing it took more than just Duncan to learn from. He recognized the other players he was with in San Antonio who helped his development, "But I played with many great guys like Robert Horry, (Antonio) McDyess. It was just great for my experience."

Now he is taking the lessons learned in San Antonio to Dallas, “My main thing is to keep improving. Keep helping my team no matter what I got to do," said Mahinmi when I asked him what he is looking forward to as a new member of the Mavericks.

“I just want to keep improving on another winning team. I just want to win some more. I think we got a great organization. I got great teammates like Jason Kidd, Caron Butler, (Jason) Terry, Rodrigue Beubouis, Dirk (Nowitzki). There's good players all over the place. I think we got a good group of guys and we are very talented. I am looking forward to next season and I am going to do everything I can to help my team win.”

However, there is one date he is going to circle on his calendar once the 2010-2011 NBA season schedule is released, "You look forward to those games,” said Mahinmi when I asked him about the first game he will play against the Spurs next season, “I really got great memories, three great years. Its going to be weird to go to the visitors locker room in the AT&T Center. As a matter of fact I never been in there!”

“I am just looking forward to that game when I go play the Spurs and hopefully we do good and we win. Now I am all the way with the Mavs. If we (Mavericks) can beat them (Spurs) by 40 let’s do it!"

And if the visitor's locker room in the AT&T Centeris going to be a new experience for him, he is also joining the other side of the heated Spurs-Mavericks rivalry, “Its especially weird," Mahinmi told Project Spurs when asked about joining the Dallas side of the rivalry, "The first time I wore my blue jersey … I'm just used to that black and silver jersey. I told my trainer, 'It's funny, everything is weird, everything is blue!' But after a while, I’m used to it and I like it.”

Mahinmi is ready to prove himself after being unable to showcase his talents in San Antonio. He has the skill set to be a solid NBA player and while some Spurs fans feel he was a draft day bust, he holds no ill will towards them and wishes the Spurs a good season, “I hope they (Spurs) have a great season next year. I hope the Spurs organization gives a good show to the Spurs fans because they deserve it. They been very great to me. They are very great fans and I think the Mavs have great fans too.”

Of course during my interview with Mahinmi, he showed he is ready when it comes to joining the Mavericks side of the rivalry, “Hopefully we will meet in the playoffs next season and we can beat them!”

Spurs sign Neal

Written by Jeff Garcia on .

After an impressive showing at the 2010 NBA Summer league, the San Antonio Spurs have signed Gary Neal to a three year deal according to Draft Express.

Neal's performance in Las Vegas opened eyes who were in attendance especially after his 26 point game outburst against the Memphis Grizzlies where he connected on 6-10 three-point shots.

With Neal signed, this adds another guard to the Spurs team. The team now has a log jam at the position with Tony Parker, George Hill, Malik Hairston, James Anderson, and Manu Ginobili. The odd player out could be Hairston unless Neal is sent to the Austin Toros.

While I was at the Summer League, Neal showed he is a steady shooter in most of the games and was the leading scorer for the Spurs averaging 16 points on 50% shooting from both the field and the three-point line.

Buford discusses the re-signing of Jefferson

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Spurs re-sign Jefferson

Written by Jeff Garcia on .

The San Antonio Spurs have officially announced they have re-signed Richard Jefferson:

The San Antonio Spurs announced today that they have re-signed Richard Jefferson. Per team policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed. (spurs.com)

Many around the NBA celebrated the Spurs trading for Jefferson and felt he was the missing piece to push the team into serious title contention and possibly dethrone the Los Angeles Lakers.

However as the season progressed, Jefferson looked lost in the Spurs system and in the end drew the ire of Spurs fans and most calling the trade a "bust." Jefferson averaged 12.3 points and 4.4 rebounds during the regular season. A drop in his production while he was with the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2008-2009 NBA season.

His numbers also dipped during the playoffs, where he averaged 9.4 points a game. Such production was not smiled upon by fans especially considering he was receiving close to $15 million last season.

While Spurs fans may not be celebrating his re-signing, he was one of the better free agents that was left on the market at his position.

Though terms of the deal were not disclosed, it has been reported the new deal will keep the Spurs under the luxury tax threshold.

UPDATE:

The breakdown of Jefferson's deal is for four years at $39 million dollars. The breakdown is as follows: $8.4 million in 2011, $9.3 million in 2012, $10.2 million in 2013, and $11 million in 2014,with the final year partially guaranteed. (source Express News)

Demps to join Hornets as new GM

Written by Jeff Garcia on .

Dell Demps, San Antonio Spurs vice president of basketball operations, has agreed to join the New Orleans Hornets as their new General Manager according to the Associated Press:

A person familiar with the hiring says Dell Demps has agreed to become the New Orleans Hornets' next general manager.

The person, who spoke to The Associated Press late Tuesday night on condition of anonymity because the hiring had not been formally announced, says the move is expected to become official on Wednesday.

Demps will join head coach of the Hornets and former Spur, Monty Williams, in New Orleans.

San Antonio remains one of the top spots to work to open doors for other positions in the NBA. Ask Danny Ferry, Sam Presti, Avery Johnson, Monty Williams, Kevin Pritchard, and the list goes on and on.