timvp
08-03-2005, 12:13 AM
Oberto offers worldly success; Horry also re-signs
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA080305.1C.BKNspurs.oberto.horry.128fd4b7.html
Mike Monroe
Express-News Staff Writer
His hair is long, swept back from the brow in a style familiar to Spurs fans.
His English is spoken with a familiar accent, rhythm and inflection.
His basketball pedigree bears the same imprint.
All that remains for Fabricio Oberto, the newest member of the Spurs, is to accomplish results comparable to his Argentinean countryman, Manu Ginobili, the player his mannerisms bring to mind.
The Spurs on Tuesday introduced Oberto at their practice facility and presented him with jersey No. 7 — "my lucky number," Oberto said — shortly after he signed a three-year contract with the NBA champions.
After watching, via television, the run by Ginobili and the Spurs to the 2005 NBA title, Oberto reached a conclusion: "I am inspired," he said, "to be a champion."
The Spurs also announced a three-year deal with Robert Horry, who will enter his 14th NBA season after playing a significant role in the Spurs' championship, the sixth of his career.
"It was something that was obviously important to our team," Spurs general manager R.C. Buford said of Horry's re-signing. "We were fortunate, again, to have a player that wanted to be here. That's been a big part of our success: Players who appreciate the environment they're in and the teammates they have. Nobody was a bigger part of that than Robert.
"Having said that, after having the playoff performance that he did there were several teams that really came at him strong. We're very pleased that he chose to stay here."
The Spurs have had Oberto, a 6-foot-10, 245-pound center-forward, on their scouting radar since 1997, when Buford saw the Argentine junior national team in a tournament in Australia. In fact, Oberto was a more prominent member of that team than Ginobili.
"In 1997, when I first saw Manu, the best player on the team at that time is now joining our team," Buford said. "Fabricio Oberto has been a great player on the international scene for many years. He is an Olympic gold medalist and now the newest member of the Spurs."
Oberto, who turned 30 in March, said becoming an NBA player was the culmination of a longtime dream.
"I almost cried," he said of the day he agreed to sign with the Spurs. "I had been waiting a long time. I was listening to a lot of people that told me I can play in the NBA for a long time, but it never happened (until) this."
He made listeners at Tuesday's news conference recall Ginobili when he talked about his approach to the game, and not merely because his accented English had the same lilt as Ginobili's. Both Argentine stars are singularly devoted to team play.
"Since I play basketball the only thing that matters to me is the team," Oberto said. "I don't care about my situation or my stats. It is only for the team."
Oberto said he spoke with Ginobili when it became clear he would be signing with the Spurs, and Ginobili gave him a crash course on how the Spurs like to play.
Oberto figures to fill a significant role behind starting center Nazr Mohammed and power forward Tim Duncan, the NBA Finals MVP. His presence should allow Spurs coach Gregg Popovich to use more flexibility with the team's big men.
"He's a great teammate, a great passer," Buford said of Oberto. "He understands the game ridiculously well. The thing you notice is that on any given night, Manu might get a bunch of points, or somebody else on their team might get a bunch of points, but the guy who played the most minutes every night has been Fabricio. He just does whatever it takes. He's a great defender, a great passer and rebounds the ball really well.
"And all the things you don't measure on a stat sheet are the things he brings to the table, outside of the abilities that you do see on the stat sheet, which is create scoring opportunities for himself and for others.
"As far as his role for this team, Pop will figure that out."
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA080305.1C.BKNspurs.oberto.horry.128fd4b7.html
Mike Monroe
Express-News Staff Writer
His hair is long, swept back from the brow in a style familiar to Spurs fans.
His English is spoken with a familiar accent, rhythm and inflection.
His basketball pedigree bears the same imprint.
All that remains for Fabricio Oberto, the newest member of the Spurs, is to accomplish results comparable to his Argentinean countryman, Manu Ginobili, the player his mannerisms bring to mind.
The Spurs on Tuesday introduced Oberto at their practice facility and presented him with jersey No. 7 — "my lucky number," Oberto said — shortly after he signed a three-year contract with the NBA champions.
After watching, via television, the run by Ginobili and the Spurs to the 2005 NBA title, Oberto reached a conclusion: "I am inspired," he said, "to be a champion."
The Spurs also announced a three-year deal with Robert Horry, who will enter his 14th NBA season after playing a significant role in the Spurs' championship, the sixth of his career.
"It was something that was obviously important to our team," Spurs general manager R.C. Buford said of Horry's re-signing. "We were fortunate, again, to have a player that wanted to be here. That's been a big part of our success: Players who appreciate the environment they're in and the teammates they have. Nobody was a bigger part of that than Robert.
"Having said that, after having the playoff performance that he did there were several teams that really came at him strong. We're very pleased that he chose to stay here."
The Spurs have had Oberto, a 6-foot-10, 245-pound center-forward, on their scouting radar since 1997, when Buford saw the Argentine junior national team in a tournament in Australia. In fact, Oberto was a more prominent member of that team than Ginobili.
"In 1997, when I first saw Manu, the best player on the team at that time is now joining our team," Buford said. "Fabricio Oberto has been a great player on the international scene for many years. He is an Olympic gold medalist and now the newest member of the Spurs."
Oberto, who turned 30 in March, said becoming an NBA player was the culmination of a longtime dream.
"I almost cried," he said of the day he agreed to sign with the Spurs. "I had been waiting a long time. I was listening to a lot of people that told me I can play in the NBA for a long time, but it never happened (until) this."
He made listeners at Tuesday's news conference recall Ginobili when he talked about his approach to the game, and not merely because his accented English had the same lilt as Ginobili's. Both Argentine stars are singularly devoted to team play.
"Since I play basketball the only thing that matters to me is the team," Oberto said. "I don't care about my situation or my stats. It is only for the team."
Oberto said he spoke with Ginobili when it became clear he would be signing with the Spurs, and Ginobili gave him a crash course on how the Spurs like to play.
Oberto figures to fill a significant role behind starting center Nazr Mohammed and power forward Tim Duncan, the NBA Finals MVP. His presence should allow Spurs coach Gregg Popovich to use more flexibility with the team's big men.
"He's a great teammate, a great passer," Buford said of Oberto. "He understands the game ridiculously well. The thing you notice is that on any given night, Manu might get a bunch of points, or somebody else on their team might get a bunch of points, but the guy who played the most minutes every night has been Fabricio. He just does whatever it takes. He's a great defender, a great passer and rebounds the ball really well.
"And all the things you don't measure on a stat sheet are the things he brings to the table, outside of the abilities that you do see on the stat sheet, which is create scoring opportunities for himself and for others.
"As far as his role for this team, Pop will figure that out."