Kori Ellis
10-06-2005, 12:13 AM
'Genuine' Spurs welcome Finley
Web Posted: 10/06/2005 12:00 AM CDT
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA100605.1C.BKNspurs.finley.17bc0235.html
CHARLOTTE AMALIE, U.S. Virgin Islands — Michael Finley walked onto the court Tuesday afternoon for his first Spurs practice and did a double-take.
Perched in the stands was his longtime coach with the Dallas Mavericks, Don Nelson.
"I thought he was scouting us or something," Finley said. "I guess everybody is trying to get out of Dodge now, huh?"
Unlike Nelson, Finley didn't have much choice.
The face of the Mavericks' franchise for much of the past nine seasons, he found himself out of a job in August after Dallas waived him to take advantage of the NBA's new amnesty rule. By ridding themselves of the luxury-tax penalty Finley's contract incurred, the Mavericks bid farewell to their longtime captain.
Dallas' loss became the Spurs' gain. And while acknowledging it's a little strange to be wearing something other than a blue jersey, Finley, so far, sounds happy with his new team.
"These guys are genuine guys," he said. "They've welcomed me with open arms. I'm very appreciative of this team, and that's one of the reasons I decided to come to San Antonio."
Few NBA observers thought Finley would make the five-hour drive down Interstate 35.
Phoenix offered a starting job plus the chance to play with Steve Nash, his friend and longtime teammate from Dallas. Miami, in addition to having Shaquille O'Neal, Dwyane Wade and a championship-caliber roster, could have given him a starting salary of $5million, almost twice as much as the Spurs had available.
Aware that most considered the Heat the favorite to sign Finley, Spurs officials phoned Finley's agent to make sure they were still in the running. Even after meeting with Finley at his Chicago home, coach Gregg Popovich was skeptical of the team's chances.
"I had a really good dinner afterwards then walked up and down Michigan Avenue," Popovich said. "I figured that was going to be my fun for the trip, pretty honestly.
"I just felt that he was probably going to start in the other situations, and I thought he would have personal relationships that would be tough to turn away from."
In the end, however, Finley saw other reasoning: The Spurs, who unsuccessfully courted him in the summer of 2001, had won three championships in seven years.
Having met Tim Duncan in college when both played for the junior national team, Finley had grown to admire the two-time MVP for his talent and for his selflessness. He also felt comfortable with Popovich from their time together in the 2002 World Championships.
Though the Mavericks included a contract provision that allows them to spread the remaining $51.8 million they owe Finley in payments over the next 10-plus years, money wasn't a significant factor in his decision. A percentage of the three-year, $8.4 million contract (the third season is at his option) he signed with the Spurs is subtracted from what Dallas owes him.
As for speculation he signed with Dallas' division rival to get back at his former team, Finley said he would have joined the Spurs if they were in the Eastern Conference.
"What stood out," he said, "was this team has done it before. They know what it takes. A lot of the other situations, there were a lot of unknowns.
"Here, I knew what I was getting into from a team standpoint, from a coaching standpoint."
Popovich, who told Finley he would have to accept a role off the bench and fewer minutes, was happy to land the former All-Star because he signed for "all the right reasons" — not the least of which was the chance to play with Duncan.
"Timmy's proven through three championships he makes everybody better," Popovich said. "It doesn't matter where they played in college, what country they come from, how big they are, how skilled they are. He has an ability to let people get comfortable in their roles and welcome them in."
Finley also has been well received by his one-time tormentor. In a game against Dallas late in the 2003-04 season, Finley and Bruce Bowen traded a couple of well-placed forearm shoves. Finley was ejected; Bowen received a $2,000 fine.
Afterward, Finley called Bowen a coward. Nelson accused him of being dirty.
Finley said he and Bowen recently dined together. Any feud, he said, is "behind us."
"I'm a competitor, and he's a competitor," Bowen said. "But the competition is only on the court. I respect him a great deal.
"I think I would be doing a disservice to the organization if I held grudges against guys."
Finley now finds himself backing up Bowen and Manu Ginobili. Having led the NBA in minutes played in three seasons, he says his new job will be a "big adjustment." But he also thinks the Spurs will make the transition as smooth as possible.
While Finley's scoring average has dropped six consecutive seasons, he played much of last season with a right-ankle injury that required surgery in the summer. Long regarded as a better shooter than slasher, he apparently hasn't lost his stroke. Last season, he made a career-best 40.7 percent of his 3-pointers — a percentage that could improve given the amount of open shots he should receive playing with Duncan.
"Without me here in San Antonio, they're still a great team," Finley said. "With me, hopefully they'll be a better team."
Web Posted: 10/06/2005 12:00 AM CDT
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA100605.1C.BKNspurs.finley.17bc0235.html
CHARLOTTE AMALIE, U.S. Virgin Islands — Michael Finley walked onto the court Tuesday afternoon for his first Spurs practice and did a double-take.
Perched in the stands was his longtime coach with the Dallas Mavericks, Don Nelson.
"I thought he was scouting us or something," Finley said. "I guess everybody is trying to get out of Dodge now, huh?"
Unlike Nelson, Finley didn't have much choice.
The face of the Mavericks' franchise for much of the past nine seasons, he found himself out of a job in August after Dallas waived him to take advantage of the NBA's new amnesty rule. By ridding themselves of the luxury-tax penalty Finley's contract incurred, the Mavericks bid farewell to their longtime captain.
Dallas' loss became the Spurs' gain. And while acknowledging it's a little strange to be wearing something other than a blue jersey, Finley, so far, sounds happy with his new team.
"These guys are genuine guys," he said. "They've welcomed me with open arms. I'm very appreciative of this team, and that's one of the reasons I decided to come to San Antonio."
Few NBA observers thought Finley would make the five-hour drive down Interstate 35.
Phoenix offered a starting job plus the chance to play with Steve Nash, his friend and longtime teammate from Dallas. Miami, in addition to having Shaquille O'Neal, Dwyane Wade and a championship-caliber roster, could have given him a starting salary of $5million, almost twice as much as the Spurs had available.
Aware that most considered the Heat the favorite to sign Finley, Spurs officials phoned Finley's agent to make sure they were still in the running. Even after meeting with Finley at his Chicago home, coach Gregg Popovich was skeptical of the team's chances.
"I had a really good dinner afterwards then walked up and down Michigan Avenue," Popovich said. "I figured that was going to be my fun for the trip, pretty honestly.
"I just felt that he was probably going to start in the other situations, and I thought he would have personal relationships that would be tough to turn away from."
In the end, however, Finley saw other reasoning: The Spurs, who unsuccessfully courted him in the summer of 2001, had won three championships in seven years.
Having met Tim Duncan in college when both played for the junior national team, Finley had grown to admire the two-time MVP for his talent and for his selflessness. He also felt comfortable with Popovich from their time together in the 2002 World Championships.
Though the Mavericks included a contract provision that allows them to spread the remaining $51.8 million they owe Finley in payments over the next 10-plus years, money wasn't a significant factor in his decision. A percentage of the three-year, $8.4 million contract (the third season is at his option) he signed with the Spurs is subtracted from what Dallas owes him.
As for speculation he signed with Dallas' division rival to get back at his former team, Finley said he would have joined the Spurs if they were in the Eastern Conference.
"What stood out," he said, "was this team has done it before. They know what it takes. A lot of the other situations, there were a lot of unknowns.
"Here, I knew what I was getting into from a team standpoint, from a coaching standpoint."
Popovich, who told Finley he would have to accept a role off the bench and fewer minutes, was happy to land the former All-Star because he signed for "all the right reasons" — not the least of which was the chance to play with Duncan.
"Timmy's proven through three championships he makes everybody better," Popovich said. "It doesn't matter where they played in college, what country they come from, how big they are, how skilled they are. He has an ability to let people get comfortable in their roles and welcome them in."
Finley also has been well received by his one-time tormentor. In a game against Dallas late in the 2003-04 season, Finley and Bruce Bowen traded a couple of well-placed forearm shoves. Finley was ejected; Bowen received a $2,000 fine.
Afterward, Finley called Bowen a coward. Nelson accused him of being dirty.
Finley said he and Bowen recently dined together. Any feud, he said, is "behind us."
"I'm a competitor, and he's a competitor," Bowen said. "But the competition is only on the court. I respect him a great deal.
"I think I would be doing a disservice to the organization if I held grudges against guys."
Finley now finds himself backing up Bowen and Manu Ginobili. Having led the NBA in minutes played in three seasons, he says his new job will be a "big adjustment." But he also thinks the Spurs will make the transition as smooth as possible.
While Finley's scoring average has dropped six consecutive seasons, he played much of last season with a right-ankle injury that required surgery in the summer. Long regarded as a better shooter than slasher, he apparently hasn't lost his stroke. Last season, he made a career-best 40.7 percent of his 3-pointers — a percentage that could improve given the amount of open shots he should receive playing with Duncan.
"Without me here in San Antonio, they're still a great team," Finley said. "With me, hopefully they'll be a better team."