RC Buford: "Luka's size and his skill is something you can get excited about"

[timvp]

https://twitter.com/JeffGSpursZone/status/1198744461142085633

Good to hear, especially considering the lack of excitement this season in San Antonio :lol

Recent Luka Samanic video:

vK32f6eKFkA

[Chinook]

The upside is obvious. He has a chance to become Gallo without the injuries and toll those took on his body. Dude still has to work on his body and perimeter game if he wants to be a legit modern-day four.

[TimDunkem]

I thought this was about the good Luka for a second.

[Dennis the Menace]

There’s a shortage of things to be excited about

[NASpurs]

I'm excited for my great-grandchildren to like him in 50 years when he's ready.

[gospursgojas]

To be fair, drunk RC may have been talking about Doncic.

[anon]

I thought this was about the good Luka for a second.
:lol
I clicked because I thought that too. The name 'Luka' is about to become clickbait for any Spurs beat writer.

[Maddog]

You can see why the Spurs maybe "reached" for him.
At a little under 20 YO, you never know, but it clearly looks like a reasonable gamble (Well any pick @19 is a gamble...)

[Prime BEEF]

I'm excited for my great-grandchildren to like him in 50 years when he's ready.

haha. Perfect

[Prime BEEF]

If everything works out well and he develops smoothly he may one day become a solid backup PF

[Play Boban]

There’s a better Luka in Dallas tbh.

[Kurgan]

Of course he's gonna show enthusiasm for the guy...Luka has been RC's pet project for a long time. He's been scouting him for years.

[DMC]

The Other Luka

Coming to a G League team near you

[ZeusWillJudge]

Can't argue about his size. If the Spurs were really THAT excited about his skill, he'd be in SA and not Austin.

I wanted them to take Brandon Clarke. Sammich is going to have to step it up if he's going to be better than Clarke - and he would have been able to contribute this season. I hope Luka proves me wrong, and lives up to R.C.'s expectations.

[KobesAchilles]

He’s too tall to play. Pop likes midgets.

[TD 21]

The upside is obvious. He has a chance to become Gallo without the injuries and toll those took on his body. Dude still has to work on his body and perimeter game if he wants to be a legit modern-day four.

He reminds me more of Siakam, but either way, I don't think he has the mentality necessary to become a featured scorer. Still, in a best case scenario, there's starter potential.

[james evans]

He will be a starter by 2026

[SpurPadre]

I just don't like his short wingspan. He's like a T-Rex out there.

[Dejounte]

Been watching all Austin games. Seeing improvement game to game. Like I said in the other thread, his offense style is reminiscent of Dirk. Theyre making him learn the post up and his shot has fluid mechanics. He will never be a brute force to make him strong enough to bully other players but he just needs to get strong enough not to get pushed around. Hes got way more passing ability than any of our bigs.

[Dejounte]

I just don't like his short wingspan. He's like a T-Rex out there.

His height offsets that.

[SpurPadre]

His height offsets that.

Many players his height have longer wingspans, tbh.

[hater]

another scrub that Trump can deport next year tbqh

[Prime BEEF]

Can't argue about his size. If the Spurs were really THAT excited about his skill, he'd be in SA and not Austin.

I wanted them to take Brandon Clarke. Sammich is going to have to step it up if he's going to be better than Clarke - and he would have been able to contribute this season. I hope Luka proves me wrong, and lives up to R.C.'s expectations.

same. Brandon Clarke would be starting for the spurs. Definitely not playing Austin indefinitely like Luka.

[Dejounte]

Many players his height have longer wingspans, tbh.

I dont disagree with that. I doubt many have Samanic's agility and unique skillset as a big though.

[Russ]

https://twitter.com/JeffGSpursZone/status/1198744461142085633

I like Luka but recent events have forced the Spurs into full PR mode.

[GAustex]

His apparent versatility will be an interesting asset. Him get abused on the boards will not.

[DPG21920]

RC really sounded excited :lol

He’s the most bland person to discuss exciting things.

[Spurs fever]

See him in 2029

[benefactor]

There’s a better Luka in Dallas tbh.
Is there? Holy shit I had idea. Tell us more about this groundbreaking revelation.

[TimDunkem]

Should've picked Clarke.

[Keepin' it real]

Talk is cheap ... let's see him on the court.

[phxspurfan]

Click bait title is click bait


the crappy Luka is some random rookie. We're officially the Suns

[phxspurfan]

Btw guess who Luka could be like if he got good?









Bertans. Who we had and traded away.

[UZER]

Need a new coach that will actually use him before he spends 3 years in the G league and goes to another team after getting fed up.

[monty4329]

Btw guess who Luka could be like if he got good?









Bertans. Who we had and traded away.

[spursparker9]

The Luka in Dallas is starting to look like Magic Johnson with a lethal Harden-esque step-back 3 pointer.

[Slippy]

Cool I'm already looking forward to 2021. Like wtf

[LkrFan]

I thought this was about the good Luka for a second.

:lol

[John B]

I like this guy. He has the passing, ballhandling and high bball IQ. Another Diaw prospect who could pan out. And at 6’11”, very high ceiling in my opinion.

[Dejounte]

I like this guy. He has the passing, ballhandling and high bball IQ. Another Diaw prospect who could pan out. And at 6’11”, very high ceiling in my opinion.

I think they drafted Metu to be that Diaw prospect. But Metu plays too mechanical and doesnt have the handles Samanic does

[poopbox]

Already a more modern 4 than LMA

[JeffDuncan]

Samanic himself likes Kevin Durant, btw.

[UZER]

Already a more modern 4 than LMA

Pointy elbows. Next.

:pop:

[szkorhetz]

The Luka in Dallas is starting to look like Magic Johnson with a lethal Harden-esque step-back 3 pointer.
Doncic is already a TOP 3 player.

[John B]

Doncic is already a TOP 3 player.
Imagine we could’ve had him instead of DeFrozen :bang

[UZER]

Imagine we could’ve had him instead of DeFrozen :bang

Honest question: Do you think Luka would be going off like he is under the current version of coach Popovich?

[Russ]

Btw guess who Luka could be like if he got good?









Bertans. Who we had and traded away.

Luka looks much more athletic and versatile (potentially) than Bertans.

The Serbo/Croation guys are usually more dynamic than the Lithuania/Latvia Baltic guys . . .

I would say Samanic and Bertans are different types of players and the Luka type has the higher upside.

[John B]

Honest question: Do you think Luka would be going off like he is under the current version of coach Popovich?
Pop is high on Murray as the next face, Tony playing backup, etc. That’s probably another reason why Pop/RC didn’t pursue. If they did? Maybe throwing in Murray in there too for Fox. What was Sacramento’s offer?

[K...]

Who are the sadder group, the Blair supporters, the Dedmon supporters, or the bertans guys?

[duncan2k5]

Metu can be like a Siakam type player for us... He is athletic... Has a decent jumper... Quick on his feet, and has ok handles for his size... Same can be said for Luka... Too bad we won't ever see it

[Sugus]

Btw guess who Luka could be like if he got good?









Bertans. Who we had and traded away.

So, is there a discount on the second bad take after the first one? Or are they all the same price?

Bertans is an absolutely one dimensional player who can pretty much shoot and that's it. No defense, no post moves, no rebounding, no passing and certainly not ballhandling.

Samanic, on the other hand, has already displayed above-average handles for his size; combined with his mechanic shooting stroke, and the fact that he models his game after KD, he could end up panning out as a lethal mid-range and outside shooter. He's got a very smooth spin move and has displayed nice touch above the rim; additionally, whilst his being a good (or even neutral) defender is still up in the air to be seen, I've already seen more defensive plays out of him than Bertans' entire career. Blocked some shots with his vertical, doesn't get posterized every other play. I'd say they are not only very different players, but one has a clearly higher ceiling (which is not the same as saying one will definitely be a better player).

[DJR210]

What does Wright do again? I haven't heard from him once tbh

[phxspurfan]

Samanic himself likes Kevin Durant, btw.

and I modeled my game after Michael Jordan, btw

[spurspl]

i hope hes talking about doncic otherwise hes drunk asf

[Down Under]

The upside is obvious. He has a chance to become Gallo without the injuries and toll those took on his body. Dude still has to work on his body and perimeter game if he wants to be a legit modern-day four.
That's an interesting comparison. You think the upside is higher because of his insane athleticism at his size? I think Samanic measured 2 inches taller than Gallo (6'7.5" vs 6'9.5") at the combine.

[Dr. John R. Brinkley]

I would love for him to be a 6 foot 11 version of Drazen Petrovich, but he doesn’t seem to have any of the fire that Drazen did.

[GreekSpursfan]

RC trying to sell hope, he's not succeeding though

[wildbill2u]

Been watching all Austin games. Seeing improvement game to game. Like I said in the other thread, his offense style is reminiscent of Dirk. Theyre making him learn the post up and his shot has fluid mechanics. He will never be a brute force to make him strong enough to bully other players but he just needs to get strong enough not to get pushed around. Hes got way more passing ability than any of our bigs.

Can he play at SF? He wouldn't need to bulk up so much there and he doesn't look like he plays like a PF

[duncan2k5]

Luka will never develop the skills of KD because we will force him to be out of position... We bashed Bertans for not being a good rebounder, but he was a SF that was shoved in at PF... same with Luka... He wants to be a SF, but we are playing him at PF...

[RC_Drunkford]

Luka could become AK-47 if everything goes right. It's a long shot, but possible

[timvp]

If you need a palate cleanser after the Lakers loss, here are Samanic's highlights from tonight ...

jepSqqi-6s0

[Kurgan]

If you need a palate cleanser after the Lakers loss, here are Samanic's highlights from tonight ...

jepSqqi-6s0

Already looks more skilled that that Austrian stiff we're starting next to LMA every night.

[Mugen]

Hopefully by the time he gets called up, the old man is gone and he can get some minutes.

[timtonymanu]

Can’t wait to see him play in 2022

[DPG21920]

If you need a palate cleanser after the Lakers loss, here are Samanic's highlights from tonight ...

jepSqqi-6s0

Is it just me or is Luka not as quick with the first step as you thought? Seems to me, that even when he makes a move (and someone is closing out), he doesn’t really actually get past them.

He relies more on craft still instead of truly possession an explosive step (even by big man standards)

[south side spur]

Who are the sadder group, the Blair supporters, the Dedmon supporters, or the bertans guys?

The Scola supporters.

[timvp]

Is it just me or is Luka not as quick with the first step as you thought? Seems to me, that even when he makes a move (and someone is closing out), he doesn’t really actually get past them.

He relies more on craft still instead of truly possession an explosive step (even by big man standards)

Eh, didn't see him try to blow by anyone. Set up his step-back on one drive and set up his spin move on the other drive.





But, yeah, in highlights in general I haven't seen him flash his athleticism too much yet.

[DPG21920]

Eh, didn't see him try to blow by anyone. Set up his step-back on one drive and set up his spin move on the other drive.



But, yeah, in highlights in general I haven't seen him flash his athleticism too much yet.

Like I’ve seen him jump high, but even when he’s going to the rim he’s not blowing by anyone and usually just has to absorb contact and make a contorted shot.

Maybe it’s strength? He’s gets nudged and that keeps him from accelerating?

[SAGirl]

I thought this was a thread about a different Luca

[ElNono]

those videos look like one step above junior varsity basketball...

[r0drig0lac]

ROtY 2025