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12-25-2007, 05:27 AM
Spurs: Udoka, Bonner know their roles
Web Posted: 12/24/2007 07:14 PM CST
Jeff McDonald
Express-News staff writer
Stuck on the end of the Spurs' bench for most of the first two months of the season, collecting dust and DNPs, Ime Udoka could have pouted.
It would have been easy — and only human — for him to Perma-press a scowl to his face, fold his arms to his chest and mentally check out for the rest of the year.
Had he done that, Udoka might have missed his golden moment when it finally arrived.
"I practice every day like I'm going to play," said Udoka, a reserve swingman in his first season with the Spurs. "The worst thing that could happen would be to have an opportunity and blow it by not being ready."
Udoka got his big break unexpectedly, when Manu Ginobili left Saturday's victory over the Los Angeles Clippers with a sprained finger. He responded by scoring a season-high 17 points and pulling down a season-high nine rebounds in 28 minutes, 46 seconds.
It was by far the most extended action of the season for Udoka, who didn't even play in nine games. Heading into Wednesday's home game against Chicago, Udoka is still averaging just 10.5 minutes per game.
Even though he started 75 games for Portland last season, Udoka still clings to the journeyman's credo.
"At the drop of a dime," he says, "you have to be ready to play."
Life on the bubble of an NBA rotation can be precarious and uncertain. Some nights you play, some nights you don't, and you don't always know what kind of night it will be until after tipoff.
Take the curious case of Matt Bonner.
Bonner, a 6-foot-10 reserve forward, started three games when Tim Duncan was injured earlier this month.
He often performed admirably and at times performed spectacularly. In a Dec. 11 loss at Golden State, Bonner set career bests with 25 points and 17 rebounds.
When Duncan came back four days later, Bonner not only returned to the bench — he didn't play a single minute in a victory over Denver.
When the Nuggets went small in that game, the Spurs followed suit. It left Bonner crazy-glued to the bench.
Befitting his perpetually jovial nature — Bonner could find the upside in his dog getting run over — he suffered his lack of playing time with a smile.
"I'm a role player," Bonner said with a shrug. "Sometimes my role is not to play."
The NBA isn't overrun with players who will gleefully agree to limited minutes. In players like Bonner and Udoka, the Spurs seem to have cornered the market on them.
When the Spurs go in search of a player to acquire via trade or free agency, as they did last summer with Udoka and the summer before with Bonner, they take pains to evaluate how that player might fit in the locker room as well as on the court.
They favor players who, in coach Gregg Popovich's words, "have gotten over themselves." They are careful to avoid players prone to grumble about their role.
Even so, Popovich says, it's impossible to determine how a player will react to a diminished part until it actually happens. He compares the search for right-minded role players to the search for a spouse.
"Do you know you're going to be married in 55 years?" Popovich asks. "You hope you are. You think you might be. There aren't so many things that are certain. You just do the best you can."
Given the dues he had to pay just to earn a steady NBA check, Udoka has long since gotten over himself. Playing for 14 teams in seven seasons in most every minor league there is will do that to a player.
With Ginobili out, it stands to reason Udoka will continue to play an active role in the Spurs' rotation for the time being. The career journeyman in him, however, won't allow him to take anything for granted.
"Naturally, you want to play," Udoka said. "You just try to be professional and work hard. Your opportunities will come."
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LINK: http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA122507.Spurs.en.1d797bb.html
Web Posted: 12/24/2007 07:14 PM CST
Jeff McDonald
Express-News staff writer
Stuck on the end of the Spurs' bench for most of the first two months of the season, collecting dust and DNPs, Ime Udoka could have pouted.
It would have been easy — and only human — for him to Perma-press a scowl to his face, fold his arms to his chest and mentally check out for the rest of the year.
Had he done that, Udoka might have missed his golden moment when it finally arrived.
"I practice every day like I'm going to play," said Udoka, a reserve swingman in his first season with the Spurs. "The worst thing that could happen would be to have an opportunity and blow it by not being ready."
Udoka got his big break unexpectedly, when Manu Ginobili left Saturday's victory over the Los Angeles Clippers with a sprained finger. He responded by scoring a season-high 17 points and pulling down a season-high nine rebounds in 28 minutes, 46 seconds.
It was by far the most extended action of the season for Udoka, who didn't even play in nine games. Heading into Wednesday's home game against Chicago, Udoka is still averaging just 10.5 minutes per game.
Even though he started 75 games for Portland last season, Udoka still clings to the journeyman's credo.
"At the drop of a dime," he says, "you have to be ready to play."
Life on the bubble of an NBA rotation can be precarious and uncertain. Some nights you play, some nights you don't, and you don't always know what kind of night it will be until after tipoff.
Take the curious case of Matt Bonner.
Bonner, a 6-foot-10 reserve forward, started three games when Tim Duncan was injured earlier this month.
He often performed admirably and at times performed spectacularly. In a Dec. 11 loss at Golden State, Bonner set career bests with 25 points and 17 rebounds.
When Duncan came back four days later, Bonner not only returned to the bench — he didn't play a single minute in a victory over Denver.
When the Nuggets went small in that game, the Spurs followed suit. It left Bonner crazy-glued to the bench.
Befitting his perpetually jovial nature — Bonner could find the upside in his dog getting run over — he suffered his lack of playing time with a smile.
"I'm a role player," Bonner said with a shrug. "Sometimes my role is not to play."
The NBA isn't overrun with players who will gleefully agree to limited minutes. In players like Bonner and Udoka, the Spurs seem to have cornered the market on them.
When the Spurs go in search of a player to acquire via trade or free agency, as they did last summer with Udoka and the summer before with Bonner, they take pains to evaluate how that player might fit in the locker room as well as on the court.
They favor players who, in coach Gregg Popovich's words, "have gotten over themselves." They are careful to avoid players prone to grumble about their role.
Even so, Popovich says, it's impossible to determine how a player will react to a diminished part until it actually happens. He compares the search for right-minded role players to the search for a spouse.
"Do you know you're going to be married in 55 years?" Popovich asks. "You hope you are. You think you might be. There aren't so many things that are certain. You just do the best you can."
Given the dues he had to pay just to earn a steady NBA check, Udoka has long since gotten over himself. Playing for 14 teams in seven seasons in most every minor league there is will do that to a player.
With Ginobili out, it stands to reason Udoka will continue to play an active role in the Spurs' rotation for the time being. The career journeyman in him, however, won't allow him to take anything for granted.
"Naturally, you want to play," Udoka said. "You just try to be professional and work hard. Your opportunities will come."
[email protected]
LINK: http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA122507.Spurs.en.1d797bb.html