some_user86
02-04-2008, 03:04 AM
Pro basketball: To get veteran, Popovich went extra mile
Web Posted: 02/03/2008 08:41 PM CST
Jeff McDonald
San Antonio Express-News
Damon Stoudamire is 34 years old, an age that puts him closer to being an NBA senior citizen than a senior in high school. One day last week, however, he experienced a full-fledged teenage flashback.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, not exactly recreating a recruiting trek from his days at Pomona-Pitzer College, flew halfway across the country and back Wednesday, from Seattle to Memphis to Phoenix. All to try to convince Stoudamire, the veteran point guard whose contract the Grizzlies had just bought out, to come play for him.
"I felt like I was in college again, getting recruited," Stoudamire said.
That would have made Sunday signing day for Stoudamire.
Shortly after autographing a new contract that formally made him a Spur, Stoudamire completed his first workout with his new team at its northwest-side practice facility. Life as the Spurs' one-man midseason recruiting class had begun.
Stoudamire's arrival in San Antonio did not come accompanied with quite the same level of breathless anticipation sure to greet his former Memphis teammate, newly minted Lakers forward Pau Gasol, in Los Angeles.
But in San Antonio, Stoudamire — a 5-foot-10, left-handed sharpshooter nicknamed "Mighty Mouse" — should see an instant opportunity to contribute to a Spurs team in dire need of both a scoring punch and healthy point guards.
With Tony Parker shelved for at least the remaining six games of the team's rodeo road trip, which resumes Tuesday at Indiana, the Spurs ought to find immediate use for their new toy.
"He's a pro, he's established," Popovich said. "He's somebody who can score. He's a good passer. He plays hard. We're thrilled to have him on the club."
A 12-year NBA veteran and former league Rookie of the Year, Stoudamire will earn the veteran minimum, pro-rated for the remainder of the season. He chose to sign with the Spurs despite overtures from Boston, Phoenix and the team with which he began his pro career, Toronto.
For the record, Stoudamire says he was sold on the Spurs even before a heel injury pushed Parker to the sideline for the second time this season. In turn, the Spurs began batting their eyes at Stoudamire even before their current crisis at point guard.
Popovich displayed his intentions by padding his frequent flyer account, logging more miles in a 24-hour span than an airline pilot.
After the Spurs lost at Seattle on Tuesday night, Popovich took a red-eye flight to Memphis to meet with Stoudamire on Wednesday. Later that day, Popovich hopped a westbound jet to rejoin the Spurs in Phoenix.
Impressed by the full-court press, Stoudamire ultimately accepted Popovich's proposal.
"You can't tell nobody 'no' after a ride like that," Stoudamire said.
Collateral damage in a youth makeover in Memphis, Stoudamire joins the Spurs looking to show that he still has something left in his tank.
He averaged 7.3 points in 29 games with the Grizzlies this season, but was passed on the depth chart by youngsters Mike Conley Jr. and Kyle Lowry, prodding him to eventually seek a buyout.
Stoudamire says he harbors no hard feelings about the way his Memphis tenure ended. In San Antonio, his shooting stroke should earn him plenty of playing time on a Spurs team averaging just 88.4 points over the past 10 games, last in the league.
"I don't think he's going to hurt us, that's for sure," guard Michael Finley said. "I don't think he'll come in and become a cancer, so to speak. He's a guy who will do whatever it takes to win, especially at this point in his career."
Though not quite the scorer he once was — he will never match the 20.3 points per game he produced his second season in Toronto — the Spurs don't need him to be.
They just need to him to knock down an open jump shot when it presents itself.
"Damon's always been a player, anytime we played against him, we worried about his shooting ability," guard Manu Ginobili said. "I would guess other teams are going to be thinking the same thing, so it's going to open up the court even more."
Stoudamire didn't come to San Antonio to recreate the scoring binges of his point-gorging past. He came here to be a role player, a bench sparkplug, a cog in a machine.
He does not view himself as the cavalry, riding in to save the day.
If it means a shot to play for an NBA title before his career runs out, Mighty Mouse is willing to be uncommonly modest.
"If I feel like I have something to prove, it's that I can still help a winning team on a big stage," Stoudamire said. "That's the only thing I need to prove. I know who I am as a player and I'm secure with that."
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LINK: http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA020408.03D.Spurs_sign_stoudamire.en.2e95421.ht ml
Web Posted: 02/03/2008 08:41 PM CST
Jeff McDonald
San Antonio Express-News
Damon Stoudamire is 34 years old, an age that puts him closer to being an NBA senior citizen than a senior in high school. One day last week, however, he experienced a full-fledged teenage flashback.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, not exactly recreating a recruiting trek from his days at Pomona-Pitzer College, flew halfway across the country and back Wednesday, from Seattle to Memphis to Phoenix. All to try to convince Stoudamire, the veteran point guard whose contract the Grizzlies had just bought out, to come play for him.
"I felt like I was in college again, getting recruited," Stoudamire said.
That would have made Sunday signing day for Stoudamire.
Shortly after autographing a new contract that formally made him a Spur, Stoudamire completed his first workout with his new team at its northwest-side practice facility. Life as the Spurs' one-man midseason recruiting class had begun.
Stoudamire's arrival in San Antonio did not come accompanied with quite the same level of breathless anticipation sure to greet his former Memphis teammate, newly minted Lakers forward Pau Gasol, in Los Angeles.
But in San Antonio, Stoudamire — a 5-foot-10, left-handed sharpshooter nicknamed "Mighty Mouse" — should see an instant opportunity to contribute to a Spurs team in dire need of both a scoring punch and healthy point guards.
With Tony Parker shelved for at least the remaining six games of the team's rodeo road trip, which resumes Tuesday at Indiana, the Spurs ought to find immediate use for their new toy.
"He's a pro, he's established," Popovich said. "He's somebody who can score. He's a good passer. He plays hard. We're thrilled to have him on the club."
A 12-year NBA veteran and former league Rookie of the Year, Stoudamire will earn the veteran minimum, pro-rated for the remainder of the season. He chose to sign with the Spurs despite overtures from Boston, Phoenix and the team with which he began his pro career, Toronto.
For the record, Stoudamire says he was sold on the Spurs even before a heel injury pushed Parker to the sideline for the second time this season. In turn, the Spurs began batting their eyes at Stoudamire even before their current crisis at point guard.
Popovich displayed his intentions by padding his frequent flyer account, logging more miles in a 24-hour span than an airline pilot.
After the Spurs lost at Seattle on Tuesday night, Popovich took a red-eye flight to Memphis to meet with Stoudamire on Wednesday. Later that day, Popovich hopped a westbound jet to rejoin the Spurs in Phoenix.
Impressed by the full-court press, Stoudamire ultimately accepted Popovich's proposal.
"You can't tell nobody 'no' after a ride like that," Stoudamire said.
Collateral damage in a youth makeover in Memphis, Stoudamire joins the Spurs looking to show that he still has something left in his tank.
He averaged 7.3 points in 29 games with the Grizzlies this season, but was passed on the depth chart by youngsters Mike Conley Jr. and Kyle Lowry, prodding him to eventually seek a buyout.
Stoudamire says he harbors no hard feelings about the way his Memphis tenure ended. In San Antonio, his shooting stroke should earn him plenty of playing time on a Spurs team averaging just 88.4 points over the past 10 games, last in the league.
"I don't think he's going to hurt us, that's for sure," guard Michael Finley said. "I don't think he'll come in and become a cancer, so to speak. He's a guy who will do whatever it takes to win, especially at this point in his career."
Though not quite the scorer he once was — he will never match the 20.3 points per game he produced his second season in Toronto — the Spurs don't need him to be.
They just need to him to knock down an open jump shot when it presents itself.
"Damon's always been a player, anytime we played against him, we worried about his shooting ability," guard Manu Ginobili said. "I would guess other teams are going to be thinking the same thing, so it's going to open up the court even more."
Stoudamire didn't come to San Antonio to recreate the scoring binges of his point-gorging past. He came here to be a role player, a bench sparkplug, a cog in a machine.
He does not view himself as the cavalry, riding in to save the day.
If it means a shot to play for an NBA title before his career runs out, Mighty Mouse is willing to be uncommonly modest.
"If I feel like I have something to prove, it's that I can still help a winning team on a big stage," Stoudamire said. "That's the only thing I need to prove. I know who I am as a player and I'm secure with that."
[email protected]
LINK: http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA020408.03D.Spurs_sign_stoudamire.en.2e95421.ht ml