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I have not been impressed with his D so far!
http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=9510
In Vegas: Mahinmi is Next
By: Yannis Koutroupis
The San Antonio Spurs front office has become somewhat feared throughout the league because of their international scouting ability. Guys like Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, that many teams didn't feel would be successful in the NBA, have become two of the league's biggest stars. Luis Scola was also a Spurs draftee, but we won't go there.
That's why when the Spurs selected Ian Mahinmi in the first round of the 2005 draft everyone automatically assumed he was going to be the next in line of great international picks for the Spurs despite knowing little about him. No one had Mahinmi slated as a first round pick. In fact, all there was in terms of footage before the draft of Ian was a fuzzy video displaying an awkward but athletic 6'9 kid throwing it down and falling in the process.
Ian has come a long way in his basketball career though, as he revealed to HOOPSWORLD's Jessica Camerato in Las Vegas.
"I started playing professionally when I was 16. I played for a first division team in France and played just a little bit. My second year I started to really improve and play a lot more. I then got drafted by the Spurs and was left over there to keep working and improving on my game. I played in the French League and Euro League, which are really famous over there. The French play our kind of game. I tried to get ready to make the big jump. Last year I came over here, played a little bit with the Spurs, and then got sent to the D League. I played with the Toros for most of the year and got to the finals with them. Then I went back to the Spurs for the playoffs. Now I'm here playing in summer league," said Mahinmi.
The Spurs sent Mahinmi to the development league because during limited time with the team last year it was obvious that he was just not ready. They did keep really close tabs on him though.
"Coach Q (Quin Synder, Toros head coach) is a big part of the Spurs' organization. There were always people at the gym all the time for my practices and games. Everyone kept in touch with me. I got mail and texts every week. Every once and awhile I would get a call from Coach Pop telling me what they think about me and I would have meetings with him. It was a long process but they really looked out for me all year long," explained Mahinmi.
As Mahinmi stated earlier, he made it to the NBDL finals with the Austin Toros. While they would love to have him back, Ian will probably not be spending much time in the D next year. The Spurs are in need of a young athletic defensive presence alongside Tim Duncan, and Mahinmi can certainly provide that.
While Tiaggo Splitter opting to stay with his team overseas was a big loss for the Spurs, it provides an opportunity for them to find out what they have in Mahinmi. Mahinmi had a lot of success overseas in the Euro and French leagues, he caused havoc last year in the D league, and now it's time establish himself at the highest level.
I have not been impressed with his D so far!
The next step is for him to get minutes early next season in the rotation.
Do you think he's ready?
As ready as he's ever going to be. Spurs fans seem to forget what it's like to have a rookie join the team.
I hope he can do well. I'm rooting for him.
Spurs fans seem to forget what it's like to have a rookie join the team.
Spurs fans are spoiled, especially any that came on board after the first le. The Duncan years have been incredible, it's easy to get spoiled with the kind of winning they've done.
He's not completely ready, but it's time to sink or swim at this point. He still needs bulk, which isn't going to happen this season. I think he probably has a better than advertised offensive skill set at this point, but his defense is lacking. Partly because of his weight, and partly because he isn't great at positioning. This leads to slow rotations for him or poor attempts at shot blocking. This was part of the reason he was so poor at rebounding last year.
Why do guys write things they have no idea about...
Oups hoopsworld article
All he needs is playing time to start developing in the NBA. There's alot of players that come into lowly teams that have to mature really fast because they are just thrown into the mix out of desperation from the FO and coaches.
I put Hoopsworld in the thread le to warn people.Oups hoopsworld article
Every other team is jealousI hope he can do well. I'm rooting for him.
Spurs fans are spoiled, especially any that came on board after the first le. The Duncan years have been incredible, it's easy to get spoiled with the kind of winning they've done.
I can see Pop getting in his face a lot this season. I hope Ian handles it well.
i think he should start next year, playing beside Duncan can decrease his pressure and make him good!
That's actually not a bad idea.
Agreed. The D league isn't going to "season" this guy anymore so it's time for the big league.
Ian needs minutes early next season to accelerate his NBA education. What other choices do we really have to develop younger talent? That is realistically.
I'm quite disappointing by what Mahinmi has done in SL so far. He is putting solid stats but isn't playing that well. I hope he will plays better in the remaining games.
I quite fear that Mahinmi will soon be in the Amir Johnson case : too good for the D-League but too bad to play for a contender in the NBA.
Sometimes athletes have to be thrown into the game before they are ready. They take a beating and either come through it or never live up to their promise.
Compare Troy Aikman and David Carr of football. Both were sent into the fray and had terrible first seasons. Aikman became an all pro and won championships. Carr just got s -shocked and was traded.
We need to do something like that with Ian and let him sink or swim.
Ian's play has been disappointing but, like with Hill, give the guy a full training camp and a structured Spurs offense to see what he can do then. glorified pick-up summer games isn't the best way to guage what a player can or cannot do.
Losing Splitter, Barry and Finley. Gained Mahinmi and Mason. We are still in the hole. Only FA we will be getting is Thomas back, maybe. And then it comes down to Gist and Hill making the team.
We got a lot to prove this season and it will be a big question mark to start with.
My feeling too.
Ian doesn't play tough. He needs to establish better position down low and learn to play above the rim--he needs a 12 ft. game, if you know what I mean. Defensively, he seems sheepish.
I'm high on him, but I'm not convinced more D time would be a bad thing. In fact, I like him, Hill and Gist all on the Toros for some of next season. My thinking is that the Spurs should give all three players minutes over the first 10 games, if they look like they can help at the NBA level, then keep them up. If not, send them to the D League for further development. They all should be solid rotation players by 2009, if not sooner. But we might have to patient with them this season.
Next season will bring many growing pains, but the Spurs will floor a contender. The 2009 roster should be very good.
Finley is likely coming back.
fin will be back
He could develop well and get burn on another team, with time to progress. It's going to be hard for Mahinmi at this point.
in pre-season/Nov/Dec/Jan, there will be plenty of "meaningless" games that will allow IM some minutes. It's up to him to grab them.
everything i can find from this guy is somewhat potential and freaky athleticism.
but no D.
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