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I guess I see it like that too. A lot of guys like the fame more than the game.
...done an end around on the prevaliling orthodoxy of American sport: that of American-born players desiring to play for large market teams and freespending owners.
As the Spurs found out in 2001 and again in 2003, having the cap flexibility to offer a max contract and the remainder of a player's career playing alongside Tim Duncan weren't enough to entice any major free agent to join the Spurs.
Granted, in the NBA the salary cap does have certain provisions designed to limit star player movement and it's certainly not as egregious as it is in other major US pro sport leagues, with the MLB being the prime example.
So what was the solution? Bring in international players who come with a different perspective and are, in my opinion, much more willing to play for a smaller market franchise. Given the Spurs' usual low draft picks, a commitment to scouting international talent was a shrewd move, one that has allowed them to build a le contender and which has thankfully reduced the dependence on American-born players dead set on playing in a top 5 media market.
-MB
Last edited by Marcus Bryant; 07-15-2005 at 09:19 AM.
I guess I see it like that too. A lot of guys like the fame more than the game.
Agreed. I like this trend. I don't care if we have 7 or 8 international players as long as we win or stay near the top. I also like the Argentine players because they play TEAM basketball not ME basketball. It's important for players to know their limits and role within the team and the international players seem to do that.
Also, it appears that the Spurs' initial success with international talent is paying some dividends, when it comes to recruiting some of the international Spurs players' fellow countrymen.
If an Oberto was a NBA vet with 10 years of experience his price would probably have been double. And he wouldn't be in a Spurs' uniform next season.
I think the international thing helps to build chemistry, especially in a small market because its kind of an "us against them" kinda thing. and drafting players who played on the same team is a nice help to chemistry also. only if they would have picked up raja bell2 players from one small island...nice
There's certainly an element of "NBA vs not-NBA". ie, a foreign player dreaming of and finally breaking into the NBA (riches and home-country fame for life) will be less motivated as to which NBA team he breaks in with vs being so picky as to stay out of the NBA.
They are all looking for a chance to prove themselves on ANY NBA team, and worry about being on a winning team later. With un-"urban", small-market San Antonio, they get a shot at breaking in AND winning.
Yeah, right now the importance of being in the league outweighs the importance of which team they end up on. Also, being on a team that makes deep playoff runs often provides them with plenty of worldwide exposure.
To American players, SA may just be an annoying impediment (Ms. Kidd rolls eyes) to the NBA's natural order.
To international players, in little towns with hoops hanging in alleys, SA may be a basketball heaven to be dreamed of. They don't know that SA is small time or that the other cities that they see listed in the standings are somehow "big time." SA looks bigger than NY to them in the standings. They don't know any better. All they see is the winning. And with some of their compatriots.
If that legacy is created now, the effects may be felt for years or decades. The only ones who understand what they're creating may be the Spurs management. Why else does Pop get on on a plane to Slovenia or Argentina after a draining championship run.
Last edited by Russ; 07-15-2005 at 10:47 AM.
I love the fact that the NBA is expanding. The NBA is suppose to be the best basketball players in the world. Well, its barely starting to happen and the Spurs have been fortunate enough to take the best the world has to offer. I love the passion our foreign players show. We just need to get rid of the that sorry song "Ya'll Ready For This" and have them play "When Worlds Collide" by Powerman 5000 when the Spurs are introduced.
Nice job Marcus.
Good observation. I wonder whether this was all pre-planned, or it was somehow haphazard. The '99 team was an All-American team (albeit in decline due to the players' age). Manu was a flyer in 1999, and failures to draft good american prospects afterwards (the only failures in the draft in recent times), in addition to failures to lure FAs to come to SA may have forced the decision to go international almost by default.
Well, I believe I saw an interview with Holt in which he said something to the effect of "we made a conscious decision to invest in international scouting because we realized that we would be drafting low for some time."
But yeah, you can't pre-plan much beyond that. Then again, 'luck favors the prepared mind' as I believe the 3rd president of the United States once said...
Scrubs like Lamond Murray and Ty Nesby using the Spurs to get more money in bigger markets probably sped this along.
I think the 'plan' came about due to the low draft position, but yeah, it's a nice bonus to not have to be beholden to mofos and their agents dead set on ending up in a larger market.
Hey Marcus,
I knew that quote sounded familiar, but isn't it Louis Pasteur's, "Chance favors the prepared mind?"
Of course, the Sage of Monticello could have said that too, but I was just curious.
http://www.quotedb.com/quotes/2195
International scouting is a of a job, so I think:
"The harder I work, the luckier I get"
... fits better.
I did a quick search and found "I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have." attributed to TJ.
So Pasteur was likely the source for the "...prepard mind" quote.
Also, don't forget guys that San Antonio, just like Orlando, has a huge Hispanic population and signing players from South America increases the popularity of the game and the team in San Antonio. Just look at Manu. He's the most recongizable player on the Spurs right know in South America and in San Antonio he's huge to. I would assume Duncan is number 1 but followed closely by Manu. Right now in Argentina, the Spurs are everyones #1 team.
Then you add another player from Argentina and you have a slam dunk.
Last edited by Gummi; 07-15-2005 at 11:54 AM.
I would think one of the overriding reasons for the Spurs to go with a plan to draft foreign players was that they could play full-time and develop in Europe. I don't think the plan was all that haphazard.
Yes, the 'development' angle was another part of the international draft focus, but you can't plan on those draftees turning into NBA players, let alone stars.
In the sports context . . .
-- Branch RickeyLuck is the residue of design.
-- Darrell RoyalLuck doesn't go looking for a stumblebum.
I believe it was Einstein who came up with that quote.
Wouldn't it be something if hispanic South American basketball athletes start thinking of San Antonio as the patron saint of basketball?
"I believe it was Einstein who came up with that quote."
no, see the URL I posted above. It's Pasteur.
Sorry, my memory was in error.
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