Tag: Don Newman

Spurs exec Lindsey officially takes GM job with Jazz

Assistant general manager Dennis Lindsey became the latest Spurs front-office member to depart for different — if not altogether greener — pastures Tuesday, when he was formally introduced as the new general manager of the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City.

Lindsey, the Spurs’ assistant general manager under R.C. Buford since his arrival in San Antonio after the 2007 season, will report to Kevin O’Connor, who remains with Utah after serving as its GM the past 13 seasons. O’Connor will take the title of executive vice president of basketball operations as part of the Jazz’s front-office reorganization, but the day-to-day duties of running the team will fall upon Lindsey.

A candidate for several jobs over the past few years, including this summer when he interviewed for front-office openings in Orlando and Philadelphia, Lindsey told reporters in Utah he sees no need to overhaul a club that, along with the Spurs, has long been considered one of the most well-run small-market franchises in the NBA.

“I’m not trying to change the culture,” said Lindsey, who spent 11 years in various roles with the Houston Rockets before coming to the Spurs.

Lindsey’s departure creates yet another vacancy for the Spurs in what has been a summer of exodus. Since their playoff ouster to Oklahoma City in the Western Conference finals, vice president of basketball operations Danny Ferry has taken the GM job in Atlanta; assistant coach Jacque Vaughn became the head coach in Orlando; and Don Newman, a longtime fixture on Gregg Popovich’s bench, is the lead assistant coach in Washington.

jmcdonald@express-news.net

Twitter: @JMcDonald_SAEN

Popovich assistant takes new job with Washington

The Spurs are losing popular assistant coach Don Newman to the Washington Wizards, where he will serve as the top assistant under coach Randy Wittman.

The Wizards announced Newman’s hiring on the team’s website Monday.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said he was sad to see Newman leave but happy his aide is receiving the opportunity.

“I’m really happy for him,” Popovich said. “There’s some added responsibility there, so it’s moving in a direction he deserves, and that means added responsibility. He’s able to show in another venue what he can do.

“Don’s not just a hard worker and someone who gets along with players. He is really knowledgeable and understands the game in every way. They’re getting a seasoned individual to add to their group.”

Newman had been with the Spurs for seven seasons and served as the team’s defensive coordinator for the past five seasons. He began his NBA coaching career with the Milwaukee Bucks in 1999 as an assistant under George Karl. He joined the New Jersey Nets staff in 2003 and was added to the Spurs’ staff in June 2004.

Newman played college basketball at Idaho and was drafted by the Boston Celtics in 1980.

A multi-sport athlete, he played three seasons in the Continental Basketball Association before moving to the Canadian Football League, where he played seven seasons as a defensive back.

mikemonroe@express-news.net

Twitter: @Monroe_SA

A look at other notable broken metacarpals in recent years

Manu Ginobili’s broken fifth metacarpal on his shooting hand has placed the Spurs in a tenuous position for the next several weeks.

Spurs assistant coach Don Newman said on the Spurs’ post-game show that Ginobili could be lost between four to six weeks. An official determination will be made after an examination and X-rays with team doctors in San Antonio on Tuesday of his injury, which is known as a “boxer’s fracture.”

Ginobili’s injury is rare, but has popped up several times in recent seasons. Here’s a look at some of the more notable broken metacarpals of recent sports history.

2010 — Chicago forward Carlos Boozer sustained a broken fifth metacarpal on his right hand when he said he tripped over a gym bag while working out before the season started. He missed all of the preseason and the Bulls’ first 15 games of the season. 

2009 — Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Eric Byrnes sustained a broken fifth metacarpal on his left hand when he was struck by a pitch by Scott Feldman. He was out of action for 63 games, missing more than two months. 

2009 — Atlanta Braves outfielder Omar Infante sustained a broken fifth metacarpal on his left hand when he was struck by a pitch by Manny Corpas. He missed 73 games and was out of the lineup for nearly three months.

2004 — Oakland A’s third baseman Eric Chavez sustained a broken fifth metacarpal  on his right hand after getting hit by a pitch from Damaso Marte. He missed 33 games over about six weeks.

2002 — Hall of Fame power forward Karl Malone broke the fifth metacarpal on his right hand while playing with the Utah Jazz. He didn’t realize the severity of the injury and kept playing.

1995 — Boxer Floyd Mayweather sustained a broken fifth metacarpal at the 1995 World Amateur Championships.