Category: In the News

P.J. could join A.J. with the Nets

P.J. Carlesimo’s career with the Spurs as an assistant coach never intersected with Avery Johnson’s when he played with the team.

But the power of Gregg Popovich’s coaching philosophy apparently has a couple of mutual adherents and kindred spirits in Carlesimo and Johnson.

Yahoo Sports reports that Carlesimo, formerly the lead assistant with the Toronto Raptors,to join Johnson’s coaching staff with the New Jersey Nets.

It’s a move that would make sense on a number of levels. The coaching philosophies of Johnson and Carlesimo are intertwined after their work with the Spurs.

And Carlesimo, a former head coach at Seton Hall, is a beloved and legendary figure in the New York City area. His arrival could help the Nets immensely as they transition into their upcoming move to Brooklyn with the completion of the Barclays Center in September 2012.

Carlesimo’s tenure with the Raptors ended when Dwane Casey took over the team. He still has one more year left on his contract with the team, but would like to come back to the NBA for the right situation.

Returning to the Nets to work with Johnson could be a dream matchup for both of them.

Spurs hire director of athletic performance

Matt Herring, a former Southwest Texas State Bobcat, was hired by the Spurs as director of athletic performance, the team .

Herring spent the past five years as the strength and conditioning coordinator for the Florida Gators men’s basketball team and men’s and womens’ golf programs. He previously worked at Oklahoma State University and was an intern at Texas.

“Coming from one of the premier programs in college basketball led by Billy Donovan at Florida, Matt brings championship credentials with him and we look forward to the contributions he will bring to our team,” said R.C. Buford, the Spurs’ president of sports franchises.

Herring earned his bachelor’s degree in exercise sports science from Southwest Texas in 1994 and a master’s of education in kinesiology from Texas in 2002. The Austin native was a teacher in the Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City School District from 1994-99.

Ginobili: This Argentine team is truly special

How special is the Argentine team Spurs star Manu Ginobili will lead into the FIBA Americas pre-Olympic qualifying tournament late this month?

In an article featured Thursday on FIBA’s website, Ginobili said he has never been part of a team that is more singular in its approach to one goal.

“I have never been part of a team like this where everyone is fighting for the same goal with so much team-work,” he said during a press conference in Argentina, his comments reported by the FIBA site.

“We are all proud to be a part of it, it is a great honor, a great pleasure to represent the country and unite together.

“There are players who are stars from their club teams who come here and leave their ego aside. That’s what I admire.

“To play with players of this quality makes everything easier.”

The pre-Olympic qualifier is to run from Aug. 30-Sept. 11 in Mar del Plata, Argentina.