Udoka eager for next chapter

Isiah Thomas was the first to plant the seed. Nate McMillan helped water it. When Gregg Popovich echoed the sentiment, suggesting to Ime Udoka two years ago that he might consider going into coaching once his playing days were over, a retirement plan was hatched to fruition.

“Pop told me, ‘I hope I get a chance to hire you some day,’ ” Udoka said. “That made the decision to stop playing a lot easier.”

This week, Popovich got his wish. Udoka, who last played in the NBA in January 2011 with the Spurs, was hired as the team’s newest assistant coach, the first step in a a new career path the 35-year-old former small forward has been plotting for several years.

A veteran of 316 games over seven NBA seasons, parts of three of which were spent in San Antonio, Udoka joins a Spurs coaching staff depleted by the loss of Jacque Vaughn (Orlando head coach) and Don Newman (Washington lead assistant).

Because Vaughn’s spot on the staff was considered “extra,” created specially for him when he became available in 2009, Udoka — a 35-year-old coaching rookie — is expected to be the team’s only bench hire this offseason.

“I ran into Pop in Las Vegas during Summer League (in July),” said Udoka, a Portland native. “He let me know the deal with Jacque, that he was probably leaving. He told me a good opportunity might be there (in San Antonio).”

Udoka joins a staff that includes a pair of longtime Popovich assistants, Mike Budenholzer and Brett Brown.

Though new to the coaching game, Udoka believes his varied NBA experiences — with stops as different as San Antonio and Sacramento — have prepared him for a variety of situations.

From his previous stint with the Spurs, Udoka learned the value of meticulous preparation.

“Taking care of your own business, that’s one thing you learn with Pop,” Udoka said. “If you have pride and just do what you do, you’ll be successful, whether the shots fall on any given night or not.”

In a press release announcing the hire, Popovich praised Udoka’s “outstanding work ethic” and “a natural inclination to teach.”

Thomas, who coached Udoka in summer league and for eight games of 2005-06 season with the Knicks, was the first to put the coaching bug in Udoka’s head.

“He said, ‘You don’t score 20 points a game, but the young guys seem to respect you and respond to you,’ ” Udoka said.

Since his retirement in 2011, Udoka had been living in Los Angeles, where his girlfriend, actress Nia Long, and their 9-month old son reside. The Spurs’ history as a proving ground for future NBA head coaches helped lure Udoka back to the game he loves.

“You see their family tree all over the league,” Udoka said. “It’s a great opportunity. You know they’ll help you develop.”

Lacob explains why he picked Jackson over Budenholzer for Warriors job

Golden State majority owner Joe Lacob personally interviewed three candidates before hiring ABC-TV analyst Mark Jackson as his new coach.

Others who were interviewed include Spurs lead assistant Mike Budenholzer and New Orleans assistant Michael  Malone.

Tim Kawakami in the San Jose Mercury-News mentions that Lacob to hire Jackson. Malone was close to joining Mike Brown’s new staff with the Lakers. But Lacob apparently sped up the process to hire Jackson and also add Malone to his staff as his lead assistant.

Dallas lead assistant Dwane Casey was left out because of Lacob’s determination to get the hiring done quickly.

Lacob had some interesting comments about his interview with Budenholzer. Here’s what he told Kawakami about it.

-Q: You flew out to talk to a Spur assistant coach…

-LACOB: That was one of them.

-Q: What was the tenor of the conversation like with Budenholzer when you met him?

-LACOB: It was a long, long conversation, because he was late in the process. I think he is technically a very good coach. Excellent.

I didn’t think he was the right fit for our organization at this time. I think he fits very well in the San Antonio organization. He’s been there for 15 years. I think he’s a very, very good coach. He was strongly in consideration, but he’s not the guy we chose.

Sometimes, it turns out that the best moves are the ones that aren’t made.

Budenholzer received a valuable lesson in job interviewing with his dalliance with the Warriors. He comes back to San Antonio as the favorite and most popular choice among most in Spurs Nation to replace Gregg Popovich with the Spurs when he hangs up his whistle.

It’s a lot cheaper to live in San Antonio than San Francisco. Budenholzer’s kids get to remain in their schools.  

That’s not a bad consolation prize.

TD becomes team NBA career leader in games, scoring in one fell swoop

Tim Duncan passed David Robinson twice in the same game on the Spurs’ career record list, becoming the franchise’s leader in games and scoring in NBA games.

When George Gervin’s ABA points are factored in, he’s still the leader in career scoring. But the NBA doesn’t recognize ABA statistics, giving Duncan the career honor.

By scoring 19 points at Utah on Nov. 19, Duncan topped Robinson’s mark of 20,790 points. In the same game, he played in his 988th career NBA game, topping Robinson’s previous mark of 987 games.

Those statistical honors were secondary to Duncan to his team’s 94-82 victory over the Jazz, which enabled them to improve to 10-1 for the season.   

No. 6: Duncan becomes Spurs NBA career leader in points, games in victory over Utah.

When: Nov. 19, 2010. 

Where: EnergySolutions Arena, Salt Lake City.

What happened: Tim Duncan scored 19 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to lead the Spurs to a 94-82 triumph over Utah. In the process, Duncan passed David Robinson as the franchise’s NBA career leader in scoring and games played.  

What was said, Part I: ”I wasn’t thinking about it too much. I think that was the best part about it — it just kind of happened,” Duncan on breaking the scoring record with two free throws with 5:28 left in the third quarter.

What was said, Part II:  ”You don’t notice him too much, but he had 19 (points) and 14 (rebounds). There’s no flash, no beating the chest. Just go up and down the court and go home and get a sandwich. That’s what he does,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, describing Duncan’s big game to reporters after the game.

What was said, Part III: ”It does mean a lot to have come this far and do this much, especially knowing how much David has meant to the franchise,” Duncan, describing passing Robinson to the Express-News.

What was said, Part IV: ””I’m just happy for him. He’s been the driving force behind our championships and for him to have the record now for games played and points is appropriate, and I’m really excited for him,” Popovich, describing Duncan’s career feats.

GAME NOTES: Duncan’s achievements overshadowed a grinding victory over the Jazz, who played the game without then Coach Jerry Sloan. The veteran coach was missing as he attended a family funeral back home in Illinois and was replaced by lead assistant Phil Johnson. The Spurs jumped to an early lead before the Jazz rallied from a 15-point deficit to tie the score late in the third quarter. But the Spurs put the game away down the stretch as Duncan and Tony Parker combined for 10 fourth-quarter points. Parker led the Spurs in scoring with 24 points as five San Antonio players scored in double figures. Deron Williams led Utah with 23 points, but hit only 7-for-19 from the field. The victory enabled the Spurs to snap a five-game losing streak to the Jazz. San Antonio had a 46-31 edge in rebounding, including 16-6 in offensive rebounds.  

Previous bad memories:

No. 10: .

No. 9: Black Friday fourth-quarter collapse against Dallas helps snap Spurs’ .  

No. 8: : Spurs blown out by Orlando by 22.

No. 7: Lowly Clips to Spurs.

No. 6:  Heat’sfrom 30-point loss 10 days earlier

Previous good memories:

No. 10: .

No. 9: boosts comeback victory over Thunder.

No. 8: leads overtime victory over Memphis.

No. 7:boosts Spurs past Warriors.