Tag: NBA

Manu misses his trainer — for obvious reasons

The NBA lockout has thrown up a barrier between the league’s players and the rest of the employees of the team.

And in the process, these roadblocks can get in the way of some pretty strong friendships.

Manu Ginobili seemed to hint at that over the weekend when he to Spurs trainer Will Sevening.

Ginobili and Sevening have developed a strong relationship over the years, considering that Ginobili has missed 105 regular-season games and six more playoff games during his nine-season NBA career.

Sevening has been there for numerous cuts, abrasions, broken bones and bruises over the years from Ginobili, who is known affectionately among the Spurs as “El Contusion” because of all those injuries.

The two friends can’t converse as normal over the summer. No summer cookouts among their families. Not even a birthday e-mail.

For all we know, the NBA’s thought police might be monitoring Sevening’s ability to read tweets from Spurs players.

So we here at Spurs Nation are here to break that blockade.

Here is Ginobili’s tweet to Sevening:

“I wish I could talk to my friend and Spurs trainer Will and wish him a happy birthday…”

We’re more than happy to circumvent the NBA’s rules during this illogical lockout for all sides — particularly the fans in Spurs Nation.

Duncan won’t opt out

By Jeff McDonald
jmcdonald@express-news.net

Tim Duncan is not expected to opt out of the final year of his contract, and the Spurs don’t plan to offer him an extension before the collective bargaining agreement expires Thursday, according to a source familiar with talks between the team and the franchise icon.

As such, Duncan will play out the final year of his existing deal, during which he is scheduled to earn $21.2 million, and remains on track to become a free agent after the 2011-12 campaign.

Duncan faces a Thursday deadline to exercise a early-termination option. His apparent decision not to do so is not surprising in light of the league’s unsure labor climate.

With a contentious fight broiling between the NBA’s owners and players union this summer, and with so much uncertainty still surrounding the next CBA, Duncan has apparently determined it is in his best interest to stand pat on what, at age 35, is likely to be his last high-dollar payday.

Should Duncan choose to continue playing after next season, the Spurs would prefer to re-sign him under the new set of salary rules, which are generally expected to be more favorable to small-market clubs.

There had been some speculation Duncan might decide to trigger his early-termination option and renegotiate his contract, in a manner that might give the Spurs payroll flexibility to better fortify their roster next season.

Duncan took a similar approach in signing a four-year extension before the 2007-08 season, accepting less than maximum money and leaving the Spurs room to eventually add Richard Jefferson in the summer of 2009.

A 13-time All-Star, two-time league MVP and three-time Finals MVP, Duncan logged career lows last season in scoring (13.4 points per game), rebounding (8.9 per game) and minutes (28.4 per game).

Though more of a statistical bit player than he was in his prime, Duncan in his 14th NBA season remained the central figure for the Spurs, both on the court and in the locker room.

“He’s not going to look like rookie Tim Duncan,” coach Gregg Popovich said in an interview conducted during the season. “Nobody is going to look like they did 14 years ago. He’s still so steady. He’s still our rock out there.”

Durant says players are determined not to give in during lockout

It’s hard to imagine an NBA star with a brighter future than Kevin Durant.

The former University of Texas standout is coming off a banner season after leading the league in scoring in each of his last two seasons and taking his team to the Western Conference Finals last year. He turns 23 in September.  

And Oklahoma City’s player representative has fired off the about the NBA Player Association’s determination to stick together during the lockout.

“We’re going to stand up for what we have to do, no matter how long it’s going to take,” Durant told The Associated Press. “No matter how long the lockout’s going to take, we’re going to stand up. We’re not going to give in.”

These are bold words on July 1, particularly because we haven’t heard much from any of the league’s other superstars.

But let’s set how determined that Durant might be in November when the game checks aren’t being paid.