Latest news with #TimDuncan
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Spurs rookie Dylan Harper recalls unexpected encounter with Gregg Popovich, Tim Duncan
The post Spurs rookie Dylan Harper recalls unexpected encounter with Gregg Popovich, Tim Duncan appeared first on ClutchPoints. San Antonio Spurs rookie guard Dylan Harper already knew he was stepping into a franchise with a rich history. Even before he signed his first contract, he had a good look at the five championship banners that hang from the Spurs' rafters during his draft workout. Advertisement What he did not expect was to run into the franchise's legends on an ordinary afternoon, strolling casually through the gym as if they were just another part of the scenery. The 19-year-old could not hide the excitement in his voice when he described the moment when he turned around and saw Tim Duncan and Gregg Popovich walking together. For a second, he thought he must be imagining it. The teenager had to look twice to make sure his eyes were not playing tricks. Then, with the instinct of any young fan who grew up hearing stories about the Spurs dynasty, he walked straight over to greet them. 'I had to dap them up and take the video,' Harper told Andscape with a wide grin. 'It caught me off guard. I thought, 'What are they doing here?' I was like, 'Maybe they're just here this one day?' And they're like, 'No, they are here all the time.' And so, when they talk about the Spurs' organization and their culture, that's really what culture is.' He said he met Popovich on the very first day he arrived at the facility. 'I met Pop the first day I was there and Tim,' Harper said. 'Pop was there getting treatment and doing exercises. That is not regular in any NBA gym. You see a Hall of Fame coach, a Hall of Fame player walking around the gym. And they are there like every day. I can pick their brain and ask questions.' Advertisement Popovich, who has coached the Spurs for nearly thirty years, was there maintaining his health and staying engaged with the team. Duncan, who helped bring five titles to San Antonio, was just as present. For Harper, this was something entirely new. He had visited other NBA gyms during the draft process and had never seen anything quite like it. Most teams have photos of their legends on the walls. The Spurs have their icons in the building, ready to share advice or lend support whenever needed. Harper grew up with basketball in his blood. His father, Ron Harper, won five NBA championships alongside Michael Jordan and later with Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal. His mother, Maria, was a standout defensive point guard at the University of New Orleans. Though Dylan never saw his father play in person, he heard the stories often. He remembered attending the 2019 All-Star Weekend in Chicago, where he caught glimpses of NBA greats moving through the halls like it was no big deal. Even then, he sensed that basketball was more than a sport; it was a network of relationships and memories that stretched across generations. Advertisement 'To be in the back rooms and to see superstars walking around like regular people was crazy to me back then,' he said. 'We played Bryce [James] in New York, LeBron's [James'] son, and I saw the connection between [my father and LeBron James] both being from Ohio. If [my father] sees someone in the league, they all know each other. It is like a brotherhood in a way.' His own path to the NBA began in New Jersey, where he starred at Don Bosco Prep before joining Rutgers University. As a freshman, Harper averaged 19.4 points and 4.6 rebounds, showcasing the blend of scoring, vision, and competitive spirit that made him a top prospect. The Spurs chose him with the second overall pick in the 2025 draft, adding him to a young core that already included Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle, who each won Rookie of the Year in consecutive seasons. When Harper walked into the Spurs' facility for the first time, he already carried the weight of expectations. But seeing Popovich and Duncan in person reminded him that every great career is built step by step. He felt encouraged knowing he would have a chance to learn from two of the most respected figures in basketball history. Advertisement The atmosphere made Harper feel that he was not just joining a team but becoming part of something bigger. He hopes to carry forward the lessons his family and the Spurs have taught him. In San Antonio, the banners on the wall tell only part of the story. The real measure of the Spurs' legacy walks the hallways, shakes your hand, and reminds you that greatness is a daily choice. For Dylan Harper, that surprise encounter was not only an unforgettable moment but also a powerful introduction to the culture he now calls home. Related: Spurs make roster move on 41.3% 3-point shooter amid busy offseason Related: Dylan Harper makes Manu Ginobili admission as he starts NBA, Spurs journey
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Spurs' Luke Kornet reveals Tim Duncan reason behind No. 7 jersey number
The post Spurs' Luke Kornet reveals Tim Duncan reason behind No. 7 jersey number appeared first on ClutchPoints. Luke Kornet moves on from the Boston Celtics as he begins the next chapter of his NBA career with the San Antonio Spurs. And he has a Tim Duncan reason behind the decision of his jersey number. Advertisement Kornet signed with the Spurs this offseason, leaving the Celtics after four consecutive seasons. He played a solid role off the bench as he helped the team win the 2024 NBA championship. Kornet wore the No. 40 jersey with Boston, but with San Antonio, he will don the No. 7 jersey. He explained how Duncan played a role behind the jersey number during his introductory press conference on Monday. 'I just hope to be a third of the player that Tim Duncan was,' Kornet said. What's next for Luke Kornet, Spurs Scott Wachter-Imagn Images Luke Kornet is excited to be a member of the Spurs, especially after landing the biggest contract of his career. Advertisement He deserved the contract, too. Kornet proved himself to be a solid rotational piece for the Celtics, providing remarkable efficiency inside the paint while being an effective shot-blocker. Throughout the 235 total appearances he made with Boston, he averaged 4.9 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. He shot 65.4% from the field and 77.4% from the free-throw line. The Spurs certainly view him to assist Victor Wembanyama and the squad to improve their talent on both sides of the ball. San Antonio begins a new era as head coach Gregg Popovich retired from coaching as he embraced a front office role. In other words, Mitch Johnson will be responsible for navigating the Spurs through the Wembanyama era as they look to make the playoffs. They haven't done that since the 2019 postseason, which they aspire to achieve as they boast plenty of young talents on the roster for next season. Advertisement Related: Luke Kornet reveals how he can fit with Victor Wembanyama, Dylan Harper Related: Why recent Spurs draft pick isn't interested in a Summer League break out
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Joel Embiid Compared to Spurs Legend Tim Duncan
Joel Embiid Compared to Spurs Legend Tim Duncan originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Tim Duncan is one of the greatest big men of all time, leading the San Antonio Spurs to the playoffs in all of his 19 seasons in the NBA. Advertisement Joel Embiid certainly has the skills to be one of the best big men of all time, although injuries and general unreliability have hampered him since he joined the league, being magnified in recent seasons. While Duncan was the definition of reliable throughout his career, he was not immune to injuries. Early in his career, his athleticism was sappped due to nagging knee injuries, forcing him to adopt his "boring" playstyle. It didn't stop him from dominating. Embiid, about to enter his ninth NBA season, has been urged to approach his recovery and play like Duncan did. "If his knee were a hundred percent, he would have played in 75 games every single year and had multiple MVPs," said Richard Jefferson. "But, because he's managing a knee that he's had multiple surgeries on, like Tim Duncan, he had a surgery on his knee, and he always had to wear that knee brace. He had things that he had to manage." Advertisement Embiid can no longer be the posterizing, fast-paced player he once was, but if he remains fluid and effective, like Duncan did, he could remain a top player in the world for the better part of a decade. However, his track record suggests that he would rather sit than adapt, and the Philadelphia 76ers shouldn't be too optimistic about his chances of ever being MVP again. Check out the Inside the Spurs home page for more news, analysis, and must-read articles. Related: Jeremy Sochan Delivers Verdict on Blockbuster Spurs Trade Related: Dylan Harper's Early Impact on San Antonio Spurs Revealed This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Luke Kornet had a perfect (pandering) reason for choosing Spurs' No. 7 jersey
The San Antonio Spurs are forming quite a formidable frontcourt. Former No. 1 pick Victor Wembanyama is on track to become the player he was billed to be, earning All-Star honors for the first time in 2025 despite being shut down in February due to blood clots. Now, San Antonio is adding a solid role player in center Luke Kornet, who agreed to a four-year, $41 million contract with the Spurs at the start of the free agency period last week. Advertisement The 29-year-old former NBA champion with the Boston Celtics averaged six points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.6 assists (the latter two marks being career-highs) while starting 16 games and appearing in 73. Kornet's 18.6 minutes per game with the Celtics in 2024-25 was also the most in his career. Kornet was formally introduced as a member of the Spurs on Monday, and he didn't take long to attempt to ingratiate himself with the fanbase. Asked why he's choosing to wear No. 7, Kornet gave a perfect (if slightly pandering) answer. He said he would like to be at least a third as good as Hall of Famer Tim Duncan, who played his entire 19-year career with the Spurs and wore No. 21. Kornet also added that he "loves multiples and factors," according to Nate Ryan of KENS in San Antonio. Kornet certainly knows how to tug at the heartstrings of Spurs fans, but the former undrafted player in 2017 will also hope to impress them with his play on the court after turning in what was arguably the most productive season of his eight-year career. Advertisement The Spurs are coming off six-straight losing seasons, though their 34-48 finish last season was a 12-game improvement from its 22-60 records in the prior two campaigns. San Antonio hasn't reached the postseason since 2019, but with Kornet joining a young core that includes Wembanyama, last season's Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper, the No. 2 pick in this year's draft, it hopes to change that in 2025-26. This article originally appeared on For The Win: Spurs: Luke Kornet explains perfect reason for wearing No. 7 jersey
National Post
07-07-2025
- Business
- National Post
The Canucks have a free agency problem
Article content Long, long ago, there was a powerful NBA team in a little city that was lovely but far from the bright lights. And yet the San Antonio Spurs found a way to not only keep their all-time superstar Tim Duncan, but built an organization around him that remained one of the association's leading lights for many years. Article content Article content Article content They understood that to not only keep Duncan but to attract a supporting cast, they had to be the best. That's a lesson that former assistant general manager Laurence Gilman brought to the Canucks when he was hired away from the Arizona Coyotes in 2008 — one that his old boss Mike Gillis took to heart, one that his (brief) second boss Trevor Linden also paid heed to. Article content I thought of this when I heard president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford lament a month or so ago, and then his general manager Patrik Allvin repeat last week on the 100% Canucks podcast, that free agents seem less inclined to sign north of the border. Article content 'A lot of the players in the UFA pool signed with their teams before July 1. Some of them expressed that Canada wasn't a preferred destination,' Allvin told John Shannon and Landon Ferraro last week. Article content We have all heard the concerns about high-income-tax jurisdictions, such as B.C., versus low- or no-tax places like Florida and Nevada. Sure, that's a consideration for some players, but there are other things that players care about. Quality of life is a big factor in Vancouver's favour, for one. Article content Article content But you ask an agent — and I asked several — and other league sources, you will hear a more problematic picture. Where once there was effort to make this organization a destination in the mould of the Spurs, now prospective free agents only see chaos. Article content There is the well-known story of Gillis and Gilman flying to Sweden to make the Sedins a big offer — but also one that they admitted was less than they might be able to get elsewhere. That they flew to see the Sedins to deliver the offer themselves carried weight, but so did the message of what they would do with the money they weren't spending on the twins: They were going to secure players elsewhere in the lineup. Article content And they would spend on amenities — like a practice facility. That is a long-standing issue, one that the current management group does seem committed to make happen, but we'll wait until there are actually signs of something happening, rather than suggestions that ownership has hired someone who was formerly with a rival developer and who has been tasked with making the thing happen.
