Windhorst: Dejounte Murray Told Spurs He Wouldn't Sign Contract Extension This Summer
Jun 30, 2022
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - APRIL 13: Dejounte Murray #5 of the San Antonio Spurs stands on the court during the first quarter of the 2022 NBA Play-In Tournament at Smoothie King Center on April 13, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
The San Antonio Spurs reportedly traded All-Star guard Dejounte Murray to the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday, which raised eyebrows across the league.
However, ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported that the Spurs decided to part ways with Murray because it was inevitable that they'd lose the 25-year-old.
"He and his agent, Rich Paul, made it known that he was not going to extend his contract with the Spurs this summer," Windhorst said on The Hoop Collective podcast.
Murray signed a four-year, $64 million contract with the Spurs in 2019. He has two years remaining on the deal and is set to earn a base salary of $16.6 million next season, per Spotrac.
Windhorst said Murray was not discontent but knew he'd be worth more than what San Antonio could afford.
"And that wasn't really necessarily about the Spurs," Windhorst said. "His contract is about $16 million on average. When you extend your contract, you're limited into how much of a raise you can get. And it would've been probably below his market value as a 25-year-old All-Star. But he pretty much told them—he's like, 'I'm probably not going to extend next summer either.'"
The Spurs reportedly acquired three first-round picks and a future pick swap along with veteran forward Danilo Gallinari from the Hawks. While losing Murray is a major blow for San Antonio's chances to compete for a playoff spot next season, the franchise is set up for the future with nine first-round picks over the next five years.
Report: Gregg Popovich Excited to Coach Young Spurs Team After Dejounte Murray Trade
Jun 29, 2022
NEW ORLEANS, LA - APRIL 13: Head Coach Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs looks on during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans during the 2022 play-in tournament on April 13, 2022 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images)
The San Antonio Spurs could be in for another disappointing season in 2022-23 following a reported trade that will send Dejounte Murray to the Atlanta Hawks. However, Gregg Popovich is reportedly embracing the chance to coach one of the youngest squads in the NBA.
According to Mike Finger of the San Antonio Express-News, Popovich is said to be excited "like he's back at Pomona-Pitzer" and is "completely on board" with coaching a young roster next season.
San Antonio enters the 2022-23 season with an average age of 24, and Popovich is going to have a lot of work to do.
By trading Murray to the Hawks, the Spurs signaled they are fully dedicated to a rebuild, and some fans were questioning whether or not Popovich would want to stick around and coach a group that lacks proven talent.
That said, Popovich has stated in the past that he enjoys coaching a young team, telling reporters in September 2021 that the Spurs are "a team filled with great character, a lot of will, and that's what makes it fun."
"It's exciting. I have no idea who I am going to give it (basketball) to or what play we're going to run," Popovich added. "That's something we're going to figure out as we move along here. And to me, that is exciting as hell."
The Spurs finished the 2021-22 campaign with a 34-48 record and haven't had a winning season since 2018-19, but Popovich didn't enjoy coaching young players, he would have probably left a long time ago.
It's not necessarily surprising that Popovich finds the challenge of coaching a young roster exciting. The 73-year-old has been head coach of the Spurs since 1996 and has overseen a variety of teams—some veteran, some young, some a mix of the two.
Popovich has coached very experienced players like Manu Ginobili, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge over his historic career.
But now he's being tasked with coaching a young group that has a fire to get better and improve. With a roster that includes Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, Jeremy Sochan and Tre Jones, among others, Popovich will enjoy the personal challenge of leading the group and find it fun to watch those players grow.
Popovich is one of the best coaches in NBA history, having posted a 1,344-701 record over his career that includes five NBA titles. If anyone can help this young group succeed, it's him.
Trae Young, NBA Twitter Buzzing After Dejounte Murray Reportedly Traded to Hawks
Jun 29, 2022
ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 11: Dejounte Murray #5 of the San Antonio Spurs drives the ball past Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks during the first half of a game at State Farm Arena on February 11, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Casey Sykes/Getty Images)
The Atlanta Hawks made a major splash Wednesday when they reportedly acquired combo guard Dejounte Murray from the San Antonio Spurs.
According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Hawks gave up veteran forward Danilo Gallinari, three first-round picks and a future pick swap to land the 25-year-old.
Murray is coming off the best year of his career and finished second in NBA Most Improved Player voting. He was named to his first All-Star Game as an injury replacement and averaged career highs of 21.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, 9.2 assists and an NBA-best 2.0 steals.
Fans and analysts lauded the acquisition for the Hawks, many believing that Murray's presence will work wonders for Atlanta star point guard Trae Young.
I’m told Trae Young is “ecstatic” to have Dejounte Murray join the Hawks’ backcourt with the organization believing the star pairing will unlock another level of Young’s game.
Surrounding Trae Young with a defense-first core of Dejounte Murray, De’Andre Hunter and Onyeka Okungwu is the perfect ecosystem for everyone involved.
Young will make life so much easier for everyone else, and now he can be hid well while conserving energy on the defensive end.
Dejounte Murray will unlock a better version of Trae Young if Trae embraces playing off-ball with more effort in screen and handoff actions plus relocations within the flow of the offense. No more hands on knees resting at the logo. Young has it in him to be a constant threat.
The crazy part of this trade is that the hawks barely had to give up anything..no big pieces. I thought John Collins would end up being included. ATL wins this in a big way wow a robbery! https://t.co/9ejDoFtD4o
Rival executives have been trying to figure out why San Antonio, which loves to lock up homegrown talent, seemed to be so eager to move off the 25-year old Murray. Atlanta, which had been eager to shake up the roster, gets a budding star.
Hawks got better. Defense improved and have arguably the best back court in the East now. I was iffy on Murray in Atlanta when the trade first got rumored but the last few days I’ve come around and like the fit a lot next to Trae.
Murray will have that “Jrue Holiday” & “Joe Dumars” effect for the Hawks. He will provide offensive versatility, perimeter defensive production, rebounding, and scoring. Every great guard needs a running mate. See you in October. #TalkSoon#TrueToAtlantapic.twitter.com/qQRh7fwgtF
Always impressed by Dejounte's ambition, drive & passion. Gained even more respect learning through the years what he overcame growing up in Seattle, watching him bounce back from injury and becoming an All-Star last season despite his sister's tragic death. Best of luck in ATL.
Murray will certainly improve the Hawks on both sides of the ball. Atlanta had the sixth-best offense in the NBA last season (113.9 PPG) but ranked 21st in defense (112.4 PPG). Murray will try to change that as he takes on the role of lead perimeter defender.
It was just two years ago that the Hawks advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals. Young has proved capable of carrying the team for stretches, but Murray's presence is sure to take some pressure off and make life a lot easier for him.
The road to the postseason in the East will not be easy by any means with the Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers at the top of the conference. But the addition of Murray alongside Young gives Atlanta a strong chance of competing against the elite teams.
Woj: Dejounte Murray Traded to Hawks from Spurs for Danilo Gallinari, Multiple 1sts
Jun 29, 2022
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - APRIL 13: Dejounte Murray #5 of the San Antonio Spurs stands on the court during the first quarter of the 2022 NBA Play-In Tournament at Smoothie King Center on April 13, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
The San Antonio Spurs reportedly agreed to trade guard Dejounte Murray to the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday in exchange for forward Danilo Gallinari, three first-round picks and a future pick swap.
The 2025 and 2027 first-rounders are unprotected ATL first-round picks, per league source. https://t.co/6M1PAaCfQ8
Teams are very, very hesitant to do this. They often fight for even top-1 protection. The CHA pick is middling/lotto-protected, but the rest is about as much draft equity (maybe more) as SAS could have ever anticipated getting. Even pushing to 2025/27 (and not 2023/2025) matters https://t.co/J5eRNuCadu
Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported the news. The Hawks were one of several teams negotiating trades with the Spurs for Murray in recent weeks as San Antonio seemingly embarks on a full-scale rebuilding effort.
Rumors regarding Murray's status with the Spurs have been swirling for several weeks. The All-Star guard has even gone so far as to acknowledge the rumors on social media.
San Antonio's motivation to move Murray seems curious at best. He's coming off a career-best season, posting averages of 21.0 points, 9.2 assists, 8.3 rebounds and 2.0 steals while playing stellar perimeter defense.
The Spurs also have Murray under a team-friendly deal that will pay him $34.2 million over the next two seasons.
While this is clearly the beginning of a full-scale rebuilding effort, Murray doesn't turn 26 until September and still will be well within his prime when the Spurs plan on competing again.
The 2023 NBA draft features forward Victor Wembanyama, one of the most touted prospects in recent memory, and another potential superstar in guard Scoot Henderson. It's possible the Spurs feel they would be too good with Murray in the fold to have a realistic shot at landing a top-two pick.
That said, the fact the Spurs were in this position calls into question their team-building strategy of the last few years. There were calls for the franchise to begin its rebuilding stage in 2018 when Kawhi Leonard requested a trade. Rather than take a package of picks and young players, the Spurs instead chose a package highlighted by DeMar DeRozan, who allowed the team to remain competitive but stuck in the purgatory of mediocrity.
The Spurs made the playoffs in DeRozan's first year with the franchise but were ousted in the first round before failing to make the postseason each of the last three seasons. It's fair to argue the Spurs never would have been in a position to need to trade Murray if they chose the correct path four years ago.
There is also the matter of whether 73-year-old Gregg Popovich has the stomach for a rebuild that will likely take him into his late 70s.
As far as the Hawks go, this is a no-brainer. Murray fills two of the team's biggest needs, perimeter defense and a ball-handler who can help take the load off Trae Young's shoulders. The Charlotte first-round pick is protected picks 1-16 next season and lottery-protected through 2025; it can't even get the Spurs in the Wembayana race.
The two Hawks' first-round picks project out of the lottery for the foreseeable future, barring some cataclysmic series of injuries or a falling out with Young.
As it stands, Atlanta gave up three picks that project to be in the late teens to mid-20s and a veteran expiring contract for a 25-year-old All-Star. It's nothing short of a home run.
Lonnie Walker IV Receives Qualifying Offer from Spurs; Will Be Restricted Free Agent
Jun 29, 2022
SAN ANTONIO, TX - MARCH 16: Lonnie Walker IV #1 of the San Antonio Spurs talks to the media after the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on March 16, 2022 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images)
Lonnie Walker IV has received a $6.3 million qualifying offer from the San Antonio Spurs, which will make him a restricted free agent this summer.
According to Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News, Walker is expected to test the market, though the Spurs will retain the right to match any offer sheet he signs after tendering the qualifying offer:
The Spurs have formally tendered a qualifying offer to Lonnie Walker worth $6.3M, making him a restricted free agent beginning tomorrow. Otherwise, he would have been unrestricted.
The expectation is that Walker will fully test the free agency market.
The 23-year-old has been a key cog off the bench for the Spurs since being drafted 18th overall in 2018 and has improved every season since. During his rookie campaign, he averaged just 2.6 points per game in 17 contests.
During the 2021-22 season, Walker took a significant step forward, averaging 12.1 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists while shooting 40.7 percent from the floor and 31.4 percent from deep in 70 games.
The Miami product took on a bigger role for the Spurs after they traded Derrick White to the Boston Celtics during the 2021-22 campaign, becoming the team's sixth man and assuming a larger scoring load.
Report: Dominick Barlow Agrees to 2-Way Contract with Spurs After 2022 NBA Draft
Jun 24, 2022
Dominick Barlow participates in the NBA basketball draft combine at the Wintrust Arena Friday, May 20, 2022, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
The San Antonio Spurs have added Overtime Elite forward Dominick Barlow to their roster.
Per Jerry Carino of NorthJersey.com, the 19-year-old signed a two-way contract with the Spurs on Friday after going undrafted in the 2022 NBA draft.
Barlow spent last season working on his game as part of the Overtime Elite team. Overtime paid Barlow $100,000 and gave him a stake in the company to forgo college and train himself for the draft.
"I put everything into this and so far it's looking like I made a good decision," Barlow told Jacob Polacheck of ZagsBlog.
Bleacher Report Draft Expert Jonathan Wasserman's Scouting Report
Player: Dominick Barlow
Position: PF
Height: 6'9"
Scouting Report: Barlow caught the attention of scouts in Overtime with his particular skill set and projected archetype. While it's tough to assess his development in a new league, his finishing and shooting potential at 6'9" could fit the NBA.
Barlow will likely spend at least his rookie season continuing to work on his development in the Spurs' G League affiliate.
He was not considered much of a pro prospect coming out of high school, as 247Sports' composite rankings had him as the No. 117 player in the 2021 high school class.
San Antonio had a big night Thursday with three first-round selections. The team used its first pick at No. 9 overall to add Baylor forward Jeremy Sochan. He averaged 9.2 points per game in 30 appearances for the Bears in 2021-22.
The Spurs also had the No. 20 overall pick stemming from a February trade involving Goran Dragic, and they used that pick to select Big Ten Freshman of the Year Malaki Branham from Ohio State.
As compensation from the Derrick White trade on Feb. 10, the Spurs had the No. 25 pick from the Boston Celtics as well, and they added Notre Dame's Blake Wesley.
That is a lot of youth that has been injected into the Spurs' roster. It may take a while before they are back to competing for a top seed in the Western Conference, but head coach Gregg Popovich has some intriguing players to build around.
Malaki Branham Draft Scouting Report: Pro Comparison, Updated Spurs Roster
Jun 24, 2022
COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND - FEBRUARY 27: Malaki Branham #22 of the Ohio State Buckeyes handles the ball against the Maryland Terrapins at Xfinity Center on February 27, 2022 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
The San Antonio Spurs selected Ohio State star Malaki Branham with the No. 20 pick in the 2022 NBA draft.
Bleacher Report Draft Expert Jonathan Wasserman's Scouting Report
Player: Malaki Branham
Position: SG
Height: 6'4"
Pro Comparison: Khris Middleton
Scouting Report: One of the most efficient scoring guards in the draft, Branham emerged as a riser for his three-level scoring package, secondary playmaking and late-game poise. Physical tools, shot-making versatility and plus intangibles make it easy not to worry about his limited shiftiness or explosion.
The 19-year-old averaged 13.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists in his only season with the Buckeyes. He was an efficient scorer, shooting 49.8 percent from the field and 41.6 percent from beyond the arc.
Branham helped OSU win 20 games and reach the second round of the 2022 NCAA tournament.
The guard's low assist numbers raise questions over whether he'll be a little too limited on offense, though. Heading into his freshman season, he wasn't considered the finished product as a perimeter threat, either, with 247Sports' Jerry Meyer writing in January 2020 that he was an "improving outside shooter."
If Branham's unexpectedly strong three-point clip translates at the next level, he should make an immediate impact in San Antonio.
Wizards Rumors: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Dejounte Murray, Brogdon Trades Interest WAS
Jun 18, 2022
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - APRIL 06: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks on before a game against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena on April 06, 2022 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
It appears the Washington Wizards are looking at a variety of players to pair with Bradley Beal ahead of the 2022-23 campaign.
The Wizards are interested in several point guards, including Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, San Antonio Spurs veteran Dejounte Murray and Indiana Pacers veteran Malcolm Brogdon, according to NBA insider Quinton Mayo.
Though Bleacher Report's Jake Fischer recently reported that the Pacers are testing the market for Brogdon, it's unclear if the Thunder would be willing to part ways with Gilgeous-Alexander or the Spurs with Murray.
Gilgeous-Alexander has become a cornerstone for the Thunder, and he had a solid 2021-22 season, averaging a career-high 24.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.3 steals while shooting 45.3 percent from the floor and 30.0 percent from deep in 56 games.
If Oklahoma City were to part ways with the 23-year-old, it would cost Washington a pretty penny. That said, the Thunder own the second overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft and could use that to select a replacement for him.
We know Thunder general manager Sam Presti likes to stockpile draft picks. Would he be willing to part ways with Gilgeous-Alexander for a package of picks and players? It's worth wondering.
Murray, meanwhile, would also be difficult for the Wizards to acquire, as he also had a career year this season. The 25-year-old averaged a career-high 21.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, 9.2 assists and 2.0 steals while shooting 46.2 percent from the floor and 32.7 percent from deep in 68 games.
As for Brogdon, he had a solid 2021-22 season, averaging 19.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 5.9 assists while shooting 44.8 percent from the floor and 31.2 percent from deep in 36 games. However, the Pacers could stand to move him following the acquisition of Tyrese Haliburton.
With Indiana attempting to get younger, Brogdon doesn't fit the team's timeline at 29 years old. While he's not the best of the three players the Wizards desire, he would be Washington's most reasonable option.
If the Wizards don't land any of these players, they'll need to do something else to entice Beal, who has a player option for the 2022-23 season, to stay. The three-time All-Star recently said he was going to base his decision on where he feels he can win, and if he feels the Wizards can't win next season, he'll likely move on.
Washington hasn't had a winning season since the 2017-18 campaign and has made the playoffs just twice in the last five seasons. The team finished the 2021-22 season 12th in the Eastern Conference with a 35-47 record.
Stephen Curry's Warriors Took a Page Out of Tim Duncan's Spurs Dynasty
Jun 18, 2022
BOSTON, MA - JUNE 16: The Golden State Warriors pose for a photo with The Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP Award after Game Six of the 2022 NBA Finals on June 16, 2022 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
Since the Golden State Warriors hired Steve Kerr as head coach in 2014 and kicked off the run of six NBA Finals in eight seasons, they've openly aspired to the kind of sustainable success the San Antonio Spurs have enjoyed for the past quarter-century. Kerr played for Gregg Popovich near the end of his career, winning two titles as a role player supporting David Robinson and Tim Duncan. As a coach, he's had his own Duncan in Stephen Curry. The similarities were too obvious, bordering on cliche.
But in winning their fourth title in eight seasons since the run began, Kerr, Curry and the Warriors have their proof of concept.
With Thursday's series-clinching win over the Celtics, the trio of Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green picked up their 21st Finals win together. They've eclipsed the mark of 19 previously set by Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili for most wins in the Finals by an All-NBA trio in the past 50 years.
Even being here now, this far into the run, puts the Warriors in rare company. Winning this championship may be the start of something unprecedented.
The Warriors' 2022 title run, which comes after two seasons of missing the playoffs entirely due to injuries, has officially kicked off the third distinct era within this dynasty that started with their first Finals appearance and title in the 2014-15 season.
The constants have been Kerr and the star trio of Curry, Thompson and Green, but the Warriors teams that have made it this far have looked different around them. In eight years they've gone from a group of upstarts that won well ahead of schedule, to a superteam so dominant it had three years of think pieces about whether they were ruining the NBA, to the elder statesmen they once challenged, winning in different ways with different supporting casts on different age timelines, to a degree that's only been seen before in San Antonio.
That first Warriors title team, the one that lucked into unlocking Green as a starting power forward when David Lee suffered an injury in training camp, was built around Curry and Thompson as superstar shooters in their 20s surrounded by role players who were significantly older. Starting center Andrew Bogut was 30, forwards Lee and Andre Iguodala were 31. The first Spurs title team, too, won with a young generational superstar surrounded by much older veteran talent. At 22 in his second season, Duncan was the only player in the top eight in minutes played who was younger than 30, with the aging Robinson as his co-star.
The Warriors were even better the next year, winning an NBA-record 73 regular-season games but falling short in the Finals, and that 3-1 collapse led directly to their transition into the middle period, the one most people will remember as the definitive team of its era for many reasons.
Kevin Durant's arrival in Golden State in the summer of 2016 made the Warriors completely unbeatable for two seasons, and may have done so for even longer if he hadn't suffered a torn Achilles in the 2019 Finals against the Raptors and ultimately left for Brooklyn that summer. The bedrock of those three seasons of the Warriors was the same, with Kerr and the Curry-Thompson-Green triumvirate, but the presence of maybe the deadliest scorer of the modern era in the slot previously occupied by the solid but workmanlike Harrison Barnes completely changed the character of the team. It was all "the Warriors," but they weren't the same at all.
Neither were the mid-2000s Spurs with Duncan in his prime flanked by fellow All-Stars Parker and Ginobili. They won two titles in 2005 and 2007, the same number as the 1999-2003 Spurs, but the feel was different even though Duncan and Popovich were the constants of both eras. Those mid-2000s Spurs teams didn't blow opponents off the court for two years straight like the Durant-era Warriors did, but they were the defining team of a period of the league's history relatively bereft of star power.
This is also when the Spurs started to burnish their reputation for finding absolutely perfect role players to put around their stars—defensive specialist Bruce Bowen, sharpshooter Brent Barry, veteran scoring guard Michael Finley—leading to talk of "winning culture" and "the Spurs way," which many successful teams have tried to emulate but nobody has been able to successfully while winning at a high level for this long, until the Warriors.
The Warriors have developed a similar rep for finding ideal supporting players for their stars, starting with Shaun Livingston, who came on board for the first title run in 2014-15, and then JaVale McGee during the Durant years. Now, any role player who signs with Golden State for the minimum or mid-level exception—Otto Porter Jr., Nemanja Bjelica—is widely assumed to be a steal and a perfect glue guy, because the Warriors have hit on so many of these types of players before.
This version of the Warriors has officially entered their 2013-14 Spurs period. Curry, Thompson and Green are still here. But for the first time, with Jordan Poole and Jonathan Kuminga, there's a belief that the young talent the Warriors have drafted and developed could one day keep the run going even after those three are finished playing. Those later Duncan-Parker-Ginobili San Antonio teams were bolstered by Kawhi Leonard, a non-lottery pick who became a two-way dynamo and MVP candidate, and Danny Green, a reclamation project who found his perfect role as a 3-and-D wing and might have won Finals MVP in 2013 if San Antonio had won that series against the Heat.
The Spurs were poised to continue contending past Duncan's retirement in 2016 until Leonard's quad injury and subsequent departure from San Antonio sent them into the rebuild they find themselves in currently. The next generation of the Warriors aren't ready for that yet, but they don't need to be, not with Curry, Thompson and Green still this good.
By the time the Big Three ages out, though, things could be different.
Gregg Popovich Calls for Politicians to 'Get Off Your Ass' After Uvalde Shooting
Jun 4, 2022
SAN ANTONIO, TX -APRIL 9: Head Coach Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs looks on during the game against the Golden State Warriors on April 9, 2022 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photos by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich delivered an impassioned speech at a community gathering in support of Uvalde, Texas, demanding politicians take action on gun-law reform.
Popovich specifically called out Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and told state political officials to "get off your ass" in order to make change.
Popovich talked about how Texas should get its political officials in power and put them in a room until they can come up with solutions. He asked “how many more is it going to take?” And ended his statement with “Get off your ass.” pic.twitter.com/BlqVXPwobV
Before that, Popovich used his platform to talk about how after each massacre in the state of Texas, politicians "will do anything" to keep their power and how they rely on "thoughts and prayers and condolences" as their main talking points in statements instead of trying to do anything to prevent these tragedies from occurring again.
Gregg Popovich took the podium for the @votolatino#StandWithUvalde community gathering. He started out by talking about how these deadly massacres happen in Texas, but nothing gets done. Popovich said they are out of line because they haven’t done anything. pic.twitter.com/z3DP0PQHqP
"We've got to vote them out of there so that we can save our children," the iconic NBA head coach said about the inaction of politicians on gun violence.
Saturday's event was in response to the May 24 mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde that resulted in 19 students and two teachers being killed.
Per Herb Scribner of Axios, Abbott issued a letter to state lawmakers asking them to find solutions to "prevent future school shootings." The letter doesn't mention gun control as an area of focus.
Per Annabelle Timsit of the Washington Post, there were at least 12 mass shootings across the United States during Memorial Day weekend.
Several players, coaches and teams across the NBA have spoken out about the need for new common-sense gun laws in the wake of the mass shootings in Uvalde and Buffalo, New York.
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr spoke to reporters prior to Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals, the same day as the shooting in Uvalde, to express his anger and frustration.
"When are we going to do something?" Kerr yelled. "I'm tired. I am so tired of getting up here and offering condolences to the devastated families that are out there. I am so tired of the, excuse, I am sorry, I am tired of the moments of silence. Enough!"
Like Popovich, Kerr also called out politicians for prioritizing their power rather than taking action to change publicly supported reform that would require universal background checks for anyone trying to purchase a gun.
"We are being held hostage by 50 senators in Washington who refuse to even put it to a vote, despite what we the American people want," Kerr told reporters. "They won't vote on it, because they want to hold on to their own power."
Popovich has been outspoken in his political views for years. He has publicly called out issues of systemic racism and questioned the politics of NBA team owners in the wake of the April 2021 killing of Daunte Wright, a Black man, by Minnesota police officer Kimberly Potter.
