Open Thread: Catching some former Spurs in the postseason
28/04/2024 13:00
Starters, deep bench, and injured participants all once wore the Silver & Black
The Spurs may not be in the postseason, but it's always good to see some familiar faces in the Playoffs.
Yesterday, Spurs fan favorite Patty Mills got his first minutes of the postseason with the Miami Heat. It was great to see him on the court. He got hit twice in typical Mills fashion, picking up a charge on one of his attempts.
Mills and the Heat are in a seven-game series against the Boston Celtics, who have Derrick White. White was drafted by the Spurs 29th in 2017 and played with the Silver & Black until 2022 when he was traded for Josh Richardson, Romeo Langford, and the first 2022 first-round pick which turned into Blake Wesley.
In the Milwaukee Bucks/Indiana Pacers series, Bucks assistant Joe Prunty started his NBA coaching career as a video assistant, served as an assistant coach and eventually an advance scout between 2000-2005.
On the Pacer side, Doug McDermott (2021-2024) spent just over two seasons with the Spurs before being traded in a three-team deal that landed McBuckets back with the Pacers while netting the Spurs a 2029 second-round pick, cash considerations, and Marcus Morris, Sr., who was eventually waived.
In the Western Conference, the top seed Oklahoma City Thunder have no former players, but assistant coach Chip Engelland was with the Spurs from 2005-2022.
In the Nuggets/Lakers series, Los Angeles assistant coach DeMarre Carroll played fifteen games with the Silver & Black in the 2019-2020 season before being waived at the All-Star Break and moving to Houston.
Minnesota Timberwolves Kyle Anderson was drafted by the Spurs 30th weeks after the Spurs won their fifth title. He was with San Antonio until 2018.
Minnesota's opponent Phoenix Suns big man Drew Eubanks joined the Spurs in 2018 as a two-way player after going undrafted. He split time between Austin and San Antonio, eventually signing a full contract. he was traded in 2022 with Thaddeus Young to Toronto.
Los Angeles Clippers superstar Kawhi Leonard (2011-2018) was an integral part of the Spurs 2014 NBA Championship, claiming Finals MVP for his offense sharpshooting and defensive acumen on LeBron James. He also earned back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year honors while a member of the Silver & Black.
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