Media Day: “If Manu Ginóbili can come off the bench, anybody can”

Media day may be full of lots of fluff and PR-speak to color a shining image of the 12 months to come back. Everyone seems to be stronger, extra expert and able to tackle the brand new season.

If there may be one individual who’s going to shoot straight throughout their opening press convention, it’s San Antonio Spurs’ head coach, Gregg Popovich. Within the first session of media day, the coach spoke a couple of query the fan base has been ruminating on for months – who will begin for the crew?

“I’ve had no such discussions with anybody,” Popovich informed the media when requested in regards to the beginning lineup. “But when Manu Ginóbili can come off the bench, anyone can and I don’t wanna hear it.”

Clearly this dilemma is one thing the top coach has been fascinated about, however has not mentioned immediately along with his gamers. Because it stands the Spurs have a returning core of Tre Jones, Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, Jeremy Sochan and Zach Collins. With first-overall-pick Victor Wembanyama becoming a member of the crew, the belief is somebody may very well be pushed out of the primary 5.

This “if Manu may do it, so can anybody” mentality is a reasonably good approach to body the scenario for anybody who comes off the bench this 12 months. It appears extra like an honor to tackle a task as soon as crammed by top-of-the-line capturing guards of all-time, reasonably than a knock on their capability.

Popovich gave no different indication as to what participant could must make that sacrifice. He had glowing issues to say about Vassell, Collins, Johnson, Sochan and Wembanyama. He additionally mentioned that he needs to see how Wemby performs for the primary few weeks to know how he’ll use him on the court docket. He informed the press that he and his workers have an understanding of how the returning gamers function.

Protection was but once more a degree of emphasis for the top coach. He pointed to how the crew completed final season, and mentioned they might want to deal with that finish to enhance this 12 months. Maybe defensive capability might be key to incomes a beginning spot this season.

Plainly no matter choices is made, will probably be primarily based extra on profitable video games than creating particular person gamers.

“Profitable is as essential this 12 months as studying was previously,” Popovich mentioned.

Whoever steps into the Sixth-man position will possible achieve this for the betterment of the roster, reasonably than being demoted to the bench. Following within the footsteps of one of many franchise’s all-time greats isn’t such a foul factor, in any case.