Welcome to the Open Thread. Throughout the month of June, we’re speaking NBA Draft. As we lead as much as the 2025 NBA Draft on June twenty fifth, we can be revisiting the Spurs draft selections. At this time we bear in mind the 2011 NBA Draft.
Query: What do Kyrie Irving, Derrick Williams, Enes Kanter, Tristan Thompson, Jonas Valančiūnas, Jan Veselý, Bismack Biyombo, Brandon Knight, Kemba Walker, Jimmer Fredette, Klay Thompson, Alec Burks, Markieff Morris, and Marcus Morris have in frequent?
Reply: They had been all drafted earlier than Kawhi Leonard.
For all his greatness, Kawhi Leonard might not have grow to be the two-time Defensive Participant of the 12 months, 2014 Finals MVP, or a continuous menace for league MVP in his prime with out the skilled tutelage of Gregg Popovich and his merry band of coaches.
As will go down in Spurs lore, the Spurs traded Pop’s favourite George Hill for the San Diego State Aztec together with draft rights to Dāvis Bertāns and Erazem Lorbek. At first look, this will have seemed to be a long-shot of a commerce and fairly the sacrifice on the a part of the Spurs. A comparatively unknown Leonard with 25% 3-point taking pictures together with a few draft rights to abroad gamers for George Hill. Hill was rising into the start line guard he has grow to be. However bear in mind, Hill had another 12 months on his contract and there was no means he was going to take Tony Parker’s beginning place.
As if acquiring Kawhi wasn’t sufficient, buying and selling mate Dāvis Bertāns made it to San Antonio the place be grew to become a three-point murderer off the bench. He was traded in 2019 to the Washington Wizards for DeMarre Carroll whereas clearing area in a botched try and signal Marcus Morris. (Morris botched it up, not the Spurs.) Bertans stayed within the NBA transferring from Washington to Dallas, to OKC after which on to Charlotte. he’s at the moment enjoying in Dubai.
As if Leonard and Bertāns weren’t sufficient to acquire from the draft, Cory Joseph was the Spurs precise first spherical decide on the twenty ninth spot. Joseph is famous for requesting to be despatched all the way down to the Austin Toros to develop, a transfer which enhanced his recreation and endeared him to teaching employees and followers alike. He stepped in for Tony Parker as the start line guard at occasions and located success within the position. He gained a championship with the Spurs earlier than transferring to his native Toronto. After two seasons with the Raptors he was traded to Indiana for the draft rights of Emir Preldžić. He has since handed by means of Indiana, Sacramento, Detroit, Golden State, and spent this previous season with the Orlando Magic.
And eventually, with the 59th decide within the draft, The Spurs selected Hungarian swingman Ádám Hanga, Hanga has continued to play in Europe because the draft. He’s gained a number of Liga ACB, Spanish Cup, and Spanish SuperCup championships. He’s additionally acquired accolade for defensive prowess — Hungarian League Greatest Defender 2011, EuroLeague Greatest Defender in 2017, Liga ACB Defensive Participant of the 12 months in 2016 and 2017, Alas he by no means fairly caught on stateside.
Welcome to The Thread. Be part of within the dialog, begin your individual dialogue, and share your ideas. That is the Spurs group, your Spurs group. Thanks for being right here.
Our group tips apply which ought to remind everybody to be cool, keep away from private assaults, to not troll and to observe the language.
